Exercise

I have been wanting to post for awhile but seems life is so busy lately. so how have things been going? Things have been going pretty good. I have been walking 2-3 days a week with a wonderful group of ladies. I had my first visit at the gym with the personal trainer on Friday that went well, but the anxiety about going to the gym was almost enough to make me not leave the house.  Walking into a gym to me is like walking into a new school and being the new student where everyone is watching you!  I know a lot of people who struggle with weight struggle with this.  I didn't I went in I did a work out even walked on the treadmill, still not sure about the gym. I am much better when I have someone to do it with. I am officially down 56 pounds.....

My Journey

Well for those who have been wondering how things or wondered if I was still blogging yes I have been meaning to blog what has been going on... Well today marks 8 weeks post op wow 8 weeks it seems like yesterday my journey began! I purchased my first new clothing item since surgery and I am proud to say it is a size smaller! My current pant situation is going to be interesting if I don't decide to go and get a few things... I am down a total of 48 pounds which is wonderful, I did hit a two week stall but the scale is moving again.

I am surprised how quickly calories add up when you are watching what you put in your mouth! I can see why so many of us struggle with our weight, so much of our foods are high in fat and calories. 16 jelly beans is 130 calories, a meal at your favorite restaurant probably is over 1000 calories half of your daily allotment or in my case all my calories for a day. Before surgery I really never paid attention to this so I am shocked.

At this point my day looks something like this:

5 am 3 egg whites with 1/4 cup of reduced fat cheese for about 165 calories and 20g of protein
Then I usually get about 16-32 oz of water in before 7:30 (because no eating and drinking and you have to wait 30 minutes after a meal to drink it is called the 30-30-30 rule)
Around 8 am I will have a snack which can be either a kind bar or yogurt which is around 200 calories.
Then I drink another 16 ounces of water
At 11 it is lunch time and for lunch I usually eat tuna and some green beans which is around 150 calories and 16 grams of protein.
More water... Lots of water
Time for another snack around 2 I usually will have some turkey jerky which is 12 grams of protein and 70 calories or a sugar free pudding which is 60 calories.
Then more water
And around 5 pm dinner time and that will vary but tonight it was a turkey soft taco which was really good (I found tortilla shells for 50 calories and 2.5 net carbs! Which were pretty good!)
And then it is bedtime my days vary but normally I get anywhere from 900-1100 calories and 60-96 grams of protein!

EARLY STRUGGLES

SO TOMORROW I AM FIVE WEEKS POST OP HARD TO BELIEVE.
 I am finding that the amount of food I put into my mouth is a struggle sometimes. Mentally I want to eat what I want and not worry about it. I still have to talk to myself in my head that is that really worth the putting on a pound for. I know I am going to battle with my head for the rest of my life but I didn't realize how much it would be at first.

As I sit here eating my frozen tilapia with 13 g. of protein and only 80 calories, I want to add french fries and some sort of veggie (now remember this is my head talking). I am finding out you can't change 40 years of bad eating habits in 5 weeks. People think weight loss surgery is an easy fix boy are they wrong, this is definitely just a help to get me started on my journey but I have to continually make the right decisions for my body.

I have not had a diet coke in 7 weeks and you know I thought I would miss it but honestly I really don't (victory number 1). Diet coke for me before surgery was my go to drink and I mean I drank it and nothing else 6-8 a day so to give it up totally and not want it is a victory. My other weakness before surgery is candy any kind of candy peanut butter and chocolate was my favorite but I would eat any.  So with Easter coming this will be a challenge for me but I can do it. I will  not eat a Easter basket full of chocolate.  The struggle with food is definitely a real struggle that so many people think you can just turn off that is so NOT THE CASE.  If you are a person who has never struggled with weight please do not judge others who do, because you do not understand. Just like I do not understand what it is like to be a drug addict or an alcoholic. We need to be understanding to those with addiction problems and not judge them or tell them how to FIX IT. I know eating less and exercise helps lose weight but before surgery I couldn't get it done. 

For my job I work in the public and because the facility is old it is not set up for Obese patients and  for a patient to not be able to fit through a door or fit in a chair (or have to ask for a different chair because they won't fit in one with arms) is as embarrassing for the person asking as it is for the person who has to help. Please when you see someone who doesn't fit the "normal" standard don't judge do not make rude comments have compassion and understanding that they may have gotten themselves in this situation but it wasn't because they wanted to get fat or become a drunk or a druggie, or for some they may be born with a handicap, but whatever the situation and whatever the reason they need compassion.  Now I don't think we need to encourage the behavior but we need to listen and if we can't help find someone who can, but sometimes we just need to talk. Sorry this post is rambling a bit, but I am coming to a better understanding of what an addiction is. I have an addiction to food that I need to change. 

4 week post op

Can you believe it has already been 4 weeks since I had my surgery, I can't it seems like just yesterday I went to my first weight loss seminar (that was a year ago in January).  

