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newmetwenty15's Blog
 

Garmin Vivosmart!

I am excited about my new Fitness watch. I finally got the one I have been wanting! This little gem tells me everything about my fitness level and then some! My husband is the best when it comes to researching the best quality for the money and the Garmin Vivosmart is by far my favorite watch. Two years ago I had the Fitbit and I thought then I was getting the information I needed but this Garmin is much better. Before I had my surgery I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, Sleep Apnea, and more of the dreaded obese diseases. I would question my sleep patterns often because I could not wear my CPAP faithfully and not feel like I was clostrophobic at night, pulling the mask of in my sleep every night. I just quit wearing it all together and I do not know how this effected my sleeping but I am sure it was not the best decision. This watch tells me my movement while I am sleeping and it is the first thing I check when I wake in the morning. It syncs to my phone so I can see my daytime steps and how much walking I have done each day setting my personal goal! If I get too sedentary it tells me to "MOVE" and I love that. I do still have to log my food on myfitnesspal but my Garmin app does all the math for me deducting my calories burned from my calorie intake! I do at least three miles three days a week and the days I don't do the walking I know I have to walk more at the office to reach my goal that my watch has set for me! I love this little toy and I would highly suggest something along the same lines for those of you wanting to set and reach your exercise goals!!!   Greatness, newmetwenty15
newmetwenty15

newmetwenty15

0
shoveltastic's Blog
 

Surgery Overview

So this Monday at 6 am I went to a lovely hospital about a half hour from my home and had my surgery.   I am not sure how I went in thinking I would only have three scars and would be able to leave that same day.   First, they have you strip and pee in a cup. Then they give you the first of many shots that help to prevent blood clots (ask them to give them to you in the thighs/arms bc the tummy was very painful). Then they take some blood. Three or four different people will come in and ask you the same set of questions over and over again- who are you, what are you here for, etc. It's sort of funny as long as you don't get annoyed. Then you get your IV in your hand and you are all set to go.   Then you are wheeled away and asked to count backwards from ten- I got to four. Then I was dreaming. Then I was being shook awake from lovely sleep and was in more pain than I have ever been in before in my life. I immediately started dry-heaving, nothing came out of me. It was incredibly painful.   They wheeled me into post-op where I would stay until a room opened up for me- this was the worst part. They were not allowed to give me the "good stuff" because I had just come out from anesthesia. I lay there for hours- until 1 pm- all the while doing some combination of sleeping, waking up from pain, hiccuping, moaning, crying, asking for meds, and dry heaving. I felt as if I had been hit by a train. I felt as if I wanted to die.   Finally, they wheeled me upstairs and I was able to get some real meds and some real sleep. I was able to get a dose of meds every two hours but, for that first day I could sleep for an hour and then would whimper for an hour, trying not to watch the clock. They also gave me nausea meds every six hours. My nurses were... how do I put this nicely... Very busy? All throughout this day you are so thirsty that you would do anything for a drink or an ice cube but, NO WATER FOR YOU. NONE. I was able to get up and take a walk this first day and was encouraged to do so again during the night- I tried but, couldn't I needed pain meds more than a walk.   Through that first night you are woken up by pain, and an endless stream of nurses who give you clotting shots, take blood, and pain meds. That second morning, I knew I was in for a tough day- when I woke up I felt like I was going to puke everywhere. I called the nurses station and told them just that and they showed up- twenty minutes later with not even a bowl for me to retch in. Luckily there was nothing in my tummy so I dry-heaved into a tissue and cried as they slowly made their way to my room. That morning I was up and walking about and was lucky enough to run into the xray woman who told me I could be first on the list because I was up. About an hour, a tiny cup of horrible tasting dye, and three x-rays later my doctor was visiting me for the first time. He told me that everything looked good, that I had minimal swelling, and that if I could keep food down I would be released in the afternoon. Unfortunately, he did not say this in front of a nurse so I waited two hours to have food delivered to my room- they brought me a cup of tea? Not water? Really? Broth and a green Jello. I asked for a cup of water and it was like milk of the heavens. I could have cried over this water.   After finishing my meal my mom came to come see me so that we could start the process of getting home... This process took hours. My doctor came to see me around 1 and cleared me for release but, somehow didn't complete all the paperwork till about 5. There was another woman on my floor who had the same surgery after me and while my mom and I were cruising the halls we saw her leaving. Luckily my mom is super pushy and we made phone call after phone call till my release was sped up.   All in all, very painful, and full of red tape BS that made a slow process even slower. Also, very glad to be three days out and to only feel like I got hit with a bowling ball- it went train, car, moped, bowling ball.
shoveltastic

