Post-Op – Week 6…Follow up with local doc

[McButterpants 2,846]

I had my six-week follow up with my local doctor yesterday – to say I’m happy is an understatement.

Although I’ve complained about my weight loss in other posts and lamented about being a slow loser, I am happy with the way things are going. I don’t use my doctor’s numbers to track my weight because it’s inconsistent – they weigh with clothes on, sometimes shoes on (depends on the nurse), I wore heavy jeans yesterday compared to lighter capris the last time, etc. I use my Thursday weigh-ins on my home scale to track my loss. So, I’m down almost 41.8 pounds from my high weight and 24 since surgery. Wow! Writing that is surreal. My body fat has been decreased by 5% already and while I have lost some lean muscle mass, it’s not a concern right now, I just shouldn’t lose any more.

Even more than the numbers, I can see physical differences in myself. Why do my fingers seem longer? OK, it’s that they no longer look like pork sausages that were masquerading as fingers! My shoes fit differently now and as a side benefit, I can actually reach down and tie them and not look like I’m steer wrestling trying to lift my right foot up to my left knee. I have a jaw line – you can actually define where my head ends and my neck begins. When I was driving down the road the other day, it felt like the seat was pushed further back than normal. It’s not like my legs grew…there was just more room between my belly and the steering wheel! I noticed the vanity in the bathroom the other day while brushing my teeth – I was standing closer to the sink, again, because my belly wasn’t in the way. I cross my legs (like a lady) all the time now, BECAUSE I CAN! There are many subtle, but very real changes that are happening to my body and I’m trying to bask in each and every one of them. This has been an amazing journey so far and it’s only the beginning. There will be lows, but there will also be lots of good things happening, too!

I’m noticing some other changes as well. I feel more comfortable around other people. It is easier for me to strike up a conversation with a stranger. I used to be a fairly outgoing and chatty person. Since starting to gain weight about 15 years, I slowly became an introvert to the point where I would avoid talking to people I have known for years. I would pretend I didn’t see someone in the grocery store so I wouldn’t have to stop and talk to them. I would sit in the outfield during my son’s baseball games rather than the stands or by the other parents because I didn’t want to be around people. My social circle has been reduced to my family. In the past few weeks, that has changed. I’m slowly coming out of my shell. I caught myself smiling yesterday morning when I was walking into the hospital and a couple of people I crossed paths with smiled back and said “Hello.” I felt like they were reacting to me smiling and not having, what I assume was an “I’m pissed off at the world so go screw yourself” look I used to have.

I discussed my diet with the doc as well. A few weeks ago I started to restrict my carbs because I thought it was the right thing to do. We always hear “carbs are bad” and I restricted mine down to between 20 and 30 per day. What I didn’t immediately connect was my very low energy level to the carb restriction. I didn’t feel good and I blamed it on coming down with a cold. I would come home from the gym and be completely exhausted and take a 60-minute nap. Understandably…I wasn’t giving my body enough fuel to get through the workout. I now realize carbs are an important part of our diet and they aren’t necessarily evil. Bad carbs (refined sugars and flours) are bad. Complex carbs like those found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains are great carbs and a necessary part of your diet. Once I increased my carbs to about 50/day, I started feeling so much better and have that increased energy that so many speak of after weight loss surgery. Increasing my carbs hasn’t changed my overall calorie count by much. I’m still taking in between 800-900 calories a day (on hard workout days I can go over 900 because I am truly hungry). I’m increasing my carbs by adding ¼ cup of fruit to my shakes, adding 1-2 tablespoons of refried Beans, or part of a Carb Balance tortilla to a meal. It’s amazing how different I feel now compared to a few days ago. Also looking forward, I now have no restrictions to my diet – that’s terrifying. I had the security the past 6 weeks of “I can’t have that because it’s not on my plan.” This is where that discipline comes in, right?!?!

So, here are some of the high points from the meeting with the doctor yesterday:

· Weight loss is good, more importantly, the 5% body fat reduction and minimal loss in lean muscle mass

· Blood pressure is lower – 117/82. It hasn’t been that low in years.

· Diet looking forward – no restrictions on what to eat; min 80 grams of Protein daily and 50 grams of carbs should be OK.

· hair loss – I’m noticing some shedding (*gasp*). She OK’d Biotin and 1 gram of folic acid daily. There is so much debate on whether anything works, but I’m willing to try (she said the most important thing was the protein).

· Real coffee is now approved, but only one cup per day. This makes me happy. I had to pinky promise I wouldn’t go back to my old habit of 3-5 cups per day. Honestly, I don't think I can fit more than one cup of coffee in a day!

· Exercise - no limitations and start strength training as to not lose more lean muscle mass.

· Constipation – ahhh the pooping (you know I wasn’t going to get thru an entire post with out a comment on the poo). I’ve been taking Colace and that’s the only thing that has helped. Per doc's orders, I need to cut back to one per day, then stop entirely. Doc wants Metamucil and more Fiber in my diet for a more natural approach.

I wish everyone a very, very Happy New Year. 2014 is going to be a great year for us! Be safe!

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

Well done, you.

Happy New Year and here's to all our continued success. x