Diana_in_Philly

Please call your time and leave a message for someone to get back to you. If you are not experiencing other symptoms, it may be nothing, but they need to be the ones to figure that out.

I'm 5'3" and was 55 at time of surgery. I believe my highest weight was over 300 in 2015 but I didn't get on scales then. Recorded HW 271.5. Day of Surgery - 246.9. As of today - 156. So from my highest weight - probably 150 pounds. From recorded high - 115. I'm about 20 months out. Because I'm of a certain age, I lost a bit slower, but I still have weight coming off. I now am working on building muscle mass and decreasing body fat. My body fat is about 31 percent right now and I'm shooting for 28.

I'm about 20 months out - I'm down 115 pounds and feel like a new person. My medical team has asked me to speak at support group meetings as a success story. FWIW - August 2015 I was probably over 300 pounds (I didn't do scales at that time.) April 2016, saw a photo of myself and cried. Started the process at 271.5 (I'm 5'3" and was 55 years old). Had surgery August 23, 2016. As of today, I fence (as in en garde) 5 hours a week and am in the gym another 3 or 4. I am bone on bone in both knees, but my orthopedic surgeon thinks I can go about 10 years now before replacing the knees. (The knee replacement was part of why I had surgery - my orthopedic surgeon wouldn't do the surgery unless I got my BMI under 35 - it was 48). I have more energy, rarely use pain meds for my knees and feel like I'm in my 30s not my 50s. Best of luck on your journey.

The real question is how much sooner will her obesity kill her? Because death is inevitable. Generally, risk of dying related to medical procedures in the US is about 1/100,000. Risk of death during childbirth in North America is 1/3750. Since she is your MIL, she survived childbirth where she had a much greater risk of dying. To me, this sounds like a "reason" she has rationalized to deal with fear. Ask her if she had cancer and needed to have surgery, would she put it off due to the risk of death statistics? Because morbid obesity will kill her just as dead as cancer would. She may benefit from talking with a therapist about why she is hesitant to go forward.

Listen to your body. Go to Zumba but move at a pace you can deal with. If you need to take a break during the class - do. But listen to what your body needs. If you make it through 15 minutes this week, great. Next time, shoot for 20 and ease your way back up. Your body is recovering from surgery and it will take six weeks before the energy really comes back.

At the point you are at, I was at a similar calorie count and working out a bit more, but was very careful not to eat what I worked out. My workout days would be my 800 calorie days and I would make sure I upped my protein and water intake those days. Currently, I'm training for Summer Nationals in early July (I fence foil). I fence 5-6 hours a week. (Roughly 1300 calories in 2-3 hours). I'm in the gym doing lifting and circuits (pull ups, Romanian Dead Lift, Shoulder Presses, shoulder rotations with 25 lb plate and push ups - that circuit is 2x week for about an hour and 800 calories with 20 minutes of cardio on the elliptical), an hour of Pilates a week, an hour of agility and flexibility training - most of those days I'm burning 1000 calories - so I up my intake a bit. I currently eat between 1000 and 1200 calories and shoot for 120 g protein and 80 ounces of water minimum. I up my carbs after lifting. But If I just do an hour workout like you described, I just make sure I drink some more water. So long as you do not feel weak, no reason to add calories. Just space your foods so you can eat something after your workout.

I had been a member of our local Y for a year or so before I started the process, but as soon as I had my first appointment, I set up a meeting with a personal trainer and started developing a plan to help as I moved toward surgery and then after. I continued working with her until she moved to Colorado for graduate work a year after my surgery. About three months after that I changed gyms because I felt I wasn't getting what I needed from the Y, so I echo the comments about visiting and trying out various places. I love my gym and work out there 4-6 hours a week. (I also spend another 5 hours a week at my fencing club - I've taken up fencing.) Find something you love to do and do it. At this point - about 20 month post-op, I get grumpy if I don't work out.

Had surgery on a Tuesday morning. Discharged Wednesday at 2 pm. Slept most of that day. Sat on the couch most of the day Thursday but did not need any help. Went grocery shopping on Friday (made the kids carry the bags in - I had a 10 pound lifting restriction) and rode a recumbent bike at the gym on Saturday. Went into the office on Monday worked 9-4 (short day for me). Worked from home Tuesday, back in the office Wednesday. (I only work in the office 2 days a week and work remotely the rest of the time.) I was tired from the anesthesia working its way through my system but this was way easier than the two c-sections I had to have my kids! I work at a desk all day so nothing physical, but my doc's position was do as much as your body says you can. YMMV.

