A Fat 2 Fit Journey

Boring

2010-04-13T10:11:00.004-05:00

Sorry about the lack of posts during the past month. There really hasn't been anything exciting in my life to report. It's been the same ol' stuff day in and day out. I eat mostly cottage cheese and run as much as I can.

Movement

2010-04-13T10:10:00.000-05:00

The scale finally moved in my favor today.... DOWN.

9 pounds to go until goal!

12

2010-03-12T23:03:00.001-06:00

12 to go!

Moving Down...

2010-03-06T10:48:00.003-06:00

The scale is moving down again. Hip Hip Hooray! I've been doing really good the past few days with my diet and exercise. It's paying off!

13 pounds to go!

Once I reach my initial goal I think I'll reevaluate and maybe shoot for 140, but I'm not going to even think about that right now. 13 sounds better and more doable than 23 at this point. I can't believe how much weight I've lost.

I'm still having a difficult time recognizing myself in the mirror. I don't look like the same person and I still kinda feel fat. I'm starting to wonder how I appear in the eyes of other people. I find myself sizing up other women and wondering if I'm close to their size or not. I just can't grasp all of this yet. Someday....

Coming Clean...

2010-03-04T20:34:00.003-06:00

OK... So here's the deal. I guess I better document what I've been cheating with lately so I can learn from my mistakes.

Here it goes...

- light popcorn (totally not on the list of things I'm allowed to eat)

- fruit (maybe I've been enjoying too much? I know it's a healthy sugar, but sugar is still sugar.)

- chocolate (dark chocolate still isn't good for me; why do I love it so much?; the tiny taste I enjoy really does add up)

- Russel Stover SF Marshmallow Easter Egg (these things are amazingly wonderful and are a rare treat, but those treats still have calories that add up over time)

- Twizzlers bites (I've been really enjoying these after a run... but the frozen scale makes me not enjoy them so much now)

On top of all that, I haven't been exercising as much lately. This is a really bad combination. I can't help but wonder if I'm subconsciously trying to sabotage my diet or if I'm scared of reaching goal. Well, whatever it is needs to be corrected immediately.

Have any of you ever experienced something like this?

On A Positive Note...

2010-03-04T20:31:00.001-06:00

I only have 15 more to go!!!

Disappointed...

2010-03-04T20:27:00.002-06:00

What can I say? I've been cheating a bit and I'm really disappointed. It's time to get back on the bandwagon.

Tomorrow is a new day!

2/25/2010

2010-02-25T20:48:00.003-06:00

A Day In My Belly:

Breakfast-

Coffee

Lunch-

Pure Protein Bar- Chocolate Peanut Butter

Raw almonds and walnuts (6 pieces total)

Dinner-

Chicken- 1/3 breast (pre-cooked mesquite chicken from Sams... So Good!)

Black beans- 20 beans?

Fire roasted bell peppers- few small slices

2% cheddar- just a sprinkling

Salsa

Oopsie-

1 Sugar Free Russell Stover Marshmallow Egg

Losing My Britches

2010-02-23T22:24:00.004-06:00

It took me a few minutes to decide whether I wanted to wear my cute corduroy skirt or my black dress pants to work today. The pants won because they're just so darn comfortable and they don't require leggings.

As I was putting on my pants, I felt like I was about to get lost. There was so much fabric! How can this be? I purchased these pants a couple of days before Christmas and they're a size 12. According to my calendar, I've only lost about 20 pounds since they were purchased.

I wore my saggy britches today and felt like an absolute slob. It was actually quite embarrassing. I expressed my concern to my husband after work by giving him a mini fashion show. He instructed me to buy new pants.

If I make it to the mall this weekend I might be purchasing a new pair of black pants. I did recently purchase a pair of jeans in size 8 and they fit great. So I'm wondering if a size 8 in dress pants will fit. And while I'm wondering if the 8 will fit, I still feel like a size 24. My brain still hasn't caught up to all the changes. Will I ever see myself as long and lean?

Not so good..

2010-02-23T22:13:00.006-06:00

A Day In My Belly

Breakfast:

Protein Shake-

Cold water

Cookies and Cream protein powder by Pure Protein

1 packet Taster's Choice decaf coffee

2 pumps or 2 Tbsp. sugar-free vanilla Torani syrup

ice

Lunch:

Pure Protein Bar- Marshmallow Eclipse

Dinner:

1/2 can tomato soup

1oz. 2% sharp cheddar

A small handful of oyster crackers

I didn't feel well tonight and have been having some major constipation problems. I'm guessing this is due to my extreme lack of fiber. Even though they are major "No-No's", hopefully the soup and crackers will help loosen things up a bit, along with the MiraLax.

Tomorrow is a new day.

Protein Packed

2010-02-21T19:56:00.002-06:00

I've been eating a lot of this lately.....

Lowfat Cottage Cheese

It's lowfat, decently low carb, and high in protein. It's great alongside some vegetables, fruit, or sprinkled with some cayenne or just salt and pepper. I think my absolute favorite way to eat cottage cheese is with slices of home grown tomatoes with salt and pepper. It's the best!

My local grocery stores charge about 3 bucks (sometimes more) for a 16 oz container of this stuff. I have found that I can get this huge 3 lb tub of it at Sams Club for less than 5 bucks. Buying in bulk obviously makes more sense. When I have it on hand I usually eat cottage cheese once a day and end up making my Carb Man (Carbohydrate loving husband) some lasagna with it. It's great stuff.

Anyways, that's my bit of advice for the day.

Happy Eating!

Valentine's Day in My Belly

2010-02-14T20:25:00.003-06:00

I realized I don't post much about the foods I eat. I'm going to try to do a better job of that in case there's anyone that's considering WLS.

A Day In My Belly:

Lunch:

Deli Roll Ups - Deli Ham (Castlewood from Sams Club) slices rolled up around Trader Joe's Light Cream Cheese (3), no sugar added bread and butter pickle chips (4), green olives (2)

Dinner:

Teriyaki Chicken (3oz?), edamame (2 Tbsp), green beans (just a few) with melted 2% Velveeta

......And in the spirit of Valentine's Day, I did enjoy ONE chocolate truffle that Bones got me.

I'm absolutely stuffed.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T12:11:00.006-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day,

Everybody!

I hope you're having a wonderful day and are able to pamper yourself and/or spend it with someone you love.

I'm spending today with my husband, Bones. He spoiled me with some gifts yesterday evening. I received a gorgeous pot of orchids, some dark chocolate truffles (they're mostly for him), and some gummies (glucose for my runs).

We've just been having a lazy day so far. It snowed all night and was snowing when I got up this morning. We're definitely having a White Valentine's Day. Now, while I do enjoy a good White Christmas, I have to ask what's up with a White Valentine's Day??? I guess we won't be doing any fun couple activities outside like tennis or playing catch. Hmmm.... Maybe we'll just go window shop at the mall.

