Two-year update (X-post)
Two years? Really seems like forever and not that long ago; all in one. The first four months of this journey were the worst. I almost died and was on TPN 24/7. My body shut down to accept this upgrade. What my family calls the “rebootÂ". So what have I done to celebrate this anniversary? Yesterday, I powered walked a 5K with my mother. Next weekend I am running a 10K. I use these events to keep me on track but I do not enjoy running. I enjoy being able to run.
I just had my blood work completed again (every six months). I have some tweeks that I would like to make but overall not bad. I am pretty good about taking my vitamins and drinking my protein shakes for added support. So newbies usually ask what is life like.
Well, I am still “newÂ" at maintenance. Only been here for one year but I do live a “normal" life. I can eat and do eat. I have found that for me it is just easier to graze all day long. It works for me. But it is not really a lot. If I was to get my typical restaurant high protein breakfast that I would have eaten in the restaurant within half an hour before, it will last me all day. An hour after leaving the restaurant, I will be eating something again. I also drink all day long including with my meals. My day starts with a protein drink usually a double. (No longer coffee protein, I like my coffee “naturalÂ".) I exercise and eat well because it makes me feel good. I am not an athlete or a carb nazi but I balance things out. I have days where I am not hungry and other days I eat everything I see.
How much weight did you lose? 141 pounds but maintain a 135 pound lost. I look better with those “extraÂ" five pounds. I am 5’8Â". I am a normal BMI (21.3) but look much smaller and I think that is because I have really good muscle tone. I absolutely love when people say there is no way that I weigh as much as I do. I typically wear a 2 to 6 unless from Walmart and then I can fit a 0.
What do you eat? Normal foods. Rich in protein. I do eat fruit. Almost every day. A no sugar added fruit cup (6 to 9 carbs). I am not sensitive to sugar alcohols, except for gas. So, I eat them when I know I will be home or in a gas “safeÂ" location (camping). I have taken flagyl. Not a carb counter but know when I need to control the intake.
Do you have sagging skin? Yep. I have wrinkles, saggy arms etc. My butt was huge and all that skin is still there. However, in this last year the redistribution of weight has been kind and I can live with most of it. I have not had any plastic surgery for a few reasons; (1) After all the issues I had after this surgery, it scares me that I might not make it through another one, (2) My skin is livable. There is nothing hanging causing other issues. I do have to “tapeÂ" up my loose butt skin when running. In clothes, I look great. (I can even do sexy), (3) I used the money I had, to buy me a nice new red vehicle. I can fit in a little sporty thing now.
Did you lose your hair? I actually was one of the people who had extreme hair loss and I didn’t have much to start with. I think it was because of all the issues that I had the first few months. It has grown back healthier and thicker. Not exactly where I want it but not an issue.
How are your bathroom habitats? Well, I pee all the time. Cause I never go without something to drink. Except for a self induced, I have to clean myself out extra extra butter movie popcorn I am never doing that again incident, I have normal stool, just like before. I lean on the side of constipation so I have to take stool softeners, probotics and once in a while something to get me going. Too much crap extends my stomach and can be painful. I usually go ever other day an hour before I am supposed to get up (that is fun) or an hour to an hour and half after I have gotten up. Done for the rest of the day. (There are days where is this not true but they are rare.)
Would you do it again? Although those first few months were tough and it took me a good year to finally feel normal, yes yes yes. Absolutely. I am “normalÂ". The best thing is I am healthy. Now, I do get sick (haven’t had a cold since surgery), I do have bad days, I do have days I still “feelÂ" fat, days where food is still comforting…but life is so much better when you don’t have to worry about where you are going to sit, will you fit, are there a lot of stairs, etc. I fill so lucky to have had the chance to have the life I now have. It isn’t perfect but it is so much better. I did not know it could be like this. Of course, I wish I had done this when I was younger but I don’t know that I would have appreciated it as much.
DS is not for everyone, my journey has not always been easy but I choice the surgery that worked with the lifestyle I had and I wanted and that has made all the difference.
I just had my blood work completed again (every six months). I have some tweeks that I would like to make but overall not bad. I am pretty good about taking my vitamins and drinking my protein shakes for added support. So newbies usually ask what is life like.
