Two Years In: Results Near Typical

[goodnuff 239]

This last Friday, March 17,2017, marked two years since my Gastric Bypass Surgery. I'm posting this mostly for myself but also for those that are researching and wondering what it might be like further out than the first few weeks or months.

My whole, long winded experience: The first 10 weeks after my surgery I followed the post-op diet to a T. My surgeon had given me the green flag for a regular diet at my one month follow-up appointment and I stayed on course. Until 5 weeks later when my niece came to visit. I thought choosing to indulge a little was an okay and well-thought out decision. I wanted to be "normal", or rather, like a skinny person, meaning occasionally choosing a few bites of less than healthy foods or Desserts When post-op members say it's a slippery slope they are not B.S-ing you. I was so impressed with my new found restraint, just one fry or 2-3 small bites of dessert and I. Was. Satisfied! Now I know, I was just ignorant. My pouch was probably still swollen. What started out as a few bites a few days in a row turned into a handful of bites once a week and only if I went specifically, and out of my way, to get it. I quickly learned how many grams of sugar I could have before I'd dump and I became an expert at playing "Sugar Limbo", eating just under the amount that would make the stick (my blood sugar) come crashing down. Then I started bringing Atkins candies into my house, it just kept sliding from there. But of course I continued to be rewarded with steady loss because well duh, that's what the honeymoon period is all about. The first 11 months I weighed in once or twice monthly and saw a steady loss through the first 8 months. From mid November to February I bounced between 211.6 and 216.9 and I was consuming 50 - 125 grams of processed sugar a day.

Just one month shy of my one year anniversary I moved from a state that I loved, Colorado, back to Wisconsin to be near my daughter and her growing family. I dislike Wisconsin but I love my daughter, it was not an easy decision. I was more content and regularly active while I lived in Colorado but my I missed my daughter and she missed me. I went from working with my personal trainer twice a week, walking my dog 0.5-3 miles/day (depending on weather) and hiking 4-12 miles in the mountains most weeks to sitting on my bum looking at grey, dismal skies and snow for weeks while I waited for my new grand baby to arrive. The depression hit me like a brick wall. I turned to poor food choices more frequently and it was made easier by living with someone having pregnancy cravings, who am I not to indulge or maybe even encourage those? And a son-in-law that was more than happy to participate and contribute to my coping method. For months nothing went any of the millions of ways I had prepared myself for. I anticipated returning to work for the same hospital system that I had been employed by for 15 years before I traveled but there was not a position I was interested in. I wanted to take my nursing career in a different path so I applied for 15-20 office and public health positions and did not receive any calls. I could write a short story alone just about how that made me feel. I anticipated being back to work within 6 weeks of my move and it was 8 before I even got my first interview. It went well and the feedback was so positive that I was certain I had it on lockdown. I was told I'd know in a week, two at the most. Several weeks and calls later and even more applications sent I was told I didn't get it but they wanted me to shadow for another position I had applied for. Two weeks later I was offered a position I didn't apply for and wasn't even sure I was interested in. My savings was depleted and so was my resolve so I accepted.

Meanwhile my 12 year-old dog, and best friend and traveling buddy for the previous four years, became ill. I thought it was the stress of going from just the two of us in a 1200 sq. foot apartment to us with two more adults, a newborn and two cats. I continued to turn to my old friend, food, for comfort. My processed sugar consumption was up to a minimum off 100 grams a day, my workouts were scarce and I wasn't journaling any longer. I had gained 15 pounds in 8 weeks. Even with starting to work out twice a week again I only managed to maintain at that new weight. I also aggravated a shoulder/neck injury that I had gotten the previous September when I was rear ended by a 16 year-old when she was reaching for her cell phone that fell on the passenger side floor. Just short walks or holding my grand baby left me in pain for hours.

When I started my new job I experienced more stress in the first two months than I did in the 2 years of travel nursing combined. It's proven to be a tough job in a tough environment.

I had taken my dog to to the vet and changed his diet several times and spent a small fortune on medications but he continued to lose weight. In August I finally got my own place and had myself convinced that was going to be the cure for what was ailing my pup. But on August 26th I returned from work to find him unable to walk, he tried to greet me at the door like normal but just kept tipping over. When I brought him in to the vet I found out he had lost another two pounds in 3 weeks and in total had lost 40% of his normal weight since becoming ill. I made the tough decision to let him rest in peace.

I can not even begin to explain how that has affected me. I miss him so, so much.

I continued to have severe shoulder/neck pain from the simplest activities so I pursued a diagnosis. When I went to the doctor appointment and saw the scale I woke up, a bit. I had gained 21.5 pounds in 7 months. I found a safe, affordable trainer to work with but our schedules weren't going to mesh for the rest of the calendar year! I took what I could get. But I continued to fight the premise that diet makes the biggest difference. For reasons too in depth to ever post here I'll just say, I strongly dislike being told what/how to eat by anybody. Apparently including myself. Apparently even though I worked on that issue for 5 years prior to surgery, well my entire adult life really but with true intent for the last 5 years. Btw, it turns out I sustained two tears in my shoulder and that is why more than a year later it still hurts like the dickens.

