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About this blog

My Journey...

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5 Week Post Op

5 weeks post op and I've got to say it's been one of the worst weeks EVER to date. The fact that I even lost any weight at all was absolutely amazing to me, and possibly a first. I'm going to give a brief summary of this weeks events:   Started the weekend with my grandmother ending up in hospice/emergency care with a diagnosis of death sometime in the next week, driving 18 hours to say our goodbyes in right before she slipped into a coma the day after we arrived. Got home and I got into a car accident Weds, followed by my home being broken into that following evening. By the grace of god, my car is not damaged and nothing was stolen (I was home and scared the intruder off and police took care of it from there). Sounds like a crappy enough week? It was.   My nerves are shot. My coping mechanisms are barely holding on. A lot of praying, deep breathes, etc. And the icing on the cake of this week? Mother nature decided to make her appearance this week and I've been battling just to have enough energy to function and covered in acne. So, we are just going to say that this week needs to hurry up and be over as of today. And preferably, September can move right on along. I'm ready for the sunshine to break through the clouds. I only lost -1.9 lbs this week, and I'm totally okay with that! God bless my sleeve! It keeps me honest and on the right path even when I'm failing... so here's to better weeks, and better days ahead!   Height: 5'9   Heighest Weight: 216   1st Goal Weight: 169     Sleeved 8/17/2012 @ 216 lbs   Week 1 (8/24): 204.8 (-11.2) Week 2 (8/31): 200.6 (-4.2) Week 3 (9/7): 196.8 (-3.8) Week 4 (9/14): 193.5 (-3.3) Week 5 (9/21): 191.6 (-1.9)
@DomLorenVSG

@DomLorenVSG

3
 

How Am I Doing It? This Is How...

Okay, I've had several emails and people ask questions about what I'm doing to lose solid numbers every week and I've compiled my list of personal habits (disagree or agree this is just how I'm doing it, feel free to take as little or as much as you want):   1) Protein. I went off the doc's diet after week 3 (bad i know!), I get 90% of my calories from pure protein. I completely avoid carbs like the black plague. I snack on chicken, and whatever I can get my hands on. Yesterday for lunch I had pulled pork bbq, 3 oz and I was done, saved the rest and ate it again for dinner. No sides, no bread, nadda. The bbq was more than enough.   2) Routine is my bff. I know what I'm going to eat every single day before I leave the house, I leave nothing for imagination and I workout with other people so even if I'm not feeling motivated to do it, I know they are waiting on me to show up- there for I actually do my workouts religously.   3) Here's the tough love. 20 minutes is not good enough. 30 minutes is not good enough. 45 minutes is NOT good enough. You need to commit to 1 FULL HOUR EVERY SINGLE DAY to working out. I don't know your schedule but I know this- simple math says it takes 3500 calories to burn 1 lbs of fat, even on a low calorie diet and your BMR helping to burn some calories that still a LOT Of calories that you need to burn.   4) READ the guru's. I've read Jillian Michaels and Bob Harpers books, I've read Oprah's trainers, I've read all the top hollywood trainers books. I've educated myself thoroughly and there are several key things THEY ALL AGREE ON:   A) To lose weight you must work out a MINIMUM of 1 hour 6 days a week and it must be intense, not lolly gagging- doesn't matter if it's running, walking, elliptical or what you got to make it intense and get your heart rate to 120. Weight lifting is NECESSARY. At least 3 times a week for 30 minutes at max weight. All the trainers said it, if you want to change your metabolism it starts with weights. Muscle burns more fat. There for increase your muscle. If you rotate a day of weight lifting for cardio, or add them both in for a 2 hour workout 6 days a week, magical things might happen. C) Carbs are the enemy. They all agree. We are a carb heavy society. And because of our sleeves now is the time to back away slowly and reconsider them later. Eat a very heavy protein diet. D) Sugars are the enemy. And you know what I'm talking about. Even the protein shakes are full of crap. Time to step back drink h20 (and none of the other crap) and focus on proteins again. I will miss my smoothies and my fudigcles and my occassional sweet tooth cravings, but do want to lose weight or not? E) DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT eat after 7pm. Water ONLY. Sleeping on a full stomach, partially full, or any thing at all in your stomach will screw with your metabolism in your sleep. Just don't do it.   Maybe masters swimming and water polo are my saving grace, but I know several people who've had success with trainers, workout buddies, etc. It's HARD. Period. No matter who we are to get this done. It takes time and commitment.   Now, with all this said and done, let me also say that I will NOT be losing ANY weight this week. WHAT?! Why do ask ?! Because my period should be starting tomorrow, and well I got PCOS (PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome which has been a huge factor in why I needed the VSG- my body cannot regulate my hormones or my insulin), and I have always gained between 7 and 10 lbs on my period (sorry guys for the TMI but weight gain is true for the vast majority of women). If I only fluctuate by a pound or so I will be delighted. So this week I'm easing up on myself and just training and ignoring my numbers as they will most likely go up. BE AWARE of your cycles and get a calendar. Start tracking on your calendar, calories consumed, when your period is, when your PMS'ing (which is when your hormones start to surge and the first onset of weight gain pre-period happens) and watch what happens. You might be bloating because you're so close to your cycle. I also get horrific acne- which right now is pretty bad :/ so that's my indicator mother nature is about to come kick my a$$.   I work out a LOT. A minimum of 2 to 5 hours a day and that's why I've been dropping numbers. I know a lot of people cannot commit to that, but I'm doing with with a packed schedule and a kid because my health is #1. It's time for me. THIS IS MY TIME. And I don't have anymore time in my life to waste. I'm being as completely proactive as possible.   Hope this helps!
@DomLorenVSG

