Pinky Green

I think I only had 2 or 3 and no bruises at all.

I had asthma, pre-diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and osteoarthritis in my knees before I decided to have surgery. After all the testing that the doctors did for the surgery I found out that my pre-diabetes had turned into diabetes, I had developed hypertension and I had a hypertension related heart disease (although the cardiologist said it should resolve when I lose weight). I should have done it years ago but I'm not sure my insurance would have paid for it then. I'm looking forward to going to festivals this spring, going to the beach and living a long time.

I lost 12 lbs on my pre-op diet and have lost 4 more lbs since surgery last Wednesday. Today I went to the brand new Trader Joes in Houston and was able to walk all around the store and look around and my knees didn't hurt. Before, when I went to any store I would have to take the riding cart around. I still rode the cart at costco and Sam's but pretty soon I won't need to. Also, this may be TMI, but I no longer have to brace myself against the wall of the bathroom to get my arm far enough around to wipe myself. That was one of my last straws. While I was on my pre-op diet I noticed that I could move the seat up a couple of notches making it easier to hold the clutch all the way in - I had to move it back after surgery since my stomach was swollen and sore, but I will probably be able to move it all the way up (I'm only 5' tall) after the swelling goes down.

I had to do a stress test also but because of knee problems was unable to do the treadmill and my cardiologist had to jump through hoops to get the insurance company to let them do what they call a nuclear stress test. Instead of running on a treadmill, they gave me an injection of something that made my heart think it was exercising. My friend told me he had that test a few years ago and though he was going to die but for my it was easy and painless - but the technician that did the test said that they had improved the test since my friend had it and that was probably why I didn't have any problems with the test.

Did you pour at least a couple of tablespoons of the pineapple juice that they pack the pineapples in onto the cottage cheese? That's what I do - but I like the taste of the cottage cheese anyway.

I am also 4 days out. I have to use the clock to remember to eat. I have no hunger at all at this point.

That used to be true but not so much any more. All margarines used to have transfats but now they are making some margarines without the transfats - like Smart Balance and some others too.

I've been sleeved. Had surgery yesterday morning. Doing good.

I'm not sure if those hormone changes are from weight loss. I had all that around the 50 year mark and I hadn't had surgery. Just normal menopause changes I think.

Good ol' Tex-Mex Acapulco Dinner, cold plate of guacamole, tostada shell with queso and crispy taco - hot plate - tamale with chili gravy, 2 cheese enchiladas, rice and charro beans.

I'm not going to Mexico for my surgery but I wouldn't hesitate to if I needed it. Here is info I found while researching because my boyfriend wants us to drive to his mother's house in Honduras instead of flying. http://www.mexicomike.com/safety/safety-UsStateDepartment.html As noted most of the Americans who were killed in Mexico recently were actually living there and many of them were involved in the drug trade. As a rule of thumb, if you aren't involved in illegal activity and you don't go around acting like Thurston Howell III (if you are too young to remember him just think of someone rich who flashes their money around) you probably will be just fine. I live in Houston, and there are parts of Houston I would be a little hesitant to go with lots of money at night with an old car. In Mexico and in the United States - most people who get murdered either get murdered by someone they know, or they are at the wrong place at the wrong time and probably doing things they shouldn't be doing.

I'll be happy when I can shop somewhere like Petite Sophisticate! Most of the Petite Shops have sizes up to about 14 or sometimes 16.

Unfortunately, I never seemed to be able to find anything at Lane Bryant's. It seems that although they have the size I wear, they seem to make them for people that are all 5'8" or taller. Everything I ever put on there that fit me around always needed major reduction in the shoulders, sleeves and hem. Just wasn't worth it for someone who is barely 5 feet tall.

My doctor's schedule starts me on pureed food after 2 weeks. The eggs I might have to soft scramble and then put in a blender. The beans and the avocado can be pureed with a fork. Any reason I shouldn't eat at least one of those after 15 days?

I noticed that you really have to watch the sodium, even on so-called Low Sodium Broth. I bough some Kroger Low Sodium broth and it was 580 mg of sodium. I bought some chicken stock at Costco that didn't say low sodium but it was only 400mg.

I got a great big bottle of grapeseed oil at Costco for about $7.50. It was about that price for a small bottle at Krogers.

If you don't like the taste of olive oil and it is available ask him if you can use grapeseed instead. It has a more neutral flavor and has most if not all the benefits of olive oil.

I haven't been able to wear knee high boots since I was in high school. Wouldn't that be fabulous!

I'm scheduled for Wednesday and you better believe this pre-op diet is getting old for me too. I long for some eggs and fat-free refried black beans and avocado with a little salsa!

I've lost weight (and gained it back) and the length didn't change but the width got smaller.

You can get no sugar preserves. I think Kroger makes a brand and there is All Fruit and Polners.(sp?). I think the Kroger one has Splenda in it.

My doctor gave me a schedule of what we will be eating after surgery and it only requires me to be on clear liquids for day one and two post-op, and they added that I wouldn't need to worry about that because I would still be in the hospital anyway. I go right to full liquid after I get out of the hospital. Or at least if all goes as scheduled. My surgery is Wednesday.

I like large curd cottage cheese more than I like small curd cottage cheese also.

Ok, it says I use 1700 calories if I am inactive, 1900 if I am somewhat active, 2050 if I am active and 2400 if I am very active. I do have to admit I'm probably inactive. I have knee problems and find it hard to walk more than 5 minutes without a lot of pain in my knees. I need to start going to the swimming pool to bump that up to 2400. I can exercise for an hour in the Water. Currently I'm getting about 800 calories a day - so I have a deficit of about 900 calories a day x 7 days would be 6300 calories which is almost 2 pounds. Which sounds like just about what I'm losing. After surgery I'll probably go down somewhat more at first since I probably won't even be able to drink 5 Protein Shakes a day for the 800 calories. Just so long as it's gone and doesn't come back I can live with 2 or 3 pounds a week.

Hey, last time I went to Weight Watchers I would lose a pound and a half and then gain a pound the next week. I'll be real happy if I'm losing 3 lbs a week for 5 weeks. I get sleeved on Wednesday. I seem to be a slow loser now already - I have been on the Pre-Op diet for a week and only lost about a pound and a half.