LadyIvy

Sorry I haven't been around a lot, but I'm battling evil computer gremlins right now. Do not fear though, as I shall be triumphant. As for the rest of my life, things are going better. I'm stalled again, but it's giving me time to get my act together at work. Also I'm trying to be careful and not think that I've only lost 42 pounds in 5 weeks because I lost 42 lbs in 5 weeks! Yes, I am breaking out the Hammer moves!
 
I'm finally back to full 8 hour shifts (thank god) and my naps are getting shorter and shorter. I am getting somewhat tired of my family always trying to figure out how I feel about everything, though. They seem to expect me to be stressed or having all sorts of problems and don't believe me when I say that I'm fine. My dad had this surgery and went through crazy emotions after he started to lose weight and it's like they expect me to be going through the same thing. It's kinda frustrating, honestly. I about lost it when they kept saying how "they knew that I had to be going through a lot, because they had been there with my dad, and I just didn't realize that I was going through it.". If I wasn't pissed before THAT little bit of patronizing family trivia then I definitely wanted to make short, pithy statements that would have made a sailor blush! They keep telling me I was withdrawn and not telling them everything and I kept telling them that I was in agonizing pain for 4 weeks after surgery (I had major suture complications so it felt like my side was being ripped apart every time I breathed) and wasn't chatty because I was in pain. *rolls eyes*. Nothing is more annoying than having people tell you how you should be feeling and then patting you on the head when you say that no, you don't feel like that at all. Hence why I wasn't calling them and thus started the vicious cycle. I've never been very communicative when not feeling well and I would think that after 29 years they would know that.
 
Alas life is pretty good, though. My ego and self-confidence is increasing and I'm even thinking about hitting on the cute guy at work. This weekend I'm going shopping with my BFF because out of all my clothes I have about 3 things that fit. Also, I've never been happier that I need a new, smaller bra! Oh the inhumanity!! *grin*

This morning I weighed 240.I know it might bounce back a little and I am prepared for that.
 
I am just so happy that the scale is moving again.
 
xxo

I had my 2nd follow-up with my surgeon on Wednesday 5/09. He was just thrilled with my weight loss so far. He said I was doing great and to just keep on doing what I'm doing. He told me I had no restrictions on my activities from here on out, so whatever I feel like doing, to go right ahead (Zumba, here I come)! He wants me to come back in 2 months to do some follow-up bloodwork.
 
Different foods I've tried this past week are:
Artisan Pizza (from Dominoes) - 1 slice of Chicken & Bacon Carbonara - No problems, just ate super slow and chewed, chewed, chewed!
Veggie Burger (MorningStar Farms) - Really good and had no problem with a thin bun.
Rib-Eye Steak - pan seared & served with Blue Cheese Butter (Better than a 5 star restaurant)
Asparagus - sauteed in olive oil, garlic, and served with Parmesan cheese
 
I'm so thankful that my sleeve has tolerated all these foods with zero issues. I just make sure that I chew, chew, chew!
 
This next week is super busy, each and every day is filled with obligations, so I'm planning ahead and making sure I have plenty of protein bars, fruit, etc., to get me through it. Just because I can now tolerate most foods, is not permission to go out and eat them all! I had this surgery so that I could lose weight, get healthy, and still enjoy my life. While I enjoy a few of the "no-no foods", that's a rarity, and at least now when I eat pizza, it's just 1 slice, and then that's it. No desire to eat another bite!
 
I've been walking 3 miles (4 times a week) with a friend, and I think that next week we'll try to push it to 3.5, and see how we tolerate it.

Yesterday marked 5 weeks post-op. I'm not officially weighing in until Monday, but I think I've lost another 2 lbs this week. At 6 weeks I'm going to do another video blog and take some pictures so I can compare them later.
 
So, I wanted to dedicate this blog entry to my one and only. My fiance. He has actually been very encouraging and supportive throughout this whole journey. When I first brought it up a year and a half ago, he told me to do what I think will make me feel better and be healthier, but he also said he loved me no matter what. I've always felt so self-concious standing next to him because he's very slim. He's 6ft 1in and weighs 186. At the start of my sleeve journey I was 5ft 6in and weighed 270. Yeah, we looked like the number "10" standing side by side lol. Again, he never had a problem w/ that...I did.
 
