[Pam726]

I joined this group a while back, got really busy with life and forgot all about it! Thank you Lisa S. for reminding me of it!!

Well, I'm just over a year out from open RNY and at goal. I started at 250 pounds and have lost exactly HALF my body weight. Total loss 125. Current weight 125. I've been holding steady at this weight for several months now. I just hope I can KEEP it here.

I'm having a devil of a time right now with my diet. I'm on a MAJOR fruit craving - partially because of how good it tastes and makes me feel - partially because it helps "keep things moving." Because of this, I haven't been getting in more than 60-80 grams of protein per day - and some days, I don't even hit that mark.

I'm struggling with getting back to the basics - it's almost as if i can't remember them at all! I've learned that I have to keep certain things out of my house all together - like cereals that i love - because i'll put some in a ziplock baggie and without even realizing what I've done - I've eaten it all.

The funny thing about this: I remember when i hit stalls on the scale, my clothes still got looser - telling me that even though the scale didn't show the weight changes - the changes were still happening. WELL likewise - my scale hasn't moved up or down - but I noticed that my tummy area is larger. That being said, I know the time to take back control is NOW - BEFORE the scale catches on!

I'd be interested in knowing what was the magical key that prompted others to get back to the basics - what did it for you? What was your system? Your meal plan? What worked for you?

I'm just so happy at this weight and I went through so much to get here. I really don't want to blow this. I want to be and remain healthy.


Pam (aka ~*Ginger Locks*~)
RNY 6-1-05
Before 250 - Now 125
Brachioplasty/BL/BA 4-28-06

[fr1endly2]

HI PAM!!! I am so glad you came and posted!!!!!!!!

WOW i am battling some of the same issues with eating as you.
I have been a watermelon and strawberry addict this summer.
I get really nervous and upset with my eating cause I do find
I can eat more...but i imagine we have to so that we dont
get malnourished.

I did get the blood results from the nerologist and all my bloods that
they did 12 viles worth checking vit b6, b1, VIT D and Vit e and other things that i cant even name....were all perfectly fine.
SO i wont change a thing for me its two chewable centrums a day
for life for me.
I still have that other test EMG on august 30 to figure numbness things out. HOW is your tummy feeling PAM? i do think you should get a scope
and rule out things....cant hurt but like me finding time for doctor
appointments is hard with full time work and family. ALSO ....did you
look into the NASCOBAL stuff???? I think its awesome for a b12 shot replacement and the alterts that the mft give to ur email or mobile phone
are excellant reminders for the busy life.
GLAD YOU POSTED
hugs and kisses
lisa
PS: maybe a before and after pic in that forum will be next for you!!! IT will motivate so many

[SHH]

Hi Pam. Glad to see you here. I am just over a year out, too, and find I can eat much more, but I guess I expected that.

I am getting back on track now that I am back at work. It is easier for me when I pack exactly what I will eat for the day and take it with me. It is not like I can go into the kitchen and just grab something, You know?

For me, I find there is one week a month when I am literally STARVING all the time, then the rest of the month, I eat regular. Actually, there are one or two sets of days where I can only eat a spoonful at a time. I wonder if this is normal.

I hope to see you here posting often. Have a great day. S

[DocSanae]

Hi Pam, good to see an oldie newbie, welcome!!
What parts of MD are you? I used to live/attend school in Montgomery Co. ages ago...read that something like 40 years,

A year out's about the time that you can "stomach" most things so the real journey begins. From here, it's about how well you are going to be able to stick to the habits you've made, and stick to the healthy eating and lifestyle that you've been forced to keep up til now, post op. From here on, it's going to be a matter of choices. Choices on your part, and a lot of it is going to have to come from your brains, instead of your pouch, as it has been up til now. Try to remember what your pouch has taught you this past year.
Have you checked out the Pouch Rules?
Fruits are good, but as with everything, in moderation.
The key is in portions and balance of food.

How is your exercise? Are you keeping that up, too? I hope so, because, due to the heavy load your bones have been carrying around for years, even if you don't have any signs yet, you may have had some damage there, so building up your muscles to help support your bones is a good idea. CraigT who hosts this site, had serious back trouble earlier this year, and his dr told him the root of this trouble lay in the extra weight he had carried around for years. He regretted slacking on his exercise, and is seriously commited to PT now.
On a side note, good exersice helps make you feel good, and feel good about yourself, and it's going to help you in keeping your eating on track.

May your journey go well, (((((((((HUGS))))))))))

[FemmeMode]

I'm thrilled that you are online with us....
Wow...
I'm only 4 mos post op...but Lisa is right we learn from you...and others like you that are coming and posting "REALITY"....

I am not doing so well with my protiens...and the "whole diet" in general....I have just moved to the Northeast from TX...and we've been "out of routine." (I work better when I'm on a routine like you, SHH!)

Anyhow...I just wanted to thank you for posting...and hope you will post your "before & afters"....I'd LOVE to see them....I'm sure you look FANTASTIC!!!

what was your "....plasty?"

[Pam726]

Hey Lisa!!

