That’s a wrap!

2017 is a wrap. Here is my loss/gain month by month. 76lbs cumulative gone. I wish it was 80lbs but I chose to enjoy some holiday foods in December. Time to get back at it and start a new calendar.

I’m starting the year at 209lbs. I had 32oz of water + Miralax when I woke up. Was still thirsty from last night so had 16oz more. My breakfast this morning is 4oz of chicken and shrimp. I weighed it and am using my baby fork to help me get back to a bariatric mindset.

I’m too used to grazing. 30 min after eating I “feel hungry”. Going to sit with awhile then have more water.

Year End Update

Happy Holidays! I have struggled since Thanksgiving to get my food under control.  I finally quit fighting and ate the carbs, knowing it would end with Christmas. So here I am at 209lbs, 5lbs higher than the end of November.

I went to the Wellness Center today and walked again.  I stopped back in November as I was sick with a flare and then with a nasty stomach flu (fainted in the shower, dehydrated, scared my hubby).

It was good to walk. I realize that I have begun eating my emotions again since I did not have exercise as a stress outlet. While I do partially feel down on myself, mostly I’m determined to make the best of things now.  I am doing a week of protein shakes and quest bars and tons of water.  I will gradually go back to protein and veg and complex carbs.

Got an air fryer for Christmas.  Looking forward to doing chicken and veggies with it. As it stands right now, I’ve lost a cumulative 76lbs. It was 81, but I’ve had some slide back. My new goal is to be in Onederland by my birthday on February 24th. One thing that is very clear to me is the choice that’s involved with this tool.  Here’s to making good choices again.

 

 

Update

Today is October 5, 2017. My surgery was June 8, 2017. My stats:

Highest Weight: 298

Starting Weight: 285

Surgery Weight: 252

Current Weight: 211

i broke a three week stall where I was at 216. My body is now to the point where weight loss responds best to exercise.

I walk 30min a day 5x a week

I do weight training 2-3X a week

I do aqua fitness 1-2x a week.

I have issues with a knee. Both knees are very low on cartilage from years of obesity. My left knee is the worst and acts up when I walk too strenuously. I rest it for a day when I need to.

Part of this journey is listening to my body and being kind to it. Early mornings when I’m waking up and stretching in bed, I tell my body what a good body it is, thank it for all it does, and say how proud I am. Quite a difference from how I used to think about it.

Post- vacation

Hubby and I had a GREAT time in Alaska and Oregon. I didn’t weigh myself at all, and while I didn’t deprive myself, I didn’t go crazy either with food.  Got home and weighed the next day- 236lbs! 

So I decided to have a week of liquids.  After the first day of protein drinks I whooshed to 233lbs! That’s 18lbs lost since surgery and 52 since December. I’m thinking I may have to give up dairy items like cheese, cottage cheese, milk, and cream. 

PostOp week 5 stats:

Highest: 298lbs

Surgery: 251lbs

Current: 233lbs

Goal: 150 lbs

Frustrated

I guess I keep comparing my weight loss now to during the preOp diet. I feel frustrated. I’ve been going back and forth from 236-237 for a week now. I look at my food choices, how much I’ve been eating, and wonder if dairy is setting me back. Today is my 1 month surgeversary and I’ve lost 15lbs. I see that typical loss is 15-30 in first month. Perfectionist me wants to know why I’m at the 15 and not the 30.  I look for causes. Could it be the cheese and yogurt? Am I getting too many calories, or not enough protein? Is it that I’m 48 and post-menopausal due to a hysterectomy? Is this just my body’s way of countering the already 49lb loss since December 2016?

Sigh.

I’ve emailed my nutritionist with my particulars and am asking how much protein should I be getting? This week I’ve worked at getting 100oz of protein; around a thousand calories. Maybe I should be listening to my body only and not numbers?

I start vacation tomorrow. That should help get my mind off things.

Well That Went Well

Here’s the month to month numbers since I started my journey. In December 2016 I was 285. With my doctor’s guidance, I got a Fitbit Alta and met with a nutrition counselor. I followed her program and by the end of January got to a very dark place mentally.  By the end of February I knew I wanted surgery, and was ready for it. Three years ago I was at 298lbs, attended a seminar on WLS and said “Nope, I can do this on my own”. Fast forward 3 years. In March I started eating low carb, high protein (1800 cal./day). I had my surgery date, and preOp nutritionist appointment. By April I knew I had 30 days to eat whatever I wanted. So I did. May 1st began my PreOp diet- a week of meat and veg and complex carb (1200 cal./day). Then 2 weeks of liquid that turned into 4 weeks when I got sick and rescheduled surgery. Surgeon was Dr. Wayne Westmoreland of Murfreesboro Surgical Specialists- an amazing man and surgeon. He wanted me to lose 15-20lbs before surgery- which I did! And in June I lost 14lbs. 

Pic comparison: the first is my teacher pic from Spring 2017, the others from June:

Currently I’m 236lbs. 

I feel better! I look better! I don’t have to pull myself up the stairs anymore! I’ve gone from a size 26W pants to a 22W and 3-4X shirt to a 2X. I did not have a period of remorse after surgery, which a lot of people do. Perhaps it was all the mental work prior, or perhaps it’ll hit me later when school resumes in August and I’m surrounded by carbs and sweets. I would choose this again in a heartbeat. 

Changes

5 bags of clothes too big for me. Donating to a store called Second Life. Proceeds go to dog / cat rescue and maintenance. 
Also- I got a cute new ‘do! Felt like all my old hair was weighing me down. 

It works!

My hubby made me his slow cooked soft scrambled eggs. He chose a small egg from the ones we get from our friend who raises chickens. 

It was delicious, and I kept it down but- I’m not ready for eggs regularly. As much as I chewed, and as little as I had, some did tend to stick in my throat. Since I’m not supposed to drink with my food, it was … Interesting. I was slow in finishing it, and after went to make more turkey and carrots. I got halfway through that when 

SURPRISE! I felt full. Full physically like if I had one more bite, it would be in my throat. I stopped. The pouch works! Then I set the timer on my Baritastic app for 30min. After 30min, I could sip water again.

Lunch!

First non protein shake meal in 5 weeks. Turkey and gravy with carrots, a la Gerber. Turkey needed Adobo, but with that, it’s pretty tasty!