Momonanomo

fuuny you should post this today -- I'm spotting and I just had my period 2 weeks ago. Not cool. If it continues I will get in touch with my gyno and ask her opinion, but it's good to know it's not too unusual

Today marks 5 weeks since surgery. I am down 35 lbs since start of pre-op, 25 since surgery itself. I’m currently going roughly ½ lb per day, so I am sure not complaining. I feel I have a normal appetite when there’s not food in front of me, in other words, I do get hungry. But once the food is in front of me I don’t really want it. I kinda do miss enjoying my food, but honestly, this is what I signed up for, and I prefer the way I am now. It will just take some getting used to. For 41 years I have been food-obsessed (yes even as an infant, according to my mom). It will no doubt take a while to learn to refocus my energy. I have an awareness that I need to really take advantage of this honeymoon period to change my habits, because I know eventually it will become physically easier and more satisfying to eat and therefore I will be in danger of over eating again. Actually, I think the real danger will be in eating the wrong things. Emotional eating was never my problem, I honestly feel like I was crazy-hungry (the grehlin monster?). Preparing for surgery, I was open to the possibility that I was an emotional eater – I really wanted to figure out the issues and deal with them head on. But apparently that wasn't my problem. My problem was a big appetitie for the wrong things, which exacerbates the cravings for more of the wrong things, which leads to weight gain, which leads to inhibited activity. And down goes the spiral from there. I finally feel like my spiral is turning upward! And, the point of my emotional eating tangent here is that yesterday I had a pretty nasty argument with my husband (we’re good now, thanks), and all I really wanted to make me feel better after our fight was………a cigarette. Ha! I quit in January, and I miss it. But I don’t miss all the icky things that go along with it, so I’ll deal. But I took a moment to acknowledge that in my time of stress I didn't want a chocolate bar. It was interesting to me. I’m also dealing with my impatience – it doesn't seem fair that I am practicing the habits of a fit & slim person, yet I will have to wait months and months (and possible more) to actually BE a fit & slim person. But I guess it's that instant -gratification mentality that got me here in the first place. A healthy weight is not something to be grabbed at the drive-through (figuratively AND literally) This will take time and it will be worth it. I vow to try to find ways to enjoy the journey. It’s going to take time, may as well find it entertaining on the way, right? Onward!

LOL I may post pics soon......maybe.......

aboslutely! It means you're in ketosis aka fat burning mode. Yes I too always have listerine strips nearby, as well as the altoids sugar free mini's. And I brush my teeth more. I'd rather have dragon breath and be losing weight than have sweet breath and be keeping the weight!!

This is a really great blog entry! So true all those things that affect the scale --- very wise words. I'm blown away by how well you'e done -- 80 lbs! Gone! And it seems like just yesterday that you were going in for surgery Your hard work -- and I believe you ARE working hard to be spending all that time in the gym! -- it's all paying off and will for the rest of your life. Well done my friend very inspiring.

You're only 5 days post op....you are still recovering from major surgery so you are going to feel weak and run down at times. I too would wake up in the middle of the night the first week or two and would take that time to get some fluids & a bit of protein in. I remember chuckling to myself that my body knew it was on a schedule. But if you're no waking up in the middle of the night, then I'd say just make sure during the day you meet your fluid & protein goals the best you can, start as soon as you wake up, and accept that it's just going to take a little while to get back to feeling normal.

I believe that with exercise and proper nutrition through good, clean food we can reach our goals. I had surgery so that I would no longer have to keep trying random diets and such. Plexus is just another multi-level marketing/pyramid scheme.

I third that!

I agree what what they have all said! I just want to add that you should not be too adventurous in what ever it is you decide to try....you don't want to have a "situation" while out in public! Go very, very slow and chew well. congrats to your son!

I'm finding that nowadays I never never never finish what's on my plate. Such a huge change for me -- I always finished that last bite! Your experience is something I'll keep in mind next time I'm tempted I understand what you were trying to achieve, but boy oh boy that must have sucked!!! As far as Protein -- I'm also just over 4 weeks out, and I'm still supplementing with Protein shakes to get my protein in. The Syntrax nectar fruit ones are pretty light if you just mix them with Water -- not thick like other protein shakes ---- and they have 23 g of protein each serving! So if you can drink 4 to 6 oz of liquid, why not mix in those 23 g of protein?!?! I'm averaging 700 calories a day, and 80+ g of protein all in all. My nails are growing like crazy....I guess it's from all the protein?

