a little update with photos on my progress post surgery

[Karen]

Yes, don;t give up hope, the last bit of weight will come off, it is just slower than you have become accustomed to!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Thanks for the update and pictures. You look great!!! I was also wondering if you are now diabetic free.

[kittycats_delight]

Thanks everyone for the wonderful comments and support. My PT family so ROCKS!!!

Sandie & Tracey, for your question about the diabetes...yes my diabetes is completely gone. I am 100% in the normal range. Normal is below 110 by the measures used here and when I had my blood work done last time it was 102. I have checked it on and off at home and even after eating a sweet or drinking fruit juice or regular pop and it is always in range now. Also my blood pressure and heart rate have returned to normal range so all is as it should be. The surgery did exactly what it set out to do and that was to bring my levels back to normal range to give me a healthier & longer life. The weight loss is a bonus. I walk 5-10 km everyday and have started to try running. I really don't like it much but I think once I get over that hurdle I will be good with it. I want to run as it will boost my metabolism and help with the last of the weight loss and then help me maintain.

Again thank you all for your support and kind, encouraging words. <3 you all.

Michelle

[Grace]

WOW!! You look fantastic!!

[caseysmom]

You look great! I've been discussing lap band with my doctor, it is a bit scary for me, was there anything scary or dangerous about it?

[sasvermont]

I applaud your conviction about getting healthier. The surgery seems to have worked in many good ways for you. Great job! Stay with it and you will have a new life.

Running can be very tough on the joints. If you run on soft surfaces it is easier on them. If I were recommending an exercise less tough it would be walking (fast) and for long distances. It may take longer than a quick run, but it is less stressful to the body.

Your photos looks great and you look at least 10 years younger in your second photo.

Here's to a healthier life, girl!

[kittycats_delight]

I applaud your conviction about getting healthier. The surgery seems to have worked in many good ways for you. Great job! Stay with it and you will have a new life.

Running can be very tough on the joints. If you run on soft surfaces it is easier on them. If I were recommending an exercise less tough it would be walking (fast) and for long distances. It may take longer than a quick run, but it is less stressful to the body.

Your photos looks great and you look at least 10 years younger in your second photo.

Here's to a healthier life, girl!

I do active walking everyday. I walk anywhere from 5-10 km (3.2-6.4 miles)a day. I can do 3.2 miles in 40 minutes and all but a few minutes is fast. Hubby has a hard time keeping up when I walk fast and I am way shorter than him with a much shorter stride. I use a pedometer to make sure I get in atleast 30 minutes of active (fast) walking a day and to keep track of the calories I burn and the distance I walk. I talked to the doctor about running and he said it was ok. He said maybe a jog would be better than all out running and also it would be best if I did it in intervals so a few minutes jogging and then walk, few more minutes jogging then walk again and so on. I don't run on pavement. There are farmers fields behind my house and I do the old dirt roads so it is much easier on the joints. I don't think I will ever be a big time runner. I don't see me doing any marathons in my future. LOL I just want to give that extra boost to my metabolism to get it moving faster and help get the last of the weight off so I can maintain it for 6 months and then get my reconstructive surgeries.

Thanks for advice. It is much appreciated and thank you so much for the wonderful compliment. I was so worried I was going to look older not younger or even my age. I have always looked younger than my age so it is wonderful to hear.

[Alysser]

Wow, Michelle you look so beautiful!! Congratulations

[kittycats_delight]

You look great! I've been discussing lap band with my doctor, it is a bit scary for me, was there anything scary or dangerous about it?

I didn't have the lap band done. It was however the first thing we looked into. It is the least invasive. The procedure for the lap band takes about 20 minutes (mine took 4.5 hrs) and there are minimal risks. There are the basic risks like with any medical procedure. Lap band was invented by a doctor right here in Vicenza, Dr. Favretti. The biggest thing with the lap band is you need to be very strict with your diet. You need to stick with it and not waiver. It unfortunately has a very low success rate over the long term. Nearly 70% of patients have it removed and opt for something else such as gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, bilio-pancreatic diversion (this is what I had) within the first 5 years. For some it is a fantastic solution and works wonderfully. And if that is the case it is worth it as it is the simplest with the least complications etc. The lap band cuts nothing, has no sutures involved etc. It is a simple band that goes around the stomach which leaves just a small portion available for food and therefore makes you feel full much faster. The band can be removed at any time leaving only the indenture where it was placed and it can also be adjusted to suit your needs be it to make the stomach smaller or larger. It wasn't something for me. We did a lot of research and with the help of a surgeon decided what was best to do. Bilio-Pancreatic Diversion was the route I took. It is completely free diet with little to no real restrictions. Gastric Bypass, lap band and the others are restrictive diets some very restrictive and others more liberal. You need to go over everything and decide what is best for you and what is the most likely to succeed.

[caseysmom]

Thank you very much for the information, I am going to go to a class where they will discuss all of the options.