One Month Surgiversary

Well, Wednesday was my 1 month Surgiversary ... on Wednesday, I had a total of 57lbs lost and 20 inches gone. As of today - you can move that 57 up to 60lbs gone total. I'm a little sick, but feeling great when it comes to my stomach. One little downside is I can't swallow large pills. I have a blood disorder that makes me VERY prone to infection. I currently have an infection in a lymph node in my neck ... something I had surgery for in March, but has returned. Doc put me on some hardcore antibiotics ... but in liquid form. I went to CVS to pick up said liquid .... 9 ... as in NINE HUGE bottles (16oz) of liquid antibiotics. 4 teaspoons 2x a day. The flavor isn't bad ... it isn't good, but it isn't bad. It burns a tad though ... like, my esophagus and tummy. It's also a LOT to take in. I use a medicine syringe so I'm not swallowing in a lot ... but it's 4 medicine syringes worth. Bleh. I'm drinking an EAS protein shake right after and it's coating my throat and I'm definitely not feeling like I just swallowed a lava ball. LOL

Now, back to surgery and whatnot. I can eat about anything. I had some Sushi for dinner last night. For some reason the Nori didn't sit right, so I unrolled it and removed the nori, and it went down well. I can't eat it in a bite or two like normal, I cut it into 1/4's and use a fork ... and chew chew chew. Still ... amazing. I don't eat red meat, so I can't attest to that. Most people say red meat is hard on the sleeve. I've tried some chicken. Depending on how it's cooked is that matters. If it's dry ... not even a chance at being a pleasant experience. If it's very moist and soft, it's not bad as long as I chew chew chew. Seems to be the story of my life. LOL.

Long story even longer ... this gift I gave myself ... this surgery ... this fantastic tool, has not only changed my life - but saved it. I am off all prescription meds (other than my gallons of antibiotics). My sleep apnea is about non existent. My wife said I barely snore, and I don't stop breathing in my sleep. For months, I couldn't walk more than a few minutes. Now, I walk circles around my wife. I can grocery shop, walk the mall, anything I want. I can go anywhere. I still have some back pain - but it's a different kind of pain. It's my body having to adjust to the new weight.

I find that my perception of portion sizes has changed. I am AMAZED at how much people eat. I was at the grocery store the other day and saw this family. Mom and Dad were absolutely Huge ... their children - also morbidly obese. Like ... to the 11th degree. As I walked by with my cart of protein shakes, vegetarian 'meat' and tofu - I sneaked a peek at their cart. It was full to the brim with processed garbage. Pizza rolls, chips, cookies, frozen pizzas, frozen lasagna, pop tarts ... My heart began to hurt. I thought, My God ... I used to be them. I used to be as lost as they are. I used to fill my cart with nothing but SHIT. I used to put SHIT in my body and could never come to grips with why my body and my life turned to SHIT. I sat there, in the middle of the store, tears rolling down my face - thanking God for a 2nd chance at life. My prayer was that they, too, have their eyes opened to health before it's too late.

I have never felt so free, so liberated, so in control. I went and applied to take some college courses ... something I'd NEVER do when I was so fat I couldn't walk the campus. I walked all over that campus yesterday - no pain. Up and down stairs, passing by the elevators. This is truly a new beginning. One I am more thankful for than I could ever really express.

Enjoy some before and afters! I know I am enjoying the afters a hell of a lot more than I ever enjoyed the befores!

Ch ch ch changes ...

I'll be a month post op this coming Wednesday. I'm down a total of 56 lbs and feeling great. My energy level is better after incorporating some vitamins into my diet. I've been walking some and whatnot - but I'm ready to get more active. I have P90X that I've NEVER used ... and tomorrow is the day. I'm starting P90X ... and hoping I don't fall over and croak or bust through my floor. LOL


I'm able to eat about anything. I just graduated to regular foods ... although some still don't sit as great as others. At the moment, I'm nibbling on baby carrots and a touch of hummus. It's the first raw veggie I've had since surgery, and it's sitting very well in my stomach. I'm looking forward to a small salad within the next couple of days. Dinner tonight was a little piece of broiled lemon pepper catfish with a little side of some green beans mixed with reduced fat feta and kidney beans.


I managed about 1/3 of the small filet of fish and a few mini forkfuls of the veggies and I was full. It was delish. I ate a little too fast and that caused some minor discomfort, but I was able to walk it off and now feel fine. 


I've been noticing I am feeling sort of hungry ... not like I used to, but just like ... I really should eat something. LOL. I feel most 'hungry' in the morning when I wake up, and it doesn't take much to make me feel satisfied. 


In the beginning, I questioned my decision to get sleeved since I had so much pain and discomfort .... but now I love this sleeve. I love love LOVE it. I love the restriction. I love the weight loss. I love the way I can move and how I feel. I LOVE THAT I CAN SEE MY FEET ... (among other things ...............:o ). This is the best decision I have EVER made for myself. My wife is getting more excited for her sleeve surgery in December. We can't help but think of how fantastic our lives will be after it's all over.


We're planning a vow renewal ceremony (since we just ran off an eloped alone at the courthouse), and we're even going to take ballroom dance lessons next year after her sleeve and we both lean up some more, so our first dance can be something spectacular. If you would have told me a year ago I'd be considering ballroom dancing, I'd have told you that you had stones in your head. I have my life back. I'm in control of it - not food, not my stomach. ME. As it should be. 


Life is good. No ... life is GREAT.

Drained like WOAH ...

Ok ... this kinda blows. I'm still in a minor stall. I'm losing a few ounces a day if I'm lucky. At the beginning of my recovery, I had energy for DAYS and felt like superman. Now ... not so much. I'm feeling very irritable and weak. I walked the dog today (3/4 mile), took out the trash and did a few odds and ends in the kitchen ... and napped for nearly 2 hours. It's like everything I do is a feat of strength and endurance ... which I seem to have none of.