shoveltastic

0
newmetwenty15's Blog
 

**Four Weeks and weights still falling **

It has only been four weeks and one day since I rolled up in the East Texas hospital to have the surgery that would forever change my life. In only four weeks I have gained the strength and power to change my eating habits and start a new healthier lifestyle for myself. I look back at just the short four weeks and smile gatefully at my success. I finally found the help I have been needing to set me apart from that woman who would look in the mirror and cry at every failed diet attempt. The yo-yo diets, the slim fast, the good ole' phen-phen diet, the starving diet, and just three months ago it was any new weight loss pill on the market. I started this certain blog over a week ago and put it in my drafts because I was short on time and today I have decided to continue ... I didn't finish simply because I took time away to go with my daughter to tour yet another college and spend quality time with her! Since then things have gone up and down. I don't know what phase I am going through but it seems to be the part where I feel fear of my decision. WOW that was really hard to type. I am five weeks post op today and have still made progress but that part of me that says ... "this is for the rest of your life" keeps creeping in. I am not having buyers remorse yet I think I am battling my food addiction. I also fear (a little ahead of time) the saggy mom syndrome! I see my body starting to change now and it is changing drastically. I have been here before but it's different now. When I would get to this point pre surgery I would think I accomplished some mission and fall of the health kick and gain back what I lost and then some. I know this is not a possibility today and reality says, you are going to keep going. This is what I want, but I am battling my mind, because my addict wants to give in and give up. Well, as I sit here and type this I am reminding myself of all the reasons I had this surgery and I feel I am defeating that little food addict that keeps me stuck. I do not have the ability to fall back into my old habits and I will win this one this time! I feel sure this will not be the only time I battle this but I will WIN!! I am still motivated to live an active and healthy lifestyle from here on out, I just want anyone that is reading this to know that this is life... one we chose to live and the great part of this is I can not fail this time. I will proceed with my positive motivation and look back at this blog one day as just another mountain I had to climb! Truth is ... This is life ... and this is one I chose to help me beat my addiction with food. The mind is a hard muscle to remold but I am working on it daily ... one day at a time. Some days it is one hour at a time, but ... I GOT THIS!!   newmetwenty15
newmetwenty15

newmetwenty15

1
MyJournry with Sleeve surgery
 

Current weight and so on

So I was down to 191.4 and so excited about that! I was looking so forward to being under 190 I could almost taste it... But this past weekend (2/7/15) my sister had a baby shower for my oldest daughter in NC. This is my first grandchild and I just can't wait. Everyone was saying how skinny I was and I guess it went to my head. I was eating like a pig, I had so many M&M's it wasn't funny. and cake and dips and chips and everything I have stayed away from for 3 months... I came home and weighed myself Monday morning and I was up 4 pounds! OMG 4 POUNDS!! I feel like a failure... so pathetic I am to eat like that... I did get sick a couple times but just kept eating! I am home now and back to eating the way I have been and today I was down almost 2 pounds. I need to get back on track, I need to get back to working out and not pigging out on food. any help would be appreciated.. and words of advice, recipes anything to help me get back on track! I want that 189!!! it is my next goal!
MariaW

