I May Be Slow, But I'm Doing It

I don't work out NEARLY enough.  It is a major downfall I have.  I always have good intentions, but the follow through doesn't always happen.  I know if I start working out more, the scale will move more, and right now.... I REALLY want that.  I miss having those 3-5 pound losses (or more) every week like I did in the beginning.  Now, I'm lucky if I get a 1 pound loss lately.  I had one good 4 pound loss a couple weeks ago, but other than that.... it's been very slow going.  I finally forced myself to go for a walk/run yesterday.  I found this app a while back called Map My Walk that uses GPS to track your mileage and time.  Looking through my (very short) work out history on the app, I realized that even though these workouts are spaced way far out, each time I go for a walk/run I get a little faster.  It's not much... but seeing that made me SO HAPPY!! And Motivated to do more!  And even better..... the scale was DOWN 1.6 pounds this morning! 

I used to HATE running.  I couldn't have run if my life depended on it.  If I were in a Zombie apocalypse, I might as well have just laid down and waited to be eaten.  When I first started trying to "run" it was more of just an awkward walk thingy where I lifted my knees a little higher and swung my arms a little more.  But now, I can actually jog.  I'm slower than a turtle walking through molasses and I don't "run" as far as I would like, but.... hey, I'm doing it.  And looking at the results above, I'm getting better.  If I keep it up, eventually, I might just be able to beat that turtle. 

Morning Naked Weigh In - Week 34

WooHoo!! Finally a Good Loss!!

Total for the week: -4.4 pounds

Total Lost So Far: 73 Pounds

Knowing When To Stop

One of the hardest things for me to learn since having my Gastric Bypass surgery has been WHEN TO STOP eating, ESPECIALLY if what I'm eating is very good. I think this issue is one of the leading causes to me being SO overweight.
I don't eat anywhere near the amount I used to eat, but I still catch myself saying "one more bite" especially if it's really yummy, usually regretting that decision immediately. Sometimes I'll eat until I'm full, and stop like a good girl, but as I sit at the table and everyone else is still eating I continue to "pick" at my food until everyone else is done, eating more than I originally intended.
This is such a dangerous habit that needs to be broken. By pushing the limit I know I can, and eventually will, stretch out my stomach, and I do NOT want that to happen. I must learn to slow waaay down and really pay attention and STOP at that "satisfied" moment EVERY time. I don't have to eat until I'm "full". I did NOT get this surgery and go through all that I've been through to wind up remaining over weight.
Change doesn't occur over night. I'm miles away from the person I used to be but a lifetime of bad habits doesn't just go away. But I'm aware of them. And I'm actively working on changing them.   When I think about how much my attitude towards food has changed JUST in the past 7 months, I'm amazed.  I'm not perfect and never will be.  I am so much better than I was, and I will become much better than I am now.

"Cookie Dough" Greek Yogurt

I Found this Recipe on Pinterest...

Add the following ingredients to a small

container of Greek Yogurt:

 1tbsp of creamy peanut butter (or PB2)

1tsp of Honey

1/4 tsp of Vanilla Extract

1tbsp of Miniature Chocolate Chips

Dash of Sea Salt

I forgot to grab Honey from the grocery store

so made mine without the honey. 

Even so, it was pretty good.  I'm NOT a fan

of Greek Yogurt but this was pretty good.
While this doesn't taste exactly like Cookie Dough,
it is a nice healthy alternative when you have a
sweet tooth and a great way to get in Protein for the day. 

Daily Weighing - Pros and Cons

I'm usually a Daily Weigh-er.  

First thing in the morning, before getting into the shower, I jump on the scale and record my weight for the day.  I like weighing first thing in the morning, before I've had anything to eat or drink, butt-naked, because it takes a way a lot of the factors that can effect your weight, such as clothes and water retention. For me, Daily Weighing keeps me on track, I find I do better this way.  But I've heard of others that hide their scale during the week because they find themselves obsessing over the numbers.

Here is  a short list of PRO'S that I have found in DAILY WEIGHING.

1.  It gives me focus during the week, and is a daily reminder to eat right and exercise.  When I weighed only once a week, I found myself thinking "It's OK, I have the rest of the week to work it off". 

2.  I can see on any given day how the foods I ate and exercise I did (or did not do) that day effected me, such as water retention, etc. 

3.  When the scale is down, I am even MORE motivated that day to eat right and exercise.

4.  By keeping track all week, I have a pretty good idea of what my official weigh in will be on Sunday, so do not get that crushing feeling when it is not a good loss.  If it's been a bad week, I already know.