It depends on your insurance carrier, too. Mine approved me in less than 48 hours - I got word three days after the team submitted and was called on day 4 to pick a surgery date. If you can't get it scheduled in August, schedule it for over winter break - then you won't have to miss time from school.

I'm sure you really don't want to hear about my hemorrhoids . . . (Notice I didn't say that's what the surgery was, just making a statement they could make an assumption on.) On a serious note, you owe no one an explanation other than I'm having surgery, my doctor says I need to be out for X time and when I return I will/will not have restrictions. That's it.

Our pre-op class gave us a ton of materials, but I brought a notebook to make my own notes - I've found that for me, writing it down in my own hand makes it true. You may find many of your questions are answered as part of the presentation. Do make note of brands that they recommend that are available to you locally. And if you don't have a food scale, as for recommendations on a scale - as I have found that to be my most valuable tool over the course of the last year and a half.

So, I had two c-sections - also had my surgery 13 years after my last baby. VSG was a walk in the park. Literally. I had surgery Tuesday, came home Wednesday and was at the grocery store on Friday - made the family carry the stuff in and had one of the nice kids at the market load the car, but other than a 10 pound lifting restriction for two weeks - this was amazingly easy. Now, I did have trouble at first finding a temperature at which my new tummy liked liquids. And it was fickle. But I had no complications. In fact, today, having my blood drawn for an 18 month post-op check up (a little late) the tech looked at me and said - you're not planning to lose any more are you - you look perfect! (I want to put on more muscle and get rid of some fat - it's not about numbers now.) Best of luck.

Ok - I'm a bit crazy, but I'm in a profession where I only get paid if I bill time - no vacation, no sick time, nada. I work from home 3 days, in the office 2. Surgery Tuesday. (Worked Monday.) Home Wednesday. Slept Thursday.. Worked half a day from my couch Friday. Monday, went into the office from 10-3 instead of 9-5. Tuesday worked full day from home. By Wednesday - one week after hospital release - I was back to my routine of office Monday and Wednesday and work from home remaining days. I can control my breaks and bathroom time. I can eat and drink at my desk. I also had two prior C-Sections and had to go back to work( (and try a case in a courtroom 1 hour away from home) six weeks after the birth of child 2. So maybe I have different tolerances. I had no complications. My doc said go back when you want or stay out as long as you need. I'll sign the note either way. Best of luck

I find that I tolerate some sugars better than others. A teaspoon or two of brown sugar on Oatmeal - fine. A few drops of liquid agave in a drink? Fine. Alcohol (certain ones) - not an issue if I have one drink ( e.g. 1 glass of wine or 1 cocktail.) A full sugar soda or dessert gives me the sweats and makes me nauseous. Refined white sugar is terrible on my system. Just for good measure - I'm about 20 months out and still losing, but working on building muscle - for me its not about the number on the scale, but how I look at this point. (I can't believe become vain.)

FWIW, I told my husband, my two teen daughters, my two best friends. Didn't tell my mother. Didn't tell my sister. Neither would have been supportive and I didn't need negativity. I'm very private about my medical issues, anyway. At work, I told them I had to have abdominal surgery, would be out for a few days and then back at my desk. (I only have to be in the office 2x week - I work remotely the other days.) Six weeks after surgery, my mom passed and we had to bury her- which meant big Italian funeral out of town for a week. When people asked about my weight loss, I would say the following - all of which were true: I am working with a medical team I eat a very high protein diet and control my portions I exercise - a lot - generally 8-10 hours a week. All of that was completely true. It is what Sister Patrick, my first-grade teacher, would have called a sin of omission. But I was ok with that. It's really up to you. My sister, with whom I am close, still does not know and never will.

Logging every bite is the best start - but you have to be honest about it and log EVERY BITE. It's very easy to get back on track by looking at this list and go - how the holy heck did I eat all that crap. After a week of serious logging, look at your data and then go back to FluffyChix's basics - weigh, measure, log and water. Then get out and move. You can do this.