@DomLorenVSG

5
 

1 Month W/ Pics

Happy 1 month Sleeve Anniversary to me! It's my 1 month Sleeve-versary and well, it's been a rough one! I just spent the last 4 days fighting the urge to smoke a cigarette because I'm struggling with my coping skills (and I haven't smoked in YEARS!!!). I drove 9 hours one way, just to see my grandmother who's terminally ill in Hospice in FL. My sleeve acted more as a shock collar because I kept eating terrible foods. Two bites in was throwing up. My sleeve is teaching me to change my behavior, but with so much emotional stuff going on in my life lately it's really been testing me to make the right decisions with food. This indeed is a journey, of learning and understanding. <3   Knowing my past habits, I know I would have derailed already and would have binged ate at certain emotional crossroads. At my family dinner on Saturday night, family I hadn't seen in years gathered to say their final goodbyes to my grandmother- and then came the food. Food I would have eaten and eaten and eaten and never stopped. But my sleeve didn't let me fail. I know this sleeve is the best decision I have ever made. Even when I had the urge to give up on myself, my sleeve wouldn't let me. It keeps me honest. It keeps me accountable. And for that I'm so very, very, very, grateful. I could only imagine how much my life will change in 6 months, just the progress in the last month has been such a welcomed relief and gives me hope of a better tomorrow. I might not be at goal weight right now, but I'm getting closer and closer everyday. And I see progress- which is much more than I can say for any diet I've ever been on before. And I don't feel deprived. Now that I'm 4 weeks out, I can eat anything I want- except I don't want the garbage, since I can only get a few bites in, I want to make them count with good delicious flavored food. Me, chicken, and steak, are now BFF's.   I <3 my Sleeve.   Height: 5'9   Heighest Weight: 216   1st Goal Weight: 169     Sleeved 8/17/2012 @ 216 lbs   Week 1 (8/24): 204.8 (-11.2) Week 2 (8/31): 200.6 (-4.2) Week 3 (9/7): 196.8 (-3.8) Week 4 (9/14): 193.5 (-3.3)
@DomLorenVSG

