Search the Community

Haven't updated this thing in a while. It's just to keep me accountable and I know others can read this so feel free to chime in. I'm officially almost entering my 7th month of post op life from my gastric bypass. I feel so much better and I've lost over 100 lbs but there are days I still feel like it won't all really matter at all until I am stick skinny (which wouldn't be possible without plastics and even then I don't think so). I hate that I think that way - it makes it hard to be happy for myself and then that feeds into not meeting my goals. 

I was in a weight loss rut for a while there - like the whole month of August basically was me just gaining and losing the same 4 lbs. I figured it was just a weight loss stall part of the process because I hear there's a big stall 6 months out. I also was macro and calorie counting but I was drinking more alcohol than I ever have since surgery. I think that contributed to it immensely. Just to be clear I wasn't drinking out of transfer addiction - just going to more social events and dinners because my life has gotten so incredibly busy. It's amazing because I have the confidence to go out and be social now but it makes it harder to navigate the strict calorie limits and hydration goals when you're always hanging out with people. 

Anyway, I really put a lot of thought into calories the past two weeks and stopped drinking too. I finally broke my stall. I went from 240 to 236 and it seems to be sticking. I'm at this weird part in the surgery journey where the honeymoon is over. I no longer get food stuck in my esophagus on the regular but I have noticed I am starting to feel nauseous after eating (probably because I don't have the limitation of the food getting stuck) so I don't realize how much my body is actually okay with. 

So now I'm at this point where I'm figuring out how much of different types of foods I can really eat without making myself nauseous. It's a work in progress but I'm determined. I'm usually good around 1/2 a cup of carbs and 1-1.5 cups of vegetables. Protein is always different. Sometimes I can eat it no problem, others it's one of the only foods that still get "stuck". I try not to go crazy counting calories because I have a history of eating disorders. I mainly try to stay under 1300 calories. My BMR is around 1900 right now. Instead of counting every single morsel, I make sure I eat more in the beginning of the day so I don't snack at night and I weigh my food if it's a fat or carb. 

I'd really like to add more exercise back into the equation but I've been on my *ss for the past 2 weeks because I sprained my tailbone. It's finally better so I'm going to try doing a mile run and a 2 mile walk at least 3 times a week to start out. Weathers also clearing up for outdoor runs and I'd like to get my sweat on anyway. 

But anyway, I feel like I'm at this point of my surgery journey that doesn't get talking about a lot. The pre op and right after surgery phases are talked about most but the most important part seems to be what happens after all the cool perks start dying down? Hunger comes back, or you're able to increase portions, introduce foods back, etc. I'd love to talk to others about this point just for support. I know it just comes down to tracking and movement but sometimes it does feel like you're doing it all and those numbers won't budge (they don't go up, but they don't go down). For me it's best not to obsess over the number. I can get really depressed checking my weight everyday. I'm down to checking about 3 times a month now. 

Not sure what else I'm trying to say here. Just want to keep going. My first goal weight was 220 that I set for myself. I'm about 15 lbs away from it. I think once I hit 220 and maintain it for 2 months I'll set a new goal weight for 200 lbs. I think at that point I'll be ready for plastics. I'd love to have my arms tightened, my stomach skin removed and my boobs lifted. Everything else I can take or leave haha 

10 weeks post op.  Had my first dumping episode last week, holy hell I thought I was having a heart attack!  It lasted a couple of hours, and was only really severe for half an hour.  Enough to scare the life out of me though!

Weight loss has slowed considerably but I'm ok with that.  I've been eating more mindfully and with variety, remembering my vitamins mostly, and drinking lots of fluid.  The day after the dumping session I felt really washed out and lacked energy.  An early night sorted that.

I've started having a few glasses of wine but worried it's going to fall into a bad habit (I do get a little complacent when watching my alcohol intake) so hubby and I have decided only one night a week and limit it to half a bottle between us.  

Winning!

9 weeks post op today.  Gosh, observations are so many.....

I am finally back in the 70's (kilograms that is) which is my happy place - preferably the low 70's but I'm getting there.

My hair is dry, really dry.  Need more water and healthy oils.

I'm starting to feel thirst again, but gulping isn't a good feeling.  Sip sip sip all day.

My body transformation is astounding.  I can see contour in my shoulders, and my legs are back where they used to be when I was very active.  

I tan a LOT better than I used to.  Weird, I don't know why, but we are at the end of our summer here in Australia and I have the BEST tan!  🙂

I've been more out and about doing things, feeling more motivated.  

I become exhausted after a short amount of exercise.  This is incredibly frustrating.

Alcohol hits me, HARD.... 😞 

Poop is back!  Ha, I know, TMI.  But I am back pooping daily or every other day and they are normal woohoo.

I'm not scared to try all foods now, just in tiny amounts to begin with.

I was asked if I was ok the other day by a shop keeper at our local pet and pool store.  She thought I was ill.... 😞

My body self image is nothing like reality.  My imagination doesn't allow me to try on clothes that will actually fit me, I still feel fat.

Just my thoughts at 9 weeks.  NO REGRETS!!!!  

Last week I poured out all the alcohol in the house. I rarely drank pre op but about 6 mths post RNY I stopped declining wine with dinner and very quickly recognized that I was experiencing the food to alcohol addiction transfer.

I'm so glad the alcohol is gone! If anyone feels they are on that slippery slope I encourage you to do the same. So much easy to resist if it is not in the house.

Also, for the first time in 6 months I've broken out of the gain/lose/gain/lose the same few lbs stall and have started to lose again!

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.

Wishes that having asshole, worthless, selfish, alcoholic fathers WASNT something i'd have in common with my own daughter... Guess that star was already used...

I'm 39 years old and just got carded buying alcohol. TOTALLY made my day!!

down another pound this week......it was really hard to stay away from all the alcohol for the fourth but i managed to have only one drink, empty calories are so tempting

Dear Santa, I don't want much for Christmas, I just want the person reading this to be happy. Friends are the fruit cake of life --- some nutty, some soaked in alcohol, some sweet, but mix them together and they're my friends At Christmas you always hear people talking about what they want & bought. This is what I want: I want people who are sick with no cure to be able to be cured. I want children with no families to be adopted. I want people to never have to worry about food, shelter & hea...