MariaW

3
4me4them's Blog
 

Rough Start but Finding My Stride

So it has been 2 months since my surgery. I took an extended break from this blog and the site because I was getting crazy. I was crazy obsessed with every ounce that didn't come off when I thought it should, with every bite that went into my mouth (or didn't). For me, I couldn't read about the great weight loss that others were experiencing because it caused the same bad feelings I used to get when looking at fashion websites....and I knew for me that wasn't a good sign.   Today is the first day in a very long time that I've logged back into the site. Here is what I think I've learned in the 2 months since my surgery: 1. It's more complicated than I thought it would be. I did really well on the two week pre-diet and I thought post op would be like that...I would religiously follow a strict plan and success would happen! For some reason that was much harder to do starting about 20 days post-op. Perhaps it was because I had been on liquids, squishy things for MONTHS at that point, perhaps it was Christmas and all the holiday habits...but I found myself eating things I knew I shouldn't....albeit very small quantities. So when I went back to the nutritionist at about 6 weeks post-op, she was supportive but also blunt. Eating bread, rice, pasta are not good post op because they swell in the stomach....hearing that made me really take notice....did I go through all this to sabotage it 6 weeks out with some bread? NO I DID NOT!   2. I have to be more patient with myself. I've settled into about 700-800 calories a day...which for me is allowing around 2 pounds loss per week...and I've become accepting of that. For some reason I thought it would be 6 or 7 pounds a week...but not for me. I have stopped weighing every day and weigh just once a week again. I've dropped so many clothes sizes that I recently had to give away some pants I wore for 3 weeks....3 weeks! I mention that because it is another way when the scale doesn't move to know that I'm doing right things.   3. If you share your journey with folks, they will ask you questions afterwards as well....especially "so how much have you lost" which is really annoying when you haven't lost anything in a couple of weeks. It can also be awkward when you go out to eat with them...like I sometimes have to do for work events. The first one I went to was at a freakin Pizza Parlor. I ordered the meat sub, minus the bread...and ate 1/4 of it...lol. The folks at the table kept asking me if I wanted a wing...which I didn't...and saying things like "I should really be eating like you". I think I made them feel guilty...which made me feel guilty.   4 I still like chocolate. There I said it. I have given up bread, rice and pasta....but I still crave chocolate and so when I enjoy a piece, I really enjoy it, log the calories and move on. I've also found some good diabetic dessert recipes that I'm working with.   5. I still like cooking....a lot! I cook different things (cauliflower "rice" anyone?) and I grill a lot. I'm also eating more fish. I'm glad this part of my life didn't go away...   6. I haven't figured out a consistent exercise plan yet. Most days I get 30 minutes of walking, but that is usually at work and is to and from meetings...while I'm glad to be able to do that, I know that I have to get some more intense cardio going to improve my heart health and stamina.   So, one question I get a lot is ....was it worth it...and I would say absolutely YES! While not as fast or easy as I thought it would be, I have never in my adult life lost 57 pounds before...and I know in my core that those are 57 pounds I will not regain...so yes it was worth it! Till next time...Beth
4me4them

4me4them

2
Christina44's Blog
 

Day 10 Liquid diet....Five days til surgery....I cheated...

I think about surgery day. It's weird, but I worry more about surviving the surgery itself than the actual complications you can have from it....I feel guilty sometimes, like I could leave my kids motherless because I want to be thin again...but my nut told me I deserve this and death is rare...I have decided to believe her. I don't even want to worry about it. I push it to the back of my mind most days. Sometimes it comes creeping up though.... Also, I am worried about what I will be like coming out of anesthesia. Like, I guess we get either super chatty,tired, or cry...when I had my wisdom teeth out years ago I was told I cried...I hope I follow suit again lol....because I don't remember....I think it would be less embarassing to cry. I watch too many youtube videos lol....I cheated on my diet yesterday! I ate three Andes mint chocolates oh my and one today...I fed the rest to mykids so wouldnt be tempted...I have three kids so they each got like three a piece..... I was doing so well smh. I think it liquifies too and will be out of my system and not cause my liver to enlarge lol.....man I miss real food....but getting on the scale this morning and seeing 200.4 made me tear up. I am almost afraid to get on the scale tomorrow. Onederland is a huge milestone and to be under 200 is significant for me...I never imagined in a million years I would be over 200lbs.... or eat a whole box of mac and cheese in one sitting either but here I am lol....striving to be a better me
Christina44

Christina44

0
DizzyLizzie's Blog
 

Two Weeks Post Op

It's two weeks today since my sleeve surgery!!   To date, including my pre-op diet, I have lost 11.2kg (just over 24 lbs) so my surgeon and I are very happy to say the least!   I still have a week to go on full fluids. I am so over shakes, sometimes I can't even drink one anymore. I make soups which I add protein too and drink protein fruit drink, but I'm struggling now. I can get all my water in tho. The last two days I have had really bad bloating so taking some De-Gas tablets. I still don't have a lot of energy either. I feel grumpy & depressed and can't even drag myself out the door for a walk!   I know I still have healing to do and a few changes ahead of me still but I'm very happy that I made this decision and look forward to the future when I can eat more normally.   Lizzie
DizzyLib

