{"id":9600,"date":"2013-01-18T17:01:12","date_gmt":"2013-01-18T16:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.breigh.com\/wordpress\/?p=9600"},"modified":"2013-01-18T17:26:51","modified_gmt":"2013-01-18T16:26:51","slug":"my-gastric-bypass-1-year-long-overdue-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.canadutch.nl\/blog\/archives\/9600","title":{"rendered":"My Gastric Bypass: 1 Year (Long Overdue!) Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, can you believe it? It\u2019s been one year already!\u00a0 One year ago at the very time that I am typing this I was just out of surgery<\/a> and my exciting post-op experience was about to begin!\u00a0 Seriously, I have been living in a time warp because it feels like it was just a few months ago.\u00a0 I cannot believe that it\u2019s been a year already.\u00a0 What an amazing, crazy, mind-blowing year this has been!<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve not given a proper update since my 7 month point, sorry for that. I really did have the best of intentions going in but then we got so busy with all of our travels<\/a> through the fall, I just didn\u2019t find the time.\u00a0 Also, I have found that as the changes become less, that I have less to write about.\u00a0 Well, less in regards to the surgery anyway, now it is just becoming life<\/em> and I have tons to write about with that.<\/p>\n

So what has changed since that 7 month point?\u00a0 Well, my weight loss has slowed down, which is to be expected. I am now within 25 lbs of my goal weight so I don\u2019t expect it to go quickly.\u00a0 I know that once you get to this point you have to kick it up a notch and work even harder to get to the end goal, which I\u2019m doing.<\/p>\n

Food wise, my portions have increased and I can now eat about a cup of a food at a time, which honestly feels like a LOT.\u00a0 I know<\/em>, for people who are reading this that haven\u2019t had WLS, a cup of food for an entire meal doesn\u2019t sound like a lot\u2026 hell, I remember when I\u2019d eat a cup of potatoes along with everything else I was eating.\u00a0 That\u2019s how your perspective changes post-op though. There are times where I honestly feel like it\u2019s too much because I had grown so accustomed to the 1\/2 cup portions I\u2019d been living on for so long.\u00a0 I know it’s normal and that portions increase after a few months so I’m not worried, it just seems weird because I’m not used to it yet.<\/p>\n

Otherwise, I\u2019ve been trying to spread my wings a little more with food, be a little less strict while still being sensible and eating healthy. I don\u2019t mean I\u2019m running out to get fast food, in fact\u2026 I\u2019ve not had any fast food in the past year at all.\u00a0 I just mean that I\u2019ve started eating regular cheese, butter, meats and such rather than always getting the low fat version of everything.\u00a0 Although there are some things, like milk, yogurt and certain meats that I will just not be able to eat again because the fat FEELS gross.\u00a0 Not in my stomach, but in my mouth.\u00a0 It’s very hard to explain but I know that other people in my situation get it.\u00a0 It just feels… yeah, gross.\u00a0 Anyway,\u00a0 I\u2019m finding my balance within the natural fats and still avoiding harmful fats like deep fried things.\u00a0 I\u2019m still very careful with sugar, and try to find my own ways to enjoy sweets made in my own way.<\/p>\n

Physically things are going well.\u00a0 I still try to get exercise in, not a regular routine but just generally being more active and getting out and doing more fun and active things.\u00a0 Although that is about to change as my husband and I have decided we are going to join a local gym and get our workout on!\u00a0 We found a wonderful gym that we had actually looked into a few years ago but didn’t join because we thought it was too expensive.\u00a0 I’m so glad we decided to return and look into it because now the price works for us (they reduced their prices and we also get a deal for signing up together). \u00a0 So yeah, it\u2019s time to move into the next phase of this journey and really start working on strength and fitness.\u00a0 I\u2019m excited!\u00a0 I used to dread the thought of even stepping foot in a gym but now that I don\u2019t feel like I will stick out like a sore thumb it’s a lot different.\u00a0 Also, the amount of stamina and fitness I have gained through the weight loss and activities I\u2019ve done up until now have made me want more. I want to do more things, feel more fit\u2026 I want it all!<\/p>\n

On the weight loss front, as I said, the weight loss has slowed, and I\u2019m ok with that.\u00a0 Well, OK is probably a stretch, right now I\u2019m sort of spitting nails because I\u2019m stuck in a stall that has been going on for well over a month.\u00a0 I have been there before, though, and I know that it\u2019s a wave I just have to ride out.\u00a0 It will move again, especially once I start at the gym.<\/p>\n

Otherwise, it\u2019s all good. I\u2019ve still not had any complications, no dumping syndrome, no sickness\u2026 I feel great!<\/p>\n

I think I can say that after about the 8-9 month point there was a distinct change between that feeling of being a post-op person and it just being life<\/em>.\u00a0 The honeymoon is definitely over and it\u2019s time to move on and tackle some other goals and challenges.<\/p>\n

