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Weight Loss Journey from Start to Finish

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Week 16 (4 Months Post Op)

Week 16 (4 months post op)   Last week’s weight – 203.8 This week’s weight – 204.0 Total weight lost this week – I gained .2 pounds   Total weight loss since surgery – 42 lbs   Average weekly weight loss since surgery – 2.5 lbs   Had to weigh in a day early this week due to a trip I am taking that is going to keep me from a scale tomorrow morning.   I must have jinxed myself last week because this week I experienced my first gain in 4 months. I’m attributing it to not being as careful eating this week (we’ve had a giant local festival going on which involves a lot of food and alcohol). I’ve kept up the exercise (3 miles) although I might need to shake up my exercise routine a bit.   Luckily it was only a .2 gain so it is not disastrous but I guess when you keep seeing losses week after week it was a bit of a shock. I should still be on track to be under 200 lbs by the time school starts (August 20th).   Some thing I noticed this week was how badly alcohol was irritating my stomach (generating lots of acid). I am actually thinking that this is a good thing (It definitely makes me think twice before having any!). I am not sure if that is a direct result of the surgery or if its age. Either way I am fine turning down drinks in order to keep my stomach happy.   On the NSV front I pulled out my driver’s license this week to see when it expired and I am now below the weight I have on it (Woo Hoo!).   My challenge this week is a three day class I am taking (lots of eating out). Hoping my renewed commitment to watching what I eat helps me make wise choices from menus.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

2
 

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 27 (And Still Holding At 50 Lbs Lost...thank Goodness!)

Week 27   Last week’s weight – 194.8 This week’s weight – 195.8 Total weight gained this week – 1   Beginning weight – 246 lbs Total weight loss since surgery – 50.4 lbs   Sorry for the late post. I’ve been PMSing most of the week and cheesed off that I gained a pound this week. In all fairness I probably deserved it. Last week I hit the long coveted 50 lb mark and instead of staying vigilant I slacked on mindful eating and drinking water. I also started my period so that wasn’t helping my mood (can you say giant bag of peanut butter m&m’s?).   I’ve had to reexamine my goals. My next big weight loss goal is to get to the next and final 50 lbs off. That is too overwhelming for me to think about so I’m going to focus on just getting out of the 190’s for right now.   Another thing I have been obsessing about is protein. I honestly don’t think I have been getting enough of it in so I purchased 3 tubs of protein powder from Unjury ($75…yikes!). I got their protein, vanilla, and strawberry sorbet. I like all three and each one has 20 grams of protein. My plan is to have a least two a day and get as much protein in as possible in between.   Until Wednesday!
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

