Chaparra

Met this guy online and we finally decided to go out the weekend before last. I told him about my surgery up front, so that he can understand what's going on with me. We met for coffee, but ended up going out to eat. He first said that we should go to the Mexican place next door, but then changed his mind and said there was a healthier place we can go eat at. I told him he didn't have to decide on a place that's healthier just because of me. Honestly, I really wanted Mexican food badly. LOL We ended up going to this pita sandwich place. It wasn't bad at all. The sandwich I got was under 300 calories. I opted to get the grilled chicken breast to make sure I got a good amount of protein out of it. I was only able to eat half of the sandwich. This sleeve is really hard to get used to, mentally that is. This last weekend, he took me out for breakfast. I had a spinich and cheese omelet. I declinced the toast, but went ahead and let them give me the hashbrowns, but didn't eat them. I ate only half the omelet. Gave me bad stomach pains. I'm thinking I must not have chewed it well enough. The restaurant is owened by this older couple and the lady asked me if I wanted a to go box, but gave me a horrible look when she asked. I so wanted to tell her that the food was really good, I just couldn't eat very much, but I don't think she would have understood. After breakfast, we went to a park and walked around. It was nice to be around someone who is so understanding and suggests that we do things that he knows is not only healthy for me, but also for himself. I really wasn't sure if I was ready to start dating again, but that was mostly because I wasn't sure if men would understand my situation. I am glad that I did find someone who is being supportive and understanding. Can't wait to see where the next date goes....

I was sleeved on 02/11/13 and can only chug about 3 to 4 ounces at a time and that seems to take forever to pass though my stomach. I hate it. I miss being able to chug the whole bottle at once.

I also weigh myself every day to make sure that the scale doesn't go the wrong way, other than the normal 1 to 2 pounds.

I also have problems getting all the water in. I've never been a water drinking or a soda drinker. I was always drinking coffee or juice. I gave up coffee for tea so that I could have something hot with a flavor to it that I enjoyed. I just bought some of those liquid water flavors today. I hope those don't have a bad after taste to them like the powder stuff does.

Thought I would share some pics of right after surgery and today.

My nutritionist told me the myfitnesspal was the top rated one, so I've been using that.

I struggle with water, but not protein. I used to use protein drinks to help me get all the protein in that I needed, but since moving to a full food meal plan, I just eat enough chicken twice a day and get what is needed according to MFP. I'm trying to get water in, but I've just never been a super thirsty person. I can sip throughout the day and be just fine, but if I do it at that pace, I only get 20 to 30 oz in. I think that water is just really boring to me. I don't add flavor to my water because those mixes have a horrible aftertaste to me. I decided to start drinking hot tea throughout the day. I had previously given up drinking my morning coffee because I would sip it up until lunch time before drinking any water at all, and I knew that wasn't doing me any good. I'm hoping that tea will help me reach the right amount of daily water.

I've noticed that chinese food is very high in calories and probably a lot of other bad stuff. I've stayed away from it just because of that.

Depending on what kind of books you are into....I am addicted to anything written by Gena Showalter. Her Lords of the Underworld was amazing! I've read almost all of her books since reading that series. Sure helps passing time at the gym.

I was allowed greek yogurt on my full liquid diet. I did choose the kind with smaller fruit chunks and just made sure to chew it very well.

I take a fiber suppliment to aid in my lack of fiber from food.

I had one day, around the same timeframe, where I felt so lightheaded that I had to stop myself and figure out what was causing it. I drank a protein shake and felt 100% better afterwards. I do struggle with water, but have no problem getting my protein in. I basically cook (in my crock pot) 3 to 4 chicken breasts once a week and eat that for the week. Doesn't sound like much meat, but I eat about 1/4 to 2/3 cup a sitting and according to MFP, I get more protein in than what it says a day. I have mine set to a 1200 calorie day, but only eat about 600 to 900 a day.

I could have lived on cereal alone before my sleeve. Now, I do Special K, only when I crave cereal, which isn't very often.

I have always been an Oil of Olay user/supporter! People ask how I still look so young and I tell them it's because of that. =) I now have dry skin on my eyelid and bought their eye cream for it. So far, it's helping. This dry skin stuff is no joke and so annoying!

I could have gone back to work the 4th day after surgery (I also have a desk job), but I had taken that week off and went back the Monday after. By the 5th day, I was already exercising (cardio). I had tons of energy and couldn't sit still. That energy only lasted a week. I was going to the gym (again just cardio) 5 days a week and had to walk a bunch of places while my car was in the shop. I didn't start any weight training and sit ups until 3 weeks out because I just didn't want to risk hurting my sleave. Everyone's healing time is much different. I never had to use any pain meds (even while in the hospital).

Here I am, a few days shy of 2 months. Down a total of 50 pounds since my first visit with the nutritionist last June and 25 pounds since my surgery. The weight loss has been slow, but I'm happy with my progress. I have noticed a change in the foods my taste buds will tolerate. I know, it's usually what the sleeve that will tolerate or not tolerate things, but not for me. My sleeve has tolerated everything I have thrown down it. =) I can't eat egg salad and tuna salad anymore because both of those just taste horrible now. Hopefully this won't happen with chicken as I will just scream if it does. I get almost all of my protein from chicken. This week I will be adding more fruits to my routine. I had planned on starting this last week, but the strawberrys and avocados that I bought at the local produce stand, which I had never shopped at before, didn't last long enough to eat. The strawberrys had turned moldy within two days and when I cut open the avocados, they were both rotten inside. Such a disappointment. Ever since moving here last year, I have been having the worst time finding fruit that is fresh, ripe and not on the verge of going rotten. I have gone to 5 different grocery stores in the area! Maybe it has just been a bad year of crops, not sure, but I hope this changes soon. I miss my fruits.

I did, only because it was on my list of things I can eat on the soft foods, but I was never a big ice cream eater. I did well with it.

I was able to eat everything. Now, egg salad just tastes horrible to me as well as tuna, and I had been eating these all along. I was sleeved on 02/11/13. I'm hoping that one day I will enjoy eating those again, but am leaving it alone for now.

If you haven't done it yet, go to a free seminar. I had already made the decision before attending one that I wanted the surgery, but attending made me even more convinced. A lot of us have the same fears/questions you do. I truly had to try harder than I ever had before to hold back my tears when hearing the stories and actually seeing people in front of me that have been through it and now they look amazing. Then, people asked the questions I had running through my head. It was definitely an eye opener that it is possible and confirmed even more that I wanted to do this.

It just started happening. I didn't change what I was eating or how I was exercising, although, I have been able to move from the treadmill to the ellitical.

12 freakin pounds! I too thought it would be more. Don't worry, it will start dropping. Mine finally did. =)

Exercise, work it out. I know that when I get really mad (hasn't happened in many years) I start cleaning and let my frustrations out that way.

At 5 weeks out, I was eating anywhere from 600 to 700 calories. My doctor didn't seem to have a problem with it either.

Surgery 02/11/13, 262 on dos, down 22#

Coffee is okay and shouldn't affect the weight. It's what you put in the coffee that could. LOL