I'm so glad to hear all your bloodwork came back fine. That is an awesome feat with 12 tubes of blood! It should be interesting to see what the EMG shows for the numbness - since your bloodwork is fine. Really makes ya wonder what the deal is...

I'm STILL waiting on my bloodwork to come back. Tummy is still giving me troubles. I tried so hard to get back on eating meat yesterday - I bought a rotissiere chicken (which was very moist & juicy) and could only eat a few small bites before the pouch started aching. Mind you, I ate mandarin oranges, strawberries, canteloupe and apple slices earlier in the day with no trouble at all. Seems like all the soft foods do fine - but meat is kicking my tail lately. Same thing happened earlier in the week with shrimp....and again with Salmon. Salmon!! That NEVER bothers me - but now it does. Here lately, the only meat i've been able to tolerate is the gooey ground beef out of the inside of a taco bell chalupa (can't eat the shell) OR turkey cubes off the salad bar OR the shredded chicken w/ refried beans out of a shredded chicken taco salad at the other mexican place down here. This is BAD. I can't ALWAYS eat out! I'd like to be able to eat with my family, ya know? I think I'm going to try some crock pot cooking this weekend.

I took the kids to McDonalds this morning and let my little one play in the jungle gym. So I sat there with a cup of coffee (REGULAR) and OMG only a couple of sips and I had to toss it out. It hurt my pouch so bad. My daughter's friend took a picture of me sitting on Ronald McDonald's lap - I'll try to get that from her and post it.

I have an appt with my surgeon in 3 weeks (I think - maybe a little less than that). I'm asking for the NASCOBAL and talking to him about my pouch. They will probably call me before then though, when they finally get my bloodwork results. If so, I will chat with them about all of this beforehand. I'm taking the Prevacid, so hopefully that will keep me out of trouble.


Pam

[Pam726]

Deborah,

My brachioplasty was my arm lift. My surgeon removed 10.5" of excess skin from each arm! It feels so good to have normal looking arms for the first time in my entire life. They went from looking like thighs hanging from my shoulders - to wings - to regular arms. That was the best money I ever spent. I got prices from my PS this past week for the tummy and thighs - but I don't think I'll be doing that. No one ever sees my tummy (thanks to good underwear) and no one ever sees my thighs (thanks to longer shorts and skirts to the knees) and I'm almost 40 - so I don't dress half naked anyway - it's just not worth that much money to me to do right now. I don't know if my opinion will change later...we'll see.

It does help to talk with people who are further out. I found that there were a lot of long-term post-ops that didn't want to "hang" with the shorter term post-ops because the long-term post-ops felt that the fresh post-ops didn't understand where they were coming from or that they didn't gain anything from the new post-ops. I think that is a shame. I think both new post-ops and old post-ops can gain a LOT from each other.

As a longer term post-op, I think we can be refreshed on the basics by talking with the new post-ops. And we can sometimes see the situation in a different light when we are looking at it in someone elses life, ya know? Plus, it would have been helpful to me as a new post-op to see what battles and struggles the longer term post-ops are dealing with. I think it helps to prepare us for the battle ahead.

I will get my pictures on here... I need to get some new ones done. It has been several months since we did a "photo shoot" around here.... the kids did take a picture of me on Ronald McDonald's lap earlier today - so maybe I can get that one on here...

I look forward to chatting with you some more!!

Hugs!!

[fr1endly2]

HEY PAM! YOUR really sounding it like me that food started really irritating me a bit. DO you take any prolesec OC (i spelled that wrong) or antyhing for antiacid???? YOU sure sound like me with the ucler but i will say any fruits with to much skin get to me as well as veggies. I really want you to push your surgeon to scope you and see whats going on. An undiagnosed ulcer isnt good you know that.
As for the numbness....i am diagnosed so far as neropathy but i doubt it was as a result of the surgery. I think I had some of this numbness before
surgery, i know this sounds dumb and was in denial. FIGUREING if i went to doctors at 310 lbs they were gonna say loose weight and i knew i couldnt. SO i had some denial about this numbness. BUT it has gotten worse....
so we will see i honestly feel this is not surgery related.
KEEP me posted on your blood work.
ALSO, i dont know how many threads you read on the board yet but we try our best to hold wednesday evening chats at around 8 pm. BEEN hard in the summer time to hold them but comes fall and less cheering practices should become easier for me to do.

Talk to you soon!
AND im gonna keep pushing you to get some photos up on here for everyone to see who successful you have become~
hugs
PS: i want to see the photo with RONALD MCDONALD i have a pre op photo with him i should dig up!!! YOU FIRST!

[Robbin]

Hi Pam,

I hope to get to know your better.
I am only 3 1/2 months out and doing well(-52), and it is good to have you here again.

I hope your tests find the problem with your pouch. I am sure it will be OK.

Talk again,

ROBBIN

[Pillows]

Hey Pam welcome back to the website. I would love to hear more about your surgery on your arms. I am wondering if I will have to have that done when all is said and done here. I hate the granny arm feeling. I am going to try to combat it with exercise and lots of water, but still think I will hate what excess is left. I don't think that my wings will ever let me fly, so what is the point of keeping them?....lol. Best of luck, and we are all here for you.
Janae