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About this blog

Weight Loss Journey from Start to Finish

Entries in this blog

 

Week 1 - Weigh In

I can't believe that it has been 7 days since I have been sleeved! Time is moving FAST. Like one of my sleeve sisters I am going to weigh in on the day that I got sleeved (Wednesday) to avoid the "weighing in everyday" syndrome.   The day I left for surgery I was an even 236 lbs. This morning I am at 230.6. So that puts my first week loss at 5.6 lbs. Woo Hoo!   Granted I am not surprised because I have only had clear liquids from the point I had surgery but I will take it   So total loss since preop diet is: 15.6
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

10
 

Week 17 With Bathing Suit Picture

Week 17   Last week’s weight – 204 This week’s weight – 202.8 Total weight lost this week – 1.2 lbs   Total weight loss since surgery – 43.2 lbs   Average weekly weight loss since surgery – 2.4 lbs   I am very happy to see a loss this week. I lost the .2 I had gained last week and another pound. I am past the WOW stage of weight loss (where I see a massive amount of weight – which I say is anything over 1.5 pounds – melting off of me). I’m now in the “recommended” level of weight loss – approximately .5 to 1 pound a week.   I’m still exercising (walking 3 miles most mornings) and I started adding in some light weight training afterward. I use the exercises in the book 8 Minutes in the Morning by Jorge Cruise. His basic premise is if you add in some very moderate weight you will see a bump in your weight loss as muscle burns more than fat. I’ve only done it six mornings so I can’t really give it a solid review (I’ve had the book on my shelf for YEARS). I didn’t like the order of the activities so I cut out the exercises and rearranged them so they made sense to me (essentially I don’t want to have to get up off the floor to do a standing exercise so I do two floor exercises instead). There were some complaints about that on Amazon after I bought the book so I thought I would solve the problem myself (although I hate cutting up a book L).   I had a training class that involved eating out every meal for three days. I thought I did pretty well with my low carb choices and I kept at least half of every meal for breakfast the next day. Lunch was a cold cut sandwich bar and I just steered clear of the bread. I did have wine several nights (the hotel had a free happy hour – hard to turn that down!) but I made sure to exercise while I was away. I weighed myself when I got back to see the damage and I had lost the .2 pounds I had gained last week.   I don’t tend to weigh myself everyday but I do weigh myself once a week. I have a girl friend that doesn’t weigh regularly and she recently stepped on the scale and was in shock she was at 220 (from 180). I think the weekly weigh in keeps me accountable (as well as posting on this blog).   I bought a new bathing suit at Kmart this week (all their suits were on sale I bought a regular size 18 bottom and I couldn't find a matching size top so I got an 18W top - I need to have my mother-in-law bring up the straps in the back so it gives me more chest support but still from a size 22 that is not bad!). I had to donate my size 22 one from Lands End because it was too baggy. My other suit is all black and I wanted something more colorful. A friend took this picture of me at the beach. Normally I wouldn't have let her but I figured I might need a comparison shot as we go into next summer and I am hopefully at my goal weight.   My challenges this coming week – Going out with a friend to Olive Garden (already looked up low carb options and will limit myself to one glass of wine).
In a training class two days and it most likely will involve lunch out both days
Taking a friend for a medical treatment out of state and will be eating out 4 days (hoping the hotel has a workout room).
  I’ll let you know how I do next week!
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

8
 

Week 24 (Or 6 Months Post Op With Pictures)

Week 24 – 6 months post op   Last week’s weight – 200.8 This week’s weight – 197.2 Total weight lost this week – 3.6   Beginning weight – 246 lbs Total weight loss since surgery – 48.8 lbs     Recovered from my gain last week with a nice loss. I was hoping to be down 50 lbs by my 6 month mark but…oh well…that’s the way it goes.   Attached is a side by side picture of my weight loss from highest to current.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

8
 

Leaving Tomorrow For Mexico

I am leaving tomorrow for Mexico. My bag is packed and I think I am ready. I have to make a copy of my passport and drivers license for the house (we had a friend who lost his in South Africa and it was a pain getting those things replaced when there were no copies).   I am taking the bare minimum. I don't want to spend the extra money on checking it. I may do that on the return flight but I think I can always get some kind person to help me lift and take down a bag from the overhead. I booked window seats going out and aisle seats coming back.   I am not taking makeup, hairspray, etc. I'll be "roughing it". My flight leaves very early and comes back very late so it is doubtful I will run into anyone I know.   I just finished the "just in case I die" letter to my husband (not mushy more practical...things he would need to know...like my mother's phone number
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