DizzyLib

0
Inner Fat Girl's Diary
 

Sad

Sad.   All my life, my mother complained about my weight. I was often critized, warned, put through the ringer about how I looked. It was a battle with mom all my life.   I went to see my mom at the nursing home first time yesterday since I had the surgery 20 days ago. She has dementia. I asked her slowly if she noticed I lost weight? She just stared straight ahead , had no clue what I was talking about. I don't know if she knew who I was. I hugged her and I so wish she could see me now 39lbs less. She would be so proud of me. So happy. Sooooo "i told you so".   God, I wish mom had a moment of clarity and would see me and be happy for me at least for a few seconds. That would mean so much to me.   But as she stared straight ahead, all I can do is hug her and shed tears looking the other way so she doesn't see it. Not that it mattered, she wouldn't know what tears are or why.   Dementia sucks.
Pac-woman

Pac-woman

4
newmetwenty15's Blog
 

Clearing STALL ONE!

I think things are starting to move again! I have learned so much in the past few days about how I eat and drink. I have learned about the foods my body isn't ready for and things I possibly can do better to stay on track! OLD HABITS have been creeping in and trying to surface.. YES, that thing called my eating addiction .... I was trying to eat more than I could possibly hold in my tummy and I was reminded quickly when I accidentally drank a sip of tea with my meal. DAMN, that hurts. I am learning to eat slower and enjoy what I can eat .... and don't even bother putting a drink near me when it is meal time. OLD HABITS are hard to break but thank you tummy for painfully reminding me that drinking with the meal is a NO NO. I have learned to just order a drink and set it aside and at the end of my meal get it to go. I do not drink while eating because: IT HURTS. =) And I have learned to chew chew chew and swallow small bites. I have also added an app to my phone that will snap a picture of the barcode I have eaten and plug in everything so calorie counting has now become my friend. That was something else I wasn't doing in the beginning because I thought ... DANG I can only eat an ounce or two! Well, I was shocked when we sat and checked calories on a bunch of items in the grocery store and dining out! I am still learning and will probably share again my silly mistakes, but they are worth every minute of my new healthy life!   I started a little ZUMBA today! That was a little embarrassing... and I was in my own work out room at home... but still felt embarrassed when my husband or boys walked in the gym. FAT GIRL attempting SALSA!! BUT .... mark my words.... a year from now I will be teaching that dadgum ZUMBA glass! It was a fun change and I will do it more and more and more... OH OH OH ... I was excited about my new purchases yesterday!! I finally found a 2X Sauna Suit and a plus size weight loss belt for when I exercise! I found them locally and inexpensive so I was exstatic!! Put the sauna suit on yesterday afternoon (a little tight in the belly) and went to walking on the treadmill .... After 15 minutes, I was sweating like a ... I dunno what to say here .... plus size woman in a sauna suit?? lol So, tomorrow morning, me and the sauna suit are going for a long test walk as I do normally, but with my new suit I hope to find that I am sweating off the inches and pounds!!   Well, that's it for today.. Super bowl Sunday and I found some fabulous recipes the family and I are going to try out instead of the usual fattening finger (oh so easy) foods we are accustomed too!   Have a great SUNDAY!!   twenty15
newmetwenty15

newmetwenty15

0
shoveltastic's Blog
 

One Week and One Day Away

I'm 24 and I'd love to meet some people on here that are my age- hmu.   Today is my last day of being able to eat regular food and I have celebrated that with... shitty Walmart cookies. I think that my parents and grandfather are going out to dinner tonight and with luck I will be able to attend and eat a great meal. They go to a french place in town and last time I had this amazing moroccan dish that I have no idea the name or ingredients but, it was just, wow.   I am going to miss overeating so much... almost as much as I am going to not miss feeling like crap (physically and mentally). I can wait to start enjoying the benifits of surgery: losing weight, sculpting my body, and feeling better (again, physically and mentally). I have been looking up exercizes to help me keep my big butt I would miss it very much if it were gone.   I guess I should start by saying that I have a little broken bone in my foot; if I wanted to have it removed they'd have to "clip a tendon" to get at the piece. That is TERRIFYING and I won't be doing it. I broke the bone while ballet dancing with my dog. I completed my student teaching with this broken bone and now work every day subbing on it. I can ignore it throughout the day to the point that it doesn't cross my mind but, as soon as I get in my car it hits me. It's scary that it hurts. Losing weight means less pressure on it and hopefully less pain.   I have a boyfriend far, far away. We lived in DE together for a year as I finished my M.Ed. He moved back in with his parents who had recently moved to way far upstate NY (like, an hr. from Canada). I moved down to FL to live with my mom; I'm saving rent money for when I inevitably move out (because she drives me insane), and also extra to pay off $40,000 worth of studenet loans. Thanks government!   I miss my boyfriend like mad but, the pain and itchiness has gotten less- I got down here to FL in September and we are resigned to our fates. So, HELLO INTERWEBZ!   I am a nice person, I like to laugh and I like both quiet and loud. I used to dance with my dog but, now I am in a strange place in a strange home with little outside of work human contact. Love me?   ~ Rachel
shoveltastic

