Wow, it's been awhile!

I just happened to click the link to my blog here and realized how long it has been! I have been very busy in the past months. Lots of adjustment, change, holidays, and daily life. Fast forward to tonight, where I am sitting here completley awe struck by my last postings. It feels surreal to look back and remember those days! There's no words... I can't believe I lived that way for so long!

I will NEVER regret making the decision to get my surgery! As of today, I have lost 93lbs!! I have gone down 12 dress sizes!! It's amazing! I feel like a person again. I have a life again!

This is the most recent photo I posted to Facebook to show my new size:

 These were two of my "before" photos:

My official before pic:

Me tonight:

One Month Post-op

I am one month post-op today! I have also met my goal of loosing my first 25lbs today! 

In the past 2 weeks, I have purchased a treadmill and am walking 1hr/day. I am now allowed to eat 1/4c of vegtable or fruit with my 1/4c of protien food each day. I am still drinking 2 protien shakes a day and taking my vitamins. Even though I am allowed 1/4c of protien (or 2oz), I am finding I can only eat half of that at a meal. I have decided to split it between "lunch" and "dinner" into two mini-meals. I find this more satisfying and it helps me take in the extra nutrients. I have not experienced any negative impact on my progress either. My calorie intake averages 500/day or less. 

For exercise, I walk 1 solid hour in the morning, then regular daily activities with occasional evening strolls as well. I average 8,000-12,000 steps per day, 5 flights of stairs, 3-4 miles, and 2,000-2500 calories burned. I have a Fitbit that keeps track for me.

2 Week Post-op Follow Up, and blurbs from Facebook up to it

June 21
Feeling great, and ready to get to the next stage of this journey. I miss some food, but am doing pretty good with it. Down 12.6lb!

June 22
Bored with broth, protien shakes and jello diet. Get to add solids on the 29th. Hoping the next few days go by fast, or I get cleared early! Even pudding would be a blessing right now! At least it is good I feel so good.

June 25
Down 15.5 lbs as of this morning, I am about to start licking spices for flavor, lol! Got the ok to eat egg, and plain greek yogurt... Man, that stuff is NASTY!

June 28
Today is FINALLY the last day of my liquid diet! I am down 16.5 lbs. Doing great, and very ready to move forward!

June 29
I got to eat chicken tonight! AWESOME!! I was allowed 2 oz, but only needed to eat 1 oz and felt full! It was SO good though! Thank goodness the liquid diet is over!

June 30
Had my 2 week follow up appointment today. It went stellar! I am doing great, and now have my vitamins and a goal sheet. They predict I can loose 85lbs in 6months, and over 100 by a year out! I was kinda shocked, in a good way! Hope I can keep up with the goal sheet! Down 17.5lbs!

One week post op

I am one week out from my discharge from the hospital. My surgery was on the 15th, and I am doing well. My biggest challenge has been jealousy of people being able to eat food around me and not being able to partake myself. As far as being hungry goes, I really not very hungry at all. The small amounts that I do eat are enough to satisfy me. 

Today I officially graduate to being able to lay down flat again at night, and not use the spirometer for breathing exercises anymore. I am down 15 pounds from when I started the pre-op diet. It is still like throwing a chair off the Titanic, but it is an improvement for sure. I was finally cleared to add egg to my diet, and Greek yogurt. The Greek yogurt is way tart and I don't really like it. Having the egg was nice though.  

I can't wait, in just a few days I will be able to start adding more soft proteins like chicken to my diet and refried beans! I'm really looking forward to that. According to my diet schedule I can begin eating these foods on the 29th. My follow up appointment with the doctor is on the 30th.

Bye Bye!

Three days and counting

Today I am three days away from surgery. I am wondering if I should have a "Last Supper"? I've been staying active and following my diet very well. I don't know if I should go ahead and take advantage of a last opportunity, or if it will ruin my detox? I am conflicted.