I told myself last fall of 2010 that instead of having an invasive surgery, I'd give one last REAL try at excercising and eating right to lose weight. Again....one last time I failed. From Fall to Spring 2011 I lost 10lbs then gained back 15. I was devistated that as many trials and tribulations that I've gotten though, this ONE thing keeps defeating me. I told my fiance in May of 2011 that I want to have the surgery, we came up w/ $5,000 because my insurance doesn't cover.
 
At no point did he ever try to talk me out of it and I think deep down he thought that it would truly make me happy. We flew to Mexico together in September and he was there every step of the way. He wanted to document everything right down to taking pictures of the partially removed stomach. We workout together. He makes me tea and broth... he's just been amazing. He and my best friend from childhood are the only ones who know about the surgery.
 
I just can't say enough about how happy I am to be marrying this man. He's accepted me before and I know he will accept me after I hit my goal. I can't wait to become the complete woman I know I was meant to be.

Well, I have to say, the post op doctor's visit was ...... well, it was different. Since I had my surgery in Mexico, and paid for it myself, there have been NO post op visits with the surgeon. His office did call me once, and I talked with his staff person about my exercising, but haven't seen a doctor since the week after my surgery. (I was running a fever for a few days starting on day 4 after my surgery. So went to see my PCP at home, and get on an antibiotic. He couldn't find the source of the infection, but after $500 worth of lab and x-ray put me on an antibiotic, and the problem was resolved. Then I flew back to California to go back to work, and haven't see any physician since.) My PCP told me when I saw him at four days post op that I should have a cholesterol level done in 2-3 months, to determine if I needed to go back on my anti-cholesterol medication. So I finally found a physician I felt comfortable with and made an appointment. (BTW, WHO KNEW IT WOULD TAKE ME 2 MONTHS TO GET IN TO SEE A DOCTOR FOR A NON EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT?)
 
But this past Tuesday morning I hauled my rear end out of bed at 6:00 AM (I am NOT a morning person!!!), showered, did the hair and makeup thing and took my fasting body to the doctor. I came prepared with a list of my current medications (all two of them!), a copy of my op report for her to put in my chart, a copy of my weight loss chart to show that I have been losing, a list of questions, etc. And guess what I forgot? MY INSURANCE CARD!!! How stupid can I be, I mean, REALLY! Since they wouldn't see me without it, or without my offering to pay for the entire appointment IN CASH, I turned around and drove the 15 miles back to my apartment and rumaged around and found the card. Drive back to the doctor's office, and wait.
 
Finally got past the waiting room, got weighed (OH HAPPY DAY! 170 lbs!) and in to see the doctor. After all the BP and Temperature, pulse, talk about the surgery, etc, she asked me "now what is your plan when you reach your goal, especially if you can't stop losing weght?"
 
Wow! Talk about a profound question!!! I hadn't even thought about that scenario! I mean, I have always, Always, ALWAYS been the fat girl, never the one who was TOO skinny! What do I do if I am at goal and still loosing? I didn't have an answer for her, and thought about it all day after the appointment. I finally came up with the answer. I will switch from Venti SKINNY Iced Carmel Machiatos at Starbucks to Regulars! I know, it's not that funny, but hey, like I said, that has NEVER been the problem before! I simply can't wrap my mind around the problem of what if I lose to much, or can't quit losing. I guess I will have to start eating empty calories again if that happens. No, really, I guess I will add another protein drink to my diet, or something, or something like that. But hey, that would be a wonderful problem in my book!
 
Anyway, after the appointment concluded, I went to the lab and had 9, Yep that's right, NINE tubes of blood drawn, and went on my merry way. Am still mulling over her question. I am 20 pounds from goal, so I guess it is one that I need to give some thought to, and maybe make a plan in case to much weight loss is a problem. (Again, five days after the appointment, I STILL can't wrap my head around loosing to much weight!) For years, whenever my (fat) friends and I would talk about somebody who had an eating disorder (loosing too much, Not to little) we would jokingly say "I just want to be bulimic (or anorexic) till I get down to 20 or 30 pounds BELOW my ideal weight, then I will eat my way back up to perfect!" And we would laugh and laugh, as we sat there eating our calorie laden munchies! But now, comtemplating it as a REAL problem blows my mind.
 
