Doug and I decided to go to the State Fair today. We got there pretty early, around 9:30ish, and as soon as we walked in he got a big, juicy turkey leg. Mmmm. Of course I had to have two little nibbles, it was so tasty. Chew, chew, chewed it to death.
A while later, after we walked to the other side of the fairgrounds, he got some cheese curds. I took one small one, peeled off the greasy batter, and slowly enjoyed the gooey cheese inside. Heavenly. I really wanted to be careful so I wouldn't have any "issues," that's why I took the batter off. It would have been too greasy for me and I probably would have had to run to a bathroom. We looked for the chocolate-covered bacon, but didn't find it. I don't know if I would have even attempted a taste, pure grease and sugar which would have been a disaster, although I have not had any problems with anything I've eaten so far.
Then he made me taste his beer!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaah! I'm not supposed to have any alcohol for 6 mos. to a year (depending on who you listen to), and I'm really just shy of 4 weeks out from surgery. LOL, but I really only had enough to get the taste in my mouth (he said it was good, I was like "it's ok, beer is beer to me"). So yes, I was the ultimate rule-breaker today.
Sorry AGAIN, Queen!! ; )
On the good side though, we did a LOT of walking. Oh yeah, and the scale finally moved this morning, it was down about 1.5 lbs. since yesterday. It hasn't moved for almost 2 weeks now, not one bit. So that was good. Maybe with all the walking today it'll be good tomorrow.
We were only there about 3 1/2 hours, and it was getting so crowded it wasn't even fun anymore. I really need to learn to retrain myself though, on the way out we got some iced coffee (mine decaf, skim milk, sugar-free syrup...yes, I've turned into one of those "very specific order" people), and I ordered us each a 16-oz., not thinking that I couldn't drink that much. Duh. Oh well, Doug drank it (not knowing it was decaf), so it didn't go to waste. I just need to remember that I need to get a SMALL, not medium or large anymore.
In time...
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Starvation Mode!
Well, I've hit my first plateau already! The scale hasn't moved for a good 3-4 days, even though I'm barely taking in any calories. I think my body knows it's in starvation mode, and is hanging onto every little, or big, fat cell it can!
Here's where the good doctor's advice about the scale comes into play though. I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing....well, mostly. Enough so that I should still be losing weight. I haven't really done a lot of exercise yet though, but my plan is to get back at it as soon as school starts next week. I'll start with M-W-F mornings on the treadmill, and then bump it up to every weekday morning within a week or two at the most. That'll help. I was really faithful and good about my morning exercise last spring, then along came summer off and odd hours, working for others, etc. and I really fell off the exercise wagon. But I'm ready to get back on.
It'll also help once I can eat real food for meals, and the other bodily functions that come with eating kick back in regularly. : ) I am SO sick of protein drinks, I really don't know if I can choke down another one. I think I'll start making smoothies with yogurt and stuff and add some unflavored protein. We'll see how that goes. I got some V8 Splash tonight, that might make a good smoothie (Mango Peach, yum!). Only a few more days and I can "legally" have pureed food (ok, so I have cheated a tad bit). My first meal is gonna be pureed fat-free refried beans with cheese and sour cream. Oh my gosh that sounds good. I picked up some Panera Chick-pea Turkey Chili tonight too, I might freeze that for a few days and puree that too. Yummy.
But for now I'll just keep doing what I know to do and wait. That's pretty much all I can do anyway! : )
Here's where the good doctor's advice about the scale comes into play though. I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing....well, mostly. Enough so that I should still be losing weight. I haven't really done a lot of exercise yet though, but my plan is to get back at it as soon as school starts next week. I'll start with M-W-F mornings on the treadmill, and then bump it up to every weekday morning within a week or two at the most. That'll help. I was really faithful and good about my morning exercise last spring, then along came summer off and odd hours, working for others, etc. and I really fell off the exercise wagon. But I'm ready to get back on.
It'll also help once I can eat real food for meals, and the other bodily functions that come with eating kick back in regularly. : ) I am SO sick of protein drinks, I really don't know if I can choke down another one. I think I'll start making smoothies with yogurt and stuff and add some unflavored protein. We'll see how that goes. I got some V8 Splash tonight, that might make a good smoothie (Mango Peach, yum!). Only a few more days and I can "legally" have pureed food (ok, so I have cheated a tad bit). My first meal is gonna be pureed fat-free refried beans with cheese and sour cream. Oh my gosh that sounds good. I picked up some Panera Chick-pea Turkey Chili tonight too, I might freeze that for a few days and puree that too. Yummy.
