1 Month Post Op ~ I've Lost 27 lbs. so far!

It's been 1 month since my surgery and I got on the scale this morning and I have lost 27 pounds total so far! HOLY HAIRY BACON BALLS!  In only 4 weeks?  I CAN DIG IT.  You can see it in my face peeps are saying at work.  I do feel it in my clothes.  This is just the beginning.  : )

Many people have asked how long did I wait before I went back to work? Answer: I flew home on a Monday night from surgery, and was able to work the very next day from home and the rest of the week. (I do computer/desk work so it was not difficult) I went back into the office the next Monday without a problem.  Honestly, I have had no problems, just my mental learning curve.  I am following the doctors plan, and everything is healing and going well.

I am on soft foods and have had no problems at all this week.  I am getting used to what and how much/little and how fast/slow I can eat.  I have been able to drink more water too.  I have been sleeping great. 

I must say, having a tiny tummy gives me the reassurance that I am not going to over eat that is for sure, I LITERALLY CAN"T.  It's the best diet tool EVER!  People have been asking me what am I eating.  I have been logging my meals like this in my Gcal daily:

Breakfast: CLICK Espresso Protien Shake (Mocha)
Snack: 4 oz. Non-fat Greek Yogurt w/Fresh Blueberries
Lunch: 4 ozs. Chicken Tikka Masala Meat w/ curry sauce
Snack: 4 oz. Sugar-free Chocolate pudding
Dinner: 4 ozs. Pork Pot Stickers from Tams Restaurant (3 of them)
Snack: 1 No-Sugar added Fudgsicle & Double dose of Chewable Adult Multi-Vitamins.

I start the Couch to 5K beginners running plan tomorrow.  Each session should take about 20 or 30 minutes, three times a week.  I have the COUCH TO 5K APP on my phone to help.

"First off, you may be asking, "exactly how many miles is a 5K?" A 5K is 3.1 miles. We're here to help you achieve your goal of beginning to run your first 5K. Too many people have been turned off of running simply by trying to start off too fast. Their bodies rebel, and they wind up miserable, wondering why anyone would possibly want to run in the first place.

You should ease into your 5K training plan gradually. In fact, the beginners' program we outline here is less of a running regimen than a walking and jogging program. The idea is to transform you from couch potato to runner, getting you to begin running a 5K or 3.1 miles and on a regular basis in just two months.

It's easy to get impatient, and you may feel tempted to skip ahead in the program, but hold yourself back. Don't try to do more, even if you feel you can. If, on the other hand, you find the program too strenuous, just stretch it out. Don't feel pressured to continue faster than you're able. Repeat weeks if needed and move ahead only when you feel you're ready."
 
I also have been using the PACER Pedometer APP everyday to measure how many steps I get in daily.  It's making me way more aware of my movement.

I have back and neck problems, and still live with pain daily.  Nothing that 3 Motrin and laying flat on my back for an hour can't fix, but I am hoping to build my core strength as I lose the excess pounds with a goal to eventually make the pain completely subside and help me become strong enough to run a local 5K!   I used to love running everyday. I am going to take it slow and steady and stick with the program.  SO FAR SO GREAT!

Phat Caterpillar that is learning bad Super Model skills...

It will be 3 weeks Post-Op since my VSG surgery and I got on the scale this morning and I am down 26 lbs. so far.  That seems like a lot.  I am happy, but my tiny tummy is still healing and I am adjusting.  I tried a small amount of soft chopped fish, a pureed tiny Chile Relleno from our local Mexican joint in town, and I had a bad night.  I know I didn’t eat too much, so maybe I ate too fast, or it was the cheese or the chile, but it did not agree with me and I "Chucked Out" for an hour.

For the record, I am not a fan of lunch launching.  I have friends who are models that are professional yarfers and good at it, even lady-like about it.  Not me, if I did it, there was copious amounts of tequila or travel from foreign countries involved.  Loud horrible nasty ass painful wrenching that would sound like someone was dying - That Was Me.  But last night, it was not like that at all.  It didn’t even hurt.  I am back on clear liquids today.

Before VSG, I was known for the term, “Tres Hot” in my cooking.  Ask any of my friends!  I love spicy hot flaming good food and have been making Bad Girl BBQ for many years.  I love me some Jalapeno and Habanero Peppers and Cayenne Pepper replaced my black pepper every day.  Well, I think those days are over for me folks - for a long time.  This tiny tummy is touchy and there is no telling what it wants now.  It’s just trial and error. 

I’m like a Phat Caterpillar that is learning bad Super Model skills.  I don’t want to hurt my tiny tummy, so I’m going to go slower with my Post op diet.  I also have a hard time drinking all of the water required daily.   Are Sleever’s natural made bulimics?  Maybe in the beginning while we are taking our tiny tummies for test drives.  I'm just staying close to home these days in a metamorphosis, but a Butterfly will begin emerge soon.

I'm sure no one is going to recognize me in about a year from now.

I called Uncle Ralph on the big porcelain telephone...

