Plateaus - Oh! The Beauty and Granduer.

I looked up plateau in Wikipedia today. Wiki said Plateau has several meanings:

• In geology or earth science, a plateau is an area of relative low relief (i.e., relatively flat) at an important altitude, usually attributed to tectonic uplift or by sediment accumulation. If the uplift was recent, the area may be very flat. If it is highly eroded - a dissected plateau - it may have sharp relief. Also used for submarine areas higher that the normal sea floor depth (oceanic plateau).
• In physiology and human sexuality, plateau refers to the second stage (of four) of sexual arousal in the currently accepted Masters and Johnson model.
• As a proper name, Plateau usually refers to the Belgian mathematician Joseph Plateau (1801-1883).
  • Plateau's problem
  • Plateau's laws
  • Plateau surface
  • Plateau contourΝ
  *A Thousand Plateaus is a 1980 book by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, the second part of Capitalism and Schizophrenia
• Plateau (song) is a Meat Puppets song popularized by Nirvana.

Often when we read of plateaus, we read of its beauty, its grandeur. The majesty of that "imposing precipice and its surrounding geological glory.
The incredible spires rising to the heights that overwhelm the senses.

John Wesley Powell wrote about the Markagunt Plateau in his Exploration of the Colorado River and its Canyons.

"On the north there is a pair of plateaus, twins in age, but very distinct in development, the Paunsagunt and Markagunt... The stupendous cliffs by which these plateaus are bounded are of indescribable grandeur and beauty... Some of the plateaus carry dead volcanoes on their backs that are towering mountains, and all of them are dissected by canyons that are gorges of profound depth. But every one of these plateaus has characteristics peculiar to itself and is worthy of its own chapter."

Lofty, beautiful and serene. Sounds so nice and wonderful. Let me give you a different definition of plateaus.

A plateau refers to an extended period of time during our weight loss efforts where there is no weight loss according to the scale AND no loss of inches according to the tape measure.

Let me say now and out loud. I hate plateaus. Plateaus Suck.

I have been on a plateau for the past 5 days. Have not lost a pound. Not an ounce. At least I have not gained an ounce. I have not increased my eating. Not increased drinking of any sugar drinks. Doing nothing different, but I am in a stall. Going nowhere real fast. As we used to say in the Navy - "Standing Fast". How really does one stand fast anyway? I never really understood that one. I am on a plateau and I hate it.

www.gastricbypassfamily.com talks about 2 different kinds of plateaus.

There are two types of plateaus that occur. The first plateau is the short plateau, lasting 2 weeks to 4 weeks. The short plateau is the kind that all active "dieters" run into throughout their weight loss efforts. It is not necessary to make adjustments for this type of plateau, because your body is simply re-adjusting to your new weight. Over time (2-4 weeks) you will naturally start losing weight again, as long as you continue your healthy diet and exercise program. Patience is all you need to get past a short plateau.

The second type of plateau is the long-term plateau, which lasts for longer than 4 weeks. If you go for more than 4 weeks without losing weight, AND you are continually following a nutritious diet and exercise program (in short, you are doing everything perfectly), then you need to make some changes. A plateau lasting for longer than 4 weeks is because you are no longer asking your body to go beyond its point of comfort. Let me explain this further: When you first start a new way of eating and a new exercise program, everything is a total shock to your body. All of a sudden you are filling the body with good healthy food full of nutrients, and you are pushing your body so that it responds to physical activity. You burn a high number of calories because it requires a ton of effort just to do simple exercise. Over time, you adjust and become more efficient at exercise, and it no longer requires the same amount of calories that it once did. If you do not change your activity, and continue to eat the same amount of food, you will eventually stop losing weight. The same principle applies to food. If you cut your calories down to 1500 per day, and lost 15 pounds this way, your new weight may use that 1500 calories for maintenance now, rather than weight loss. It's as simple as calories in = calories out.

