Irish Fan

I think it is strange to go shopping. I went into a store today that I've never been in because nothing fit me so I never ventured in. When I went in I felt like someone might tap me on the shoulder and say that I was in the wrong store. I am kind of at a loss that I don't need to go to Lane Bryant or Christopher Banks for clothes or head upstairs to the women's department. It's like I've been kicked out of the club there too because they'll probably say that I'm in the wrong place there. I put on a size large sweater and shirt the other day and proclaimed it to my husband (who is full of praise) that it was a "regular" large. It opens up alot of options that I have never had before. I have quite a bit to go and I can't imagine what it will be like when I get there. It certainly won't be anything that I am used to.

So remember....."its a personal woman thing and all is well thank you" You're a genius. This made me laugh. It is funny that people think it is okay to ask personal questions these days. I also thought the stomach thing and not pushing it was also very good. I'm a teacher and had my surgery in the summer so many didn't see me in my early days. I didn't tell others. I eat with two others and they haven't said anything about my 6 shrimp and 1/2 c. cottage cheese.

My last of four children was born via c-section. Thank the Lord because had any of the earlier ones ended that way, she wouldn't been conceived. I thought that was really a painful recovery and I consider myself pretty tough. VSG recovery was much much better/easier. I stopped for my meds on the way home from the hospital and was walking around thinking that I just had surgery 2 days prior. I am also a stomach sleeper. I think after a week I was back on my stomach. Shifting in bed probably was the most noticeable with pain. I used one pain pill on the day I got home and that was it. Granted don't over do when you get home, but you aren't an invilid either. I can't believe after the first two weeks how back to normal I felt.

It's funny how we let an number affect how we feel. I have a bad habit of stepping on before I shower. I think I'm moving the scale to the back bathroom. I only "count" Mondays for my diary.

While I sing the praises of bariwise cappuccino that I have been putting with my morning decaf coffee, I began thinking that if I use one packet each morning (7 cost $11) that will start to get expensive. One packet has 15 grams of protein. I split it and put half in a cup and drink two cups of decaf. I like it but it can be too sweet if I put it all in one cup. Plus I get to enjoy two cups of coffee that way. So I have some S/F nestle chocolate breakfast drink (6 protein) and I mixed it with 1/3 cup of dry milk (8 protein) so that gives me 14 protein. Instant milk is cheap. I then thought, heck why not just do the whole 1/3 cup of milk in my coffee without the breakfast drink, that would give me 8 protein per cup. I used to drink my coffee with half and half. Just an idea...

I went out for one last day of freedom before I have to go back to teaching. I celebrated my summer weight loss (32 lbs) with a spa manicure/pedicure and then to lunch with my friend. We picked Red Lobster. I've been eating alot of shrimp at home so I felt that was a good choice. Of course the killer garlic biscuits came out (I'm five weeks postop) and smelled so good. I thought of how terrible it would make me feel. I took one morsel off and tried it, while good, I thought it wasn't worth the risk and sat it off to the side. That would be taken home for my family to enjoy. I ordered the "Quick Catch Lunch- Garlic Shrimp Scampi and Wood Grilled Chicken". I ate the scampi, boxed up the potato (said I didn't want the rice/couldve got broccoli too) , chicken, and some biscuits. I packed an insulated lunch box in advance knowing I'd have left overs (we shopped all day). I was full and felt good. When I got home to track on myfitnesspal.com I saw that that meal had 41 grams of Protein and 332 calories. I ate some of the chicken for supper so I thought that was a good protein choice. On a side note, my friend's side ceaser salad didn't come out before her meal so the server offered it to go for her. It looked quite cute in it's container. So that might be an option for the next time if I get a dinner instead of just lunch. At six weeks my doctor told me that I could add in small amounts of lettuce. I think that means a piece of a sandwich. Any way....good lunch option I thought.

It sounds good but I was told to say away from corn. I'm almost six weeks out.

All my life I have had big feet. The good thing is I've saved thousands I'm sure on shoes. I wondered with a big loss of weight (90-100lbs) if people have changed shoe sizes. I'm a 12 even to go to an 11 would give me more options...especially if there wasn't a W following that number. Just curious.

