TraceyT
Member
Hi folks!
I'm 2 years post op and I hope I've learned a thing or 50 in the past 2 years. Here is what I learned so far:
I've learned to listen to my body. No matter what people around me may say - I know my body better than anyone else - so I listen to it. If I feel "off" I'll see the doctor - and usually something is wrong. A lot of things are fixable with a change of medication or diet or drinking more fluids. Listen to your body.
The weight-loss is a TOOL. It's not a cure. Follow the eating plan your doctor or surgical team have worked out for you. My wonderful beautiful S-I-L had RNY 11/12/2021. She lost 14 pounds total. They came for Thanksgiving no long after her surgery. Was just getting into the pureed stage - she ate 1 .5 deviled eggs, table spoon of mashed potatoes, and a whole dinner roll. She threw up till she was having the dry heaves. I have no idea what eating plan her surgical team has laid out for her - she isn't following it. She goes to Starbucks daily and get her large coffee with liquid sugar - syrups - cream - she can't understand why she hasn't lost more weight. She actually gained 6 pounds the week of Christmas and New Years. She is drinking wine daily. I don't see how she does it. I take a sip of whatever drink my husband gets and I get very flirty - yes, flirty is a good way to explain it. My husband says flirting is me batting my eyelashes and blowing kisses - not me grabbing his "frank and both beans" and talking dirty to him. Flirting - grabbing - as long as we've been together - he needs to enjoy the fact that I still do both
My S-I-L said that for me to loose all the weight I have - I have to have an eating disorder. No I don't have an eating disorder. I no longer eat if I'm not hungry. What I do eat consists of mainly protein and veggies. I have no taste for anything sweet anymore - if I do I'll eat a snack size candy bar. I really don't get the cravings for sweets.
I've learned that it's an interesting concept of eating when I'm physically hungry. My brain has finally accepted that if my stomach isn't wanting food it doesn't get food. It's amazing how many empty calories I used to eat versus now I'm looking at the protein content long before I even notice the calories. It's nice to fuel my body instead of filling my body with all manner of crap. My whole family eats better.
I've learned that if you're in a relationship - your partner, significant other, spouse - goes through this journey with you. Your successes are their's too along with your failures, frustrations, meltdowns, light bulb moments - and all the other moments in between. We need to include them in this amazing journey. When I get sick my beautiful courageous husband is right there with me. When I'm feeling excited he's right there with me too. The more we include them - I believe the better the out come will be.
I've learned there will be great days, good days, ok days, go to hell days, and what the fuck was I thinking days. All are part of the WLS journey.
I've learned that 2021 was an awful year. We buried 7 family members/dear friends from covid. My beautiful mother-in-law died 01/18/2021 - it totally broke our hearts. We survived but it was a really shitty year.
I learned that there is nothing I can't handle. Life can be difficult but a lot of fun and definitely more interesting living it than watching from the sidelines. I'm actively LIVING my life - so amazing and so worth having the surgery for.
I've learned that life will pass you by if you let it. I'm making up for lost time. I'm traveling and absolutely loving it.
I've learned there are some people in your life that do NOT have your best interest at heart. They can be someone you've known all your life - a family member - or just recently met - they're not your friend. So make like a garbage man and broom their ass or asses to the curb with the rest of the trifling trash. They're not difficult to figure out so just follow your instincts.
I've learned that saying no is ok! You control what you want to do or don't want to do. It's amazing to really see how people you've known for years have actually been treating you. If you've always been one of the heavier people in the group and now you're the smallest in the group - they treat you differently.
I've learned that clothes shopping can be difficult when you're on the small side of it. I weighed 220 when I had surgery - I now weigh 115. I was wearing a 2X top and a 22/24 bottom. Now I wear an XS top and a 2-4 bottom. Yeah I know, I'm too skinny. Gaining weight can be difficult as well. But, I am working on it.
I've learned that I'm going to be a MiMi - my first grandchild is due 07/01/2022. We're beyond excited!!!
I guess that's a lot of what I've learned and figured out over the last 2 years. I often talk about my wonderful husband on here and figured I would share a photo. We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary 12/29/2021. We were together several years before we got married. So The photo is on our wedding day at "The Little White Wedding Chapel" in Pigeon Forge Tennessee 12/29/2001.
