Happy Friday!!! I am so pleased that the weekend is almost here! So a few weeks ago I blogged about a co-worker who is banded and seems to struggle a lot. I felt bad for her and could not understand. Well over the last week I have gotten a clear understanding of why and it pisses me off a bit. I am not any better than anyone, nor do I think I know all the answers. What I do know are the basics. We work so hard to get our bodies ready for the surgery and go through so much afterwards, why would you just say screw it? We had a celebration for our top performers today and the snacks were candies, cookies and juices. I was in charge of passing out the snacks and she came to the line three times and ate skittles, starburst and capri sun. Then she ate a hot pocket. I again am not perfect but I know these things are not good for us, especially with the band. Afterwards she came to ask me how long has it been since my surgery because I was losing weight fast. I explained I was five weeks out and had started to exercise again. She told me she has had 5 fills and she is really tight but can still eat some food. I told her maybe it was time go back to the see the doc. Her reply was that she would be going back to have it taken out since the band " failed" her........ It was not my place to suggest it may be the behavior and not the band, so I just said I was sorry to hear that.
WHY??? It is not a quick fix, it will not stop us from making bad food choices, nor will it stop you from possibly wanting to eat those things. I just did not know what to say and it made me feel annoyed that she feels that the "band" failed her. We have to eat right, exercise and take care of ourselves. The band is only a tool. Now I am back to feeling sorry for her because I think she wants someone to help her but I dont know if I am that person. She is seven months down the line and I am a newbie just trying to get my own bearings....
Before surgery I was a Zumba addict. I would go four times a week, five if I could find the time. I did try about three weeks ago and I was so exhausted afterwards. So tomorrow I am going in with a different game face on and Itry it again. I also am thinking about trying the "hot" ypga. Seems like it should be fun. I keep wondering how long it will be before I will get my stamina back. I honestly did not expect to have this much down time with my exercise.
NSV today- I pulled a pair of jeans out of the back of my closet that I have not been able to wear in almost ten years. LOL! Yes I kept a pair of jeans this long! It felt great to slide into them!
It has been a while since I have updated this blog. Today I am five months out and 38 pounds lighter! I am also two pounds from reaching one of my goals to lost 100 pounds. I feel great and have been told I am looking great! LOL! I have had four fills and think finally this last one is it. I have 7.5 CC's in my 10 CC band. I am still experimenting with which foods are ok. Beef is hard for me, but chicken and seafood are okay. I eat a lot of fruits and veggies, green tea and greek yogurt are a huge part of my fridge. I am still exercising 4-5 times a week, and I recently started running, which I really do hate, but it is good for me.LOL. I am here to tell you that this amazing tool will work for you as long as you work with it. Do not try to east around it, do not cheat yourself by not exercising. The hardest part is keeping going and every day is a struggle. Just keep going!
I had my first fill today at True Results in Houston. I was nervous and really did not know what to expect. I waited almost a hour for my turn, filled out paper work and went to the back with the nurse. She was trying to make me more comfortable by telling me everything she was doing but that did not work She started with a small needle and lots of pushing, which just felt odd. It did not hurt, but it did not feel good either. She determined that she need a longer need to reach my port, so the second time was a charm. She took out the saline that was in the band and measured it. I have a 10CC band and there was already 5CC in it!! She added 1 CC today for a total of 6 in my band. No wonder I have not been hungry!! I sat for about 15 minutes and drank my water and I am feeling good. I am on liquids for today and soft food tomorrow and then back to regular food. I have lost 12 pounds since my surgery and I will see them again next month. I hope it will be another good month for me!!
On a side note since I first began the process with them in December I have lost a total of 33 pounds!!
I finally got a call yesterday from my patient advocate, Rachel and I had the all clear! Dr. Reilly's office called today and we scheduled my pre-op and surgery dates!! My pre-op is on 2/7 and the big day is 2/15!!! I am going to get all of my surgery needs taken care of this weekend. Any suggestions of items that are must haves? I am getting the Gas-X strips, chewable vitamins and foods or liquids I need for the first two weeks.
Today I realized how much I really am going to miss the gym when I have my sugery. I workout four times a week, which my patient advocate said was good. But I have heard it's pretty intense coming from abdominal surgery when you head back to the gym. I guess the thing to do is work out hard before going in.
One of the best things I have re-discovered was a body shaper! I love mine! I got it at Lane Bryant from Cacique and it was only 45.00. As I am losing, I thought it was a good idea to make sure that I keep things..ummm... sucked in! LOL! I remember after my first child was born my grandmother and mother both kept telling me to wear this god awful girdle and I refused. Oh how many times I have wished I had worn it to keep this tummy from not being so flabby. With mine on, overall I am three inches "slimmer" It is also very comfortable, and does not roll down. The only thing that is a bit of trouble is when nature calls and then I have to basically get undressed to go. I have a friend who had the sleeve and she has been wearing one every day and today I saw her without one. She went from a 26 to a 14 in about four months and she has really done well wearing her body shaper every day. She looks amazing!
Tomorrow is six weeks since my surgery and I feel good. I have a second fill on 4/11., if I need it. I have gone from a size 24 from when I first started my weight loss journey, to a loose size 18 today. I am 55 pounds from my goal.I am also back on my regular gym schedule and that feels awesome! I am toying with the idea of maybe buying a swimsuit this summer..... Well I will think about it
So I called yesterday to true results here in Houston and was told I am now medically clear for surgery. She had me leave a message for my advocate so she could call me with dates. Well no calls yesterday or today. I am debating on calling her if I have not heard from her by noon. So more waiting ...
