Gwen

It is my One Year Anniversary (Surgiversary) TODAY!!!

If you are interested in the story so far:

Great Expectations

and here I am one year on:

PERSONAL STATISTICS

Surgery: RNY Gastric Bypass
(Capella version of the RNY as performed by Dr Dillemans – creating a larger pouch and longer bypass)

Date Today: 26 September 2008

Surgery Date: 26 September 2007

Weeks/Months Out: 12 months

Height: 1.75m / 5’7”

Highest Weight Ever: 126kg / 19st 12lb / 278lb (BMI = 41)

Pre-Opp Weight: 121.5kg / 19st 2lb / 268lb (BMI = 40)

Surgery Weight: 119.5kg / 18st 11lb / 263lb (BMI = 39)

Goal Weight: 80kg / 12st 8lb / 176lb

Current Weight: 80kg / 12st 8lb / 176lb (BMI = 26)

Goal Reached: 11 months (47 weeks)

Total Lost: 41.5kg / 6st 5lb / 90lb

Maintenance period: 1 month and counting ;-)

Pre-surgery sizes: Trousers - UK 28/30 = US 26/28 = Europe 54/56
Dress - UK 24/26 = US 22/24 = Europe 50/52
Skirt - UK 26 = US 24 = Europe 52
Top/blouse - UK 24/26 = US 22/24 = Europe 50/52
Bra - 44DD

Size now: Trousers - UK 16!!! = US 14 = Europe 42
Dress - UK 14!!! = US 12 = Europe 40
Skirt - UK 14 (on my way to a UK 12)!!! = US 10/12 = Europe 38/40
Top/blouse - UK10/12!!! = US 8/10 = Europe 36/38
Bra - 36D

Measurements:

Upper Arms (R): 41cm = 16.14” ► 29cm = 11.41” ▼ 12cm = 4.72”
(L): 40cm = 15.74” ► 30cm = 11.81” ▼ 10cm = 3.93”

Boobies: 122cm = 48.03” ► 96cm = 37.79” ▼ 26cm = 10.23”

Waist: 110cm = 43.30” ► 88cm = 34.64” ▼ 22cm = 8.66”

Bum: 146cm = 57.84” ► 116cm = 45.66” ▼ 30cm = 11.81”

Thighs (R): 83cm = 32.67” ► 69cm = 27.16” ▼ 14cm = 5.51”
(L): 79cm = 31.10” ► 65cm = 25.59” ▼ 14cm = 5.51”

EXERCISE

Ideal week = 3 x 30 min of serious cardio in the gym (or on my elliptical trainer at home), 2 x classes with gym instructor (fab abs, weighted workout, circuits, fitness yoga), 3 x 30 min evening walk with Dennis, Mum & Aunt and a long walk over weekend with family and friends (summer months) – this is what I call “being in the zone”

Usual week = nothing as serious as what I’ve achieved in an “ideal week” – this is what I call “couch potato week” …..and I still have many of these….. L I am a real fair weather exerciser and find that it is more difficult to keep it up in the winter….

PS: I do remember that at 5 weeks out I started swimming and felt happy doing that for a good couple of weeks, then I found the confidence to go into the “big gym” to start cardio. When I look back at my Weight Loss Log I can see when I exercised and when not. I can also confess, as a self proclaimed couch potato, that during the last 12 months, since that initial spurt in activity, there were times that I never even saw the inside of the gym - sometimes for months. It was only the fact that at 30kg / 5st / 66lb, I stopped losing weight and, as I hadn’t reached my personal goal, I started exercising again. In the meantime I have started a new job, where we have a gym on-site and this allows me to do my cardio sessions (and now even some sessions with our gym instructor), during my lunch break, without the hassle of getting out of bed early in the mornings. I’m enjoying the exercise and am now fit enough to do long hikes with my family and friends.

“A day in the life of…”:

Working Week:

7:45am: I weigh daily, but only record weekly and take things like my period, bowel movements, evenings out with family & friends, weekends and holidays into account when I listen to what the “scale has to tell me each morning”. At first, and especially when I was plateauing, it use to play with my head, but now the scale is my BEST FRIEND!