I hope that at this time next year I'm maintaining my goal weight in a fit and healthy manner. I know the Holidays sure can be tough with all the yummy chocolates and pretty candies, but I must remain strong. Skinny feels better than any of that tastes.

Did you get anything special for Valentine's Day?

Lost Another...

2010-02-14T12:10:00.003-06:00

Somehow I lost another pound during the night. That's pretty awesome!

17 to go!

NORMAL!

2010-02-13T11:29:00.001-06:00

I weighed this morning and my scale informed me that I'm NORMAL for the first time in my life. Yes, folks! I have a NORMAL BMI (24.8) !!! I'm NO LONGER considered overweight.

119 Down, 20 To Go

2010-02-03T12:20:00.000-06:00

Hey, everybody! Sorry I haven't posted a blog in a while. Things have been a little crazy. And to add to my craziness, the scale was stuck and I didn't really have any good news to report. With all that being said..... HAPPY FEBRUARY!

Today is a great day! As I stepped on the scale, I was expecting it to still be stuck. I'd been hanging around the same numbers for days. I was getting really irritated that the number wasn't getting any smaller. Well, today it finally did. As of today I only have 20 pounds to go until I reach my weight-loss goal.

Now with all that being said, I should probably give a little more history. When discussing goals with my doctor many months ago, I told him that I'd be happy to get down to 200 pounds again. He said he thought I could do better than that, so I told him 175 would be even better, but that it would be a stretch. He then asked how I would feel weighing 150 and wearing a size 8/10. Are you kidding me? I was floored! I didn't ever remember being that size. Was this possible for me?

So, here I am now weighing in at 170. I've done better than I could even have imagined. I seriously can't believe I've gone from a size 24 to a 8/10 and I'm not even done. I still have 20 pounds to go.

That 20 pounds brings me to a whole new thought. What if I go past my official goal of 150? Is that something I'm capable of doing? Why yes, I do think so, but I can't even imagine it at this point. I'm quite aware I'm still losing and well on my way to 150, but I'm having a difficult time grasping that idea as it is. So, maybe I should shoot for 140. Well, it would be more like extra credit. I don't think I'll make it an official goal, but I'll take it. I just want to be healthy!

I'm still completely floored and in shock by all of this. I don't feel much smaller, but I am. Some of my size mediums absolutely swallow me and I did buy a jacket in size small the other day. It's crazy how much I've changed.

Great Finds!

2010-01-19T19:24:00.000-06:00

I purchased a few new items from White House Black Market. Here's what I bought: A black dress in size 8, a form fitting top in size 6, a cami in size medium, and some stellar heels. Best of all.... EVERYTHING was on CLEARANCE! Go me!

Now I'm watching a documentary called "Ultra Marathon Man: 50 Marathons, 50 States, 50 Days." Talk about inspiring!!!

What inspires you?

Stats

2010-01-08T20:29:00.000-06:00

Current:

8

2010-01-08T20:26:00.000-06:00

I am the proud owner of a skirt in size 8!

Vegetarian Chili

2010-01-08T11:35:00.001-06:00

Healthy and affordable can coexist. Here's proof! Enjoy!

Vegetarian Chili

Ingredients:

1 can stewed tomatoes (with onion, celery, and green pepper), do NOT drain

1 can diced tomatoes, do NOT drain

1 can rotel, do NOT drain

1 can chili beans, do NOT drain

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can red beans, rinsed and drained

1 can light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 can chickpeas aka garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

1 pound dry lentils

2 cloves garlic, crushed (optional)

1/4 tsp. cumin

Chili powder to taste (add 1/4 tsp. at a time if you're not too familiar with spices…. you can always add more, but you can't take it out)

4 cups water

1 Tbsp. Vegetable Soup Base & Seasoning

Directions:

1. Get out your trusty Crockpot and turn it on HIGH.

**This recipe completely fills my 6-quart Crockpot**

2. Rinse lentils thoroughly and sort.

3. Add all canned ingredients to the Crockpot, lentils, spices, water, and vegetable soup base.

4. Stir well.

Let it do its thing for about 4 hours (or turn it on low for about 6-8 hours).

The lentils will soak up most of the liquid and the final product will be thick and hearty.

* You may pre-cook lentils in the water and vegetable broth in another pot and then add to chili. If you do this, you can omit adding water and broth to the crockpot.

Serve with 2% shredded cheddar. If you're not watching your figure you can also serve it with corn chips, saltines, sour cream, ranch, salsa, etc. I'm sure leftovers would be delicious on a baked potato, hot dog, a bed of Frito's, etc.

It tastes great the first day, but even better the next! As it sits in the fridge overnight it thickens even more.

I purchased most of the canned goods used in this chili at Aldi. I'm betting it cost under 6 bucks to make this giant batch of chili. It freezes well too.

Are you there?

2010-01-08T10:44:00.000-06:00

Now that all of the Holiday Festivities are over I'm hoping to kick things up a notch around here. Maybe one of my New Year's Resolutions should be to make more posts on this blog.

What would you like to see more of on this blog?

Photos? Recipes? Exercise/Workout Information? Nutrition Information?

What do you think?

I know I have some readers out there. Can you hear me?

Caught a bug....

2010-01-08T10:39:00.000-06:00

I caught a nasty stomach bug of some sort this past week and am down another few pounds. It was not the way I wanted to lose weight, but weight-loss is still weight-loss, right? So I'm now down 113 since June.... making me 126 lbs. lighter since Feb. 2009. That's some serious weight-loss.

Un-Stuck

2010-01-03T20:14:00.000-06:00

Hallelujah! I successfully survived the Holiday Season.

The scale finally budged and I lost a few more pounds. I'm now -109 from where I started. It feels fantastic!

I treated myself to a few nice things during the past couple of weeks. I purchased new dress pants for work, some tops, shrugs, and shoes. It'll all help so much. Some good news is that I'm able to wear the size 10 short denim skirt I bought on clearance for 5 dollars at Walmart a couple of months ago. I've been wearing the 14 and felt that it was getting a little big on me. Boy, was I right! I know it's a little cold out to be wearing short skirts, but the leggings keep me plenty warm.

It's still weird to think that I've gone from a size 24 to size 10 in just a few months.

Stuck?

2009-12-17T18:53:00.000-06:00

The scale has been stuck for several days now so I got my butt outside today for a long walk. The weather was finally nice. It was bright out with little wind and it wasn't too cold. A light jacket kept me plenty warm on my brisk walk.

I've been keeping busy with finishing up a variety of homemade Christmas gifts, the regular household chores, work, and packing. We'll be skipping town soon to visit family for the Holidays and I couldn't be more excited.

