6 month follow-up (xpost)
Last Friday marked the 6 month point since surgery, with my surgical follow-up yesterday. I went in to this appointment really up beat and feeling good about my prgress and the changes I have made to my life, so good in fact I didn't wear gym shorts and a Tshirt to weighin. Well That isn't how I felt upon leaving the appointment.
I have surpassed my surgeons milestones at every follow up including this one. They wanted to see a 60 pound loss at 6 months and I recorded an 85pound loss (89 pounds at the gym). Everyone was thrilled by this and the measurements they took, 9 inches gone from the chest, 10 inches gone from the waist. All of this they were thrilled about.
We talked about my Exercise routine which is Weights and 5K runs on MWF, Weights on 1 and TH morning with Tae Kwon Do class at night and schedule permitting back to back TKD classes on Saturday. I am up between 430 and 530am M-F to get my exercise in. Again they were very happy to hear this.
We moved on to my food intake, and this is where things started to change. As some know I opted to go to an independent NUT who is very experienced in Bariatric patients and their dietary needs. She looked at my activity and current calorie and food intake and made adjustments and has me track all of my food (which makes me insane because I still am so low) which I still struggle most days to make the goals she laid out as far as intake.
Daily Goals are :
min 60 g Protein
1 serving of Fruit
1 serving of veggie
with grains being allowed too.
Calorie Target 1000-1200
Doesn't sound to bad. The issue came up with the fact that I eat fresh fruits daily, because they are mainly sugar, and no protein. I said yes I understand that but I only eat fruits in any real quantity on the days I exercise. Second concern was veggies, I don't eat fresh veggies as they are difficult to chew enough. Third concern I eat whole grain breads and crackers! yes immediately prior to working out. Typically breakfast in a Multi Grain waffle with a bit of Banana or English muffin with Peanut Butter. I explained that The English muffin is prior to my run days which are 45 minute runs with 60 minutes of weight lifting, and my Waffles are the days I do weights or Tae Kwon Do and only immediately prior to Working out. My workouts used to be much shorter as I usually hit a wall half way through and had no energy to continue, wow food and yes carbs give me the energy I need to finish and I am energized the rest of the day. I don't eat Breads on at all on the days I don't exercise but will have some berries. I am lucky to avg 1100 calories a day for the week most days I am happy to hit 1000.
So what am I doing wrong? I do not honestly know I get my protein I exercise A LOT! I get my fluids, again exercise days I am typically in the 80 to 100oz mark. I don't test the waters, I dont graze I don't eat sweets. I live a healthy life style I eat small healhy meals. I have become the person I always wanted to be but never could.
Rather than encourage me to continue the lifestyle I have adopted it was pointed out that
1) I probably won't exercise this much forever. Probably not but exercise will always be a part of my life. I have set very specific goals related to my exercise for about the next 2 years.
2) I probably won't track my food forever. Again probably not. I will track my food until I hit that sweet spot between intake and burn. Once I have learned and it becomes natural for me to adjust my diet based on my activity then I will probably do it less but lets admit it with todays technology and smartphones there are apps that make it very easy to do.
So what will I do? I will follow the rules in regards to my Surgery as it applies to Supplements, Drinking and Protein. As for the rest like many vets out there I will the find out what works for me and my life and then follow that. I have agonized and learned that while all RNY surgeries are pretty much the same our bodies are not. Our bodies do not follow the mathematical formulas that state burn 3500 calories lose a pound. But our bodies are smart enough to adapt to what it feels it needs to survive in regards to what is being supplied.
I have surpassed my surgeons milestones at every follow up including this one. They wanted to see a 60 pound loss at 6 months and I recorded an 85pound loss (89 pounds at the gym). Everyone was thrilled by this and the measurements they took, 9 inches gone from the chest, 10 inches gone from the waist. All of this they were thrilled about.
We talked about my Exercise routine which is Weights and 5K runs on MWF, Weights on 1 and TH morning with Tae Kwon Do class at night and schedule permitting back to back TKD classes on Saturday. I am up between 430 and 530am M-F to get my exercise in. Again they were very happy to hear this.
We moved on to my food intake, and this is where things started to change. As some know I opted to go to an independent NUT who is very experienced in Bariatric patients and their dietary needs. She looked at my activity and current calorie and food intake and made adjustments and has me track all of my food (which makes me insane because I still am so low) which I still struggle most days to make the goals she laid out as far as intake.
Daily Goals are :
min 60 g Protein
1 serving of Fruit
1 serving of veggie
with grains being allowed too.