I start my day with a large glass of water (500ml) with my Berocca Effervescent Multivitamins & Minerals dissolved therein. (I have to be careful with this one as it sometimes causes what I call “a flush through”). I then have a large mug of tea (500ml) while I get dressed and apply my make-up.

8:45am: BREAKFAST!!! I arrive at the office and enough time has passed for me to safely have my breakfast without breaching the 30 min water “pouch rule”. Breakfast usually consists of a small Activia Yogurt (not necessarily the fat free one and my favourite is the prune, with the fig and then rhubarb in a strong second and third place). To this I add 2 scoops of my own mixture of “muesli”, which contains mainly Sainsbury’s Scottish Whole Rolled Porridge Oats and some Kellogg’s All Bran Flakes with a mixture of nuts, seeds, raisins & berries. Love IT!!! This is my favourite meal of the day and usually gets me through the morning.

PS: Early out I remember having ½ Weetabix with milk and if I tried to have ¾ or a whole one I dumped – that is so funny as pre-opp I use to have 3 Weetabix to fill me up!!!

9:30am: Ready for another large mug of tea (500ml)

10:30am: If I do feel peckish I might have an apple – Pink Ladies are my favourite (on average I will have 3 apples during the working week) or otherwise I will go straight over to the water which is a 750ml bottle that I refill and which lives on my desk. To make the water more enjoyable I mix in some sugar free Robinson’s cordial. I take my Boots Omega Oils 3, 6 & 9 and Holland & Barrett B-Complex + C at this point and I would love to hear from the other Brugge Babes as to their supplement intakes?

12pm Go to the gym (on-site) and do my 30 min cardio or class with the gym instructor – all I can think of is lunch but I make sure that I will deserve it when the time comes J – I have another 750ml of plain water in the gym.

1pm LUNCH!!! I usually have some leftovers from the previous evening, which consists of some kind of variation on the classic Caesar Salad (but with protein as the main theme), i.e. Chicken Caesar or Prawn Caesar (J yes I made that one up myself) or a small piece of steak or pork fillet. What I also sometimes do is to go to M&S or Sainsbury’s, etc and to get a couple of pre-prepared packs of chicken breast strips (BBQ & Sweet Chilli are my favourites) or prawns (Sweet Chilli wins again). These packs are enough for two lunchtimes and to make the boring protein more exciting I buy some sun dried tomatoes or buffalo mozzarella (M&S has small packs already prepared) or Santini tomatoes (soooo sweet and delicious) and that’s my lunch. Lunches consist of mainly protein and as soon as I don’t plan ahead, and perhaps indulge in a sandwich, I know the scales are not going to be “my friend” the next time I weigh-in L.

PS: Early out I remember having tuna mousse/pate, houmous (hummus) or peanut butter on small plain bruschettas (toast breads almost like large croutons and very dry). M&S has little pre-packed reduced fat houmous & focaccia sticks that were almost the right portion from about 4 months out.

2:30pm Time for my next bottle….. of water (750ml)

3:30pm Feeling a bit peckish (as you do at this time of the day) J - early on I always had a tub of peanut butter (Asda’s Smooth is the best – again not the low fat option) in my desk drawer and would have 1, 2 or 3 teaspoons while sitting at my desk – it felt naughty (as I hadn’t indulged in peanut butter since I was a child) and really helped me through the afternoon. Later on I had a handful of mixed nuts and berries and nowadays I prefer a banana or perhaps a high protein snack bar J

4:30pm Almost time to go home and eat Supper (what makes you think that all I still think of is food?! J) – well then, let’s have a milky coffee (latte - 250ml) – this bloats me slightly but I enjoy the feeling of fullness it gives me.

6pm SUPPER!!!! Did I say breakfast was my favourite meal of the day? I’d forgotten about SUPPER!!! I love it! but then again I am spoiled…… my Dear Dane gets home at 4pm and enjoys cooking, so he plans, shops and prepares our evening meals – whoo hoo!!! He’s a good cook and every meal is different and exciting J Thanks Sweetie!!!