I'm a little nervous about seeing my family members. Most of them haven't seen me since I began THIS weight-loss journey. I'm sure they'll all be shocked. Hopefully they'll be shockingly happy for me and not make rude comments. I'm almost bracing myself for someone to say things like.....

"It's about time you lost weight."

"Yea, but are you gonna keep it off?"

"Wow. I've never seen you look so good!"

"Ah, you are pretty."

"Where did this body come from?"

"Are you eating?"

"Oh, honey. Are you not able to afford food?"

"You look too skinny."

"You deserve to splurge during this Holiday Season."

"Do you feel better?"

"How much have you lost?"

"What's your secret?"

"I'm glad you finally figured it out and did something about it."

.... And so on.

I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

The Century Club...

2009-12-10T21:13:00.001-06:00

YES! I am now an official member of the Century Club. I have lost 100 pounds since I began this journey in mid-June! It's time to party, sing out loud, and dance a jig!

I returned to the mall today for a nice walk. The same department store I purchased my heels at were still having a great sale. I ended up buying a long down coat in medium, a button up collared shirt in medium, a cardigan in medium, and a fleece pullover in small. Can you believe it? I'm having a hard time believing it myself. Crazy awesome! I also tried on a pair of jeans in size 12 and they fit like a glove. I only tried them on because I was curious about whether they'd fit or not. It must have been my lucky day.

Merry Christmas to me!

Feta & Spinach Omelette

2009-12-10T21:09:00.000-06:00

I made an omelette with feta and spinach for lunch today. Talk about crazy good!

Feel free to give it a whirl!

Peep!

2009-12-10T20:55:00.000-06:00

It's been extremely cold lately and I just can't bear to workout in the gym all the time. I decided to start mall-walking at a nearby low-traffice mall. Funny thing is, my mall-walking hasn't exactly been free. Oops! Oh, well. It's just not right for a gal (previous shopaholic) with hardly any clothes or shoes to her name be expected to not spend any money while walking the mall. Ha!

Did I ever mention that I ended up giving away about 30 giant trash bags full of clothes? We're talking good stuff too. Quite a few items still had price tags on them. I also gave away about a dozen pairs of shoes that no longer fit.

Anyways, I spotted a cute pair of black peep toe heels on clearance at a department store. They were only 20 bucks! You can hardly get heels at Payless, Target, or Walmart for that price. Now I just need to keep shedding the pounds and find a cute dress to complete the ensemble.

Won't these look stellar with red painted toenails?

The Lord knows....

2009-12-08T22:53:00.000-06:00

I can't live without peanut butter forever. So I ordered some PB2 and it arrived today. I put a little sprinkle in my chocolate Max Protein shake and it was .... well, it's the closest thing to "dessert" I've tasted since May. It was chocolate-peanut buttery goodness. Bones thought it was pretty tasty too. I'm excited to try it mixed with water and spread on a piece of celery. Yum!

On a side note, I do know that I can have peanut butter in moderation, but let's face the fact that the stuff would probably expire by the time I could even put a dent in the container.

4-Month Update

2009-12-07T07:45:00.001-06:00

Dec. 5 was my 4 month Surgiversary and I'm down 98 since June. So exciting!

I'm still only eating two small meals a day. Sometimes I struggle to get the equivalent of one egg down while other times I feel like I eat a ton. (A ton for me is still less than 1/2 cup of food.) Funny how my perspective has completely changed.

Here are a couple of photos...

I mentioned hair loss in my last post. Here's proof that it's falling out. This is the hair that came out with one comb through following a shower.

I'm also having to clean out the bathtub drain on a daily basis now.

Can you see my 6 incisions? They're looking fabulous, aren't they?!!?!

Now if only I could get rid of those

darn stretch marks.

(Mirrored Image)

Losing it!

2009-12-03T21:29:00.000-06:00

I'm losing my hair!!!

It's sad that I'm having to clean the hair out of my bath drain every single day now. Plus, my hair gets all over the place when I comb it out and blow dry it in the mornings. I end up having to grab a tissue to pick up all my hairs out of the bathroom sink. It's gross and frustrating!

I AM taking all of my vitamins. Hair loss is just part of the package for some people. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people. I always thought my hair was too thin to begin with.

So, I won't be asking for 2 front teeth for Christmas..... All I want for Christmas is my hair back!!!

Marinated Vegetable Salad

2009-11-26T11:04:00.000-06:00

This recipe is an old family favorite and I've always enjoyed it on the Holiday's. It was passed down to me from my wonderful Grandmother.

MARINATED VEGETABLE SALAD

1 can white shoepeg corn (I leave this out because corn is too starchy... feel free to replace with something healthier)

1 can LeSueur small peas

1 can French style green beans

1 cup celery, chopped fine

1 cup onion, chopped fine

1 jar pimento, diced

1 green pepper, chopped fine

Dressing:

3/4 cup vinegar

1 cup sugar (Splenda for baking works wonderfully!)

1/2 cup oil (I usually use canola)

Heat the dressing ingredients until sugar is dissolved. Cool…Then add to vegetables.

Stir well and chill. It's better to prepare this the day before serving.

**Spoon onto plate with a slotted spoon.

Wanna Be Greek Salad?

2009-11-26T00:44:00.000-06:00

Shelly (Eggface) posted a recipe recently that included tuna, garbanzo beans, celery, and feta. I had already eaten tuna twice this week so I made this recipe with chicken instead. It was amazing! Bones even enjoyed the sample taste I shared with him.

I added just a drop of Greek salad dressing instead of lemon zest. I also cut the recipe in half because I'm still eating super small portions. I'm looking forward to eating the leftovers this week.

Here's what my tiny portion included....

Chicken, diced very small (I only used about 1/4 of a small chicken breast)

Garbanzo beans (I used about 20-25 garbanzo beans/chick peas)

Celery, diced fine (I used maybe 1/4 of 1 piece)

Feta, just a small sprinkling (I used about 1/2 Tbsp.)

Greek Dressing, just a splash (I used about 1/2 teaspoon)

salt to taste

pepper to taste

Mix well and enjoy!

For dessert I enjoyed about 1/4 of a small banana. Mmm...

Italian Baked Ricotta

2009-11-24T19:35:00.000-06:00

Tonight I made my hubby, Bones, a couple of mini pizza's out of some leftover Arnold Multigrain Sandwich Thins. I separated the top and bottom of the sandwich thins and spread marina sauce over them. I then added some shredded mozzarella, garlic, Italian seasoning, and turkey pepperoni. I baked them at 350 for 10 minutes. They were a hit!

I also felt like having some Italian so I made Shelly's Baked Ricotta. I made a couple of changes by leaving out the parmesan (I didn't have any) and by throwing in a few small pieces of freshly baked shredded chicken. It was absolutely amazing! Where she gets her recipe ideas is beyond me, but I hope she keeps 'em coming. I appreciate them so much. Thanks, Shelly!!!