But for now I'll just keep doing what I know to do and wait. That's pretty much all I can do anyway! : )
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Visit with the surgeon
I went to the surgeon's office yesterday for my "1-week" checkup (although it was more like 12 days because that's as soon as they could get me in). Everything's fine, going as well as can be. Except I want to EAT!! : )
But the wise old man, who I'm quite sure has never in his life had a weight problem, had some very good advice (which sadly I probably won't follow, at least for now).
He asked me if I "was a weigher." Huh? I thought he asked if I "was aware." LOL, anyway, he meant "did I weigh myself a lot, like daily, hourly, etc." I told him just in the mornings. He said to stop. His advice was that "the scale can do nothing good for us. As long as you're doing what you're supposed to be doing and following the program, everything will work and you have no need to weigh yourself. The scale can be evil, if you don't lose weight you just get angry at it and depressed and want to give up, if you do lose weight you might think you deserve a treat and go easier on yourself and get off track. So just don't use it."
Hmm. Ok. Makes perfect sense to me. But this morning it said I'd lost another pound. : )
I can't just stop. At this point it's too much fun. I don't think the doc really understands the love/hate relationship we have with our scales (well, maybe he does, but...)
I got some more protein shakes and unflavored protein yesterday to add to my not-yet-pureed-food diet (meaning I can have things like pudding, strained cream soups, etc.). I'll give that a try today. I really am so sick of drinking my food, I can't tell ya. I know it's gonna get a LOT better in just a few weeks, but this seems like it's been going on forEVER.
Yesterday while driving back from the surgeon's, I was keenly aware of how many restaurants there are everywhere. It was all I could see! And if it wasn't a restaurant in my view, it was a billboard for a restaurant. I'm not really obsessed, I just was highly aware! And the radio...it's like every other ad was for some kind of food or restaurant, not to mention tv ads. Good thing I don't watch a lot of tv! It's no wonder so many of us are overweight, really, if you open your eyes and ears to how much food pushing is going on in America, it's truly amazing.
But the wise old man, who I'm quite sure has never in his life had a weight problem, had some very good advice (which sadly I probably won't follow, at least for now).
He asked me if I "was a weigher." Huh? I thought he asked if I "was aware." LOL, anyway, he meant "did I weigh myself a lot, like daily, hourly, etc." I told him just in the mornings. He said to stop. His advice was that "the scale can do nothing good for us. As long as you're doing what you're supposed to be doing and following the program, everything will work and you have no need to weigh yourself. The scale can be evil, if you don't lose weight you just get angry at it and depressed and want to give up, if you do lose weight you might think you deserve a treat and go easier on yourself and get off track. So just don't use it."
Hmm. Ok. Makes perfect sense to me. But this morning it said I'd lost another pound. : )
I can't just stop. At this point it's too much fun. I don't think the doc really understands the love/hate relationship we have with our scales (well, maybe he does, but...)
I got some more protein shakes and unflavored protein yesterday to add to my not-yet-pureed-food diet (meaning I can have things like pudding, strained cream soups, etc.). I'll give that a try today. I really am so sick of drinking my food, I can't tell ya. I know it's gonna get a LOT better in just a few weeks, but this seems like it's been going on forEVER.
Yesterday while driving back from the surgeon's, I was keenly aware of how many restaurants there are everywhere. It was all I could see! And if it wasn't a restaurant in my view, it was a billboard for a restaurant. I'm not really obsessed, I just was highly aware! And the radio...it's like every other ad was for some kind of food or restaurant, not to mention tv ads. Good thing I don't watch a lot of tv! It's no wonder so many of us are overweight, really, if you open your eyes and ears to how much food pushing is going on in America, it's truly amazing.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Neighborhood walk
Ok, I went for my walk this morning (I DID do the 2.4 mile walk the other day, and it kicked my butt!). Today I probably went a mile, I'll track it sometime in the van.
