Because I'M Happy........

[Suga_mamma]

Update:
Minus 73# since start of my Journey - since surgery (Dec 16, 2013) -is 58#. I just wanted to let everyone know that I am so happy since I made my decision to go on this journey. It is not easy. It is well worth it. I feel so much better. I can breathe better, walk longer and I'm more energized. I want to share my info with anyone who will listen. When I'm asked if I've lost weight I just beam and have no problem telling them how I did it. This surgery has made it possible for me to actually be motivated to exercise. I don't dread getting up in the morning and tying my shoes to go for a walk. I can keep up with my kids. For me bread and other starches were my enemy. Now I crave protein and leafy veggies. I have been overweight /obese/ morbidly obese since I was a kid and I was so self-conscious I didn't want to do anything or be around anyone which just made things worse. If anyone has any questions I'll be happy to answer them. I'm still not at my goal but I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. This site answered so many questions for me and I just want to say thank you to everyone on here that may or may not know that you have helped me tremendously.

Sincerely,

Suga' Mamma

 

[dancinbr]

Update:
Minus 73# since start of my Journey - since surgery (Dec 16, 2013) -is 58#. I just wanted to let everyone know that I am so happy since I made my decision to go on this journey. It is not easy. It is well worth it. I feel so much better. I can breathe better, walk longer and I'm more energized. I want to share my info with anyone who will listen. When I'm asked if I've lost weight I just beam and have no problem telling them how I did it. This surgery has made it possible for me to actually be motivated to exercise. I don't dread getting up in the morning and tying my shoes to go for a walk. I can keep up with my kids. For me bread and other starches were my enemy. Now I crave protein and leafy veggies. I have been overweight /obese/ morbidly obese since I was a kid and I was so self-conscious I didn't want to do anything or be around anyone which just made things worse. If anyone has any questions I'll be happy to answer them. I'm still not at my goal but I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. This site answered so many questions for me and I just want to say thank you to everyone on here that may or may not know that you have helped me tremendously.

Sincerely,

Suga' Mamma

Hi,

Oh you make me so happy too! I would ask that you do as I have done. I have a word document where I list new accomplishments as a result of my surgery; some of which is weight loss, but as you hint it is so much a whole lot more about health, energy, off meds.

I don't know if you have seen my list before. However, I suspect you may be able to create a similar list. Here is mine. I publish it every time I get a chance to help someone out on this forum to see the benefits way beyond just losing weight. Here is my list. Build one for yourself. Sit back, look at it and beam with joy.\

Medical/Physical Maladies that have been resolved to date

• Diabetes resolved – off all meds, avg reading 110
• BP normal again – I am still taking bystolic 5mg. Resting pulse is around 60 and BP near or below 120/80. Without the bystolic my resting pulse is still in the 60s. However, my BP goes up to the high 130s/high 80s.
• Sleep Apnea resolved – I am not snoring nor do I believe I am stopping breathing. I will confirm this later this year. The air pressure from the CPAP machine was making me very uncomfortable; lots of burping
• Legs no longer swollen
• Waist size has shrunk – Wearing size 44 pants comfortably and just made it into 42 pants.
• Feet are smaller – I was able to put a pair of dress shoes on that I haven’t been able to wear.
• I stay under 1200 calories a day. Most days around 1000 calories.
• I have a lot more energy
• I can dance, dance and dance
• I can walk up neighborhood hills aggressively without having to stop; no longer breathless.
• My incontinence due to my prostatectomy has been resolved.
• I am able to sleep in my bed again. I had been sleeping In an upright chair to be comfortable.
• Dramatically reduced backaches; almost completely gone.
• I can bend over and tie my shoes now!
• I can see my toes again 
• I can do dance steps again that I couldn’t do. The belly is gone!
• Now wearing size 42 slacks comfortably and looking forward to size 40 slacks. Just got into 40s but they are snug.
• Starting to sleep on my side again! This has happened in years!
• Intimacy much improved !!! 
• Fit in to a small diner booth !
• I can run up and down stairs several times without becoming breathless
• I squeeze out between two cars that were tightly parked together. A year ago I couldn’t get out of the car; I would be trapped.

 

[StaceyFJones]

I have read stories on the internet of people who have almost killed themselves with over indulging and not eating right and I'll tell you what, it's scares the He&* outta me! I think I'm in the right state of mind to make this work for me. When I started discussing this with my husband he started doing the research on it and told me about the different proceedures and how they are done and then I got curious and started doing research on my own. I thought about the lap band first but after the seminar I realized that if you don't eat alot already it may not work as well for you so that is when I decided on the sleeve. I downloaded My Fitness Pal on my phone just over a month ago to keep track of my calorie intake and after I entered my information it started me out at 2400 calories a day. One day I made it to 2400 and that was early on. But since then I'm taking in between 1700-1800 a day, sometimes 1600 just depends. I have watched My 600lb Life on TLC and even though I'm not as heavy as the people on that show I always wondered if I would qualify for this surgery. I am sure that I will have no problem but am always curious what others have gone through after and before surgery. I know if I could do this all on my own I would have made it happen already but I can't. Yes I can whine as good as anyone else but I will push myself because I want to be healthy and love life more than I do already. I'm excited to meet the new me inside!
Stacey

 

[dancinbr]

I have read stories on the internet of people who have almost killed themselves with over indulging and not eating right and I'll tell you what, it's scares the He&* outta me! I think I'm in the right state of mind to make this work for me. When I started discussing this with my husband he started doing the research on it and told me about the different proceedures and how they are done and then I got curious and started doing research on my own. I thought about the lap band first but after the seminar I realized that if you don't eat alot already it may not work as well for you so that is when I decided on the sleeve. I downloaded My Fitness Pal on my phone just over a month ago to keep track of my calorie intake and after I entered my information it started me out at 2400 calories a day. One day I made it to 2400 and that was early on. But since then I'm taking in between 1700-1800 a day, sometimes 1600 just depends. I have watched My 600lb Life on TLC and even though I'm not as heavy as the people on that show I always wondered if I would qualify for this surgery. I am sure that I will have no problem but am always curious what others have gone through after and before surgery. I know if I could do this all on my own I would have made it happen already but I can't. Yes I can whine as good as anyone else but I will push myself because I want to be healthy and love life more than I do already. I'm excited to meet the new me inside!
Stacey

Hello Stacey,

Welcome to the forum.