I don't know what it is - or what has me so blah and moody. Vitamin wise, I'm taking a multi vitamin and also taking a calcium chew. I bought some sub lingual B-12's, but haven't started them yet. I also have a prescription refill of Vitamin D I haven't picked up yet. I wonder if the B-12 and D is why I'm feeling shit-tastic.

Either way, it's unpleasant. I'm quiet and irritable ... kind of like a man period. My weight loss is sitting at 53lbs and not budging very fast at all. Still though, 53lbs in a month is nothing to sneeze at - so I'm trying to be proud of where I am.

Even though I'm whiny and grumpy - I still don't regret my sleeve. I'm learning to love the restriction (most of the time anyway), and looking forward to this stall being OVER.

Vomiting 2 days in a row. UGH!

UGH ... So, I threw up yesterday after a little bit of mashed potato ... and threw up tonight after a bit of hummus and cheese on a low carb tortilla. I'm trying to get more calories and protein in ... but failing miserably. I've decided to take a step back on my diet and go back to soups for a couple of days. I'm not going to puree them - but I know they will be easier on the sleeve. I think I may be eating too fast - causing the vomiting. It feels like it's more the contents of my esophagus coming up rather than the contents of my stomach ... as there's not a lot of gagging right before the initial hurl. It's more a heavy cough and POOF - there it comes.

I've been feeling very tired and weak/drained lately. I know it's cause I'm not getting in what I need. I'm going to resume all vitamins I can tomorrow and try to really get in more protein and take it easy on activity.

Even after all of this - I still love my sleeve. I haven't weighed in days. My wife re-hid the scale and I have NO idea where it is. I'm going to weigh on Monday though ... and pray I am at least a pound or two down out of this stall.

I hope everyone else is well. I'm going to try to rest and get some energy back.

Namaste.

A whole new world ...

I went grocery shopping alone for the first time in a while. Usually, my wife handled that because my back hurt too much to walk the store.

It is VERY different experience shopping for a bariatric tummy. I'm having a hard time having meat - so I picked up some tofu for the protein. I've honestly never had tofu before - but I'm looking forward to playing around with it.

I'm feeling like I wish I could eat more. I know that sounds crazy, but I can barely get in more than a few bites before having some discomfort ... and I just wish I could get more in so I can have a fair shot at getting in protein and whatnot.

Other than having a micro-tummy ... I'm doing pretty fantastically. No real regrets - just a few bouts of general blahness about not being able to eat at all - but I know it will come in time.

Hope everyone is well.

Ah ... the dreaded STALL ... I've been expecting you.

Here I am - smack dab in my dreaded 3 week stall. Damn it all. I knew it was coming - I even had my wife hide the scale ... only for me to rummage around the house and find it today ... weigh in and  become DISGUSTED. UGH UGH UGH!!! I hate this stall. I've gone from 355 to 358 down to 357 and staying within those 3 lbs up and down.

I'm not allowing myself a pity party about it. I've still lost 50lbs in less than 3 weeks - and that's TREMENDOUS! I know that I've got to adjust my diet and activity level. In these first few weeks after surgery, I wasn't counting ANYTHING calorie or protein wise. I was just focusing on getting in what ever I could manage to get in.

I KNOW that I'm not getting in NEARLY enough protein and I know I got in too many carbs this weekend with my mom's birthday and having a few mushed up bites of cake. I also know I'm not exercising enough, and I've got to step it up. So, starting tomorrow - I'm going to REALLY try to get in at least HALF of my daily protein and watch what I eat and make it a point to walk walk walk or ride the bike. My office has a gym, so I may sneak in there and work out while I drop my wife off to work, since we work in the same place. I just have to be shady because I'm not returning until November 1st.

All in all, I am doing well. Loving life - learning what I can and cannot eat and how much is too much. I haven't vomited once at all ... even when I had surgery - even though I've come close. I'm looking forward to taking my body to the next level and learning to live with this very temperamental sleeve. LOL.

One thing I have noticed is a hard time handling cheese. I haven't really drank cow's milk ... as I mainly drink almond milk, but I've noticed a very queasy feeling after cheese. Doc said it's possible to become intolerant of lactose post op, but it can also be temporary too. He said if I'm still having issues in a month or so, then to move to a product like Lactaid to help.

I hope you all are well!

50lbs down ...

Hey all, I know I've been M.I.A. lately. This weekend was a surprise 50th birthday party for my Mom that I've been planning for a year - so I've been busy the past week with the final touches. It went FANTASTIC!

Anywho, on to gastric happenings ... I'm down 50lbs since 9/13/11 when I began the liquid diet. I'm feeling great with the weight loss. It is definitely starting to slow down and I'm approaching the dreaded stall. I've made a habit of weighing every day ... multiple times, and I've got to stop. Yesterday, I was 355, today 356.8 ... then back down again I'm sure after I crap. LOL. Either way, I was expecting the stall - especially as I've started different food phases, and I KNOW I'm not getting in enough protein - so it's to be expected. I'm not going to flip out about it and not weigh again until next Monday for my own sanity. I just had my wife remove the scale from the bathroom and hide it while I'm typing this ...

Foods are going ok - I haven't thrown up at all - even after surgery. I'm doing better getting liquids in ... I'm getting in about 40oz a day ... which isn't where I need to be, but better than where I was.

So far, everything is going well ... and despite not being able to eat more than a bite or two - I'm loving my sleeve and glad I did this. It's been, by far, the hardest thing I've ever done - but so glad I did it. :)