**Shelly's blog can be found at http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blotspot.com

Crustless Spinach Quiche

2009-11-23T11:16:00.000-06:00

Crustless Spinach Quiche

INGREDIENTS:

1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

5 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

1/2 cup 2% cheddar cheese (optional)

salt to taste

pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a mini muffin pan (makes 24 mini's) with non-stick cooking spray

2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add spinach, stirring occasionally, and continue cooking until excess moisture has evaporated.

3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, cheese, salt and pepper. Add spinach and stir to blend. Scoop into prepared mini muffin pan.

4. Bake in preheated oven until eggs have set, about 26-30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

These freeze well. Just pop in the microwave to reheat.

Lentil Chili

2009-11-22T11:05:00.000-06:00

Lentil Chili

Combine 1/2 vegetable juice and 1/2 water in a large pot.

Add 1/2 bag (probably about a cup) of dry Lentils.

Cook lentils according to directions on bag.

Then:

Brown up some onion (optional).

Then add....

1 can stewed tomatoes

1 can rotel

1 can ranch style beans

1 can black beans, drained & rinsed

1 can red beans, drained & rinsed

season to taste with chili powder, cumin, and a dash of garlic

Combine everything. You'll have to bring everything to a boil and then let it simmer for 1 hour. This would be excellent in a crockpot. Oh, if you're not familiar with lentils, they do expand a bit.

It tastes great the first day, but even better the next day! Enjoy!!! = )

Life Savers!

2009-11-21T13:40:00.001-06:00

I'm very much a fan of the Minute Maid Light beverages. They're quite tasty and a quick way for me to get in some liquids. The lemonade only has 5 calories in the entire can and the other 3 flavors have 10 calories. The cherry limeade is probably my least favorite, but it's still really good.

What would I do without cheese? These little things are fantastic. Each individual serving has 50 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, and 6 grams of protein. They're perfect for portion control, sack lunches, and an on-the-go meal.
We've gotta have fat. My fat no longer comes from tortilla chips and queso, but from wonderful things like seeds and nuts. I feel that I'm kind of a nut snob, but I gave these a whirl. They're amazing! They were roasted and salted perfectly. I love that this mixed nut combination includes walnuts.
This is a ZERO calorie chai. Yes, you're supposed to blend it 50/50 with milk, but I break the rules. I add a little bit of half-n-half (1 1/2 Tbsp. (30 calories)) and lots of water. It mostly tastes like chai tea with cream versus a chai tea latte, but it's so much healthier.

This will make a great dessert. 2 tablespoons of the Reddi Whip has 5 calories. Well, I can't physically eat much so I figured I can responsibly enjoy some of this. Bones will have to help me eat the banana too because there's no way I could eat an entire one myself. I will absolutely savor my tiny bites though. ; )

I never tried a bread and butter pickle until this year. Can you believe it? Well, I found these wonderful no sugar added bread and butter pickles at my local grocery store. They were on sale for 2 bucks and I had a 50 cent off coupon. I stocked up! They're sweet like dessert and have the perfect crunch. Yum!

I'm an Aldi shopper. This deli meat is budget friendly. I get a whole pound of deli sliced chicken breast for less than 3 bucks. I enjoy taking 1 slice and rolling it around a slice of 2% American cheese or around some low-fat cream cheese. They're great hot or cold.
I found these at my local grocery store. I figure I'll allow myself 1 for Thanksgiving. I plan on adding some sugar-free Torani pumpkin syrup to ricotta and then stuffing it in one of these little guys and then top it off with a squirt of Reddi Whip. We'll see how that goes.

I know it's not on my list of foods I can eat, but it's better than all the other sweets and carbs that will be everywhere I look on the Holiday's.

What a find! I'm looking forward to trying this with my next batch of chicken, tuna, or egg salad. This was on sale at my local grocery store for 1.50 and I had a 50 cent off coupon. I only paid 1 buck for this. Excellent!
I've NEVER been a fan of sweet pickles, but at the price I paid I figured I'd try 'em out again. These are the no sugar added kind too so they're much healthier for me. I love that they're in single serving packages. I'm guessing I'll probably get several servings out of each little package though. Funny how that works now. lol! Good thing they don't expire for a really long time.

LOVE these! I highly recommend them. They count as a fat. I only eat about 4-6 at a time. That's 1 fat serving. Fat never tasted so good. Mmm....

Today's Menu

2009-11-20T22:28:00.000-06:00

7am Breakfast: 1 Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bar

12pm Lunch: 1 single serving (pre-packaged) of Reduced Fat Cabot Cheddar Cheese

7pm Dinner: Deli Roll-ups (deli sliced chicken rolled up with....... 1. 2% american cheese; 2. low-fat cream cheese), Celery with peanut butter

I went to the store today and really stocked up. We're just about ready for Thanksgiving. That's wonderful! With the Holiday's creeping up I want to make sure I'm prepared for everything. I've never been much of a sweet eater, but that didn't matter around the holiday's. I purchased some ricotta cheese in case I feel like indulging a bit. According to Shelly (my hero) at theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com, you can add 1 tsp. of sugar-free Torani syrup to ricotta cheese to sweeten it up and make it a scrumptious dessert. We'll see how that goes. I don't have any experience with ricotta so we'll see how that goes.

I also bought a can of fat free whipped cream. It's only 5 calories per serving. I figure I can top a few banana slices with it or something if I feel the need. That'll be a nice treat.

I broke down and purchased another pair of jeans tonight. They're Nine West size 14. Not too shabby! I also got a new coat.. size medium!

ONEderland!

2009-11-20T07:11:00.000-06:00

That's right! I made it to "onederland!" I will never ever allow myself to see the 200s again.

Stats:

- Down 103 since my weigh-in with my family doc on Feb. 23, 2009

- Down 90 since my first weigh-in with my WLS doc in June 2009

- Only 49 to go!!!

I've been healing up nicely from my last surgery. I went to the gym for a much needed workout on Wednesday. It wasn't the greatest workout, but it was a workout. I think it'll take a while to build back up to where I was pre-surgery. That's life.

Saved by Vitamins!

2009-11-19T20:36:00.000-06:00

FedEx delivered a much needed package tonight. My vitamins arrived!

I've decided to try out the renewal program at Bariatric Advantage. With the renewal program I get free shipping and don't have to remember putting in my order. How convenient!

I ordered the VitaBand Chewable Multivitamin in watermelon flavor. It doesn't taste like watermelon at all if you ask me, but I still think it's better than the lemon or mixed berry. In fact, I think I would describe these vitamins the same way Shelly describes protein powders......"they taste like monkey's ass!"

I ordered a ton of the chewable calcium in chocolate flavor. Those taste like dessert. They are delicious so just make sure to remember that they are vitamins.