I am awake for a bit and hoping to get back to sleep soon. Surgery went well. I didn't go in until 11:00 tor my surgery at ten. I was out at 12:15 and woke up about two in recovery. Turns out I had a hiatal hernia, so it was repaired. I was sent for my x-ray a short while later. The tech confused me with another patient and asked me why my surgeon did a sleeve instead of a band????!!? I was so confused, but she realized her error and quickly cleared it up. I got to my room and my hubby wad there. I ass given pain meds and things to sip. I was discharged around five and got home shortly after. I did over exert myself walking and getting in and out of the car too much. I also have quite a big of gas pains and I cant lie on my back.. which is not too bad since I am a side sleeper. But overall I am doing well.
It has been a while since I checked in here, but I am so happy to be back. As of today I am 25 pounds from my goal weight of 190. I have 7.4 cc in my 10 cc band and I am sooooooo in love with my band. We have our ups and downs, but we work together. I have been able to adjust my eating. I enjoy fruit, veggies, some breads but it has to be cut very thin and toasted. I am working out 5 days a week and I have found this has really helped me.
I have had one unfill after I returned from vacation in July. I had been on several planes and I had no issues with food getting stuck or being tight. When I got home, the next day i was really tight and i was trying to drink warm liquids to help loosen it up, went back to soft foods for two days and still had the tightness. Then the heartburn started. I had it from the time i woke up until I went to sleep. After a week I went in and saw the doc. They had me do a barium swallow and took a xray. The fluid was moving through but very, very slow. My band and pouch looked good, but they were concerned with how uncomfortable I was. So the doc removed .2 cc and I had instant reflief!!! So I will be very careful the next time I fly and take greater percautions for myself. It was pretty scary because of the heartburn, tightness and I could not eat normally!
A lot of people ask why I did this and I show them my before/after pics. I tell them about my high blood pressure at 31 and having to take meds, my feel swelling daily with normal activity, not being able to run/play with my children, etc. I am so happy I did this and I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about weight loss surgery. The True Results location I go to has asked me to begin working with them and I am considering it. If I can help someone else on my journey, that is icing on the proverbial cake!
Well today makes day 8 post-op for me. Yesterday was the first day I felt really 100% and I was able to stay at work all day with no issues. Today is better. I am itching to get back into the gym. I had to lose a good amount of weight before my surgery and I did it through diet and exercise. I have been cleared for exercise, but I think it is a bit soon for Zumba!
Still on liquids,but on blended foods. Last night I had a 1/2 cup of cream of jalapeno soup. It was so yummy! I am not finding myself to be hungry. It is like I have to remind myself to eat or drink. Now that i am back at work, I keep my water bottle with me at all times. I think tomorrow I will start making my own protein shakes so I can control how much protein I get in with them. Or I may make a trip to smoothe king. I hear they have a low fat/low cal smoothie with 46 grams of protein! I have not stepped on the scale. I am going to wait until next week when I can be sure I have dropped 100% of my TOM weight and bloating.
I went in for my fill appoinment and came out with...............NOTHING!! LOL! Looks like I have hit the green zone! I am going to take this month slow and see what happens. Since I first went to true results I have lost 49 pounds and 30 since surgery. I lost 8.5 last month and we confirmed I have 6.9 CC in my band. I told the nurse about my eating habits and I am afraid that more fluid may put me in the red zone, so I will just hang out here for this month and see how it goes. But I am over the moon happy about my progress so far. I hope that people that are researching this option see my story and know that if I can be successful, that they can too. Life is about choices and I am choosing to be happy and healthy!
I think I am adjusting pretty well. So far I have lost 12 pounds in the almost month since surgery. I have my first fill on 3/14. I still am feeling pretty good. I do not eat anymore than 1/2- 1 cup at a time and I always eat my protein first. Water is a bit of a struggle because I have to make sure that I drink it slow enough to not cause this overwhelming feeling of being super full. Mushies have been so great!! But honestly I am not looking forward to solids. The thought kinda scares me. I know I can not stay on soft food forever, but i just am not looking forward to regular food. And I will be back to liquid and mushies after I get my fill for a day or two, so I really will not have a chance to actually be on solids for long. Sigh....... I am enjoying not being focused on food and also I have learned the difference in between being hungry and just eating for the heck of it!
My mother is not really happy that I did this. She told me that between her and my brother that they thought I was being vain and it was not as though I was spilling out of my clothes and falling out of my seat. Well, I am never going to spill out of clothes, because I always have clothes that fit. But buying a size 24 in said clothes is not ideal. Oh and nevermind that I take meds for high BP for two years( I was able to stop those recently) or that my back, knees and feet were hurting all the time. My feet will swell at the drop of a hat due to the amount of walking I do and the weight I carry. I am only 37 years old and quite honestly I should not have these "old lady issues" So it hurt my feeling when she said it, but I just told her that I did this for me and my health. I can't place my health and expectations on no one but me.
I have been getting lots of compliments on how defined my face is looking. I looked in the mirror and it actually looked "skinny" to me!! I can not express how happy I am that I have made the choice to do this!
So Wed. is my surgery and today I woke up in a full panic about the surgery. Really?? As hard as I have worked to get to this point, why am I now freaking out about it? I have had surgery before and I honestly do not recall very much about it. I had my tubes tied and to my memory,it was a cakewalk after. I guess I need to calm my nerves and try to settle down. I have so many things to do at work to get them ready for me to be out. I also cleaned my house from top to bottom today and grocery shopped for the family. I also told my kids today and I really need to tell my mother. I am just not sure how she will respond. My hubby and kids are very supportive. I am packing my bag today to ensure I don't forget anything. Did anyone else have a case of nerves before going in?
