Nik wanted essay questions, so here they are!

How many times a day do you eat and why?  Is that what your doctor or dietician recommended, or did you work out your own schedule to meet your needs?  And if you are doing something different than what was recommended for you, why do you think your plan works better for you?

Why is exercising good for you after WLS?  What kind of exercise do you do, and how much?  How do you motivate yourself to exercise?  Do you think you get enough exercise, and if not, why don’t get more?

Why do people end up with excess skin after WLS?  How do you feel about the excess skin?  Will you have plastic surgery to remove it?  Explain why or why not.

 how much of our grade is this quiz? 

I'm supposed to be grading you?

 How many times a day do you eat and why?  Is that what your doctor or dietitian recommended, or did you work out your own schedule to meet your needs?  And if you are doing something different than what was recommended for you, why do you think your plan works better for you?

I eat 3 meals and have 2-3 snacks thru out the day. It is a combination of what my dietitian and I myself have come up with. This works for me as I tend to be on the go alto lately, being down to one car and mom having to drive everyone around all day make for some crazy days. So doing it this way I make sure I get in all my protein that I need for the day. I shoot for around 100 calories a day. 



Why is exercising good for you after WLS?  What kind of exercise do you do, and how much?  How do you motivate yourself to exercise?  Do you think you get enough exercise, and if not, why don’t get more?

It helps with your metabolism which in turn helps you burn fat. A win win. I try to work out 3-4 days a week doing zumba or walking. I just do it like it is part of my vits. I have to so I do. I would like to be one of the people that love to work out and do it 5-6 days but I just cant make myself.
 

Why do people end up with excess skin after WLS?  How do you feel about the excess skin?  Will you have plastic surgery to remove it?  Explain why or why not.

We end up with the excess skin as it used to hold the fat we had on our bodies. and all the fat stretched it out and broke it done so that it wont go back and shrink. Now some skin will shrink back but not all.  I am not loving the excess skin I do have but it is not that that bad. my worse parts are my wings i would love to get them removed and I hope to get a panni someday. But I am not sure torn as do I keep it as a remind to myself what I used to look like and will never be again or no...

You can have an A.

  How many times a day do you eat and why? I eat 6-7 times a day to keep my blood sugar and engery level steady.   Is that what your doctor or dietician recommended, or did you work out your own schedule to meet your needs? My doctor is "concerned" that I eat this way and that it will lead to grazing.  I did this and found it worked best for me.   And if you are doing something different than what was recommended for you, why do you think your plan works better for you?  I work out a lot-I need energy to make it through the workouts.  Also, I've developed RH, and eating this way all but elimates it. Why is exercising good for you after WLS? Exercise is good before WLS too!  I started 6 months before surgery and I know that it contributed to my easy recovery.  After surgery, it aids in weight loss by increasing muscle mass-and long term the more muscles we have the more calories we need to support them, so when you are years out, your body can tolerate "normal" eating. What kind of exercise do you do, and how much? I do P90X, P90X+, run, yoga and hike.  I work out 5-6 days per week.  How do you motivate yourself to exercise? I WANT to do it because after 3 years of doing it I know how good it makes me feel and I only do exercises I really enjoy.  Honestly though it took 2 solid years for it to become a habit and just part of my life.  Do you think you get enough exercise, and if not, why don’t get more? Yes, I truly do believe I get enough. Why do people end up with excess skin after WLS? Our bodies had to grow new skin to cover our expanding frames.  When we "deflate" the fat inside, the skin cannot go away on its own.   How do you feel about the excess skin? I lost 175 lbs in my mid 40s so yes, I have skin.  It really doesn't bother me!  I run with just a running bra top and let my mid section breathe (when it is summer)....if peole don't like it they do not need to look.  Spanx fixes my issues for close fitting clothing.   Will you have plastic surgery to remove it? Explain why or why not.  For me, no I will not.  It does not cause any issues.  Plastics are expensive.  Fortunately I am in a position to pay for them if I want it, but travel is so much more important to me.  I was willing to risk my life for life saving WLS, but I'm not willing to do so for vanity.  I'm not against it for anyone that wants it....this is just me and how I feel about my choice.

How many times a day do you eat and why? 

5 - 7

Is that what your doctor or dietician recommended, or did you work out your own schedule to meet your needs?  

I was given a caloric target. How I get there, to my surgeon's office, is my business.


And if you are doing something different than what was recommended for you, why do you think your plan works better for you?

I'm not doing something different but I will say that my plan is not static. It changes based on my appetite. In general I have an appetite at night but not so much during the dahy, so I fashion my activity schedule at night to go with the increased eating. One good piece of advice a trainer gave me is to eat the most when you are active the most.

Why is exercising good for you after WLS?  What kind of exercise do you do, and how much?  How do you motivate yourself to exercise?  Do you think you get enough exercise, and if not, why don’t get more?

