Two Years!
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rpyle111
Posts: 1,066 Member
Two years ago today, I first logged on to MFP. I weighed 420 pounds and had just been to the orientation session at my Bariatric Surgery program. The last two years have been quite eventful! I the nearly six months between my orientation and my surgery, I hit the pre-surgery plan hard, losing 100 pounds through a simple set of rules: 1500 calories per day, 100g protein, 64 ounces of water, log everything and start exercising. I was ready to make the changes I needed to make, my wife and kids were supportive and the kids were old enough that I could make the ‘me’ time necessary to make it happen.
When I hit my surgery date (September 30, 2014), I was in pretty good fitness (still with 80ish pounds to lose) and I truly believe that my fitness level helped me to handle the surgery and recovery pretty well. The immediate pre-surgery liquid diet and the first couple of weeks post-surgery were pretty tough, but within a month or so it was mostly a memory. Right now, I can’t really remember it as especially bad. The day after surgery, I was up and around and got 11k steps in the recovery ward. For all of you heading toward surgery, my main advice is to hit he pre-surgery plan as hard as you possibly can, as every pound you lose is one you won’t have to lose during the honeymoon period, and any level of physical fitness you can bring with you into the surgery will help you in the immediate post surgery time.
After surgery, I had 4 weeks off of work. I may have been able to head back earlier, but the first few weeks were a time of very low energy for me. I was pretty active in the mornings, but had a nap most afternoons. It also gave me plenty of time to adjust to the new eating pattern and limitations. At my first checkup with the surgeon at three weeks post surgery, I was given the OK to add soft foods, skipping the puree stage. That first scrambled egg was glorious!! I still worked in some pureed food, but the move to mushy foods was great! After that, it was a really good 6 months of steady loss, getting back into exercising regularly and I hit my weight loss goal of 180 pounds down right about this time last year. In hindsight, that may have been the easy year!
I knew that moving into maintenance was going to be a difficult transition, but I have likely misjudged just how difficult. As a still pretty big guy (6’5” 240), I worked to increase my calories to around 1500-1700 calories. I took a bit of a ‘vacation’ from logging, hoping to be able to slide into an eating routine that would be sustainable and successful. From April through September, I stayed within my +/-5 pounds of goal target range. As the winter hit, though, exercise decreased and food choices slipped a bit more than they should have. I sit here today 12 pounds over my goal range and I need to get back in the saddle.
Some random thoughts that highlight some of the things I need to improve on: I had a breakfast of deli turkey this morning and was reminded how well denser protein gives me the ‘full’ signal. Alcohol and late night snacking go together way too well. Slider foods are double whammies, as they tend to be calorie dense and do very little to trigger the full feeling. In short, get back to the eating rules I started with 730 days ago: 1500 (1700-1900 now) calories, 100 (130) g protein, 64+ ounces of water and exercise regularly.
Now for the best part of this setback (Thaeda, are you still out there???): I still love myself and have not been beating myself up too much. In the past, I would have categorized myself as failing and would likely be in a full-blown self-hating bingefest. Today, I am self-aware enough that I am not deluding myself that this is just a winter thing, or normal fluctuation. I have changed my eating and exercise habits (in negative ways) and it needs to be corrected, but it doesn’t mean anything about my worth as a person or my ability to do it. I know where I need to be, I know that I can do it, and it is time to change in a positive way in the same way I changed in the negative way. I hope and trust that I will make the necessary changes.
So, for all of you out there succeeding, struggling, working at the program . . . there will be successes and setbacks, but none of that means anything fundamental about you. Keep at it, adjust what needs to be adjusted, and enjoy wherever you are. Don’t let your weight, or the distance to your personal goals keep you from enjoying what you have accomplished!
Rob
My previous milestone postings (more details of the pre and immediate post surgery stages):
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10123987/six-month-ramblings/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1466332/robs-adventures-in-surgery#latest
When I hit my surgery date (September 30, 2014), I was in pretty good fitness (still with 80ish pounds to lose) and I truly believe that my fitness level helped me to handle the surgery and recovery pretty well. The immediate pre-surgery liquid diet and the first couple of weeks post-surgery were pretty tough, but within a month or so it was mostly a memory. Right now, I can’t really remember it as especially bad. The day after surgery, I was up and around and got 11k steps in the recovery ward. For all of you heading toward surgery, my main advice is to hit he pre-surgery plan as hard as you possibly can, as every pound you lose is one you won’t have to lose during the honeymoon period, and any level of physical fitness you can bring with you into the surgery will help you in the immediate post surgery time.
After surgery, I had 4 weeks off of work. I may have been able to head back earlier, but the first few weeks were a time of very low energy for me. I was pretty active in the mornings, but had a nap most afternoons. It also gave me plenty of time to adjust to the new eating pattern and limitations. At my first checkup with the surgeon at three weeks post surgery, I was given the OK to add soft foods, skipping the puree stage. That first scrambled egg was glorious!! I still worked in some pureed food, but the move to mushy foods was great! After that, it was a really good 6 months of steady loss, getting back into exercising regularly and I hit my weight loss goal of 180 pounds down right about this time last year. In hindsight, that may have been the easy year!