Supper usually consists of a whole chicken breast (for each of us – yes your “Dillepouch” allows you, from about 7 months out, to enjoy a whole chicken breast) prepared in 1001 different ways, but mostly in a variation of the classic Caesar Salad. Other favourites are fillet steak (a nice thick piece as big as my palm and as rare as possible without bleeding) with some steamed vegetables, pork fillet (with lashings of apple sauce) again with some steamed vegetables, lemon sole with 3 or 4 baby potatoes, smoked salmon or prawn salad.

7pm ½ hour walk with family (probably 3 times a week)

8pm Large mug of tea (500ml) with 6 mini McVitie’s “chocolate covered digestive biscuits” (don’t freak out on me here!!! I only started doing this regularly since I’ve reached goal and am keeping an eye on it) – early out I had two small milk chocolate coins (roughly the size of two squares of chocolate from a plate of chocolate), as I could not trust myself with a whole opened plate of chocolate in the house, so I decided to buy a tube of individually covered coins from M&S, with my tea and for me it took the edge off the day – as Dennis always says: “I will have to have a word with Dr D when we see him again as he did not take the sweet tooth” and then I reply: “he operated on my stomach, he’s not a dentist” J

You might notice that this is one of the only times that I “allow” fluid and food to mix.


Weekends:

If Dennis and I manage to go to the gym on a Saturday or Sunday morning we go to our favourite restaurant (Tummies) afterwards and have a protein inspired brunch prepared by Claude and his team. Otherwise I keep to pretty much the same routine as during the week, when it comes to my food, but unfortunately I don’t do very well with the fluids over weekends….. I probably only get about 1 litre of water in on Saturdays and Sundays L compared to the 2 litres on weekdays. If we’re out and about I spoil myself with various drinks from Starbucks or Costa – favourites being a medium skinny latte, large Mango & Passion Fruit Frescato (Costa), small Caramel Light Frappuccino (Starbucks) – the latter being made with skimmed milk but NOT sugar free syrup - which freaked Sheree out a bit J J but which I might have gotten Vim hooked on? J


Meals out at restaurants:

At about 3/4 months out the “Dillepouch” allows you to have an evening out without anybody noticing that you’re “different”. I had my first meal in a restaurant the evening I was discharged from hospital – OK, it was only meatballs in tomato sauce, juiced up in a blender by special request, but I was NOT going to let “the pouch” (back then it didn’t have a name yet) stop me from enjoying my meals out with friends and family. It is a big part, and has always been a big part, of Dennis and my social life, to visit good restaurants. We are real “foodies” and Den and I will pay in excess for a well prepared meal, it’s always been about quality rather than quantity. I am happy to say that I have been able to enjoy all my usual favourites from very early out – probably 3 months or so – smaller quantities than before and keeping an eye on the sugar content – but I have not found anything that I have NOT been able to eat J. Some things “sit” better than other things and I generally go for the protein first, then a bit of veggies and lastly always keep space for a bit of pudd J. At restaurants I will also allow the food and fluid to mix, but only in small quantities and never the old habit of swigging down large glasses of water (or should I be honest and say Coke Cola) down with my meal. This is usually in the form of a small glass of wine (red or white) with my meal, which I find very sociable from my own perspective but also from my companions’ perspective – it feels very strange (for both sides) when you decline an offer of something to drink with your meal and start explaining about the “30 min rule”, so I stay with the “small glass of wine on the table for social reasons rule” – I have a small sip while we’re waiting for the meal and then another while we’re busy eating and then have the rest when we’re done with our meal, trying to wait for at least 10 min before I finish the glass – this way I also don’t get completely wasted and become a “cheap date” J Then Dennis (or whomever my companion might be) shares a pudd with me (I have ⅓ and Den has ⅔ of whatever we’ve ordered) – this is a MUST for me! I’m living for my next pudd and will compensate by doing whatever exercise I need to do to make it work for me!!! I also enjoy a good cappuccino (small) with my desert and again allow the fluid and food to mix.


