Journal Entry 3: One Month After Weight Loss Surgery

Jodie Russell
Presurgery weight: 282 pounds
Current Weight: 255 pounds

 A month after my surgery I could have sworn I was going stark mad. What did I do to myself? My hormones are going crazy, I can’t control my emotions (my poor, patient husband) and I have no clue what my body is telling me anymore. Am I hungry? Was that a pain? Am I full? And I miss food, I mean I’m crying over food!

Thank goodness they tell you all this will happen, but you don’t realize when they tell you “You are going to go through a huge change,” just how huge it is. It does get better! It’s such a big learning phase that it can be frustrating. Things you eat will be fine one day, then the next make you sick. You need to learn what you can tolerate and not tolerate. You need to learn to eat slowly, and when you are really thirsty, you still can just sip, sip, sip. You wonder how the heck am I going to get 64 ounces of fluids down and you want me to take how many vitamins? On top of that … get how much protein? It is so much to learn and remember, including getting to know your body all over again.

I am smiling right now thinking back on my journey, looking forward to the road yet to come. So many times my weight stalled, and I thought I was broken. I work out five times a week, look forward to doing cardio and my blood pressure is normal. I am wearing clothes from 10 years ago! I park far from where I am going and love the walk. I don’t look for a booth at restaurants anymore, or seats in a corner so no one will see me eat. I no longer cry myself to sleep wishing I could lose weight. And I’m not crying over food any longer. I don’t live to eat now, I eat to live. And I can get full! My protein shakes, water and vitamins are a very easy routine now.

I still haven’t gotten back on my motorcycle, but that is just because I’ve been too busy exploring my new environment. I never imagined how much my life would change in just 3 ½ months, 66 pounds lighter. I look back at my before pictures and wonder, “Who is that person?” That’s not what I saw in the mirror. My outside is finally catching up with the person I see inside of me. I am finally becoming Jodie again. And with a happy, heavy heart, I welcome her home.

Next month I’ll see family members who have not seen me since before my weight loss. How am I going to handle the whole, “Why are you not eating? Eat more!” question? And I know they are going to ask me how I lost weight. That will be an interesting story. Follow more of Jodie's ongoing weight-loss journey.

For More Information
If you would like to start your own weight-loss journey at Sharp HealthCare, learn more by attending a free informational seminar. To register, call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277) or register online at Sharp weight-loss surgery seminar.