I have bounced between 229 and 233 since September. Admitting that I need to make more consistent and long lasting changes to my diet is the first step in getting back on track. I was told by my team that I could expect to lose 65% by now, I've lost 50% by their calculations but 55% by my more conservative ideal weight of 165.

In the past I might have apologized for writing what may appear as excuses to some but not anymore. I write it as a reflection so I can see what's going on. My weight is not where I wanted it to be at this point post-op but even worse than that my life has taken a giant throat punch in the last year and in general I'm not where I expected or even strived to be. But I don't quit anymore and I sure as shooting don't let myself only see the negatives. I have a list as long as my arm of NSV's. The most recent of which is that when I spilled the juice from my fruit cup it didn't land on me but instead went right through the gap of the legs I am now able to cross due to my 79 pound loss. Unfortunately it landed on the chair I was sitting on, creating a triangular wet spot for everyone in the meeting to see when I stood up.

Not being where I think I should be does not make me less proud of where I am... 

[jen'snewday 48]

You look great. There will always be bumps and you are learning to work through them and overcome! Thank you for your honesty , I see myself in some of your story

[dazedinks 10]

Thank you for telling your story.

[blondie66 271]

You look great! Thanks for your story! I'm two years in August and the honeymoon period was the best! It's journey one day at a time..u can do it!

[lsheshequin 83]

I enjoyed reading your post and totally empathize with the stresses that you have experienced since your surgery. I am coming up on my 2 yr anniversary (May 11th) and am also not where I'd like to be. Reflecting on things I realize that I've also had some major life changes (a new, more stressful job, the sudden death of my father) and with the stress comes the old habit of emotional eating. I'm really trying to get back on track...but it's so hard! I hope things get better for you (and me). Good luck. [emoji846]

[goodnuff 239]

On 4/7/2017 at 11:24 PM, lsheshequin said:

I enjoyed reading your post and totally empathize with the stresses that you have experienced since your surgery. I am coming up on my 2 yr anniversary (May 11th) and am also not where I'd like to be. Reflecting on things I realize that I've also had some major life changes (a new, more stressful job, the sudden death of my father) and with the stress comes the old habit of emotional eating. I'm really trying to get back on track...but it's so hard! I hope things get better for you (and me). Good luck.

Thank you. As much as thought I had prepared myself for dealing with stress so that I wouldn't turn to food for comfort it still happened. I'm thankful that I can't eat the amounts I used to and that I continued to follow the rules my dietician gave me of no fluids with food and waiting an hour after eating to start drinking again otherwise I'm certain I would have gained it all back. After I wrote this anniversary reflection I spoke with a dietician/"health coach" offered through my work. She made a comment that struck me. "Because of the RNY there are severe consequences to not providing highly nutritious food to your body. If you want to live a disease free, healthy life you need to eat nutrient dense food." Of course I have heard that before but for whatever reason it really stuck in my head this time. Since April 1st I have been focusing on logging my intake and getting at least 64 ounces of Water every day. I refuse to weigh myself for at least another week but my pants are looser and according to my daughter my "turkey-waddle", all of that loose wrinkly skin under my chin, isn't as waddly.

I hope our lives see less stress soon and that we gain healthier coping mechanisms too. Good luck to us!!!

[blondie66 271]

Good advice! The main thing that is helping me keep my weight off is exercise. Most days 35 mins on trampoline, light weights and walking. I still have 10 I want to lose but it's cosmetic. I feel very healthy and energetic now at 51 can run up 3 flights of stairs no heaving breathing or leg pain like 2 years ago. The emotional and just bad habit boredom eating doesn't go away. I ate a box of girl guide Cookies yesterday!! Snacking during the course of the day...ugh! But It's not a daily occurrence and I'm gonna hike today so it balances out. But the struggle is real!! The surgery gets off the dangerous obesity weight but we have to work to keep it off and bad habits come back.

[BeGood 22]