I'll be expecting another shipment in 90 days.

Protein Powder

2009-11-17T22:24:00.001-06:00

I ordered my first container of protein powder last night. Shelly at theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com believes that Max Protein Powder is the best, so I'll give it a whirl. I'm super excited!
I don't know if I could have ordered it at a better time. I just love hot cocoa with all this cold weather, but there is absolutely nothing nutritional about the stuff. It's just calories, but if I can make hot cocoa with the protein powder I'll get getting loads of protein.

What protein powders do you recommend?

Tiny Victories

2009-11-15T10:02:00.001-06:00

I'm finally down a couple more pounds. When I stood on the scale this morning it said 200! I could hardly believe my eyes. That means I'm only 1 pound away from being in ONEderland! I'm so excited! I don't think I've seen any number in the 100s in the past 9 years or longer.

In case you weren't aware of this I had another surgery recently. It was actually 3 months to the date after my gastrectomy. This time I had a parathyroidectomy.

While I was in the hospital I gained 4 pounds. 4 pounds in 2 days!!! I was so upset. I followed my healthy eating plan and didn't even eat much, but still gained weight. It must have been from all the fluids they pumped me up with and the lying around. I've been recovering so that 4 pounds took me over a week to lose. I'm sure it would have come off sooner if I had been exercising, but there hasn't been any of that going on at all. On a positive note, I'm only 11 pounds away from my personal goal I'd like to reach by Christmas day. That makes me very happy!

Obesity Help

2009-11-11T21:08:00.000-06:00

I did it! I've been meaning to sign up for months, but never got around to it. I finally registered on ObesityHelp.com. I'm pumped!!!

I could beat myself up about taking so long, but it's better to join late than never, right?

If you're not familiar with Obesity Help, it's an online weight-loss community. Just think of it as a GIANT support group. We all have something in common too.... we're striving to be healthy!

I've been posting on my profile, posting questions, posting responses to other people's questions, providing encouragement, and even sharing recipes. It's wonderful!

The Cup

2009-11-11T20:59:00.000-06:00

Nope, I'm not talking about a coffee cup. I'm talking about cup sizes. Oh, yes!

It's both embarrassing and odd to think that just a few months ago I owned and was actually wearing 42DD/42DDD bras. Well, those days are over!

I'm currently wearing a 38DDD, but it's getting a little big. Praise God for that!

While I was at the mall today I stumbled into Victoria's Secret. I had them size me for a bra and the nice young lady informed me that I should be wearing a 36DD. Holy Toledo! I'm finally in a size that VS makes and no longer have to buy my bras at Lane Giant. What a relief..... What excitement! As a "professional shopper" I'm aware that they're having their semi-annual sale in January. You better believe I'll be purchasing a new VS bra that month. Who knows, maybe by then I'll be even a little smaller.

No-Pasta Lasagna

2009-11-11T00:03:00.000-06:00

Renee's No-Pasta Lasagna

- It's high protein, low fat, and low carb. Yum!

2 lbs. 93/7 lean ground turkey

12 oz. tomato paste

16 oz. low-fat cottage cheese

2 eggs

2 zucchini (use a veggie peeler and make strips)

1 c. water

8 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded

Italian cheeses blend (optional)

Italian seasoning to taste

Fresh Basil (I use basil paste found in the refrigerated section of the produce department)

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

Fresh sliced tomatoes (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Brown turkey and drain
Add tomato paste and water to turkey
Add spices to meat mixture and simmer
Slice zucchini into super thin slices (I use a veggie peeler) (I bet it would be great if it were pre-sauteed in a skillet, too)
In a bowl, combine egg and cottage cheese; mix well
In a 9x13 baking dish, spread out a very thin layer of meat mixture
Add a sprinkling of mozzarella
Add 1/3 of zucchini slices
Add 1/2 cottage cheese mixture
Add a thin layer of meat mixture
Add another sprinkling of mozzarella
Add 1/3 of zucchini slices
Add 1/2 cottage cheese mixture
Add 1/3 of zucchini slices
Add remaining meat mixture
Add remaining mozzarella

I like to add a blend of Italian cheeses to top it off. Then I add sliced tomatoes and sprinkle with more Italian seasoning.

You don't have to follow the layering order exactly, just have FUN!

Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Size Update

2009-11-11T00:01:00.000-06:00

Shirts: Large or Medium

Pants/Skirts: 14 or 12

Dress: Large

Size Update

2009-10-27T15:41:00.001-05:00

Shirts: Large and sometimes Medium

Dress Pants: 16 (they're starting to get baggy)

Sweat Pants: Large

82 down, 57 to go!

Mozzarella Caprese Scramble

2009-10-18T12:38:00.000-05:00

Mozzarella Caprese Scramble

1 egg

1 small piece of fresh mozzarella, diced (about the size of a small cherry tomato)

1 thin tomato slice, diced

basil to taste (I used a basil paste that comes in a tube from my grocer's produce dept.)

Spray a dash of non-stick spray in small skillet. Heat skillet to medium heat setting. Add all ingredients. Stir occasionally making the eggs scrambled. This doesn't take very long too cook so keep a watchful eye. You don't want an overcooked egg.

I add salt and pepper at the end to taste. This tasty meal is high protein and good for my post-op diet. I also had a very small serving of turkey bacon on the side.

I'm about 2 1/2 months post-op and I was able to eat the entire serving.

Oct. 18, 2009

2009-10-18T11:06:00.000-05:00

All of my recent shopping must have done me some good. I'm down 79lbs today. Only 21 more pounds before I'm in the weight-loss century club!

60lbs to go!!!

Oct. 17, 2009

2009-10-17T22:19:00.000-05:00

I broke down and did some more shopping. I now have a pair of dress pants (size 16) that fit and a pair of dress shoes. Old Navy had some great stuff on their clearance racks so I purchased some dri-fit running tops (size medium). I also recently purchased a new pair of running shoes. My other pair was shot. There was no support left at all. Ooh, and I bought a pack of t-shirts that support my favorite college football team. They're a size medium! This is fantastic!

I'm hoping I can get by until January with the clothes I still have and the ones I recently purchased. I'd really like to skip buying anything in a 14 and just wait until I'm a 12 or even a 10. We'll see how long this stuff will get me by. = )

There hasn't been too much else going on lately. I feel like I have a ton of energy, but at the same time I'm very sleep deprived. Maybe I should work on fixing that tomorrow.

I'm down 76 and only have 63 to go!

Oct. 13, 2009

2009-10-13T19:54:00.000-05:00

There hasn't been a whole lot going on lately so I haven't been posting. I'm down 75 and have a follow-up with my surgeon and his team this week. Hopefully the scale will be in my favor that day. I'm not weighing again until my appointment.

