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I never got around to posting a 5 month blog, and before I knew it the 6 month post-op mark was coming around. I can't believe that its been six months since I've had surgery! Where does the time go? I remember thinking about my post-op experience and wondering how it would be. How would I handle the drastic dietary changes? What would I look like 6 months after my surgery? Would I have regrets? Its very easy for me to say that I have absolutely no regrets and I've never had one regret since July when I had the surgery done. I've been extremely blessed and have had a very positive experience and an easy time post-op. I hate to think about all the complications and struggles that some people go through after gastric bypass. I was afraid that those experiences would be my experience, but I stayed focused on the positive and did what I was supposed to do and have been successful!
I was also very happy to hear this month that my ALL of my blood work was normal! I'm not deficient in anything, which is very good news for me! I'm so glad that I don't have to add any new vitamins or supplements to my diet! I'm doing great! I hope the next 6 months leading up to my year anniversary are just as successful and wonderful as the first 6 months!
I'm writing this months blog a little late. 4 months have passed and it doesn't even feel like I've ever had surgery. I get the occasional reminder if I eat a dry piece of meat or if I eat too fast but fortunately those occurrences are very few and far between.
I've taken up baking sugar free desserts lately and have noticed that I'm eating a sugar free treat just about every night. I'm trying to be careful about this but I don't have treats during the day so I consider my nightly sugar free desserts to be deserved (as long as I don't overdo it).
I've started a running program as well in hopes of running a 5K in the spring. Its a goal I'm confident I can achieve. So far I'm doing well with the program and don't find it too difficult but I'm only running for minutes at a time right now. Let's see what happens when I'm running for 20-30 minutes! Its sounds hard to me right now but I know that's something I have to build up to. I've also started working with a trainer. I meet with her once a week. The first time I worked with her we worked my shoulders and back...wow! I was so sore the next day but it felt good! I have no upper body strength so its about time I build some! My goal with all of this is to have a fit body. I want to be in shape. I don't want to be 'skinny' or 'buff'...I want to be healthy, fit and toned!
I've also noticed myself eating or sometimes snacking a bit more. I'm not eating a large amount of food but the choice in food could be better. It hit home when I stepped on the scale this week and for the first time in four months, the numbers on the scale went up instead of down! I actually gained weight! I know its not the exercise because I went to the gym a few times last week plus met with the trainer. I had two parties over the weekend that I went to and I didn't eat the healthiest types of food at either party. So, that goes to prove that even though I've had surgery, I still have to do the work and make the proper food choices or I will gain weight back!
67lbs lost...and counting!
Its been 3 months since my surgery and boy do I feel great! I have lost 57 lbs and it shows. Even though I tried to fight it I just couldn't help myself...I had to go out and buy some new clothes. I went to a consignment shop first and bought a few articles of clothing there, so at least I didn't spend a lot of money. But then I got sucked into Target and ended up buying a few more pieces there, plus a coat. I wanted enough stuff to last me through the fall and hopefully the winter. It was actually fun to go shopping! It was great going through the smaller sizes. I can fit in a large size top now (although I bought my coat in an XL size to accommodate bulky sweaters underneath) and I can comfortably fit into size 16 pants! This is all so exciting to me! I can't wait until I'm no longer in plus size pants!
I'm still doing good with the eating part, although I have caught myself craving snack type food in the afternoon. I'm trying not to eat carbs like crackers or trail mix, but I find it hard. I try to pair it up with a protein like cheese, but its hard for me to resist the crunch. Its still too early for me to let those old habits find their way back into my life. I do not want to let that happen! So, my challenge has been trying to find smart and healthy snacks that will satisfy me in the afternoon between lunch and dinner. Besides that, I'm eating fine, getting in enough protein and fluids.
I've decided that I'd like to run a 5K in the spring. I've never run before and I don't know if I'll be any good at it but I'd like to try. I really think its something I can do. I need to start training for it now though so I'll be ready. I don't even know how to begin training but that's something I'm going to look up. Maybe I'll seek out a personal trainer at my gym? Nevertheless, I'd like to challenge myself to do this.
I know I"m still in the 'honeymoon' phase of this post-op period but I hope I continue to have this success and weight loss! I love it!
