Last week I had an appointment with a compounding pharmacist to go over the results of my saliva test. My hormones are all out of whack, which is no surprise since I’ve had problems since I was a teenager. But, he thinks I’m in PERIMENOPAUSE! Glory to Jesus, Hallelujah! And all the choir sang, “AMEN”! Oh it’s a glorious time with the hot flashes, mood swings, irritability, cramps, insomnia, urinary urges, fatigue, headaches, and the “spare tire” around the midsection of the tummy. I’m on a quest now to take better care of myself because I know what this road will lead me down. WEIGHT GAIN.
As I chatted with the pharmacist about my history, I mentioned how I felt PCOS/Insulin Resistance were at the root of my obesity. Basically, he agreed. And, though he did not actually say this aloud, I could almost hear his thoughts. Or, maybe it was just my thoughts yelling so loud, I couldn’t hear his. But, the thought is IF I do not take better care of myself and get these problems tended to NOW, it will lead me down a road that I don’t want to go. WEIGHT GAIN.
I’ve been a strong advocator that each bypass patient listen to their bodies. Pay close attention to any changes that are going on, both in how you feel, and how your body shape is changing. Some months ago, I noticed some changes in my body. And honestly, it has left me very unhappy. I’ve tried to resign myself to a state of contentment regarding the changes, but that nagging feeling still exists. As we looked back on my weight charts for the past two years, there was noticeable change when I had Mirena IUD installed due to hormone problems. But, the midsection tells the story best as it is getting bigger in the exact same places where insulin and estrogen are stored during perimenopause. WEIGHT GAIN.
The past few weeks I have spent time logging more carefully my daily caloric intake. I’ve cut out caffeine, lowered my carbs, and started exercising more. My exercise over the winter was virtually non-existent and this has had no positive effect on my body either! I’ve been walking, doing some hand weight, stretching exercises, and just added the big ball today so that I can do push ups and stomach crunches. I’ve also got out my trusty broom handle to do a few tricks I learned after gastric bypass to help deflate the tummy area. So I’ve been working out! Not to mention, I’ve added some supplements to help me through these times. At any rate, I am willing to do whatever it takes to prevent WEIGHT GAIN.
Now you might see a pattern in this post. Every paragraph’s last two words are: WEIGHT GAIN. I want to bring your attention to it today. We must be ever so cautious to evaluate and RE-evaluate our health and condition of our bodies. If not, we can become lax, or allow health problems to continue which can bring back our obesity. Weight loss surgery only helps us lose all the weight we had; it is no guarantee that we will never become obese again. In other words, it’s a vehicle that drives us to the place we want to be (thin). Once we arrive at the destination, it is up to US to stay there. Let’s take a few moments today and ask ourselves questions such as:
1. Has my weight gone up?
2. Are there any physical changes in my body shape? Any areas that seem to be getting larger?
3. Am I logging my food?
4. Am I drinking enough water?
5. Has my eating got out of control or do I need to scale back on the carb intake?
6. Are there any existing health conditions that could prevent weight loss or cause weight gain?
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