Today it has been 6 weeks since my RNY and my scale says I have lost 40 pounds. The other weights were all from professional scales at the doctor's office, but I am guessing this is pretty close. I am not eating or drinking nearly enough, which is actually a bad thing, but the flu made it almost impossible to do either. I am feeling better today than I have in the past couple of weeks, so hopefully that is almost gone and I can get back to some semblance of normalcy...whatever that is.
Hope everyone has a great day today and enjoys the wonderful cold. :)
~k
Ticker Factory weight loss ticker
Monday, December 13, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
One month postop and feeling great :)
I am feeling great and eating a full diet now, basically whatever I choose. So far, so good. As of this morning, I am down 31 pounds since surgery and feeling pretty good about that. I have a ton to go, but I'm not in a hurry. I'm still having some difficulty getting in all the protein and remembering all the vitamins, but I'm doing the best I can. I go for my first lab test in about 3 weeks, so that will be the real measuring stick. I have read and heard the horror stories of people who don't take their vitamins or get in their protein and I don't want to be one of them. Some malabsorption cannot be avoided; it's simply the nature of the beast. I just have to do my best to be sure I don't end up on the "bad" side of this particular beast.
Another thing I can hardly believe...it's all becoming real to me that my baby will start college next fall. I couldn't be more thrilled that he's going to my alma mater, I just cannot believe he's that old. Where has the time gone?? He's retaking the ACT next Saturday, trying to achieve a 33 or 34 so that he can up the scholarships (hopefully). Then we begin filling out FAFSA, grant and scholarship applications, making housing decisions, et cetera ad nauseam. And we haven't even done his senior pictures yet. Yikes. But one thing I know for certain. I will be at the doors to the Mabee Center at 5 p.m. on the day he graduates. I don't need to learn that lesson twice! The only way to get a seat so that you can actually see your child without binoculars is to get there when the doors open and make a mad run for it. I'm ready!!! Just not ready for him to graduate...
*sigh*
Monday, November 22, 2010
I wanna drink! AND during a meal!
Maybe I just drink more liquid with my meals than others. I don't know. But it is just bizarre and wrong to not be able to take a sip of something while I'm eating. I am sitting here now, having my pseudo-lunch thing, and I have to physically restrain myself from picking up the water bottle beside me and taking a swig after every few bites. It's usually safer for me to just not have a drink on the table at all while I am eating. I understand the reasoning behind this rule, but I don't have to like it. I would challenge anyone to try this at their next meal. Every time you reach for your glass of water/pop/tea/whatever, stop and tell yourself NO. Then when you are finished eating, set a timer and don't let yourself have a drink for another 30 minutes. Maybe it's just me, but this type of thing seems cruel and unusual punishment when I am supposed to drink 64 ounces of liquid a day and then can't have it when I want it most!
But it's a fairly good day protein-wise for me because I just finished 35 grams, half my requirement for the day, and I've still got about 8 hours to fit in the rest. Yesterday I felt bad all day and just couldn't force the food or drink down. As long as I can keep those bad days to a minimum, everything will be okay. Now if I can just remember all the vitamins...
~k
But it's a fairly good day protein-wise for me because I just finished 35 grams, half my requirement for the day, and I've still got about 8 hours to fit in the rest. Yesterday I felt bad all day and just couldn't force the food or drink down. As long as I can keep those bad days to a minimum, everything will be okay. Now if I can just remember all the vitamins...
~k
Friday, November 19, 2010
first postoperative check-in with Dr. G.
First time on a scale since before surgery and I'm down 25 pounds. Hooray! If I weren't feeling so tired today, I would be even more excited. I don't know why, but I just cannot seem to get the fog to clear from my brain this afternoon. The nurse at Dr. G's office told me it's probably because I am having trouble getting in all my protein, and she may be right. But I did manage to get at least 65 grams in on Wednesday and Thursday, so I'm getting better. I must admit that it is MUCH more difficult than I ever imagined. I have almost decided that the people who do manage to get in all their protein and all their water must not sleep at night. Using the full 24 hours is about the only way I can figure they are doing it. The pouch only holds a tiny amount and it takes a long time to eat. So there's no time or room for anything but protein. Since we aren't allowed to drink anything at all from 30 minutes before a meal until 30 minutes after, you can see how getting 64 ounces of fluids in a day gets to be a little tricky.
Ah well, I am not complaining. I will work through it and do my best, just like the hundreds of thousands of other people before me. I have been extremely fortunate, indeed, as I have had no complications whatsoever thus far and I feel really great most of the time. No trouble with any foods I've tried, no feelings of nausea or unease in the GI tract, no unexpected pain, nada.
So yeah, I'm pretty pleased with 25 pounds in 22 days. The loss won't stay at such a high rate for long, nor do I want it to. If there's only one lesson I've learned in my 20 years of struggle with weight fluctuation it is that the faster you lose it, the faster you find it again. I know that with a pouch so small, my chances are much improved this time around...but still, I'd rather lose it slowly.