I am so psyched this morning! Its been 2 months since my surgery and I am down 42 lbs and under 200 lbs for the first time since high school! I gasped when I saw the number on the scale this morning! It was such a great feeling! Everything is going really well for me. I'm eating very well and not having any problems with foods at all. I'm eating a large variety of food and when I try something new I make sure to take my time and really chew and this has worked for me so far. I've noticed such a huge difference in my clothes! All my jeans are so big on me...I mean really big! My mom is donating some jeans to me so I don't have to go out and buy any because I can't keep wearing my old clothes. They don't fit right and I feel like I look so sloppy cause they're so big. Having big clothes like that is actually a great feeling! I've never had clothes that didn't fit cause they were too big so its kind of funny and flattering! I will thoroughly enjoy going out to buy all new clothes when the time comes! For now I am loving life and loving this journey I'm on! This surgery really is a great thing and its working so well for me! I'm looking good and I'm feeling even better about myself...and this is only the start :D
Its been 5 weeks since the surgery and I've been happy and fascinated with the fact that I have not gotten sick or nauseated at all since I started eating food. I've been almost proud of that fact. Well...I almost had an experience with not tolerating my food this evening, and I was in a very public place.
I was eating chicken salad (that was made with a pretty generous portion of mayonnaise) and after several minutes and several bites I felt a tightness in the middle of my chest right between my breasts. I've felt that feeling before, very minor, and it feels like something is stuck there or is traveling down very slowly. As the minutes went by the sensation got worse and worse until my mouth starting watering and I started getting nervous. I was in an auditorium waiting for a meeting to start and soooo did not want to get sick. I quickly went to the restroom where I just stood around and waited for the sensation to go away. It subsided, but didn't go away entirely. So, I went back to the auditorium and sat down, only to have to get back up a minute later with that same intense discomfort in my chest. Whatever was there I just wanted it to go down, not come back up! I stood by the door in the back of the auditorium and just waited. I took a small sip of water hoping that would resolve the problem and not make it worse, and thankfully after about a minute the tight ball in my chest went away.
I think what my problem was is that I didn't chew my food as thoroughly as I should have...that, and I may have eaten too fast. I was talking on the phone while I was eating so I may not have been paying attention to my chewing. I must be more careful in the future because that was a close call and I don't want to experience that again!
Four weeks ago today I had my surgery. I cannot believe that a month has gone by! I feel great...I feel like myself again. I have a slight uncomfortable feeling from my upper left incision but that's it..no pain or real discomfort. I've lost 23 lbs in the last 6 weeks, 17 lbs since my surgery. I've read about people losing crazy amounts of weight their first month, like 30-35 lbs. Obviously, that's not me. I'm just so grateful to be where I am right now...to feel good and not have any issues or complications. I haven't had a problem with food at all, and that, I have to say, is surprising. I did SO much reading before my surgery so I could know what to expect and exactly what I needed to do. I expected not to tolerate much food and be nauseous and vomit. That hasn't happened to me once! Now, that's not to say that it won't happen in the future, but as of right now I've tolerated everything that's gone into my mouth. I'm very happy about that!
I've also really stepped it up with exercising. My goal is to go to the gym, or at least exercise, 4-5 days a week. I live so close to my gym so that helps out a lot. I basically use the gym for the treadmill only. I go in, do 40-45 minutes on the treadmill, power walking or a slow jog, and then leave. What I do need to start doing is toning up. I'm going to start using a DVD for that...lots of squats, lunges, and resistance band work.
I'm so glad that I feel so good!
My family and I vacationed in Ocean City, Maryland all last week. It was a very nice time with very nice weather. This trip took a lot of planning on my part because since I'm only 2 1/2 weeks post-op I have to take all my supplements along with me and figure out what I'm going to do when the dining out situation comes up. We went out to eat four times and I was able to make healthy, high protein choices. Going out to eat wasn't the big deal I thought it would be. I had to carefully scan the menu and see what my options were. Appetizers and salads are always a good choice, if they're not fried. I had chicken salad twice, making sure to only eat the chicken and maybe some cheese, shrimp cocktail one night, and a mozzarella and tomato salad another night. Everything was moist and went down easily. The rest of the time we ate in our condo and I bought foods I could easily prepare and eat like tuna fish, yogurt, eggs, cheese, and popsicles. I even made my white chicken chili one night for everyone and it was a big hit...everyone loved it. I chewed my food slowly and was always the last one at the table eating. I never thought I would be going out to eat 3 weeks post op, but being on vacation I really couldn't help it. I just did the best I could, made the best possible choices, and it all worked out.
