Carol's Gastric Bypass Story

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(continued)

(My friend Steve before gastric bypass surgery)

 
(Steve now! )

On Eating: I always try to be prepared for the day, so I can eat right! I start my mornings with a healthy protein shake. Dr. Owens recommends that we get a lot of protein each day since protein suppresses appetite and helps keep weight off.. I can take the shake with me if I have a busy morning, so I don’t end up eating something unhealthy. For lunch and dinner, I can eat pretty much anything, but I do it in smaller portions and with no sauces on it. Lots of lean chicken and fish. I even eat steak if I want it, I just have to make sure I really chew it up well. I start by eating the protein first and then the vegetables. It’s easy to fill up that way, without being tempted to eat the bread or starches. Usually I order a regular meal; no one even knows that I had surgery! I end up eating as much as I want, but I get a little box, and take home enough for the next day. The other thing is that I drink water all day long, but I don’t drink with my meal. Since the stomach pouch doesn’t hold much food, I don’t want to drink water and flush the food through. That would give me room to eat more. I let my food stay in my stomach pouch to keep the feeling of fullness.
 
On Exercise: Before surgery I had to be pretty inactive. I was looking at double knee replacement surgery, which was one of the reasons I chose to have the Gastric Bypass. Loosing the weight took the stress of my joints so I didn’t need knee surgery. After surgery, Dr. Owens makes sure you start exercising right away. They brought me hand weights and started exercising my upper body while I was still in the hospital! When I got home, I started walking. I’d get up early and walk in the mall near my house everyday. After awhile I increased how fast I walked and how far. I ended up getting a dog as a walking partner! His name is Leipold. He’s a Weimaraner and has a lot of energy. Still, I think I got a 3 mile dog, and now I’m a 5 mile woman!
 
Shopping: Shopping for clothes is really fun now; there are so many things to choose from in my size and everything seems to look good on me! Not bad for an “over 50 woman” ! It does make me kind of angry though when sales people pay so much attention to me and are so nice to me; when I was heavy, I couldn’t get them to even look my way, or try to be helpful. I am still the same person I was, but now people treat me differently.
 

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