I knew that moving into maintenance was going to be a difficult transition, but I have likely misjudged just how difficult. As a still pretty big guy (6’5” 240), I worked to increase my calories to around 1500-1700 calories. I took a bit of a ‘vacation’ from logging, hoping to be able to slide into an eating routine that would be sustainable and successful. From April through September, I stayed within my +/-5 pounds of goal target range. As the winter hit, though, exercise decreased and food choices slipped a bit more than they should have. I sit here today 12 pounds over my goal range and I need to get back in the saddle.
Some random thoughts that highlight some of the things I need to improve on: I had a breakfast of deli turkey this morning and was reminded how well denser protein gives me the ‘full’ signal. Alcohol and late night snacking go together way too well. Slider foods are double whammies, as they tend to be calorie dense and do very little to trigger the full feeling. In short, get back to the eating rules I started with 730 days ago: 1500 (1700-1900 now) calories, 100 (130) g protein, 64+ ounces of water and exercise regularly.
Now for the best part of this setback (Thaeda, are you still out there???): I still love myself and have not been beating myself up too much. In the past, I would have categorized myself as failing and would likely be in a full-blown self-hating bingefest. Today, I am self-aware enough that I am not deluding myself that this is just a winter thing, or normal fluctuation. I have changed my eating and exercise habits (in negative ways) and it needs to be corrected, but it doesn’t mean anything about my worth as a person or my ability to do it. I know where I need to be, I know that I can do it, and it is time to change in a positive way in the same way I changed in the negative way. I hope and trust that I will make the necessary changes.
So, for all of you out there succeeding, struggling, working at the program . . . there will be successes and setbacks, but none of that means anything fundamental about you. Keep at it, adjust what needs to be adjusted, and enjoy wherever you are. Don’t let your weight, or the distance to your personal goals keep you from enjoying what you have accomplished!
Rob
My previous milestone postings (more details of the pre and immediate post surgery stages):
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10123987/six-month-ramblings/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1466332/robs-adventures-in-surgery#latest
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Sounds to me like you're a complete and total success! You've done so much work and come so far, and I'm betting you'll have things exactly where you'd like in no time at all. It is interesting how thought patterns change after surgery - I don't have that 'feel like a failure' feeling when I eat something I shouldn't either. I realize it's not a good choice, and look at what I need to tweak in my diet or exercise to keep things stable and well-managed. Your family must be incredibly proud of you. Congrats!!!0
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Rob - thank you for sharing! Your story is inspirational and realistic and will help so many others in various stages of their journey. Best wishes on your continued successes!0
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You have always been an inspiration to me Rob, thank you for sharing your journey!
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I think you are my twin. I'm up 8-10 lbs total from my lowest weight (it still varies a lot with water/when I weigh). I'm still exercising consistently, but due to a medical crisis on the part of my son (diagnosed with T1 Diabetes/almost a week in the hospital) and some issues I've been having with a growth on my tailbone, my running miles have decreased by half--while my habits and appetites have not. I've been inconsistently trying to get my logging back on track, and to stay on plan eating-wise. I know it's important, but what really shocked me into knowing that I need to get back on track is that my doctor called me super concerned about my iron levels. I haven't been feeling well and my running has been getting slower and slower for no reason--except that there is a reason--I'm severely anemic.
No need to beat myself up, but it's time to start loving myself enough to take my vitamins and eat food that will nourish my body vs just feeding it. Good for you for recognizing the same. Best wishes to you as you recommit to taking care of yourself!0 -
Now for the best part of this setback (Thaeda, are you still out there???): I still love myself and have not been beating myself up too much. In the past, I would have categorized myself as failing and would likely be in a full-blown self-hating bingefest. Today, I am self-aware enough that I am not deluding myself that this is just a winter thing, or normal fluctuation. I have changed my eating and exercise habits (in negative ways) and it needs to be corrected, but it doesn’t mean anything about my worth as a person or my ability to do it. I know where I need to be, I know that I can do it, and it is time to change in a positive way in the same way I changed in the negative way. I hope and trust that I will make the necessary changes.
So, for all of you out there succeeding, struggling, working at the program . . . there will be successes and setbacks, but none of that means anything fundamental about you. Keep at it, adjust what needs to be adjusted, and enjoy wherever you are. Don’t let your weight, or the distance to your personal goals keep you from enjoying what you have accomplished!
Rob
YES!! I am still "out there".... LOL. I have not been around as much-- very busy, but also working to have a "normal" life ruled less by the scale and food and logging and more well... spontaneous!! When I am here too much, I tend to get all wrapped up in numbers- and that is just not the life I want today.
I am SO glad you have done very well-- and of course I am ecstatic to hear you are not beating yourself up about the very small gain (it is, in terms of the big picture teeny tiny-- I mean c'mon-- if someone told you pre-surgery you would be at the weight you are now, you would have been THRILLED, I bet!).
So happy for you and for the life you have created for yourself! Be blessed!
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I totally understand where you are at and what you have experienced, as I am there too. I think you have been a great success. Most importantly, you have your attitude right in that you can have a set back and not make it the end of the world-- and get right back to eating the correct way. That says "winner" to me. You are an inspiration.0
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Thank you for sharing your struggle. I just checked in today after taking a vacation from logging, and really need to read this. You all are like jumper cables.0
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Congratulations Rob on working so hard on your goals throughout this journey. You are doing great and have been a huge support to me and everyone in this group. I appreciate your encouragement and dedication. You are doing awesome. 0
