Recent Posts
I'm on my 5th day of pre-op liquid diet and found a small paragraph in my literature that states I can have a cucumber or a pickle per day. The past 2 days have been the toughest for wanting to eat, but I'm trying to keep busy. I found this nugget and was so excited to locate 1 cucumber in my fridge. It literally made me feel human again.
I'm excited and nervous at my May 10th, 2022 surgery day, but I have a great deal of fear as well. I will be getting surgery at UNMC in Omaha, NE. If you have had your surgery here, I sure would appreciate someone to follow. I keep praying to "trust the process" and continue to the next task, but I'm finding a lot of free time and need to keep busy. Weekends are the hardest I'm noticing, and I cannot wait until I can work again Monday.
Lots of emotions and sometimes want to give in an cancel my surgery, but then I find something to entertain me for a moment and it passes. Plus, I feel lucky to have this opportunity to have the surgery.
Thank you for listening,
Erin
One of the first trainers that I worked really well with was an athlete/trainer that had a TBI and then worked his way back. I felt like he really understood the challenges of starting at then 300 lbs vs someone that had just always been fit.
HW: 306 SW: 282 GW: 145 (reached 2/6/19) CW:150
Jen
I think this is so important. I'm so glad fitness programs in schools (or some schools, anyway) are starting to see the light on this. When I was in elementary school and junior high in the 60s and early 70s, gym class was pretty much restricted to team sports and activities related to the Presidential Fitness Test, neither one of which was my "thing". I dreaded gym class (other than the weeks we did the trampoline - loved that!). I enjoyed swimming and biking immensely when I was a kid, but I'm not sure that would have been considered serious exercise then. Funny that now, in my 60s, I'm a regular exerciser - and my favorite activities are - water-based fitness classes and bicycling!
I really appreciate fitness classes that are taught by instructors with less-than-perfect bodies, too. Or older people. Not that I avoid the 25-year-old super fit instructors, but it's really nice see instructors who are 20 or 30 lbs overweight (or even more - I had a yoga instructor once who was probably 50 lbs overweight) - or in their 50s, 60s, and even 70s. It makes you realize that yes - exercise is for everyone, not just the young skinny-minnies.
RNY 06/03/15 by Michael Garren (Madison, WI)
HW: 373 SW: 316 GW: 150 LW: 138 CW: 163
I know people have posted in the past about how they can get started with fitness if they are new to it. I thought this was an interesting article and could be useful because exercise can be a critical help, physically and mentally, before and after WLS. I've followed Hampton on Twitter (hybrid calisthenics) a while because I liked his approach and kindness and although I am a regular exerciser, I've found his modification and process for starting new to me exercises to be useful. Hopefully the article is interesting/useful to others.
HW: 306 SW: 282 GW: 145 (reached 2/6/19) CW:150
Jen
You should definitely look at what they say in your plan - there's a huge amount of variation in the programs -- Some allow spicy food early on, some don't (I don't think of Pace salsa as spicy but some might). It is chunky though so if you're on purees, you may need to puree it.
Definitely focus on getting your fluids in; they should have given you a target for the day and you need to do what you have to in order to meet it; dehydration creates its own issues and makes any other issues worse!
Good luck!
HW: 306 SW: 282 GW: 145 (reached 2/6/19) CW:150
Jen
My heart doctor insisted on this surgery. I've had 2 heart valve replacements and I've got congestive heart failure. 
I should say, before surgery I was at 420. The doc said I could have surgery if I got under 400 and I managed it easily. My goal right now, is 200 lbs. I?m 6ft 5 38 years old.
I found some unflavored protein, but it makes my milk taste weird. I'll try using half the amount next time. Also, I think I'm getting dehydrated a lot, mostly because I'm afraid to drink too much at one time.
Next week, I should be starting the soft food, purée diet. Is it ok to put pace salsa on my eggs?
The lack of energy is to be expected, and it will take time to return to normal. My surgeon had me take a month off work. My first week back at work, I would basically come home, eat something, and then sleep for 12 hours until it was time to go to work again! But my second week back I felt pretty good.
Maybe extra sleep would help you feel better? Also, and I'm sure you're sick of hearing this but it's so important: drink more water! I have found that to feel my best, I actually need 2.5 liters of fluids per day. Whenever I feel unexpectedly tired, it's often a sign that I'm dehydrated, so the first thing I do is drink a glass of water.
By the time I was at the two month mark, I felt that my energy level was at about 90% normal.I felt great most of the time, but exhaustion could hit me very suddenly. That gradually improved, but getting all the way to 100% took about 9 months. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