I broke down a couple of weekends ago and purchased a new pair of jeans.... size 16! I haven't been in a sixteen since I started as a freshman in college. Then freshman 50 kicked in.. not freshman 15, freshman 50! I'm not kidding. It was horrible.

My new jeans are a little big in the waist, but they fit everywhere else. I guess I'm not proportioned correctly. Oh well. The extra good news about these jeans is that I only paid 8.50 plus tax for them. Isn't that amazing? Thank you, Gordmans! I also purchased a pair of Adidas running capris in size large for 7.50. I plan on wearing them for my winter runs with a pair of running tights (yes, spandex) underneath.

Speaking of running, I made a couple of purchases this past weekend. My oversized cotton t's just weren't cutting it in the cool weather. Being a beginning runner, I really had no idea what to purchase, so I asked some runner friends. They were a great help.

I purchased a fitted (large) short sleeve dri-fit shirt, a fitted (extra large) long sleeve dri-fit shirt, and a North Face jacket. The long sleeve shirt will be worn over the short sleeve shirt when I'm on my runs. If I get too hot I'll be able to take off the long sleeve shirt and wrap it around my waist. I had to get an extra large for layering purposes. The large just felt a little too fitted for my taste. I bet I'll be there in a couple of months though. Well, that's the plan anyway. The North Face jacket is pretty much the best thing ever. It's super thin, but extremely warm. It also wicks moisture, which will be fantastic for my runs.

I've been wondering if my chest will shrink and be in proportion with the rest of my body by the time this is all said and done. At this point, they're still very large and in charge. I'm pretty sure that they're the cause of my back pains. I'd definitely appreciate it if they'd shrink up a bit. Anyone else wish theirs would shrink?

Food, food, food. What's there to say? Well, every now and then I get a pretty big appetite. It's still a weird feeling to be so hungry and only be able to eat a few bites. While it's weird, it's also very awesome. I love it! There are times I feel like I really do eat a lot. It's still probably only about 3-5 normal person bites. I find myself turning almost everything into finger-foods. It's so much easier for me to nibble and take pencil-tip eraser sized bites. Most days I eat 2 meals, but there are days that I only eat 1 meal. I'm doing a great job of getting in all my required liquids these days. I make myself drink 24 ounces of water before I allow myself to have any coffee. After I finish the coffee I'm back to my non-caffeinated beverages. With this cold weather we've been having I've really enjoyed sugar-free spiced apple cider. It's delicious!

Cooking is absolutely one of my favorite things. I've been cooking up a storm lately and freezing all of the leftovers. Here's a few meals I've prepared......

McMuffin's- eggs, swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, ham, broccoli, garlic (theworldaccordingtoeggface calls them egg bites)

Mexican Buffet- (create your own) Taco meat, shredded cheese, grilled zucchini, black beans, salsa

Chinese- Chicken stir-fry (diced chicken with a bit of teriyaki, soy sauce, and lots of garlic with veggies and a sprinkle of peanuts); I made rice for my carby hubby, Bones.

Indian- Chicken Tikka Masala (diced chicken prepared with a spice pack and added plain low-fat yogurt); I made brown Jasmine rice for Bones.

Jambalaya- Chicken and low-fat turkey kielbasa (cooked with okra and tomatoes; seasoned with thyme, sage, and cayenne; added some chicken soup base too)

McMuffin's- egg, swiss, velveeta, basil, and ham

CrockPot Roast- Roast, veggies (green beans, carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, cauliflower, broccoli), beef soup base (Penzeys.com), 1 can cream of celery soup, 2 cans diced tomatoes (drained)

CrockPot Chicken Enchilada Soup- Diced chicken, 1 can red sauce, grilled red, orange, & green peppers, chopped onion, 1 can black beans, 1 can kidney beans, 1 can pinto beans, mushrooms, chicken soup base (Penzeys.com)

Italian Stuffed Peppers- Green Bell Peppers, 93/7 Ground Beef, egg, grilled diced zucchini & onion, Italian seasoning, tomato sauce (pepperoni & mozzarella optional)

Seasoned Chicken- Chicken breast covered in Mural of Flavor seasoning (Penzeys.com) and extra tarragon. (Served with garlic green beans & mushrooms, mozzarella caprese, and green olives)

These are just a few things I've made lately. I don't use recipes when I cook. I just do it! If you're interested in trying something and would like the recipe, please let me know. I can usually remember how I prepared a meal and would be happy to type if up and send it your way.

I am not supposed to eat soups, but I love soup. Soup is especially good when it's cold outside. I abide by the "no soup" rule by straining my soups before placing in my petite dish. For example, I scoop out some chicken from the chicken enchilada soup. After I get out a few bites of chicken I scoop out some veggies and let those strain. I am left with a lightly glazed mixture of chicken and veggies. It's not too liquidy that it will run right through me and make me hungry in a couple of hours, but it's covered just enough that it keeps everything moving in the right direction. I've never had a problem with food coming back up, but I don't want to either. Oh, and as far as eating goes.... I tend to be hungry around 10 am and 6 pm. Today I didn't eat lunch until 12:30 or so and I ate dinner at 5:45. My mealtime isn't usually that close together. I tried to curve my dinner appetite with liquids, but I was truthfully hungry. It's sometimes hard, but I also stick the the rule of "Protein First." I often sneak in a bite or two of a green bean before I'm completely finished with my protein.

Well, it's past my bedtime. I'm getting anxious about my doctor appointment and wonder what he's going to say. I hope I'm on track and that he's proud of my weight loss. The only thing I haven't been doing so well with this past week is working out. The weather has been pretty crappy and I've been super tired. I'll get back into my routine here before too long. Maybe the timing on this appointment will work out in my favor. I think I just might need a good kick in the butt. Bring it on! Motivate me to get out in the cold for my runs!

Oct. 1, 2009

2009-10-01T12:24:00.000-05:00

Happy October!

It's definitely a happy day!

I weighed this morning and...
I'm officially down 74 lbs!

Only 65 lbs more to lose!

Does anyone want to take bets on how much more I'll lose between now and Christmas?

Sept. 30, 2009

2009-09-30T15:08:00.000-05:00

I weighed yesterday morning and I'm officially down 71 lbs. It feels so good to be able to say that, but at the same time it's very embarrassing. I've never been a small, medium, or even large kinda girl. I was extra-extra large! It's sad that I let my weight get so out of control.

While most of my weight problems were due to my own laziness, I didn't exactly have the perfect genes either. Obesity runs in my family and I was one of the unlucky ones who it affected. I finally came to the realization that I have to work extra hard in order to lose weight and maintain weight.

For an obese person I ate pretty healthy. I love vegetables (the non-starchy kind) with a passion and enjoy lean meats. Fruit has never really been my thing, but I do enjoy an occasional apple. Sweet treats were never a weakness for me. I honestly think the habits and things that got to me the most were overeating for my almost non-existant metabolism, not exercising, and carbohydrates. Changing all of those factors has made me a new person.