Hi ornurse as for the green smoothies -- I use a nutribullet blender to do a smoothie with 1/2 fruit and 1/2 green leafy vegetable (I've so far used kale, spinach, and chard) I add my protein shake powder to these. I had felt like my body was really missing fruits & vegetables since durign my meals I only eat protein -- that's all there's room for right now! I do feel a lot better since I started doing this, and I have more energy. I recommend it to anyone! Thanks Angela! Good luck to you as well! My pre-op diet was very similar. I remember that it was easier than I had thought it was going to be, and I beleive it's because I was thinking of it as being preparation for surgery, not just any old diet. I am really glad that I practiced not drinking with meals at that time too, because now I'm used to it.

Today is one month out since surgery. I am down exactly 30 lbs since the start of the pre-op diet, and 20 lbs since surgery. I was telling my mom that this morning, and feeling a wee bit bummed about “only 20 lbs since surgery” but she pointed out that it is a 5 lb average per week. I thanked her for setting me straight and making me look at it like that. I get so impatient sometimes, but this process will take some time of course. And time is going to pass anyway – I’m awfully glad to be losing as time passes! This morning I shopped in my closet and am wearing a dress I haven’t worn in months. That feels good, and I’ve already gotten a compliment on it. You know, I have lost weight before as an adult-- at one point I even lost like 75 lbs years ago. And I’ve noticed something…. it’s so funny how when people you work with, for example, who don’t know you’re losing weight, they begin to notice something is different but they can’t quite figure out what it is. So funny. I had a moment like that yesterday. I bought a dress two days after surgery; it’s a nice maxi dress that I can wear for a while as I shrink. I have already worn that dress 3 times to work since surgery! But it was yesterday that a male coworker of mine said “Well you’re all dressed up today! You look nice, is it a special occasion?” LOL! I’m changing but they can’t quite put their finger on what exactly is changing….in my experience ,soon I will get the “did you do something different with you hair? Did you get your hair cut?” questions. LOL As far as food goes, I am still technically supposed to be on soft foods. To be honest, I would be scared to eat anything not soft right now. I have no pain of course, but my Morningstar sausage experience a little while back is not something I’d like to repeat. So it is not difficult to stick to the soft things—I gravitate toward them out of fear! LOL. I am eating 2 to 3 protein meals per day – I try for 3 oz but it’s usually just under 2 oz. In between, I’m doing my “green smoothies” with protein powder. It blows my mind that I haven’t had bread in 6 weeks. Or chips or crackers or any of that crap. I’m pretty much carb-free! I can prepare those things for my husband’s meals and it doesn’t even entice me. I do have occasional cravings. If it’s something that’s on my current plan to have (like cheese), I eat it, and I find that literally after 2 bites I’m more than done. The sugar fiend in me is still alive, but when those cravings hit I 1) remind myself that I would probably feel horrible if I ate sugar and 2) when I am at goal, I will allow myself such indulgences occasionally. I KNOW that I could totally eat ice cream right now. But I am just not gonna do it!!!! I am finally getting a reasonable amount of energy back. I am walking 30 minutes almost every day. I need to start strength training. I am beginning to develop a fear of loose skin. Somehow I’m not sure I could bring myself to do plastic surgery – although never say never. Just depends on how bad it is when I’m there I guess. I need to worry about that bridge when I get to it. I bought bio oil and am trying to be really good to my skin. Hope it will return the favor! I totally have ketosis breath. It’s pretty funny. Love the altoids sugar free mini’s. They also are awesome right after a meal when I still need to wait 30 minutes to drink something. Monday I see my surgeon for my one month follow up. My incisions are great. I’m certain he will give the all-clear to hit the beach Onward!

Yes! I use the nutri bullet, and you always are supposed to put in 1/2 greens and 1/2 fruit (then add Protein powder). The fruit covers the taste of the greens. Try mild tasting greens too, like baby spinach. I like to add a little avocado for creaminess. You can also add splenda to sweeten, or a prune or two will also sweeten it. I have felt sooooo much better since I started doing these shakes! Try googling "nutri bullet recipes" there's tons online. Best of luck!

I drank ginger tea (as best I could) during immediate recovery and it did help. When I was cleared for greek yogurt but couldn't have the kind with fruit in it yet (too chunky), I would mix in splenda and powdered ginger, and it was yummy!

vegetarian refried beans, cottage cheese, eggs, ricotta, baked fish, canned green beans, baked tofu, and the ever-present greek yogurt

Yeah, I know I need to step away from the scale, because it is happening. The scale has not budged in 3 days. Coincidentally, it's my TOM so there's another strike against me. I'm not TOTALLY freaking out, because hell, it's only been a few days. It's just funny that I truly can NOT eat very much at all, and for that to not be being reflected on the scale seems odd to me. But I know pretty much everyone goes through it. And it will end eventually. onward.