7
 

At The Hospital - Part 2

Got sleeved last night. I remember getting wheeled in and then I was put under. The next thing I know I am trying to get into the bed with some prodding from the nurses who got me from surgery. I remember being VERY nauseous. They gave me something to get sick into but I managed to get through that without getting sick. I remember the light being VERY bright (almost migraine level intolerance to the light). They got pain and nauseous medicine in me and I remember laying very still waiting for it to kick in (again like a migraine where you are afraid to move and have the searing head pain). I had no trouble sleeping on my side (either side...which is good because that is how I sleep). It seemed like the nurses were coming in every 15 minutes to take vitals.   My mouth was super dry. I was told I could suck on the ice chips but not to drink the water down. I'm guessing that was a last night thing because this morning they said I could.   I have not experienced any horrible gas pains like some people have reported. I have gotten up to walk a bit only because I don't want any blood clots to form!   They are making me do lung exercises with a breathing "toy" with balls in it. That is super annoying because they want it done for 5 minutes at a time and the deep breathing is making me light headed.   I've gone to the bathroom several times without any issues (peeing not...you know )     The on call doctor said that we would be taking our leak test tomorrow so basically I'm getting in some marathon sleeping today (which is fine with me!)
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

7
 

Nice Picture

I was super excited to fit into this shirt I haven't been able to wear for awhile and these size 18 (no W after it!) pants from Walmart (those I had to stretch out last night by doing the fun lunging and squatting   I was working with some young kids releasing butterflies and one of the other teachers took this nice shot. If you compare it to my profile picture you can see I've lost weight in the face.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

7
 

Two Months Postop (Week 8)

I lost 1.2 lbs this week. This puts my current weight at 215.4 (from a high of 246). My total weight loss since starting this journey has been 30.6 lbs (average weight loss per week is 2.5….which does not include the 10 lbs I lost post op).   I am two months PostOp and I am pretty much eating whatever I want – except in smaller amounts (examples of things I am eating – watermelon, spaghetti, cereal, small salads, asparagus, etc.). If it can fit into one of my 4 oz containers that is how much I eat.   Best meal this week was a tomato, mozzarella, basil salad with left over fresh tuna my husband caught (ate separately…drizzled wasabi, soy, ginger dressing on the tuna..yum!). The day before I had the tuna on a small bed of lettuce with the dressing and sliced up cucumbers.   Please note that I don’t enjoy cooking at all. I did make the tomato/mozzarella salad but my husband cooked the tuna. I’ve been looking up “make ahead” salads so I have more healthy “go to” items in the fridge (this weekend I want to try a black bean confetti salad and a Texas caviar salad – found easy recipes through pinterest). I thought those would be good with some pre-cooked chicken.   I made the mistake of watching the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead this week. Now I want a juicer and started obsessing about getting in micro nutrients (I liked parts of the documentary but not all of it. It is about juice fasting.). I also made the mistake of weighing myself every day (which has not helped me mentally and has me questioning everything I am eating when I am eating below 1200 calories as it is). I am close enough to being under 200 to “taste” it. We bought plane tickets to go home this summer and I would love to be under 200 when I go. I am feeling some “self pressure” to drop those pounds in the coming month which I think is contributing to my recent blah mood (mainly because I know I should probably join the Y and get on a regular exercise program if I want to lose that weight in the next month).   I had a moment yesterday where everything was ticking me off and all I wanted to do was go and eat and eat and eat. I went to McDonalds and got a hot fudge sundae and that made my stomach feel horrible and I pretty much didn’t eat for the rest of the night. I was mad that I couldn’t eat like I wanted but got over that (I’m normally a pretty happy person so I am going to blame my recent mood on PMS).   My exercise is still hit or miss and not really planned. I walked 3 miles on Saturday and did some hiking and a lot of walking around on Sunday.   I am not counting calories or weighing my food (too much “work” for me). I am eating in 1, 2 or 4 oz increments (these are the mini containers I purchased so my meals are measured with that).   Here is an idea of what I am eating:   Breakfast – High Protein Slimfast Chocolate Shake with Skim Milk (sometimes with strawberries or bananas blended in). Sometimes Go Lean Crunch cereal with skim milk served in a ramekin. Sometimes a ready to drink shake that I have on hand in case I am running late. Sometimes an Atkins bar.   Snack (around 10 a.m.) – Atkins bar or 4 oz flavored greek yogurt with 1 oz of Go Lean Crunch mixed in or applesauce or jello.   Lunch (I usually start eating from 11:30 to 1 p.m. in little increments) 4 oz applesauce
4 oz of left over dinner (i.e. spaghetti, grilled tuna, sliced ham and cheese, usually something with protein, etc.)
4 oz watermelon (this is a recent thing but I have also had sliced cucumbers too)
Sugar Free Jello snack pack
  Mid Snack (around 3 p.m.) – Almonds, Atkins bar, yogurt, cheese stick (any of those)   Dinner (around 5:30) 4 oz of dinner
4 oz of veggies with dinner (I usually don’t eat the carbs that go with the dinner)
  Desert – SF popsicle, cut up fruit, or SF gelatin
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

