Why my stomach is now the shape of a banana
In December, I had weight loss surgery. I had the gastric sleeve surgery which is where a doctor removes 60-70 percent of the stomach. The process started in May with monthly weigh-ins and meetings with a nutritionist. I started out in May of 2017 at 278 pounds. I lost some weight during that period because I had to show my insurance that I could.
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The surgery was approved in October and I scheduled it for December. I gained a little weight during that time because I was having all my “last meals.” Chinese food, Italian food, many buffets and lots of pizza. Basically any kind of bread or fried food was going into my mouth.
Me in 2010 at about 300 pounds.
I started my 2-week pre-op diet and weighed in at 281. I lost 13 pounds on that diet and was a nice 268 pounds the day of surgery. I had my surgery Dec. 5 and it was one of the easiest procedures I have had done.
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The procedure was out-patient. I had surgery at 8 a.m. and was home by 5 p.m. I was off work for 3 weeks. I was not in much pain except some gas pain. But that’s enough about the objective logistics of the surgery.
Me after my most recent weight loss in 2015 at 230 pounds.
So why did I do it?
No one has asked me this yet, but I feel like some of them want to. I wasn’t the most obese person ever, nor did I have any health issues like diabetes, high cholesterol or sleep apnea. I was only 10 pounds over the lowest BMI necessary to get the surgery.
I did it because I had gained half the weight back that I had lost in 2012. I lost 94 pounds and kept most of it off for 3 years. I was still eating right and exercising, but I just kept gaining. Once I hit 270, I decided to do it.
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In my life I have had three major weight loss events. The weight was always gained back. Also, exercise has been difficult since I am older and because of the foot surgery I had in 2014. I exercised so much for so long that I just really don’t like it that much anymore.
Me in 2017 when I started gaining the weight back. I am around 270 pounds here.
So I am adjusting to my new life with a teeny tiny tummy. It has been almost 4 months since surgery and I am now at 238. Thirty pounds in 3 months is pretty awesome, but I just want it gone now.
I will track my progress and part 2 of this blog will include more specifics about what I eat now and how I am adapting. It’s a struggle sometimes, but I know I will succeed. I have to because this is it. This surgery was the last resort, so it has to work!