So far things have been going very well for me, I have not had any problems with eating or drinking (which is a blessing because some do struggle after the sleeve surgery). This past Friday I was running a bit late and rushing and thought I just over did it but my sugars and blood pressure were fine still didn't feel right Monday morning so went to see my surgeon. He thinks I might have just been over doing it  since I was back at work and possibly just going through withdrawal from my blood pressure medicine. I like to report that it is doing awesome, blood sugars seem to still be down. Fingers crossed I can stay off the medicines as my diet progresses. 

After the snow and cold weather we have had since my surgery I have not been able to exercise (cleaning house doesn't count or so I am told) tonight I went for my first walk it felt great to be outside (I can tell that I just had surgery) I made it for 15 minutes tonight I will take it (I am tired after my walk) hopefully I can get more in this week before it rains again. 

I am officially down a total of 40 lbs...!!!! YEAH (insert celebration here). 

Back to Work!

I thought I would give you an update on my first week back! It is great being in a routine, but today I came home exhausted. So as it is 7:00'pm now and I have been in bed since about 3:30 i am feeling better after my nap, but I am thankful it is Friday tomorrow.  My first day back it is great to see everyone's reaction as to what 30lbs loss looks like! I love talking with the patients, but being at work at 5:30 is rough somedays.

My struggles this week (maybe to much TMI here for some sorry) first taking time to eat every2-3 hours, getting liquids in after I get home from work and CONSTIPATION! Oh my the constipation was awful, miserable thanks to Milk Of Magnesia I was finally able to go (thanks to the suggestion from a friend who has been here). Since I do not want to be in this place again I have now added benefit er to my daily water to help with this common issue after bariatric surgery.

And the best part of the week I am down 39lbs!!!

Wow!

It is hard to believe that I am going back to work on Monday. Three weeks where did you go? Today I went and got my hair highlighted hoping spring is coming soon... I am tired of this weather just like I am sure everyone else is as well.  (and I am down another 5lbs yeah!!!)  (Can't tell my hair changes in this picture) This time I decided not to take a selfie and I am going to really try and take pictures along the way. (I went to put some jeans on this morning and they were to big YEAH!)

(spot wanted to photo bomb)

I am also excited to start my soft food phase of my diet so I can chew something. It is funny how you miss something so simple.  Going back to work will also get me back into a routine.

Preparing for work next week:

Trying to plan ahead, I mixed up some turkey with some pork rinds as the binding agent, some seasonings (which i think taste pretty good because I never measure anything)  last night and my husband was so nice he baked them for me this morning.(sorry no picture they are already in the freezer)

This afternoon I did a little cooking I made some crustless spinach, mushroom quiche with cheese.

 

I also went ahead and measured out some white chicken chili, some yogurt and refried beans in preparation of next week!

 

I love the little containers I purchased they are perfect for my 3oz proportions.

 

I also made some quinoa and I am not sure what I am going to do with it yet but I have found some recipes I am hoping to try of pinterest.

 

If you have any qreat recipes that I should try with the Quinoa please let me know. I am up for some new things. I also want to get some spaghatti squash to try.

What is like for a day in my sleeve?

A little history for those who don't know about the 4 stages of Bariatric surgery.

Stage 1 is pre-op diet liquid (pretty hard)
Stage 2 is post-op which is full liquid/pureed (getting a bit better)
Stage 3 which is suppose to start for me in just a few days is Soft Foods
Stage 4 is back to normal foods (of course you have to change your old habits or you will be right back to where you were, surgery is not a fix it is a tool)

So for me the last two weeks have gone like this:
Breakfast
1 egg with 1 tbsp of cheese (I love eggs so this is easy for me)
Snack 1
1 protein shake with 8 oz of skim milk which has 31 grams of protein

lunch (or snack)
3oz of refried beans with 1 tbsp of cheese 3grams of protein (I didn't like beans before surgery but let me tell you they taste good right now)

This is what a can of refried beans looks like broken down to 3 oz.

Snack 2
a Sugar free pudding (which takes care of the sweet tooth, but no protein)

Dinner
again 3oz of refried beans with 1tbsp of cheese 3 grams of protein (not much on pureed food so this has been my staple.
Snack 3
1 protein shake with 8oz of skim milk and 2 tbsp of PB2 for added flavor and protein. These shakes have 36grams of protein

And yes 48-64 oz of water a day. There is alot of drinking going on around here and no alchol involved...

I am ready to be able to chew my food again, i went to the grocery last night to start making some soft foods up and freezing them (because I start back to work Monday and I have to be there at 5:30 am so I won't feel like cooking and no McDonalds breakfast)

For now I am not to eat more than 2-3oz's at a time yes  that is not very much, so this is why I am to eat 4-6 small meals a day. I also need to get 60-80 grams of protein in a day, while I am still drinking protein shakes this is not hard but as we start introducing more foods and less protein shakes it does get alot harder.  So for now I am thankful for protein shakes.   Oh yes and I forgot to tell you about the 30-30-30 rule.   That is  you are not to drink 30 minutes before a meal, eat for 30 minutes (sorry can't stretch 3 oz over 30 minutes but definately take your time eating) and then don't drink for 30 minutes after you eat.   THIS IS HARD!!! But there is an app for your phone that has a timer to help you keep track so thankful for smartphones.