Update.... just where have I been?

It's been a while... I hate that I have let this fall behind but I've got a lot to talk about.  A lot that I haven't mentioned before, not here nor on social media.

So..... a quick catch up:

Dec 2012 

I decided I was fed up with being overweight and decided to do something about it

2013  

I joined a gym, started working out regularly and changed my eating habits.  In fact, I was on a strict diet that worked great but just wasn't sustainable long term.(lots of chicken, broccoli and brown rice..... one can eat ONLY so much before broccoli starts sprouting out of your ears!)

I had my first knee surgery to repair some arthritis and a meniscus tear.

2014 

 I was killing it in the gym and lost approximately 70 lbs.  I know, it was awesome!!
I was pushing myself in preparation for my wedding. I started slacking a little with the diet and tried changing it up since it was so intense.  I gained about 5-10 lbs back trying to figure out my diet.

Seriously, I had a lot to be proud of!!  I worked really hard for this!

Progress over the years

2015

 In  June of 2015, I had my first right total knee surgery at the age of 42 years old!  

I had problems and needed an MOA (Manipulation under Anesthesia) in August.

My PT had me wear a brace to help straighten my leg (it looked and felt like like a torture device!)

See that nasty bruise on my leg?  That was from all of the blood thinners.

Pretty what my knee looks like now!

2016

I couldn't straighten my knee because my body had formed so much scar tissue that it wrapped around my ligaments (mostly my PCL)

In January, I had another total knee surgery, they call this a revision

(I had to continue with the torture device.)

Physical Therapy - Torture Device (it's now in the garage)

My husband and I moved and I started a new job and I had pretty much been *inactive* for going on about a year and a half or so... you can imagine what happened. I still had a hard time walking, I still broke out in a sweat anytime I had to walk farther than a few steps because I hurt so much.

I was depressed, I was in a lot of pain and I just didn't keep up with my "diet" like I should have been doing...... and you guessed it.  Every pound I had lost (all of the literal blood, sweat and tears)..... 

I regained it all back at this point (plus some)!

I had been overweight for 20+ years and in December of 2012, I decided to take my life back.  Unfortunately, it was easier said than done.  I had the heart, I had the desire, but I didn't always have the physical strength to keep up with my goals.  

I still wanted to lose weight; I still had goals but how would I reach them??

I'm finally able to walk (there is still pain/swelling) but I do what I can and know how far I can push myself.  I now have a torn meniscus in my left knee..... because I just can't catch a break....lol..  I'm currently receiving steroid injections because I'm just NOT ready for another knee surgery!!

So Now What???

One day in early August, I was at the doctor and I asked him about weight loss surgery.  

I didn't know if I was even qualified, 

I didn't have a lot of information but for the heck of it, I asked.

I know that I could lose weight on my own because I had done it.

I didn't know if I wanted to have surgery to lose weight.

There is a real misconception about WLS and some people refer to it as an "easy way out".

I wasn't really sure how I felt about it.... but I decided to do some research and look into it anyway.

I made an appointment for more information, attended a information seminar, attended multiple support group meetings, spoke to someone in mental health, attended a multitude of doctor appointments, attended nutrition classes and I had made up my mind.... 

WLS wasn't going to be an easy way out; it is a TOOL to help you lose weight.

If you don't put in the work with diet and exercise, it just doesn't work.

I have known a lot of people that had surgery and gained weight back and it's because they didn't follow specific rules concerning diet and exercise.

In November (the day before Thanksgiving) I had a gastric sleeve gastric sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) or "sleeve".  What does that mean?  It's a little a little different from a gastric bypass (RNY) but just as effective.  The surgeon basically removed about 75%-80% of my stomach.

 

This is ME the day of surgery

Here we are, I have just had weight loss surgery.  For the record.....

I promise you, weight loss surgery is NOT the EASY WAY OUT.  I follow my meal guidelines (for the most part), I try to get in my water and my protein but sometimes, I'm not gonna lie, it's hard.  This whole WLS thing is harder than I thought it would be. Everybody is different ~ you hear that a lot in the WLS circles... but it's true!

Imagine this: you try to take a drink of water but choke because you drink too fast..... or you are eating a 1/4 of a hamburger (thinking that is the perfect portion) and get sick because you ate the bread (bread expands in your stomach)..... or you are eating (off of a small plate) and have one bite of food left and you don't want to waste anything.... and now, you're sick as a dog because you ate too much.  Your chest hurts, you want to be sick but everything is just sitting there while you burp CONSTANTLY.

I know, you could say, "Lori, you chose to do this" and I would say "You are right"

It's hard, it's frustrating and sometimes, I just want to pout about it because it's not working the way I think it should be.... but you know what?  It's really an amazing TOOL.  

