Surgevisary

Wow…I don’t know where to really start. So forgive me if it seems like I’m rambling. This has been a roller coaster ride, mostly downhill.  I started my WLS journey at 357 pounds 15 months ago when I went for my initial consultation with Dr. Nishimura. My highest recorded weight was 380; but I was definitely heavier than that…lost interest, didn’t want to know what the actual number was, but I’m sure I was pushing well over 400 Pounds. I5 months ago I was wearing a 22" Neck Dress Shirt, 3 or 4 XL Polo Shirt and 54" waist pants My BMI was 49.8.

I lost 48 pounds on my pre-op diet and weighed 309 on the day of my surgery (3/3/2010).

Today I’m 205 pounds wearing 15" Dress shirt, Medium Polo Shirt and 34" waist pants my BMI is 28.6

I’ve lost about 80% of my excess weight (152 pounds). I lost an entire person.

			Weight Loss by Month
Dec-09	Jan-10	Feb-10	Mar-10	Apr-10	May-10	Jun-10	Jul-10
23	12	13	21	21	13	10	11
Aug-10	Sep-10	Oct-10	Nov-10	Dec-10	Jan-11	Feb-11	Mar-11
5	11	2	-3	1	10	0	2
			Total Pounds		152

 

I feel absolutely incredible. You never realize how much the weight is holding you down until it’s no longer there. I have much more energy which makes me want to do more. I’m exercising regularly, I love doing Spin classes as well as weight training. I’m focusing on building core strength hopping it will help with some of my excess skin issues. Last week I went skiing and snowboarding with the kids…Never did that before. I even was able to fit in a go kart. Also went roller skating, haven’t done that in about 30 Years. It’s like I have a new lease on life. I didn’t realize how much my weight caused me to shut myself in. 

Right after the surgery I lost my hunger. I’ve never had sliming or frosting but I do throw up if I push my sleeve limits. Initially it was rough. My doctors program was liquids until my 5^th week, after that point turned to soft foods like yogurt and cheeses for another month.  I wasn’t able to drink cold liquids until two months out (couldn’t tolerate it). When I started soft foods I threw up for what seemed for no rhyme or reason. I would eat something one day and I would be fine. The next day had the same thing and couldn’t keep it down. After about five months I was fine.

Even though I lost my hunger. I still suffer from cravings. Sometimes I find myself eating even though I’m not hungry. What I’ve learned to do is eat on a schedule to get all my protein in. I’m constantly either eating something or drinking. It helps satisfy the cravings. Here’s my schedule:

6:00 am - Drink 16oz of Water take my Multi vitamins and meds.
8:00 am - Breakfast
9:00 am - Drink 16 0z of Water
10:00 am - Snack
12:00 pm - Lunch
1:00 pm - Drink 16 oz of Water
2:00 pm Snack
3:00 pm - Drink 16 oz of Water
7:00 pm - Dinner
9:00 pm - Snack
10:00pm - Drink 8 oz of Water - Vitamin C and Iron Supplement

My Snacks consist of high protein foods eg…Greek Yogurt, Cheese, Pepperoni, Beef Jerkey, sometimes cashews.

The one thing I have learned is that carbs are still not my friend. My Doctor doesn’t have any limitations around carb consumption. His programs focuses on protein first then consume, veggies, fruits lastly carbs (if there’s room). I’m a carb addict once I start it’s a snowball effect rolling down a mountain. Carbs makes me gassy.

Once after about two or three months out I ended up in the hospital with severe stomach pains. Never had that much pain in my life. My doctor ordered blood work,  abdominal X-Ray , CT Scan, Upper endoscopy  all test came back negative.  He wanted to play things safe as right before closing me up (during my RNY that turned into a Sleeve Surgery…see my profile/My Story for more info on that) he did a leak test and discovered a leak and repaired it. My White Blood Cell count was elevated for a couple of days after surgery which caused me to stay in the hospital for an additional day. All this was due to me going carb crazy when I deviated from program two days before my pains. I didn’t think that my deviation two full days before I experienced any pain was related to my symptoms but looking back I think it was. This is why I always advise people to stick to program. You never know what the results of a little deviation can do, especially when you’re a newbie.

My first six months were learning to live with my sleeve. As I mentioned I threw up a lot initially. I still have great restriction (size 38 boughie). I feel that I get full fast and stay satiated for a long time.  I can eat about 3 to 4 oz of dense protein. I can eat anything with no repercussions at this point (very important to chew well and eat till satisfied).  It’s annoying when I go out in a group setting.  But in the long run it’s defiantly worth it. I have to choose wisely what I’m going to sample as I can’t consume much.

I eat until I’m satisfied not till I’m full (I don’t wait for a full signal). I don’t want to risk over eating. If I over eat, I feel really bloated then I get nauseous and then I have to throw up. Eating till I’m full isn’t worth it. I give myself a max of 20 minutes to eat. I don’t weigh or measure my food. Since my job requires travel. It’s not practical for me to do this.  I don’t try to finish what’s on my plate. This was a big mental leap for me. I grew up in a house hold where you weren’t allowed to leave the table until you finished your plate. I was also told that there were starving children in the world and I should be grateful to have food on the table.

Initially I couldn’t drink fast. I had to sip everything. After my 2^nd month I discovered I could drink a bit more rapidly. I can drink a 16oz bottle of water in about 3 minutes.  As you can see from my schedule above that’s part of my strategy for consuming my 64oz of water. Although I can drink in about 3 minutes I usually do it within 5. I can throw up water if I drink it too fast.

As I mentioned I do have excess skin especially in my stomach and thighs. At this point it’s not really bothering me. No skin irritations. Still not sure if I’ll do plastics but I haven’t ruled them out.

I’ve noticed that I’ve become a bit more vein. I really care how I look now. I’m wearing better looking clothes. Everything before was baggy and dark colors. Now I wear better fitting clothes as well as better color coordinated clothes. I’ve ditched my glasses for contact lenses. I was considering Lasik but my Optometrist convinced me to try contacts first.

My biggest dilemma has been over my goal weight. I initially set my goal weight to 220 pounds. When I hit goal at 9 months, I was conflicted as to whether I should stay there or go for a normal BMI. I was bouncing back and forth on holding at 220 or to continue loosing. I was listening to people that where telling me to stop “You’re looking to thin".

After some soul searching and advice from my support groups both OH and my Doctors. I was reminded of my initial reasons for making the decision for Weight Loss Surgery. It wasn’t to hit some number on a chart. It was to get healthy. My Doctor said my body will know when to stop. Therefore I’m not resisting anymore. I’m listening to my body. It seems that I’m leveling off between 205 and 210 pounds as I’ve been here for a while. I’m happy with that and don’t care if I lose any more weight. But if I do, I’m not going to freak out about it.

I still can’t believe how successful this has been for me. I thought I was going to be a slow looser or that this surgery wouldn’t work for me. After a year I realize that this was the best thing that I have done for myself. I definitely see a light at the end of the tunnel and it’s definitely getting brighter. 

I love my sleeve.

 

 

 

Way to work it Mike!  That FART wreaked to the point that a fish would hold it's breath!

You are a great success story and inspirational.  Congrats.

Great pictures - hard to believe it's you in both of them!  You've done extremely well, and are a true role model for those of us who are following in your footsteps.  Wishing you continued success and happiness in your "new" life...

Cool cool cool...And thanks for passing the new info to the guys just starting out.  I remember when I was new to WLS.  It was posts like these (only with RNY people) that really helped me along the way.  Since the VSG is becoming more popular you are paying it forward!!

Loved the pictures and reading of your journey. You're doing great!!

 great job, You are definitely an inspiration for me.