Anyway, I decided maybe I needed motivation to get out there, so I took my camera along and just took random shots of stuff I think is pretty/interesting/cool/whatever.
This is where I barter soap for farm fresh eggs!
Looks like a cool kids' hideaway!
Somebody has time to garden...and it's not me.
Aaaaaah....it's Grandmother Willow!!
Just some pretty weeds and fences.
Black-eyed Susans
The only crack houses I know of in our neighborhood!
Patterns in the driveway.
Field in blue.
Nature's patterns
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Odd Comment
Yesterday I was doing a craft show, and the lady behind me had clothing. Supposedly she crafted them in some way (she kept telling people she did the beadwork on them, but I seriously doubt it, it was definitely manufactured clothing). Anyway, I bought this really funky cool sweater and a shirt from her (both wildly more than I'd usually spend, but I had soap cash in hand and decided to get 'em cause I loved them). We got to talking about my surgery because she offered me a frozen fruit bar, and I said I couldn't, telling her I had to be careful of sugar right now, and why. I really don't care who knows I've had the surgery.
She said "Well, I'm surprised they let you have that surgery, you're not that big!" LOL, sorta took me aback (she's a very outspoken type person). Um...ok, being 100 lbs. overweight is "not that big?" That was similar to the comment the nurse gave me when I went in for my initial visit at the surgeon's office. I had stepped on the scale, and when we got to the room, she was putting info in and they take a picture of you that day, and she said pretty much the same thing, "I never would have guessed you weighed that much."
I sorta felt the same way when I looked at the pictures Doug took the day of surgery, sorta like "I guess I didn't really look that bad" but knowing that I can and will look, and more importantly, feel, 100 times better taking 100 lbs. off my back.
The scale officially went below 20 lb. loss this morning, it was 240.4 (down from 260.9). Today's August 17th, surgery was just on the 6th! I can't hardly believe that in just a few days I'll be in the 230s where just really days ago I was in the 260s. It's surreal to say the least.
Tomorrow I go see the surgeon for my "1-week" checkup, it was the earliest appt. they had available after surgery. I have a few questions for him, but otherwise I'm doing very well and very happy I went through with this!
She said "Well, I'm surprised they let you have that surgery, you're not that big!" LOL, sorta took me aback (she's a very outspoken type person). Um...ok, being 100 lbs. overweight is "not that big?" That was similar to the comment the nurse gave me when I went in for my initial visit at the surgeon's office. I had stepped on the scale, and when we got to the room, she was putting info in and they take a picture of you that day, and she said pretty much the same thing, "I never would have guessed you weighed that much."
I sorta felt the same way when I looked at the pictures Doug took the day of surgery, sorta like "I guess I didn't really look that bad" but knowing that I can and will look, and more importantly, feel, 100 times better taking 100 lbs. off my back.
The scale officially went below 20 lb. loss this morning, it was 240.4 (down from 260.9). Today's August 17th, surgery was just on the 6th! I can't hardly believe that in just a few days I'll be in the 230s where just really days ago I was in the 260s. It's surreal to say the least.
Tomorrow I go see the surgeon for my "1-week" checkup, it was the earliest appt. they had available after surgery. I have a few questions for him, but otherwise I'm doing very well and very happy I went through with this!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Slight torture...
Ok, last night I was working the Farmers' Market and sat there looking around at all the BEAUTIFUL fresh vegetables and, while "sad" isn't the word, I couldn't help thinking that it's too bad I can't have some of that right now. Everything looks so good and so fresh and so deliciously tempting!
Corn on the cob, fresh green beans, squash, beets (a new veggie I like a lot), fresh baked cookies and scones...it all looked SO yummy. And I can't have a bite! I have to keep in mind that yes, I will be able to have it all again, just in time. I should have done this in the dead of winter!!
Today I'm gonna start with the creamed soups. Mmmmm. Maybe I'll be able to get my fix of tomato, I bought some tomato basil soup. Yesterday I did have a little bit of pear applesauce, I just had a taste in my mouth I could not get rid of (protein drinks perhaps?) and needed to put some real food in there to get rid of it. It worked, no harm done, and it was good.