@DomLorenVSG

1
 

4 Weeks Post Op- Time To Get Serious.

Emotional Vampires & Toxic People... I'm doing an inventory of all my relationships, family, friends, etc. who have been instrumental in giving me bad advice, not being encouraging, or just breaking my heart, and hurting my feelings. How many people are really my friends because they like having a fat friend as a wingman? My family who tells me that WLS is a cop out? The exbf who said he's just not that attracted to "big girls". It's time to clean house, and dump the negative and replace it with the positive.   I didn't lose as much I wanted to this week because I was too busy crying and getting caught up in my feelings. Call it calorie deprevation, stupid toxic people, exhaustion, or whatever, I was tired, and I was done. I had to make some apologies to some people this week for ripping off their heads, when in reality it wasn't them I was mad at- I couldn't communicate because I've kept my surgery private. So it's hard to express to people what I'm going through or feeling, when they have no earthly idea. I've got to just cut off certain people, and chill out with others. Time to find that zen place in my life.   Annnnnddddd MONDAY is my 1 month sleeve anniversary! I will be doing another post on Monday with my before and after pics side by side. I've definitly lost inches and I'm trying to focus hard on my training and not so much on anything else. So tune back in Monday for all the fabulous pics and help me celebrate my 1 month Sleeve-versary!   Height: 5'9   Heighest Weight: 216   1st Goal Weight: 169     Sleeved 8/17/2012 @ 216 lbs   Week 1 (8/24): 204.8 (-11.2) Week 2 (8/31): 200.6 (-4.2) Week 3 (9/7): 196.8 (-3.8) Week 4 (9/14): 193.5 (-3.3)
@DomLorenVSG

@DomLorenVSG

1
 

3 Weeks Post-Op & Back In The Water!

My doc finally cleared me to be back in the water again, and Tuesday (first day after the Labor Day Holiday weekend) I went all out. I have a pretty crazy workout schedule. I play collegiate water polo 4 nights a week for 2.5 hours, and I swim on the University’s Master's Swim team on my lunch 3 days a week for 1.5 hours. Again this was only a 4 day week and my first time back in the water in about 4 months, plus post-surgery 3 weeks. The first 2 days were the roughest, I was extremely sore and exhausted. Doing this much working out on such little calories is daunting and not for the faint of heart.   I will say that doing team/club sports is night and day different from going to the gym on my own. I'm lucky to stay focused enough to do 45 minutes on an elliptical or treadmill, whereas when I get in the water I'm not staying place, I'm engaging with other people, being pushed by my team members, and have a coach guiding my workouts. I never get bored. My mindset is not to just survive practice, but to be one of the best, swim the fastest, throw the ball the hardest, and be an MVP. When I do get out of the water whether it was water polo or masters swim- I'm jello, my body is completely exhausted and I feel like an Olympic champion (minus those sweet little gold medals). I have several fitness goals this semester, and I'm so motivated to get into the best shape ever, regardless of what the scale says. Our first ranked NCAA tournament is 3 weeks from today. Bet your bottom I'm going all Kong Fu Panda on my workouts for the next 3 weeks to be ready for this tournament... and the bonus- I'm going to lose weight. I <3 my sleeve.   **attached pic of me playing water polo last spring. I'm about to throw the ball.   Height: 5'9   Heighest Weight: 216   Current Weight: 196.8   1st Goal Weight: 169 2nd Goal Weight: 145   Sleeved 8/17/2012 @ 216 lbs   Week 1 (8/24): 204.8 (-11.2) Week 2 (8/31): 200.6 (-4.2) Week 3 (9/7): 196.8 (-3.8)
@DomLorenVSG

@DomLorenVSG

2
 

One-Derland!

This morning I stepped onto my scale to discover I hit One-derland! Last I checked I've been hovering between 200.6 and 200.2, this morning I was 198.0.(I checked several times just to make sure). A lot of this had to do with working out. I'm 20 days post op, and I survived my first water polo practice last night. Note to all those who about to start workout regiments... STRETCH before doing the activity. I got to the pool deck late because of my class and I threw on my swim cap and goggles and dove in- BIG MISTAKE. I felt everything in my body shift and have a ripping sensation. IT WAS NO BUENO. No damage was done, but I think I shocked my body. I took it slow on the conditioning portion, swam steadily- backed out of the sprints, and then did fine during ball handlng and shooting drills. I opted not to scrimage my first couple of days back to prevent anyone from kicking me in unnecessary areas. All in all practice was a success but lessons were learned about listening to your body. Today is my first masters swim practice at lunch then round 2 of water polo practice tonight. It's looking to be a long week, but I'm totally ready to "embrace the suck." Nothing is more motivating to work out than to see your numbers go down!   ‎8/17/12 Post-op 20days   5'9   HW 216 CW 198 (-18) GW 169
@DomLorenVSG