shoveltastic

0
Kourtney's Blog
 

The beginning of my journey

I have been overweight a majority of my life. I have never been happy with my weight and I am doing something about now! I have been thinking about weight loss surgery for about 2 years now and doing research. It is definitely a chore trying to find answers through all the advertisements and information out there on the internet. What is just as frustrating is trying to figure out how to pay for this surgery! In the two years that I have been checking into weight loss surgery, I have NEVER had insurance that would cover it! Why would any insurance company in their right mind not cover the surgery for someone who has health concerns that are expensive and life threatening that would be reversed with sustained weight loss? You think about the expenses associated with weight induced health issues and any company would be a fool not to cover the surgery. According to the American Diabetes Association, "The total estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes in 2012 is $245 billion, including $176 billion in direct medical costs and $69 billion in reduced productivity." Wow! What a statistic! ARE YOU LISTENING INSURANCE GIANTS? Bariatric surgery for those individuals suffering from debilitating conditions that could otherwise be reversed or lessened by receiving the surgery is a no brainer! Ok, now off my soapbox and on to my story. After two years of research (and a horrific divorce that made me realize how much I had neglected me for 11 years), I have decided to do something for myself and for my kids. I decided to bariatric surgery. How did I come to this conclusion. I would like to say that I finally realized that it was time, or that my insurance covered it. But simply put, it is now a necessity for my life! I found out in 7/2014 that I have Lupus. I have probably had Lupus for many years (possibly all the way back to when I was in my early 20s). Lupus was not only causing me to be in constant pain, but it was also putting strain on my kidneys. Between the Lupus and my other comorbidities (high blood pressure, sleep apnea, stress urinary incontinence), it was time to do something to save my life! So the first step is to figure out what type of bariatric surgery I should get. After talking to a bariatric surgeon, I discovered that the only choice for me is the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG). The reason this is my only option is that the other bariatric surgeries are not compatible with my Lupus. Lupus would attack the gastric band much the same as it does my body. The full gastric bypass surgery is too much for my fragile system to cope with. So VSG it is!! So the next step is to figure out how much it costs as I will be paying for it on my own (damn insurance companies!!) The internet research shows that the average cost for VSG in the US is between $14,000 and $25,000 depending on the part of the country it is performed. Yup, I will just whip out my checkbook and write that check right now! YEA RIGHT!! So I looked up my options for financing my surgery. Although there are several financing companies out there that will lend the money needed to get the surgery, they won't lend it to me. Remember that horrific divorce I talked about earlier? Yea, well, my credit is as horrific as the divorce. My ex-husband figured out it was hard to pay the bills without my help and brought down my credit while figuring out how to be a grown-up! So no financing for me... at least not $15,000 worth! So where to go from here? Well, being an RN I meet a lot of people who share their stories with me. What do a lot of post-bariatric surgery patients have in common? Well, many of them didn't get their surgery in America! That's right, many of them have gone over the border to Mexico to have it done. Scary, right? That is what I thought too, until I heard more stories from patients and did some research. Bariatric surgery in Mexico is not only 1/3 of the cost of the US, but you don't have to wait as long and not as much red tape to get through. What a deal! Which brings me to the next step in this journey. Step three is to find a good and reputable surgeon in Mexico that I can trust to do my surgery. After hours and hours on the internet on blogs, discussion boards, etc., I had my search narrowed down to Dr. Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center and Dr. Lopez at Specialized Bariatrics. Dr. Ortiz has done many thousands of bariatric surgeries and has received many recognitions, awards, etc. Dr. Lopez has also performed many thousands of bariatric surgeries and was trained by the world-renowned bariatric surgeon Dr. Juan Corvala. After all the research, I decided to go with Dr. Lopez. I first filled out the contact form on their website. Within a couple of hours, I was sent an email from a representative by the name of Cathy Zimmerman. She gave me the health history questionnaire and said to fill it out, submit it and the doctor would go over it, assess, and decide if more information was needed. I filled out the questionnaire that day and was contacted a day later saying I had been approved for weight loss surgery. They sent me the pre-op and post-op diet information and stated I need to reply with some dates I would like to look at for the surgery. I replied back and forth several times with Ms. Zimmerman with many questions and she would quickly (usually within an hour or two) reply back with the answers. Upon hearing of my decision and what I was planning, my mom decided she wanted to do it as well (yup, obesity runs in my family). So she started the process as well. Unfortunately, her approval wasn't as quick (she is 63). They requested she get a clearance letter from her primary physician before being cleared for surgery in Mexico. This actually made my mom and myself feel a lot better as it showed they were not in it just for money, but had our best interests for our health at the forefront. Mom has an appointment with her primary doctor on Monday. This brings us up-to-date with where we are in the process right now. My next step is to get my passport card (I only need a passport card and not a passport book for travel by land to Canada or Mexico). I next have to ensure financing is in place (my personal bank is willing to do a personal loan for the amount it would cost). Once my mom is cleared by her doctor, we will set our date. We have already been informed that our date we are hoping for (3/20/14) is open and available. Once we set that date we have to have our deposit sent within 3 days to save our date. This is a refundable deposit and is easy to get to them (I do not have to give them any credit card or bank account information). So as this process goes, I will update this blog with what I have done, what surprises I have found, and anything else that may be interesting about this process. My weight as of this very day of writing this first blog post (1/30/15) is 366 and a BMI of 55.6.
Kourtney Richards