First of all please post your numbers in your profile. This way we can all see where you are at today and how well you are going to do in the future.

It is fantastic that you have started some of the absolute disciplines that are required to be successful. YOu are journaling your foods now. Fantastic. 1700-1800 is an excellent start.

You will need to get that number lower.

My target and most people's target here as prescribed by their surgeon is 1200 or for some even less. So work your way down. Also make sure you are getting 60grams of protein into your food consumption each day. Most people do not. It is the protein that will satisfy the appetite. Lower your carbohydrate intake to less than 100 grams a day. Those are the three big parameters for most of us. I am sure others will chime in on this as well.

Yes, there are many people who have decided to have the surgery and then sabotaged themselves and either almost killed themselves and/or regained all the weight back. This is a lifestyle change for sure. The surgery is a tool. For me it allowed me to finally drop all the weight off that I need to drop before getting to maintenance weight. I am down to 217 today from really 288 or 290. My goal is anything under 200. I think I probably will get to 190. For me that is a 100 pound loss.

I don't know how old you are and it isn't any of my business. My perspective on my surgery is that this is life saving or life extending. I am 70. I want to enjoy life a bit longer. I wanted a chance to do so healthy, fit and active. If I continued in my former ways there is no chance I would make it through my 70s. Now, I firmly believe I have a legitimate chance of making it well into my 80s; God willing and no other malady showing up. I tell you what I am enjoying my life a whole lot more now as my list in the above post suggests to you.

By the way my size 42 pants are starting to look a little big. I am getting ready to wear 40s soon. I will add that bullet shortly to my accomplishment list.

I do exercise but could do more. I have a total gym/xl. It allows me to tone up my muscles and slowly rebuild them as well. Muscle is what burns calories and muscle is what makes you look and feel good.

Another important statement you make is about being in the right state of mind for this to work for you.

Back in 2009 I seriously looked at surgery and backed away from it since I did hear and witness the horror stories and failures in the group meetings. I WASN'T READY !!!

However, in 2013 I finally was ready. I had worked my way back down to 246 and then let it get away one more time all the way up to 288 actually 290 when I finally said I am going to do this and not KILL myself.

This is clearly the best decision of my life. Many in this forum will tell you the same.

I go to group meetings too. I hear and see many successful people. Yes, the failures come back to the meeting too; looking for what I am not sure. We will support them to recoup and get back on the right track if they so desire. This is the main reason your surgeon's team should have both a nutritionist and a therapist that specialize in bariatric patients.

Your surgeon MUST be a "center of excellence" surgeon. Your hospital MUST be a "center of excellence for bariatric surgery". This is my firm opinion and I am sure many in this forum will echo the same opinion.

This gives you the optimal chance of a good surgery experience without complications. Also, if there is a complication, you have the knowledge of knowing you are being cared for by the best and they will remedy just about any complication that might arise. However, once again I will emphasize, that since both hospital and doctor are "center of excellence" qualified the likelihood of complications is minimal.

I do hope others chime in her to give you more moral support as you begin your journey.

Ralph

 

[Karenina]

I have read stories on the internet of people who have almost killed themselves with over indulging and not eating right and I'll tell you what, it's scares the He&* outta me! I think I'm in the right state of mind to make this work for me. When I started discussing this with my husband he started doing the research on it and told me about the different proceedures and how they are done and then I got curious and started doing research on my own. I thought about the lap band first but after the seminar I realized that if you don't eat alot already it may not work as well for you so that is when I decided on the sleeve. I downloaded My Fitness Pal on my phone just over a month ago to keep track of my calorie intake and after I entered my information it started me out at 2400 calories a day. One day I made it to 2400 and that was early on. But since then I'm taking in between 1700-1800 a day, sometimes 1600 just depends. I have watched My 600lb Life on TLC and even though I'm not as heavy as the people on that show I always wondered if I would qualify for this surgery. I am sure that I will have no problem but am always curious what others have gone through after and before surgery. I know if I could do this all on my own I would have made it happen already but I can't. Yes I can whine as good as anyone else but I will push myself because I want to be healthy and love life more than I do already. I'm excited to meet the new me inside!
Stacey

It sounds like you are in the right frame of mind and ready to do this. It's hard to make the decision, but once it's done, you wonder what all the indecision was about! The truth is that morbidly obese people have a less than 5% chance of losing weight and maintaining that weight for 5 years without bariatric surgery. It is a lifetime commitment to your health.
Pre-op you will lose weight on 1600-1800 cal per day. My center wanted me on 1200 cal, but it just wasn't possible mentally for me. 1600 cal a day was possible for me by avoiding fast food and substituting fruit and yogurt for dessert instead of candy, cakes, pies or cookies. And also measuring and recording intake every day so that I could identify places where I needed to make changes. Good luck to you, and check back often!