1
 

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
 

Teeth Whitening Part 2, Shopping In Mexico And General Health 5 Days Postop

In my last post I wrote that I had to go back to the dentist for another round of the teeth whitening. Again, I found it harder then the WLS in terms of nerves (nothing like being trapped in a dentist chair with mouth guards in not speaking the language in essential a "foreign country."). He was definitely recommending a good teeth cleaning because I had some tarter buildup (which was probably true since I generally avoid the dentist office but do brush and floss on a regular basis). He offered to do it but I just wanted out of the chair!   I would most definitely not recommend doing the teeth whitening (the dentist himself was very nice but I did wonder about the general cleanliness of the office and procedure...I won't go into details but some of the stuff made me go ewwwww and wish for tons of hand sanitizer!) . I did it because I thought it would be cheaper then the Zoom treatment (which is was) but I didn't get the piece of mind that I think having it done in the States would have provided.   Afterward Ana took me shopping. She offered yesterday and I should have said, "No thank you." I don't like shopping in the States and I don't need any more clutter in the house so it wasn't like I was dying for anything in the souvenir end of things. Geni, the other sleever in the hotel, was smart and opted out. She has children at home and is taking back Mexican convenience store candy/chips for her kids. We did that with our son when we traveled because he thought the different flavored candy and chips were cool (and makes for a nice cheap souvenir for the children...he took items to school in his lunch and his friends thought it was "cool").   Ana took me to Revolution Road, which is a main shopping street for tourists coming into Tijuana. This meant lots of sombrero, poncho, and knick kacky things and worse the haggling that comes with it (haggling is up there with dentists for me I liked the jewelry but the rings I were eyeing up were priced at $123 and he came down as much as $75 but I could get them for $40 in the States (sure not genuine silver or handcrafted but I am not that picky about my jewelry as a whole). I couldn't eat or drink (and there were lots of those places as well) so the appeal of walking around was lost on me and I asked Ana to take me back (I think she was doing it as a courtesy for me which is awfully sweet but was unnecessary).   I never like going shopping on vacation. It isn't something I am ever dying to do. I prefer to do spa like things on my vacation as a whole (plus eating and drinking). I know this isn't a vacation "per se" but it is a bit for me (and I saved up some spending money for the trip).   Dr. Kelly did come to see the two of us today to answer any questions and generally check on our well being before we leave tomorrow. I wish I'd know he was coming up to the room or I would have picked up a little.   I wanted to know about the bandages on the incisions. Mine are still covered up and she said just to wait until the bandages come off on their own. I wanted to know exactly how important the stomach pills he gave us to which the answer was, VERY IMPORTANT. (Yikes! I have not been taking them just because it seems overwhelming to take the two at night but I will start tonight!). He didn't seem concerned about my lack of getting fluids in. He said the stomach will expand making it easier to get the fluids in (Geni managed to drink an entire bottle of Gatorade last night and I was seriously impressed!...not at one time just to clarify). I asked him if I could skip the Gatorade (too sweet for me) and he said that was fine. Geni said she thought that they put a breathing tube in while we were under in the operation (she said she felt it being removed). I didn't feel it so I asked and Geni was correct...they did put a breathing tube in which explains my somewhat sore throat. I asked what was the best way to remove the surgical adhesive residue that is currently very unattractive on my stomach (think peeling off a label on something you have bought and the residue that is left behind...which is pretty much how it feels and looks). He said it will come off in time during bathing.   Health wise I have plenty of energy (no more, no less then before). I am working on getting more water in today. Getting my period sucked a bit and I am a bit sluggish as a result (happily going down for a nap in a few minutes) but no pain to speak up (still some gurgling and I have to count to at least 20 before taking back to back sips of the water). The food smells delicious downstairs but I am happy to write that I am not hungry.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

2
 

Bento Box Quest

In my last post I wrote how I was looking for bento boxes (inexpensive - which is the key word) in order to portion control my lunches. I've actually become a little obsessed. I've recruited my son and daughter-in-law who are stationed in Japan to look for them for me as well.   I'm actually applying my "redneck" smarts (I do live in the South y'all) to make my own compartmentalized lunch system.   At Walmart I bought the smallest containers I could find in the food storage area - Rubbermaid 4 oz. They come 2 to a pack and are approxmately $3.50. I bought six packs (so right now I have 12 containers total - the goal is to get through a five day work week without having to wash the compartments every day).   I still want some smaller sizes and was able to find 2 oz containers on Amazon - in their baby food section http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YQQQJW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=A1FFW6CJ14WSRU . I want those for smaller items like dressing, nuts, granola.   While I was looking around on Amazon I also found these water bottles which I loved - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005447K7S/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER. I liked them because they will fit in my lunch box and you get five of them, plus a tray, to put in the fridge so you can just grab it and go for the week.   I tried out my redneck bento box yesterday and I LOVED IT! Portions were perfect and it allowed me to "snack" throughout the day.   My four containers yesterday held -   Hummus (which would have been better in a 2 oz container but they haven't come in yet) Crackers for the hummus (we only had the long butter crackers so I had to cut them in half to fit in the container but that worked well). Turkey cubes with a cut up cheese stick (I love that I can buy the turkey already cubed up at the grocery store) Yogurt   Today my containers hold -   Tuna fish Crackers again A mix of cut up cherry tomatoes and olives jello   Making lunch has become more enjoyable and definitely less of a chore.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

3
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

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 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
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

Week 14 Post Op

Week 14   Last week’s weight – 207 This week’s weight – 205.2 Total weight lost this week – 1.8 lbs   Total weight loss since surgery – 41 lbs   Average weekly weight loss since surgery – 2.4 lbs per week   Happy to write that I broke the 40 lb mark this week and I am closer to my goal of being under 200 lbs by the time we head back to school in August.   I’ve been walking pretty consistently every morning (3 miles) but now that I am in a normal summer routine boredom has kicked in a bit (which equals eating more for me). I am going to have to watch that in the coming weeks.   I’ve started making green smoothies in the morning with kale, bananas, and mixed berries (plus other stuff). I actually don’t mind the taste and feel that I am getting some healthy items in my diet (not that I am eating unhealthy but it is nice to know that I am getting a decent amount of fruits and veggies in one serving).   My Non Scale Victory (NSV) this week was fitting into a bathing suit top that I haven’t worn for years (but I spent a lot of money on and didn’t want to give it away – miracle suit top $$$ in size 18W). My Lands End 22W suit is way too baggy now.   Until next week!
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

