No Longer Pre Diabetic! 5 month weight loss update

Life gets in the way, and I realized it’s been way too long since I gave an update on my weight loss surgery.

I usually try to focus on non scale victories, since I’m losing very slowly in weight loss surgery circles and compared to Troy but I have had some exciting scale related victories. I hit onederland, I’m technically no longer obese, and I weigh 85 pounds less than I did last year at this time (58 since surgery). I’ve also gone from a 2x to a medium top and a 22 to 12 pant and a 10 to 9 shoe. And I can run 5 miles (slowly, but surely! )

I’m also at the point where people notice I’ve lost weight. They don’t ask me if something is different with my hair. They might not directly say, “You’ve lost weight,” but they will say things like “You look fabulous!” Or “You must really be counting your calories.”

Often people have lots of questions but are too shy to ask or not sure if I want to talk about it. I appreciate that, because some days I don’t want to talk about it. Other times I don’t mind. It just depends on if I’m feeling fat that day or discouraged or feeling great or realizing that people DO treat me differently now that I’m not super size.

Here are some of the questions that I’m asked most often:

Did you have surgery? You are losing a lot of weight but you look healthy. My {friend, coworker, cousin, guy on TV} had it and is sick all the time.

First of all, I’m always quick to point out that there are different kinds of surgeries. I had the one that is minimally invasive – all they did was make my stomach smaller, no rerouting of intestines. It’s called VSG or Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I am lucky and didn’t have any complications, although I know that some people do. I was aware of the risks and am grateful that I do feel so well.

My {friend, coworker, cousin, guy on TV} had weight loss surgery and gained it all back / it didn’t work. Aren’t you worried about gaining all your weight back?

Why yes, I am worried, I would be crazy not to. It’s important to remember that weight loss surgery is not magical. I can eat whatever I want as long as it fits in my small stomach. I need to choose healthy foods. I need to choose to exercise. And I’m very aware that this is a honeymoon period and that I will need to work hard in order to be successful and keep off the weight I’ve already lost.

When can you eat normal food?

Technically I’m allowed to eat whatever I want now, other than carbonation. However I follow the rule of protein first, then veg, then carb if there’s room. Most of the time there isn’t room. So rather than fill my tiny stomach with, say, pizza, I usually skip pizza work lunches and bring my Premiere protein shake. I’ve also discovered that sugar affects me a lot more now (or maybe I’m just noticing it). I had some dessert over Easter and I felt like I had dry mouth and just felt blah. So it’s an occasional treat and not an everyday occurrence.

Aren’t you hungry all the time? How many calories do you eat?

I am truly not hungry all the time, especially if I avoid starchy foods. Because my stomach is smaller, I feel satisfied much quicker than I did before. That’s sort of the point of the surgery. I do feel hunger, but one scrambled egg feels like I just ate Thanksgiving dinner. So it doesn’t take much to fill me up. I eat around 900 – 1100 calories. Some days less, on days after a run sometimes it’s closer to 1200.

Does it hurt when you run?

Not any more than it does anyone else. My insides are healed now. My back, legs and feet appreciate running with less weight!

What is your goal weight? Are you afraid of losing too much?

Honestly, I don’t have a goal weight. It would be nice to no longer be in the overweight BMI category. I’m focusing on eating healthy foods and exercising. I figure my body will tell me when it’s done losing. I don’t think I will lose too much, but if it seems to be heading that direction it’s (unfortunately) easy enough to add extra calories in.

Would I be a candidate for weight loss surgery?

I’ve been surprised at the number of people who have either had surgery or have thought about it. That’s why I’m so open about my surgery and what I’m experiencing. Everyone is different, with different medical histories and risk factors. If this is something that you or a friend are considering, I highly recommend checking out the Obesity Action Coalition Website.