I've also made other changes in my life. I no longer drink soda. This is crazy because I used to have a can of Diet Coke almost every morning. That was my breakfast. I sometimes think I miss the carbonation, but I know I'm much better off without all of those chemicals even though there aren't any calories in diet soda.

I was off caffeine for a couple of months. I'm slowly adding it into my diet again. I just make sure not to drink more than 24 ounces a day. And I only allow myself to have caffeine if I'm doing good at getting in all my liquids (mostly water). I've discovered that hydration is key when trying to lose weight.

Things are starting to get a little tricky. I have 3 pairs of sweats that sorta fit. They're pretty big and sloppy, but I think that's acceptable with sweats so I'll keep wearing them for now. I have 2 pairs of dress pants that fit and one of them is actually starting to fall off of me. It's frustrating, but exciting! I put on some pajama pants last night and felt like I was going to get tangled up in them. They're huge! I guess it's time to put those in my bottomless pile of clothes I've out-shrunk.

I'm still eating 1-2 meals per day. I only eat up to 2 ounces of food a day. I'd love to go wild and just eat a veggie salad, but it's vital that protein comes first. Luckily I enjoy cooking and have come up with some creative ways to prepare meat. It hasn't become boring yet. I've also found a couple of blogs that inspire me to try new recipes. My favorite is theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com. It's amazing!

My biggest news is that I now go running in 3 mile stretches pretty regularly. I wasn't planning on starting to run until Christmas time, so I'm way ahead of schedule. I'm needing to get in the routine of running about 10 miles a week during October. I'll bump it up to 15 or so in November and 20-25 in December. Once I get to that point I have a training schedule I'm going to follow. I'm hoping to run a 1/2 marathon in the spring. That's my goal and it gives me something to work towards.

Well, I just wanted to post an update about my journey. It's only been 3 1/2 months and I've lost 71 lbs. That makes 43 lbs since my pre-op which was 2 months ago today. It sure would be wonderful if I could drop another 43 lbs in the next 2 months. That would make me smile from ear to ear!

Time to run some errands. Hope all is well!

Only 68 lbs to go!!!!!

Oh, Humor Me

2009-09-24T07:05:00.000-05:00

I went to Kohl's yesterday to see if I could fit into any jeans in the misses section (NOT the women's plus). I thought it was a long shot, but wanted to humor myself.

These fit and were even big in the waist. Whoa!

I also found a pair of clearance Adidas workout pants in XL that were on sale for $10. so I tried them on. They were on the baggy side and for a moment I was tempted to get them anyway, but then realized that they may only be wearable for the next couple of weeks. So NOT worth the 10 bucks if I'd only be able to wear them a couple of times.

Down 67 lbs today!

Protein Packed Turkey Chili

2009-09-04T19:26:00.000-05:00

This one is YUMMO! The following recipe is for a very thick chili. It's thick because my dietitian doesn't want me eating soup or anything that's liquified because it will go right through me and I'll be hungry again. Every WLS program is different, but this meets my dietary expectations.

Protein Packed Turkey Chili

2 lbs. Lean Ground Turkey (93/7)

1 can Chili Beans/Ranch Style Beans (don't drain)

1 can Black Beans, drained

1 can Stewed Tomatoes (don't drain)

Chili Powder to taste

Cumin to taste

Garlic Powder to taste

Salt to taste

Brown turkey meat in large pot (drain if needed). Add all beans and stewed tomatoes. Season to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 2 hours.

It's always better the second day. For those who are not dieting or WLS patients, they can add cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and enjoy with corn chips or corn bread.

Enjoy!

4 Week Surgiversary!

2009-09-02T22:59:00.000-05:00

I officially made it through the first 4 weeks of post-op. It feels really good! I've been doing better with my fluids. I'm drinking mostly water now, but it has to be ice cold or it tastes bad to me. I've been walking, running, and working out at the gym. It's pretty exhausting, but I just keep truckin' along.

Today I was finally able to start eating veggies again. Here's what I ate today: Turkey Kielbasa with red beans and tomatoes and some green beans on the side. I couldn't eat much, but it was so good.

Here's the recipe for my protein packed version of "jambalaya"....

1 Turkey Kielbasa, sliced very thin (says it's good for the South Beach Diet)

1 can of Red Beans

1 can of Stewed Tomatoes (with onion, celery, and green pepper)

1//4 teaspoon Thyme

1/4 teaspoon Sage

I just threw everything in the pot and let it come to a simmer. The stewed tomatoes were pretty big, so I ended up jabbing them with my utensil while cooking. It was super easy to do.

My husband, Bones, loved this! He's not even on a diet. I gave him extra sauce, ya know the tomato juices, when I served him. I tried to make my little portion not have any liquid. It was delish!

For the green beans.... I just sprayed a little bit of canola oil in the cast iron skillet, threw in some frozen green beans (I don't like canned), and added some real bacon pieces. Yum!

I have a love for veggies, so it's tough eating 2/3 protein and 1/3 veggies. I'm the kinda girl that would totally go for the veggies first. Talk about life changes!

Waddling around...

2009-08-31T22:16:00.001-05:00

I went for a "run" yesterday. It may have looked more like a jog or a waddle, but it actually went pretty well. I ran just over a mile and walked 2 miles. Not too shabby for my first time out. I'd love to be able to run 3 miles without stopping by Christmas. It's a tough goal, but I must have something to shoot for.

When I woke up this morning I was pretty sore. I only walked 3 miles today. I hope go for another run by the end of the week.

I'm in the final stretch of my soft proteins only stage. Zucchini, tomatoes, and green beans sound so amazing right now. It's been a month since I've had any vegetables. It wasn't easy because they're my favorite! Just 1 more day of this and then I'll get my best food friends back. I won't be able to eat more than a few small nibbles, but that's alright. I just have to remember to eat protein first!!! Yes, 2/3 of my meal will be a lean protein and the other 1/3 will be a veggie. At least I'll finally be able to eat shrimp, lean ground turkey, chicken breast, sirloin steak, etc. It's about time!

Flounder

2009-08-28T23:00:00.001-05:00

I tried a little bit of baked flounder for lunch today. It was so delicious that I decided I'd eat some for dinner if I was hungry. Yep, I was hungry and had it again for dinner. It was really wonderful. Unfortunately, I think I went overboard. I struggled to keep it down. I kept telling Bones that I was gonna go yack in the toilet, but he said I better keep it down because I don't want to perforate my stomach. I kept feeling my fish creep up and was burping, but I managed. What a relief!