The surgery isn't all unicorns and rainbows.  

My surgery was 7 months ago and honestly, I wish I had been more open about it before now.  Part of me wanted to keep it private because I didn't know how people would react. I still haven't told a lot of people in my personal life.... but if they ask, I'll tell them..... but I'm not ashamed of it either.  It was one of the best decisions I have made, despite it being a struggle at times.

I am 7 months post op and I have lost 60 lbs.  That's awesome!  I know it is but sometimes, I can't help but compare myself to others at this point.  Some people have already reached their goal weight, some are close to their goal weight.  I still have a ways to go.... to be completely honest, I am at the half way point of where I want to be.

June 2016

I follow the rules. I do what I'm supposed to do. I treat myself every now and then because I'm only human and if this is going to work, I know what I need to do to "stay on the wagon".

I have just come to the conclusion that some people lose weight really quickly.  Some people 

(like me) struggle.  I'm not sure "struggle" is the right word, however, I just have to work twice as hard.  I do that when it comes to my diet just like I do when it comes to exercise and physical activity.

Maybe I'll always have trouble with my knees causing me to struggle 

but that doesn't mean I'm going to give up.

  It's like the tortoise and the hare.  I'm not saying I'm going to outsmart anybody however, if I know that if I keep moving forward, I will eventually cross the finish line!

What's my plan to stay on track and reach my next goal?

• Watch my food intake.
• Follow the 5/5/20 rule (5 grams sugar, 5 grams, fat, 20 grams carbs) - per meal
• Did I mention I needed to watch my carb intake?  Yeah, that part sucks
• Increase my water and protein
• stay active - walk more, continue to go to the gym, add more cardio (ugh), try new things
• Most importantly, even when I'm frustrated..... remind myself: Don't Give Up!

I've got a lot more to talk about but I will save that for another time.  

1 surgery... 2 surgery... there won't be a third (not anytime soon anyway) and Happy Birthday to my Blog

Well..... I've gone MIA again.  Sorry about that.  There is a lot to talk about and get caught up on though..... so, hold on because here we go....

My first knee replacement surgery was on June 23rd, 2015.  As you know, I had a lot of complications after that surgery.  Eight weeks after surgery, I still had terrible range of motion and I went in for another procedure called a Manipulation under Aneshesia.  Basically, they knocked me out and moved my leg around to try to break up scar tissue.  That didn't work.  As time went on, it just got worse.  It was very difficult and painful to walk.  I went back to my surgeon and we eventually decided it would be best to do another surgery to remove the scar tissue.  {Apparently, my super power is making scar tissue.  I would much rather prefer to have a high metabolism but we get what we're dealt, right??}

Anyway, just 8 months later [January 19, 2016] I had what is called Revision Surgery.  The surgeon took out ALL of the existing hardware out of my knee (I don't even want to think about that.... if you've never had it, it's a pretty barbaric surgery).  He removed an enormous amount of scar tissue that was wrapped around my ligaments, he removed my PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament), it's the ligament that runs behind your knee).... so now, I no longer have an ACL or a PCL.



Luckily, this surgery went much better!!  I am able to bend my knee farther than 90 degrees (I wasn't able to do that before) unfortunately, I still can't straighten it out completely.  My Physical Therapist said that it could take months, even years.... but there is a possibility it won't ever be 100% straight.
That is one of things that would have been nice to know going into the first surgery!

The healing process has gone pretty smooth.... (sorry, some of it looks kinda gross!)

Right after surgery

with the CPM machine (it helps to bend your knee for you)

I know, it's gross.... that's a lot of staples!

I hate this thing... I really do.
 It's my splint to help me straighten my leg.

It's looking pretty good so far...

xray of my "Robo Knee"

Finally.  This is what she looks like!

Unfortunately, because of all of this.... I was out of the gym for nearly a year.  I also gained back a crap ton of weight.  It really sucks because I had worked SO hard to get it off too.  I should have eaten better but I didn't.  It is what it is.... but it's still frustrating.

My pain isn't so bad these days (at least nothing that good ole Tylenol every day can't fix).  I still walk with a bit of a limp from time to time and I can only walk for so long... I hope that gets better some day!

My body has been through a lot!





I am exactly 15 weeks post-op this week and I am glad to report that I went back to the gym last week.  I just did cardio and I only went 2 days but it was a start.  I have been once this week and I'm going back tomorrow.  Next week, I just might increase it to 3 days :)

I have a very long road ahead of me.  I have a long road of recovery (from the surgery/trauma usually takes a year or so and I have had 2 surgeries this year) and I am right back to square one with my diet/fitness.  What I have learned is that you HAVE to be in the right mindset and you have to WANT it.  I do.  I'm ready to do what I need to do.  I'm in no rush.  I'm not doing this for anyone but myself!
I have no deadlines.  I will just set small goals for myself and everything will be just fine.


