One Month Update

Hi everyone!!! I just wanted to give an update and GET an update..it seems like some have fallen off and not posted in awhile...Im wondering if you are all too busy enjoying your NEW life!!!! Well I was one month on Monday so I'm a couple of days late. On Monday I had lost about 28.6 lbs total for the month. Today I weighed (yes I weigh everyday I know...its a big no no but I do it) in at 280.6 for a total loss of 30.4 lbs!!!! Woohoo!!! I will be five weeks out on Friday and hope to make it to my first 10% goal of 31 lbs..I know I can do it!!! Food: everything seems to be going down nicely and I really haven't had any problems. I'm still on soft foods but lately have tried a few things here and there very carefully and all seems well! I think I'm going to run out and check out those SB frozen meals because I am getting BORED!!! Protein: getting it in on most days with the help of my test tubes and I eat high protein food to get the rest in. Viatamins: Need to work on this...I am horrible at taking them everyday and I need to get into this habit. I do get my b-12 in however...that habit was developed before surgery. Liquids: was difficult for the first three weeks but this past week it has gotten much better...I get about 64 oz in a day and would love to get 80 to 100! Exercise: This is another area I need to improve. Now that I am no longer sore I think I could do this with greater ease. I did start a second job as a waitress and do this 5 days a week. My shifts are about 4 hours and I am on my feet the entire time walk sometimes run...does this count??? As soon as I hit six weeks I am joining a gym and eliptical here I come!!!! Image: I'm fitting into my clothes better and believe I have went down a complete size!! Woohoo! Of course not where I want to be but it is exciting to see the lbs melting away and to see a thinner me staring back in the mirror. Okay...better end this now!!! Everyone share please!! Rita

What a great accomplishment. Way to go . Keep it up Donna

Hey Rita! I'm down 46 lbs. total and my fat pants look silly on me now (I wore a pair today and saw my reflection after I got to work). Those are going to goodwill! I am trying to be better with the water consumption too... I wasn't a big water drinker before surgery and now I'm struggling. I too want to start excercise soon when my energy returns. People are noticing the difference, especially my husband... he can't keep his hands off of me... I've scheduled him for a vasectomy this summer! I hope that you continue with your weightloss success! Amie

Congrats! Sounds like you are doing great! Keep on workin' at it! ~Robin

Wow all of ya'll are doing GREAT! I'm beginning to think that i am behind by about ten lbs! I just started exercising today and did about 5 minutes on the eliptical and about ten minutes on the bikes. I know this isn't a lot but I have to ease into things or I get frustrated and give up completely! I hope that I am not screwing this up. I had hoped to lose at least 31-35 lbs the first month and I am disappointed in myself. I feel like I am eating too much. I need to start recording what I am eating. Maybe I am grazing but I don't feel like it. Today I had one piece of toast with peanut butter on it. For lunch I had leftover casserole (about 1/3 of a cup) for dinner I had about 1/3 cup of refried beans with some guacamole (not much maybe a teaspoon if that). That is all I have eaten all day. I did have my protein test tube. I have not had my 64 oz of water today but I have had about 55. Anyway..i feel like I shoudl be further than I am at 5 weeks out. Rita

Rita, I know it's hard but you can't compare yourself with anyone else. At least that is what I keep telling myself. You are doing great and have me beat. I lost 22 for my first month. Now I am at 25 lost, at just over 5 weeks. I thought I would have lost around 30 for the first month and that was a disappointment when it didn't happen. I keep second guessing myself, am I am eating too much or eating to little. I am supposed to eat 6 1/2 cup servings a day, with 60 grams of protein. I usually only get 3 -4 servings a day. I get the protein in most days and liquids most days. I am walking at least a mile everyday and trying to get in extra water to get the weight moving a little faster. Don't worry we had the surgery. It has to come off, right???? Wanda

Hi Rita, Sorry for Being an OH slacker lately. I went back to work about a week ago, and seemed to have more time to post and respond before I went back to work. Jodell and I are also looking at more and more food options, and we are starting to get more comfortable with our new selves post RNY. Don't be so hard on yourself to meet pre-set goals for weight loss. I was losing weight like crazy for a while there, and things really slowed down for me. For a while I just quit weighing myself. It was tough because I was in the habit of daily weigh ins, but I knew if I just kept going by the rules, the weight would continue to come off. As for my personal weight loss update, I've now lost 60 pounds since 2 weeks before my surgery. Jodell has lost 30 pounds. She can relate to some of your frustrations with trying to compare yourself to other's loss. That said, 30 pounds is not "chump change" when it comes to weight loss. Almost none of my pre-surgery clothes fit without looking like I'm wearing a tent. They could now pass for "hip-hop" fashion because some of them are so baggy. I've got a few replacements, as I had to for work. Keep smiling, and remember that if you go by the rules, you will continue to lose weight! --Dave

Hi Rita, You shouldn't be disappointed because you did way better than me. I hit 4 weeks last Thursday. I went to the doctor and I am only down 17 pounds. The doctor is excited for me, but I was so frustrated with the stall I had at 3 weeks. I have been able to get in about 60 to 80 oz of water and other liquids a day. I am trying to manage about 70+ grams of protein with the help of Isopure drinks. I am taking two multivitamins a day and an Iron pill called Tandem because my iron was low in my lab work. I am walking about a mile 4 to 5 days a week when the weather cooperates. That is tough but I do it during lunch and that keeps me accountable. Everyone is doing so great. I hope to keep up somehow. I should be happy with the 17 cuz that means I now have only about 85 pounds to go. Blessings Becky H

Good for you, Rita! You seem to be doing pretty fine! About the vitamins--you have GOT to get them in everyday! You do NOT want your health and vitality to suffer because you aren't getting the essential nutrients required to get through this process safely. The thing is, folks like us are on a controlled starvation after RNY. You are not taking in enough food and calories to possibly fulfill your daily vitamin and energy requirements--which forces the body to burn its excess fat for energy. But you still need stuff like vitamin C for tissue regeneration and skin integrity and calcium to maintain your bone structure. I know it sucks--I make it a point to mark down everything I eat, including the vitamins, calcium and my zantac and ursodiol. My doc gave me a terrific pocket journal just for bariatric surgery patients and says I can get a new one whenever I need it. It's put out by Tyco Healthcare--their number is 1 800 722 8772. This journal is perfect--it has squares to mark off water, relaxation, exercise, and vitamins and calcium citrate. Then it has a place to write down the meal and grams of protein from the meal, and it is divided into breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. And it has stickers to mark when your next dr's appt. is, or support group. Every other page also has a place to put the date and write about your day--frustrations, successes, etc. I found it very helpful for me. It helps me to not consume too much, and I can keep track of my protein grams. PLUS studies have shown that people who keep food journals lose more and keep it off longer! Oh, I also recommend getting a book of food counts. The one I got has a bright blue color and has all the basic nutrients broken down for thousands of food choices. Wish I could remember the name! --Heather