I MAKE 1 YEAR POST-OP ON APRIL 1st

Mlssrodd1521 · February 9, 2014

It's been an interesting 10 months. I've had some ups and downs along the way. But im happy to say that things are finally coming together. Im getting healthier and Im definitely happier. Im currently down 90 pounds. Trying to it my 100 pound mark by my 1 year surgiversary (April 1St).

I am extremely happy I had this surgery. I needed it. My knees and my feet couldn't take my weight anymore. I was having constant pain in my back, I had trouble sleeping. Dieting just hadn't worked for me in the past and my exercising was limited. I was in fear of getting diabetes and most of all dying young. I was tired of being depressed and unhappy. I had my surgery April 1St, 2014.

I am now down 90 pounds from where I was (280). And I have 60 pounds left to get to my goal (130).

This surgery has been one of the decisions I have ever made. But I am in no way shape or form saying it is easy. Because it sure isn't. The main thing to remember about this surgery and the other surgerys is to reach optimal results YOU MUST DO YOUR PART.

Yes you will lose weight but if you don't do your part it will return. I've seen it. My mom and my sister have both had the surgery as well different times. My sister had it a year before me and my mom had hers over 10 years ago. They both struggle with their weight now. My mom was down to 180 at her lowest she lost 150pounds and struggles now a days and fluctuates between 215 and 240. My sister had lost 100 pounds and was down to 240. She's now at 260. The reason why they are struggling is because they didn't adapt and make a lifestyle change.

You must eat better you must exercise. Im not saying go run a marathon (unless you want too). But just add a little 30min exercise to your day. It might not seem like a lot but it's an extra 30 minutes of exercises that you weren't going to do. You don't need a gym membership. Squats, lunges, push ups, sit ups, crunches, torso twists, kicks, walking, etc etc etc is all FREE! AND BE REALISTIC!

This is the problem my sister and my mom have and it's normal. My mom noticed more that I was exercising more and she got inspired and motivated and that's awesome. So what did she do? She started on day 1: 90 sit ups!!! Really? I don't even do 90 sit ups yet. I mean I probably could but im not trying to hurt myself the point is to progress. Anyway...what happens with the 90 push ups. The next day she's in so much pain she can barely bend down to tie her shoes and what happens next? No more sit ups. The point im trying to make is be realistic. You don't have to kill yourself right off at the start. It's a gradual process. Start small and work toward a greater goal. If she would have done what I suggested start of 25 sit ups and then gradually increase by 5 she would ultimately get to 90 because she wouldn't be in so much pain and she wouldn't give up because your changing it up and your progressing. BE REALISTIC...RESULTS WILL COME. I do zumba at home, I work out at home. Im starting to go to the gym now though.

Eating better is important!!! Diet is key. I'm not saying starve yourself. You will get no where with that. Plan your means ahead of time. I started doing this and it's helped me so much I don't have to think about it. I don't get tempted as much. It's great. The main thing is GET YOUR Protein IN FIRST...then your veggies then your carbs. Stay way from sugary things. Fruits will satisfy that sugary craving usually. And there is nothing wrong with giving into your temptation. This surgery is not only physical it is a mental one and it takes your mind longer to catch up to speed. It's going to keep thinking you can eat the things you were and the quantity. Example: my husband had texted me he was going to order pizza for dinner one day. I told him to order a medium pizza. He asked if i was sure amd i said yes. Normally we would have gotten 2 large pizza's.(there is a purpose to this) The whole time I was at work I was literally thinking about all the pizza I was going to eat. How many slices! Yum! I couldn't wait. I decided before I got home I was going to have 2 slices maybe 3! I got home he was eating his pizza. I went to the box. At first I thought im gonna put the 2 slices on my plate. Then I was like no. I'll put only half of one on my plate when I finish I'll get up and get another. I ate the half of a slice of pizza and I was full and content. If I would have put the whole slice of pizza on the plate I probably would have make myself eat it even if I was full. And the point in buying a smaller pizza is...if I would have bought 2 large pies...he would be the one eating it all by himself. Which isn't good or healthy. Medium size pizza smaller slices...he had only ate 4 slices which u can equate to 2 maybe 3 large pizza slices and he was content. food is all mental. Im not in no way shape or form saying pizza is healthy. Im just saying you can treat yourself...because not treating yourself can actually make you sabotage yourself, by binging or over eating.

Complications I had along the way:

1. The day after I got sent home I found out I was allergic to the Tylenol and Codeine I was prescribed. My lip had swell like a balloon. Wasn't anything super major but I did go a whole day with out pain medication which was really ok. I did have pain but I still did move around.

2. About 3 weeks after my surgery, I went to the ER. I had a lot of abdominal pain. It felt like a pulling filling right at the incision above my belly button. Turns out it's the stitch that was there on the inside. It tends to kink at times and it was normal by readjusting myself and my position it but have kinked.

3. In September, I had a scare. I was working pretty much everyday 16 hour shift. It was the norm for me. I had 2 jobs. Well one day after I got out of work, I was driving and all of a sudden I began to shake. My body was shaking not like a seizure but like if I was cold. It was weird because I wasn't a cold night. I rolled up the window and proceeded. I was still shaking...teeth shattering cold...and it was painful. I was only 10mins from where I needed to be. I turned on the heat on high but the seat warmer on. I was still cold and my body was in excruciating pain. I was trying not to panic and I was afraid to stop. No one knew where I was and my phone was dead. My vision got blurred by the time I got to the house and my husband opened the door. I told him I wasn't feeling good and I was worried. He helped me up the stairs and I got so cold. I couldn't even hold a cup of Water my hands were shivering so much. He was going to take me to the hospital but I couldn't move I felt so faint when I stood up so he called 911. I went to the hospital. They did some tests. I had some kind of virus like a small 24 hr flu. My Iron, Vitamin D, and B12 levels were so low that I was pretty much running on Empty and my body was trying to reboot. It had no energy to fight off the virus so my immune system was compromised. Afterwards I was so weak and my body hurt. I had to take off from work until my levels were a little better. I was off for 2 months. Vitamin D deficiency sucks really bad. So be sure to be taking your Vitamins. I am now prescribed prescription strength vitamin D and have to get blood work every couple months. My levels still aren't where they need to be but they are a lot better than what they were and im able to function.

This surgery is a journey lots of ups and downs along the way. But I believe it's well worth it and I would do it again. My journey isn't over yet....if you have any questions definitely message me!

Mlssrodd1521 · February 9, 2014