This year will also bring about the return of our fertility treatments, which I can\u2019t deny is causing me a great deal of anxiety at the moment, so I\u2019m not going to go into it too much right now.\u00a0 I\u2019m working through it mentally, preparing myself and trying to get over the fact that it\u2019s here already. I don\u2019t feel ready, but I have no time to waste, which makes it a tricky situation.\u00a0 I feel as though I am purposely stepping out <\/em>of what has proven to be my \u2018happy place\u2019 (the past year of positive changes and great times) and back into what was my most \u2018unhappy place\u2019 (the treatments, hormones, disappointment, stress, sadness).\u00a0 I\u2019m trying to be more positive, to put all the happiness and positivity I\u2019ve gained in the past year towards getting me through the coming year.\u00a0 I know we will be ok regardless of the outcome, it’s just the process I’m dreading.\u00a0 It’s all very familiar and not something I can say I’m looking forward to starting again. \u00a0 Right, well anyway, it\u2019s a work in progress and I will touch back on that again later.<\/p>\n

Now, the ONE YEAR photos!<\/p>\n

As usual, I will start with the dreaded I BEFORE PHOTOS\u2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"beforefull\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"beforeface\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Nice\u2026 Who is that person?\u00a0 Looking back I feel like she\u2019s the me who ate me or something.\u00a0 *Sigh* It makes me sad, to be honest.\u00a0 When I look at the face in that photo, I can still feel everything I was feeling that day as freshly as it was yesterday.\u00a0 The pain, the disgust… ugh.\u00a0 So much changes along this journey, but you never forget.<\/p>\n

More photos, before I get weepy\u2026<\/p>\n

\"front\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There it is, the big one year comparison between my highest weight, my weight on surgery day and today.<\/p>\n

\"frontb\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A closer look comparing before and after surgery.\u00a0 I\u2019ve lost 92.4 lbs in the past 365 days and 138 lbs since my highest weight.\u00a0 Wow, I mean how do I even explain what an amazing feeling this is?\u00a0 There is <\/em>no way to explain it because there are no words, at least within my vocabulary, that can do it justice\u2026<\/p>\n

\"side\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The side view\u2026 what can I say about the side view?\u00a0 OK, so I\u2019m definitely flatter, and thanks to a nice lady at Hunkemoller<\/a> I have a new bra that gives the illusion that I actually still have breasts. Not big ones, mind you, but at least something!\u00a0 I don\u2019t love the waddle under my chin and my thighs still definitely need work (although they are also my biggest problem area for post-op loose skin) but these are things that I am hoping are those stubborn last minute things that will change with time.\u00a0 I figure I can shave some off the thighs over the next few months at the gym!<\/p>\n

Really though, who cares?! I\u2019d much rather have what I have now than what I had starting out!\u00a0 My thighs may still be thick but they carry me a lot farther and allow me to do a lot more cool things than they did a year ago and I love them for that!<\/p>\n

\"back\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The badonkadonk!!\u00a0 It\u2019s still there, sorta.\u00a0 It is a little saggy and doesn\u2019t hold up a backpack the way it once did but again, I can\u2019t complain!\u00a0\u00a0 I can\u2019t say I will ever miss that giant butt shelf of mine!\u00a0 I guess it\u2019s not really much of a badonkadonk at all anymore, is it?\u00a0 It’s more of a\u2026 badinkadink? Basagasag? Badroopadroop?\u00a0 Whatever, it\u2019s mine, and it fits in small seats and I love it!<\/p>\n

Well, that\u2019s it.\u00a0 My year is up, can you believe it?\u00a0 I guess now we have to see what kind of changes happen over the next few months.\u00a0 Will joining the gym help me deal with some of the remaining problem areas and get me to my end goal?\u00a0 How will things work out with the IVF?\u00a0 Will I get to my end goal before I get pregnant?\u00a0 WILL I get pregnant?\u00a0 So many unknowns.<\/p>\n

I so, SO hope that this year turns out to be as rewarding and happy as the last.\u00a0 It is going to be a huge challenge but so was last year, and that was one of the best years of my life.<\/p>\n

So, 2013\u2026 I guess all I can say is\u2026<\/p>\n

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Well, can you believe it? It\u2019s been one year already!\u00a0 One year ago at the very time that I am typing this I was just out of surgery and my exciting post-op experience was about to begin!\u00a0 Seriously, I have been living in a time warp because it feels like it was just a few …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9605,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[755,64,617,353,16,108,349,877,624],"class_list":["post-9600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-weightloss","tag-challenges","tag-changes","tag-gastric-bypass","tag-happiness","tag-project-baby","tag-scary","tag-weight-loss","tag-weightloss","tag-wls"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canadutch.nl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canadutch.nl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canadutch.nl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canadutch.nl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canadutch.nl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9600"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.canadutch.nl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9609,"href":"https:\/\/www.canadutch.nl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9600\/revisions\/9609"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canadutch.nl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canadutch.nl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canadutch.nl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canadutch.nl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}