Well, I am still “newÂ" at maintenance. Only been here for one year but I do live a “normal" life. I can eat and do eat. I have found that for me it is just easier to graze all day long. It works for me. But it is not really a lot. If I was to get my typical restaurant high protein breakfast that I would have eaten in the restaurant within half an hour before, it will last me all day. An hour after leaving the restaurant, I will be eating something again. I also drink all day long including with my meals. My day starts with a protein drink usually a double. (No longer coffee protein, I like my coffee “naturalÂ".) I exercise and eat well because it makes me feel good. I am not an athlete or a carb nazi but I balance things out. I have days where I am not hungry and other days I eat everything I see.
How much weight did you lose? 141 pounds but maintain a 135 pound lost. I look better with those “extraÂ" five pounds. I am 5’8Â". I am a normal BMI (21.3) but look much smaller and I think that is because I have really good muscle tone. I absolutely love when people say there is no way that I weigh as much as I do. I typically wear a 2 to 6 unless from Walmart and then I can fit a 0.
What do you eat? Normal foods. Rich in protein. I do eat fruit. Almost every day. A no sugar added fruit cup (6 to 9 carbs). I am not sensitive to sugar alcohols, except for gas. So, I eat them when I know I will be home or in a gas “safeÂ" location (camping). I have taken flagyl. Not a carb counter but know when I need to control the intake.
Do you have sagging skin? Yep. I have wrinkles, saggy arms etc. My butt was huge and all that skin is still there. However, in this last year the redistribution of weight has been kind and I can live with most of it. I have not had any plastic surgery for a few reasons; (1) After all the issues I had after this surgery, it scares me that I might not make it through another one, (2) My skin is livable. There is nothing hanging causing other issues. I do have to “tapeÂ" up my loose butt skin when running. In clothes, I look great. (I can even do sexy), (3) I used the money I had, to buy me a nice new red vehicle. I can fit in a little sporty thing now.
Did you lose your hair? I actually was one of the people who had extreme hair loss and I didn’t have much to start with. I think it was because of all the issues that I had the first few months. It has grown back healthier and thicker. Not exactly where I want it but not an issue.
How are your bathroom habitats? Well, I pee all the time. Cause I never go without something to drink. Except for a self induced, I have to clean myself out extra extra butter movie popcorn I am never doing that again incident, I have normal stool, just like before. I lean on the side of constipation so I have to take stool softeners, probotics and once in a while something to get me going. Too much crap extends my stomach and can be painful. I usually go ever other day an hour before I am supposed to get up (that is fun) or an hour to an hour and half after I have gotten up. Done for the rest of the day. (There are days where is this not true but they are rare.)
Would you do it again? Although those first few months were tough and it took me a good year to finally feel normal, yes yes yes. Absolutely. I am “normalÂ". The best thing is I am healthy. Now, I do get sick (haven’t had a cold since surgery), I do have bad days, I do have days I still “feelÂ" fat, days where food is still comforting…but life is so much better when you don’t have to worry about where you are going to sit, will you fit, are there a lot of stairs, etc. I fill so lucky to have had the chance to have the life I now have. It isn’t perfect but it is so much better. I did not know it could be like this. Of course, I wish I had done this when I was younger but I don’t know that I would have appreciated it as much.
DS is not for everyone, my journey has not always been easy but I choice the surgery that worked with the lifestyle I had and I wanted and that has made all the difference.
Happy surgiversary, Ms Doll. 
--gina
--gina
5'1" -- HW 195/SW 187/GW 115 July 08/CW 121 Dec 2012
******GOAL*******
Starting BMI between 35 and 40ish?
Join us on the Lightweights Board!
DS on Aug 9, 2007 with Dr. Hazem Elariny
Happy surgiversary, MsDoll...you are doing great!
Liz
Liz
Duodenal Switch (Lap) 01-24-11 | Surgeon: Stephen Boyce | High weight: 250 in 2002 | Surgery weight: 203 | Lowest weight: 121 | Current weight: 135 | Goal weight: 135
Awesome writeup! Congratulations - and what you have shared will help many people who are looking at maintenance and meeting their "goal"!
HW-218/SW-208/CW-126/ Lowest Weight-121/Goal-125 - hit 8/23/09/Height-5'3"
Regain 30 lbs from 2012 to 2016 - got back on track and lost it. Took 8 months.
90+/- pounds lost BMI - 24 or so
Starting BMI between 35 and 40ish?
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