This last Friday, March 17,2017, marked two years since my Gastric Bypass Surgery. I'm posting this mostly for myself but also for those that are researching and wondering what it might be like further out than the first few weeks or months.
My whole, long winded experience: The first 10 weeks after my surgery I followed the post-op diet to a T. My surgeon had given me the green flag for a regular diet at my one month follow-up appointment and I stayed on course. Until 5 weeks later when my niece came to visit. I thought choosing to indulge a little was an okay and well-thought out decision. I wanted to be "normal", or rather, like a skinny person, meaning occasionally choosing a few bites of less than healthy foods or Desserts When post-op members say it's a slippery slope they are not B.S-ing you. I was so impressed with my new found restraint, just one fry or 2-3 small bites of dessert and I. Was. Satisfied! Now I know, I was just ignorant. My pouch was probably still swollen. What started out as a few bites a few days in a row turned into a handful of bites once a week and only if I went specifically, and out of my way, to get it. I quickly learned how many grams of sugar I could have before I'd dump and I became an expert at playing "Sugar Limbo", eating just under the amount that would make the stick (my blood sugar) come crashing down. Then I started bringing Atkins candies into my house, it just kept sliding from there. But of course I continued to be rewarded with steady loss because well duh, that's what the honeymoon period is all about. The first 11 months I weighed in once or twice monthly and saw a steady loss through the first 8 months. From mid November to February I bounced between 211.6 and 216.9 and I was consuming 50 - 125 grams of processed sugar a day.
Just one month shy of my one year anniversary I moved from a state that I loved, Colorado, back to Wisconsin to be near my daughter and her growing family. I dislike Wisconsin but I love my daughter, it was not an easy decision. I was more content and regularly active while I lived in Colorado but my I missed my daughter and she missed me. I went from working with my personal trainer twice a week, walking my dog 0.5-3 miles/day (depending on weather) and hiking 4-12 miles in the mountains most weeks to sitting on my bum looking at grey, dismal skies and snow for weeks while I waited for my new grand baby to arrive. The depression hit me like a brick wall. I turned to poor food choices more frequently and it was made easier by living with someone having pregnancy cravings, who am I not to indulge or maybe even encourage those? And a son-in-law that was more than happy to participate and contribute to my coping method. For months nothing went any of the millions of ways I had prepared myself for. I anticipated returning to work for the same hospital system that I had been employed by for 15 years before I traveled but there was not a position I was interested in. I wanted to take my nursing career in a different path so I applied for 15-20 office and public health positions and did not receive any calls. I could write a short story alone just about how that made me feel. I anticipated being back to work within 6 weeks of my move and it was 8 before I even got my first interview. It went well and the feedback was so positive that I was certain I had it on lockdown. I was told I'd know in a week, two at the most. Several weeks and calls later and even more applications sent I was told I didn't get it but they wanted me to shadow for another position I had applied for. Two weeks later I was offered a position I didn't apply for and wasn't even sure I was interested in. My savings was depleted and so was my resolve so I accepted.
Meanwhile my 12 year-old dog, and best friend and traveling buddy for the previous four years, became ill. I thought it was the stress of going from just the two of us in a 1200 sq. foot apartment to us with two more adults, a newborn and two cats. I continued to turn to my old friend, food, for comfort. My processed sugar consumption was up to a minimum off 100 grams a day, my workouts were scarce and I wasn't journaling any longer. I had gained 15 pounds in 8 weeks. Even with starting to work out twice a week again I only managed to maintain at that new weight. I also aggravated a shoulder/neck injury that I had gotten the previous September when I was rear ended by a 16 year-old when she was reaching for her cell phone that fell on the passenger side floor. Just short walks or holding my grand baby left me in pain for hours.
When I started my new job I experienced more stress in the first two months than I did in the 2 years of travel nursing combined. It's proven to be a tough job in a tough environment.
I had taken my dog to to the vet and changed his diet several times and spent a small fortune on medications but he continued to lose weight. In August I finally got my own place and had myself convinced that was going to be the cure for what was ailing my pup. But on August 26th I returned from work to find him unable to walk, he tried to greet me at the door like normal but just kept tipping over. When I brought him in to the vet I found out he had lost another two pounds in 3 weeks and in total had lost 40% of his normal weight since becoming ill. I made the tough decision to let him rest in peace.
I can not even begin to explain how that has affected me. I miss him so, so much.
I continued to have severe shoulder/neck pain from the simplest activities so I pursued a diagnosis. When I went to the doctor appointment and saw the scale I woke up, a bit. I had gained 21.5 pounds in 7 months. I found a safe, affordable trainer to work with but our schedules weren't going to mesh for the rest of the calendar year! I took what I could get. But I continued to fight the premise that diet makes the biggest difference. For reasons too in depth to ever post here I'll just say, I strongly dislike being told what/how to eat by anybody. Apparently including myself. Apparently even though I worked on that issue for 5 years prior to surgery, well my entire adult life really but with true intent for the last 5 years. Btw, it turns out I sustained two tears in my shoulder and that is why more than a year later it still hurts like the dickens.
I have bounced between 229 and 233 since September. Admitting that I need to make more consistent and long lasting changes to my diet is the first step in getting back on track. I was told by my team that I could expect to lose 65% by now, I've lost 50% by their calculations but 55% by my more conservative ideal weight of 165.
In the past I might have apologized for writing what may appear as excuses to some but not anymore. I write it as a reflection so I can see what's going on. My weight is not where I wanted it to be at this point post-op but even worse than that my life has taken a giant throat punch in the last year and in general I'm not where I expected or even strived to be. But I don't quit anymore and I sure as shooting don't let myself only see the negatives. I have a list as long as my arm of NSV's. The most recent of which is that when I spilled the juice from my fruit cup it didn't land on me but instead went right through the gap of the legs I am now able to cross due to my 79 pound loss. Unfortunately it landed on the chair I was sitting on, creating a triangular wet spot for everyone in the meeting to see when I stood up.
Not being where I think I should be does not make me less proud of where I am... 

You look stunning [emoji177]

[jennyqp 62]

You accomplished a lot. Don't beat yourself up. Back to basics! I also see it's a slippery slope with sugar. And beer!