Beginning Weight: 270
Current Weight: 160
Dr: Dr. David Nye, Baptist Hospital, Pensacola, FL
Height: 5'6
Bypass Measurements: Medial with 140cm bypassed, non-transected
Complications: None immediately, but had a gall stone attack 3 months ago (October 04)
Age: 38
Beginning Size pre-surgery: 2X/sometimes 3X
Current Size: 10 almost always, dresses run a little larger at a 12
Some common answers to questions I get:
Are you still losing? No. I had stopped at 173 and in September had a hysterectomy (ovaries still intact) and dropped to 157, then gained to 160 and have remained stable at that weight.
When did you stop losing? I pretty much became stable 18 months out
What CAN'T you eat now? No sweets, I dump. No dairy, it upsets my tummy. No stringy chicken, I stick to chicken thighs. No fibrous beef, I eat only filet mignon (oh the life!).
Do you have hanging skin? No. I was lucky, though.
Did you exercise? No. I was very bad here, although I am getting better.
How much can you eat now? I can eat just under 1 cup of food basically. Of course, this wasn't always the case, but it has been this way for about 2 years now. In the very beginning I could eat only about 1/2 cup or less.
Did you throw up a lot? In the beginning I threw up all the time, but I have to say that this was because I pushed the envelope trying to see what I could and couldn't tolerate. I probably throw up now about 1 time per month or less, and usually because I was being stupid about what I ate.
How much sweets can you tolerate? Well, I have rules and if I don't follow the rules, I get sick. The first rule is, if you want chocolate, eat it on an empty stomach. Never, NEVER eat sweets after a meal. I never have anything sweet in drinks -- nutrasweet and diet soda for me. I only eat a few bites at a time, then wait an hour, then have a few more bites, etc. It takes me all day to eat a regular slice of pecan pie.
How often do you eat? I eat ALL DAY! I keep peanut butter crackers handy and my meal count ends up to be about 5-6 times a day of small meals. I have a jimmy dean sausage biscuit every morning on my way to work (the small ones) and that has carried me through better than anything else. Then I usually have a package of cheese & peanut butter crackers around 9 or 10am, then I have lunch at various places, usually fast food. I have a mid-day snack, then I have dinner later, then I have a snack in the evening, sometimes two if I stay up late on the weekend. I am a firm believer that you have to eat like this in order to lose the weight. We are getting so little already that it is important to eat and I believe the weight loss industry will back up my 6 small meal-a-day plan.
Do you take vitamins? Yes. I am not as regular as I should be, but I notice a real difference if I miss for more than two days. Calcium is SO important!!
Anyway, I would like to write more, but I have to go for now, but would love to hear from everyone!! Take care and it was nice meeting you all
)Char