Pretty sure I ate too much because I've been feeling lousy. I don't think I've been getting in enough protein so I was trying to compensate. You know those pics of Africans with the big round belly? Well, that's kinda happening to me. My stomach is filling with fluid because I'm protein malnourished. My word... I never ever thought I'd say I was malnourished. Ha!

Getting my fluids in started out rough today, but I treated myself to some Fuze at the store. That stuff tastes so much better than Crystal Light and other flavored drinks. The blueberry raspberry is my favorite.

I spent several hours going through more clothes today. The clothes in my closet will get me by for a while. I'm really excited about getting some use out of the stuff I've had stored away for years.

I have a personal goal. I've been wanting to start running again around Christmas time. The reason I've been waiting is so I have a chance to lose more weight. Being down many more pounds should make running a little less painful. Well, I don't think I can wait any longer. I'm ready to start now! My current weight is the same as when I started running a few years back. It was awful then because I was basically a couch potato before and didn't have the lung strength or anything else. This time I've been working out regularly in the gym and my body is a little more conditioned. So, I'm ready to give it a whirl. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I can start tomorrow. I'll keep ya posted on how it goes. Wish me luck!

Dress-up

2009-08-27T23:29:00.000-05:00

I played dress-up by modeling some coats and jackets for my husband, "Bones", today. So many of them were way too big. I am getting rid of about 6 coats and 2 jackets.

Being a pack-rat tends to come in handy sometimes. I have a couple of jackets from Old Navy that now fit. They're my favorites and I'm so happy I can wear them again. I also have a big down coat from the Gap. It always makes me feel like a marshmallow or the Michelin Man. Oh, well! At least I'll be warm this winter..... well, that's unless I out-shrink everything and need to purchase new ones. That's looking very possible at this point.

EGG-static!

2009-08-27T17:21:00.000-05:00

I've been sipping on my liquids all morning. I was feeling hungry and kept drinking with the attempt to curve my appetite. I finally gave in and had a boiled egg with salt and pepper. I was able to eat the entire thing and keep it down. I'm not too sure I'll be hungry for dinner, but that's okay. I'm egg-static that I ate an entire boiled egg! = )

I walked with my hubby to our local QT today and I bought some 5 Rain gum and a big cup of ice. Yum! It was pretty hot out there. I think I'm ready for a nap now. Zzzz's......

3 Week Surgiversary!

2009-08-26T22:41:00.000-05:00

I'm officially 3 weeks post-op. Things have been a little crazy. I don't know what happened, but things started going downhill a few days ago. I've felt really nauseous and nothing sounds good. Everything has been tasting bad, from water to crystal light to eggs and deli meat. Ugh!

It's been tough getting in my minimum 64oz. liquids a day, but I'm doing it anyway.

I've been taking my nausea medication about every day now. I should probably get a refill soon just so I'm prepared.

I seemed to turn a corner for today, but I don't know if it will last. I was able to get down ice water, which hasn't been easy. I did a "no-no" and had egg drop soup for dinner. I figured I'll just count it as being a protein shake or something. It's really just water and egg, so it probably counts towards my liquids too.

A few hours later I seemed to be hungry again. I had some chicken thigh pieces that I had baked in a cream of chicken soup and water. It was really moist and I had no problem getting it down or keeping it down.

I've heard many stories about people overeating, not chewing well enough, taking too big of bites, etc. These people usually end up worshipping the porcelain gods, but I haven't experienced that. I'm so thankful!

My wounds are still healing up nicely. A couple of them still have some Dermabond on them and I can definitely feel my internal stitches.

I think I'm going to back off the scale for a while. Since I watch it every day, it's not moving. I hate that and get frustrated. I'm stuck at -56 lbs. and I'm ready to lose more weight. The rapid weight loss has caused me to have a period. This isn't convenient for me at all. I have the Mirena IUD and swear by it. I've never had a full blown period with that thing in until now. Ugh!!! So, I'm probably bloated, retaining water, and all the other great stuff that goes along with it. And since there's not much food going in me, there's not much coming out. I seriously think it's been a week. Not that I enjoy that part of my life, but it was always nice to feel regular. Sorry if this is grossing anyone out, but that's the world of blogging for ya.

I hope tomorrow is a great day. I need to get in my exercise, fluids, and protein. The laundry is also calling my name. I'm a little confused about the situation because I probably won't be wearing half the clothes that are in my laundry basket ever again. I hate to waste the money cleaning the stuff. Hmmm... I'll figure it out tomorrow.

Peace out!

In the lead!

2009-08-22T19:38:00.000-05:00

I finally weigh less than my husband again. YES!!!

1st & 2nd Post-Op Meals

2009-08-21T08:03:00.000-05:00

My first 2 weeks post-op consisted of a clear liquid diet. I know it sounds horrible, but it wasn't so bad. Herbox broth, Smart Water, Crystal Light, and sugar-free sno cones were my drinks of choice. I'm pretty sick of the sweet stuff right now, so I've switched to unsweetened herbal iced tea. It's delicious! I didn't struggle with hunger at all during the 2 weeks. Thank goodness!

Here are a couple of pics of my first post-op meal. There is a before and after pic. I only had about 1/3 of an egg on my plate to begin with.

I never felt full, but I felt content. I sure didn't want to eat so much that I tasted it twice.... if you know what I mean.

This was my 2nd post-op dinner. I had fat-free refried beans with 2% sharp cheddar cheese. I gave most of the cheese to my dog. He loves that stuff!

In order to get more protein, I also made some tuna salad. I used tuna from a pouch with lots of low-fat mayo and some mustard. The mayo and mustard were to help it go down. I still seemed to have a bit of a problem with it though. I would chew, chew, and chew, but the mayo and mustard would leave and I'd be left with the gritty tuna in my mouth. Lets just say that I preferred the refried beans, but at least I tried to get more protein down.

Here are my before and after pics of my post-op meal #2. I'm doing better!

What did you have for your first few post-op meals? How much did you eat?

**** Down 52 lbs. since 06/14/2009****

2 week Surgiversary!

2009-08-19T21:13:00.001-05:00

Today is the 2 week Surgiversary of my Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. Everything has been going great. The dermabond is almost completely gone and my wounds look like they're healing well. I've been getting in all of my water and taking my multi-vitamins. I still have some soreness where they pulled my stomach out, but it's only normal. It's not even bad enough for me to bother taking pain meds at this point. It's just a little uncomfortable and annoying.

I ate for the first time in over 2 weeks. I was pretty scared, but everything went well. I had about 1/5 of a scrambled egg with a sprinkle of 2% sharp cheddar cheese and a dab of low-fat mayo and mustard. I always liked cheese, but it never tasted so good.

Tomorrow night I plan on having some fat-free refried beans with a sprinkle of the 2% sharp cheddar cheese. We'll see how that goes.

I'll be posting post-op healing belly pics soon and sharing more of my pre-op story.