Vicki In A Clam Shell
It's been 15 months
Jul 23, 2009
Stalls
May 29, 2009
I've had to go searching for this too many times, so I'm posting it here. Great, understandable info.
The beautiful and brilliant Diana Hamlet-Cox explained it thusly:
A "stall" at this point is inevitable, and here is why.
Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet.
As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.
Breathe, and fuggedaboudit for a few days.
One Year Post Op - A little late
Apr 27, 2009
I think I was cute, very big but cute and happy really but suffering, dying really from an onslaught of sugar related problems in my body and unable to get control of it myself. This woman is smiling but she is out of control. The DS has taken 85 lbs from me with no effort at all on my part, I take vitamins and I count protein. Since last week I have upped my protein to between 150-180 grams a day to help build muscle because I have lost alot of tone along with the 85 lbs. I have a new body, a new house and a new studio. Life really couldn't get much better than this but I still suffer from this woman above in my mirror. She wonders if she will ever get to goal and if she does will she be able to see the real her in the mirror. I attempt to talk to husband about these issues but he really does not get it. I realize fact from fiction and that is why I take these pictures, pictures make things more real for me - here I am at one year out and down about 85 lbs - or thereabouts have to check my ticker for the exact number
I am happy, healthy and so optimistic about the future. I also want to add that I thought I felt good before I started exercising but I really had no idea how good I really could feel. I would highly recommend you do something, anything. The couch to 5k program has an iPod Podcast that helps you count your running vs walking time, it really helps. I never dreamed I would be able to do this. I hope I am able to post photos of some muscles in the future, until then I am enjoying my new, smaller, though squishy body. Love to all
10 months post op
Feb 21, 2009
Don't know where this thing will take me but I feel better than I have felt in 20 years or more and I wouldn't change a thing. Well, I might have done it sooner.
Shopping
Jan 02, 2009
Honestly, I have enjoyed most every moment of this journey - well except for my limited wardrobe. I got a few nice tops on sale at Chico's where I am a size 2 - crazy - I had to ask for help in there so I could look around. I even bought some new underwear and new bras today too. I went from a 42DDD to a 38DDD. The girls seem to want to hang around, I mean that literally, hang around... But seriously, panties - how in the world was I supposed to figure out what size underwear to buy? I just got large size 7s, who new buying underwear would be a mystery to unravel?
The spring lines are out and this year I am not afraid. As a fat girl in disguise this year, I am not worried about putting away the layers and showing some skin this year. No bikinis though, public safety comes to mind.
I am grateful for my DS and this second chance at life it has given me.
High Folate
Dec 15, 2008
High levels of B12 and folate are not usually clinically monitored. Increased B12 may be seen in conditions such as leukemia or liver dysfunction. Increased folate may be seen with pernicious anemia and with vegetarian diets.
Funny that this would be high as I have not supplemented with the B12 my surgeon recommended. Not worried about this at all - we'll see what happens when I get tested again in late spring.
low White Blood Count
Dec 15, 2008
A decreased WBC count is called leukopenia. It can result from many different situations, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or diseases of the immune system.
The WBC count tends to be lower in the morning and higher in the late afternoon. WBC counts are age-related.
High Chloride
Dec 15, 2008
Eight Months Post Op - lab results and questions
Dec 14, 2008
well, on 4/14/08 the day before surgery I was 51-42-53 1/2
and.....today I am 43-35-43
WOW ten inches off my hips - no wonder I have to take a pillow to sit in the bleachers!
I started out in a size 3x/24W
and now am sitting here in a L top and a size 12 jeans
blood work - this is incredible folks
Vitamin D preop - 29 normal range 30-80
Vitamin D in November - 49
I attribute this to taking one 50K every other day since I got home from surgery, thanks Vitalady
Cholesterol preop - 197 normal <200
cholesterol in November - 122
trigyliceride preop - 141 <150
in November - 99
HDL pre op - 43 >60
in November - 31
LDL pre op - 126 <100
in November - 71
My chloride levels seem to be elevated now as they were preop at 109 so I need to find some information on that.
White blood count was low at 4.44.
Also folate was >20 when normal is 3-16 so need to look into that as well.
Everything else was within normal limits so until I research those things that were abnormal I will keep my supplements the same. Notice that two of the abnormal results were abnormal in me as a preop so surgery has actually brought them to my attention.
Life is good - I can eat way more than I should eat so I still need to watch my portions and try to use willpower to stop when I'm full. I lost a little over 4 lbs this month and I am still on target for 100% EWL.
Thanks to everyone here for all the advice and support!
Just checking the numbers
Dec 06, 2008
So - here it is - not sure I'm gonna make it under 180 but keeping my fingers crossed and we'll see what happens - I never thought I'd make it under 200 lbs either.
Update on the panic attacks - it seems Dreamsicle and I have decided that they are related to my PTSD and that I need to take charge and do something to make myself feel strong. I intend to start working out on the bowflex in the basement, I have asked Santa Claus for a punching bag and Dreamy is showing me how not to hit like a girl.