Last Chance to Do This - Auburn, NY

I have had issues with weight for most of my adult life. I have tried every diet to come down the pike and have had some success with each. Trouble is they all worked for a while, and sometimes I even lost mega pounds. BUT, those pounds always came back and brought all of their friends with them. Slowly the numbers crept up through the years, until, here I am with several health issues at nearly 70 years of age.

I was as pre-diabetic, I have hypertension, a compressed disc in my back, sleep apnea and insomnia. I just got tired of being tired all the time. So, I started thinking about weight loss surgery. It took me a couple of years to make the decision, but now, here I am.

I am extremely motivated, because I know the surgery works. Also, I have been reading everything about gastric sleeve, how to prepare for it, and how to live with it. It is a major change in my life, but a really GOOD change. This group has been incredibly supportive, and has lots and lots of knowledge I can draw on.

Like so many others, I wish I had done this long ago, but better late than never, for sure. When I first met with my surgeon, he told me he was going to give me back 20 years of my life. I AM READY!!!!!

It only took me two months to get through the approval process. When I got my date for surgery, I went through so many emotions, from dread and fear to absolute joy. I decided to ignore the fear and just concentrate on the positives of this experience. From that point on, I read everything I could on bariatric surgery. I started the pro-op diet shortly after I went to my first support group meeting. I found that I started losing weight at a faster pace, and I was not getting hungry. I think that also helped keep me from the "Last Pig-out" before surgery.

Another way I prepared for surgery was to freeze single portions of those foods I could have in each post op phase. Every time I thought of new things, I would puree them and make up single serve (3 ounces) containers. That really paid off for me, because I was not getting bored with my limited diet. Some examples were: pureed turkey and cranberries, pork and applesauce, turkey meatballs and sauce. My food options, while not limitless, were pretty wide-based.

Following surgery, I was very fortunate in that I had very little pain (mostly just the first day) and needed pain meds only one day. When they brought me my first "breakfast" which consisted of beef broth, I could not take in any more than a teaspoon. I did not feel sick, just did not want anything. By the time I was ready to leave on the second day, I was able to take in everything they brought me. It has been pretty uneventful since surgery.

It has been about two months since surgery. I have been able to eat almost anything I want. I am able to eat around a half cup of food before I really feel full. At this point, my recommendation would be to eat VERY SLOWLY, because it takes time for your brain to realize your stomach is full. Also, like they say, chew, chew, chew. Not only does that "mash" up your food, but you actually enjoy the taste of what you are eating.

At two months out, I have lost about 68 pounds (including pre-surgery loss). I hope to lose another 50 or 60 pounds by my 12 month anniversary. For the first time in my life, I feel that there is NO chance for failure. All I have to do is follow the program - PROTEIN first, then vegetables and only if there is room, carbs. I usually have no room for carbs. If I do miss something (i.e., bread), I go ahead and have it, but in a limited quantity. For example, I will have a fat free cheese sandwich made with 1/2 slice of lite bread. I can avoid cravings without binging. I used to love going to Chinese buffets, but I knew that would not be a good choice now. But, since there was a group of us who would go about once a month, the buffet was not the main event, but the socialization was. Still, I had issues with paying about $15 for a 1/2 cup of food. So, I got the bright idea to do a to go box instead of the buffet. I eat what I can out of the box, then take the rest home and eat what I want for about a week, no more than once a day. I try to choose high protein foods and lots of veggies/fruits.

12 weeks post-op.

WHAT A GREAT DAY!!!! Today I set foot in One-derland! It seems that I was there once before in my life, for about 15 minutes, but the memory is really fuzzy. Even though I know differently, I was not always a fat person. I am super stoked to know that soon (relatively) I will never be one again. I remember speaking to a member of my team at the hospital and she asked me how long I wanted to take to reach my goal weight. I told her a year. She then asked me what would happen if I could not do that. I told her, "Well, then I will give myself another year."

That has been pretty much my approach to this whole process: Each day offers its own challenges, and rewards. With each challenge we are offered choices. The best I can do is try to make the right choice each time. And, keep my eye on my target.

Even though I was always a carb fiend, I am finding that I don't miss my carbs (mostly breads and mashed potatoes) that much. I keep hearing my support group leader repeating the mantra "protein, protein, protein". Then veggies fruits and if I have room, carbs. I pretty much have found that by the time I get around to the carbs, I just don't have room for them, nor do I even want them. The second, and maybe most important mantra is "STOP EATING when you are full." It has taken me a while to get that second one down, and I have still not mastered it, but I am not putting myself into serious pain like before. If I do eat a little too much, I try to get up and go for a vigorous walk to settle everything. The overeating pain is just way too serious for me and that is one pitfall I can control all by myself.

When I started this journey, I needed (wanted) to lose between 110 and 130 pounds. I am now beyond the halfway point. I think the rest will be an adventure. I am still having fun!!!!!!