Calorie Target 1000-1200
Doesn't sound to bad. The issue came up with the fact that I eat fresh fruits daily, because they are mainly sugar, and no protein. I said yes I understand that but I only eat fruits in any real quantity on the days I exercise. Second concern was veggies, I don't eat fresh veggies as they are difficult to chew enough. Third concern I eat whole grain breads and crackers! yes immediately prior to working out. Typically breakfast in a Multi Grain waffle with a bit of Banana or English muffin with Peanut Butter. I explained that The English muffin is prior to my run days which are 45 minute runs with 60 minutes of weight lifting, and my Waffles are the days I do weights or Tae Kwon Do and only immediately prior to Working out. My workouts used to be much shorter as I usually hit a wall half way through and had no energy to continue, wow food and yes carbs give me the energy I need to finish and I am energized the rest of the day. I don't eat Breads on at all on the days I don't exercise but will have some berries. I am lucky to avg 1100 calories a day for the week most days I am happy to hit 1000.
So what am I doing wrong? I do not honestly know I get my protein I exercise A LOT! I get my fluids, again exercise days I am typically in the 80 to 100oz mark. I don't test the waters, I dont graze I don't eat sweets. I live a healthy life style I eat small healhy meals. I have become the person I always wanted to be but never could.
Rather than encourage me to continue the lifestyle I have adopted it was pointed out that
1) I probably won't exercise this much forever. Probably not but exercise will always be a part of my life. I have set very specific goals related to my exercise for about the next 2 years.
2) I probably won't track my food forever. Again probably not. I will track my food until I hit that sweet spot between intake and burn. Once I have learned and it becomes natural for me to adjust my diet based on my activity then I will probably do it less but lets admit it with todays technology and smartphones there are apps that make it very easy to do.
So what will I do? I will follow the rules in regards to my Surgery as it applies to Supplements, Drinking and Protein. As for the rest like many vets out there I will the find out what works for me and my life and then follow that. I have agonized and learned that while all RNY surgeries are pretty much the same our bodies are not. Our bodies do not follow the mathematical formulas that state burn 3500 calories lose a pound. But our bodies are smart enough to adapt to what it feels it needs to survive in regards to what is being supplied.
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
Paul, you are doing great. Keep up the good work. I am thinking that the doctor's concerns are your current habits. The biggest part of maintenance (which you will be facing soon) is the change in our eating habits. I can see by your posts that you have changed your lifestyle significantly, but the bad habits start to creep back at about 1 year post and I'm sure the doctor is concerned that your current diet could go wrong extremely fast if you cut back on your activities and kept eating the way you are.
I suggest that you keep doing what has made you successful, but be aware, catch and change the bad habits when they rear their ugly heads in the future. Way to go, you are already a mentor to the guys behind you with the sharing of your WLS experience.
I suggest that you keep doing what has made you successful, but be aware, catch and change the bad habits when they rear their ugly heads in the future. Way to go, you are already a mentor to the guys behind you with the sharing of your WLS experience.
Robert
Paul you are doing great ! Their concerns are waranted as many people fail their rny by letting bad habits slowly creep in and not change their lifestyle like you have done. I have had the luxury of trying to add muscle and being able to eat almost anything (within reason) but after being down for the past couple of weeks I am now really watching the diet again with no activity. The rny will always be what you make it not what the Dr or NUT say it should be. Keep at it Paul, your doing great.
No longer about weight , it's all about living.
Keep doing what you're doing!! You are doing great. Like others have said, just be aware of 2 things...Carbs and dropping exercise. If you start to introduce simple carbs in you diet (which are very addicting), you are bound to fall. Most RNYers do introduce them as some type of warped reward. It's like..."I'm doing so well. I've dropped so much weight, I think I'll reward myself with a little...fill in the blank". The it becomes birthday parties and socal gatherings at work or at play. If you stay away from simple carbs you'll will be fine...even if the exercise routine drops for some reason. The other thing I want to mention is if the exercise rotine drops for some reason...Injury or time restraint. You know you'll need to cut back on the calories if you can't exercise. As you get toward goal weight and into maintaining you will have to adjust and tweek as needed for maintaining. The doctor and staff are wrong on this one...and deep down in your heart you know you're right. They look and see the 60 year old woman who had RNY 2-4 years ago. She may have started a little over 200...After 6 months got down to 150 and has slowly climbed back to about 170-180. Very common if not checked (carbs and lack of exercise being the main cause). Keep your eyes open and on the target you'll be at goal within 2 months!! Men lose the weight faster than women...We have a larger muscle structure. The women hate that about us...but just have to live with it. Brian
Paul,
Like the others have posted above, you have done great and can be very proud of what you've accomplished. While both your Dr and his team are very well meaning, as I believe most of our Drs are, each of us is different and will respond to food and exercise differently. As long as you recognized that IF you decrease or stop you current exercise routine, you must change your eating habits accordingly.