 And now for a short list of CON'S in DAILY WEIGHING

1.  It can lead to frustration at times because your weight naturally fluctuates throughout the week. 

2.  I've read other's say that they find themselves obsessing over the numbers on the scale, and would rather focus on inches lost. 

3.  Muscle weighs more than fat, so if working out a lot, the scale may be going up instead of down, even though you are losing inches. 

4.  When the scale goes UP despite eating right and staying on plan,  it may lead to frustration, and for some, make it easier to give into temptation.  At the same time, when the scale goes DOWN despite giving into temptation it may make it easier to go off plan, knowing last time you still come away with a loss. 

NON SCALE VICTORY!!

Last night when I was getting dressed to go to the gym, I grabbed one of my old XL T-Shirts to try it on, just to see how close I am to being able to wear it again. Guess What!?  IT FIT!!!!
YES!!!  I was so excited!  Later, on the treadmill, when I started feeling self conscious in front of all the people there working out looking all cute in their workout gear, I reminded myself that I was wearing an XL T-Shirt!! And that is coming from a 3X!!  I may not look all cute in my work out clothes now, or even FIT into the cute workout clothes yet, but I'M ON MY WAY!!

Morning Naked Weigh In - Week 11

This week I ended with a LOSS!

Woo hoo!!!

It was up slightly from yesterday morning

but I still ended with a loss.

Weigh in results this morning:

258.0

That's a 3.4lb loss for the week.

Total loss so far:  

42 pounds! 

YES!!!

Company Christmas Party

Yesterday we had our Christmas Party. 

We went over to Homewood Suites where

we had H'ors doeurves and drinks.

There was imported cheeses, fruit, meats, dips,

grilled vegetables, sliders, and chicken quesadillas.

To drink there was Wine, Water, and Beer. 

Oh, and Hot Apple Cider.

 

I made a small plate of some of the veggies,

some guacamole dip, spinach artichoke dip, and

one chicken quesadilla.   I ate a little of each dip 

and had about three bites of my quesadilla, and I was full.

I wish I could have had a glass of wine, but knew better.

Instead, since I do not like water, I got a cup of Apple Cider,

until I realized Cider has sugar in it, and I was afraid I would

get too much and get sick.  So I only took a few sips.

 

The party was fun, but I must admit I felt a little awkward.

Everyone was all dressed up, drinking, relaxed, 

and having a great time.  I've never been great in social situations

anyways, unless it is with close  friends. 

And while I have lost some weight, I still have A LONG

way to go! But I did have several people comment that 

I was looking great, and they had noticed I had lost weight.

I guess with the wine and beer flowing, they lost some of 

their inhibitions and felt free to comment.

That was nice....

I look forward to next year,

when I have lost much more weight,

and I can really get dressed up...

The New "Normal"

This past week I was finally out of the Liquid and Soft Food stages.

Being on solid foods, I was able to eat pretty much

what everyone else was eating…. just less of it.

I no longer feel like a WLS “Patient“.

This is my new “Normal”.

My official “Weigh In” day was yesterday,

and even though I ended this week

 without a LOSS,

I’m not going to get down about that.

 I know I will have some weeks where I don’t lose,

and others where I have a big loss.

As long as I continue doing what I’m supposed to,

making good food choices, I know the weight

WILL come off.

AND....  this morning, the scale was DOWN a pound.

THIS is what I thought the Lap Band was

going to be like.

I wish I had just went with the Gastric Bypass

all those years ago, instead of battling with

the Band for 7 years.

Post Op Visit

My Post Op Visit:

From my first initial consultation, I was down 27 pounds.

They removed my Staples and said everything looked good.

I had one incision that was leaking after the staple removal,

but the doctor said it was fine and sent me home with extra steri-strips.

I had been having a lot of trouble with nausea and diarrhea on a daily basis.

It was not due to over eating, eating too fast, or eating foods that are not allowed.

I hadn't been able to experiment with food yet, because I was always feeling sick.

All I drank was water, but that made me nauseous too, so was not getting

in all my water or Protein requirements. 

The doctor said sometimes after Gastric Bypass
it takes your body a while to get used to things and that is probably

what was going on, but said he wanted me to go back on liquids

and if my stomach issues were not better in a week or got worse,

to let them know and they would do an Endoscopy

to see if there is any restriction at the incision 

where my intestines meet my stomach.

