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Mattymatt

Gastric Bypass Patients
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Everything posted by Mattymatt

  1. Mattymatt

    Weight Gain

    Tiff, before you can get back on track, you're going to have to stop beating yourself up. The key is just to go back to "bariatric basics." Start logging again and concentrating on protein. This is going to be a life long struggle for all of us so the key is using the tools at your disposal. Perhaps some bad foods magically crept back in. I began noticing this myself so I forced myself to go back to logging and I had the "A ha!" moment when I saw potato chips sneak back in. I think my calories also crept back up too but not to the point where I was gaining; just stagnant or plus or minus a few pounds.
  2. Mattymatt

    Toxic relationship with food

    I am a former food addict. I say former because Gastric Bypass effectively cured the addiction. Much of the foods that I used to eat disgust me. For example: I used to go hog wild for pizza, wings, and fries, and not only can I no longer eat them, but just the smell is enough to make me nauseous. It could very well be that your relationship to food will take a 180 degree turn. I really and truly eat to live now. At times I miss being able to wolf down an entire large pizza but those moments are usually short-lived once I remember I was 366 and dangerously diabetic. Now I am a much better 294 and only have 104 pounds left to lose. This looks a lot more surmountable than the 176 when I first began. A psychologist once told me that people generally don't reach the weights that we get too that don't also have a terrible relationship to food. They almost make a basic assumption that you have a psychological issue with food. The psychologist with my program only looked for Bulemia or Anexoria because those two conditions could cause severe problems with weight loss surgery.
  3. Mattymatt

    This is so hard

    Know that it may get harder before it gets easier. Around my 4th week post-op, I had all kinds of issues with my stomach. I developed an H. Pylori infection, ulcers, and a stricture. It sucked but I got through it and I am doing all kinds of better. During those times, I had some regrets but now I have none. I am at a weight I haven't been since 2014 and doing generally well. Just be stoic and keep moving forward.
  4. Mattymatt

    Sexual activity

    The magical answer is when you feel ready enough.
  5. So how's everyone doing? Hope all is well. It's good to be finally back to work. Once I became healthy enough to go back to work, it was a bit challenging to find a job that wouldn't require me being away from home for a week or two at a time. I landed something temporary moving cars between Carmax dealerships. It keeps me so busy that I sometimes forget to eat because I am not hungry. Now that I am not quite so bored, I don't reach mindlessly for food to fill up time. LOL! Hoping to maybe get 7 pounds more off by August 4th for my brother's wedding. Matty has his eye on a bride's maid .... LOL! At least the scale is starting to move again. I think if I lose another 7 pounds, my size 48 loose fit jeans won't even stay up with a cinched belt anymore.

    1. TakingABreak

      TakingABreak

      Those bridesmaids would be lucky to have you!

    2. Mattymatt

      Mattymatt

      You know something. It's crazy. I just dropped even more weight. It's positively melting off now ... LOL!

    3. Mattymatt

      Mattymatt

      Awww, @AshAsh1 That's really nice of ya to say

    4. Show next comments  3 more
  6. Mattymatt

    How have your smells and tastes changed?

    Wow have my taste buds have changed! I no longer like a lot of foods that I used to really gobble up. For example, I cannot stand french fries or pizza. I never thought I would see the day when pizza would just be plain disgusting. I might also add that I still don't really feel hunger. I am hoping to continue to make some progress and move forward.
  7. LOL! I've lost so much weight that I can feel the muscles at the base of my neck. Fat no longer covers that area. Whodathunkit!?

    1. Matt Z

      Matt Z

      Crazy right! I keep being amazed / fascinated that I can feel my hips, bones, muscles etc... I'm not all that amazed or fascinated with the fact that my ass is sliding off my body now... stupid saggy ass skin...

    2. TakingABreak

      TakingABreak

      My butt bone hurts after sitting forever! I no longer have the cushion that I used to. I find myself switching back and forth between cheeks at work. I can't wait until I can see my collar bone. That will be a fabulous NSV.