I spoke with my program coordinator and believe I may even have a different issue going on. SWMBO has been on me lately to eat MORE. (She is real smart by the way) (oh, cute too) More you say. Yes, I said more. I am working out three to four times per week. Burning 300-400 calories per workout. I believe my body thinks I am starving and going into some type of protection. Slowing down my metabolism and protecting me. Roxi (GBS Program Coordinator) wants me to increase my calories to 1100-1200 per day. This is going to be hard and I am struggling to get 800 in me every day right now. But increase I will. 1100-1200 calories per day, here we come(still not cookies, shame on you). Good, healthy lean protein, low carb calories. So I will continue to keep you informed as the pounds continue to shed, post plateau, of course.

By the way, did I mention that although beautiful, plateaus blow chunks!

Current Status - 97 days post-op. 108 pounds lost forever. Down 3 Shirt Sizes. Down 14 inches in my pants, ummm, errr waist. Thanks Toony!.

90 Days Post-Op - I Can Live With That!

Face Progression - What a difference 4 months makes.

As I ponder the last year and all the exciting changes that I have experienced, I cannot help but wonder what would have happened to me in the future, if I had not taken the drastic step of Gastric Bypass Surgery. Think about it. This is freaking drastic. I have a pouch, the size of a walnut, that will forever be the receiver of the food that gets delivered to my maw. Let me repeat, the size of a walnut. If I had not had this plumbing change, I would still be eating a 16 ounce steak, a large baked potato, don't forget the salad with cheese, maybe add 2 or 3 glasses of red wine, holy crap, where is my dessert - hmmmm - I'll have the Creme Brulee, and please bring an extra spoon.

It was no wonder I needed a tentmaker to make my clothes and I really don't think I could live with that.

That meal would have cost somewhere around $45.00. Now I eat about 1/4 cup of food per sitting. Yesterday my wife and I went to L&L Hawaiian Barbeque. We ordered the small Teriyaki Chicken Meal. It had the chicken, a scoop of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. $4.81 and we took home leftover chicken and we were both stuffed. Assuming three nights out per week, this life change will save me $120.00 per week, $3,840.00 per year and assuming I am blessed to live another 40 or so years, $152,160.00 over that 40 years.

I can live with that!

Four months ago, I could not walk 1/4 of a mile without extreme pain. It hurt to sit in my chair at work. It hurt to get out of bed. Hell, it hurt to get in bed. I would walk one flight of stairs, and could not talk for 10 minutes, trying to recover my breathing to normal. I had high blood pressure, I had been talking blood pressure medications for 15 years. I had trouble tying my shoes, putting on my socks. I was tired all the time. I had not been to the gym in years. I couldn't golf anymore. I couldn't play softball. I really couldn't even play house! Basically, my life physically, pretty much sucked.

I am sure that I couldn't have lived like that,well, not much longer anyways.

Today the only thing that hurts is my coxxix. I just like saying that word. Coxxix. Seems as I lose my ASS, I have less padding, and that oh so precious butt padding put less pressure on my tail bone. It is getting better, but that is all thats is really bothering me. I am working out 4-5 times per week. This week Monday, 45 minutes on the treadmill averaging 3 mph. Worked upper body on resistance weights, then I went to the batting cages and hit softballs for 30 minutes. No pain after workout or the next day, except for the coxxix. Then today (Tuesday) another 35 minutes on the treadmill averaging 3 mph and 30 minutes on the resistance weights working the lower body. Lucky me, my coxxix does not hurt today. Oh, and I have not taken any Blood Pressure medications since the day before the surgery and my BP is normal. How cool is that?

I know I can live with this!

Even though I have never thought myself a depressed personality type, I wonder now if I wasn't really depressed and just did not acknowledge it. I think back 4 months ago, and I really did not like visiting my customers. People who did not know me, automatically thought I was lazy and did not work hard. How could I get that fat, and be a good worker. I had to work extra hard to prove that I was not lazy, yet I was too tired and hurting so much, there is no way I could do my job with the utmost excellence. I hated getting out of bed in the morning. I was exhausted by 3:00 PM and of course needed a candy bar to get me through the afternoon.

I could have lived with that, but not for very long!

