macadamia

Thank you @GreenTealael & @MargoCL! I appreciate it!

Since surgery, I've felt really good, except for this afternoon after discharge. I'm still a bit loopy from the drugs but am now at the hotel. I did some shopping and bought some baby food and some SF snacks, along with my protein shakes. I am super tired, but I have some homework to finish before I take my nap.

How are you doing?

Resting, yes, but I'm staying in town tonight because I'm still a bit high on the pain meds. I'm at the hotel now and exhausted... I need a nap and I have homework to do for school. I think the nap takes priority.

I had to stop and buy food for the stay. I've never bought baby food before so I had no idea what to expect. I got some chicken and some green beans, then some SF jello and SF pudding, protein shakes, and some yogurt. I think that will make it until tomorrow afternoon when I try to drive home...

Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it!

Are you feeling any better today?

good for you!

and?...

I understand that you feel that way, but in the grand scheme of things, does that really matter? Your previous life is past - you are doing what you are doing for your future. There are many people who would not have given you the time of day before, sure. But you are not that person anymore. Why hold on to that?

More and more people are going to start wanting to talk to you and may even want to hang out or even date. This is enviable. Let go of whether or not you think they would have done so before. You are not who you were. The new you is in a better place, healthier, happier, open to new things, and is a wonderful person. (-:

So, was he ugly? LOL

Thank you! I'm all packed, just waiting for my son to get out of the shower, then we are heading over to the hospital.

Thank you! My first major milestone!

Thank you too! I appreciate it!

Thank you thank you thank you... ^6 thanks!

The doctor decided for me. I have other abdominal issues (which I have not revealed as of yet, but I will soon, I promise) that prevent the bypass surgery. I pretty much knew that it was either the sleeve or just do the diet plan and no surgery. I'm quite okay with this choice - I do not want my surgery to be reversible. And, actually, it has not been that bad. I do not actually feel hungry, but I'm fighting with head hunger each day. I've been strong so far and my weight loss to date shows that. That is a great motivation for me to keep from stopping at each fast food place that I used to stop at on the way home from work. What I really miss, though, is the Thai yellow chicken curry from the local Thai place. Oh boy, is it good! I need to learn a recipe that I can eat all of the ingredients and make it myself.

I noticed last night when I got home from work that my pants are now way too big. I reached for my belt to loosen it and my pants dropped before I completely undid my belt. Now, maybe it is because I do not have a butt (Irish white-dude syndrome), however, I hope know it is because of my weight loss and my eating habits. I'm not much into fashion, but I do like to look good. I've been so big for so long that I do not even worry about how my clothes look. I'm hoping sure that will change very soon!

Abe Froman? The sausage king of Chicago?!? (-:

Thank you! It feels much lighter.

Yes, he does. I have a four-week pre-op diet but I started it about two weeks early. I am limited to 800 calories a day.

When the doctor did the upper endoscopy, he found my liver pressing on my stomach more than what he usually sees in someone my size. He thought that my liver may be enlarged due to a condition called portal hypertension. This is a condition where the liver does not have enough blood flow and it gets localized high blood pressure within the liver. This causes vascularity in the arteries feeding the liver and they can cause excessive bleeding if nicked during surgery. He told me that if I had portal hypertension, he would not operate.

He said that the CT scan and blood tests did not find any issues with my liver so the surgery is on!

Well, I cannot say that I've ever bought a bra that was too big, but I have done some dumb things when shopping. You look great! Keep up the great work and stop worrying about the number on the scale! (I know you are not... ) We're all in this together!

I do not have a vitamix, nor will I be buying one after seeing the price! Ooooof! I have a Kitchen Ninja system that works fine and yes, I can cook the soup without needing to run a mixer for 6-7 minutes to "heat" it up... Thanks for the recipe - I think I can modify that with foods I like and can eat. I appreciate it!

Thank you so much! You have been a great inspiration to me and I hope I can be as successful as you have been.

Now, if I could only find a good chicken tortilla soup recipe that I can eat within my pre-op diet...

Thank you!

Walk, walk, walk, walk, then walk some more... then, start with a couple of water bottles in each hand and do arm lifts. If you want to get fancy, get an exercise band and use that for squats, arms, chest, and leg exercises. I have some exercise handouts from my exercise physiologist. I'll scan them and send them to you.

You can do it!

You are doing awesome and looking awesome! Keep it up!