Holiday time:

As Maline, living in Spain and whom I went to visit in July 2008, will tell you – I DO like my deserts J !!! I have to add quickly that I was only 2kg / 5lb away from my goal and already 10 months out when I went to visit Roy and Maline for a week. I had a little bit (compared to previous helpings) of desert, each evening whilst on holiday – i.e. 3 small profiteroles, a small portion of trifle, etc and I enjoyed myself immensely. I paid the price though, as when I returned from my holiday, I had picked up a kilo (2.2lb) and then it took me 4 weeks to break through that craving barrier, get “back in the zone” and reach my target – was it worth it? Yes and No!!?? Will I stop eating my pudd? NO!!! And do you know what??!! I think this is the way most “skinny girls” treat their holidays….. let go a little and get back on track when you get home…. I have heard many “normal” people, who were always aware of their weight (unlike most obese people), talk about picking up a couple of kilos (pounds) on holiday and now I am “normal” too J WHOO-HOO!!!


I n c o n c l u s i o n:

I have found a couple of “golden rules” (all very well documented on Thinner Times, long before I arrived, but which I would like to emphasise) and which are perhaps more specific to me (as an individual) and to my Dillepouch:

RESPECT

Respect The Pouch!!! THINK about what you did (or rather allowed a surgeon) to do to your body, in order to achieve your dream of losing the weight, become more active and ultimately being healthy again. THINK about where you came from and where you are going to. CONSIDER whether you want to EVER go back there….

For me respecting the pouch means considering my portions (even before I start eating) and most importantly the nutritional value of what I put into my mouth. I am no angel and have “my days”, where I make bad decisions, but I don’t allow them to become “bad weeks” and I am certainly much more conscious of what goes in (nutrition & pudd J) and what goes out (exercise), since I’ve had the surgery.

WATER

Drink it!!! …..otherwise your body craves it (the water) like you’ve never craved chocolate before and tells you that you WANT something to eat (some call it “head hunger” I call it dehydration)…… v e r y d a n g e r o u s!!!

BREAD (carbohydrates)

Stay away from it!!! …indulge every now and again, on an evening out or on holiday, and enjoy it when you do, as the scales will slap you over the fingers the next time you weigh-in L

BLOOD WORKS


I have my blood works done every 3 months and now that I have reached my One Year Surgiversary I will go every 6 months and then probably on a yearly basis. I have the following tested: Full Blood Count, Vit B12 & Folate, Calcium/Bone Profile, Liver Function, Urea & Electrolytes and Lipoprotein (Cholesterol). I merely phone my GP who ticks a form with the blood tests that I require, go into the nurses station to take my blood and weigh and a couple of days later I phone up for the results which has always come back “normal”.


EXERCISE (any activity counts….. J)

Keep moving!!! …..whatever you do, keep moving J - as soon as I stopped exercising, I stalled and even picked up weight L and then when I was 70% towards reaching my goal I stopped losing weight completely and I am convinced that it was only the fact that I went back to the gym that got me to my goal. Now that I’ve reached my goal, I find that the pouch lets me eat whatever I want, but I have to help the body by exercising. I have recently invested in a proper pedometer (the Omron Walking Style II Pedometer) – it keeps track of the last 7 days’ steps, aerobic steps, kilometres & calories and is such a fun way of trying to achieve the suggested 10,000 steps-a-day J which is more of a challenge than I first realised. Involve your family, friends and surgery buddies to help you with this aspect – I have started Gwen’s Walking Buddies and intend on making this part of my life, for the rest of my life.