Thanks so much to my friends and family for your thoughts and prayers. I know God heard you and I am thankful He has made this such a breeze thus far. I will remember you in my prayers, too, and my thanks to God for you and your faith and friendship.
Love to you all :)
Ah well, I am not complaining. I will work through it and do my best, just like the hundreds of thousands of other people before me. I have been extremely fortunate, indeed, as I have had no complications whatsoever thus far and I feel really great most of the time. No trouble with any foods I've tried, no feelings of nausea or unease in the GI tract, no unexpected pain, nada.
So yeah, I'm pretty pleased with 25 pounds in 22 days. The loss won't stay at such a high rate for long, nor do I want it to. If there's only one lesson I've learned in my 20 years of struggle with weight fluctuation it is that the faster you lose it, the faster you find it again. I know that with a pouch so small, my chances are much improved this time around...but still, I'd rather lose it slowly.
Thanks so much to my friends and family for your thoughts and prayers. I know God heard you and I am thankful He has made this such a breeze thus far. I will remember you in my prayers, too, and my thanks to God for you and your faith and friendship.
Love to you all :)
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
finally got around to writing my review for Carnival Cruise Lines...
I finally went to Carnival.com and submitted my comment/opinion about our recent cruise (October 17 - 24, Carnival Conquest, out of Galveston).
My family and I sailed on the Carnival Conquest out of Galveston, October 17-24, 2010. This was our fourth or fifth Carnival cruise and it was absolutely our last. From the very first contact we had at the terminal until we departed the ship back at Galveston, this was the worst cruise experience of our lives. The terminal agent could not be bothered to smile even one time at us, and basically mumbled at me so that I had to ask her to repeat every single question. Not only was she not friendly, she was slow. She also screwed up our booking so that Carnival was convinced we had 3 Spencer Coleses traveling with us. Our balcony suite was directly above a bar where a tone-deaf band played every evening at approximately 1000 decibels. When we asked to be moved or at least have the band turn it down a bit, we were basically told "too bad". We could not converse in our suite, it was that loud. The paintings on the walls shook and the bass caused the entire room to tremble. It was beyond ridiculous. The fact that any cruise professionals would put any human being in that room speaks volumes for that cruise line's care of their customers. Every employee on that ship, with the exception of our room steward and our waiter, was so rude that it was nearly not believable. They could not smile to save their lives, and if they needed something from a buffet line, they simply elbowed their way in and over you without a single word of apology or even an "excuse me". I could complain about the food being sub par, but that pales in comparison to every other experience on that ship. Our last Carnival cruise before this one was years ago and we swore then, NEVER AGAIN. But, as usual, you offered something extremely cheap and we, like fools, jumped at the chance for a balcony room. Our entire vacation was ruined and it was completely miserable as we could not even converse in our own suite. We also had the privilege of having neighbors who believed that since they got up at 7 a.m. each morning, everyone should get up at that time. They turned on their stereo as loud as they pleased AND opened their stateroom door every morning so that everyone could enjoy it with them. But that was nothing more than anything we should have expected, since the entire ship was filled with absolutely the most inconsiderate, rude and low-class people we have ever seen. But you get what you pay for, and that's exactly the clientele that you attract. We will be absolutely certain to go with any other cruise line in future, as long as it is not owned by or called Carnival. It was the biggest waste of money of our lives and we basically had 10 days stolen from us that we could have spent doing anything else. And ANYTHING else would have been better. You are the cheapest and it's obvious you don't pay your employees anything or they would care more about keeping customers happy. But when you are the cheapest cruise line, this is to be expected. With our experience, Carnival should have paid us, not the other way around.
So thank you again for taking thousands from me and ensuring that the last cruise we would probably get to take with our parents and our children all together was a complete disaster.
