TraceyT
Member
My 1 year post-op anniversary was 1/22/2021. 2020 was in and of itself a very interestingly unique year - Covid - WLS - Quarantine - homeschooling 3 teenagers - 2 SR's and 1 Sophomore. (My husband - who always thinks of my health and safety.... believes I should see a specialist for my eyes. He believes they should be strained and hanging out of their sockets from all the LOUD VERBAL eye-rolls that have occurred during 2020. He may be correct - I believe they're a little strained -->insert LOUD VERBAL eye-roll here<-- 
) Unfortunately for my husband - my eyes roll LOUD PROUD and VERBAL - as always
There have been a lot of changes in 2020. A lot of ups - downs - sideways - circles - waking in the middle of the night - eye rolling events. Some have been absolutely the most wonderful changes and others have been very sobering and life altering. I have grown as a person and my husband and I are closer than we were before. We had 2 beautiful girls graduate from high school and start their college careers. Cat, where I graduated from, Appalachian State University and my beautiful Hayleigh girl in Indiana. With all the Covid restrictions I don't get to visit her as often as I'd like. If I had my way - which I do most of the time - I'd fly to IN every other week. My youngest and I did visit my daughter in NY in November. Had a wonderful trip. My baby is 17, driving, and pure joy to be around.
Then you add Covid - quarantine - WLS and a lot of other things in the mix and that makes for one "make mine a double - hell leave the bottle" kind of year.
My journey actually began 7/8/2019. I've kept a WLS journal since my very first visit. I've learned so much about myself through this process. Make time to pamper yourself. Spend the day at the spa getting a facial and a massage. Get to know yourself. Figure out who you are now - at this stage in your life. Take photos - get in front of the camera - not behind it. Celebrate YOU. Get outside and figure out what hobbies you'd like to do now.
I'm grateful that I started my journal and wrote in it every single day. Some days were a couple of quickly written words - others were several pages - there is even a couple that have pictures I drew. I've learned more about myself through the journal than I ever would have imagined.
My very first entry - 7/8/2019:
"Today is the day!! Get to moving - your journey starts right here right fucking now!!! You got this! You've been on this path for a while now. Get serious and do it! My sweet husband called me just as I was walking out of the doctors office. Just wanted to let me know he loved me and that we had plans with friends for dinner - he needed my caramel brownie bites for dessert. Such an ass - how in the hell did we get married??? Yeah - I'll give him a LOUD VERBAL eye-roll when I get home. The shit! Just got back from my first doctor visit. Nice place - nice people - NOT nice scale (I'd say the scale was a fugly lying bitch - but you KNOW your ass is huge) - it is for NOW - but that's going to change! I truly can do this!"
I jumped through any and all hoops the insurance threw at me. If gained weight they could stop the whole process. If I lost weight they could stop the whole process. Thankfully I was working with a wonderful surgical team. They truly had nothing but my best interest at heart. I did every visit required and sailed through each one of them without a hitch.
I got the call scheduling my surgical date on 1/7/2020. My surgery date was 1/22/2020. I started my 2 week pre-op meal plan 1/8/2020.
Entry date 1/7/2020-
"OMG OMG OMG!!! I'm having surgery!! Fuck - what the hell do I do now??? What the hell - my mind just went totally blonde - roots and all!! I'll be back! Ok now - brain fart all cleaned up! I'm having surgery! No - I'm having WLS! Sounds awesome!!! I'm not going to be setting on the sideline of my life watching it go by! I'll be able to actively LIVE my life! That's an awesome thought! I can do this! I'm gonna rock this!!!"
Date 1/18/2020
"Thank God for PICKLE SPEARS!! They seem to be the only thing that can deal with the headaches from lack of sodium! Ok - list of things to pack for the hospital:
Journal/Pens
Phone/charger
Tablet/charger
Blistex
Footies/socks
Lotion
Hair brush/ponytail holders
Easy on/off shoes
That should do it for the hospital.
Now what do I need to buy for home:
Kitchen scale
New measuring cup
New measuring spoon
Small plate
New water bottles/5
Small utensils
Herbalife PDM/Formula 1 Chocolate
S/F jello/pudding
Water enhancers
If I need anything else one of the girls can go get it. I'm so ready for this!"
It's been interesting to go through and read the journal and see my frame of mind at the various stages of this process. It's also interesting to see the physical changes I've gone through as well. My husband no longer wakes me up in the middle of the night because he feels my hip bone, collar bone, or whatever bone is protruding at the moment.