I started on pureed extra soft foods yesterday.  Did good with chicken soup.  I feel better after eating some meat protein blended in there.  I have tried several things.  I did make one huge mistake and found that out the hard way.  I tried some spaghetti sauce, holy acid puke storm Batman, I barfed and had heart burn for 2 hours.  I took an antacid pill which helped calm down the tiny tummy.  I  won't try that again for a few months.  At least I know what puking now feels like with this new size tummy.

It's kind of like driving a new car.  When the gas light goes ON, how far will that get you, REALLY?  I found out that I can eat about 4 Tablespoons worth of pureed meat with broth and I'm just right, anything more and I get too full.

I did find some other things that have really worked well and feel great. I busted out the slow cooker and added a lot of broth to these little make-ahead meals for work.  So far, I either blend them or eat them really slow in tiny bits and chew them very well.  I made a bunch of these tiny meals and popped them into the freezer, so I can just grab one to throw in my Fender lunch box on my way out the door in the mornings.

Here is a photo of some of what I am eating on the VSG Post-Op Surgery Diet.

The Perfect size lunch box for Triple T's daily meals for work.

So far, I'm saving money on food and feel better having these 4 oz. portion sizes made and ready for convenience and easy storage in the fridge.  These you see in the photos are more meat and broth than carbs, so I don't feel deprived of carbs.  The Yo-Yo dieting, repent, diet, starve, repeat cycle is how I got this big in the first place.  I finished an "AM I HUNGRY - MINDFUL EATING COURSE" and it has helped me tons in preparing my mind for the change and lifestyle I am currently undergoing. The Best books and courses EVER!

I am down 21 lbs. in 2 weeks.  I know that is mostly water weight since surgery.  This is a full lifestyle and body change. I expect it will take me at least 2 years to get to my goal weight of 145 lbs.  SO FAR SO GOOD, except for calling Uncle Ralph.

Mexican belly skin wallets?

Holy crap I'm down 20 lbs. in 11 days.  I also posted my measurements today, 3 inches lost so far too!  I'm still feeling good.  The weirdest part is mentally getting used to feeling the new "Full" feeling when eating a half a cup and such.  I'm on the "Full Liquid" only phase of my post op diet.  It's really not to difficult, but I have been dreaming of soft ripe avocado's.  I will get on the Pureed Phase soon enough and get me some.

The bandages came off today and the small incisions are healing great.  No scabs, just 5 soft little pink cute scars.  I went into the hot tub for the first time tonight since surgery.  IT WAS BETTER THAN EVER!  I just percolated in there looking down at my belly and it still is a kind of a shocker to me.  I DID IT AND HERE IS PROOF.  I WENT THROUGH WITH IT AND REALLY DID IT.  I researched and waited so long to make this a reality, and the day came and went and here I am at the beginning of my weight loss journey.

I think scars are sexy.  They tell a story about the stuff we have been through.  I just got 5 new ones that may be the best ones ever.  I think my tiny tummy is healing well, it's still very delicate and sore in there.  After they cut out the 85% of the stomach, I wonder what they do with the leftovers?  ARE THERE BLACK MARKET BELLY'S IN MEXICO?  Do they make soap out of them like in Fight Club?  Human Tripe?  Mexican belly skin wallets? 

Well I'm planning on losing it all my friends (136 lbs.of it.  It's like I'm carrying 136 lb. person on my back : ) and I plan to drop her off and hope to be even MORE FREE THAN EVER BEFORE and in a lot less pain.

VSG is way better than Fen-Phen

I've been home recovering from my VSG surgery for 8 days.  I'm really grateful I was able to work from home last week.  So, I began to develop a bad case of cabin fever and needed to get my ass out of the house last night.  

A fellow vocalist friend of mine and I got to yackin on the horn the other night. She was very knowledgeable in WLS advise.  She was getting over a bad cold and still had to do a gig this weekend (Poor grrl, I've been there : )  She invited me to her show at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, and a bunch of fun kooky other friends were going, so I went.

The Highwater Blues Band with 

vocalist Suzanne Rose KICKS ASS!

Doesn't she look great!?!

I didn't dance, but had a total blast 

watching everyone else dance their bootys off. 

Thanks Suzanne for taking this photo of Patricia McGregor and I.

It was great to get out and hang with some of my favorite local peeps!  I drank cranberry juice all night and felt fine.  I remember driving home last night feeling clear headed, happy and ready for a good nights sleep.

It's totally weird.  Food does not look good to me right now.  I guess when they removed the entire lower majority of my stomach,  this included the "Ghrelin -   the "hunger hormone".  VSG may also a Metabolic surgery.

For those people out there who did really great on Fen-Phen back in the 90's (Like myself) and loved it.  It feels like that but without the buzz of uppers in your system.  With VSG you have no hunger, and you won't find yourself biting your lips, grinding your teeth and scrubbing down the grout with a toothbrush in your shower at 4:30am because you can't sleep.

Being free from hunger is a very liberating experience.  I'm not thinking about food at all, just what feels good in my healing tiny tummy.  It's a nice break from an old way of life.  This part is my favorite so far.  In my opinion, VSG surgery is WAY BETTER THAN FEN-PHEN! Fen-Phen was not sustainable, and oh yea, it was also jacking up heart valves and was taken off the market. I remember my heart was turbo charged back in those days, no wonder.   