I love going to work now. I love going and seeing my customers. I have lots of energy. I know they are not judging me because of my size. I am shrinking right before them in width and depth, but growing in stature as I better serve them and meet their needs. Many have not even recognized me with the changes, but all are very happy for me. I am even closing more deals now, more confidence, better looking, stronger presence.

I can definitely live with this!

So where am I you ask. I will tell you. I am in a very good place. I am healthy, eating right, happy and content in my skin. I am in the gym. I am in the batting cage. I like myself, I am ready for whatever comes at me. I love getting up in the morning. I am loving playing house again and everything is really, really good!

I am in a really good place, except for my coxxix, but, I know, I can live with that!

11 Weeks Post Op - The Century Club

Everything is still happening so fast. First I cannot believe that I am 10 days away from being exactly 3 months post op. Secondly, and more importantly, I cannot believe that I have lost 100 pounds. That is correct, as of this morning, I am down 100 pounds from my 10 day pre-op weight. 100 pounds in 89 days. Over 1 pound per day.

When I tell people that, the first question that I am asked is "Is that healthy?"

The answer is yes, as long as I continue to follow my Surgeons directions. First, we WLS patients need to take our vitamins. Who would have thought that life would come full circle for us. When I was a child, I remember my Mom nagging me daily, "did you take your vitamins?" Try, they were the yummy Flintstone vitamins, but here I am, 40 years later, Mom ahas been replaced by SWMBO (She who must be obeyed), but the question is still the same. "Did you take your vitamins?" Now the vitamin type and ingredients is also very important. We as GBS patients, obviously have a restrictive component to our "Pouch" but as important, we have a malabsorbative component, which prevents us from absorbing calcium and many B complex vitamins. The vitamins that I take has a very high concentration of Vitamin B12, helping to prevent the B-Complex deficiency and I also take extra supplements of calcium. All my blood work is normal and I am currently having it checked monthly.


The last month has been rather emotional. It started with an old pair of Levi's. How can a pair of levi's cause an emotional event? It is easy, they fit. That's it, they just fit. I had not been able to wear those, oh so perfect, soft denim jeans for over 5 years. The ones that are frayed on the bottom at the back of the leg, from wearing them with my flip flops. You know, those jeans. They were 10 inches smaller that the pants that I had been wearing pre-op. I put them on about a 2 or 3 weeks ago, and they fit. Those of you that don't have weight problems, are just not going to understand this, but many of you are reading this blog, because you have had GBS or are contemplating it. We call these wow moments. There will be many wow moments for those of us that are Morbidly Obese or Super Morbidly Obese. Here are some Wow's I have already accomplished and some I am still waiting for.

Easily tying my shoes
Shopping someplace else but the fat guy store ( politically correctly called "The Big and Tall Store")
Not asking for an extension belt from the flight attendant ( I now have a collection for sale.)
Fitting in the Airplane Lavatory
Walking a mile without pain

There are many many more that I am looking forward to.

One thing I have noticed, is the negative perception that many seem to have about the procedure. Particularly Oprah Winfrey and others in positions like her. Many think that this surgery is the "Easy way out" for an obese person. This surgery is by no means "The Easy Way out!" She seems to have a much greater respect for those that lose weight, by working out, or dieting (what she calls, normally) and much less respect for those of us that have had the GBS. Just like 'The Dieters", we still count calories, exercise 4-5 times per week, limit portions, eat healthy, we as GBS patients not have a 50% success level at losing and keeping the weight off. Where those who do not have GBS only have a 5% success rate. I will never be able to sit down and eat a 16 ounce steak again, I can't, it is impossible. I can no longer do things, food wise that I have enjoyed for over 40 years. This is hard, and no one, not even you Oprah, have a clue about how difficult it is, unless you have had the procedure.

It is not the easy way out and it is not meant to be!

So here I am. 100 pounds less than I was 3 months ago. Learning to shop at the Goodwill, learning to eat good and Loving this life. That is a quote from my new friend Shereeks and brought to life by my buddy Gwen in the UK. This will not change. I really love this life!