Sweet as peaches

My butt is SQUARE AND FLAT now 
The weight is slowly coming off and I'm keeping up with working out (strength training 4 days a week plus 60 minutes of cardio every other day plus walking/biking to class and work), but my friends and personal trainer don't see me being able to put on muscle until I'm done losing weight (which probably won't be for at least a year)

Well...I just got my first lesson on how this surgery is a tool, not a miracle. Went grocery shopping hungry, bought some "extras", came home and made some poor choices for the rest of the day. It is scary how quickly the calories added up, and how quickly my sleeve feels empty after eating. I ate a lot of food 

I feel bad, but I'm gonna use this as a lesson. First off, it's not the end of the world. I'm 6 weeks out tomorrow, and this is the first time I've fallen off the wagon. That level of adherence to my diet was unheard of preop - I always broke within a week or two. Also, I went back and re-read my NUT materials. It's a good time for a refresher. I'm gonna learn what I can and just move on. Yesterday's poor decisions have no control over my choices today. 

Went to the movies with my hubby this morning. (We're taking advantage of a kid-less day) I did have some popcorn (no extra butter--never get that stuff anyway) and no, it wasn't the end of the world!! Lol. I enjoyed every little bite I had (obviously it wasn't much). I did not die. I did not gain a lb and I did not crave more either. It was good. 😁

I had a spiritual experience during my morning run, and I want to share it here because if it helps just one person through a tough moment then 🙏 amen.

I am supposed to skip days between my running according to the C25K program, but in my infinite wisdom I decided that I felt great and since I was off for the 4th I would just run today and take tomorrow off. I know not very smart.

So I am coming up on the third run sequence and my muscles are really screaming at me and the self doubt starts in my head, "what made you think you could ever be a runner?" you are just going to hurt yourself.

And then Just about the time I am thinking about walking the song "Blessings" by Laura Story comes on in my ear buds. It wasn't long before I was running through my tears. This was the message I needed this morning. 

If you are hurting, doubting yourself, sad, lonely, whatever you may be going through, know that the Lord is with you. 

What if the trials of this life, the rain, the storms, the hardest nights, are his mercies in disguise?

I am so happy to see that my bmi got out of the sixties and now it is in the fifties. I am seeing more results like my body is getting more boxy before my weight would make me looked like I was spreading out.

I will never play balloon tennis with my twelve year old again. I played Tuesday in my bedroom with us taking turns smack a baby balloon like in tennis instead of racket we used our hands. Oh the horror, woke up early this morning at 2am with muscle spasms in my back. The pain didn't go away until i took ibuprofen at 9:30a.m. 

Monday will be 7 weeks since my surgery. A lot has happened in this short amount of time, so much, that Sometimes I just shake my head in amazement. I have lost 46 pounds since January 1rst and 21 since surgery. I am down to a size 12 from a 14-16 in January, and I am so close to wearing a large top I can taste it...lol..

I am exercising almost daily and last week I started the C25K program. I never thought I would be running, but I absolutely love it! I have so much more energy now and I feel so much better about myself. The scale does not stress me out at all. It is just a number I record every week. I am much more confident in myself as I know I am eating right and moving my body.  

my dh and I are headed to D.C. Today to meet up with his brother and sister and nephew. They are in town for a few days and it is so close to us we couldn't miss this opportunity to spend a couple days with them. My husbands sister is a marathon runner so it will be nice to pick her brain about getting started with running. This will be the weekend getaway that we didn't get to have for our anniversary last month. 

Have a great weekend everyone😃

I will never play balloon tennis with my twelve year old again. I played Tuesday in my bedroom with us taking turns smack a baby balloon like in tennis instead of racket we used our hands. Oh the horror, woke up early this morning at 2am with muscle spasms in my back. The pain didn't go away until i took ibuprofen at 9:30a.m. 

I will never play balloon tennis with my twelve year old again. I played Tuesday in my bedroom with us taking turns smack a baby balloon like in tennis instead of racket we used our hands. Oh the horror, woke up early this morning at 2am with muscle spasms in my back. The pain didn't go away until i took ibuprofen at 9:30a.m. 