Oh yeah..... Happy Birthday to my Blog.  She's 3 years old today ! :)





My FB page: https://www.facebook.com/lovinglifewithlori/

Surgery - day 1

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday!  Yesterday, I had a total knee replacement to my right knee.  I will be honest, it's been just under 24 hours and I've had some ups and downs but that is to be expected.

The pain can be quite strong at times but the doctors, nurses and staff have been great at helping with pain management and it's been helpful as long as I stay on top of it.

I've had PT once so far (Yesterday) but they are expected to be back sometime after breakfast this morning and I have had on my TED hose, used the compression machine (constantly) and I have used the CPM machine (aka torture machine), it's a machine that bends my knee for me. They set it to a 60 degree bend yesterday but it was a No Go..... It was just too much so they knocked it down to 50 degrees for me. It still hurts pretty bad but is more manageable.  At some point they will increase the angle so I will try not to complain right now.  Luckily, my morphine button (I've named it Capt' Morgan) is pretty helpful but I understand they are taking the Captain away at some point today.... I'm not looking forward to that.

I'm trying to keep a positive attitude because I know that I will feel so much better in the long run.

That's pretty mychball to report so far. I will update more later....

The countdown has begun....

This time next week, I’ll be getting my things ready to head to the hospital for yet another knee surgery.  I know when I had my meniscus surgery, I was in a rush to get better and get on with my goals and didn’t follow directions and rest and heal like I should have.  As a result,  I over did it and caused more pain for myself in the long run.  This time, I’m having a total knee replacement and I plan to follow all of the orders (or at least try). I know there is a long road ahead and because of my age, I will probably have to have another replacement in my lifetime but  I really want to be able to do the things that I was doing before my knee got to be as bad as it is now.  I miss doing things in the gym like squats and lunges and I look forward to doing them again.  I miss little things like walking and races.  I’m tired of the weight that I’ve put back on because I’ve not been able to keep up the cardio-pace that I would like.

But as I’ve said before…. This will be a time for recovery and for focusing on what I’m eating. 

I’ll be in the hospital for several days and recovery time (at least for work) will be about 8 weeks.  I know that full recovery can take up to a year though.

I had my pre-op on Friday and met with a list full of doctors to go over what I can expect.  If things go well, I might be able to gradually start back into the gym at about 4 weeks but I have to check with physical therapy on that once they are assigned to me.

I’m beginning to get a bit nervous but I know that this is the right decision and I’ll feel so much better (once I have healed). I have done a lot of research to learn about what to expect and I have a class to go to later this week to go over more in depth info, which is pretty awesome.

Another surgery looms around the corner...

After years of pain from my torn meniscus to my quick degenerating arthritis in my knee, the time is quickly approaching.  As you may (or may not) know, my better/healthier lifestyle began a few years ago.  I have literally busted my ass, bled, cried, became frustrated, got overwhelmed, dieted, lost a lot of weight and gained quite a bit back when I had to severely cut back on my workouts.

I have been to countless doctors, I had a scope surgery to repair my meniscus, I have been on daily pain killers for the past 2 years, I have had Steroid injecteions, Euflexxa injections and Stem Cell (PRP) injections and unfortunately.... none of them gave me relief for more than a week or two.  I've been tired of feeling this way.  Tired of not being able to do the things that I want to do to maintain the lifestyle that I have come to adopt and enjoy so much.

After much discussion, a lot of research and every other alternative, my doctor sent me to see another Orth Surgeon, one that literally designed a popular artificial knee.  I met with him earlier this week and it has been decided that I need a total knee replacement.  I am only 42 years old.  Some days that feels ancient... but doctors don't like to do joint replacements on patients this young because it will have to be done again at some point (20-25 years down the road).

As much as having the surgery scares me and really makes me nervous, I know that in the long run, it will help tremendously.  I know that once I have had time to heal and go through therapy (and I will not push myself too hard too fast like I did after my last surgery).... I will be back to my old self, back to my old self again.  Will I ever be 100%?  Who knows.... but I hope so.  I just know that anything is better than what I'm feeling now.

I'm also going to use this time to go back to the basics and focus on food.... I mean, it's not like I will be exercising and I don't want to gain any weight so I will cut back on my calories (because I won't need as much as I do now that I have lifting weights).  I want to do the best that I can and get back to really feeling proud of myself for my accomplishments.  With time, I will begin my therapy and reintroduce cardio, HIIT and weight lifting.  I might not ever leg press 500 lbs again but I'm ready to set some new goals!