  8. Relax! As my surgeon is fond of saying, this is one of the most routine forms of major surgery out there. Only a fraction of a percentage have problems which is statistically insignificant. There will be some foods that you may no longer like after surgery. For me, I cannot stand french fries, pizza, or soft pretzels anymore - those were some of my favorite foods. Just the thought of them is enough to make my stomach turn. I also don't like flour or wheat tortillas anymore - I just cannot digest them. I find I really crave the more nutritious of options. I haven't tried steak but I do okay with burgers and I like chicken. When you get to eating regular foods after surgery, you may be pleasantly surprised. I really like how I don't crave junk food anymore.
  9. I've noticed that another bad behavior has crept back into my life. I've started not giving a full half hour between food and drink. Today I put the kibosh on that. It's back to waiting the appropriate amount of time. On the other hand, I've been really good about getting a minimum of 64oz of liquid in per day. Often, I am above the minimum. Post-op food lifestyle is a constant balancing act and the trick is catching things when they start to go out of balance.

    1. Orchids&Dragons

      Orchids&Dragons

      Congrats on recognizing that and nipping it in the bud!

    2. Matt Z

      Matt Z

      I bought a 30 min "hour" glass just for this! I use my phone when I'm out... but at home, when I'm not paying attention because of the TV or whatever else is pulling my attention away, I just flip the hour glass and I'm certain. Good on you for forcing those changes to stick... THAT'S what' makes this surgery work long term. Changes.

    3. TakingABreak

      TakingABreak

      Yea, I'm with you. Sometimes I feel myself slipping. But I usually leave my drink in the opposite room after dinner because I know I'll forget and take a sip.

  10. Mattymatt

    Itchy Incisions

    The itchy incision factor is pretty common. I would try my best not scratch at them but gave the hell up. At least as they heal up, it gets better.
  11. Mattymatt

    Frustrating, depressing, sad....

    Sue them out of existence. This is illegal!
  12. I laugh because that's exactly how I felt. I kinda said to my self sarcastically, "Well this is a pleasant surprise .... not!"
  13. Mattymatt

    Just got in trouble!

    I was told to use sweet potatoes or yams instead of regular white potatoes. If I recall correctly, it has to do with the lower glycemic load of the sweet potatoes. They didn't negatively effect my weight loss at all.
  14. I came to the same conclusion about Cookies and Cream. I though it would be a really amazing taste and I was really and truly disappointed!
  15. Today I hit 299. Feels really good to be below 3 bills!

    1. Creekimp13

      Creekimp13

      Yay! Congrats!

    2. nibble

      nibble

      BRAVO, Mattymatt! That's gotta feel good. Be proud of yourself. All the effort is paying off.

    3. Orchids&Dragons

      Orchids&Dragons

      Awesome, goooooo Matty!

  16. I am sure some of you are wondering about my date with the 3rd year med student. It's a one and done and I am honestly relieved. I was almost headed down a road I swore I would never go down again: dating a type. I would honestly rather find someone less ambitious and more on my wavelength of living simply with less material things. I reject the consumerist lifestyle and would rather live simply instead of being in the buy, borrow, and spend cycle. The stress of living this way was one contributor to becoming 366 pounds and profoundly diabetic. 

    1. Orchids&Dragons

      Orchids&Dragons

      Sorry this one wasn't a keeper, but now you've broken the ice and are back in the game. With your new self-confidence you'll be much more attractive. Hold out for the right fit! She's out there looking for you!

