10/21/13 Update

So I'm officially down 61.5 pounds today!  I now weigh 229 pounds.  It's been 109 days since my surgery (which is just over 3 months, so you don't have to do the math).  In some ways, it feels like forever and in other ways, it feels like yesterday.

I finally know how much/how little I can eat in one sitting.  My eyes were still way too big for awhile, but now I know that I can only eat about 1/4-1/2 cup at a time.  There for awhile, I thought if I just ate a little faster, I could get a little more in.  But that's W-R-O-N-G.  I have a hard time slowing down while I eat, but I'm working on it.  And I now know when to stop.  Which is crucial, let me tell you.

I am wearing the smallest clothes I have in my closet.....size 18's from my huge weight loss in 2010. I'm still 10 pounds higher than back then, but the clothes actually fit!  I can't believe it.  It's very exciting!!  However, I know in a few months, I'll have to face buying new clothes...and that's not a bad thing, right?

It's hard going out to eat with people who don't know I had WLS.  They stare at my plate with the tiny amount of food and just can't get over how little I'm eating.  So then I feel compelled to explain.  Which doesn't really bother me.  But it is interesting how people don't understand when people eat small amounts.  And then when they find out, they always feel guilty about eating in front of you.  Which makes ME uncomfortable.  *Sigh*  It's exhausting.

I completed my first 5K yesterday!!  It was a Graffiti Run, where they throw color on you at various points during the "race".  I did one in June, but (1) it was way too freaking hot and (2) I was carrying 60+ extra pounds, so I wasn't able to finish it.  But this time, I did!  My husband was kind enough to walk with me ('cause this girl ain't a runner....) and we finished the 3 miles in 50 minutes!  I normally walk a 20 minute mile, so that's major progress.  And I was so proud of my boys for finishing too (way ahead of us, of course)!

Size 18 pants from Old Navy

Before

After

It happened. Today!!

A day has come that I really never thought would come. I mean, yes I had the surgery and yes, I hoped it would work. But in the back of mind I was a little pessimistic. I've been doing well and making progress. However. Each time the weight loss slows a bit or I (gasp!!) actually gain a pound, I tell myself 'Well, that's it. I'm done.  But it's ok, I'm happy that I've lost 30 pounds. That's awesome!'.  Then the next day, I'm down another pound and it blows my mind again. So today it happened. I stepped on the scale. And it said (not out loud or anything....you know what I mean....) 240.6!  Do you know what that means?!?!?  I've officially lost 50 pounds. I'm halfway to my goal of 100 pounds.  In just 12 weeks (including the pre-op diet). I'm so excited I can barely stand it!  This has got me even more motivated. I actually went out and walked yesterday morning. It was only 70 degrees and felt amazing. And guess what else?  I'm in my size 18 clothes!  Now granted, some of them are tighter than others. But they zip and that's what counts, right?  In fact here's a pic of me in some size 18's (SO excited!!).

Confession Time

1.  In case you haven't noticed, I haven't posted on here since August 8th.
2.  I haven't been 100% faithful in tracking my food.
3.  I don't always remember to take my vitamin every day.
4.  I usually forget to take my calcium pill (Because it's chewable and it takes HORRIBLE!  However, I've recently switched to Calcium chocolate chewables and they taste SO much better).
5.  I still weigh myself WAY more than I should...usually in the morning and several times before bed.
6.  I eat my food way too fast.
7.  Which has caused me to throw up twice.
8.  And made me wish I could throw up more times than that.
9.  I still have eyes way too big for my stomach.
10.  I miss eating large volumes of food, so sometimes I don't want to go out to eat.  It's just sad.

In spite of all that, I'm still doing GREAT!!  I do not regret having this surgery one single day.  Not one!  It's the best decision I've ever made.  I'm still grieving the loss of food, but I'm finally getting used to the fact that I can't eat more than 5 or 6 bites.  Then I'm done.  I've thrown away more food than I care to think about.  And it kills me.  But it's a new fact of my life.

I'm back now and I'm re-committing to keeping up with this blog.  We'll see how long that lasts.  :-)

Here are some before/after photos, just for grins and giggles.

March 2013

August 2013 - down 40 pounds

Day before surgery

August 2013

 9/2/2013 Data:

Weight:  247.4 (43 pounds - yeah baby!!!)
Exercise:  20 minute walk with the fam

Vitamins

Here's the chewable vitamins I found for the liquid/puree/soft food phase.  And I have to be honest....they taste TERRIBLE!!!!  It was all I could do to choke them down.  It's so important to take your vitamins, so I made sure to take them everyday at the beginning.  And once I was cleared for tablets again, I quickly converted.

After about the first month, I was able to start taking these chocolate chews.  SOOOO much better.  It was like eating candy.  Yummy. 

My Staples

I think I've already admitted that I'm a creature of habit. Once I find something that works, I tend to repeat it over and over. So here are a few of my favorite things. These are the staples I turn to each day when I'm trying to do "high protein". 

Some details for your convenience:

Muscle Milk - 180 cals/20g protein
Turkey jerky - 45 cals/4g protein per stick
Protein bar - 190 cals/20g protein

The Snapple and Coffee are just for reference, not protein of course. But they're my faves and part of my daily routine so I wanted to share.

I'm still trying to break the hold sugar has on me.  Now that the holidays are officially over, I have high hopes. Wish me luck!

Day 43 - LAST day of soft foods/purees

Man, I've had the munchies today!  I'm not sure why.  I've done well on my protein numbers.  And I'm trying to make good, high protein choices.  But dang.  Luckily I'm not tempted by the chocolate bowl in my office.  Because it's full, let me tell you.  But so not worth it.

8/8/2013 Data:

Weight:  259.6 (31 pounds!!)
Exercise:  20 minute walk

Days 41 & 42

This week I'm realizing how awesome it is to feel good.  You know what I mean?  When you're feeling good and not having any pain, you don't think about it.  Until you feel bad.  And you can't sit up straight, or bend over and tie your shoes without sharp pain.  That's when you remember how great it was to feel good.  And you can't wait for that to happen again.  Well, it's finally here for me.  I had read that it takes about 3 weeks to really recover.  And of course I thought "pish-posh....not ME!".  Well, folks.  It's true.  I definitely felt better after the first week and a half.  But it took 3 full weeks to really feel GOOD.  And it's a great feeling.  So if you're just starting this post-op journey...hang in there.  It gets better every day.

8/6/2013 Data:

Weight:  261
Exercise:  20 minute walk with Tricia

8/7/2013 Data:

Weight:  261.2

Exercise:  20 minute walk with my boys