ROUTINE & PLANNING AHEAD

Plan ahead and follow a routine (if you can)!!! …..military planning and strict routine in my daily life is paramount to my next weigh-in – if I’ve had a hectic week, where I did not plan my meals, or I’ve not been able to follow my regimented water intake, or I slacked with the exercise, then the scales “speak to me” and let me know L J

ACCOUNTABILITY

Let the “scales talk to you”….. weigh every morning, if you can handle it!!! Some people call “us” scale whores – but for me it works!!! This is something else that I’ve found out most “normal” people do, if not daily then at least on a weekly basis.

Keep a Weight Loss Log…. to show you what I mean, I attach a copy of mine – it kept me motivated while I was chasing my goal, and it keeps me accountable on a weekly basis. (If you want a clean copy of this Excel Spreadsheet, together with the “how-to-manual”, PM me and I will e-mail it to you).

The scales keep me in check on a daily basis – from being a person who never owned a scale and would not get on one even if you paid me – and therefore being completely oblivious of how much I weighed for most of my young adult live – it has now become a daily habit to check in on my “best friend” – she tells me what I need to do to make the next weigh-in work and I listen to her, she never lies and she doesn’t BS either.

GOAL & EXPECTATIONS


Set yourself a realistic goal and “be real” about your expectations….. For me that meant having GREAT EXPECTATIONS about this surgery and what it could do for me, not unrealistic or unachievable, but GREAT! Figure it out for yourself, as each person is different…..

SUPPORT


Support network …..I personally told everybody about the surgery and for me it paid off – I had, and still have, the most amazing bunch of people around me (family and friends) and I’ve thanked them for helping me along and listening to my constant non-stop chatter about the surgery (and hearing about all the WOW moments!!!). For the first 10 months post surgery I must have been a pain in their derrières!!!? I found the fact that I could be completely open about my decision, to tackle my weight problem by undergoing surgery, and to be able to share the journey that I have been on, and am still experiencing on a day-to-day basis, really helped me on various levels:

Emotionally: there is a saying that goes something like this: “what the heart is full of, the mouth will flow over with” and if I could NOT have shared this journey with them my “heart” (emotions) might have just burst like a bubble;

Accountability: I know they are watching me and I trust that they have my best interest at heart, especially when they smile knowingly at me when I order my pudd – and this makes me think twice about pushing the limits;

Maintaining: on the long road of maintaining for the rest of my life I know I can continue to count on them to support me.

SURGERY BUDDY

Last but NOT Least…… and if at all possible, find yourself someone who is at least a year out and who has successfully reached their goal. Sheree, whom I found on Thinner Times, has been paramount in my success with this surgery. As we share Dr Dillemans as a surgeon and therefore also our “Dillepouches” we “speak the same language” (most of the time) J. I will be forever grateful that Sheree took the time, the Friday before I went over to Brugge for my surgery, to drive 45 min to come and meet me for lunch. It was the first time we met and I knew that we would become friends. Sheree was the first one to txt me when I was coming to after the surgery, to say that even though I must feel like a train has just hit me that I will soon feel better L. It was Sheree that encouraged me when it was time to take my first sip of water….. etc, etc. It was Sheree that was there when I hit my first plateau and I doubted whether I would be able to make this work??? ….. and it was also Sheree that told me that I will not stop losing weight at a UK size 18 (which was my ultimate size J) – I didn’t believe her but she was RIGHT!!! Since Sheree, I have also been fortunate to meet Vim and Maline and firm friendships (“kinships”) have been formed among us. I know that they are there when I need support and I hope that they know that I am there if they need support. I have also been very fortunate to share my surgery date (well almost ;-)) with 3 other people on this Forum and Mike (fisher1000) especially have played, and I am sure will continue to play, a big part in my success with this lifestyle choice.

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

HUGS & KISSES

Gwen

xxx

PS: You can see my photo progression here: Gwen's Weight Loss Journey

__________________
GWENNIE POOH ("TT BearLover")
South African girl in UK
"BruggeBabe"


RNY - 26 Sep '07
Then/Now/Dream (22 Oct '08) - 5'7"/1,75m
121.5/79.6/80 kg
19/12.7/12½ st
267/175/176 lbs

TT Gym Rat #43 - 28 Jul '07

"I LOVE THIS LIFE!" as per Shereeks

Andie

Wow...you have done fabulous! Congrats and thanks so much for sharing all of your insights and your journey with us!!