I can't believe how fast the scale has been moving, this morning it said 241.6. That's 19.3 lbs. in just about 10 days! Sorta reminds me of one of those tv commercials..."Would you like to lose 20 pounds in just one week?! Well we've got just what you need!" And of course it would never be true.
In a few minutes I'm finally gonna get my butt moving towards exercise, and go for a walk around the block (2.4 mile). I might be slow at it, but I'll do it. And then I know I'll feel terrific the rest of the day!
Corn on the cob, fresh green beans, squash, beets (a new veggie I like a lot), fresh baked cookies and scones...it all looked SO yummy. And I can't have a bite! I have to keep in mind that yes, I will be able to have it all again, just in time. I should have done this in the dead of winter!!
Today I'm gonna start with the creamed soups. Mmmmm. Maybe I'll be able to get my fix of tomato, I bought some tomato basil soup. Yesterday I did have a little bit of pear applesauce, I just had a taste in my mouth I could not get rid of (protein drinks perhaps?) and needed to put some real food in there to get rid of it. It worked, no harm done, and it was good.
I can't believe how fast the scale has been moving, this morning it said 241.6. That's 19.3 lbs. in just about 10 days! Sorta reminds me of one of those tv commercials..."Would you like to lose 20 pounds in just one week?! Well we've got just what you need!" And of course it would never be true.
In a few minutes I'm finally gonna get my butt moving towards exercise, and go for a walk around the block (2.4 mile). I might be slow at it, but I'll do it. And then I know I'll feel terrific the rest of the day!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Girl Clothes!!
Today was a cool day! My plan for the day was to stay home and clean out my closet of clothes that already are too big. But Carol changed my plans for me and we spent the day wandering (and losing at the casino). It was fun.But it was SO exciting for me...this morning I dumped out the bag of smaller clothes onto my bed to see what was in there, cause I haven't looked at it in ages. There was this top that I bought a long time ago that never fit, and I thought "What the heck, I'm down about 17 lbs....let's try it on." And it FIT! And I felt like a GIRL (ok, woman!).
It wasn't the usual plain, man's tshirt that I always wear, and that was a HUGE deal for me. I felt prettier. I was excited to be able to wear GIRL clothes.
The day was an adventure, and...I cheated a little. ; ) We stopped at a restaurant, cause regular people still need to eat, and I was hoping they'd have chicken noodle soup and I could order a cup and slurp the broth. No go. The choices were cream of chicken, or wild rice. So I ordered the cream of chicken, thinking it would be ok.
Well, it came and was thick. Really thick. So I licked the spoon, LOL! It tasted so good, even though I'm still not feeling any hunger pains at all. Actually I pulled the spoon out of the cupful four or five times and licked it off! I was fine, no adverse side affects. It's really only a few days early, and I really didn't have all that much, I'm sure not even a teaspoonful of soup, so I think it was ok. I guess it's too late to worry about it now. Sorry, Queen...I guess I can't follow the rules for anything (I told her I was gonna follow drs. orders to a T)!!
Oh, and I DID get my closet cleaned out when I came home, and put in all the smaller clothes I have so I can see what my options are and what to look forward to. I've got several bags to go to Goodwill (my favorite store!).Monday, August 11, 2008
On my way...
I had gastric bypass surgery on 8/6/08, which as of today is just five days ago. It seems I've always been fat, or at least as long as my memory will let me think back to. It's been about 25 years or more since I had a decent weight, not that I haven't tried. I decided almost a year ago to look into gastric bypass after seeing a co-worker drop weight and look and feel so much healthier. Heck, she even looked taller! And she sure smiled a lot more!
So my journey really began last October when I went to the first informational meeting. From then it was fulfilling all the insurance requirements which involved a psych evaluation (ah, fun!) and 6 months of supervised weight loss. It really did go pretty fast (ok, I can say that now!).
Last Wednesday morning I went in for surgery, and everything went as good as it can possibly go! "Textbook surgery, everthing went step-by-step like it's supposed to" is what the surgeon said. It was done laparascopically, so I have seven small incisions in my stomach. They're itchy now but will be better once the tapes come off. Anyway, once I came out of the groggy anesthesia, things just started looking better and better. Of course it helped as soon as I could brush my teeth too! I came home Thursday evening. Pretty much I just felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach...repeatedly. Other than that it wasn't too bad. I didn't even have any pain meds after leaving the hospital! Heck, I even went to Walmart with my kids on Friday evening just to get out and do something (they drove), I was so bored. I'm not a "sit still" kind of person anyway, and I can only do so much tv or reading at a time (though I love to read).