Exercise is good for the whole body. The blood flows better, hormones regulate better and it helps you build muscle which meeans after you burn all that fat, you are left with a halfway decent body!

I love Zumba. That's my main form of exercise. Any dance workout or boxing workout is appealing to me. I am motivated to do it because I like doing it. Dancing especially has taught me to love and embrace my body. And...have I ever mentioned I am dead sexy?

Why do people end up with excess skin after WLS?  How do you feel about the excess skin?  Will you have plastic surgery to remove it?  Explain why or why not.

Even with younger folks, rapid weight loss can produce loose skin because the body is burning fat faster than the skin can naturally shrink to accommodate that loss. I am sort of used to my skin. It doesn't bother me much EXCEPT my bat wings. I love the size of my boobs now. I am DD instead of H which is a blessing. I HOPE to have the wings removed but who knows? I am in a perpetual state of broke-ness.

 How many times a day do you eat and why?
4-6 times. I find the more I eat I’ve either not eaten enough dense foods, or consumed water earlier than I should have. Usually it’s more towards the dense foods side. My NUT wanted three times a day, but I find I’m incredibly moody and hungry (real hunger, not head hunger) when I do that…and I snack more at night too. So, I try to stick to every 2-3 hours (try for 3, doesn’t always happen). I’ve also started paying attention more to what I’m sticking into my lunchbox. For instance, I get more out of my morning with a shake, banana, sliced apples w/yogurt and wee bit of granola (not all of this at the same time) than I do if I forget myself and get a breakfast burrito. Eating every 2-3 hours keeps me satisfied and seems to be working well for the moment.

Why is exercising good for you after WLS?
Aside from the obvious? Creates new habits. I cancelled cable TV and got myself a trainer in exchange.

What kind of exercise do you do, and how much?
I go the gym 3-4 days a week, work with a trainer and use the elliptical and stationary bike. I also do boxing and weight training. Sounds more glamorous than it really is. But, I’m happy.

How do you motivate yourself to exercise?
Well, paying the trainer is a motivator. It’s costing me money. The other…I didn’t want my doctor to be disappointed in me. And ultimately, I wanted to be successful with this whole journey. I didn’t do all this to keep myself welded to the couch.

Do you think you get enough exercise, if not, why don’t get more?
Probably the lazy factor. I’m working on that.

Why do people end up with excess skin after WLS?
Because we lose weight faster than we gained it, and skin doesn’t exactly snap back. It’s stretched out, lost its elasticity.  That’s my cliff’s version.

How do you feel about excess skin?
It’s buggy under my arms and I don’t like how my thighs look. The stomach isn’t bothering me that much at the moment. It’s kind of unattractive, but I can’t do anything about it right now. So I deal and don’t wear tank tops in public.

Will you have plastic surgery to remove it?
Uum…I don’t know. Guess it depends on how next year looks.

How many times a day do you eat and why? I try to do 3 meals and 1 planned snack; sometimes if there is a long period of time beween meals I'll have a 2nd snack

  Is that what your doctor or dietician recommended, or did you work out your own schedule to meet your needs?  Basically.  The 3 meals and 1 snack if meals are far apart. The 2nd snack is my own.
And if you are doing something different than what was recommended for you, why do you think your plan works better for you?  I don't know if it works better at this point.  My hunger came raging back at 3mths and I am trying to find away to avoid it + avoid snacking / grazing

Why is exercising good for you after WLS?  as everyone else said - build muscle, burn fat, crank up metabolism;  also endorphin release and sweating!  I started working out 6mths pre-op and it also served to help me have a great recovery.

What kind of exercise do you do, and how much?  I was going to the gym 3 nights a week and then working out with a personal trainer 1x a week. I also work in my garden, work with my young horse and walk a 5k each month. Then my mom has been in and out of hospitals, in rehab in another state, etc and I seem to be on the road or exhausted constantly. The last 3 weeks I was sporadic at the gym but still working on Fridays with the PT. This week I have tried going to the gym in the daylight morning instead of 1am and it was working until I got sick.  Sheesh

How do you motivate yourself to exercise? I love the feeling of accomplishment, especially after working with the PT. I love feeling strong and healthy.

 Do you think you get enough exercise, and if not, why don’t get more?  I was getting plenty, but have slacked off. I am clawing my way back though.
 

Why do people end up with excess skin after WLS? same as everyone else - it was there all along, just inflated with fat.  Now that we are "deflating" so quickly, the skin is left behind.

 How do you feel about the excess skin?  Right now I don't care... I have enough stuff deeper than skin to work on -  ie muscle toning, weight loss and the mindset of WLS


Will you have plastic surgery to remove it?  Explain why or why not.
I will probably have something done with my batwings, because I want to wear sleeveless shirts and I am not sure I will ever be confident enough to flap in public. Otherwise, I'll just cover up what I can and flaunt what I can't     :)