1 Year and 7 Months - Post-Op Update w/Picture!
Ok, so I admit it. I don't check back in to OH as often as I'd like, but I do from time to time just to remind me of where I have come from and to give encouragement to those who are taking the path that I have been down. I have always thought that pictures DO speak louder than words, so here is a picture that compares me before and after taken just yesterday in an Old Navy dressing room.
Now for the statistics because I know how important those are.
Starting Weight 11-11-2008 : 328.8 lbs
Lowest Weight 5-01-10: 172.4 lbs
Current Weight 6-07-10: 177.2 lbs
Highest rebound weight 5-20-10: 192.5 lbs (vacation)
Exercise per week: 2 hours per day - 4-5 times per week. Usually 1 hour of Cardio, Jogging is preferred.
Strength training is P90x as much as I can handle. Small weights many reps. Lots of push-ups and crunches.
How much can I eat at a time? Here are a few examples (Not all are good examples, but I live my life)
1 6oz Chicken breast and a half a cup of veggies
1 8oz hamburger patty with cole-slaw on top
1 Regular Steak or Chicken Fajita with veggies (can't quite finish all the veggies) (with no tortillas) *to compare early on my wife and I would split this order (she had VSG same day as me)
3-4 Slices of chicken or Turkey rolled up with a slice a cheese
1 Close Talker salad from Moe's Southwest grill. I can usually finish all of the beans and chicken and about half of the lettuce. Dressing on the side.
Japanese steakhouse half-chicken breast/half steak, and about a cup of veggies. Maybe 4-5 pieces of sushi, and 1 shrimp.
1 regular bowl of ice cream with mix-in from Cold-Stone Creamery (in a waffle bowl!). (I told you it wasn't all good)
I can eat lots of potato-chips, cheese-its, popcorn with butter, nutty-bars, cookies, etc... at a sitting. That's where my fight continues. I struggle with stages of eating still where I let these foods creep back in to my life. I constantly give myself a pass for a few days and eat bad things. I usually get it back under control with a week or two of hard exercise and strict eating. I'm trying to find a better balance all the way around. My tool is still working. I can eat a lot more now than I could in the beginning, but I don't believe that my sleeve is stretching anymore. I think it was at it's max capacity about 10 months post-op and has been very consistent since. My cravings for bad food usually are much worse when I'm eating bad foods. Once I have been strict for a few days, my sleeve and body help me with hunger and satiation.
I stay motivated by reading posts here and watching shows on TV like the Biggest Loser and Losing It. I have two Biggest Loser t-shirts that I work out in. I still love showing pictures to anyone who asks if I've lost a lot of weight. I also love to watch the Food Network. I know that is weird, but it works for me.
For those of you who don't know me because I haven't been around in a while, I invite you to check out my video page on youtube of my journey. Youtube.com/thinjourney. There you will find my video blog of my VSG journey. I don't do videos that often anymore because I pretty much have not changed my lifestyle that much for the past 8 months. I'm very consistent.
My hair did get very thin during my journey, but it now completely back to normal.
I do have excess skin, but nothing that I'm too ashamed of. I work out and I think it has helped. I could have a tummy tuck and breast work done, but it's really not that bad to justify the money that it would cost.
I did have my VSG in Mexico with Dr. Joya, and I can't thank him enough for the new life that I get to live! Take care everyone! Good luck on your journey, and I hope it's as successful as mine!
Andy
Now for the statistics because I know how important those are.
Starting Weight 11-11-2008 : 328.8 lbs
Lowest Weight 5-01-10: 172.4 lbs
Current Weight 6-07-10: 177.2 lbs
Highest rebound weight 5-20-10: 192.5 lbs (vacation)
Exercise per week: 2 hours per day - 4-5 times per week. Usually 1 hour of Cardio, Jogging is preferred.
Strength training is P90x as much as I can handle. Small weights many reps. Lots of push-ups and crunches.
How much can I eat at a time? Here are a few examples (Not all are good examples, but I live my life)
1 6oz Chicken breast and a half a cup of veggies
1 8oz hamburger patty with cole-slaw on top
1 Regular Steak or Chicken Fajita with veggies (can't quite finish all the veggies) (with no tortillas) *to compare early on my wife and I would split this order (she had VSG same day as me)
3-4 Slices of chicken or Turkey rolled up with a slice a cheese
1 Close Talker salad from Moe's Southwest grill. I can usually finish all of the beans and chicken and about half of the lettuce. Dressing on the side.
Japanese steakhouse half-chicken breast/half steak, and about a cup of veggies. Maybe 4-5 pieces of sushi, and 1 shrimp.
1 regular bowl of ice cream with mix-in from Cold-Stone Creamery (in a waffle bowl!). (I told you it wasn't all good)
I can eat lots of potato-chips, cheese-its, popcorn with butter, nutty-bars, cookies, etc... at a sitting. That's where my fight continues. I struggle with stages of eating still where I let these foods creep back in to my life. I constantly give myself a pass for a few days and eat bad things. I usually get it back under control with a week or two of hard exercise and strict eating. I'm trying to find a better balance all the way around. My tool is still working. I can eat a lot more now than I could in the beginning, but I don't believe that my sleeve is stretching anymore. I think it was at it's max capacity about 10 months post-op and has been very consistent since. My cravings for bad food usually are much worse when I'm eating bad foods. Once I have been strict for a few days, my sleeve and body help me with hunger and satiation.
I stay motivated by reading posts here and watching shows on TV like the Biggest Loser and Losing It. I have two Biggest Loser t-shirts that I work out in. I still love showing pictures to anyone who asks if I've lost a lot of weight. I also love to watch the Food Network. I know that is weird, but it works for me.
For those of you who don't know me because I haven't been around in a while, I invite you to check out my video page on youtube of my journey. Youtube.com/thinjourney. There you will find my video blog of my VSG journey. I don't do videos that often anymore because I pretty much have not changed my lifestyle that much for the past 8 months. I'm very consistent.
My hair did get very thin during my journey, but it now completely back to normal.
I do have excess skin, but nothing that I'm too ashamed of. I work out and I think it has helped. I could have a tummy tuck and breast work done, but it's really not that bad to justify the money that it would cost.
I did have my VSG in Mexico with Dr. Joya, and I can't thank him enough for the new life that I get to live! Take care everyone! Good luck on your journey, and I hope it's as successful as mine!
Andy
I don't count them... Never really have. I do weigh everyday and that's kind of how I gage what I'm doing each day, although anyone will tell you that it's not good to do that because it becomes a bit obsessive. But I'd have to say generally I get anywhere from 1000-1500 per day. If I don'****ch it, especially on cheat weekends, I can consume closer to 3000.
www.youtube.com/thinjourney
picasaweb.google.com/videogearexpress
Andy,
Thanks so much for posting. You have been such an inspiration to so many people in spreading the word about the benefits of VSG. I am hoping to have my surgery at the end of this month and I look forward to posting my victories here to inspire others. Your youtube videos have been such a help to me. Keep up the good work!
Brian
Thanks so much for posting. You have been such an inspiration to so many people in spreading the word about the benefits of VSG. I am hoping to have my surgery at the end of this month and I look forward to posting my victories here to inspire others. Your youtube videos have been such a help to me. Keep up the good work!
Brian
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