Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The Big Race

It was a lovely day for a run! I had a great time (thanks to my good friend and running partner, Alissa)! My actual time was 56:37 (about 11.5 minute miles) but since I had to stop to use one of the oh-so-lovely port-o-potties conveniently placed along the route, I'm guessing I ran about 11 minute miles overall. At the end, I was doing well and looking back, I certainly could have pushed myself. In fact, this morning I hopped on the tread mill and did a 5k in 32 minutes (under 10-minute miles). So, in the end, the race was a success if for no other reason it motivated me to step things up a notch. Oh, and the fact that I wasn't the last to cross the line after all.


Monday, September 28, 2009

Road Race Results

Results for:Amy Ramsay CenturyTel 5 Mile Run



Bib # 565
Age 35
Gender F
Age Group F 35-39


Finish Results
Finish Time 00:56:37.4
Pace 0:11:19 min/mi
Overall Place 649 out of 729 CenturyTel 5 Mile Run finishers
Division Place 357 out of 420 Womens 5 Mile Run finishers
Age Group Place 57 out of 67 F 35-39 finishers
Gender Rank 357 out of 420 F finishers

Friday, September 25, 2009

Weather Report

I just checked the weather and it looks like it will be cool (55o) and cloudy, but shouldn’t be raining for the run! I'm getting excited but honestly, as I type this, I am starting to get a sickly nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach. Part of me can’t believe I’m really gonna do this and is starting to wonder what I’ll do if I am the dead last person finishing. Ugh!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Six Months Out

I had my six-month follow-up appointment this morning. There have been some pretty obvious changes to my appearance, but I thought I'd let you know the less obvious changes as well:
  • My blood pressure was in the at-risk range but in is now in the optimal range at 118/70.
  • My cholesterol was in the at-risk range. It is now 131 which is well below the normal/optimal of 200.
  • I was insulin resistant/pre-diabetic. My fasting blood sugar is now 77 -- perfectly normal.
  • I had sleep apnea, snored, stopped breathing, and was supposed to use a machine while sleeping. All of the issues related to apnea have been resolved!
  • At my heaviest, I weighed 273 pounds. I am now 160.
  • My BMI at the time of surgery was 43.4. I was morbidly obese. My BMI now is 27.5. I am overweight and am within 15 pounds of being in the "healthy weight" range. I used to get annoyed with people who "only" had 15 pounds to lose.
  • My body fat percentage at the time of surgery was 53%. My body fat percentage is now 34%.
  • I had quite a bit of joint pain especially in my ankles. I now run a 5k at least twice a week and am running in my first 5-mile race this weekend.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Milestones--Five of Them

Okay, so there aren't really mile markers on the treadmill, but I ran 5 miles this morning. When I went to the Y this morning, I really didn't have a plan for my workout today. Then I noticed on the September calendar posted in the locker room that there are only ten days until the Maple Leaf run. Yikes! In ten days I need to be able to run a 5 mile race and even though I have no illusions of having a great time, I do intend to finish the thing. I have been running a few times a week for just over a month and had been working up to longer runs but most weeks I did a 5k (3.12 miles) once or twice and then one 3.5 to 4 mile run. So, instead of a 30 minute elliptical session, I decided I would run. And I did. All five miles. I broke no records--except it was the first time in my life that I ran five miles.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Another 10% Gone!


I've set mini-goals for myself based on the premise that every time a person loses just 10% of her body weight, she sees significant improvement in her health. In fact, many physicians have stopped preaching ideal body weight and instead ask patients to simply lose 10%. The request feels more reasonable and attainable and physicians see greater results when asking for this smaller step.


Questions about Post-op Pregnancy

Many people have asked me about pregnancy after surgery with questions about everything om fertility to nutrition.

Will this make it easier for you to get pregnant?
In general, losing the weight should make it easier for me to become pregnant. As many of you know, I have poly-cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which effects the regularity with which I ovulate. PCOS symptoms include obesity, hair growth, infertility, irregular cycles, painful ovulation, and more. Insulin resistance and inappropriate hormone levels are highly connected to PCOS and the severity of the symptoms. Since fat stores hormones, losing the weight can help achieve an appropriate hormone balance, eliminate insulin resistance, and thus decrease the severity of PCOS, making it more likely to achieve pregnancy.

Since you can't eat that much, is it safe for you to get pregnant?

The key is to have stabilized my weight. Once I am maintaining a consistent weight (usually 12 months post-op), I will find a calorie/activity level that works for me and allows me to maintain a consistent weight. Then, once pregnant, I will add 200-300 calories a day (a couple small nutrient-dense snacks). This calorie increase is the same for all mothers--not just RNY mothers. My surgeon may recommend increasing the dose of my prenatal vitamins and may suggest testing your levels to make sure there are not deficiencies. In general, though, my body gives the baby what he/she needs first and I get the "left-overs", so if there are deficiencies in anything, it would effect me not the baby.

Are there other issues with surgery and pregnancy?

According to Booster Shots, an LA Times health blog, a woman who has weight-loss surgery before becoming pregnant may help break the cycle of obesity in her family, researchers say. A study published today in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that children of obese mothers who had weight-loss surgery before pregnancy have a lower risk of obesity and improved heart health compared with their siblings who were born before the mother had surgery."Full article here: latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/09/obesity-surgery-pregnancy.html