rrutherford

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Well here it is April already.  I can't believe that I have lost 80 pounds.  It has been less than 4 months and I feel so good.  I am on solid food now of course, up to 6 ounces.  I am weaning off my liquid protein very slooooooooowly - I don't want to do anything to impede the progress I have made.

We are off to Italy on Monday for the trip we've been planning for so long.  I know I will be able to walk more and that I will definitely fit better in an airline seat.  

People are noticing my weight loss but I still am reluctant to share how I have done it.  Seems personal so very few people know.  

My wife and family have been a great support.

Viva Italia - we'll see how the weight is over these next few weeks since I will not be weighing daily for the first time.

The time is flying by.  My pants waist size has gone from a 48/50 to a 44.  The new belt I got for Christmas just barely big enough to go around me - now I'm on about the 6th hold to keep my pants up.

Food-wise I can eat most things - still very disciplined to eat only at 8am 12pm and 6pm.  Advanced diet quantity to 4 ounces per meal.  Working well.  Energy level is good - at the gym for 1 hour twice a week, I would like to add a third day.  Each time we go I do 5K on a treadmill walk/running as best I can.  

I am starting to wean off the liquid protein - want to be off it totally by Easter if I can, but there isn't a lot of guidance from my nutritionist in that regard.  I wish I could get more instruction about the transitioning off liquid protein to meals. 

My support structure couldn't be better - Melinda must be sick of hearing about my food and weight by now!  She puts up with it well.  I get lots of compliments now with people asking how much weight I've lost and how I'm doing it.  I don't tell most people about the surgery - just feels private...  

All in all this is a dream come true - I'm still afraid that someone will wake me up and I'll be my fat old self.

It has been just a day over 8 weeks now since my surgery.  I am on regular food - advancing to three meals of 3 ounces each meal now.  Feeling great.  I can run on a treadmill a little bit, who ever knew that could happen.
Clothes are getting really baggy for me - it feels good to have things be too big.  I bought a couple shirts and a sweater even - might get some pants on Sunday.  I think my waist has gone from 48+ to 44 now.  I still shake my head in amazement at how great this has been.  More later.  I am hoping to run/walk my first 5K in late March.  

This week I hit the 45 pound mark and it is incredible how good I feel.  My clothes are all too big - which feels great for the first time in my life.  People are starting to notice that I've lost weight, although I don't tell most people yet about the surgery.  It's not really a secret, but it's really not anyone's business.
I am now on regular (high protein) foods in small amounts - 2 ounces only.  I feel full most of the time and have increased my water this week which feels good too.
24 Hour Fitness feels great - I go twice a week and sometimes three times a week.  I can now do some running on the treadmill - never thought that would happen in a million years.
My b/p meds have been decreased to only one and in half the prior dose - most recent reading is 110/70 - again, amazing!
Thanks to my supportive family and especially my wife who has been by my side all the way.  She must be so sick of hearing about my food needs - her support has been one of the biggest reasons for this going so well.
Only a couple weeks until my 2 month mark - more photos will be taken and hopefully I will have passed the 50 pound mark.
More to come....

As amazing as it seems, I am now less than 300 pounds - approaching the 280's and it feels great.   I have lost 36 pounds in 36 days...  

Last night I actually ventured into a clothes department and picked up a couple of shirts.  I have a long way to go before I can get some 'normal' sizes, but the sizes I picked up fit me quite well.

I am now eating pureed foods and my protein drink.  One more week and I'll be on regular food - 2 oz. portions.  My blood pressure remains low so I should be off all BP meds by next week too.  That means that after I finish my Nexium (1 more month) and my gall bladder medication (3 more months) - I will be drug free except for my vitamins and calcium.  

The benefits of this surgery astound me more every day.  I feel more alive than I have for years - how amazing...

I had some scrambled eggs from McDonalds the other day.  Either they cooked them strangely or I ate too fast or without chewing enough.  The eggs sat in my esophagus like cement and it was very uncomfortable.  By walking around the eggs finally went down - but I will be off eggs for a while.

Until next time.

I can't believe it has been almost a month since surgery.  Still on phase III diet (full liquids) for another 3 days - but who's counting?  Friday night I get to cross over into the world of mashed potatoes and pureed meats, pureed foods.  I can't wait!

I feel great - very impatient though.  I get smaller each day - look forward to that early am weigh-in.  Clothes are getting bigger on me - that feels good to..

People are starting to notice - that's nice too but not really my main motivation for this.  My blood pressure is down to 114/74 - down from 190/110, it's very amazing...  I hope to be off my second b/p med on January 22 when I visit the MD next.

Happy New Year 2007.

Well here I sit 20 days after surgery.  I miss some aspects of my old food life but overall I'm very happy to NEVER feel like I ate like a pig -- because I can't.....  I am on full liquids now - having soup and hot cereal etc, much more satisfying than clear liquids.

As of today I've lost 25 pounds - I can feel it every day and it feels great.  I am eager to get to add some foods to my diet.  I've already stopped my Glucophage (blood sugar) medication and reduced my b/p meds from two to one (and I'll be rid of that in a month also).

Life is great!  I have such tremendous support - nobody could be more fortunate in this life than I am.

Will write again soon and post my 1 month post-op photos.

Ron

Well, it's been 10 days (still have 6 more days of the phase II diet) and all is well.  I feel very fortunate to have had no nausea or vomiting, no pain and a fairly quick return of my stamina.  I am eating jello and popsicles as well as taking about 90 grams of protein per day split into 4 servings.  
Food looks too good to me.  I know I can't eat it and I would not ever think of 'cheating'...  but even the most basic macaroni and cheese (let along pizza) looks fabulous...

Got on the treadmill for a walk at the gym - that felt good too but I got tired too fast.

Weight loss at about 17 pounds.

More later.

Doing ok.  Feeling weak at times after walking around at Target a lot.  Taking protein fine.  I wish I knew what was 'normal'...  I can easily take more that 2 ounces of clear liquid every 30 minutes -- assuming that is a minimum and not maximum.  Something I read said that the liquids could not stretch the pouch, I hope they are right.

Sleeping well at night and getting some naps in.  Need to get back to work on Tuesday.

Today is December 8.  I am now on phase II which includes protein and some more kinds of clear liquid - now 2 oz. every 3 minutes.  I did not sleep that well last night - kind of restless and sore but made it through without the pain medicine...  Woke up feeling pretty good, walked around, showered etc....
Still emotionally coming to terms with the finality of the things I will never eat again - I think that will take some time.  I do think a little about some of the things I WILL be able to enjoy in several weeks...
Trying hard to walk a lot so I don't get DVT.  I wonder when the 'vulnerability zone' is past so I won't keep worrying about it??
More later - scale is down 9 lbs since I left for surgery on December 6 - not sure if that's all 'real' pounds or fluid or what...