Words from a Gastric Sleeve Patient
My weight loss seems steady at about 1-3 pounds weekly. I have occasional stalls where the scale doesn’t move for a couple weeks but then it moves again. I don’t weigh myself more than once a week. Fortunately, I have yet to see the scale go in the wrong direction. I would say my total weight loss is around 45-50 pounds thus far. I am in the low 180lb range.
I must confess, I have only recently started working out regularly so the aforementioned weight loss would probably be greater had I not been sedentary. The good news is, I recently joined a fitness club and am doing 45 minutes of intense cardio 4-5 days a week. I will soon be incorporating strength training 3 days a week into the mix to help with muscle tone. I can’t begin to tell you how much better I feel. Especially my energy level!
Lately, I think my brain is finally syncing up with my revised stomach. That was the hardest thing at first. I am now able to distinguish between true hunger and the hunger in my head. I can definitely feel the difference without Grehlin. I don’t feel ravenous or deprived anymore. My stomach sort of growls like it used to if I’m truly hungry but I don’t feel the need to eat everything but the kitchen sink. I feel like I have advanced past the experimental phase with food. I am naturally making better choices, no sweets except fruit. I am sticking to 3 meals a day and no grazing especially now that the holidays are over. I don’t miss the old eating days anymore. I did at first though. My relationship with food has changed dramatically.
I take one Women’s Ultra Mega vitamin from GNC daily. I still need to get in more protein. It’s hard as I’m single and on the go. I also need to get in more water than I should. It’s hard because I can’t chug-a-lug anymore. Especially after a workout! Although I can never finish a whole can in a given day, I do have a vice and that’s sipping on diet Coke at work. I know!… It’s bad! I’m working on it and trying to replace it with crystal light but I miss the carbonation.
I plan to get a physical once I find a good PCP here so I can get some blood tests and see how those look. When I do, I will have them forwarded to your office.
I am also still smoke free and have been since Last August. I smell better, look better, and most importantly, I feel better! And I owe it all to Dr. Champion and his wonderful staff! You have all given me a new lease on life and I will be forever grateful! I have absolutely no regrets on the surgeon or the procedure I chose.
I’m so sorry for the lengthy e-mail. I just figured since you only have a couple sleeve patients, my feedback would be helpful to you. There is so much to talk about!
Thanks again for everything and I will keep you posted from up here in Massachusetts!
Take care for now. Warmest regards,
Val C.
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