I've had almost the same visit experience. I've learned to listen and take it all in, then do what works for me. One of the big things to keep in mind as you get near and reach your weight loss goal, is that reaching the goal is not the end of the journey. It is a life style and life time journey. Those who have failed and gained back the weight, have fallen back to old "bad" habits.
Please don't let this get you down. Keep doing what you are doing as it is working for you. You are healthier and seem to be happier than you were before. Enjoy your new life and keep on living!
Mike
Like the others have posted above, you have done great and can be very proud of what you've accomplished. While both your Dr and his team are very well meaning, as I believe most of our Drs are, each of us is different and will respond to food and exercise differently. As long as you recognized that IF you decrease or stop you current exercise routine, you must change your eating habits accordingly.
I've had almost the same visit experience. I've learned to listen and take it all in, then do what works for me. One of the big things to keep in mind as you get near and reach your weight loss goal, is that reaching the goal is not the end of the journey. It is a life style and life time journey. Those who have failed and gained back the weight, have fallen back to old "bad" habits.
Please don't let this get you down. Keep doing what you are doing as it is working for you. You are healthier and seem to be happier than you were before. Enjoy your new life and keep on living!
Mike
Eating junk food and CRAP is not a reward...it's a punishment...
it's a DEATH sentence...Reward yourself with Good Health!
Highest Weight: 287 Lbs-January 2010; Reached Goal 195 Lbs - Dec 2010
Total Lost: 92 Lbs; Completed FULL MARATHON (26.2 Miles) 10-16-2011
it's a DEATH sentence...Reward yourself with Good Health!
Highest Weight: 287 Lbs-January 2010; Reached Goal 195 Lbs - Dec 2010
Total Lost: 92 Lbs; Completed FULL MARATHON (26.2 Miles) 10-16-2011
Thanks to everyone for taking time to listen to my rant and lend your perspectives. I guess this is one of the difficulties about having a procedure that is pretty much a cookie cutter surgery, people are really looked at being individuals but rather everyone is seen as an WLS patient with rules that they must follow. I know many people opt to undergo these procedures to simply lose weight. My motivation from the start was to get healthy, yes losing weight is up there but leading a healthy life style is my goal.
When I started this process I was taking Daily
1000mg Metformin Twice a day (Diabetes)
Onglyza (Diabetes)
Tricor (High Cholesterol)
Lisinopril (High Blood Pressure)
That is a lot of freaking pills and to be completely honest all my numbers were still considered bad. Today I take 2 medications twice a day to prevent my ulcers My A1C was 5.1, Total Cholesterol was 94 and my resting BP is 80-90 over 60-70. So as far as I am concerned I have achieved my primary goal. I knew going into this that I had to make life changes, actually changes I had always wanted to make but the fact my weight interfered with my ability to do things was very discouraging. I have begun making these changes, I still don't have a healthy relationship with food, to be honest I can take it or leave it I eat because I need to and my wife makes me.
I am going to continue with the lifestyle and schedule I have put in place and tailor my diet around my lifestyle as I have been doing for the past few months. Hopefully soon I will discover that sweet spot and can focus on dialing my diet in.
Again thank you to everyone.
When I started this process I was taking Daily
1000mg Metformin Twice a day (Diabetes)
Onglyza (Diabetes)
Tricor (High Cholesterol)
Lisinopril (High Blood Pressure)
That is a lot of freaking pills and to be completely honest all my numbers were still considered bad. Today I take 2 medications twice a day to prevent my ulcers My A1C was 5.1, Total Cholesterol was 94 and my resting BP is 80-90 over 60-70. So as far as I am concerned I have achieved my primary goal. I knew going into this that I had to make life changes, actually changes I had always wanted to make but the fact my weight interfered with my ability to do things was very discouraging. I have begun making these changes, I still don't have a healthy relationship with food, to be honest I can take it or leave it I eat because I need to and my wife makes me.
I am going to continue with the lifestyle and schedule I have put in place and tailor my diet around my lifestyle as I have been doing for the past few months. Hopefully soon I will discover that sweet spot and can focus on dialing my diet in.
Again thank you to everyone.
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
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