New Year 2018

So a lot has happened in three years.  On January 24th, I will celebrate my Seven Year Surgiversary of having a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.  The years are just rolling by and I probably would not have even remembered the date was coming up but I received an email from a gal who happened upon my blog and it jogged my memory that I still had this blog up and running and that it was long overdue for an update!  I feel bad that I have let it go so long, but again, a lot has happened in 3 years and life sometimes just gets in the way and you let it take you away from some of the things that you know are important.
I haven't been riding my bike much in the last couple years, but I have gotten back into  doing yoga hot and heavy.  The last 2 years for sure and the last year and a half has been very committed and I've been doing two-a-days, so that I'm doing at least an hour of yoga per day.  I was doing sometimes an  hour per session,  but have backed off the last 6 months and usually do between 30-45 minutes per session depending on what I feel my body is calling me to do.  As I'm aging, I feel the yoga is a better fit for my body, my joints...I never could run or jog and  even the cycling was hard on my knees and hips at times.  The effects of the yoga are tremendous on my body as I have a tendency towards arthritis and I also suffer with anxiety/depressive tendencies and so this has been an incredible help with this as well.  It's also the reason I've gone with the two-a-day regimen as in the middle of the afternoon my anxiety can start to build and the second session helps to ground me and give me a foundation to get thru the rest of the day.
The activity and movement every day (I don't miss a day unless I'm ill or injured) keeps me in check and is probably a good part of the reason I'm still maintaining my weight loss.  I'm currently (as of this morning) 130.0 pounds--having started this journey at 280 pounds before clear liquids two weeks prior to vertical sleeve surgery January 24th, 2011.
This summer my weight had climbed as high as 142.8 which was mortifying to me but I had to start on hormone replacement therapy last December due to entering into the "real deal" part of menopause and hot flash sessions that were severely kicking my butt day and night, causing me to lose sleep and shedding my clothing during the day every 2-3 minutes of my life...let's just say it was enough of a disruption in my life that I made the difficult decision to start taking the hormones knowing it might have an effect on my appetite.  Well, it did.  And I did  struggle.  My food addiction went into high gear for several months and I struggled.  I contacted Overeaters Anonymous for help and read literature and had some success with that, but felt like it was an impossibility for me to say "I'm going to be abstinent from this food and that food for the rest of my life"...I found the meetings not all that helpful as there is no crosstalk and all I had available were phone meetings (no face to face meetings in my area). Ultimately, it just wasn't that helpful to me.
As it turns out, I ended up going back on a medication called Topamax which when I took it before curbed my appetite, and seems to be counteracting my outrageous appetite currently being affected by the hormones I'm having to take due to the menopause I'm going through.  
Ultimately, I think I'm holding steady because the one medication is counteracting the other, but if I weren't on either one of them, my sleeve would be doing the work it has always been doing and keeping me at the weight I've been at for the last 6 years after surpassing my initial goal of 150 lbs.  I've maintained 125-135 with very little effort until starting on the hormone replacement therapy and I believe once I no longer need the hormones, my sleeve will be adequate as it has been all along once again.
I would never take back the decision to have the vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery, I believe it has saved my life.
I will end my post for today...more to come soon on my new found way of eating which I believe has also helped bring my weight back down into my goal range of 125-135!  Veganism!
Namaste!

4 Year Surgiversary-WOW!

It's hard to believe that in less than a week it will be 4 years since I embarked upon an epic journey to change my life for the better.  I took it upon myself to seek out a surgeon to perform the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy on me to correct my obesity.  I was weighing in at a whopping 280 pounds that my 5' 6" frame just shouldn't be carrying around, and it showed.  And it also hurt--(emotionally and physically).  My joints were aching, my lungs and cardiovascular system were taxed every time I moved, there was little I could do physically that didn't make me tired or wear me out.  Just taking a walk around the block was tiring, and as a mother to 3 children (two of them small) that just didn't really work out so well.
So I scoured the internet for information once I had made up my mind to have the surgery.  I was on a mission.  I mean, ON A MISSION.  Nothing was going to stop me.  And since my insurance wouldn't pay for any of it, I had to find a company that would finance me as well.
I came across a surgeon's name in Piedras Negras, Mexico who was very well known who had written a book, had a fabulous website that showed the entire process start to finish, where you would stay, even YouTube videos of the drive from the hotel to the hospital, even a liason whom you could call with any questions about anything regarding the entire procedure.  I knew I had found my match.
So I booked my flight, and was on my weigh (way) lol.
I paid about a third of what it would have cost me if I had had the surgery performed here in the states, and turns out, Dr. Guillermo Alvarez is now extremely well known in the world of gastric surgeries and is the first to ever perform on a young person.  He has been in Newsweek magazine and has now written two books, so if you have any questions about this procedure, you can find information very easily here...Dr. Alvarez Book.
Anyway, I am maintaining a 150 or so pound weight loss and hover between 125 pounds and 135 pounds with very little effort--so the surgery works.  I will post pictures.
Me Before:

My son and I Christmas Eve 2010-one month before surgery.

