gastric sleeve

Gastric Sleeve

Posted on by Hannah Banana

On the 31st of October 2017, I had a sleeve gastrectomy done.

This was after two years of deliberation and after 10 months of kickboxing.

When they reached my organs there wasn’t any fat in my liver or organs! That working out did something, it got me in shape to heal better and be prepared mentally and physically for this journey.

Granted I’ve gone from 100 mph to 10 mph if that, but it was 2/3’s my stomach removed for good.

This is a tool, a very powerful weight loss tool. It’s not the ‘easy way out’ nor is it a ‘cure all’ 10 years down the line I will be the 1 out of 6 that does not regain the weight because I’ve done the hard work beforehand.

It’s got to come from within you, the choice to live well.

The choice to say yes to not going overboard, the choice to not give up even after all else has been exhausted.

I did all I could in my power to get this weight off and didn’t come by this choice to have surgery overnight. And I’m glad I didn’t, it gave it time to sink into my bones the choice to choose health for life. 

I will say that God has been by my side to help me as I’ve been healing, it’s been hellish somedays. But on the whole, I’m day 17 post op and feeling more myself daily.

It’s weird to not workout like I used to but again I’ll get there this isn’t about a sprint but about healing well and getting good eating habits in place.

Heck good habits and attitudes in place.

The first year is like training wheels for your stomach and all else, it’s not a cake walk.

No carbs for the 1st six months to maximise weight loss. No fruit, 64 oz. of water a day, protein shakes to start off with and now I’m in the soft mush food stage.

100 grams of protein daily, 2 multivitamins, 3 calcium chews, b12 and biotin sublingual. It’s hard work after the ‘wow you’ve lost so much weight’ fades away and things return ‘to normal’ where is ‘my new normal’?

So as I’m finding my balance in this dizziness I just thought I’d update on how I’ve been doing. Pretty damn well, God is good and yielding to what He has for my life will continue to produce fruit. Taste and see that He is indeed Good. 

Sipping Tea (Thoughts Lately)

Posted on by Hannah Banana

So I’m in the process of getting my pre op appointments done and the 11 months of work for the gastric sleeve are now mounting up to a crescendo.

I have a list of things that I’m going to be doing such as sewing, making some music (haven’t written anything in a long while.)

I’ve prepared as much as I can with a lot of information spoken with those who have had the surgery at the support groups. etc.

the thing is the surgery and life after are different for everyone. I know this, and I am up for the challenge. But this will be a huge change, a big one.

Mood swings are not uncommon. I will for the month after surgery stop taking my birth control so as to prevent clotting of the healing stomach pouch. (Q fist period sense age 25 I am 32 now.)

I know it will be worth it, and I am a bit scared but that is not a bad thing. I’d be foolish to think it’d be otherwise.

There is the book knowledge and then there is actually having the surgery done and life after.

But I’ve done my due diligence as best as I’m able. I imagine I’ll be posting more often on WP then I have been.

So as a way to hold myself accountable to the WP community I’ll be honest. It’s all I know how to be is truthful.

the first six weeks will suck big time. The first six months it’ll take before the new stomach is healed.

It’s a bit like when I went to St. Louis to get healing for my self injury three years ago as of this past May 9.

It’s an un-doable push in the right direction regarding my issues with weight loss.

If I’m honest, I struggle with portion control I’m addicted to carbs and I have a ‘work sheet’ of goals to accomplish before surgery and I’m thinking that after the fact will be good as well. I will have to because there isn’t a reversal.

I’m ready and honestly it will be my faith, and my family as well as the support group meetings that are in the weight loss office at one of the conference rooms.

I’ve gotten about half way through the pre-surgery approval appointments and I’m cautiously excited.

Jitters are normal, it’s human. Stay tuned readers for progress as it comes.