Kourtney Richards

0
Pac-woman's Blog
 

Low Carb Recipes

Hello,   If you like to keep up with low carb recipes for your sleeve, I am posting new ideas here when I come across them on the web. You are more than welcome to "Like" the page. When you do this on your facebook account, everytime I post something, you should be able to see it on your wall.   Good Luck!   www.facebook.com/recipes4thenewyou
Pac-woman

Pac-woman

0
Rainicornicopia: An Unabridged History of the Rainicorns
 

Almost a year since my last update

Hello out there in bariatric land.   I haven't seen my surgeon in a year. I was stalled and he wasn't happy with me. My nutritionist doesn't call me.   I just started losing again, i guess this moving around thing works. I'm down to about 210. I just had to get a size 18 pants and they fit weird.         I've been working on my mental health. As we know, being overweight usually comes with low self esteem and depression. I've been going to group therapy, and individual. Trying to come to the root of my problem. When the weather was warmer i was walking before my appts, when i arrived early. I take 3 flights of stairs to their office. I think thats whats making me lose now.   I stopped taking my vitamins, just...not sure why, lazy, depressed, thought i was okay.   I've since started taking them again. I might be on iron pills forever.   I still have the mentality that i'm gross and fat, just now with saggier skin. But like i said, i'm in therapy.   Sooo...thats whats going on. Oh and i posted in the forums about a weird sensation in my bellybutton region.
A_New_Lily

A_New_Lily

0
Christina44's Blog
 

Countdown-Four days down....ten to go! preop diet

Day 4 preop liquid diet done.....I feel antsy like I gotta do something...but oddly not really craving food....I slept an extra hour this morning after the kids got on the bus...I feel weak like my muscles don't want to work...the edges of my vision went wavy after I walked up the stairs and I was shaky so I ate a yogurt. I am good now but weak feeling. Wish I could sleep but I'm not tired. I don't even much feel like fb and that's weird. Wondering how I am going to feel after surgery and if I will adjust to feeling weak and well...not be so dizzy or weak....the dizziness I expected by not the weakness...It's weird...
Christina44

Christina44

2
pupichupi's Blog
 

Please Help!

