Getting over all the worries....

As bariatric patients, we already have issues with food that we need to overcome. We started out with an unhealthy relationship with food and how we think about it. One part of the surgery is learning how to eat and rethink about food. Along with that comes all the worries about your weight loss and other issues.

"Am I eating too much?"
"Am I eating enough protein or drinking enough water?"
"Am I not losing enough, or too slowly?"
"Should this much hair be falling out?"

There are so many questions we ask ourselves that it causes undo stress. Stress as we know is a trigger for eating. One thing we don't want to do is stress eat.

Being part of a weight lss forum or bariatric surgery weight loss group helps to ease these concerns. Be it online or one that your doctor's office has, just knowing that you are not alone with your concerns and getting answers from people who have been there can ease alot of that stress.

Questions are usually answered pretty fast from others and you may even find that you have a surgery sister or brother (someone who had surgery the same day as you.) This helps so that you can compare what you are going through.

We have enough to stress about in life. Let's help make this weight loss go as smoothly as possible.

Til Next Time!

Things we look forward to...

As obese people, we often can't enjoy the same things that normal sized people can. We get depressed and feel worthless. This surgery is new hope for us. There are things we know we will one day be able to obtain, to look forward to.

When I got out of surgery in May, I started two posts on two different obesity surgery forums asking people what they were looking forward to once they lost their weight. I was so blown away by the amount of responses and the hope it gave people to see other's lists and goals. Here are some of the things people look forward to. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did.

• ONEderland (Weight under 200 lbs)
• Canoe Zip lining
• Comfortably sitting in an airplane seat (This is a big one on alot of people's lists)
• Anything to do with NOT being sweaty from being overweight
• Walking and not having to stop to rest frequently
• Wear and feel comfortable in a swimsuit
• Have enough energy
• BE HEALTHY!!
• Buying new clothes that are not in PLUS sizes
• Walking, standing, sitting, lying down WITHOUT PAIN!
• Being able to sit with legs crossed
• Sitting in a plastic chair without having to worry it will break
• Horseback riding
• Having a baby (or another one)
• Running a half/full marathon
• Feeling better about myself
• Getting off my medications!
• Not being that "fat person" and getting out of that stigma
• Buying clothes because I like the look not because I fit in them.
• Victoria Secrets Shopping!
• Tucking in my shirt
• Riding bikes with family
• Keeping up with friends and family
• Feeling Sexy
• Being able to sleep WITHOUT a CPAP machine
• Jumping on a trampoline
• AMUSEMENT PARK RIDES!
• Enjoying sex
• Wrapping a towel around me with no gaps
• Wear high heels
• Tomorrow, the next day, the next day, and the next day.....
• Being OK with my picture being taken
• Getting up off the floor without help
• Taking a bath
• Having their child be able to put their arms around them
• Paint my own toenails
• Actually FEELING beautiful when I am told that I am
• Being able to dance
• Feeling comfortable at the gym
• Sit on someones lap
• NOT letting weight CONSUME MY LIFE!!!!

All of these things may seem trivial to normal weight people but to those in the weight loss surgery game these are priceless bucket list items.  I smiled at EVERY SINGLE POST I read while writing this blog. You are all wonderful people and you WILL get to do every single thing you listed because together we have strength to accomplish the weight loss we deserve. Hopefully this blog post has made you smile also.

Til Next Time!

New relationship with food....

As of today, it has been 9 weeks since my surgery and I have lost about 32.2 lbs.

I had my last doctor visit last Thursday and was told I need to have a new relationship with food.

(Photo borrowed from Valero Doval)

I am trying. But here is the crazy part. My big worry was that I seem to be still hungry between meals. I was told at first my by nutritionist to NOT eat between the three daily meals. It's soooo hard not to when your hungry yet I don't want to go against what I have been told. So I asked my doctor about it. He said, "If you are hungry, eat. I eat a ton of food. You just have to make sure you are eating the right things. You need to change your relationship with food."  In other words, make sure that IF you are going to eat or drink between meals that it is protein first, then veggies, then fibers. This will not only help get the daily protein in, but apparently food is NOT our enemy. We really all do think of food in the wrong way. We need to not be scared to eat. Just make sure we are eating the right things.

I also asked him about anti-GERD meds like omeprazole and helping the hunger feeling. He said that will also help since some times when we think we are hungry that it is really the acid in our stomachs. He said to take omeprazole twice a day and this should also help with the hunger. I have only been taking it for a few days this way and do notice a bit of a difference.

So there ya have it folks. We need to re-think our ideas on eating and food. Food is not bad, it's WHAT we eat that makes or breaks our weight. Hope this has been insightful.

If you have any topics you would like to see covered in this blog, drop me a line in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Til Next Time!