3
 

My Pre-Op Prep-Work

My Pre-op Prep-work     For anyone interested here is what I have done, or am doing, as far as pre-op prep-work: Stopped drinking carbonated beverages in January (procedure scheduled for March). I drank diet coke probably one to two times a day so I didn’t have a giant habit to overcome (although it seemed like it that first week because it had become so habitual at certain times of the day). I replaced my soda with crystal light and water.
Bought the sample pack of protein powders from Unjury to see if I would like them. I liked the vanilla and chocolate. I wasn’t a huge fan of the chicken soup only because it mixed weirdly and I had to take the temperature of the water. I wouldn’t say I was a fan of the unflavored one but it truly did mix in well, and tasteless, with my yogurt and oatmeal and if it gives an extra protein boost then so be it. Presurgery I ordered 6 packets of the chicken soup, 6 packets of the vanilla, and 6 packets of the unflavored to take with me to Mexico. I also ordered a container of each for the house when I got back home. I wanted to be well prepared for my liquid phase.
I also tried the high protein Slimfast chocolate and vanilla ready to drink mixes and shakes. Liked the chocolate but wasn’t a huge fan of the vanilla.
I also tried the Atkins meal replacement bars and Go Lean meal replacement bars. I love the Atkins chocolate peanut better ones (all can be purchased at Walmart by the pharmacy diet stuff).
I purchased 2 loose workout pants at Target to have when traveling. I love love love them and they have quickly become my go to pants when I am at home. They sit low on my waist, have boot cut legs, and a drawstring. The only drawback is no pockets.
I bought full coverage underwear (I like thongs but thought that might be a bit inappropriate in the hospital new PJ’s and a cheap robe that I am unlikely to wear after this procedure HOWEVER I dye my own hair so I can use it as my hair dying robe so it is not a total waste!
Bought a better bathroom scale. My old one needed replacing so it wasn’t an unneeded expense.
Established the “I’m dieting and exercising” talk at work so that my weight loss is more believable and less shocking (I’m not telling anyone about the procedure).
Started growing out my hair (since Jan.). It is really short and if I might lose some of it I figured I better start growing it.
Joined the three gastric sleeve blogs and looked at posts so I know what to expect.
  The things I haven’t done and feel bad about…. Established a walking workout routine.
Stopped chewing gum (although that is pretty high on my list to quit…I don’t like chewing gum in public but I do like to chew it in the car and it curbs my desire to stop at drive thru’s).
Make the “just in case I die” list for my husband of things he will need to know (will be doing that this weekend)
Stuck to a low carb eating plan (I did for a few weeks but Valentine’s Day at school did me in and I have been back sliding since).
    Things I am worried about…. Complications which will cost a million dollars to fix which won’t be covered by insurance causing a severe financial burden and a strain on my marrage resulting in me having to work until I am 90 years old (that is extreme worst case scenario so you bet it is the one that is worrying me the most).
I won’t recognize the signs of a leak and I die
The leak test fluid (taste)
Getting all my money, passport, and ID stolen while traveling by myself.
Gaining weight
Dealing with my mother-in-law’s love of pushing food on anyone walking into her house (she means well but sometimes it is just easier to eat the food then it is to tell her “no, thank you” a million times).
  Things I am looking forward to… Fitting in airplane seats easily
Buying clothes in the normal section of the store (not the womens or plus size section)
Having more energy
Feeling “pretty”
Enjoying working out
  Things I still need to buy… Heating pad
Travel sizes of shampoo, conditioner, etc.
Another pair of the awesome Target pants.
  STATS:   Height: 5’ 5” Weight: 244.6 lbs (as of 3/13) Pant Size: 20/22 Shirt Size: 2XL
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