I weighed 220 the day I had surgery. I was at goal weight within 7 months. This was goal weight established by my surgical team. I've exceeded their goal weight. I've lost 96 to date. My personal goal weight 135-140. I personally think I look too skinny and am trying to gain a few pounds. Believe it or not that's way easier said than done. I've gone from wearing a 22/24 to wearing a 4 in pants and M top.
I was a 29+ year insulin dependent diabetic, high cholesterol, all kinds of health issues. Now I'm no longer a diabetic, my cholesterol is normal, and other issues have resolved themselves. This was a huge factor in deciding to have the RNY surgery. I can walk through the grocery store, mall, on the beach and anywhere else I'd like to walk. It's very limiting when you can only shop where they have scooters.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2020. My wonderful sweet loving mother-in-law went in the hospital 12/28/2020. She never made it back home. She passed away 1/18/2021 with my husband by her side. The hospital allowed 2 people to visit her. My husband went, his brothers were concerned about Covid so they didn't see her. So January of 2021, I was arranging a funeral and taking care of my sweet mother-in-laws affairs.
Through this process I've actually learned a few things.
Follow your surgical teams plan for you. Don't worry about what others are doing - follow the plan laid out for you. Everyone's plan will vary to some degree. Do whatever you have to do for YOU.
I carry a measuring cup and measuring spoon in my purse/backpack ALL the time. I measure my food. It works for me, so I'll do it until it doesn't work for me. I never order a plate of food when we go out. I don't eat it - it's a waste of money.
I diligently try to chew all food 30 times before I swallow.
I stop drinking 30 minutes before my meals/snacks. My cup is NEVER within reach when I'm eating. I wait 30 minutes after I eat before I drink anything else.
I only eat at my kitchen table. I don't eat in front of the TV in the recliner with my feet up. I don't take food out of the kitchen. It's better for me to even eat my snacks in the kitchen at the table. Everything I eat is measured/bagged - even my snacks. It's much easier for me. No over eating since its weighed/measured/bagged. It works for me, so I'll do it until it doesn't work for me.
I'm working hard to break other bad habits that result in over eating.
This process isn't a race. It's not a competition. Go at your own pace. Just do YOU - let everyone else do themselves.
WLS is only a tool. You're going to have to do the work. I know that in the beginning the weight will seem to just fall off. It can come right back on. Use the tool to your advantage. Make the best possible choices.
It's really interesting to see how this has taken hold within my family. My husband and girls are eating better and making better choices food wise. Of course my husband can burp, fart, poop and lose 15 pounds - ALL before breakfast. My WLS has benefited my husband and children. We're all doing better. It's been an amazing journey thus far - I can't wait to see what the next chapter brings us!
) Unfortunately for my husband - my eyes roll LOUD PROUD and VERBAL - as always There have been a lot of changes in 2020. A lot of ups - downs - sideways - circles - waking in the middle of the night - eye rolling events. Some have been absolutely the most wonderful changes and others have been very sobering and life altering. I have grown as a person and my husband and I are closer than we were before. We had 2 beautiful girls graduate from high school and start their college careers. Cat, where I graduated from, Appalachian State University and my beautiful Hayleigh girl in Indiana. With all the Covid restrictions I don't get to visit her as often as I'd like. If I had my way - which I do most of the time - I'd fly to IN every other week. My youngest and I did visit my daughter in NY in November. Had a wonderful trip. My baby is 17, driving, and pure joy to be around.
Then you add Covid - quarantine - WLS and a lot of other things in the mix and that makes for one "make mine a double - hell leave the bottle" kind of year.
My journey actually began 7/8/2019. I've kept a WLS journal since my very first visit. I've learned so much about myself through this process. Make time to pamper yourself. Spend the day at the spa getting a facial and a massage. Get to know yourself. Figure out who you are now - at this stage in your life. Take photos - get in front of the camera - not behind it. Celebrate YOU. Get outside and figure out what hobbies you'd like to do now.
I'm grateful that I started my journal and wrote in it every single day. Some days were a couple of quickly written words - others were several pages - there is even a couple that have pictures I drew. I've learned more about myself through the journal than I ever would have imagined.
My very first entry - 7/8/2019:
"Today is the day!! Get to moving - your journey starts right here right fucking now!!! You got this! You've been on this path for a while now. Get serious and do it! My sweet husband called me just as I was walking out of the doctors office. Just wanted to let me know he loved me and that we had plans with friends for dinner - he needed my caramel brownie bites for dessert. Such an ass - how in the hell did we get married??? Yeah - I'll give him a LOUD VERBAL eye-roll when I get home. The shit! Just got back from my first doctor visit. Nice place - nice people - NOT nice scale (I'd say the scale was a fugly lying bitch - but you KNOW your ass is huge) - it is for NOW - but that's going to change! I truly can do this!"