__________________
Andrea.....mommy to twins
Surgery date 04/09/07
San Antonio, TX
University Health Systems
420/388/213/190
Highest/day of surgery/current/goal
207 lbs gone forever!!!
Starting BMI 62 Current BMI 31.5
Went from a 5X/6X -34/36 to a 0X-14/16
Open RNY

JohnnyJet74

Congrats and thanks for such a terrific, detailed history of how things have gone for you!

shereeks

Gwen my bestest TT and real life buddy - I think you need to change the title of this thread to GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS rather than Great Expectations. The expectations have gone, for you have achieved.

I am so so proud of how far you have come over the past year. When I met you 1 year and 1 week ago (feels like so much longer than that) I honestly thought that you didn't need to have this surgery - you were beautiful as you were - who would have known that you could have turned into an even more beautiful person as your confidence grew.

You have amazed me throughout this journey. Times have been hard for both of us and you have always been there to support me just as much as I have you I hope.

We have very different ways of handling our Dillepouches but who's to say that any way works better. We have both reached our goals and that's what matters.

You rock this world girl - keep on truckin

__________________
Lap RNY 09/15/06
Starting/Current/Original Goal/final goal
299/148/170/140
5'3''
Brugge, Belgium
Dr. Bruno Dillemans



Space Major Bear

Where did the other half of me go?

Robin W

Very well said Shereeks! I totally agree with you.

Gwen, YOU have been a true asset to this forum as well as many others before you. Thank you for your contributions and support. Congratulations on your surgiversary and your success with your Dillepouch. Too cute!

__________________
Robin

272/147/150
highest/current/goal
5'5"
http://www.myspace.com/oct31x2
Lap RNY 8/21/07


TT Gym rat club member #59
122.8# GONE FOREVER 8/31/08
1/13/2008 ONEDERLAND!!!
CENTURY CLUB 4/21/08
GOAL 8-31-08
Below goal....WTH???

Noonie

__________________

LAP RNY 30-07-2008 IN BELGIUM BY DR DILLEMANS
HALF WAY THERE YEE-HAA

HIGHEST/PRE-OP/CURRENT/GOAL
268.5/265/205.5lbs/160lbs
19 2.5/18.13/14.9.5/11 6 Stone & lbs
46.1/45.5/35.3/27.5 BMI

Godsblessedme

o gwen i'm so happy for you wow a year already! you have done incredibly well and i think your a great exampe

__________________
Deborah
Highest weight 268
Surgery Date: 12/18/07 Lap RNY
Down 82 Pounds (11/17/08)

fisher1000

Love ya back, toots!

Good to talk to you today...I'm so glad my webcam is working now!

Also--I didn't know about the "Pink Ladies." It's quite the coincidence--that is also my FAVORITE apple as well! Crisp and sweet! (Braeburn's are good too!)

Talk to you again soon, and CONGRATULATIONS on reaching your goals!

You're awesome!

-Mike

__________________
FISHERBEAR MIKE
402/204/under 200 (As of 11/15/08)
Highest/Current/Goal
Open RNY - September 24th
198 pounds GONE, BABY, GONE!

BMI: 63 (was) / 31 (is)

Countdown to goal: 206 205 204 203 202 201 200 199 GOAL!

Squishy

Happy Surgiversary!!!!!!

Hard to believe how time flies and how our lives can change so much in a year! Your story is definitely inspirational and your tips for success come with absolute credibility! Congratulations on reinventing yourself!

We should all strive to do so well!

Congratulations my friend!
-Mike-

__________________
TT Squishybear

"If you are going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill

05/30/07 Open RNY
430/346/240.5/225?
Highest/Surgery Date/Current/Goal
6' 2"

TT Gym Rat Club Member #65

sassy37

__________________
Surgery date : Friday 26th Sept 2008

35 pounds gone ! Actions speak louder than words ...........