Ok, so I have a son that is 9 almost 10 year old son who currently weigh's 145 lbs, and I am very worried for his health. I have removed most of the junk food that is in my house, I keep fruits and vegetables and other healthy snacks that I can eat in the house for my kids to eat. I worry for my son because he is so over weight at a young age and I don't want him to grow up and have issues like I did with my weight. I want to help him now and that was one of the reasons I myself got healthy with my weight loss surgery. My son is a sports child, loves to play sports and his biggest sport is football which he plays from Aug. 1st through late November 4 - 5 days a week for 2 hour practice and then weekend games. While playing this sport he did loose the weight and has since gained it back, and now he is wrestling but it is only 1 day a week practice as he does it with our local boys and girls club. I need to help him now, and need all of your help to help me to help him. I am the only person in our house that works at the moment so money is in short supply, and I have looked into gyms and stuff like that where he could use equipment to help him with getting fit, and none of the local gyms will allow him to use any equipment even with a parent with him due to his age. I have checked the YMCA and they also won't allow him to use equipment with a parent. We also have a very small apartment with very little space to do exercising to videos (which I am working on moving rooms around to change this). We also live in New England and it is very cold here so to go for long walks at this time is very difficult with the weather. Most days we don't see temp's above 20 right now and so that is very hard to get motivated to go out and get exercise. I know my son likes snacks and he even will eat dinner and shortly after dinner he is hungry again. He will sneak food, and eat late at night when I tell him no more. I am looking for some ideas of ways to help him and snack ideas of ways to help him at this point. If anyone has any ideas to help me help my son, I would love to hear any and all suggestions! Thank you!!!
pupichupi

pupichupi

2
Christina44's Blog
 

I have to give myself shots where?!?!

Today I went in for an appointment to learn how to give myself a shot in my stomach of blood thinner after surgery. I will have to do this for ten days postop.....EW...just ew!!!! Anywhere but my stomach please!!!!! Well at least the needle tip isn't huge I guess...she's like "pinch an inch" (you pinch the skin to put the needle in) and I'm thinking "I have way more than an inch to pinch" lol I'm sure I will get used to it eventually but yuck! I was also feeling better today until I went on the elevator to go up to the doctors office. It was only two floors up but I felt dizzy for about 45 minutes afterward. Needless to say I took the stairs back down lol.
Christina44

Christina44

0
newmetwenty15's Blog
 

First Post Op Follow UP~

Hmmm.... I don't know if I am happy or disappointed about my office visit today! I will have to admit ... I have been a scale junkie since my surgery but I guess my scale has been lying to me . I started this journey at 266.5 and as of today I am 249. That is according to the Dr.'s scale. So, I am actually only 17lbs down since my surgery. I liked my scales number better, but let's be honest .... IT LIES! I will go and recalibrate it as soon as I get home today ... or get rid of it and get a new one that will tell me the truth! Other than the numbers, I am happy to report that my tummy they took away had no traces of cancer, etc. Good ole' pathology is going to make sure they get the breakdown.... just thankful there wasn't bad news about that! Now, all my vitals were good, color was good, got off my Lasix the day of surgery and I still have NO swelling as well as getting off my Metformin, no traces of diabetes Type II either! I will say that was worth every penny and hour spent preparing and having this surgery! I did have to get another B-12 injection today because my energy level has been really low, but I kind of got a slap on the hand because I went back to work the Monday following my surgery. I put in at least 9 hours a day with a few minutes for a lil sip of soup and then home to mother four children, putting my recovery last on the list. I guess I thought since it didn't fall over dying, I was fully recovered. YES ... I love my job and I honestly couldn't wait to get back to work!! Well, with all that being said, I have not allowed myself enough "DOWN" time so my body is still worn down from my surgery! It has only been three weeks, but I didn't want to stay in the house, alone, and waiting for my body to heal when I knew I felt great! I still feel great, but, I do get tired (mentally and physically) by 2:00pm and push myself through until bedtime. (Which has turned into 7:00, opposed to 11:00) In my defense, I am up at 5:30 walking through the neighborhood getting some exercise and nature to start my day!   I did ask for feedback about losing 17lbs today and my sweet nurse said I was right on target. They mentioned most patients lose anywhere from 15 - 20 pounds by their three week check up. NOW ... by my four month check up she said the patients usually lose up to 50lbs. I will be happy to make that post!!! I guess I feel a little down becuase I thought it was more than 17, but I will take losing that 17lbs anyday over gaining 17lbs. Lots of questions from the nurse and a B12 shot and I was out the door!   I had to share and get my weight loss straight with anyone who reads my blog because I am an honest person and I wouldn't feel right lying about it ... that gets me NOWHERE!!! I did that pre-surgery! I will hope to have lost a few more by the end of this week!   Loving life and losing!!   twenty15
newmetwenty15

newmetwenty15

2
Inner Fat Girl's Diary
 

Day 16 Post Op- Still Sipping Water Like a Hamster

Well, here I am on the 16th day. Tomorrow I have my first follow up with my surgeon. I am nervous about it, not sure why. I hope I don't disappoint.   I am still struggling with solids. I am supposed to be on pureed food but I can't do it. So I stuck with protein shake and bars and soup. I have tried tinkering with certain solids but my stomach is not having it.   I think I am not chewing properly. I know we have to chew to the point of non existant, but I am not there yet.   Not a whole lot to say, other than I am on the dreaded 3rd week stall and I can barely make it to 400 calories.
Pac-woman