  17. Mattymatt

    Don't pray for me

    Hey! Speaking of bariatric muffins ... that reminds me. I found a protein waffle at the local supermarket. The brand name is Kodiak Cakes. 2 of them have 280 calories and 15g of protein and only a total of 25g of carbs. Very filling an delicious!
  18. How's everyone doing? I am honking along but not losing weight as fast as I liked so I went back to tracking and discovering some nasty little carbs that have mysteriously come back. Hoping to get back on track. I'd like to drop 10 more pounds before I start driving a truck again. At least I am not gaining which is important!
  19. Mattymatt

    Don't pray for me

    LOL! Slow down there ... no love yet but I do like her. She understands the importance of staying focused to achieve weight loss and does med student rounds with a bariatric surgeon. That's why I am excited but have to temper it a little. I don't want to get my hopes up, especially because I am not working yet and still have progress to make. I am starting driving for Schneider National on August 6th. I have to be over 120 days post-op, before Schneider's medical team will clear me.
  20. Mattymatt

    How's everyone doing?

    Smart way to go about it. I think I am going to adopt your philosophy. No more than 60.
  21. Mattymatt

    Motherf&*^%$

    This happens! It's happened to me but it isn't true weight gain. Do you know the gargantuan amount of calories that you'd have to eat in order to truly gain that? It's probably just water or whatever. I remember when I had my last check in appointment and discovered I had lost a whopping 6 inches off of my waist and I was down in the dumps because I felt I wasn't making progress. Hang in there!
  22. Mattymatt

    How's everyone doing?

    I know right!? It's funny because yesterday, I drastically cut the carbs back and got constipated. Good thing I took some colace before bed. I also had some fruit before bed and some this morning for breakfast. That got things going again. Holy cow!
  23. Mattymatt

    Don't pray for me

    Atheists believe in emotions like love!
  24. Uh oh! Something happened to Matty this week. I was in a local Wawa (think east coast convenience store) and a gorgeous girl ran smack into me while I was grabbing a grape Propel - just couldn't deal with anymore water today. She was texting and walking ... okay, yeah, this missed me as Gen X'er. Well she looked up at me and flashed me one helluva smile. I was feeling pretty good that day so it was time to bring out some game, "So you know I can't let a gorgeous girl who crashes into me go without getting her phone number." LOL! She turned beet red, asked for my phone and sent herself a text message from mine. She said, "Because you men never call ..." I don't know quite what I was thinking but figured it would be one heck of a ride. What is it with me and short girls? I seem to attract them and I don't honestly care about height. She's all of 5'4". I knew she was young but it didn't occur to me how young. What did I just get myself into?

    I told myself no dating until the scale reads 190 but this new me is feeling sexually driven like I have never been before. Well, she's right I wasn't really planning on calling her so she called me. So I told her my age (41) and was shocked to hear that she generally goes for men older than 35. We must've talked on the phone close to 3 hours. You're going to think I am lying when I tell you she's a 3rd year med student and is interested in training to be a bariatric surgeon. The stars might've just aligned but I want to go slow and told her that I had weight loss surgery. She's totally my type - the professional, highly educated, and ambitious woman. That's what frightens me, because in the past, this has lead to unhealthy relationships. Well, I've got a date lined up for Saturday and I just want to have some fun. I needed money in order to make this happen so I sold a bunch of old computer equipment and managed to raise some capital for this adventure. I know I won't be drinking alcohol but that's okay.

    1. Show previous comments  3 more
    2. okayestmom

      okayestmom

      It sounds like you are already have fun even before the date. Relax and enjoy.

      This post was just what I needed, I am tired of medical stuff today.

    3. Mattymatt

      Mattymatt

      No @MN_Meg770, you're not out of my league. You're just too far away :-( I like you very much and if you lived in my area, you'd be totally dateable. As I wrote before, having a type is not really healthy a thing and I am hesitant to get into a relationship with someone whom might not be very understanding of a disability.

    4. MN_Meg770

      MN_Meg770

      I was just teasing you silly :) It is all good.

    5. Show next comments  3 more
  25. Mattymatt

    Fear of death?

    I was a volunteer EMT and I have seen people in various states of death and decline. One of my patients looked up at me and said, "I think I am going to die now." He had a DNR order so we didn't use CPR or an AED. He had a big smile on his face as he died and I knew his suffering was over. It is this patient that helped me to lose my fear of death.

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