So anyway, that is my post op visit in a nutshell. I am still waiting to get my blood work results. But am thankful every day for my sleeve and the wonderful results I have had so far post op! Thanks to each of you who have posted problems, fears, joys, NSVs etc, as you encourage me daily, help me to continue on this path, and light the way with your experiences for those of us who are right behind you in our journey! Have a GREAT weekend. Later.......

I can not believe it has been 9 months already. I am still incredibly thankful for the progressive I've seen. I can only equate my nine months with the much more famous 9 month period we all know, the progress towards birth. I feel that my journey has very much been a rebirth. I am no longer the person I used to be. Not only am I physically smaller, so many other things are different about me. I have a better attitude about life, feel more confident and resolute in who I am and what my capabilities are. I no longer look first for reasons I can't do something, rather now I'm wondering what can I do. My loss of the emotional crutch I had in food has caused me to be more emotional and deal with those emotions. It has been a wonderful and eventful journey. Here's a wrap up of where I am today:
 
Total weight lost since initial consultation (Nov 23, 2010) -256lbs
Weight loss since surgery (Jan 10, 2011) -220lbs
Current weight, lowest since 6th grade 236lbs
Current weight as a percentage of my beginning weight 48%
No longer taking blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds and no longer wear a CPAP. I have shed all the co-mobilities I had at the beginning of this journey.
 
Thank you all for reading and for providing me a very valuable outlet and support on my journey.

i started my journey on 10/6/2011 the day i was scheduled for my consultation with my bariatric doctor Dr. Andre Graham ...actually my primary care physician referred me to him because i of course am overweight with a BMI of 57, recently diagnosed with diabetes. high blood pressure, leg swelling, PCOS..just to name a few...i never considered weight loss surgery because i thought it was something i could do on my own with diet and exercise..for one i was active since the day i was born through out high school and then when college time came i of course put on the freshmen 15+++ i really dont know what happened honestly! so i have been battling obesity for 9 years..which is not alot according to some but it was enough for me...
 
i was married, then divorced (happily btw lol) no kids...moved away from my hometown and moved to Dallas where things just spiraled out of control...fast forward my current boyfriend had a major scare and ended up in the hospital due to medical conditions related to his heart and weight and at that moment a light bulb clicked over me and i was like...this could be me...made a doctors appt and low and be hold found out things i didnt know i had...losing weight is a roller coaster..up down up down and uuuuuup..never able to lose more than 6-10 pounds at a time! so super frustrating.
 
left dr grahams office with a smile on my face knowing that the end of my struggles is right around the corner. i know its going to be hard work before during and after but this is something i HAVE to do for myself..and i will do it! my insurance is really good so i know it wont be that financially binding for me thank GOD.. look forward to seeing my own progress
 
my family is very supportive and my mom is already ready to come take care of me after surgery lol

You hear so much about protein, protein, protein but no one told me I could get too much protein - YIKES!!! I am probably one of very few people that actually enjoy my protein shakes. Since Day 1 they have never been a problem for me to drink.
 
I had my surgery on September 20, and I thought the weight would simply melt off. I've heard about stalls and slow weight loss I just never thought I'd be in either one of those categories. After all, I'm dinking my protein, taking in plenty of liquids and doing well with food. Exercise is another story all together, but I digress. On post-op day 19, I called my physician's office to ask a few questions and before I hung up I asked if it were possible to have too much protein and was told yes!
 
My protein shakes are 28g and I have 3 of them a day. That's already 84g of protein. Greek yogurt is 16g. That's 100g already and that's without my soft meats (I'm in the mushy phase). Tuna, salmon, talapia, etc. is protein. On average I was getting in close to 135-140g! That's too much. Not to mention, protein builds muscle so if you aren't walking or exercising you may gain. Of course if you're just coming out of surgery you can't really exercise but you can walk which I haven't been doing. No wonder the scale isn't moving!!!
 
My doctor said to decrease the protein (keep it between 70g-90g a day) and get moving! I have lost some weight. I've lost 30 pounds since surgery, and I know I have to take it easy because it's only been 3 weeks but I still need to do my part.
 
Too much protein...who knew!!