There Are No Quick Fixes

I did it; I had gastric surgery on Friday October 26!

If you're thinking that doing something like this is a breeze and that you won't have to worry about what you eat, then you are mistaken. First of all, surgery, no matter how small, holds risk. Secondly, there is a process. You can't just walk in off the street and say, "make my stomach smaller."  I had to attend a seminar, participate in six months of a monitored weight loss program with an exercise physiologist and a nutritionist, have a psychological evaluation and a physical work up. I also had to changed my eating habits and increased my exercise routine well before I was approved for this surgery.

I am aware that even though I will lose weight, my body will continue to think I need to be this size and will try and figure out ways to keep me from losing the weight or from keeping it off. This is not the solution; it's a tool for me to use. 

Admittedly I was nervous going into the hospital. I used some deep breathing techniques to stay calm. I don't remember anything after entering the operating room. That is until I woke up to Nurse Rached in the recovery room who refused to give me any pain medication. Trust me I started crying like a baby which apparently worked because the next thing I remembered was waking up in my room. I was awake off and on during the day Friday. I even got up and walked several times. My doctor checked on my Saturday morning and I was cleared to go home.  

I am still sore and have had a lot of cramping today, but I just have to keep moving through the pain. 

I found this video on Youtube about how the surgery is done:



It has been very difficult to get in enough liquids. I did better today. I wrote everything down and focused on constantly drinking. I was able to drink an entire 14 ounces of Total Lean protein and about six ounces of Vitamin water. That is not near enough. I'm supposed to drink 4 ounces every hour. My surgeon recommends that I have 64 ounces of fluid a day. So I'm going to try harder tomorrow. 

After the first two weeks I can start adding protein-rich semi-solids in addition to what I have to drink. I should be consuming 60-80 grams of proteins a day. I will have to consume that much protein and take vitamins and minerals for the rest of my life. So,if you are thinking about having gastric surgery, you really do need to do your research. There are no quick fixes.