I will never play balloon tennis with my twelve year old again. I played Tuesday in my bedroom with us taking turns smack a baby balloon like in tennis instead of racket we used our hands. Oh the horror, woke up early this morning at 2am with muscle spasms in my back. The pain didn't go away until i took ibuprofen at 9:30a.m. 

Hi guys trying to get a feel around the site. Now that i'm on my laptop it's much easier. Well I'm feeling a little better today. Thanks so much for the advice, a BIG help!!  As I look back on these pictures I'm like really that was me. I'm so proud of myself.

YASSSSS! Finally! I went to see my bariatric Counselor and she told me she faxed my evaluation letter. Paperwork is almost done. I'm so close :-)

My youngest brother asked me today to do Tough Mudder with him next May!!! Everything inside me cringed.  LOL. Maybe ten years ago I would have said YEAH! I'm reminded just ow my words to him the other day (he works out with a Marine), "your body can do so much more then you think you can." I guess I should chew my own words and do this thing. Would you do it?

Small victory is when you can feel your arm bone in your shoulder.

YASSSSS! Finally! I went to see my bariatric Counselor and she told me she faxed my evaluation letter. Paperwork is almost done. I'm so close :-)

6/26 - I had a bad day. My bf and I broke up. He stated that he preferred me bigger and that had he known things would change that he would have never supported the decision. When I asked how things changed, he stated the following: 

1) You put on makeup more

2) You get your nails done more

3) You do your hair more

4) You dress differently. You do not cover up as much

5) Guys look at you more (Ding! Ding! Ding!)

6) They hit on you more (Jackpot!!)

I was stunned as he continued on his rant. At that point he told me he needed space and that he felt he needed time to get used to the new situation. 

Before this journey I would ate my feelings away. I would have cried, watch romantic movies, Jack and Rose would have been my idols, my heart would have not gone on and I would have gained 5 lbs in one day. However, I felt no desire to stuff my face. Actually I felt nothing. After thinking about what he said and talking to my mom, I decided to end the relationship. I do not want that toxic attitude in my positive environment. I made a hard choice, however I am sure I made the right choice.

6/27 - Still followed my Keto diet. I did have a sugar free Popsicle. Went to the gym. Noticed something disturbing, my boobies are starting to have loose skin . I knew it would happened but I was hoping it would not. I boobs do not fit in my bra's anymore. They are sliding under the wire like peek-a-boo. SMH.

were you able to drive home after the endoscopy

What is the best way to wake up on a Sunday morning? With your 10 month old granddaughter snuggled in close sharing your pillow of course. My dh and I had a busy day yesterday watching our little angel and we decided to keep her overnight to give our daughter and son-n-law a little break. I have really started to notice the NSV more this past week and yesterday I definitely had more energy. 

I wonder if my scale is accurate? I weighed 187 on Friday and yesterday the scale said 185.2. I find it hard to believe I lost that much in 24 hours. ...lol.. ah well it really doesn't matter because I feel great and my clothes keep getting looser.

So I've been super proud of myself with the liquid diet. I started to cheat yesterday with a piece on smoked turkey (the office catered in BBQ and i could smell it for hours). I literally put it in my mouth and chewed it and when I was going to swallow it I told myself "what are you doing?!?! You've been doing so well don't cheat now. SPIT IT OUT" and that is the very thing I did. 

Eureka!! My most delicious smoothie yet!

I finally took the time to slowly go around the grocery store (and I mean slowly) and look for new things I could incorporate into my protein smoothies to jazz things up. I tend to avoid sugar substitutes if possible, which has eliminated the option of juice squeeze things and most things labeled "sugar-free" anyways,including jello,popsicles,gum etc..  I found some promising new ingredients. I picked up some good finds (in my opinion). I got Matcha green tea powder with ginger, pumpkin pie spice (if your store doesn't have this premade its pretty much cinnamon,ginger,clove,nutmeg.super easy to make), imitation caramel extract, imitation coconut extract, and organic vanilla extract. 

