RNY 2/10/13 TJR 12/16/13

I had an RNY on 2/10/13 and was amazed by how long it took before my innards felt okay with the elliptical and how much longer it took me to get my lungs back and then finally some feeling of strength/coordination. I reached my goal of 225 by my 9 month check up in November and was feeling terrific. I have to give credit to my FITBIT which really kept me focused on increasing my steps and getting up to a pretty decent fitness level. 

During this process I discovered that my left hip was completely shot, bone on bone, so on 12/16/13 I had a total hip replacement of my left hip. I just started PT on Monday, and hope to get to the fitness center today to loosen up the leg on a recumbent bike and do a bit of lifting (upper body obviously). 

I did manage to get in 4000 steps on my FITBIT yesterday. Far fewer than the 15000 I averaged through the summer months, but only 17 days since I got a new hip, not all that bad. I hope to be back up to the 10,000 steps a day sometime in February. And I cannot wait to try riding a bike again with the new hip. I tried last summer but it was a very painful activity with the bone on bone hip. 

Went to the fitness center today... was able to stay on the elliptical at a VERY gentle pace for 30 minutes, did a little upper body work... looks like I might make it to 4000 steps yet today. Hopefully I can talk wife or daughter into taking me to the fitness center again tomorrow and Sunday

I am assuming that you are cleared for the elliptical use by your physical therapist? 

How tall are you that you stopped at 225?

Dr & PT said anything comfortable okay - but steer clear of weights... I kept the elliptical with no tension and minimal stroke height... 

I am 5' 10", but not sure I'm necessarily stopping at 225 - with a body fat analysis of 15.6% I'm not sure how much more I can lose and be healthy, but I'm open to seeing what 200 looks/feels like although I suspect it will be far too gaunt. Initial estimate on weight loss from removing excess skin is 20-30#s so if I don't get under 200# on my own, that surgery will take me there... Once upon a time I was not at ALL interested in that surgery, but I am so damned itchy and look like such a shar-pei that I will look into it when I reach the 2yr mark required by my clinic. 

I am 5' 10" and 184, you might be very happy with that weight or less. My husband is 6' 1" and under 180 and looks great! We both have large frames...I wear a size 13 shoe...and I'm headed to 160. While I might have looked gaunt to myself at intervals, I surely don't feel that way any longer. There is just a level of 'getting used to' the new you. :)

Did the plastic surgeon give you that estimate? They are telling my husband 10 lbs max and me 7-10 lbs on skin removal. 30 seems like a LOT!