The doctor said sometimes this can occur, 

and if so, he would use a balloon to widen the opening.

The doctor also said to keep trying different protein supplements

(the protein supplements that I was taking before the surgery

 were making me nauseous) until I found one that

 would sit well on my stomach.

He did release me to go back to work that Monday.

 

Even though the recovery period took longer than expected,

and was very hard on me,  I do not regret my decision.

It was all worth it.

Gastric Bypass - Complications and Recovery

Monday, October 28, 2013 I had my 

Roux-En-Y (RNY) Gastric Bypass Procedure done.

The doctor had said before surgery, there was  a possibility

that once he got in, depending on scar tissue, etc.

he might have to just remove the Lap Band 

and then let my stomach heal for a few months 

before performing the Gastric Bypass.

Another possibility, he said, was that if my lower intestine did

not cooperate, and would not move up to where he needed it

to, that he may have to perform the Gastric Sleeve instead.

Once he got in, The doctor found that

 I had a Hernia in my stomach.

THANK GOODNESS he was able to 

go ahead and remove the Hernia, remove the lap band, 

AND he was successfully able to perform the Gastric Bypass.

I woke in recovery HURTING.  

I don’t remember much about it, but I remember

asking about my heart. My chest was hurting, 

and it scared me because it reminded me of when I went in for 

Gall Bladder Surgery, and woke up in the ICU

with my Chest hurting, and found out my heart had stopped.

I don’t remember what they said about my Chest hurting, 

but all had gone well.

I think the hardest part about my first two days post surgery

 was not being able to drink anything.  NOT EVEN ICE CHIPS!!

I never knew your mouth and tongue could get THAT Dry.  

It was awful.

I didn’t get hungry or crave food.  

All I could think about was a glass of

ICE WATER!! 

...and I don’t even like water.  LOL.

When I was finally able to drink and eat ice chips  I was so relieved.

Unfortunately, however, I was limited to 30ml 

(or 1 ounce) every HOUR.

So… as far as getting my thirst quenched 

and my dry mouth solved?  Not so much.

I went home on Wednesday, October 30th.  

We waited all day to see if I was

going to be released, and finally shortly after 6pm, 

we got the news I could go home.

Knowing I was going to have trouble sleeping in our 

bed due to the pain in my abdomen,

my husband had gone to the Habitat For Humanity Re-Store

and purchased a recliner for $50.00. 

THANK GOODNESS he did!!

There is no way I would have been able to lay flat.

I spent all my recovery time in that recliner.

The day after I was released was Halloween.

A relative took the kids Trick Or Treating and my oldest

daughter stayed home to take care of me.

My husband was going to return to work 

the next day so had gone to bed.

Late that evening, after the kids returned home,

I began to hurt worse than I had before.

The pain medicine I was sent home with 

really wasn’t taking the pain away, either.

I had just finished doing the breathing exercise

 they instructed me to do with the aspirator 

they sent me home with, so thought maybe 

I had swallowed some air and it was gas making me hurt, 

so I took some gas medicine.

A little bit later, I started feeling very nauseous.  

I took my anti-nausea medicine but it didn’t help.  

My daughter kept wanting to wake my husband up,

but I told her to let him sleep, he had work the next day.

Around 9:00pm I started throwing up 

and finally told her to wake Dad.

He called my Surgeons office, 

and was given the doctor’s cell number.

But the doctor did not answer and wasn’t  returning the call.

My husband said he would wait 30 more minutes,

then he was taking me back to the hospital.

But 5 minutes later I was throwing up again. 

He said “alright, that's it, Let’s go”.

We went back to the same hospital I had the surgery in, 

thinking that they would be better equipped, 

having my records, etc.

When I got there, the ER Doctor didn’t have any knowledge of

Gastric Bypass, and kept asking the same questions over and over.

The hospital began calling the doctor as well, 

but he was not answering for them either.

The tried numerous times to reach him.

Luckily, the ER Nurse had worked in a critical care unit

years ago at a Bariatric Center, 

and was familiar with Gastric Bypass.

He thought I was experiencing the “Dumping Syndrome”.

I told him I had been very careful not to go over my

1 oz of liquid in the allotted time, 

but he said sometimes it happens anyway.

They gave me two different anti-nausea medicines, 

but it did not help.

FINALLY, the surgeon called back, and said to admit me,

take me off all fluids, (not even ice chips) again, 

and ordered a CT Scan.