Yes, and it's a bit of a mind trick, because when I was getting ready to leave the hospital, I was like "wow, this was easier than I had thought it would be!" but then....a day and 2 days later...felt pretty rough. I felt I had backslid. I think it was just that I was on IV in the hospital, and the IV pain meds & fluids made me feel pretty good. Here's something my sweet husband said to me that totally helped... Lie still, close your eyes, and imagine that you are lying in the great hand of God. God is loving and protecting you, and God has his other hand on your tummy, and he is sending his blessings to help your tummy heal. I used that as a prayer/meditation, and it helped me relax and sleep.

Very nice work! You look great! Can I ask how tall and how much you've lost? I hope I can make similar progress in 13 weeks!

I totally agree that day 3 sucked. I promise it gets better!

thanks! it's not a super steep hill ....but not flat either. Just beyond it there is a part that is much steeper -- that is my next challenge!

Today marks 3 weeks since surgery, and things are going quite well. I started my pre-op liver shrinking diet on 5/8/13, so I consider that my “start”. Since then I have lost 27.8 lbs, although my period started today so I’m probably good for another pound or two soon. I’m in the “soft foods” stage right now. I do feel restriction now! I also do feel hunger, although it is a reasonable hunger (not like the hunger I felt before all my life – THAT was unreasonable crazy and all-consuming hunger!). …..And once I have a few bites of good protein, my reasonable hunger is satisfied I love that. I am eating things like cottage cheese, good quality lunch meat (chewed well), baked fish, ricotta, PB2, eggs, and protein shakes of course. For an obese girl I am a pretty healthy person –I love and have missed my fruits and veggies. So I bought a nutria-bullet! For those who haven’t seen the infomercial, it is a small blender type thing that is extremely powerful and will pulverize anything you put in it. So this week I have begun incorporating ‘green drinks’ into my daily routine. It has made a WORLD of difference in my energy level! You load it up with half dark green leafies, some avocado, and half fruit (covers the taste of the green leafies!) and add healthy nuts or dried goji berries (these get pulverized so it’s not bad for the sleeve!). The resulting smoothie is much better than jamba and no doubt much more healthy. I also add my protein powder and voila! I get my protein drink plus my fruits & veggies! I now feel much better that I am getting a good balanced diet. I do 3 meals a day of a good protein, then 2 snacks in between of the green protein drinks, and I feel awesome. Sometimes for a late night snack I will mix up a tablespoon of PB2. Yum. My nails are growing like crazy! I guess it’s the protein? I certainly don’t feel malnourished, even though my calories are still pretty low. I’m not losing all that crazy-fast, but it’s ok. I am losing. And I had wondered pre-surgery whether I would be a fast loser or a slow loser, and I have to say – both have good things about them. If I am indeed a slow loser, I believe my skin will be in better shape in the long run. I hope. I also have high hopes that my hair will not fall out if I am a slower loser. I also think that my colleagues and other people who don't know I had surgery will be less likely to try to get all in my business if I lose slowly, because it will be a more gradual change. The obvious benefit to being a fast loser is that you get to have the weight off faster!!! Since it;s summer time, that is really appealing. But I takes what I gets! I have to say that all the months and months prior to surgery, time seemed to go by so quickly, and now time actually seems to go really slowly….because I know it’s just a matter of time until I lose a significant amount of weight. I am being a bit impatient in that way. Oh! I must share this too – yesterday I decided to have one of those Morningstar farm breakfast sausages for lunch -- I'd been thinking about those for the whole time I was on liquids! I ate too quickly, and/or didn’t chew well enough, because OMG I had a really bad experience! It honestly felt like someone had punched me in the stomach, and I got really nauseas – although I never threw up. It. Really. Really. Sucked. Lesson learned. I guess we all go through that at least once, ya? I think next on my agenda will be starting some more rigorous activity or even what could be called exercising So far I have just been hiking up the hill behind my house and back everyday. My dog loves it, because I am able to let her off leash. It’s maybe a mile round trip but it is an incline. The first few times I did it after surgery I was really going at a snail’s pace. But now I’m able to go at a pretty good clip. So it’s time to go farther I believe! Onward!

I was sleeved 2 1/2 weeks ago & am thrilled to say i now can drink water like normal. I am so glad! Go slow, let it heal, you will get there.

Hmmm birthday cake sounds yummy. Where do you get these?

You brought tears to my eyes with this. I am so happy for you!! I hope I am as successful. Many congratulations to you, and thank you so much for sharing!

is it kind of sad that my mouth started watering over .... vitamins? lol