6
 

Week 29 (And The Vitamix Debate)

Week 29   Last week’s weight – 195.8 This week’s weight – 194.6 Total weight lost this week – 1.2   Beginning weight – 246 lbs Total weight loss since surgery – 51.4 lbs   A bit surprised I lost weight this past week primarily because I spent the weekend up in the mountains for a wedding and there was a lot to eat and drink. I’m crediting the weight loss with the higher altitude and two days of hiking.   I’ve been waffling between 195 – 197 for the past few weeks so it was nice to see 194.something on the scale. I tried to take a picture of my scale but the first time the flash was too bright and the second time my batteries died!   I’m still doing Crossfit 3x a week and I’ve been getting a lot of compliments on how skinny I look even though I have not lost any pounds (I will have been doing Crossfit for 2 months as of next week). I haven’t checked my inches yet but will do so at the beginning of November to see what the affect of Crossfit has been on that. I do feel myself getting stronger and I can last longer and scale back less on the exercises.   Right now my big obsession is with a Vitamix blender. I have been looking at them on and off since I visited my mother (who has one) this past summer. I have been saving up (they are ridiculously expensive!). My only concern is would I use it. I make shakes in the morning for breakfast and it would be nice to add some veggies into it and my current blender can’t handle it but would I use it beyond that? This is something I am struggling with. I may take a road trip to our local Costco to see a demo in the hopes it would sway me one way or the other.   Does anyone have a vitamix and use it often after WLS?
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

6
 

Week 25

Week 25   Last week’s weight – 197.2 This week’s weight – 198.8 Total weight gained this week – 1.6   Beginning weight – 246 lbs Total weight loss since surgery – 47.2 lbs   I am not happy in general with how my weight loss has slowed down. Honestly I thought I would be at 50 lbs by now and it is a little frustrating to see the scale go up and down like it has the past few weeks.   I’ve started looking at things I can do to help by scouring the boards for ideas. My favorite is to get sick . I would think that working with a ton of students and teachers that would happen sooner than later but alas it seems my immune system is working just fine. Right now I am trying the drink lots of water approach (I am currently starting day 2). I haven’t been drinking nearly enough and I would kill two birds with one stone but adopting this habit (breaking a stall and getting the appropriate amount of water in). I have been looking at the pouch test but am going to start with water first.   I shouldn’t be griping too much because 47 lbs is still a nice amount of weight to have lost and I am thrilled to: Get lots of compliments at work
Shop in the regular (not plus) side of stores
Not struggle to get my wedding ring on and off
Be below my driver’s license weight
Have enough energy to workout (walking and crossfit)
Be under 200 lbs
  I did step on the scale this morning (something I don’t normally do but I was curious to see if the water thing was working after the first day…and about a million trips to the bathroom) and I was down to 197.6 so that gives me hope for next Wednesday’s weigh in.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

6
 

Week 26 (And Finally At 50 Pounds Lost!)

Week 26   Last week’s weight – 198.8 This week’s weight – 194.8 Total weight lost this week – 4 (happy dance!)   Beginning weight – 246 lbs Total weight loss since surgery – 51.2 lbs   Woo Hoo….I finally broke the last few weeks of yoyo’ing and hit the 50 lb mark in my weight loss (half way to goal!).   I definitely did it through drinking a lot more water. I am still doing CrossFit as my main form of exercise (3x a week). I can feel myself getting stronger and more coordinated with the exercises but I definitely have to scale back a lot of the workouts. I’m ok with that mainly because I would like to be tone and stronger and not bulky.   My eating hasn’t been too bad this week. The hardest part of the day, for me, is getting home from work. Usually I am either bored or trying to avoid housework or homework so eating sounds good (luckily with my sleeve I am extremely limited with what I can eat). I don’t always make the best choices though.   I now officially fit into size 16 pants (from a 22W!). I bought 16’s from both the Eddie Bauer outlet and Target and they fit fine. I waffle in shirt size from a large to an XL. I bought a L from Eddie Bauer and stretched the crude out of it over the back of a large padded computer chair we have (it was tight across my belly fat). It is still a little tight across my bosom but I wore a sweater over it so it wasn’t too noticeable. Speaking of bosoms, I’ve gone from being at 42DD to a 40D (so I’ve had to buy some new bras).   Until next week!
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

