My Re:You Journey - Part 3

Disclaimer

Re:You Health are pleased to present a series of blog extracts from one of our patients and her journey leading up to bariatric surgery and beyond.

As with all personal recollections, this journey and opinions expressed are hers. We look forward to assisting you on whatever you would like to be yours.

Continued from Part 2

A series of smaller posts on specific topics …

Eating out in public for the first time post-surgery

The new me was busting to get out and about with my friends and share a meal. Things were very different now, I was nervous about ordering something that would usually tempt me to overeat. What would be suitable on the menu? Would I look silly eating a child’s portion? What if I felt sick or what if my appetite immediately reignited and I ate everything and more! Once again, some rational and not so rational thoughts swam in my head.

I had been fine at home, as I could absolutely control what I ate and I knew my portion size. Deep breath … at least I was smart enough to make my first dining out experience just my husband and myself. 

We went to a restaurant and got shared plates. I was super happy to realise that I truly could taste the food and was satisfied with the small amounts that I ate. It took me a while to adjust to not eating and drinking at the same time. It was also strange leaving food behind and being ok about that!

We took our time, sipped a quarter of a glass of wine, ate a taste of everything and went home thrilled to know that my life and love of going out was going to be OK! 

Happy to report the not so rational thoughts have now been silenced!

Exercising with my new body

Wow, I couldn’t believe how much easier it was to exercise with less weight. It was actually, dare I say, enjoyable!

The nausea I used to feel upon heavy exertion was gone, but better still, I had stopped being a clock watcher – I didn’t want my classes to end, now there is a first!

I have learnt to listen to my body. Some days a good walk is what I need and others a session of boxing does me, and everyone else in my family, the world of good! I have learnt that exercise doesn’t have to be 1½ hours and vomit inducing to have all the benefits physiologically and psychologically.

Feeling strong and in control is where I like to be now and as the weather warms up, I can once again add swimming to my regime.

Stepping away from the scale

The scale and I have always had a love hate relationship. Deep affection if the numbers were what I wanted them to be and at throwing across the room status if not. My husband told me he hated my daily weighs in the past, if the numbers on the scales had nudged up, my mood would most definitely plummet.

Post-surgery, I asked my husband if he could weigh himself as I didn’t believe the scales kept showing a loss for me – YEAH! (status: my new BFF).

I decided after the first 12 months that I would not weigh myself and leave that up to my appointments with my Re:You Doctor. I had to break the cycle of the scale watching – I had to trust myself that the tool I was given by having surgery was going to work for me. 

I had two years post bariatric care with Re:You and the support that they gave me over this time was exactly what I needed.

Alcohol

I’ll be the first to admit I love a drink. My surgeon advised me not to drink for the first 6 months post-surgery, so as summer came around, it was the perfect time for a lovely glass of Rosé. I filled my glass to a quarter and the rest was ice – it was perfect!

As time went on my tolerance to alcohol also increased, or so I thought. I have recently had a few stark reminders that it most certainly has not and the affects are none too pleasant … I think we will leave it at that!

One thing I can absolutely say is that I am very aware of the increased effect alcohol has post-surgery and most definitely pass the role of driving to someone else or UBER every time!

Support

Having bariatric surgery isn’t a quick fix.  The road leading up to and post-surgery is rollercoaster like and sometimes just plain unpredictable.

Being able to have the team at Re:You to talk to made the world of difference to me. I even had opportunities to talk to other patients whilst they were waiting for their appointments too. Kindness, empathy, understanding and sometimes a big tissue box was exactly what I needed.

Saying goodbye to habits that I had formed over 35 years were at times very difficult and the feelings raw. Taking the time to sit with these emotions, sometimes by myself and other times with my supportive friends, helped and continue to help my journey immensely.

With the good also comes the bad. Being able to filter what people say is also a recently acquired skill. I tend to find those who are negative about my surgery either have a weight issue themselves that they do not want to deal with or have really just been ill informed on what bariatric surgery is, and that is ok – I did this for me. I do however graciously accept compliments now too. I take photos of myself and my family, and I hold my head high!

Impact on my family

Having surgery was not a decision I came to lightly. I have teenage children and I didn’t want them to formulate any misunderstandings about my decision to go ahead. I didn’t want them to have any doubts about their own bodies as I know this is a time that is rife with being self-conscious.

Obviously, I needed to tell them but I left this until about a month before my surgery. We all sat down and had a family meeting. I kept it all very basic and told them I would need some extra help around the place whilst I recovered. They told me they loved me and understood why I wanted to do this, that was all I needed to hear!

Fast forward 2 years and they continue to say it was one of my best decisions – “you are just so much happier being you Mum”, and I am!

Physiological Changes

Apart from the obvious change in my appearance, there were other numbers that showed me a true reflection of the total benefits of weight loss.

Pre-surgery, I was most definitely heading towards type 2 diabetes, poor cholesterol levels, low iron and deficient in some vitamins.

Having regular blood tests with my Re:You Doctor allowed me to see all of my statistics improve dramatically.

Taking all of the supplements and multivitamins as instructed, have also allowed me to keep excellent bone density too, this being important as I age and experience menopause.