I am remembering once again what it feels like to be hungry, and not just shove any random thing into your mouth to get rid of that feeling. It is really actually kind of bizzare are after not feeling it for so long. My stomach feels "clean", empty, "pure".

So what do I do? Do I continue down that path, or do I have a Last Supper? Of course I would go back to clean eating after, but what effect would it have? Really would it have any? Would it just ruin my progress for the day. Am I past the point of no return? It is easier to diet when you know it's not forever, but mine will be forever. What to do, what to do?

Diet and exercise suck

It has been four days of diet and increased activity. Sticking to as close to two protein shakes, and one lean protein meal per day as I can. I am freaking exhausted! Oh yeah, and a little cranky too!

Everybody knows that whoever said "a good diet and lots of exercise will make you feel good!" Is a damn liar! Somebody needs to tell you that at first it makes you feel like crap. In the middle of my preop week, and ready to be done with it. I'm ready for Monday to get here already. I know I have a lot more being tired, and other discomforts to put up with in the next few weeks, but at least hopefully I will not be hungry all the time!    Four days down four to go…

The Week Before

So, I am on day two of my pre-op diet, and so far it is going well. I have been able to stick to two protein shakes and a lean protein meal for the majority of my food intake. I lost a pound on my first weigh in this morning. As I stated on Facebook, "it is like a grain of sand off of a beach, but I'll take it!"

Thanks to my new Fitbit, I am much more aware of my food intake, and my activity level. (By the way I have a Fitbit Charge HR, and so does my husband. If you are trying to get fit, I HIGHLY recommend the investment!) This is going to be a very good thing. Obviously post surgery I will have weight loss, but in this week before it is really helping me stick to what I need to do to prepare my body. I have also been assigned breathing exercises, that feel very silly, but will be important. 

I had a sad moment Friday night when I had to say goodbye to my last pizza goldfish. Stupid as that may sound, that little snack has been a big part of my life for a while now. Snacking at night has been a bad habit for a long time. Those days are over! For the rest of my life snacking is taboo!

I am closing out the eve of June 7 tonight, and entering day number one of my one week count down. This time next week I will be going to bed getting ready to wake up very early to prep for surgery.

I've gathered all the things I need together for the surgery coming up at the end of the week and the days following my discharge from the hospital. In addition to what I call my "preop kit" I have also gotten a few articles of loose fitting clothing for my days of recovery. If all goes well I should be home Tuesday 6/16 in the afternoon. I will be sure to update this blog and Facebook as soon as I am up to it. Even from the hospital if I am allowed.

My Pre-op "Kit"

No one is trying to sugarcoat anything for me, The surgery is lapriscopic, and I will have four small incisions made in my stomach. The excess part of my stomach to be removed will be done so through my belly button. I know there will be uncomfortableness and the possibility of complications. Some of the medications perscribed are for nausea, gas, pain, and heartburn. Though I may or may not experience these symptoms, I must be prepared. Diarreah is also something to look forward to I'm sure. In the long run I feel it will all be worth it. That is what I am told also by the majority of people I've spoken to who have been through it. No one thus far has regretted it. Dr. Chaisson is one of the top surgeons in the world, and I am in the very best hands I could possibly hope for with this procedure.

My mother will be coming out to help, and my friends have volunteered to help if needed. It is very touching to know we have such kind friends. I have started a small local, online support group of a few women who are in different stages of their bariatric journeys. I hope to be able to help others some day when I am weeks, months, and years out from my sleeve procedure. I hope I am already helping some to understand the nature of taking on such a commitment.

I cannot wait to start loosing the weight and selling off all my "fat" clothes! Granted, I think my wardrobe is pretty fabulous, but it needs to be downsized in more than one way! I will not mourn the loss of items this time, nor will I try to hold onto them in case I need them in the future. One of my favorite mottos to major life events is "Do it once, do it right!" This applied to getting married, moving cross country, and having a baby. Now it applies to this.