6 MONTH Post Op Update!!

Hi all,

It has been a while since I?ve posted but I try to check in here every few days to see how everyone is doing. I truly appreciate all the encouragement and support I've had from this site leading up to and after surgery and wanted to give you all a brief update.

Today is my 6 month Surgiversary!!! I honestly cannot believe that it?s been half a year already. I feel like my surgery was yesterday and I'm still a newbie. Guess my newbie status is dwindling!

As of this morning I?m 92.4lbs down from my Opti start and 73.4lbs down since surgery. I had the goal of being 100lbs down by six months out but i?m so close I can?t complain! It?s not a race and I'm happy with my progress. I set my goal at 175lbs and I?m 60% of the way there which feels like a good place to be at this stage. My 6 month follow up at THW isn't until next week but I've basically been doing the same thing since my 3 month follow up. I eat all food groups and aim for balance. I don't overly restrict carbs because I know I cannot keep that up long term. I focus on protein first, eat whole foods and avoid processed food and artificial sweeteners as much as possible and try to eat a large variety of food. I drink a ton of water (mostly in the form of herbal tea) and take all my vitamins. So hopefully my labs are still looking great!

I am very much enjoying being more confident and comfortable in my own skin. Physically it's a lot easier to get around in the 230s vs the 320s and I am able to do so much more at this weight than I could before. Even basic hygiene and simple tasks are so much less stressful. I am sooooo looking forward to spring weather and getting outside more!!

Overall feeling very optimistic at this point and looking ahead to Onderland!!

Congratulations! You are doing great. Balance is important and what works for you is what is most important.

Keep doing what's working. It won't be long before Onderland!

Thanks SweetRide! It's very important to me that this becomes a new lifestyle and not a "diet" I have lived the life of an obese person long enough to know that they don't work and if I'm feeling restricted I just won't be able to comply long term. It always leads to regain. I'm super happy with my progress and my new healthy approach to food. Onderland here I come!!

As I've just begun my journey it's so great to hear of the successes of those that have gone before me. Gives me something to shoot for especially on those days where I just don't want to keep sipping water all day long!

Congratulations on your progress. Thanks so much for sharing.

Absolutely!! My pleasure. You are currently at the hardest part and a couple months things will become much more manageable! It's true what they say "it gets better". It takes so much mental strength to get through this process and basically relearn your relationship with food but it's so so worth it! You're going to do great just stick to the plan! Consistency works wonders! :)

I'm just hoping the tired gets better soon, this is my second week back at work, and I'm way more tired than I was before, even during Opti, I'm managing about 7-1/2 hours sleep a night but would love 10, but not enough hours in the day.

Yes, that takes time. I was very tired for a long time. I would go out to do a simple errand and come home and fall asleep eating my lunch. It's not forever though! Soon you will have more energy than you could have hoped for! You will surprise yourself.

Way to go. You're right, balance is important and knowing what you miss may still be eaten in moderation. Pasta was always difficult for me. It wasn't a portion, it was an entire plate ... and then often a second helping. I have been told by others in my coffee group that it doesn't sit well with them and they are uncomfortable after eating. I've decided to just leave it and other than having a rotini in my daughter's Greek pasta salad, I haven't touched it. I'm also good without bread and never was a big bread person. Staying away from processed foods is also a great thing and I have tried to eat just "one-ingredient" foods in the past and find it much easier now. I'm looking forward to rainbow salads and BBQed meats.

I wish you continued success. Onederland is around the corner and you're right, it's not a race.

Sound so like you have a great approach and mindset Linda. I'm avoiding pasta as well. I find spaghetti squash is so wonderful and I can still make all my favourite pasta dishes by substituting that. I prefer it over zucchini noodles, but they're good too! I do have the occasional piece of prebiotic bread with pb, or bran buds for breakfast. I'm very keenly aware of the role fibre plays in good health as well as maintaining good gut health which for me includes drinking BIO K+ and taking a probiotic supplement and getting as much fibre in my diet as I can, as well as avoiding processed chemical foods and sweeteners and I believe those things are far more important to my health than being petrified of carbs. It's not everyone's approach and that's ok. We all have to find what works best for ourselves but for me this makes the most sense. I'm far more concerned with what the long term effects are of Sucralose to my waistline and overall health than I am about a slice of whole grain bread or 1/2 an apple.

I am looking forward to BBQ season too and all the salads!! Wishing you the best as well!

Sounds like you are doing amazing. I'm sure you'll be in wonderland before you know it!