Just Checkin In!!!

I know I haven't checked in much since my surgery (bad, bad Leslie ) because I know I loved to know how everyone was doing. So I will try to do better...

I wiill be 3 weeks post-of this Thursday and things are great.  My case for having the RNY was a little bit different than most, but my BMI was 41%, which WAS enough. I am only 5'1" tall and for some reason I do carry weight very well, BUT it does not make it healthy. I was 239, lost, gained back up to 223 and lost down to 213 the day of surgery. Could never get below 200 though. I have a failed Lap Nissen, high BMI, and a horrible family history. I went in for a Lap Band, but since i had the Lap Nissen, I was not a canidate for it and that is why I had the RNY. So, I carry my weight well and I was in a 16/18  and 1X/2X tops, but ALL I ever heard even from a nurse at the hospital is "You don't look like you need one". HELLO, I could not have just walked of the street and requested one, there MUST be a reason. Though I never said that outloud of course.  I was so glad to have it and not have to hear that, which leads me to the results....

I am 3 1/2 weeks post-op, down 26lbs since surgery and into a size 14 pants and large shirts, that I don't think I will wear long. I am happy, but NOW I get "the look" when somebody finds out I am just a few weeks post-op from gastric bypass. GRRRRRR....Nobody is hateful, but they just don't get it. MAYBE there is this itty bitty person hiding in there, I might not look like I need it, but the scale and the BMI says I do. So at least when I find tha***** bitty me, people will just assume I was what they have pictured in their minds and I don't have to hear it anymore.

Aside from that, recovery has been great. Get in my water, protein is harder to get in, have learned a few lesson on how/what to eat or not. I pretty much stick to the same for now. I don't have a huge battle with head hunger, but the past two days I have wanted things. So I may need to add a few more flavors. I have noticed that I seem to hold more at night, but then I have salad at night too, so that may be why. I did measure my chicken and discover that i had not been eating even an ounce, it sure looked like it though. Vitamins were hard to work into my schedule, the Army provides them. I can take the prenatal, it's a meal, but I can do it. The two calcium pills are not coated and get stuck in my throat. I do chews, they are not the right kind of calcium, but neither are the ones he gave me either. I think maybe the intern put them in wrong, because my surgeon specialized in bariatric surgery. Most of my protein comes from dairy, so I am not too worried.

Exercise has not been great. I was released at week two to do all workouts. El Paso + Summer = Not Happening! So we made room and moved our gym inside, tonight we are making a workout and getting with it.

Hope all is going well for everyone else!!

Leslie (not sure if my signature will show up)

Thank you for the update Leslie. Sounds like you are doing things right. Hold your head up high, you had the procedure you wanted and needed to gain health. We are here to walk beside you along tnis adventure. Hugs

Hi leslie! Thanks for checking it. It is wonderful to hear from you.
The early weeks and months after surgery are a big learning curve. Learning what to eat, how much, what sits well what won't, how much activity we can handle or not and learning to incorperate it into our lives, supplements, etc. Ahhhhhhhh what a big change things are. Take it a step at a time. Good for you on moving the gym inside and doing what you need to  in order to start getting in the activity your body needs.

Great job on the weight loss. Keep up the good work. Don't let the opinion of those who "don't get it" get to you. They are just clueless and don't even realize how they may be making you feel.

Keep your head up..stand proud...and kick obesity to the curb! Goooo girl!

Thanks Kathy and Patrece! Learning experience is the truth. I feel so normal and sometimes start to do things without thinking. Just made cookies for the guys, I am not a sweet eater, so didn't bother me at all. But I got melted chocolate on my finger and automatically popped it in my mouth. I am sure that little bit of sugar wouldn't have done anything, but not chancing it, spit it in the sink. They guys were cracking up once the figured out what in the world was going on. LOL...

One question though, I only eat three times a day and that is all I really think about eating. I have my lemon ice at night for a treat (my idea of a dessert, but sour). But why at dinner time am I able to hold more food? I am no more hungry than normal, it just seems to take more to get me to that point, but yet more than what would make me miserable during the day. Not a lot, but still more than normal. It is almost like the full feeling is different. I am not sure how much food I should be able to hold right now.  He has me on full solids, and I have been for two weeks now. Just curious...

you should be at about one to 2 ounces at this point per meal. Once you hit 3 months out, about 1/4 cup is whereyou should be and thats 2 oz. Maybe the meals you are preparing are containing things that aren't as solid (or dense) sometimes this can make the difference. Just be sure you are never eating to the point of FULL. Stop when satisfied. Sometimes we are tempted to take an extra bite or two cuzit is good.. but remind yourself, you are no longer eating for taste and pleasure, but simply becaue we must to survive. And know that if you really need just another taste or two, you can always save it and have it for later. Another thing is if you are drinking with your dinner, you may be flushing the food from your pouch, thus making room for more. Don't do this! lol. Now is the time to get all of the new and healthy practices into place that will allow us to succeed for a lifetime.

My surgeon said to me right after my surgery, to always measure, and not to exceed the amounts per meal. I am now 2 years and almost 1 month out from surgery, and at times, still measure to make sure i am close to where I need to be.

So much to learn it's crazy. But absolutely worth every bit of effort!

Thanks for the info! I have started measuring and realized I was NOT eating as much as I had thought. During the day I only have protein with my meals, so I get full really fast. I did measure to two ounces yesterday and realized I had only been eating about 1 to 1.5, I pretty much do the same at lunch, and am shy of two ounces. It is just at dinner, and you are right, that is when I like to have my salad, and I am sure that is why. I have eat that one bite too many while trying to find where the right stopping point was. not fun!  I do not drink before, during, or after my meals, so I know that is not the problem. Sometimes it is a chicken soup I made, low cal, low fat, so 2 oz of that with some broth isn't much either.  

I am doing well, so I will just go with what I am doing. My info talks more about what to have, than it does amounts, so I wasn't sure. I have really slowed down on losing now. I need to just weigh once a week now, that is hard to do. haha

Remember the 2 oz is the high end for where you are now.. so 1 to 1.5 oz is good. you should be around 2 oz at close to the 3 month mark.
If you are only eating 3 meals a day, sometimes adding in a highprotein snack or drink can help up the loss a bit. Also make sure you get plenty of fluids, as this helps keep the loss going too. If you have a broth, eat that before the solids.. otherwise it will act as a "drink" and flush the food from your pouch. This, you really want to avoid.

Sounds like you are right in the target range! Good job!

Breakfast today was 1.5 oz of nothing put protein and I am good. Lunch is the same, and I weigh out a bit more for dinner, but never eat near all of it. So I am probaby good on my amounts. I try to remember to add in a protein shake, not very fond of sweet things or milk, so I do have to force that one down. I am always good on my water, I am a water drinker anyway. Our book from the nutritionist says ONLY eat three meals a day, no snacks, no treats in between. This is considered grazing and will lead to overeating when your stomach can hold more. I cannot see it EVER being possible to get the minimum requirement for protein in, in only three meals a day. They only want you to add protein shakes in if needed.  It seems to be very different in a military treatment facility than in the civilian sector. How did you do it?

My surgeon told me only 3 meals a day and NO protein supplements. I followed that plan for 2 months, and weight loss slowed considerably. So I decided to go with the plan my daughters surgeon set of adding in a high protein snack or supplement, and the weight loss picked back up.

I never encourage anyone to go against what thier doc says for them to do. i am not a doctor..so... but this was my experience.