6
 

Week 15 - Post Op

Week 15   Last week’s weight – 205.2 This week’s weight – 203.8 Total weight lost this week – 1.4 lbs   Total weight loss since surgery – 42.2 lbs   Average weekly weight loss since surgery – 2.6 lbs   I’m getting closer to my goal of being under 200 lbs (yay!). I’m also happy that I haven’t reached any kind of stall in my weight loss. I keep waiting for it to happen but so far so good (knock on wood!). I also haven’t experienced any hair loss (I make sure that I think protein first when eating and I take a dissolvable Biotin tablet each morning – which is suppose to help strengthen nails and promote hair growth).   I have hit the summer doldrums but luckily the surgery helped remove any feelings of hunger so I know that when I am reaching for something to eat it is completely out of boredom and I am able to resist (in my pre-surgery days my stomach would act like it was hungry when really I was bored). I’ve retaken up knitting (nothing fancy just scarves and hats) to keep my hands busy. Right now I am knitting a scarf with a new stitch called a basket weave stitch (saw it on Pinterest) and that requires a bit of concentration, time, and attention.   My favorite go to food these days is edamame. I bought a giant bag at Sams that had lots of individual bags inside it. I microwave it for 4 minutes, sprinkle lightly with salt and by the time I am finished eating it (which takes awhile) I am completely full and I feel like I’ve gotten some good protein in.   I am still walking in the morning (3 miles) and it feels good to get it over with so early in the day. It is super hot and humid here so I am seriously motivated to get it done first thing in the morning before it becomes too unbearable. I know I have talked about joining the Y but I am thinking I might wait until school starts back up since it will be difficult to walk in the morning and get to school on time.   The biggest news this week is that I told a coworker about the surgery (she is the first person to know outside my husband and sister…who I told on vacation a few weeks ago). We were on the beach and she was saying that her husband wanted the sleeve and she thought he was crazy to want to do it in Mexico. I wanted her to know that it was perfectly fine having it done in Mexico and that he would be ok so I told her. I told her that she could have him call me if he wanted. It sounded like a different procedure then what I had so I kind of want to talk to him as well (not removing stomach but putting something around the stomach to restrict it???? She said it was called the Gastric Sleeve because it was a sleeve that was put around the stomach. I hadn’t heard of that so I am curious.)   Until next week!
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

6
 

My Story

My Story   I am 42 years old, 5’5” and weigh 243 lbs. I wear size 20/22 pants and 2X tops.   I never really thought about my weight one way or another until I wanted to join the military (18 years old). When I went to check out all the branches I actually choose the Navy because I had to lose the least amount of weight – 30 lbs (I was 180 at the time). I put myself on a crazy crash diet and exercise program to lose the weight as fast as possible. I could only get to 25 lbs down and the day before I had to weigh in I took a bunch of laxatives (NEVER AGAIN!). I was over my weigh in by 2 lbs but they gave me a waiver and I joined the Navy for 5 years. The good thing about the military is that they give you a PT test and weigh in every six months so I kept myself within my weight range (not easily but I did it for five years). The moment I left the military and restrictions of weighing in and exercising came off I started a progression of gaining weight. Getting married, moving, new job, college, graduate school, and an uncertain future helped add more weight on.   I work very hard to not let my weight interfere with my life. We live in a coastal region so summer clothes and swimsuits are a staple. My husband (not overweight) loves the water and I love my husband so I am good about not letting my weight become an issue in our marriage (which means even if I feel uncomfortable in my 22 size bathing suit I fake my enthusiasm for spending the day on the water).   I never thought about WLS until my sister had lapband surgery a few years in Mexico. She actually had a bad situation with her band slipping and had to go into emergency surgery and now she is battling the insurance company to cover the emergency surgery. Up until then I hadn’t know about medical tourism or about the many WLS options.   This past fall I started to research different WLS surgeries. I have to lose 100 lbs and that is beyond overwhelming to me. The most I lost was 30 lbs on WW but gained that back and more.   I liked the sleeve option better then gastic bypass. My insurance does not cover it so I knew I was going to be self pay. My husband isn’t very chatty and I he said if that is something I wanted to do then fine but he is fine either way (I married an easy going guy). He won’t be going with me….no sense in both of us going if he’ll be bored. I am not telling anyone about the surgery. I don’t want to be talked out of it (it is enough to keep myself from talking myself out of it!).   I think I am a good candidate for surgery. My health is very good (minus the 100 excess pounds). My weight related ailments include – lack of energy, knees that bother me, and snoring. Our only son is married and serving in the military (so no small children). I am on temporary assignment outside of the classroom this year so I don’t have the crazy and stressful teacher schedule (which will make recovery easier for me).   I am mentally preparing for a rough few months after surgery (I am not a complainer and can tough out a lot). I am worried about the normal things – complications, insurance not covering complications, dying, long term ramifications, dealing with my eat out friends. However I am looking forward to buying clothes in normal sizes, fitting into airplane seats, crossing my legs, having more energy, enjoying being outdoors.   My surgery is on March 28th.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

