Update On Me (Surgery: 5/19/21)

[SummerTimeGirl 582]

57 minutes ago, FutureSylph said:

It could also mean that there's no standardization among sizes, especially for women's clothing. Tends to hold true that the more expensive the garment, the smaller the size tag the manufacturer puts on it.

Congratulations on your tremendous accomplishment -- 71 pounds is a lot!

45 minutes ago, mamabear_2_2 said:

Congratulations on your 71lb loss! That is amazing!!! I'm with you - I can gain or lose 50lbs and still be in nearly the same size. Granted, 50lbs smaller and the size I am currently in is a bit looser and when I was at the top of that weight range it was a squeeze. But, still! Very frustrating for sure. I think this is where counting those inches like you are doing really pays off. I read a thread on here the other day about this topic and it seemed that once folks get into the lower of their weight range goals 10lbs or so seems to equal a size. My surgery is in five days (fingers crossed!) and I have been thinking a lot about this, too, and how I can keep myself motivated because I know my sizes won't drop quickly in the beginning.

Thanks!!!!!! That 71 lbs was total since March but only 52.5 of it was since surgery on May 19th. Either way, I'll take it! LOL Good luck on your upcoming surgery!!

[ShoppGirl 4,785]

2 hours ago, mamabear_2_2 said:

Congratulations on your 71lb loss! That is amazing!!! I'm with you - I can gain or lose 50lbs and still be in nearly the same size. Granted, 50lbs smaller and the size I am currently in is a bit looser and when I was at the top of that weight range it was a squeeze. But, still! Very frustrating for sure. I think this is where counting those inches like you are doing really pays off. I read a thread on here the other day about this topic and it seemed that once folks get into the lower of their weight range goals 10lbs or so seems to equal a size. My surgery is in five days (fingers crossed!) and I have been thinking a lot about this, too, and how I can keep myself motivated because I know my sizes won't drop quickly in the beginning.

If you look at the inches of a size chart. There are more increments between sizes for the “normal” sizes.

[SummerTimeGirl 582]

UPDATE:
I just had my video appointment with my dietician and surgeon. Both said everything is going well from what I have told them. Surgeon said I'm still ahead of the game when it comes to weight loss as I'm ONLY 2 lbs away from being in the 6 month weight range!! Meaning, for me (based on where I started and their calculations), at 6 months out I should be weighing in around 232-255. Right now I'm at 257. They also gave me additional ranges of:

15 months out: 186-223
18 months out : 170-212
21 months out: 155-201

The Dietician said not to worry about not being able to get in veggies with my Protein right now that it will get better over time once I'm able to tolerate more volume of food.

I will meet with both again in 3 months which will put me at 6 months out from surgery. At that point the surgeon is gonna run more labs that include a multitude of things my regular doc won't be checking for in a few weeks. Things like various Vitamin levels and whatnot.

Oh and, we talked about how I have switched to the ProCare one a day with 45mg of Iron and how someone from the office told me not to take the extra B1, B12, Iron or Calcium. After looking at my previous labs from BEFORE my surgery back in March, surgeon said NO, I did NOT have to take Calcium as my levels were perfect then. And to not take any extra of the others as I was told. But we of course will know more when I have the new labs drawn in 3 months and will adjust accordingly.

Oh, the surgeon gave me the go ahead to start using weights and also gave me a website to use that has FREE exercises/workouts. It's called www.fitnessblender.com If anyone is interested.

Edited August 18, 2021 by SummerTimeGirl

[lizonaplane 1,612]

On 8/17/2021 at 12:34 PM, SummerTimeGirl said:

UPDATE:
Just wanted to post a small observation. So, since March I have lost 71 lbs total. Well I finally was able to try on some new pants and sadly, I only fit into the next size down. It fits me good. Not too loose or too tight. Just right.

Strange because you'd think with 71lbs down you would have lost several sizes (plus I lost 7 inches off my waist and 5 off my hips). Or at least I think like that. LOL Guess not. I guess it also means what I already knew, that I carry a LOT of my weight around my mid section.

I have lost about 45 lbs and my clothes basically fit the same, although some pants that were a bit tight are now a bit looser. But my clothes that are knits, which is basically almost all my pants, you can't tell any difference. It's a bit depressing.

[BDL58 86]

I’ve lost 58 lbs from my preop weight (40 pounds since surgery 6/1) it’s a slow but steady downward trend and I’m happy with it. My clothes are definitely baggier/ looser. I put drawstrings in my scrub pants for work because I don’t want to buy new scrubs just yet. Got the kit on Amazon…easy to do.

[SummerTimeGirl 582]

UPDATE:
So today I got some blood work done that my gp requested. He had me do a CBC, Basic Metabolic, Triglyceride, LDL and A1C tests. Everything came came back good and/or improved but for a few.........

LDL:
On 3/11 it was - 151
Today, 9/9, it was - 135

Triglycerides:
On 3/11 it was - 322
Today, 9/9, it was - 141

A1C:
On 3/11 it was - 6.7
Today, 9/9, it was - 5.8

And my Iron shows as low. Lower than in March and May when they checked it but I'll wait til I see him next week to talk about this. Otherwise I am soooooo close to having everything back in the NORMAL range!!! In November I'll have more blood work done for all the Vitamins and stuff the surgeon is requesting.