Me After:

My husband and I getting ready to go out with friends about 3 1/2 years after surgery 

My hope is that this blog helps if even only one person to make a decision that helps them better their situation; whether it be to have the surgery or not.  I chose the Vertical Sleeve because I suffered from anemia in the past, and couldn't go with the traditional Gastric Bypass since they re-route your intestines which makes it so that you don't absorb your vitamins and minerals well--I couldn't have that happening.  With the sleeve, there is no re-routing of anything, everything works just like in a normal person's body, they just make your stomach smaller and remove the stretchiest part of your stomach (the very upper part called the fundus) which is exactly what they leave behind and use to make your 'pouch' out of with the traditional Gastric Bypass surgery.  No wonder you see so many of the people choosing that option gain back some/all of their weight.  

Anyway, I only know that this route was right for me and if you have any questions, Dr. Alvarez' books would be a great place to start.  You can get them on Amazon.

Thank you for reading my blog!

Lisa

3 Year Surgiversary

Wow, it's been a while since I've blogged...guess it's time to stretch the fingers a bit...to anyone who is wondering...the surgery is a major success...I passed my 3 year surgiversary January 24, 2014 and as of two days ago, I weighed less than I have ever weighed along this  journey...133.6.  So, yes, the surgery works.  I have been off the bike since last fall with the exception of one ride in January this year on a warmer day  where my husband and I couldn't stand being inside any more and took the plunge and went for it.  There was snow on the ground but the sun was shining and it was a short ride but it was wonderful.

Anyway, if you are considering the vertical sleeve gastrectomy, go for it.  It changed my life for the better, and it will yours too.  Check your doctor's credentials, but by all means, go for it if it feels right!

Namaste!

Grazing

I am not sure what's going on, but ever since we got back from our Chicago vacation, my appetite for cars and sweets has been out of control. I weighed 142 this morning and I would be afraid to weigh myself tomorrow considering I've been grazing on this bag of animal crackers I got at Walmart yesterday all day today. It's like I can't get fill and stay full. I may need to do some version of the Gastric bypass version of the 5-Day Pouch Test and get this under control. Scary how easily those slider foods just go right through.

10 pounds UNDER goal!

I am 18 months out from Gastric Sleeve surgery, and have surpassed my goal of weighing 150 pounds by 10 pounds.  This morning I weighed 140.6.  I have recently started losing again after a several month stall at about 147-149.  Not sure what has caused this, other than my psychiatrist put me back on antidepressants and he said that I may lose some weight.  Otherwise, I haven't changed my eating habits, and I've actually been quite lazy in the exercise department.  It's been very hot and I get weak feeling when I ride any distance, probably because I can't eat much.  If I take a Snickers bar with me it helps.
So, officially, I have lost as much weight as I currently weigh.  I've lost 140 pounds, and I weigh 140 pounds.  This is a miracle.  I NEVER imagined I'd be this successful.  And with such little effort on my part.  I actually bought a pair of size 4 pants (I'm wearing them in the picture), and if I could get rid of the excess skin on my lower belly, I'd have fit into the 2's easily.
I am just so thankful to have been able to have this surgery, and that I've had great results.  I'm sure I've added years to my life, and my joints hurt much less.
In other news, I have recently had a mammogram during which they have discovered an oval mass.  I am scheduled for more pictures and an ultrasound on Friday next week.  I am praying for good news.
Thanks for tuning in, I'll keep you all posted about any further weight loss.
xoxoxoxo
Lisa

15 months out

Howdy all,
I just wanted to give an update to everyone who is looking for information on sleevers who are farther out. I was sleeved on January 24th, 2011, so if I'm doing the math right, I'm about 15 months out. I surpassed my goal of a weight of 150 pounds in January 2012 and have been holding steady at 147 for the past few months. I had absolutely no complications and the only issue I'd say I have is when I laugh too hard my large incision still hurts. 
I had all of my labwork done a couple weeks ago, and everything was great: Cholesterol is perfect, my anemia is in check, all is good except for I am low in the Vitamin D department. Normals are between 30-100 and mine was 28. My doctor wanted me to take a prescription vitamin D3 supplement along with Tums 3 times a day. I figured I could bypass the prescription and take Citracal which also has Vitamin D3. We'll see how that turns out.
I am actually what I'd call a non-compliant patient. I eat what I want, including butter, sour cream, cookies, cake, sausage, alfredo, you name it. I'm not sure how this is working out. I do keep the main part of my meal healthy and do include salads, fruits and veggies, and the amounts I am able to eat have to be the only explanation for how I am getting by with this. I must say, when I'm eating my Reece's cups and my co-workers/friends are sitting there saying "How do you get by with that?" I feel rather deviant. 
I am coming up on a new cycling season and finally got some cycling shorts (with padding) that fit. My husband and I are avid cyclists and last year my longest ride turned out to be about 35 miles. My goal is to one day do a century ride (100 miles). 
I know this helps with calorie burn, but I haven't been riding all winter long and still surpassed my goal weight. 
All I can say is this surgery is a miracle, and I truly believe it has saved my life!
Thank you Dr. Alvarez!
xoxoxoxo

More 'after' pics with a few notes following...