Okay, let me tell you, I love coffee. I don't think it is the taste so much but what it represents. It is a social thing for me and just part of my routine. All through the six month preop diet they told me to stop drinking caffine and coffee. I could stop drinking pop, but coffee? Come on. I was honest with my NUT and she just told me to keep trying. One day I was reading a post how a person said the caffine withdraw after surgery wasn't good. A light when on and I switched to decaff. I didn't want to deal with both (caffine withdrawl and just post op misery). I still got the taste and my routine of drinking coffee. I would drink about 5 cups daily (10 cups accoording to my pot but I drank big cups of coffee). I haven't been making coffee daily since surgery because I know that I should be drinking a Protein shake or something better than plain coffee. I've tried mixing in protein and it would clump all up. I purchased some Bariwise Cappuccino. I made it like instructed one day. It was doable... hot and (almost too) sweet but not enough coffee flavor. Today, I made decaf coffee, poured half my package of the cappuccino and my coffee straight from brewing. Perfection. No clumps, enough coffee flavor, perfect temperature, and not too sweet. I used to put half and half in and like a 1/4 packet of sweetner so this was perfect...I didn't add any half and half or milk. I drank 2 cups, used the full package of cappuccino and got my 15 grams of protein with my coffee. I think it is going to be a good day.

I'm also 5 weeks out and I feel normal. I've been walking 2 miles now for just about two weeks and have good energy. That first 2 to 3 weeks is not so hot but after that you get down to normal daily living and all is good.

It too will pass. If you have a pillow handy and hold it close that seems to help. I would't allow myself to really sneeze if it all possible. Good luck ladies. In general, the first two to three weeks out are the worst. After that, life becomes more normal. Good luck to you.

Hmmm...very intreresting. The ad they placed on my posting is for wonderslim.

I just received an order from dietdirect.com (very fast free shipping) and ordered a variety of protein bars. I think I got six boxes. I bought Bariwise and Wonderslim products. All that I have tried so far are very good. I've had some bad protein bars, but these were really good. I would never know they were protein bars. They do publish all the information about them on their site. Most have 15 grams of Protein. I went looking for the lemon meringe because I heard they were good. They were out of stock. I got the variety pack and it had a lemon one. I can see why they are out of stock. Delish. The crispy ones remind me of like rice krispie crunch dipped in a chocolate or flavor of the bar coating. The count on the peanut butter one I had was 15 protein, 15 carbs, and 160 calories. I tried the wonderslim ones (chocolate mint are good) and they are about 15 grams of protein too. You might consider looking at their website. When I was surfing around I got an instant message from their representative giving me a code for $10 off. So that was excellent. You can search for coupon codes because they are out there. I also got a free sample pack that included two drinks. I bought some Bariwise cappuccino. It was good but sweet. I got some instant decaf which I might stir in next time. That cup was 15 grams of protein. I made my morning seem more normal. I was a big coffee drinker before. I'd probably order it again or try their hot chocolate. Since I'm telling you about good tasting protein bars...pure protein bars are good and have 20 grams of protein. I get their chocolate peanut butter and chocolate chip. They are really filling. Higher in calories though...200.

I've been walking lately and I'm pretty sure how far it is but I thought there must be an app for tracking excerise or some kind of pediometer out there. I was reading on Obesity Help and read one lady who recommended Endomondo sports tracker. You can choose the type of excercise (walking, running, biking and many more) and put in your weight and it will tell you the distance, pace, and number of calories you are burning. I also use my droid for my music and this app will break through and tell me when I've walked a mile and the time it took and then go right back to my music. If I do more it tells me that I walked two miles and the average of my lap time. You can also use this program to load your music too. I'm sure it is on itunes too but I only looked for my droid. You can set it for Kilometers too. I haven't played with it much but found out my walk was 2.2 miles and not the 2 miles that I thought. Just thought I'd share this cool app. It was a free app.

Hi Robin, I use "myfitnesspal.com" I like it because I can track my food, it remembers what I enter frequently, and I can play with the settings manually. I can set my own calorie and protein intake goals. It subtracts the numbers for you. You can log your weight and measurements. I like that I can use my phone (droid), ipad, or computer and it will synch them. I can put in a recipe and it will do the calculations. You can scan food from the code on the package and it will load it into your system. That is pretty cool. There are many things you can use it for. I like that I can print it out too. I took it to my nut appt one time. It doesn't take long to put your food in either.