I'm 2 years post op and I hope I've learned a thing or 50 in the past 2 years. Here is what I learned so far:
I've learned to listen to my body. No matter what people around me may say - I know my body better than anyone else - so I listen to it. If I feel "off" I'll see the doctor - and usually something is wrong. A lot of things are fixable with a change of medication or diet or drinking more fluids. Listen to your body.
The weight-loss is a TOOL. It's not a cure. Follow the eating plan your doctor or surgical team have worked out for you. My wonderful beautiful S-I-L had RNY 11/12/2021. She lost 14 pounds total. They came for Thanksgiving no long after her surgery. Was just getting into the pureed stage - she ate 1 .5 deviled eggs, table spoon of mashed potatoes, and a whole dinner roll. She threw up till she was having the dry heaves. I have no idea what eating plan her surgical team has laid out for her - she isn't following it. She goes to Starbucks daily and get her large coffee with liquid sugar - syrups - cream - she can't understand why she hasn't lost more weight. She actually gained 6 pounds the week of Christmas and New Years. She is drinking wine daily. I don't see how she does it. I take a sip of whatever drink my husband gets and I get very flirty - yes, flirty is a good way to explain it. My husband says flirting is me batting my eyelashes and blowing kisses - not me grabbing his "frank and both beans" and talking dirty to him. Flirting - grabbing - as long as we've been together - he needs to enjoy the fact that I still do both
My S-I-L said that for me to loose all the weight I have - I have to have an eating disorder. No I don't have an eating disorder. I no longer eat if I'm not hungry. What I do eat consists of mainly protein and veggies. I have no taste for anything sweet anymore - if I do I'll eat a snack size candy bar. I really don't get the cravings for sweets.
I've learned that it's an interesting concept of eating when I'm physically hungry. My brain has finally accepted that if my stomach isn't wanting food it doesn't get food. It's amazing how many empty calories I used to eat versus now I'm looking at the protein content long before I even notice the calories. It's nice to fuel my body instead of filling my body with all manner of crap. My whole family eats better.
I've learned that if you're in a relationship - your partner, significant other, spouse - goes through this journey with you. Your successes are their's too along with your failures, frustrations, meltdowns, light bulb moments - and all the other moments in between. We need to include them in this amazing journey. When I get sick my beautiful courageous husband is right there with me. When I'm feeling excited he's right there with me too. The more we include them - I believe the better the out come will be.
I've learned there will be great days, good days, ok days, go to hell days, and what the fuck was I thinking days. All are part of the WLS journey.
I've learned that 2021 was an awful year. We buried 7 family members/dear friends from covid. My beautiful mother-in-law died 01/18/2021 - it totally broke our hearts. We survived but it was a really shitty year.
I learned that there is nothing I can't handle. Life can be difficult but a lot of fun and definitely more interesting living it than watching from the sidelines. I'm actively LIVING my life - so amazing and so worth having the surgery for.
I've learned that life will pass you by if you let it. I'm making up for lost time. I'm traveling and absolutely loving it.
I've learned there are some people in your life that do NOT have your best interest at heart. They can be someone you've known all your life - a family member - or just recently met - they're not your friend. So make like a garbage man and broom their ass or asses to the curb with the rest of the trifling trash. They're not difficult to figure out so just follow your instincts.
I've learned that saying no is ok! You control what you want to do or don't want to do. It's amazing to really see how people you've known for years have actually been treating you. If you've always been one of the heavier people in the group and now you're the smallest in the group - they treat you differently.
I've learned that clothes shopping can be difficult when you're on the small side of it. I weighed 220 when I had surgery - I now weigh 115. I was wearing a 2X top and a 22/24 bottom. Now I wear an XS top and a 2-4 bottom. Yeah I know, I'm too skinny. Gaining weight can be difficult as well. But, I am working on it.
I've learned that I'm going to be a MiMi - my first grandchild is due 07/01/2022. We're beyond excited!!!
I guess that's a lot of what I've learned and figured out over the last 2 years. I often talk about my wonderful husband on here and figured I would share a photo. We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary 12/29/2021. We were together several years before we got married. So The photo is on our wedding day at "The Little White Wedding Chapel" in Pigeon Forge Tennessee 12/29/2001.