6
 

Week 9 (Or 10 Depending On How You Look At It) - Postop

I weighed in this morning and was at 213.8 (down from a high of 246). That means I lost 1.6 lbs this week (which I am totally fine with).   My average weight loss is about 3.6 if you look at it from a 9 week perspective but I lost 10 lbs the week of preop so if I factor 10 weeks working on it then I am averaging a weekly weight loss of 3.24 (not too bad!).   I am currently down 32.4 lbs.   Memorial Day weekend was definitely a food challenge. I had 3 wine coolers before the sugar got to me (and the fact that I hadn't factored in the carbonation). I had 2 glasses of wine, a bunch of cheese its, 2 servings of lemon merange pie (not back to back), and decent amount of doritos. Everything else was pretty much within moderation. If I eat too fast I get very hot quickly and feel like crude. It is sometimes a chore to slow down the eating when everyone around you is eating so fast. Got compliments from my neices whom I hadn't see in awhile and got some random "Are you losing weight" comments at work.   I don't get super hunger and I fill up fast. I ate out twice this week. Once I had edamane and a hamburger with sauteed mushrooms and melted cheese (no bun and I didn't finish all the hamburger). I also went to McDonalds and had the kids meal with 4 chicken nuggets, small fries, and 1/2 a milk (I drank the other half of the milk the next day and had the apple slices in my lunch the next day as well).   Today I ate   Breakfast - one piece of deli salami and one piece of deli roast beef plus a 1/2 a cup of milk   Snack - Ensure high protein shake   Lunch - green sugar free jello, 1 oz plain almonds, diced turkey cubes and a diced cheese stick (spread out over an hour an a half)   Snack - cut up strawberries and blueberries, 5 peices of deli salami, and 2 jalepeno stuffed olives (plus 2 sugar free breath mints)   Dinner - Single serving of Lloyds BBQ (bought them in 4 oz individual packets)   I didn't do any exercise (and I feel kind of bad about that considering I had 3 days off where I could have at least walked). I did go on a field trip with students where I walked up a giant lighthouse but that was about it.   Until next week!   Goal next week - Get more water in!!!!
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

5
 

Leak Test And Hotel

It took us forever to get out of the hospital this morning. We thought we would be gone by 11 a.m. but it was closer to 2 p.m. Which meant some more reading and sleeping for me. I did get in a shower this morning which made me feel good. I liked the night nurse Sarah a lot and I made sure to take a shower on her shift so she could change my stomach bandages.   I told her that I had heard crying in the night and apparently a family from Russia had come in to treat their mother who had severe lung cancer and she passed away. It was a rough night for the staff and the family.   We went to the Hospital Angelos for the leak test (that was a new modern hospital!). My sleeve sister and I were happy to be out in the fresh air. Our leak tests went well. I was dreading the solution but it was only about a quarter of a cup of clear liquid which tasted like really bad cough syrup. The hotel Lucerna is very nice and we got Popsicle right away (should have had the orange one!). I have a nice room with a balcony facing the pool which is great considering I am going to be here for a few days. It is too chilly to get in the pool but it is a nice day - cool but sunny. I am trying to establish a regular sleep pattern for these next few days since I have been oversleeping the past few days (resulting in nightmares...which is typically for me when oversleeping and trying to force more sleep).   I opened up a bottle of water and been practicing sipping but I think I will go down and explore the hotel a bit. Treating the rest of the trip like a mini vacation. Dr. Kelly's assistant Ana is making teeth whitening reservations for me and I think I might hit the spa close to the hotel for a pedicure.   Overall feel good and I think getting out of the hospital and the sunshine helped lift my spirits tremendously.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

5
 

Week 7 Postop - Weigh In

Today is week 7 for me postop. I've been losing at a fairly slow (but steady) pace so I was surprised to see that the scale read a 3.8 weight loss for the week (yay!).   My total weight loss is now at 29.4 lbs lost. I'm happy to write that I am out of the 240's, 230's, and now the 220's. Now to steadily lose out of the 210's   This puts my average weekly weight loss at - 4.2 lbs (I've decided to factor in the 10 lbs I lost pre op).   Not sure why the scale jumped so dramatically this week. I've only exercised once this week (deliberately).   My best meal this week came from the Outback. I had their seared Ahi Tuna appetizer (small plate) and a cup of their baked potato soup (Yum! My new Outback favorite).   Now to see what the next week brings!
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

5
 

Unauthorized Weigh-In And Picture

Normally I only announce my weight every Wednesday (which is the day I had my surgery) and I TRY not to weigh myself inbetween weigh ins. I did an unauthorized weigh-in this morning (Saturday) after walking 3 miles and I was at 211 lbs which makes my weight loss EXACTLY 35 lbs in approximately two months (happy to have hit the 35 lb mark).   I also went to my neices graduation today and I had a full length body shot of me taken with her. I cropped out my neice and husband and attached a "beginning" picture next to today's picture to see if I could see a huge (or at least a 35 lb) difference. I see it somewhat in my face and I know my clothes are smaller in each picture (jeans are a size 22W in one and my white capris are an 18W in the other). I am hoping to add more pictures to these two as I gradually get smaller.   Some other changes I have made is that I am consistantly wearing makeup now (you can tell in the second picture - I love Bare Essential products). Before I was wearing it for "special occasions" only (and in the first picture I was at a Girl Scout chili cookoff event - so no makeup). I am also growing out and styling my hair differently (no hair loss here). I've been making those changes since January of this year to add to my year of self improvement and to make it less "shocking" as I began to loose weight (around family and coworkers).
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