I buried my mother 6 weeks after surgery. Other than my husband, my two teen daughters and two best friends, no one else knew I did this. I was with my big Italian family for a week. Here is what I said and all of it is true: I am working with a medical team to lose weight. Getting healthy right now is important to me. I have very strict dietary requirements that I have to follow and I am very focused on portion control. Please, order whatever you'd like. Don't mind what I am or am not eating. My diet is very concentrated on proteins right now, so that's my focus. Not a word of that was a lie. It wasn't the whole truth, but I get to decide who hears my truth. Best of luck!

I always have a couple of protein bars in the car (not chocolate as we head to summer - they get icky in the heat.) I tend to get the Quest ones. This way, I know I have something I can eat that's legal. Otherwise, I'll order a salad of some kind with an added protein and dressing on the side if I'm out with a client. By eating the protein and moving the salad around on my plate, no one notices I'm not really eating much. When I'm on the road, (I'm in Philly) I can always pop into a Wawa and get tuna, chicken or egg salad and a fork. I have been known, when driving to get a hot dog and eat it without the bun.

Agree on the protein shake after a workout - it has made a huge difference for me. I lift and I fence - so if I don't do protein, it gets ugly fast. My weight has been up a little but my overall body fat numbers are down, so I'm good. I'm not as concerned with the scale at this point (20 months post-op) but more about what I see and how I feel. I want to get my body fat down to about 26 percent - which for a middle aged menopausal woman would be great.

So - didn't tell my mother, didn't tell my sister and I was 56 when I had my surgery. I knew my mother would be negative. I knew my sister wouldn't understand. I told my husband, my two teen daughters and my two besties. That was it. (Of course, my docs, but they don't count). My mother died 8 weeks after my surgery never knowing and it was OK with me. Your story. You own it. Never let anyone tell you any different. (PS - I weight less now than I did when I graduated college - I'm down 110 pounds and never regretted my decision.)

FWIW - here's my story. I was 55 when I had my surgery in August 2016. At my highest recorded weight I was 271.5, but looking at pictures, I think I was probably over 300 at my heaviest. I am 5'3". I'm bone on bone in both knees and had terrible asthma. I did this in part to have my knees replaced because my surgeon wanted my BMI under 35 when I had my knees done to reduce the risk of complications. I had my sleeve done and now, almost 2 years later, I'm down 110 pounds, I fence (as in en garde) 5 hours a week. My ortho doesn't think I'll need to have my knees done until I'm in my late 60s. I work with a personal trainer and I can deadlift more than my bodyweight (my personal record is 180 pounds - I currently weigh 162). My body fat is down to 31%, which for a post-menopausal woman is excellent, but I'm working toward 26% - when I hit 26, I'll schedule my plastics for my abdomen. (If I had it done now - which my plastics guy would do - I would get to the 26% easily. It is never too late. It is worth every bit. It is work, but I have never felt better in my life and in my youth I was an Olympic caliber athlete. It is a long road. Do it one day at a time. You've got this. We've got your back.

Just tell everyone you are the designated driver! No worries because you are being safety minded. I used to carry around a glass of white wine. Didn't drink it, just carried it around.

My PCP pretty much did the same thing. I found a new PCP. For more than 20 years I was told I wasn't trying hard enough, needed to just change my diet and exercise more. BTW - I ran into her a few weeks ago in the supermarket. She didn't recognize me. I re-introduced myself and she said something about how she was glad I changed my diet and was exercising - and I looker her square in the eye and said - I'm going to tell you that you have a weight bias. I had VSG, have lost 110 pounds and am keeping it off very easily now. There was no reason for me to suffer for years the way I did because you never even mentioned this was a possibility for me. She stood there stunned. Find a PCP who will support you. I did and it has made all the difference in the world. I'm sorry your doc is a jerk.

If my heart rate is at 169, call 911. My resting heart rate these days is in the mid 40s, so 85% of max for me is around 145. So long as you are getting the burn. I don't run ,but I do get that when I fence or use the rower at the gym.

I started working with a personal trainer in May 2016 in anticipation of August 2016 surgery. I told her what I was doing and she developed a program for me that challenged me and helped me build up my strength. I would see her about once every three weeks. It was well worth the money. She worked with me post-op as well. Everyone's beginning fitness level is different so its important you find someone to help you get started. I still work with a trainer (different one - my first one went to grad school and moved) and I'm almost 2 years out. Working on getting my body fat below 28% before I have plastics done. (I'm at about 31% right now which is pretty respectable for a 56 year old woman!)