Pac-woman

0
Short and Chunky's Blog
 

Return of the BAND

Well, It has been awhile..In April, 2014 - my beloved band was removed under emergency surgery due to a nasty slip..By December of 2014 - I had managed to regain 50 pounds. Not a welcome sight. Nothing fit. I got rid of all my fat clothes. I was no longer a cute little size 8. I was a sloppy, ugly 14/16 and still gaining. I was angry with myself and that made me eat more. I had continued to see my surgeon and he knew I was very unhappy. We tired everything, pills, support groups, WW (again) - everything. I just couldn't stop gaining much less lose weight. FINALLY...he asked if I wanted to have WLS again. I almost kissed the poor man...You bet...   What type WLS?????? Well, the sleeve was Out as my insurance would not pay for it. My doc said he really didn't like RNY for me as I was 208 pounds and he was afraid I would be horribly thin in just a matter of months and that could be dangerous. He asked if I wanted to try the lapband again. I jumped for joy and said ABSOLUTELY. He did say, that he may not be able to put it back and would not know until surgery - due to scar tissue that he saw when he took my other band out. If he could not do the band, I would have to wait another 6-8 weeks and he would do RNY.   He submitted the paperwork to my insurance company and they said YES in only 5 days..I guess they agreed. So, on 12/29, I went to surgery. The doctor was able to put the band back in and I feel fantastic. I am down 20 pounds and dropping (with no fills yet). I am walking 3-4 miles every day. My eating is once again controlled and I am back in a 12 - look out 8s - here I come again.   I know there is a lot of "band haters" out there. They feel the sleeve or RNY is the ONLY WAY TO GO..but they have to understand, not everyone is 300-400 pounds..some of us need help who are 200 pounds...the sleeve and RNY just aren't for us. So, I have once again began my Journey...Thank you all for the support you gave me during my firsts Journey but most of all when my band slipped. I was very scared and very sick. I am just thankful that I have so much family support (my kids are great cheerleaders and my grandkids too) but also a great surgeon who listened to me and was willing to help me out.   Have a great week and take care of yourselves....
Short and Chunky

Short and Chunky

0
Motivation ! Daily Task and Struggles
 

Starting out

Starting my account with bariatricpal : All reviews with websites supporting weight loss surgery , I fell as a calling really that I need to provide my input with my success as well with my wife also. Hardest part of my day is What am I going to eat for breakfast , What am I going to eat today ? Usually I skip breakfast (horrible I know) I feel breakfast is really the most important part of your day. This is when we are going to step out into the world and deal with the various task through out the day.
LPSteven

LPSteven

0
DizzyLizzie's Blog
 

Post Op Day 6

I haven't felt like posting since my Op as I don't have much energy for anything. Everything went extremely well, except the first night and next day I had the dreaded "what have I done" regrets. I know this is all related to some pain & nausea meds, dry-heaving and hardly being able to swallow a tsp of water at a time. Of course now I am Day 6 and feeling quite different. I'm glad I read here beforehand that so many people also have that "regret panic". I now can get down alot more water and doing ok hydration wise. I am so VERY over shakes, so am making myself some soup & vege juice too with added protein powder. My surgeon's program is 3 weeks full fluids and 3 weeks purees then onto introducing soft and regular foods, so can't wait for that. I don't really have any real hunger pangs. I have 5 incisions and my belly is still a little sore but not as bad as I thought it would be. I get "bodily tired" especially around the middle and have to alternate lying, sitting and walking about. The last 4 days I have also done a gentle walk down at the Beach. Since the morning of surgery I have lost another 3kg (6.6lbs) but I know the first week or so will be my body getting back to normal or a few kind of "normal" fluid/hydration wise. I will go on my weight loss amount when I report back for my followup visit with my surgeon next Monday and take it from there.   I am VERY happy I did this! :oD
DizzyLib

DizzyLib

0

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