5
 

Week 12 (2 Months) - Post Op

Last week’s weight – 211.4 This week’s weight – 209.2 or 207.6 Total weight lost this week – 2.2 or 3.8   Total weight loss since surgery – 36.8 or 38.4   I had a weird weigh-in today. I got up early and weighed myself and was happy to see that I was at 209.2. I’ve been consistently losing about a pound or so each week so I thought I would be in the 210’s this week so when I saw I was at 209.2 I was doing the happy dance because that means that I am out of the 210’s all together (and fingers crossed…FOREVER).   Then I went walking this morning (3 miles) and came home and immediately cleaned the bathrooms (which I hate but wanted to get them out of the way). I had nothing to eat or drink and when I went to take a shower after all that was done I decided to weigh myself again (surely I had lost some weight doing all that!). I stepped on the scale expecting to see the .2 of a pound gone after the 209 but the scale read 207.6!!!! I stepped off and on several times and it read the same each time. That would mean that I lost 1.6 lbs since getting up (which seems unlikely). I recorded both scores on my weigh-in calendar and decided I would let the chips fly where they would next week.   Either way the celebratory thing this week is that I am out of the 210’s. I also walked pretty consistently this week. Since summer break started I have walked a total of 27 miles.   Food Diary for the last two days –   Breakfast – yougert (4 oz) and granola Snack – Diet Green Tea Lunch – McDonalds kids 4 pieces chicken nugget meal with milk Dinner – Ramikin size chicken, rice and crunchy onions, tomato mix with cream of mushroom soup. Snack – Melon and a glass of the diet green tea   Breakfast – 1% skim milk (8 oz), 1 medium banana, slimfast high protein shake mix (chocolate) Snack – Atkins bar Lunch – Chicken salad (no bread), ½ a small bag of chips, 2 bites of pound cake Snack – Mints (I was trapped in a very long training class and that was all I had in my purse J) Dinner – Bag of edamame   Until next week!
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

5
 

Week 34 And 35 (Little Over 8 Months Out - 54.6 Lbs Down)

Week 34 and 35 (little over 8 months out – 54.6 lbs down)   Last week’s weight – 191.8 This week’s weight – 191.4 Total weight lost this week – .4   Beginning weight – 246 lbs Total weight loss since surgery – 54.6 lbs   I haven’t posted anything in a while mostly because I am feeling blah about my weight loss. I seem to be jumping up and down the same few pounds and not making any headway. Headway for me means (1) getting to 55 lbs lost and (2) getting into and starting to work on getting out of the 180’s.   The lack of scale movement is definitely a “me” thing. I do well for a few days and then don’t for a few days. Example – Yesterday I had a great breakfast (Chocolate Slim Fast High Protein Shake with a frozen banana) and lunch (spaghetti squash spaghetti) but then I ate a regular size Hershey’s bar. I went home and ate a small bowl of chips as a snack, My husband made french dip sandwiches on a sub roll and I ate three quarters of it (should have stopped at a half – my stomach was protesting). After that dinner settled I had three Tim Tam cookies (way too much…I should have stopped at one…they are very rich). I barely drank any water (maybe four glasses total for the day).   Thanksgiving was in that time frame and I ate a good deal of pumpkin bread pudding with cream sauce and drank wine. I did make a group go out for a walk after dinner in order to help digest the food better. My stomach was feeling it.   I’m still going to Crossfit 3x a week and I think that has helped keep the pounds from coming back in too drastic a fashion.   On the non-scale victory side I bought a pair of size 14R Levi jeans the day before Thanksgiving. They are curvy fit jeans and I bought them at full price because I fit in them. I can get in most size 14’s (as in pull them up and button them but they are still snug everywhere so I don’t think I can say that I am a size 14 yet but moving in that direction. I am 5’5”).   I am dreading our Christmas break because I tend to eat and drink alcohol when I am bored. I did buy a refurbished Vitamix and am looking forward to using it (whenever it arrives….geez it takes forever!)     In an effort not to focus too much on the negative I underlined my positives over the past two weeks in this post just as a reminder to me that I am still making progress and some good choices.   Today my meal plan is:   Breakfast - Chocolate high protein slim fast shake with frozen banana (7 a.m.) Snack – 1 oz of plain almonds (10 a.m.) Lunch – Left over spaghetti squash spaghetti (11:30 a.m.) Snack – Atkins Bar (2 p.m.) Dinner – Half a French Dip sandwich with small amount of chips (left overs) Snack – 1 Tim Tam bar in warm milk
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

