Everyone deserves a second chance to “get it right.” I was blessed to have had the opportunity to take advantage of “another shot” at good health.
Most of you know I had weight loss surgery on July 3, 2013, and my journey has been swift, disciplined and totally focused.
When I signed up for that weight loss program, the hospital was just at the very beginning of creating the program. They were still writing the program, and I was ready to run down the hallway to look for an empty gurney. I was motivated.
From start to finish, the time span was 6 months to get into surgery. I was examined from head to toe, not only physically but psychologically, too. I’m sure they get many applicants who are rejected because they are there for the wrong reason.
There are two surgeries, Gastric By-Pass and The Vertical Sleeve, from which to choose, and I selected the Vertical Sleeve. Approximately 60% of my stomach was removed. At 4 ounces of food, I’m full, but muscles DO stretch. I’ve kept mine to a small capacity. I have no restrictions on what to eat. It’s my decision, and good decisions are required to maintain good health.
It was 2 years from surgery for me to lose all of my extra weight plus more. I was a walking skeleton at 123 pounds, and that was part of my plan. I did not want fat under my skin when I began my strength training. As a result, I have good definition. When one adds lean muscle, the scale goes up!! I took that into consideration, and that’s the reason I was 20 pounds underweight. I had 18% body fat. Now, I’m at the ideal weight and BMI. Not many bones show at 140 to 142 pounds. That’s a big difference from 310 and climbing.
The way one “works out in the kitchen” is more important than “how one works out in the gym.” I stopped eating grain over 6 years ago; my fat intake is very low, and they are good fats; low carbs and those are veggies (rarely those that grow underground!!) I eat one apple a day, and it’s a Honey Crisp. Eating is not important to me.
My calorie intake ranges between 1,200 and 1,500/ day. The older we get, the more difficult it is to maintain our good health. One’s metabolism slows, unless you work at it every day, and I do. I’m too frightened not to. It’s just too easy to gain weight, even after surgery!
I was patient #4 at our local hospital, and I’ve seen the majority of post-op people regain their weight. There are some who have reached their goal and maintain it. There’s nothing more depressing than to see someone gain all of their weigh back plus more. It takes discipline, and one “MUST” be motivated to say “NO” to certain foods and drinks.
When I’m out, I have ice water with a wedge of lemon and lime. No one knows what I’m drinking. When I order, and I won’t go to fast food places, the chef is always accommodating. I will ask for 3 ounces of boiled white meat chicken breast on one leaf of Romaine. I explain that presentation is not important to me. The three ounces leaves me comfortable!
Weight Loss surgery reprograms you. After surgery, you must have nothing for a week other than protein shakes and you gradually add soft food and then whatever you want to eat.
You have been reprogrammed, and if you do not maintain that regiment of eating, you will gain weight. I was easy to reprogram!! Just follow instructions.
By the way, Medicare paid for every penny. Some insurance companies were not as easy, and a few declined to pay. It’s unbelievable. All medications are gone; all bloodwork is perfect; and that’s saving the insurance company a “bundle” now and will in the future.
I’m thankful every day for this Weight Loss Program. For one night in the hospital and back to work after a long weekend, it was not difficult for me. I was one of the lucky ones. I think about that every day, and I’ll always be grateful for my good health.
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This is blog post #2 for Debe Maxwell’s November Challenge
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