I bought new digital scale because I didn't want to use our old one because you can gain/lose 5 pounds by how you stand on it! So ok, here goes...Last November when I went to the surgeon's office for the first time, I weighed in at...oh Lord....273 pounds! OMG! That's ridiculous. I think my highest ever was about 285. Ok, whew, now that that's out, we get to the happier part. Last Wednesday in the hospital I weighed in at 260.9. That was five days ago, but I didn't eat anything on Tuesday either. So I have really had six days of no food, just liquids.
I jumped on the scale this morning, and I do it several times because I just can't believe this is truly happening. This morning it read 247.8! HOW can that be? That's 13 pounds in six days of no food!!
Awe and disbelief. That's what I'm going through now. I'm in awe just watching myself, LOL. I took a picture of my face last night and I can see a huge difference already, mostly in my cheeks. I can't wrap my mind around the fact that this is really happening, and happening permanently. This is not the old lose some-gain it back game! I'm really, truly, gonna be skinny! For real! For real! I get so excited when I think of it.
Now, about what I'm really going through food/hunger wise...I am NOT hungry! Not one tiny bit. At all! It's amazing. I am supposed to, and have been doing well at it, drink 64 oz. of fluid each day, which means constant sipping to get it all in because my stomach can only hold about an oz. at a time right now. That'll change over the next year and I'll be able to eat somewhat normally. I am SO sick of crystal light, water, more crystal light, watered-down crystal light, more water, etc.! Last night I got some groceries (the rest of the family still has to eat!) and got myself some brothy soups and sugar-free popsicles, which are allowed. Oh, my, gosh! I warmed up the vegetable soup just to barely warm (have to keep things somewhat room temp right now for a while) and strained out all the good vegetables, meat and potatoes, and drank the broth. I was in heaven! Then I got to have a popsicle, and it tasted so unbelievably good I can't tell you! I was just so sick of drinking the same old same old that a new taste just was indescribable! I can't have anything other than clear liquids until next Saturday, then I can start on strained cream soups. Mmmmm. Cream of Mushroom without the mushrooms! : )
The reason I need to be on clear liquids is because my stomach has really gone through major trauma (um, being cut in two is major trauma I guess!) and is swollen and needs time to heal before I try putting things into it. After 10 days of clear liquids then I get about another 10 days of the cream (slightly thicker but still no chunks) soups. Then, week 3, I get to start on pureed foods, then a week after that I get to start chewing my own food! THAT's another major part of my boredom with water, I want to CHEW something!! I can't have gum because that causes gas in your stomach when you swallow air, and that's not good for the little stomach either. So I can't chew a darn thing.
One of the hardest things so far is not just grabbing something that looks good, like the jar of peanuts sitting on the counter, and sticking some in my mouth, which has been habit forever and probably a big reason I ended up this way to begin with. On Friday when we went to Walmart, Bri and Alex needed to eat, so we went to Culver's. I was not hungry. I had bought a new digital camera, so I sat there and played with that while they ate (and I drank more water), but it really takes some thinking to not just reach over and grab a french fry and stick it in my mouth. It does help that I have no hunger, but I still need to be conscious of what I'm doing or not doing.
My husband is so funny, and SO supportive! When I first mentioned gastric bypass, he said "I'll support you either way, if you want to have it or not." What a guy! He's amazed at the changes in a few days too, and he's working out of town this week so I won't see him again until Friday evening, heck I could be another 10+ pounds down by then! He was very helpful during the whole hospital/coming home part, what a sweetie. Now if only I could get the kids to pitch in a bit more and DO some laundry!
So my journey begins...it'll be fun watching it unfold! : )
So my journey really began last October when I went to the first informational meeting. From then it was fulfilling all the insurance requirements which involved a psych evaluation (ah, fun!) and 6 months of supervised weight loss. It really did go pretty fast (ok, I can say that now!).
