Leaderboard

Well its almost time....I'm a bit nerved up a bit. I'm ready to get the surgery over and moving forward. Bag packed and a early night for me! See you on the banded side!

Wow it has already been 9 weeks and I still marvel at the changes my body is taking on. I weighted in this morning at 280.6 that is so awesome that puts me down 56.4 lbs. WOW. I have lost 23 inches over all and am feeling so wonderful (other than a stupid cold right now). The doctor told me not to except large weight loss numbers now that I am further out but they keep coming off and I am so thankful for that. I am still off all medication until the 16th when I see the heart doctor. I don't feel like I need them anymore but that will be up to him as to weather I get to stay off them. I feel great even while at the gym. So I am keeping my fingers crossed and praying for good news Thursday. I have only one regret in all of this is that my mom can't be here to see it. I wish I would have had the sleeve done years ago it would have saved me so much grief over the past years. Step by Step Day by Day with Jesus is all I can hope for. I thank Him for so much and for making it possible for me to have this surgery. Oh yeah this is such ego boosting for me, I bought a dress last year for Valentines Day through a catalog. When it got here they had sent me a size 22, no way was I going to fit in that thing being at a size 28. I didn't even send it back I was so upset. I just hung it in the deepest corner of my closet and forgot about it. Today looking for something to wear that didn't fall off, lol, I noticed it hiding there, so I took it out and laid it on the bed. Yeah right, I though, that thing is still way to small for me. I kept staring at it. Oh what the heck I tried it on laughing the whole time but slap me silly it fits and fits good. Will wonders never end, I hope not. Have a Happy Valentines Day and Good losing all.

Here's my recent update!

Ok I will be 3 weeks out on Wednesday. I went through something similar and I believe that's what caused my stall at a week and a half out. I wasn't eating crackers but I was making really cheesy dips that included chicken,velveeta cheese,etc. And I was eating snacks with my husband like a couple bites of cheesecake off his plate,a couple pieces of chex mix muddy buddy,etc. I had no room for the healthy stuff! At my one week post op appt my dr told me I was free to eat whatever(healthy) as long as I chewed it thoroughly and went slow. I started eating a bit of ice cream,a lil while later a couple bites of pudding,a while after that some of the velveeta dip stuff and so on...While I don't believe there is enough calories and or fat in the little bitty amounts I was sticking in my sleeve to make you gain a bunch of weight,I do believe all of this and the scale showed it with a 1 lb gain and then stall at a week and a half out: 1-Not eating planned out meals and just grazing throughout the day was getting in the way of my fluid intake. I had it in my mind that I could not tolerate protein shakes so that was being sabotoged as well,and none of these things are healthy. I was not coming to terms with the fact that my sleeve is still too small and new for me to be eating these things and still getting in the nutrition that I need. If I'm not getting in enough liquids or protein,my body is in starvation mode and will hang onto any little bit of fat it can to store for energy,I will feel weak and fatigued like I was,my hair will start falling out(one of my biggest fears). I gave my scale to my mom and made SURE to put lean protein foods first,and that's about all I can fit in my sleeve. My rule of thumb now is NO food goes into my mouth when I wake up until I have had at least 20 ozs of liquids,I follow that with a muscle milk light which has 20 grams of protein and my sleeve loves it compared to a protein shake. Then I have to have 10 more ounces of liquids b4 lunch. I can only stomach 1.5 ounces of chicken with hot sauce and a dab of blue cheese on it then I'm full. Wait about an hour and make myself finish off 10 more ounces of fluids before dinner. I then eat tuna,salmon,cheese,or chicken,something with protein for dinner. By then I have had more than 40 grams of protein and 40 ounces of liquids. I am free for the rest of the evening to drink liquids,eat a couple bites of SF pudding (I usually sprinkle some unflavored protein in it) or even eat a SF fruit bar-only 25 calories and soooo good! The reason I am saying all this is bc this: Since I put my foot down and started doing what I know I should be,my stall ended quickly and I have lost 3 more lbs in 3 days! I had to realize that I will eventually get to enjoy these things in moderation,but the whole reason I got the sleeve is so I can fill it with healthy,protein rich foods,vitamins and liquids consistently until my excess weight is gone. I will from now on save the junk food till I am farther out. That 1 lb gain and stall was enough to snap me out of it and remember what I was blessed with. Now,that being said it's just my opinion and I do believe everyone's body is different and everyone can handle things differently. I just kinda wanted to let u in on my experience thus far out and hope I can help in someway. ((HUGS)) and stay strong,we will get through this! Source: Is This Self-Sabotage?