My family and friends are amazing and the best support I can ask for and I plan to document my progress to help me more than anything. :)

Day 16..... mid plan review

I just wanted to give a quick update since I'm half way through the 28 day program.  

This plan is very do-able.  I miss a few things that I have cut out of my diet but it's not junk food so that's a plus.  If you have followed the plan, I'm only eating fats for 3 days a week... that is probably the hardest for me and I'll admit that I have snuck some in here and there.  I haven't gone crazy but I have cooked with a little bit of olive oil and/or coconut oil.  I miss milk products but other than a cheat meal where I had a minuscule amount of cheese on a salad on Mother's Day, I'm doing great.

I know that there are a lot of people out there that swear by this and use it as a diet.... that was never my intention.  I wanted to make the scale move.  I wanted to wake up my metabolism and speed it up and I honestly think I'm doing that.  I'm not knocking the people that swear by this and use it like they would other diet programs... not by any means.  If that is what you want and it works for you then that's great!  I just wanted to do my research.  Some might say that I need to find something and just stick to it but it is my opinion that it's best to learn all that I can about diet and nutrition.  

I realize that there are a lot of ways to lose weight and I know that in order to keep it off, you need to stay consistent.  Some people count calories, some track macros, some count points, some eat clean or eat for a paleo or keto lifestyle, some eat high fat and low carb, some cut out wheat and dairy.... blah blah blah...... the list goes on and on.   What is the "best" plan to follow?  Who is right?  What is the answer?   ~ Are you ready for this????   There is no right or wrong answer.  There is no magical unicorn that will sprinkle fairy dust and lead you to the rainbow and whisper all of the secrets in your ear!  Seriously.... there are a lot of ways to go about it and you have to figure out what that is on your own and what works best for you and your body.

The one thing that I will suggest is that you should eat accordingly to your lifestyle.  Do you spend a lot of time in the gym?  If so, you need to fuel your workouts accordingly.  Do you lift heavy weights?  If so you don't want to cut out your carbs.... they are important.  They are the energy that you need to fuel through those workouts.  Could you imagine a kick-ass leg workout without any carbs?  I don't even want to think about that because frankly, it just makes me sad.

So..... what is my mid-way conclusion on this "diet"??  Like I said, my intention was not to follow this forever, not exactly anyway.... I'm not quitting this "diet" I still have about a week and a half to continue but when the time is up, I will make some of my own modifications.  I will probably add back a little dairy (I miss cheese) and healthy fats (vegetables just aren't the same when cooked in chicken stock).  I will probably continue to carb-cycle and I will continue eating clean most of the time.  But for now..... I'm tracking along with the Fast Metabolism Diet and I'm doing and feeling good.

Oh..... and before I close, I want to share a little story with you.

This past weekend, we got together with my family to celebrate both Mother's Day and my dad's birthday.  My sister and I planned everything and split up the cooking duties.  Knowing what I could/couldn't eat, I volunteered to make the grain (quinoa with pineapple and mango relish) and the desserts (paleo cupcakes and key lime tarts).... well, apparently, my taste buds have changed because I personally really like that kind of stuff..... but I was the only one.  My dad ate a tart so that my feelings wouldn't be hurt and I think I'm the only one who liked the cupcakes (I even made homemade paleo frosting!!) But what the hell...... since hardly anyone ate anything that means there are more for me.  Tell me..... who's the winner now??  :)

Day 11 update of the FMD

Week one was a total success and week 2.... but I'm not ruling it out yet.  Currently, I'm holding steady with what I lost during week one and I'm ok with that.

Phase 2 (Wednesday/Thursday) continues to be the most difficult.  It seems that I stay hungry but I've not caved in.  Yay Me!!

Overview of Phase 2.  It's boring.  That's right.  It's the high protein, high vegetable, low carb and low fat phase.  Don't get me wrong, I love meat and vegetables but I'm missing the fruit, carbs and the fat.  Luckily, fat is added to the plan tomorrow and I look forward to that.

Remember when I said that I didn't cheat..... well, I did cheat a little..... and by cheat, I mean, I added a little bit of olive oil to some veggies that I pan fried the other night.  If that is my worst offense then I still consider it a win!

What I'm eating during Phase 2 this week:

Breakfast:
scrambled egg whites with steak, mushrooms and roasted bell peppers

Lunch:
nitrate free turkey or roast beef with pickles

Dinner:
Grilled chicken salad
pork tenderloin with cabbage

Snacks:
Nick's Sticks (Grass-fed, Nitrate Free, Gluten free) snack sticks.... by the way, they're amazing!!