10 months post op

179

Current weight as of this morning!!

Looking back at before pictures

This picture got to me emotionally when I found it. I was a good 360 pounds in that picture. It is so hard to believe that I am a completely different looking person just a little over a year ago. This picture was taken on Xmas day 2005.

9 month comparison

Excess skin

A lot of people have asked me if I will ever have to go through the skin reduction surgery once I am done losing weight. I honestly don't think I will have to. Yes, I do have excess skin but the more weight I lose, the tighter my excess skin has gotten. With my age, the skin also is durable enough that most, but not all, will bounce back.

Problem areas include my under arms, abdomen and inner thighs. With the exercising, it helps also. My arms are the one problem area that may take longer than the rest.

Also, I went down two shoes sizes. I found that quite odd, but that is correct. I went from size 9 1/2 to size 8.

Hair Loss Update

Well, I didn't go bald. That is the good news. The bad news, hair is still falling out. Although, not as much as it did at 6 months but it still is falling out. Around 7 months I stopped using adult shampoo and switched to baby shampoo (johnson & johnson). Yes it may seem weird, but it helped out a lot. I noticed a dramatic change in the amound of hair I was losing. My hair also became more soft to the touch and much easier to manage.

Your hair, nails, skin, etc.. rely on protein and with this surgery the absorption of protein is so much less that it affects all aspects of the hair, nails, skin, etc... So it is very important that I concentrate on getting protein.

Also to keep in mind, good carbohydrates are needed to feed the brain. Your brain only gets nourishment ONLY from Carbohydrates. Protein is not helpful to the brain at all. That is why it is also to get carbohydrates in at every meal 50% protein, 50% Carbohydrates.

Frequently Asked Questions

ok, many people ask me the same questions when it comes to having gastric bypass surgery and also being 9 months post-op. Below are answers to questions that many people have asked me:

1.) Is the weight still coming off like it used to?

-The weight is still coming off, but not like it used to. There is less weight now to lose, so the weight loss is slower. I am currently at 182 pounds. I remember at Thanksgiving I weighed 220 pounds. So that might give you an idea. 38 pounds in 3 months now.

2.) What and how much do you eat now?

-I have to say that I am able to eat more now than when I actually had surgery. I would say that my meal portions are around one cup total. Water intake is much easier now. I found drinking 64 ounces of water in the beginning was a tough task. Now 64 ounces is a no-brainer for me. I still have to be careful, taking big gulps of water does still hurt and sits at the top of the pouch for a while. It hurts!

3.) What are you eating now?

I concentrate on protein. Protein is a big necessity after surgery.

4.) Have you eaten anything you shouldn't have?

-Simple answer.....YES! I have learned my lessons. Chocolate I have tried, didn't bother me much. I took a bite of ice cream and that did not go well. Also, i tried 2% milk and that was a bad idea. So I have tried, but you will never learn unless you try.

5.) How did the scar heal?

-Amazingly well actually. Even the drain tube scars healed nicely. The deep redness is gone and it is starting to fade to a pink color. I will post a picture of the healed scar soon. I did notice around 4-6 months when the nerves started to spark, I would get feeling that someone was pinching, but nothing that was unbearable. It also seems that the scar got super small after I lost all this weight.

6.) What advise would you give to someone who wants to or is having this surgery?

-This was a tough question to answer. Why? Cause everyone's experience is so different, yet the same. It definitly is a struggle and a journey all in one. Make sure to do the research before and make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. This definitely is NOT the easy way out. Be prepared for what is to come. It was a long journey before surgery for me and still was not prepared for some of the things I experienced after surgery.

7.) Do you miss food?

Yes and No! I am never hungry, but I do miss the taste of some foods. I deal with it by drinking water.