Last Wednesday morning I went in for surgery, and everything went as good as it can possibly go! "Textbook surgery, everthing went step-by-step like it's supposed to" is what the surgeon said. It was done laparascopically, so I have seven small incisions in my stomach. They're itchy now but will be better once the tapes come off. Anyway, once I came out of the groggy anesthesia, things just started looking better and better. Of course it helped as soon as I could brush my teeth too! I came home Thursday evening. Pretty much I just felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach...repeatedly. Other than that it wasn't too bad. I didn't even have any pain meds after leaving the hospital! Heck, I even went to Walmart with my kids on Friday evening just to get out and do something (they drove), I was so bored. I'm not a "sit still" kind of person anyway, and I can only do so much tv or reading at a time (though I love to read).
I bought new digital scale because I didn't want to use our old one because you can gain/lose 5 pounds by how you stand on it! So ok, here goes...Last November when I went to the surgeon's office for the first time, I weighed in at...oh Lord....273 pounds! OMG! That's ridiculous. I think my highest ever was about 285. Ok, whew, now that that's out, we get to the happier part. Last Wednesday in the hospital I weighed in at 260.9. That was five days ago, but I didn't eat anything on Tuesday either. So I have really had six days of no food, just liquids.
I jumped on the scale this morning, and I do it several times because I just can't believe this is truly happening. This morning it read 247.8! HOW can that be? That's 13 pounds in six days of no food!!
Awe and disbelief. That's what I'm going through now. I'm in awe just watching myself, LOL. I took a picture of my face last night and I can see a huge difference already, mostly in my cheeks. I can't wrap my mind around the fact that this is really happening, and happening permanently. This is not the old lose some-gain it back game! I'm really, truly, gonna be skinny! For real! For real! I get so excited when I think of it.
Now, about what I'm really going through food/hunger wise...I am NOT hungry! Not one tiny bit. At all! It's amazing. I am supposed to, and have been doing well at it, drink 64 oz. of fluid each day, which means constant sipping to get it all in because my stomach can only hold about an oz. at a time right now. That'll change over the next year and I'll be able to eat somewhat normally. I am SO sick of crystal light, water, more crystal light, watered-down crystal light, more water, etc.! Last night I got some groceries (the rest of the family still has to eat!) and got myself some brothy soups and sugar-free popsicles, which are allowed. Oh, my, gosh! I warmed up the vegetable soup just to barely warm (have to keep things somewhat room temp right now for a while) and strained out all the good vegetables, meat and potatoes, and drank the broth. I was in heaven! Then I got to have a popsicle, and it tasted so unbelievably good I can't tell you! I was just so sick of drinking the same old same old that a new taste just was indescribable! I can't have anything other than clear liquids until next Saturday, then I can start on strained cream soups. Mmmmm. Cream of Mushroom without the mushrooms! : )
The reason I need to be on clear liquids is because my stomach has really gone through major trauma (um, being cut in two is major trauma I guess!) and is swollen and needs time to heal before I try putting things into it. After 10 days of clear liquids then I get about another 10 days of the cream (slightly thicker but still no chunks) soups. Then, week 3, I get to start on pureed foods, then a week after that I get to start chewing my own food! THAT's another major part of my boredom with water, I want to CHEW something!! I can't have gum because that causes gas in your stomach when you swallow air, and that's not good for the little stomach either. So I can't chew a darn thing.
One of the hardest things so far is not just grabbing something that looks good, like the jar of peanuts sitting on the counter, and sticking some in my mouth, which has been habit forever and probably a big reason I ended up this way to begin with. On Friday when we went to Walmart, Bri and Alex needed to eat, so we went to Culver's. I was not hungry. I had bought a new digital camera, so I sat there and played with that while they ate (and I drank more water), but it really takes some thinking to not just reach over and grab a french fry and stick it in my mouth. It does help that I have no hunger, but I still need to be conscious of what I'm doing or not doing.
My husband is so funny, and SO supportive! When I first mentioned gastric bypass, he said "I'll support you either way, if you want to have it or not." What a guy! He's amazed at the changes in a few days too, and he's working out of town this week so I won't see him again until Friday evening, heck I could be another 10+ pounds down by then! He was very helpful during the whole hospital/coming home part, what a sweetie. Now if only I could get the kids to pitch in a bit more and DO some laundry!
So my journey begins...it'll be fun watching it unfold! : )
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