2
 

Week 13

Last week’s weight – 209.2 or 207.6 This week’s weight – 207 Total weight lost this week – either 2.2 or .6   Total weight loss since surgery – 39 lbs   This week I was on vacation to see my family so the week was filled with eating and drinking. On the plus size they live at a very high altitude so I spent the week hoping that less oxygen meant more calories burned! I did some hiking so I got some exercise in and, unlike my neck of the woods, they live around tons of hills so at times it was a struggle.   My mom has a Vitamix and made me a green smoothy every morning full of macronutrients. It really got me thinking about purchasing a Vitamix (at $400!!!!). I liked knowing that I was getting in a good bunch of fruits and veggies in one yummy shake a day (plus there is a lot of other things you can do with it as well). I am still on the fence and need to come up with a way to pay for it but I thought that would determine if I was serious or not.   I’m looking forward to getting back into a normal routine this week.   Attached is a picture of me (with my neice) wearing a size L t-shirt (which is my NSV of the week).   What I have eaten over the past few days of vacation:   Breakfast – Omelet Lunch – small salad and small eggplant lasagna Dinner – ½ taco soup Snack – a frozen strawberry lemonaid   Breakfast – Green Smoothy Lunch – large cream cheese frosted cinnamon bun and ½ a turkey Panini (super regret the cinnamon bun…my stomach was rejecting it) Dinner – Ate a couple of bites of my husbands bbq and ½ a bottle of white zinfandel   Breakfast – Green Smoothy Lunch – Small salad and vegan sheppard’s pie, small fruit dessert Dinner – spaghetti with chicken and alfredo sauce one piece of garlic bread, one boston cream cupcake. Three large white Russians L. (this was spread out over hours)   Breakfast – Green Smoothy Brunch – ½ a mushroom, cheese, bacon omelet Snack – small, single serving of, vanilla ice cream Dinner – Edamame, A piece of toast with jam Snack – Homemade strawberry ice cream (made in the vitamix)   Breakfast – Green Smoothy Snack – leftover turkey jerky and pumpkin seeds Lunch – ½ an In and Out Burger with ¼ of the fries Snack – caramel popcorn, mikes hard cranberry lemonade Dinner – Wine, spaghetti with meat balls (small serving), two bits of salad, one piece of garlic bread, small slice of black forest cake   Breakfast (1) – Atkins bar Breakfast (2) – ½ an egg mcmuffin at the airport Snack – Diet Peach Snapple Lunch – 2 bites of a sandwich (my husband’s) and a high protein peanut butter chocolate shake (yuck! Got it at the airport.) Dinner – Atkins bar
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

1
 

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 10 Postop

Last week’s weight – 213.8 This week’s weight – 212.8 Total loss for the week – 1 pound   Total loss since starting – 33.2 Average loss per week since starting – 3.2 lbs   My challenges this week included a two night camping trip with 18 girl scouts. I think all the work we did to set up and take down the campsite off set any extra calories I might have taken in. I also went bowling and had three small pieces of cheese pizza, a beer, and a glass of wine (over a 2 hour period). The beer was the only thing that bothered me (mainly because I was obsessing about the carbonation).   A look at my food (today and yesterday):   Today   Breakfast - A ramikin size bowl of Go Lean Crunch with skim milk Snack - Atkins meal replacement bar Lunch - Yougert (4 oz) with go lean crunch cereal mixed in, 4 oz container of Lloyd's BBQ (ate seperately over some time) Snack - 3 Altoids mints (I didn't have anything else with me) Dinner (if you want to call it that at 3 p.m.)- 4 Burger King chicken nuggets and their hot fudge sundae (was stressed at work and that was how I dealt with it - I really wanted four yummy krispie kreme donuts!!!!!). Stomach felt icky and I laid down to take a nap. It is currently 7:40 p.m. and I am not really hungry but am super thirsty so I am drinking water and diet green tea. Might make a small meat and cheese plate with olives.     Yesterday   Breakfast – SlimFast high protein chocolate protein powder with 8 oz of skim milk. 8 oz of minute maid lemonaid at Sonic. Snack – Almonds (15) Lunch – To go individual peanut butter packet and a 1 oz bag of cool ranch Doritos (I forgot to pack my lunch and that was all I had at school) Dinner – 1 pint 1% milk, cut up boneless porkchop – thin (probably one and a half), bag of edemami (individual serving steamed). Dessert – 2 small scoops of orange sherbet at my school’s ice cream social   School is finished for the year this week so I am hoping to get into a regular early morning walking routine starting next week.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

2
 

At The San Diego Airport

I'm in San Deigo and panicked a bit when I didn't see anyone to greet me but I got a call from Ana within 5 minutes of finding a comfortable waiting spot. My driver got stuck in traffic but is on the way. Whew! Flight was uneventful although I am springing for the baggage fee on the way home. Having to lug that around two airports was not fun early this morning!   Only have had 4 glasses of water ALL DAY.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

1
 

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
 

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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