So onto my smoothie, it contains the following (as I stare at it lovingly) :

-1  cup unsweetened cashew milk

-1 cup water/with a handful of ice

-1 scoop Vitaleph Vanilla protein mix

-A splash of caramel extract

-A dash of Vanilla extract

-Pumpkin Pie Spice

I blended it all together, poured it into a giant cup and am happily drinking so far the best protein smoothie I've had. Also looking forward to tomorrows chocolate protein,espresso, and coconut breakfast smoothie. Fingers crossed it does the trick

Getting pre-op medical testings and clearance is so stressful and frustrating. I supposedly had all my pre-op testing for excess skin removal on June 9th. Wednesday days before surgery is to happen I am told I need to head back to the PCP and have PT (Prothrombin Time), PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time), and INR (International Normalized Ratio). asap. Why the heck wasn't this done June 9th. So I rush my butt to the PCP get this done just in time to get  over to the hospital for the pre-surgery appt only to have to go back to the PCP because  the hospital said I have an infection from a blood blister that broke open on my breast. Now I am on a cream and antiboitic 5 days before I am to have surgery.

Friday 3 pm I was told the PS still didn't have medical clearance. Got the referral lady to email me the 17 pages of clearance, printed it off and hand delivered it to the surgeons office.   I just don't understand why I am having so much trouble getting these breast boulders turned into molehills. If this surgery is canceled again for the second time I am going to be so upset I think I will explode and hack them off myself. 

Six months post-op, down 130#

Almost 48 years old and my period came back after wls with a vengeance. Stomach cramps and other stuff like crazy. Before wls it would show up sporadically but not now. This is the second time i had it since the surgery and on schedule of 30 days. This is crazy. I know my body is regulating but cramps seriously like i need Motrin which is the only thing that helps the pain.

Stuck being forced into a 6 month medically supervised diet program.  Not happy about this.  It means that I won't get my surgery until 2018.  Upper GI coming up next week.  First dietitian visit the following week.  I just really wish I didn't have to do this stupid 6 month program.  Having the band for over 5 and a half years should be diet enough.  I'm just hoping all plays out so that I'm close to my weight when I was 20, by my 40th birthday.  

Today is a beautiful day!! My hubby will be home tonight!! I am more than a little excited. I wonder if he will notice changes in me having been away? I know he is going to be surprised when he sees my haircut and highlights. I am a little nervous about going shorter with my hair, but change is good sometimes...

I think I have hit my first stall. I am fine with it as I was prepared for this to happen at some point. I have been bouncing from 289.5 to 290.6 for the past 3 days. It might just be what I call the 5 day bounce. This seems to be my pattern, I bounce back and forth for a week and then drop 3 pounds. We shall see. 

My dh and I started feeding a stray cat about 4 years ago. She just showed up on our front porch and never left. My adult son named her Claire. She rarely comes in the house as she freaks out being closed in. She is semi-feral. She will rub up against your legs and pur, but if you reach down to pet her she will growl. My dh built her a cat house and we put a heated mat inside it for the cold nights. My dh loves this cat because he admires her strength and Independence. Claire greets him everyday when he leaves for work and when he comes home. She is never far from our porch. We  caught her in a trap and took her to the clinic and had her spayed and got her shots 3 years ago when we decided she was now our cat. Since my dh has been away I can tell Claire misses him. He is the one who feeds her everyday and he is able to pet her head a little before she lets him know hands off..lol.. Anyway I am not sure why I am writing about this on my status today. I just find it fascinating that my dh (who is not a cat person) and this feral cat have developed a mutually satisfying relationship. It is based on trust and neither expects the other to give more than what they do. My dh respects her desire to not be handled and she shows her appreciation of his care by always greeting him and talking with him everyday...lol.. maybe there is a lesson here somewhere... well Claire will be happy to see him tonight also I think... 

Enough rambling I am off to get ready to go to my hair appointment. Have a great Saturday everyone!!