If it's not sustainable, IT'S NOT MAINTAINABLE.

 ...but having a clean shower is still nice.

Hamster singing in my chest cavity.

For shits and giggles, I got on the scale this morning and I weighed 263 lbs. That is an 18 lb. loss since last Friday.  I guess this is all water weight pouring off of me.  I'm feeling stronger today.  Tiny tummy is making all kinds of noise when I sip my protein shake this morning.  It's like having a hamster singing in my chest cavity.

I must say, I LOVE THE "CLICK Espresso Protein Drink, Mocha" it is replacing my coffee fetish.  I am the portrait of a fine coffee abuser.  I know they said no caffeine and all, but the withdrawals were killing me, so I went with this as a middle ground alternative.  CLICK features a double shot of espresso coffee, 15 grams of protein, 23 vitamins & minerals, and it's great hot or cold.

I started buying a bunch of protein shakes, this is my morning one for sure.  I'll give you a review of them as I try them.  If you are thinking about or planning on having WLS, it may save you some clams when it comes to buying the smallest size shake mixes just so you can try them to see if you like them. 

Started Full Liquids Today - Tummy is Perplexed, yet chill.

Today I walked over to the store and bought some yogurt.  I tried full liquids for the first time this morning with a protein shake.  My tiny tummy gurgled loudly saying, "Now what!?!"  Later,  I ate a couple spoonfuls of yogurt, it calmed it right down.  I was totally full with 5 ounces.  FAROUT.  I have never once had any complications or nausea. YAY!

I'm still pretty sore.  My incisions are healing nicely. I have absolutely no hunger at all.  I feel free.  The only thing that did happen was I took a pill and it got stuck a little and a sharp pain happened in my new tummy, OUCH MAN, that hurt.

Now I know what that feels like.  The next one I took, I put a little coconut oil on it before swallowing it, no problem at all. I use to just rub bacon on everything to make it better!  I don't plan on giving that up, but maybe for the first 100 pounds of weight loss.

I done did it!

6/27/15 

LETTER TO MY FRIENDS THE DAY BEFORE MY VSG SURGERY:

Dear Friends,

I promised you all that my fabulous support friend who will be by my side, Catherine Boyd would make sure to let you know how it went as soon as I am out of surgery this Friday 5/29, so I am sending out this email for her to be able to Reply All to you to let you know how I'm doing. (She speaks Spanish and can demand high grade pain killers if needed, heck yea she can. : )  We get back from Mexico Monday to SFO at 8:05pm. 

I'm excited, nervous and hopeful that this (VSG Surgery) will help bring relief to my weight related health issues and improve the quality of the rest of my life.  

After Friday I will be known as "Triple T" - Tiny Tummy Taylor.  I will be on a liquid diet for a week for my tiny tummy to heal, then onto thick liquids and then onto mushy baby foods and then on July 4th, I will see if I can tolerate small soft normal foods again.  I will be only able to eat around 3 to 4 ounces of food per meal.  I'll be the cheapest date EVER!

I can't drink and eat at the same time, and need to stay away from carbonated beverages for a long time.  Tragically, this includes beer, but I am fine with giving up home brew for a chance to have a small waist size again long term.

It may take me a couple years to get to my goal weight, and you my pals, will get the chance to witness my life change up close and personal.  I hope that down the road one night at some party, when I sing "I've got my Mo Jo Working", it will mean something entirely new.

I love you and will see you all soon.

Love,

Triple T the soon to be incredible shrinking woman.

6/2/15

I just got home from Mexico last night. I went and had VSG surgery, so that makes me officially 4 days post-op today. I was having some serious weight related health issues, so I found a top surgeon in Mexico, and paid out of pocket for the surgery.  It cost a quarter of what this surgery costs in the U.S. and no insurance hassles to deal with.

Here is the photo of my new tiny tummy 

on Sunday during the Barium X-Ray....

AIN'T IT ADORABLE!?!

A normal size stomach holds up to 1 liter or more of food, mine holds about 4 ounces. Look at it in comparison with the size of my spine?  I'm now the "Cheapest dinner date ever!"  From here on out, I am the incredible shrinking woman, and it's staying off this time. This new tool will help me knock off the big weight loss I need to lose within the next year or so.  It's a mindful eating lifestyle change and the assurance that I will never be THAT FAT LADY WITH A BEAUTIFUL FACE again.

I'm putting together a video of my experience and weight loss journey and will share it down the road a ways....

For anyone out there considering VSG surgery, a great surgeon in Mexico that is affordable and has a 100% track record and or just want to see a woman get her Mo Jo back over time, WRITE ME A NOTE, I'd be happy to answer any and all of your questions.

STAY TUNED FOR MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY PROGRESS REPORTS!

Here are my stats:

Dr. Fernando García Govea, Tijuana, Mexico  Ready4achange.com

Surgery Date: 5/29/15

Day 1 - Surgery Weight: 281 

Day 4 Post-Op - Current Weight: 269

Goal Weight: 145
I'll start recording them on the side bar to show my updated progress.