@DomLorenVSG

0
 

2 Weeks Post Op

Today is exactly 2 weeks post op, and I'm down a total of -4.2 this week, even though I've been stalling the last 3 days. I'm finally over having to run to the bathroom every 5 minutes, and my stomach seems to be liking grits and hummus which is great to finally get some food down, so I'm taking the stall as my bodies readjustment period. Over all my clothes are fitting me perfectly and I felt better than I have in months. I'm really just happy I had any weight loss at all this week. My steri-strips are off, all incisions are healed, and Dr. A said I could return to swimming/water polo training this Tuesday... so next week should be interesting!!   Sleeved 8/17/2012   Height: 5'9   Heighest Weight: 216 1st Goal Weight: 169 2nd Goal Weight: 145   Week 1 (8/24): 204.8 ( -11.2) Week 2 (8/31): 200.6 (-4.2)
@DomLorenVSG

@DomLorenVSG

1
 

1 Week Post Op

Today is exactly 1 week post op- I was sleeved last Friday 8/17 weighing in at 216 lbs and hating myself. This morning I stepped on the scale and weighed in at 204.8 lbs for a loss of -11.2 lbs. While I'm relieved the numbers are going down instead of up (especially from gas and bloating post op) I'm also very humbled. Last night I went to an event with my water polo team and I realized that this surgery has literally changed my attitude and stopped my self loathing dead in its tracks. Everyone said I looked so happy and glowing- especially after just having surgery (I told them all it was for stomach ulcers ) and I was all smiles. I laughed so hard, I actually almost hurt my incesions. Best night I've had amongst friends in a while- and everyone noticed. Along with losing weight, I'm also losing a lot of personal emotional baggage that was tagged onto this weight. I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel, and it gets brighter one pound at a time...   VSG: 8/17/12 1 Week Post Op   HT: 5'9 HW: 216 CW: 204.8 1st GW: 169   -11.2
@DomLorenVSG

@DomLorenVSG

4
 

Hunger No More...

Hunger. I have NONE. My entire life I've been hungry. I just could never say no to seconds or thirds and lord help me if it was one of my favorite foods or desserts. I always failed at diets because I would work out then come home starving and always over it (even it was super healthy food). Today, I'm 7 days post op, and I HAVE NO hunger. I'm dealing with a bit of stomach acid, but the moment I take my antacid medication the grumbling disappears. Hate to say this is a miracle, but for me- this is absolutely life changing to wake up and not be starving. Hallelujah.
@DomLorenVSG

@DomLorenVSG

4
 

First Blog Entry... 6 Days Post Op!

Drum roll please.... I'm 6 days post op, weighed in for surgery on Friday at 216 lbs, and according to my brand new scale I purchased yesterday, I am 206 lbs! That's -10 lbs in 6 days. Holy smokes. Today is also my first day back at work and I'm feeling pretty good, I have a desk job which helps a lot, and I'm really trying to remind myself to sip every 2 or 3 minutes. I already made the mistake of trying to multitask and walk and drink at the same time in the hallways and I doubled over with chest pain because I took a huge gulp- I don't want to scare my coworkers thinking I'm having a heart attack. Lol. I'm definitly going to go home at lunch and lay down for an hour and just do nothing so that I pace myself and give my tummy some down time as well. Last night I helped coach a little for my club sport, then afterwards we all went to grab a bite to eat, I sat there with my Powerade as they all ate huge amounts of food, and I was almost perplexed- I had NO hunger what so over. It all smelled good, but I had ZERO temptation or desire to eat anything. They all kept saying they felt bad I wasn't eating, and I just chuckled and said don't worry about it because I DON'T WANT ANY! It was so AWESOME!   So over all I'm doing great. Incesions are bit sore, but compared to a week ago I feel like a rockstar. Dr. Alvarez cleared me to swim 15 days post op and the count down is on! Once I get to full liquids on Monday and get protein shakes in my diet I know I'm going to be ready to start working out (in moderation). No regrets. At all. While I know this will be a long journey, I feel like I'm finally taking steps forward NOT backwards. I look forward to weighing myself rather than dreading it! Yay!   I was sleeved Friday, August 17th, 2012 and I plan to do my weekly/monthly blog updates on Fridays to keep track a little bit more accurately. But 6 days post op this is what I got:   Stats:   Height: 5'9 HW: 216 CW: 206 1st GW: 169 2nd GW: 145 3rd GW: 135
@DomLorenVSG

@DomLorenVSG

6
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