On other note, not sure why but for the last week or two I have stalled again. And in fact my weight has gone up 3 lbs from my lowest (my lowest was 253.4 on Aug 28th and has now been staying around 256/257). Not sure why. Nothing has been different but for me regularly walking on the treadmill (30 min a day, for two weeks now) and I have started to incorporate an upper body, full body and lower body routine (Mon, Wed, Fri) and the upper body part has me using weights (started this week). Otherwise, eating the same, bathroom has been the same, etc. I am due for my period in the next 8-12 days. So maybe that? I don't know.

[lizonaplane 1,612]

It's totally normal to have stalls and even bumps up a few pounds in any weight loss journey. Just follow your plan, drink your Fluid, etc. Look at the trends over time, not just in one week or a few weeks.

Edited September 10, 2021 by lizonaplane

[SummerTimeGirl 582]

UPDATE:
So, I think in two days it will be 1 month since I had any loss. Not sure why or what's going on as nothing is new as far as my eating goes. I've also still been keeping an eye on my Protein intake and it's been fine. The only thing I have been wondering about is the Metformin.

Last month some time I ran out and was without it for like a week. Well I noticed that in that time I had no loss. Didn't think much of it as it was just a week and that happens. But then my doc went and lowered my dose during my last doc visit and again, no loss since. That was several weeks ago.

I am wondering if this is just a typical stall for whatever reason or is this change/loss in medication really working against me and the reason for it? I just can't figure out why the stall for this long. And it's not just a stall but my lowest weight was 251.6 on Aug 28th. I am now fluctuating between 256 and 258 again. It's driving me nuts!!!!

The only other thing is that I got my period last Friday and it's just now going away so that may be contributing somehow. But it's never stalled me this long and like this any other month. Just strange. I hope it picks up again soon cause I have way too much to lose still. This can't be it. Sigh

[FutureSylph 377]

I know how frustrating a stall is. Wishing you a big whoosh soon. Have you tried pushing fluids to twice your normal intake?

[SummerTimeGirl 582]

15 minutes ago, FutureSylph said:

I know how frustrating a stall is. Wishing you a big whoosh soon. Have you tried pushing fluids to twice your normal intake?

No I haven't. And if I'm being honest I probably haven't been drinking enough either, let alone double. Maybe I'll try that. Thanks!!

[SummerTimeGirl 582]

So after what I wrote above on Sunday, I decided to take some Hydroclorothyazide that I had left over since surgery (was told not to take them anymore once I had surgery). I took what I used to take, one a day. Also increased my Water intake. Did that for the last two days and what do ya know, down in two days those 8lbs I had "gained". Back down to 251. I had not seen that number since August 28th!! I have been peeing like crazy since taking them. Even in the middle of the night.

I'm hoping the scale will continue to go down from here but we'll see. Not sure why I was holding all that water weight. I mean I did just get over my period too but but I obviously did not have my period for the last month so not sure why this happened for so long. Haven't been eating salty foods either. So strange. Like nothing I did/didn't do was different.

I wonder what I can do naturally to keep that extra water weight off cause I'm not really supposed to be taking that medication anymore. I guess just drink more water? At least that's what I've read in the past.

[lizonaplane 1,612]

31 minutes ago, SummerTimeGirl said:

So after what I wrote above on Sunday, I decided to take some Hydroclorothyazide that I had left over since surgery (was told not to take them anymore once I had surgery). I took what I used to take, one a day. Also increased my Water intake. Did that for the last two days and what do ya know, down in two days those 8lbs I had "gained". Back down to 251. I had not seen that number since August 28th!! I have been peeing like crazy since taking them. Even in the middle of the night.

I'm hoping the scale will continue to go down from here but we'll see. Not sure why I was holding all that Water weight. I mean I did just get over my period too but but I obviously did not have my period for the last month so not sure why this happened for so long. Haven't been eating salty foods either. So strange. Like nothing I did/didn't do was different.

I wonder what I can do naturally to keep that extra water weight off cause I'm not really supposed to be taking that medication anymore. I guess just drink more water? At least that's what I've read in the past.

I would be careful taking meds you were told not to take. At least talk to your doctor. Trust the process. It's normal for there to be stalls

[SummerTimeGirl 582]

24 minutes ago, lizonaplane said:

I would be careful taking meds you were told not to take. At least talk to your doctor. Trust the process. It's normal for there to be stalls

Well it is medication that was prescribed to me and I took it for years. I was only told to stop it because it acts as a diuretic and they didn't want me to take that when dehydration could be an issue after surgery. That's the only reason why they said to stop. But yeah, I understand.

[lizonaplane 1,612]

2 minutes ago, SummerTimeGirl said:

Well it is medication that was prescribed to me and I took it for years. I was only told to stop it because it acts as a diuretic and they didn't want me to take that when dehydration could be an issue after surgery. That's the only reason why they said to stop. But yeah, I understand.

yeah, they may want you to go back on it once you are getting enough Fluid in. I would check in with them. Are you doing well otherwise? I've enjoyed reading your entries!

[SummerTimeGirl 582]

2 minutes ago, lizonaplane said:

yeah, they may want you to go back on it once you are getting enough Fluid in. I would check in with them. Are you doing well otherwise? I've enjoyed reading your entries!

Thanks! By writing here it not only helps me keep tract of things but I guess it can help others too.

My last doc visit a few weeks ago they lowered my meds even more so I doubt they would put me back on this (I was taking this along with my Lisinopril for my high BP which has now been LOTS better which is why they lowered my meds). That's why I was wondering what else, aside from Water, would/could act as a good diuretic naturally so that I don't have to worry about this water weight gain/stall again.