kerryatric

[kerryatric]

268 lbs vs. 178 lbs

[kerryatric]

5 months since surgery, and I find I’m settling into a nice stable routine with regards to what I consume on a daily basis. Still not hitting the 1000 calories a day recommended by the doc, but closer (850 - 900 usually). My protein game is strong; hitting minimum requirements every day. I’m never without my water bottle. I exercise daily, more so on the weekends. 

Every single piece of my original wardrobe looks comical on me. I’ve been living in cheap Old Navy leggings and a few hoodies for the past couple months now. Hit 180 lbs earlier this week. Almost 80 lbs lost.

AND HEY I WENT KAYAKING! Always wanted to try it, but so many things, including weight, stopped me. It was so awesome, and easy, and I want to do it every damn day! (but that requires a kayak...)

Absolutely loving most of my life right now. 

[kerryatric]

[kerryatric]

Hi! I saw your post in the tags and I thought I'd offer a lil tip! My mom struggled with the optifast thing and she used to dump some sugar free jello powder into them. It sort of masked the taste. Not sure if it'll help any, but could be worth a shot!

Oooo, I hadn’t thought of that, thanks for the tip, anon!

[kerryatric]

5 weeks post-op

First few weeks, lbs were dropping daily. And then....nothing. Stalled out and left holding my dick (so to speak...) for the past 2 weeks. 

Combined with liquid diet, I lost 32 lbs. And then I was taken off my hydrochlorathiazide (diuretic which helped my blood pressure meds - which I’m also off now). Gained 5 lbs and there I sit, no matter what.

I’m exercising 5 days a week.

I’m eating between 600 and 700 calories a day (Doc says aim for 1000 but that’s utterly impossible with what fits in my stomach.)

I’m drinking water (though I’m finding the 64 oz goal to be elusive).

I don’t know what else to do.

[kerryatric]

Tastebuds

wtf happened to mine?

My beloved coffee tastes like a whole lotta ass post-op. 

I’ve begrudgingly become a tea drinker now... did not see that coming. Specifically decaf earl grey with 2 tsp splenda thankyouverymuch.

[kerryatric]

Post op diet, early weeks

Foods I’ve been eating:

greek yogurt, plain (with cherry flavoured Mio)

2% cottage cheese

pea soup, pureed

sugar-free jello pudding

ricotta cheese bake 

various cheeses

yet more cheese

so much fucking cheese

[kerryatric]

so i do this now

[kerryatric]

A conversation with the bariatric clinic’s nurse brought to light that the intense hunger pains I thought I was experiencing non-stop are in fact post-operative cramping. Turns out the Alien Banana has something to say about being sliced open from top to bottom, butchered, and then stitched back up. Makes me wonder how many other stomach sensations over the years have been mistakenly interpreted as hunger and my fat brain decided to just shove some food in it to get it to stop. 

[kerryatric]

My kid bought me Barry the Sleeve while I was away having surgery.  

[kerryatric]

I spent some time on a FB WLS support group looking at photos of actual portions of stomachs that were removed from people. It’s a thing, I guess, asking the doc to take a pic of the 80 - 85% of your stomach organ they just cut out. They fill em up with air for their photographic debut. I find most of them look a bit like the chestburster from the Aliens franchise.

These images have stayed with me and now have somehow manifested themselves into the idea that what I have left, in terms of a stomach organ, resembles a chestburster from the Aliens franchise. Which is not likely, but the imagery stuck nonetheless. What IS likely, if I am to believe all the handy illustrated diagrams of post operative sleeved stomachs, is that what’s left of my stomach organ now resembles a slim, pink banana.

Hence. My stomach’s new name is Alien Banana. And boy, is it pissed.

[kerryatric]

Applesaucius victorius.

Or,

Applesauce for the motherfucking win. 

(I hate applesauce, but it’s the only non-liquid that stayed down). Took two days, but I can be discharged now.

[kerryatric]

Truths:

I am very high on drugs right now.

I have 6 incisions in my belly.

I have vomited endless times thus far.

Right now, chamomile tea with splenda tastes like naked lil angels are dancing on my tongue. And I hate chamomile tea. But it’s the only thing staying down, so I’ll take it.

[kerryatric]

Verdict is in. I lost 15 lbs on the OptiFast 900 liquid diet. 

Skin’s looking a little deflated and I can sure tell by how my clothes fit.

[kerryatric]

Optifast

Surprisingly, this liquid diet thing is going pretty well. I get hungry about an hour before I’m due for the next one, so I just guzzle water until then.

I’ve tried adding sugar free syrups to make the vanilla better, but it only made it worse. I’ve tried adding strong decaf coffee (allowed) and pretending I paid $7 at Starbucks for it. 

Nothing helps. It’s super sweet already and I think that’s what I don’t like about it. The chocolate is far less sweet, and perfectly tolerable, even enjoyable.

Also, for the love of all that is holy do not leave your vanilla shake on the counter for 15 minutes while you forget about it. .....It CLOTS. 

[kerryatric]

The vanilla was a mistake.

[kerryatric]

It begins.

Let the record show that I weighed 255 lbs when I started the OptiFast 900 3-week funfest.

I’ve got equal amounts of vanilla and chocolate here (I figured I’d throw vanilla in there to keep from growing bored with the chocolate). 

My plan:

8am: Vanilla

Noon: Chocolate

4:30pm: Vanilla

7pm: Chocolate