Seven years ago this week I changed my life... ask me anything (good or bad)...

Seven years ago, I had RNY. I went from 340 to (at my lowest) around 150. This morning I was 168 on the scale, which is within the 160-170 range I aim for in this wonderful new menopausal world. This is me, a few months ago biking in the Appalachians:

And this is me, seven years ago:

Obviously I have done some stuff right. But I have also screwed up at times. Paying it forward is important to me, so I want to help others do some right stuff, and not screw up some stuff too (although let's be honest, life doesn't always work out like that).

So feel free to ask me anything. I mean it, literally anything. I can't promise my answer will be by the book, but it will be my truth...

Audrey

You are awesome, Audrey!

Congrats on your success.

I like that you're still here, Audrey. Congratulations!

Hey, we formerly fat feminists, atheists, allies and Bernie-lovers have to stick together. I won't leave you :)

Audrey

You're an inspiration, Audrey.

Are you able to maintain your iron levels with by mouth iron only?

No. Latest hemoglobin 11, crit 36, ferritin 30. RBW huge. But my last iv infusion was a few years back when I ruptured my appendix and honestly I hated it (I had a few others before then). So I deal with a bit of anemia, but I can't say that is the right thing to do... I am just hopeful that now that my period has ended, it will get better soon... or I will have to reassess.

Audrey

Hi Audrey:

All I can say right now is "wow!!" You.are.an.amazing.woman.and.an.inspiration!! I am striving to have a WLS story like yours!!

I'm only 2 months post-RNY, have had a slightly bumpy post-op course, and just fell off the straight and narrow. It's so great to hear from people like you who have not only lost a substantial amount of weight, but also kept it off for a long period of time. That's what I love about this forum.

I also am glad that you said that you are human and not always perfect. Every time I see "before and after" pictures posted or posts from people who have had WLS successes, I think: "Oh, no! I won't be one of the success stories because I keep goofing up!" I try to do things by the book, but every now and then, I slip up.

Which brings me to my next statement. I would like to take you up on your offer to answer any question!

My short course 2 months post-RNY has been a little rocky. I have had nausea since post-op day 1 that is just beginning to improve. Initially, the nausea was due to a stricture which was opened up about 4 or 5 weeks post-op. It has continued through the transition to solid dense proteins. In fact, at 2 months after surgery, I still can't eat most solid proteins.

I "fell off the wagon" in the past week, resorting to eating high carb slider foods because they didn't make me nauseated. I also fell into my old habit of soothing my upset emotions with food.

Audrey, did you ever run into times when your brain told you what to do, but then your emotions and old habits took over and you ate things that sabotaged your WLS journey? Over the years, how did you get yourself back on track? How did you manage to stay on track?

I would appreciate any suggestions or recommendations that you might have.

Audrey, thank you for posting and being an inspiration and help to us newbies!

---Joyce

Hi Joyce,

First question first re: nausea. Yes I got nauseous a lot. I found out that when I got even a tiny bit dehydrated, I got nauseous. I hate water. Hate it. I don't care what flavor or color it is. Hate. So I force myself to drink it (often with a Diet Dew or Diet Rockstar chaser lol), but sometimes I fail and then I suffer again.

Second question: solid proteins. If you can't eat them, don't. Seven years out I still get caught up on things like meatloaf and too-dry chicken. Instead of resorting to slider foods, go back to puree or finely chopping and add stuff to proteins to make them slide... mayo, sour cream, etc. They saved my life. And don't be afraid of fat. Fat does not make us fat, otherwise we'd all be thin from the low fat diets we tried over the years. Then ease back into the solid stuff.

Third question: I stayed on track by being annoyingly militant. I reminded myself daily that in the early months, I would lose weight no matter what because of malabsorption. At your point in the process, you could literally eat 10 bags of Skittles a day and still lose weight. But when that ends, and you are left with your tool and your emotions, it will all come back if you don't get militant about it now. On a high carb day, like Thanksgiving or Christmas, I would be surprised if I went over 100 grams of carbs. Most days it's more like 25-50.

Unfortunately I also know it is easy to say and hard to do. I also sabotaged myself at times... and I still do. I just remind myself that tomorrow is a new day, and start over again. Also some therapy, Prozac, vitamin tweaks, dumping a toxic husband, gaining a good one, whipping idiot kids into shape, gaining tenure, a cute puppy, occasional glass of wine, etc, etc etc... lol, come to think of it, weight was probably only part of my issues :)

Audrey