Congrats Angela that's amazing and you look awesome!
Ahhh.... of course! I don't know why I would leave out my eating and exercise, because you can't even imagine how often I get asked about them (Trust me, I don't mind)
Exercise is the easy part.... Yes I do exercise fairly regularly. In the beginning (Starting 2 months pre-op) I was doing 20-30 mins on the elliptical set to cardio at a pace between 5-6. Depending on my energy level for the day, I might have done 15-20mins on the bike and a few cable machines. I did this min 2 days but sometimes 4 days, but most of the time 3 days a week. I wouldn't go to the gym on weekends.... I have two young kids so I just try to get out and be active with them on the weekends. As more weight came off, I stopped doing the elliptical and started focusing more on weight training type exercises in effort to counteract the effects of the rapid weight loss on my skin. I used dumbbell weights while doing reps of squats and lunges, assisted pull-ups and dips, bench weights, and cable weights. I did this 3 days a week. For the last 5 weeks or so, I haven't been to the gym so much, but had begun doing Insanity (if you don't know what that is, look it up on youtube) It's a very intense 40-45 minute continuous high impact and intensity workout that combines cardio, plyometrics and yoga. I follow a calendar of rotating videos 6 days a week. I HATE doing this workout, but I love the way I feel whenever I finish it for the day and more-so, I love the results I've seen in such a short time. I'm fighting for my skin every time I turn a video on. It has made me cry, throw up and feel like I'm going to die, but I think it can save my body, so I stick with it. It's definitely not for everyone and I should mention that I attempted this workout ONCE before I lost any weight and it was nearly impossible.
Now for my eating habits.... These probably aren't that good and might not work so well for others.
(Must be honest, must be honest, must be honest!) I'll tell you about the bad stuff first. So I still eat ice cream, probably about a half a cup's worth maybe 2 times a week and not light or low carb either, I eat Haagen Dazs White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle (At least it's made with high quality ingredients). I eat popcorn with real butter probably at least 3 nights a week and I can eat a lot of it. I will eat chips now and then, but not very often at all and not huge amounts, but I can eat them without problems. I guess that's probably the worst of it. Now for how I "try" to eat... I sat try because, as I mentioned, I struggle with a lot of foods. It's getting better but I don't know when I will be in the clear. Anyway, my breakfast usually consists of one of the following: I can eat probably about 3/4 of one scrambled egg with a little cheddar and salsa on it. I will also have cream of wheat with splenda, sf syrup and butter in it, sometimes I just have an Atkins Advantage bar, and sometimes I'm bad and skip breakfast. Lunch: egg salad, small chicken ceasar salad (VERY small), deli meat and cheese, pizza toppings and a little crust, soup or chili. Dinner: pastaless lasagna, rotisserie chicken, taco salad, beef stroganoff, soft broccoli, mashed potatoes, tender steak (has to be medium rare), stuffed shells.
All the things I've mentioned are examples of some of the things I eat... not all of them stay down every time. It's hit or miss for me. I don't get enough protein most of the time or enough fluids. I am flawed because I am human, I am still learning how to live this way and learning how to eat. I think I eat more bad foods than I should because they don't seem to bother my sleeve. But I am still consuming a freakishly low amount of calories, so I try not to beat myself up. It makes me feel good when people tell me I inspire them, but also a little guilty and ashamed at the same time, because I know I'm not eating and drinking the way I need to be. I do try, but some days I just don't feel like throwing up so I avoid some of the good for me foods just to be safe and eat the bad ones that I know will be easy on me or I only eat once or twice for that day. So that's the rest of my story I guess.
Thank you for posting. You are doing great even thought it has not been an easy journey for you. Wishing you all the best in the future.
Thanks for sharing. Still getting the hang of everything. My eyes are still bigger than my stomach, so Im still learning how to eat the hard way. At a painful cost sometimes. But Im getting past it now. Definitely i have to learn how to chew my food better. Anyways congrats on your success so far
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