5
 

Cotton Mouth And Snoring

A couple of things I have noticed that I am experiencing since surgery on March 28th.   - My mouth dries out HORRIBLY at night. I wake up and my mouth is completely dry and I can't get the saliva to moisten it up. I've been keeping a water bottle by my bed. This has never happened before. I did look it up on line and dehydration is one of the possible causes. I am going to try drinking water closer to bed time (normally I avoid because of the bathroom issue) and see if that helps. Wondering if anyone has experienced that?   - My husband stopped wearing earplugs to bed. He said since I have been back that I haven't been snoring as badly. He asked if they took out my "snoring glands" This is a happy side effect of surgery for me.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

4
 

At The Hospital

I got picked up at the airport and it turned out to be my fault that the driver couldn't find me! I bought my tickets through United but they put me on another one of their carriers U.S. Airways so that messed up the pickup location (because I said I was coming United in my email to them). It all turned out well (thank god for cell phones!). I tipped the driver $20 only because I am sure she doesn't make that much. She tried not to take it but since I budgeted for it I made her   It took about 40 minutes to get to the hospital and getting into Mexico was a breeze. I didn't need to show ID or Passport. However, the line coming OUT of Mexico was HUGE! I am assuming that is where I will need my passport. The driver said it is very busy for a three hour gap of time (which is when I guess most people are leaving).   Love the hospital it feels cozy and less intimidating then our hospital back home. Staff has been great. I've met with Dr. Kelly and another (female) doctor. I've been attended by two female nurses and one male nurse (and one male aid...he wheeled me to xray). I'm trying not to flash my naked behind too much   Dr. Kelly asked if I would be willing to have my sleeve today instead of tomorrow - he had the space and I've fasted. I said, "Sure, why not!" So I am literally an hour away from being sleeved. I was going to go out with SexySlims friend who accompanied her but that got changed with the operation being today. Right now I am trying to stay awake. I am super sleepy from being up very early today and dealing with the three hour time change.   Dr. Kelly met me in the room and answered any questions I had. I gave him the cashiers check at that time. I was asked to give a urine sample and I spent longer then I would like to admit trying to figure out how to get the darn hospital gown on! I filled in more paperwork and had blood drawn and an IV put in (I didn't think my veins were that hard to find but apparently so!). I rode in my first ever wheelchair to get my chest xrayed. That went super fast. A nurse came in to take my vitals and put on compression socks (to prevent blood clots during the operation). Dr. Kelly said the operation only takes about an hour (in case anyone is wondering). They gave me slippers when I came in as well so that is what I will be wearing when I final walk the halls.   I just had another doctor come in to take an EKG and check my heart and lungs (very nice man). Dr. Kelly just popped his head in and said I am next.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

4
 

Week 5 Postop Weigh-In

I weighed myself this morning and I am at 222 lbs (from 246). That puts my total weight loss at 24 lbs (was sort of hoping to hit 25 lbs this week...oh well, maybe next week).   I lost 10 lbs during my preop diet so that means I have been losing (after surgery) an average of 2.8 lbs a week.   I've been experimenting with food this week (different types and different amounts). Glad to report that I get full very fast on solid food. The easiest on my stomach are still liquids (protein drinks but adding frozen fruit and sugar free syrups) and cream soups.   I've been eating the Atkins peanut butter and chocolate bars (from Walmart) and those go down well (happy they have 19 grams of protein).   I'm currently obsessed with finding small containers to make a bento box type lunch box. The smallest I've found so far has been 4 oz at Walmart.   I ordered some Quest bars online (high protein bars) that were recommended by the blogger "The World According to Egg Face." If you type in sample in the code box you get free shipping. I'll report back on how they tasted.   Clothes - I can wear 1x shirts with no problem (starting from 2x). I am in 18W pants (lots of my pants are super baggie now...yesterday I wore a 20W I got from Belks and they were distractingly baggie). I am probably an 18 1/2 (but they don't make that size!).   Exercise - I walked two miles during Relay for Life on Friday and went to Zumba Flashmob practice on Sunday. I'm waiting until the 6 week mark to get into a regular exercise routine.   Until next week!
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

4
 

Week 22

Week 22   Last week’s weight – 199.4 This week’s weight – 198.4 Total weight lost this week – 1   Beginning weight – 246 lbs Total weight loss since surgery – 47.6 lbs   Average weekly weight loss since surgery – 2.1 lbs   Excited that I lost 1 lb this week. My next goal is to be down 50 lbs by the time I hit the 6 month mark in a couple of weeks. That means 2.4 lbs in 2 weeks. Fingers crossed I can do it. Crossfit should help. I’ve been to two official classes and while things are greatly scaled back for me I still find it a challenging workout.   I am going to have to stay vigilant this weekend. I have an anniversary trip I am taking with my husband and that will involve a disruption in routine, eating out, and drinking AND I am getting my period.   On the clothing front, I bought a pair of size 18 khaki jeans at Walmart and have to wear them with wedge sandals due to the length. The combo of the long jeans and higher shoes makes me look thinned out. I got a ton of compliments today as a result! I also walked by Cato (a clothing store) and was so excited I could purchase clothes on the nonplus side of the shop. I even fit into a cute pair of size 16 black dress pants (that of course I bought).
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

