ms.sss

What the...?? You still have SNOW??

Day 2: 5 REGULAR (!) push ups done. So I may not have gone down far enough for my liking, but I did get my elbows to 90 degrees at least, so in my book, those are regular push ups. 😎 Make some art: need to think about this one....

Isn't clothes shopping so much more fun these days???

Crappy, cold, rainy day today. The only outside time I got was walking to and from car to wherever I had to go and home.

These days I've been coming up with NSV's that somehow/sometimes don't really seem like NSV's, as I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. So here's another one: Yesterday, Mr. carried me up the stairs, not like on his back like piggy-back, nor over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes/flour/presents/whatever, but like over-the-threshold kind of carry...which he hasn't done since he literally carried me over the threshold to our first house before the Kid was born (~15 years ago) All the way up, I kept thinking he was going to pull his back out or something and we would take a tumble and then when we got to the top, sooooo relieved when we got there intact.

Same. I find that a good bump or knock will result in a bruise now when they wouldn't have before...probably because I don't have as much protective padding anymore. Also, am bruising a lot around the sides and backs of my knees from crossing my legs so much (and hooking the top leg behind the other). I really should stop but I'd been in leg-crossing withdrawal for so many years that I need to make up for lost time . My labs came back fine as well more or less just a couple weeks ago (except that my B12 was on the high side, so I'm to reduce the frequency of taking it, and my Vitamin A was a little low so I'm to add a supplement twice a week). Doc says its nothing to worry about unless my gums or nose start to bleed (which they aren't) or if the bruises don't appear to heal after 2 weeks (which they are).

Yay, May! VSG, 6 months post op, still losing... May 1st weight: 136.5 lbs (BMI 25.1) May Goals: Get to into the 120's which would: put me into the "normal" BMI range (135.8 lbs) get me to 100 lbs total loss since October (135.0 lbs) get me to the weight that I was when me and Mr. first met 22 years ago (128.0 lbs) Add another 30 mins to my daily hourly exercise routine 3 times a week. Preferably some sort of strength training, but I won't fret if it's just more cardio. Do not miss a day of the push up challenge. 👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼 On that note...Day 1, 5 push ups: Done! (FULL DISCLOUSURE: I did them on my knees, I need some more upper body strength!!!)

Protein Powders: I buy my Isopure Protein Powder online at ca.bodybuilding.com. Cheapest I can find online so far (including shipping). The deliver to Canada (i think they have a local warehouse), and I've not had to pay any duty. I get the Dutch Chocolate (for drinking) and the Unflavoured (for cooking or sprinkling, lol) kinds. Both are lactose free, gluten free. The Dutch Chocolate per scoop is: 110 calories, 25g of protein, >1g net carbs, >1g of fat. The Unflavoured is the same except zero fat and carbs. *Note: I just hate all sweet things now, and the Dutch Chocolate is the least sweet of all the powders I have tried. It's not for everyone, especially if you have a sweet tooth. https://ca.bodybuilding.com/store/isopure/zero-carb.html?skuId=NB015 Vitamins: Cheapest is at No Frills, or Costco when on sale. Costco is also the cheapest for Benefibre. Sugar Free popsicles and stuff: I've no input on this as I've never had any...the whole disliking sweet stuff saved me from this part.

I have this one, love it, plus I got it with Air Miles points so love it even more: https://www.oxo.com/categories/cooking-and-baking/fruits-vegetables/fruit-and-veggie-tools/tabletop-spiralizer.html

I almost made it. Almost. Wanted to reach 135 lbs, but got down to 136.5 instead. Still, I lost 10.4 lbs for the calendar month of April, and I am totally fine with that 😎. I didn't increase my strength training regularly this month either. There were a handful of times I went longer than 30 mins, but that was it. I really hate strength training 😒. Thanks again @GreenTealael for doing these ♥️♥️♥️♥️ P.S. I reached my 6 month milestone on the 24th of this month! Still amazed at how fast it all went by. My post about it here:

Me. Too. 😂

I had gastric sleeve surgery on October 24, 2018. So that makes today my 6 month post op anniversary. It's been a crazy experience so far, this weight loss surgery thing. I am still amazed sometimes at how much my life has changed for the better. I started off at 235 lbs on Oct 10, 2018 (start of my 2wk pre-op liquid diet) and am now 138.1 lbs, which means I lost 96.9 lbs (or 41% of my TOTAL body weight) since October 10th. Crazy. Went from a BMI of 43.2 (morbidly obese) to 25.4 (almost a normal 25!) Chest-Waist-Hips measurements (in inches) went from 48 - 431/2 - 491/2 to 35 - 29 - 361/2 Off all prescription meds, no longer pre-diabetic nor do I have a fatty liver anymore. And Mr. is so very happy that I stopped snoring (like a freight train, apparently) the day after surgery. I feel stronger, more confident, more energized and more.....AWESOME. Of course there are some downsides: Alot of my hair has fallen out (but I *think* it has stopped and new teeny hairs seem to be spouting...but this may just be wishful thinking lol) My arms are pretty saggy. Though I am already shopping around for surgeons to get this fixed, hopefully by the fall. I am trying to wean myself off of my PPI and it is proving to be an unpleasant task. I've only been at it for a week and a bit, so I'm still holding out hope that it will turn around soon. I have a love-hate relationship with my toilet as far as pooping goes. But for the record, I would still do this all again in a heartbeat. I am more than pleased with my progress so far and credit it with the following: ** Disclaimer: the following works for ME, and may not jive with others' way of doing things...** Tracking and recording EVERYTHING I eat and drink Weighing myself every morning (and track fat, lean body mass percentages) Take my body measurements once a week Try to get 70g of protein a day (don't always make this) Drink at least 2.5 litres of water a day Keep net carbs to less than 20g per day Go to bed on an empty stomach Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep at night (don't always make this either) Exercise of some form or another for at least 1 hour every day ...and when I can, get said exercise in before I have my first meal of the day. I had already surpassed my doc's projected goal for me back in January, and I am about 18 lbs from my own personal goal and am pretty excited about it , though I may be more excited about getting rid of these bat wings.

Stick to your diet plan. Exercise. Drink your water. Take your vitamins. Get some sleep. DON'T CHEAT. Losing weight will never be as easy as it is the first few months, do what you can to lose as much as you can during this time. It will only get harder later.

You look waaaaaaay too young to be a grandma!

#27 Dream Vacation: Any place by an ocean I haven't gone to already. Oh, and the vacation duration needs to be at least 2 months. I love long vacations where you basically become a local. #28 Learn Something New: Not exacty "learning", but more discovering...Learned/discovered that I now hate Diet Coke. Went to the movies yesterday with fam and friends (watched Avengers: End Game...note to those who plan on watching it: it's THREE HOURS LONG!) and accidentally took a sip out of my friend's Diet Coke instead of my sparkling water. It was tasted soooo sickeningly sweet to me I almost spat it out. Which is funny because before surgery I would drink 1-2 cans/glasses of the stuff daily. #29 Do Nothing: Will save this for the weekend...gots stuff to do

I meant to post a before and after/progress pic earlier but I just got around to taking a picture this morning. Here it is...same dress, different bod:

First meal of day: Shrimps, grilled salmon, grilled veggies and tzatziki. Ate it all.

A watch (or other wearable) with a timer. Helped/helps me space out my bites, or remind me to eat. I swear I use my smart watch more for the timer alone than the other gazillion features it has put together.

I bring a bottle of Sparkling water and some beef jerky in my purse.

I meant to post a before and after/progress pic earlier but I just got around to taking a picture this morning. Here it is...same dress, different bod:

Ah, who am i kidding? Anything while pooping makes me happy 💩 I'm thinking of updating my avatar to be poop now....

I had back pain (lower first then went to upper) for several weeks after surgery, and also hip pain while we are at it. My doc AND masseuse AND chiropractor all suggested more or less that it was because of the weight loss and my body was adjusting to my new proportions and centre of gravity, and should go away once my body got used to it (and i got in some exercise). And yep, by my 2 month mark the aches and pains were gone

#26 : Five things that make me Happy Pooping Spreadsheets Music Summer nights Pooping

same ♥️

So I had consult appointment with the first of 3 plastic surgeons I've lined up to meet and got some unexpected feedback. First he said that I "did not have that much excess skin". Which to me is just crazy talk. He said that yes, I am a good candidate for an arm lift, but that I did not have what he would call bat wings. ??? Second he said that based on what he sees from my previous breast reduction (circa 2006) and my laparoscopic scars from my sleeve surgery last October, that I have "pigmented scarring" and that I will likely have significantly noticeable scars after the procedure. 😞 He told me to go on RealSelf.com and find examples of this type of scarring and see if I was willing to live with it. Third, we also talked about Tummy Tucks and, and upon examination, said I could be happy with just a mini tummy tuck instead of a full one because my abdominal muscles are quite tight and that my excess skin is all below my belly button. Which is good news as a mini tummy tuck is much less expensive than a full one. Fourth, I thought it would be a separate procedure, but a reduction of the size of the mons pubis is included in the tummy tuck/mini-tummy tuck. Again, good news as this makes the total less expensive. Will be getting his quotes on the various procedures combined, un-combined, etc by tomorrow, so i'll see if the prices don't make me pass out. 2 more surgeons to see....