I jumped through any and all hoops the insurance threw at me. If gained weight they could stop the whole process. If I lost weight they could stop the whole process. Thankfully I was working with a wonderful surgical team. They truly had nothing but my best interest at heart. I did every visit required and sailed through each one of them without a hitch.
I got the call scheduling my surgical date on 1/7/2020. My surgery date was 1/22/2020. I started my 2 week pre-op meal plan 1/8/2020.
Entry date 1/7/2020-
"OMG OMG OMG!!! I'm having surgery!! Fuck - what the hell do I do now??? What the hell - my mind just went totally blonde - roots and all!! I'll be back! Ok now - brain fart all cleaned up! I'm having surgery! No - I'm having WLS! Sounds awesome!!! I'm not going to be setting on the sideline of my life watching it go by! I'll be able to actively LIVE my life! That's an awesome thought! I can do this! I'm gonna rock this!!!"
Date 1/18/2020
"Thank God for PICKLE SPEARS!! They seem to be the only thing that can deal with the headaches from lack of sodium! Ok - list of things to pack for the hospital:
Journal/Pens
Phone/charger
Tablet/charger
Blistex
Footies/socks
Lotion
Hair brush/ponytail holders
Easy on/off shoes
That should do it for the hospital.
Now what do I need to buy for home:
Kitchen scale
New measuring cup
New measuring spoon
Small plate
New water bottles/5
Small utensils
Herbalife PDM/Formula 1 Chocolate
S/F jello/pudding
Water enhancers
If I need anything else one of the girls can go get it. I'm so ready for this!"
It's been interesting to go through and read the journal and see my frame of mind at the various stages of this process. It's also interesting to see the physical changes I've gone through as well. My husband no longer wakes me up in the middle of the night because he feels my hip bone, collar bone, or whatever bone is protruding at the moment.
I weighed 220 the day I had surgery. I was at goal weight within 7 months. This was goal weight established by my surgical team. I've exceeded their goal weight. I've lost 96 to date. My personal goal weight 135-140. I personally think I look too skinny and am trying to gain a few pounds. Believe it or not that's way easier said than done. I've gone from wearing a 22/24 to wearing a 4 in pants and M top.
I was a 29+ year insulin dependent diabetic, high cholesterol, all kinds of health issues. Now I'm no longer a diabetic, my cholesterol is normal, and other issues have resolved themselves. This was a huge factor in deciding to have the RNY surgery. I can walk through the grocery store, mall, on the beach and anywhere else I'd like to walk. It's very limiting when you can only shop where they have scooters.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2020. My wonderful sweet loving mother-in-law went in the hospital 12/28/2020. She never made it back home. She passed away 1/18/2021 with my husband by her side. The hospital allowed 2 people to visit her. My husband went, his brothers were concerned about Covid so they didn't see her. So January of 2021, I was arranging a funeral and taking care of my sweet mother-in-laws affairs.
Through this process I've actually learned a few things.
Follow your surgical teams plan for you. Don't worry about what others are doing - follow the plan laid out for you. Everyone's plan will vary to some degree. Do whatever you have to do for YOU.
I carry a measuring cup and measuring spoon in my purse/backpack ALL the time. I measure my food. It works for me, so I'll do it until it doesn't work for me. I never order a plate of food when we go out. I don't eat it - it's a waste of money.
I diligently try to chew all food 30 times before I swallow.
I stop drinking 30 minutes before my meals/snacks. My cup is NEVER within reach when I'm eating. I wait 30 minutes after I eat before I drink anything else.
I only eat at my kitchen table. I don't eat in front of the TV in the recliner with my feet up. I don't take food out of the kitchen. It's better for me to even eat my snacks in the kitchen at the table. Everything I eat is measured/bagged - even my snacks. It's much easier for me. No over eating since its weighed/measured/bagged. It works for me, so I'll do it until it doesn't work for me.
I'm working hard to break other bad habits that result in over eating.
This process isn't a race. It's not a competition. Go at your own pace. Just do YOU - let everyone else do themselves.
WLS is only a tool. You're going to have to do the work. I know that in the beginning the weight will seem to just fall off. It can come right back on. Use the tool to your advantage. Make the best possible choices.
It's really interesting to see how this has taken hold within my family. My husband and girls are eating better and making better choices food wise. Of course my husband can burp, fart, poop and lose 15 pounds - ALL before breakfast. My WLS has benefited my husband and children. We're all doing better. It's been an amazing journey thus far - I can't wait to see what the next chapter brings us!