4
 

Leaving Mexico And The Airport

We left Mexico this morning about 6:30 a.m. It took us 2 hours to cross the border. Ana said that on Sunday's it can take upward of 4 hours. The only thing I regret is not taking my water bottle out of my backpack in the back and drink it while we were waiting in line. I'm sure I could have go an extra 8 oz in that way.   I've had one 8 oz bottle of water and a popsicle so far. I'm in the middle of getting down an apple juice I bought at the airport (a little too sweet for me but I will plug away at it....that will give me an 15 additional ounces of liquid). I want to try the fresh squeezed OJ (if no pulp) to see if the acidic nature of it "bothers" my tummy.   I was super cheesed that I had to throw out my perfect 8 oz water bottle going through security. It felt less overwhelming then the regular 16 oz bottles.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

4
 

Home (At Last)

I am home at last. I crawled into bed at approximately 1 a.m. I don't feel any pain or discomfort and I worked hard to get in liquids the whole day flying. I should have kept the compression socks they put on me for surgery and worn them as it was definitly uncomfortable sitting for so long. I got an aisle seat and got up at least once during each flight but I kept thinking of those darn blood clots!   I'm alive so I think I am good to go   My liquids yesterday included an 8 oz bottle of water, a 15 oz bottle of apple juice, a 16 oz bottle of apple juice, 2 oz of water on one plane and about 4 oz on the other plane. I wasn't hungry at all.   I had to go back to work today but I kept to a desk most of time and got up here and there. Had normal energy levels. Didn't feel like I was dragging (in fact if it weren't for the bandages still on my stomach and my inability to consume large sips of liquids I wouldn't even feel like I had a procedure). I keep waiting for an energy crash of some kind with the level of calories I am consuming but apparently my stored fat is keeping everything in check for now.   I am making my husband do my "heavy lifting" which included getting my luggage out of the car and bringing the full dirty laundry basket into the laundry room.   So far today I have had 8 oz of water, 16 oz of light cranberry juice, 8 oz beef broth, and 2 popsicles. I'm going for some light apple juice next and more beef broth for dinner.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

4
 

Week 6 Postop - Weigh In

Today I weighed in at 220.4. So I lost 1.6 lbs this week. My total weight loss is at 25.6 lbs. I'm glad I hit the 25 lb mark and now my goal is to be out of the 220's (FOREVER!). On average (since surgery) I am losing 2.6 lbs a week.   I am in a 1x comfortably in tops (I have a NSV - non scale victory - of fitting into several tops that I kept but I could barely get into on the 1x side). My pants are probably an 18 and a half (but since they don't make that size I am wearing 20's and some 18's). I bought a pair of 18W white jean capri yesterday at Kohols that i will have to "strech out" before wearing and I bought the CUTEST linen tops in XL from the women's section and I think I can get away with them if I wear a compression tank underneath (or strech them). If not I'll wear them when I start to go down to the XL size (they were that cute   The only planned exersize I got this week was dancing in a Zumba flash mob this past Saturday (fun but boy do I look HUGE on the video).   I've collected quite a bit of small containers and make my Bento lunch each day. I like that I can snack all day by just grabbing one (I usually have four containers). The other day I had greek vanilla yogurt in one 4 oz container. Go lean crunch cereal in a 1 oz container to mix into the yogert, a 4 oz container of cottage cheese, a 4 oz container of hamburger with mac and cheese, a 4 oz container of marinated cucumber, onion, green pepper mix. It was an eclectic mix but I ate them so spaced out that it didn't bother me.   I am currently contemplating joining the Y for $50 a month to go to the aerobics classes and to use the pool for lap swimming. Part of me wants to start a walking program first at home using my zillion Walk Away the Pounds tapes first and then join the Y when school gets out and I have a more flexible schedule.   I still need to work on remembering that I have had the surgery so that I stop grabbing larger portions of food that I can't eat AND remembering to eat on a pretty regular schedule. Yesterday I had breakfast and didn't eat again until 3:00 p.m. I was STARVING (I was shaking and the start of a headache was kicking in) and wolfed down some rolls at a restarant and was so sick until I walked around until I felt better (thank goodness...the person I was with was worried about me.). My lesson learned from that experience was to pack a protein bar when I know I am not going to be eating for awhile and to not start with the bread basket!   Attached is a picture of me in my Zumba Flash Mob tshirt.   Until next week!
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

4

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