As of this visit, I am down 35.5 pounds since the 7th of November, which comes out to 12% of my excess body weight. My BMI has gone from 69 on that same date to 63, so I have dropped six BMI points in just over a month. The doctor feels that I am doing very well.
I am back in the gym doing my water exercises five days per week with Aqua Zumba two of those days. I may not be able to rock the dance floor due to my back but you put me in the pool and I can definitely rock the water! LOL! I am hoping to add the Nu-Step (recumbent bike type machine) in a few weeks to maybe get a little bit more conditioning in my routine in addition, not instead of, my pool workouts.
My diet has progressed to almost what it will be for the rest of my life now. I will be able to add ground beef and deli beef and ham next week, but it will be several more months before I can eat a steak or pork chop. I am also down from six meals of liquids right after surgery to three regular meals and a snack, heavy on protein for the time being. So far I have not had any trouble. No "dumping" or anything close to it. I have also found lots of good recipes on www.bariatriceating.com. I, also, went out to eat with friends Friday night to Fatz restaurant. I got broiled besa fish with rice and tomatoes from the light menu. I did not eat the rice. I do not feel I am quite ready for that high of a starch yet. I actually ate half the fish and tomatoes and boxed the rest up for lunch the next day. It showed me that I could actually eat out and not have a problem with it. I used to have a list of things I could eat at different restaurants for under 500 calories, but I never paid much attention to the fat content, just as long as it was under that 500. Now, I am starting to rethink what restaurants I can go to and if I can what kind of meal or dish I can have there. I am only eating about half cup to one cup depending on how dense or "dry" it is. If it is soup or protein drink, etc. I can eat or drink that full cup or more, but drier, more dense foods I am limited to smaller amounts and that is what the nutritionist said was appropriate.
The hardest part about the diet, believe it or not, is not being able to drink with my meals or right before or right after. I have always drank with my meals and really pretty much all the time. Now I cannot drink 30 minutes before, during or 30 minutes after. Since the stomach is so small they do not want to take up space with fluids and if you drink during or just after a meal it can wash the food out and you do not get all the benefits of what you are eating as well as not feeling full as long. So that has been a learning experience for me.
I do not go back for another follow-up until March 22nd. After that I will have one more appointment before I start my yearly appointments. That is something that most people do not realize you have to do. You have yearly appointments after the first year to check on things and to make sure you are still on track. The weight loss from the surgery is expected to take one to one and one-half years and the appointments you have yearly help you to keep the weight off as well as check those special things that may come up with a bariatric surgery patient.
I have got some work to do, still. I asked the physician's assistant how much weight I could maybe expect to lose or they might expect me to lose by March and she said another 40 to 50 pounds so that will come out to about 15 to 20 pounds per month. I actually prefer knowing this, as it helps me judge how well I am or am not doing.
Here is a picture taken at my appointment. I think I see a change, but it is hard for me to see. You can compare it to my original picture taken in July at the beginning of my journey and on my first blog post and judge for yourself.
Till next time!
