LLeopold - Yeah!!! I want to cheer you on with this life changing move you have made. It sounds like you are loving yourself in a way that we all need to do - taking control of your health.
LLeopold, Congratulations from a fellow post bariatric patient. I have sent you a PM. It tells a little about my experiences with the RNY procedure. I was actually heavier that you at the start. I started out at 390+ and got down to 224. I am 3 years post op and feel that if I had not had this done, I would not be writing this to you. You will continue to do well if you follow the doctors instructions. Good Luck and continued success.
Dandy Dan dan218b@tds.net
Dan and Lori Branson, Anna 1 (the rescue)
and Beau (waiting at the Rainbow Bridge)
2005 Dodge QuadCab 2500 4x4 Hemi
2009 Open Range 337RLS
RV.Net Ohio Rally Member
Thank you, Barb and Dan, for the encouragement and the PM, Dan.
I just got back from the 2 week follow-up with the surgeon and updated my ticker with my current "official" weight. Check it out! (down 11 pounds from the last update on July 18) I'm so excited. The doctor and dietician both commended my progress and the only adjustment I need to make is to increase my protein shake portion. I was starting to wean myself off those while starting to increase the protein-based mushy (pureed) soft foods. Fortunately I am only into day 2 of this phase and was told not to decrease the protein shakes. This means that my stomach gets more food! I don't know if I can handle that much at this point (lol)!
Starting yesterday, I've started eating soft (pureed) chicken or tuna (1/4 cup), and a well-steamed (again with the pureed) string bean or other green vegetable (again 1/4 cup). What a feast! I really mean it. I get full with this. And to add a 6 oz protein shake between the meals?
The issue is that I am currently consuming around 650 calories with about 50 grams of protein and they want to get me to 1000 calories with 80-100 grams of protein.
Until the surgery, I've never been truly satisfied with this quantity.
For those who have exhausted all possibilities of weight loss like I have, you may want to check into this. It is, however, a very personal decision and one has to be mentally prepared and educated for this to succeed. Between the education and support groups for pre- and post- procedures, the tools are out there.
* This post was
edited 07/31/08 07:39pm by LLeopold *
Lou Leopold
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel Quad, SWB, 3.55:1, Rhino Lining
2000 25' Mallard M-23 5M 5th Wheel
Husky 15K w/EZ slider
Wen PowerPro 3500 Generator in a sound box
And I continue to tent camp!
Last night, after going to the local theater to see a play with my wife and another couple, we went to dinner at a local kosher/deli style restaurant. Now think about the portions served at one of these restaurants - mile high sandwiches, lots of dill pickles, potato salad, cole slaw, steak fries (chips), etc. It was my first time going out since the surgery. I intended to keep it simple and safe, order a cup of chicken matzo ball soup that came with a soft bagel. So far, so good. But then I saw the potato pancakes on the menu and recalled how much I like those, so I convinced my wife for us to order one and I would take a small portion of it and she could have the rest.
The rest of the meal was, in my opinion, humorous. I still look overweight only being 4 months out since this whole thing started and only three weeks out from the surgery, but according to the wife of the other couple, I don't look bloated anymore so I look like I could eat one of those meals easily, along with an eclair for dessert. I used to do exactly that.
When the waitress came to take our order, she asked what we all wanted to drink with our meal. The others ordered as normal, and when I said "nothing, thank you" she asked, how about coffee? tea? water? Nothing??? and I had to insist that I really wanted no drink. When I ordered the cup of soup, she asked, "would you like anything else?" and I said, "no, nothing thank you." And she just looked at me in disbelief. The other couple, who my wife and I had known since college and who knew what I had been through, were chuckling. The waitress asked if I wanted a spare plate to maybe have some of what my wife or the other couple was having, and finally the husband said that I was on a restricted diet (he just couldn't help himself, no biggie). The waitress came back to the table a couple of times when she saw that I wasn't eating and asked if the soup was to my liking as I hadn't eaten much. She seemed very skeptical about my saying that everything was fine and that I was simply full. Totally foreign concept, since she didn't know.
Well, it was all I could do to eat about 4 tablespoons of the soup (which had soft, but chunky vegetables and chicken, and of course, the matzo ball, about 4 inches in diameter, I chewed everything thoroughly and it went down ok) and I couldn't eat anymore. I didn't want to get sick, so I stopped, thinking, ok, I'll wait while everyone else continued to eat and maybe take one or two more bites. Nope. Just couldn't bring myself to do it. My eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach (LOL!).
I never touched that potato pancake and we ended up taking it home with the rest of the soup (guess what I'm having for lunch today).
We laughed about the waitress' reactions and what we have to look forward to in the future.
My son and I are going on a father/son trip to New York next month, and I think it will be very interesting when it comes to going out to eat (given the places he, a 20 year old will want to go). We'll be doing a lot of walking around Manhattan, so that part of the lifestyle change will be very welcome.
Congrats. I had RNY surgery in 2001 and lost 155 lbs. I too feel i would not be here today if not for the surgery. I do want to stress that you need to continue aleast one protien shake and day and make double sure to take ALL your vitamins. I got myself in a bit of trouble by forgetting that simple rule.
Good for you! My wife is 2 years out and not only is she different physically (thin) but she's also a different person - more confident and happier. She runs a support group in my area with about fifty members attending monthly meetings, organizing events, etc. Life changing surgery indeed! Now if only the general public and the mass media that feeds it would have a better understanding of bariatric surgery and eating disorders in general. Society has made such great strides understanding other illnesses, such as alcoholism, but the overweight are still discriminated against, as you will probably still remember long after you have reached your goal weight. Again, congrats!
Again, congratulations to all who have gone through this life changing experience. For the normal person, you don't realize what a change this is mentally. I am definately no Don Juan but have noticed that most folks will smile at you when the see you that wouldn't have done so if they saw you prior to surgery. I know from experience that the stereotype of obesity is not understood very well by the "Normal" folks. I do not mind telling folks that I have had the surgery and that they probably wouldn't have been talking to me if I wouldn't have had it.
Congrats. There are many more wonderful things coming! My wife had the RNY and she has done great! She has lost around 100 pounds, is no longer diabetic and takes a fourth of a blood pressure pill a day from 4 a day. She is a little over a year out and still has trouble sometimes gauging food if we are out somewhere, but she's learning. I'm so proud of her and she has tried so hard. She has severe back pain and that hasn't really changed but the knee and hip pain is so much better.
Congratulations for taking this life changing and life saving step. Good luck, keep up the good work and may you have a wonderful, slimmer and healthier life!
Some folks have been asking for an update and I feel that it's time to share my progress with you.
But first... The before. This is a picture of me with my son-in-law's father
on Father's Day (June 12, 2008). I had just started the journey 3 months before and had lost about 10 pounds at that point from my highest weight.
And here I am as of today .
As of yesterday, I've reached just under the half-way point to my goal of 200 lbs. by my birthday (June 30, 2009).
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