It' s VALENTINE'S DAY. Big romantic deal. My hubby is sweet and all...but someone brought these cupcakes to work...and they looked REAL good... Here's the deal; I have been sleeved and have changed my life. I live an active lifestyle and make healthy eating choices. I exercise regularly and take vitamins and drink water. I live a healthy life now... That being said; it is VERY unhealthy to sit and obsess over a little ball of dough and some icing...and sprinkles. So I ate half a cup cake...AND?

Today I went to lunch with co workers for the first time since being sleeved. Its the first time eating in front of anyone besides family and close friends. We went to this swanky, high end place in a very pricey and exclusive part of town. (Think mid-west Beverly Hills type scene). Lots of noses in the air and foods with no prices next to them. I would have been more comfortable at Chili's *sidebar* Last week we had a meeting at work with a taco bar and I was able to eat my half taco unnoticed. There were like 20 people in the room. THIS lunch, however, was very intimate. There were 7 of us at a table in this mood-lit room. I was being very quiet (which is SO not me) because 1- I was freeezing cold and 2- I knew what was coming. There were 2 people there whom I am sure do not know about my sleeve. Anyone who knows me, though, knows that I don't mind sharing. The other people who knew (one was my boss and one my best work friend and one who is getting R N Y) had told the secretary (who was at the table as well). Keeping up? That's 4. One of the 2 who did not know...I don't really like her so I had no interest in speaking to her at all...and the other (who sat right across from me) I don't really mind so much. BUT he is a loud, gaudy guy so...make your own inferences. So...We all sit and ponder what to order. I noticed that there were many foods on the menu that I am allergic to AND that I just can't have yet (raw fruits and veggies). What happens? I was forced to order the most expensive menu item AND ask for a substitution! Now, my co workers all look at each other like "Uhm hum...HERE goes Mrs. Prisses...BOUGIE!" But I really had to order the best thing for my sleeve. It doesn't help that I am the only...ethnic one...at the table (of maybe 4 in the whole establishment). Mind you, I am not so bothered by this...I am very secure in myself and can hang with any crowd. Here comes the part that bothers me... Everyone orders dessert first (none for me, thanks)...Then orders the meals. They SCARFED down their food...FAST! I mean these people didn't conversate between bits or anything. They ate like some starving Ethiopians! So...here's me with my filet and roasted asparagus with wild mushrooms...looking around like "Uhm...stop watching me eat!" And here is the guy across from me like "Oh you don't like your food?" Then the waitress "Oh, is there a problem?" and me again "No, its wonderful thank you." And I have to tell the guy all about my sleeve just to keep him from going on and on. Now...I didn't HAVE to tell him but I felt so awkward and icky... What I did learn; 1- no pressure or situation will MAKE me over eat again (YAY) 2- nothing can embarrass me more than having attention drawn to BAD eating habits, so its fine to get looks and comments on "eating like a bird" (but weird because I am STILL fat so it just ends up looking precocious.) 3- Always order off the appetizer menu 4- Thank GOD for giving me the visual of what it looks like to eat like a wild animal...and that I will never do it again! 5- There are going to be many awkward moments, and that's okay. I am doing this for me...not ANYONE ELSE!

Want to wish everyone a great valentine's day, if you don't have a valentine, I'll be yours, I have love to give to everyone! I wasn't going to write today, because I didn't really have anything to write about. Then the caffeine hit me and I had a total NSV!!!! So, in case you didn't know I'm going to Key West in oh let me check my calender....39 days. Usually, all I can think about for a vacation is what I'm going to eat, what the food is like, etc. Not so much this time!!! First I decided in March I'm going to try the couch to 5k program (if anyone wants to be my buddy for this let me know!). I'm also going to start working on weight training for my upper body since my dad and I will be going out deep sea fishing while in Key West. Gotta get jacked to reel in the big one (I hope I do!!!). So then instead of thinking of food, I was thinking about "how am I going to work out on vacation" well my parents must have read my mind because my mom sent me an e-mail asking if they wanted to pack my bike in their RV (they are driving from New York state to Key West in their RV, I'm flying). UM, YEAH ABSOLUTELY! The RV resort where we are staying is at Mile Marker 15 on the Keys, so I'm thinking that in the am, I can ride my bike to at least Mile Marker 10 and back, maybe more, who knows. Can you even ride a bicycle on US 1? If anyone knows let me know thank you. So I have to consider this a NSV when I'm usually thinking about "oh what restaurants are we going to go to" or "what am I going to cook while we're on vacation" I'm more concerned about how I'm going to work out. So proud of my self ::hugs:: Have a great day!