One thing I do to keep myself in check is I periodically measure my food just to make sure I'm still eating 1/2 cup of food at meals. Surprisingly, my stomach still stops me at about that point anyway. But the periodic measuring lets me know I haven't lost my ability to gauge how much food I'm eating. I do eat my protein first, so there isn't much room for other things and I try to keep my protein high. But I do eat what I want. For me, it seems that the quantity is what matters most. Also, I do NOT drink my calories (with the exception of a bit of wine now and then). I don't drink soda either. I'm worried about the effects of the carbonation irritating the lining of my stomach as well as the bloating/stretching possibility. I also have to make sure my calories aren't too restricted; when they are, the scale stops moving. I have to eat MORE to keep losing. Very strange, that phenomenon. 
Overall, I do try to eat healthy and stay away from fried things (they don't make me feel very good anyway), drink plenty of liquids, get plenty of protein (always eat it first) and only moderate exercise. Actually, when I was very active on my bicycle this summer, my weight loss stalled. I was doing 20-30 mile rides and burning a TON of calories, and I think my body straight freaked out. When I had an injury to my knee, and couldn't ride the weight started pouring off again. 
These are a few of the things I have discovered works for me.
xoxoxoxoxo,
Lisa

I have officially met my goal of losing 130 pounds. I was sleeved with Dr.  Alvarez in Piedras Negras, Mexico on January 24th this year. It seems insane to me that in less than one year's time I would be at my goal weight. I find myself wondering now though, what's going to stop me losing more? I always said "I really don't expect to even make it to my goal weight, I really don't expect to have to worry about losing TOO much weight."  well, here I am. I mean if I got down to 140, it wouldn't be a disaster, but I wouldn't want to lose more than that. I am 5ft 6in tall with a medium/large frame. Any suggestions? Keep in mind that while I do still always eat my protein first, I eat what I want. Including candy, butter, sour cream, bacon, potatoes and occasionally pasta! Any comments would be appreciated!
Xoxoxoxo,
Lisa

Slloowwwwinnggggg down....

A month and a half to lose 9 pounds.  I posted on August 27th that I had hit 175.  This morning I'm at 166.6.  So actually that's only 8.4 pounds?  Well, aside from the riding (1-2 times per week) I haven't been putting in a lot of effort.  So, no complaining!  And, if my memory serves me right, weight lost slowly is supposed to stay off.  And as long as the scale is moving in the right direction, I just can't see myself bitching a whole lot.
I do have a lot of room for improvement, however, beginning with water intake.  When I don't drink enough water, the scale does NOT move (or very slowly).  When I do, it moves.  One would think that this information would stick in my brain cells, somewhere, somehow, but it just DOESN'T!!!  Secondly, my eating habits could be cleaned up a LOT.  I'm still basically eating/drinking what I want including candy, butter, sour cream, wine...ugh!  Old habits die hard, and while I don't feel deprived eating this way, there is a lot of room to clean up.  I will need to get better with the diet to make lasting permanent change.  Eventually, it will be easier to eat more quantity of food, so I will have to have better habits by then!!!!!  And finally, I have decided that it would be a good idea to do several different workout types through the week.  I've only been cycling, and would like to add some strength training and yoga to the mix regularly.  Like cycling 1-2 times per week (either on the road or on a training device, yet to be purchased), yoga once per week and strength training once per week.  More if I am feeling up to it.  I think mixing it up will help my metabolism ramp up more and help me get the last 15-20 pounds off.
Our last ride (Sunday with Heather and Craig) has left me with a bit of numbness (still, it's Wednesday) in an unspeakable area.  A very sensitive area.  I'm telling you, if I've damaged nerves in that area at all, I'm going to be a very unhappy Momma.  I need butt butter.  Lots of butt butter.
:-)

Endomondo Cycling Workout

Great ride with great friends! Thanks Parsons! You are beastly!

Endomondo Cycling Workout: was out cycling 23.39 miles in 1h:46m:39s using Endomondo.

Endomondo Cycling Workout

Endomondo Cycling Workout: was out cycling 12.13 miles in 59m:25s using Endomondo.

FABULOUS ride with the hubby. Nice cool temps...feels like autumn!