My family and I sailed on the Carnival Conquest out of Galveston, October 17-24, 2010. This was our fourth or fifth Carnival cruise and it was absolutely our last. From the very first contact we had at the terminal until we departed the ship back at Galveston, this was the worst cruise experience of our lives. The terminal agent could not be bothered to smile even one time at us, and basically mumbled at me so that I had to ask her to repeat every single question. Not only was she not friendly, she was slow. She also screwed up our booking so that Carnival was convinced we had 3 Spencer Coleses traveling with us. Our balcony suite was directly above a bar where a tone-deaf band played every evening at approximately 1000 decibels. When we asked to be moved or at least have the band turn it down a bit, we were basically told "too bad". We could not converse in our suite, it was that loud. The paintings on the walls shook and the bass caused the entire room to tremble. It was beyond ridiculous. The fact that any cruise professionals would put any human being in that room speaks volumes for that cruise line's care of their customers. Every employee on that ship, with the exception of our room steward and our waiter, was so rude that it was nearly not believable. They could not smile to save their lives, and if they needed something from a buffet line, they simply elbowed their way in and over you without a single word of apology or even an "excuse me". I could complain about the food being sub par, but that pales in comparison to every other experience on that ship. Our last Carnival cruise before this one was years ago and we swore then, NEVER AGAIN. But, as usual, you offered something extremely cheap and we, like fools, jumped at the chance for a balcony room. Our entire vacation was ruined and it was completely miserable as we could not even converse in our own suite. We also had the privilege of having neighbors who believed that since they got up at 7 a.m. each morning, everyone should get up at that time. They turned on their stereo as loud as they pleased AND opened their stateroom door every morning so that everyone could enjoy it with them. But that was nothing more than anything we should have expected, since the entire ship was filled with absolutely the most inconsiderate, rude and low-class people we have ever seen. But you get what you pay for, and that's exactly the clientele that you attract. We will be absolutely certain to go with any other cruise line in future, as long as it is not owned by or called Carnival. It was the biggest waste of money of our lives and we basically had 10 days stolen from us that we could have spent doing anything else. And ANYTHING else would have been better. You are the cheapest and it's obvious you don't pay your employees anything or they would care more about keeping customers happy. But when you are the cheapest cruise line, this is to be expected. With our experience, Carnival should have paid us, not the other way around.
So thank you again for taking thousands from me and ensuring that the last cruise we would probably get to take with our parents and our children all together was a complete disaster.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Chloe and I reunited :)
John also found me a new Snapple flavor at QT and it is awesome! It's called Noni Berry Refresh (no calories, 2 carbs) and my favorite drink on the planet at the moment. Oh, and he also brought home Pei Wei Wonton soup (strained all the stuff out of it, of course) and I thought I went to heaven. Something that was almost real food!!!!
Chloe, wonton soup and Snapple. Good day.
~k
Sunday, November 7, 2010
looking forward to cottage cheese!!!
Yes, that's what I said. COTTAGE CHEESE!! Beginning exactly 2 weeks after surgery, I finally get to try some solid food. I've been on liquids since 4 days prior to surgery, which makes it about day 11 now, and I'm ready to try chewing something. Anything. John had a cheeseburger last night while running errands and he smelled so good when he got home that I actually licked his hand. I won't even tell you what he said after that about his future food endeavors relating to his anatomy, but suffice it to say that I giggled until I had to smack him upside the head because laughing hurts.
One of my favorite meals just happens to be cottage cheese and applesauce together. I am praying my tastes haven't changed so much that I won't like it anymore because it will be really disappointing after all the drooling I'm going to be doing this week while counting down to next Monday. I can also have sugar-free pudding, which I am thrilled about because I can put my protein powders in those and be able to avoid at least a few shakes here and there.
But protein shakes and vitamins will be part of my life until I die. There is no negotiation on this point; my life and health depend upon it. Having done Medifast and lost nearly all my hair a few years ago, it is a lesson I need not learn again. Quit taking protein powder/shakes (70 grams per day) and hair loss will be just the beginning of one's problems after WLS. Right now my vitamins are roughly the size of tennis balls and take me forever to get through, but I am hoping I can find some liquid type in future.
But back to the cottage cheese. I am literally drooling over it at this moment. John said he would make me some beef broth for lunch, but he's into some game now and I'm obviously going to have to pretend to get out of bed so he will freak out and go do it. I try to tell him I am supposed to be up and moving every hour, as much as I can tolerate, but he still hates for me to get up for any reason. I finally talked him into helping me shower this morning and that was about all he could handle for stress. I must admit, though, I am still so weak (I can only assume from lack of food) that the shower was absolutely exhausting and I am still recovering from it. But the important thing is that I now smell good again. And while we're on the TMI front, I really, desperately need to shave my legs but John absolutely freaks out if I mention it and he forbids it. Since he is still giving me Lovenox (blood thinner) injections in my belly every morning, I really don't want to be cut because I'm not sure I would stop bleeding at this point. So I have really hairy legs. And I don't care for it much.
Enough information for ya?? :)
~k
One of my favorite meals just happens to be cottage cheese and applesauce together. I am praying my tastes haven't changed so much that I won't like it anymore because it will be really disappointing after all the drooling I'm going to be doing this week while counting down to next Monday. I can also have sugar-free pudding, which I am thrilled about because I can put my protein powders in those and be able to avoid at least a few shakes here and there.
But protein shakes and vitamins will be part of my life until I die. There is no negotiation on this point; my life and health depend upon it. Having done Medifast and lost nearly all my hair a few years ago, it is a lesson I need not learn again. Quit taking protein powder/shakes (70 grams per day) and hair loss will be just the beginning of one's problems after WLS. Right now my vitamins are roughly the size of tennis balls and take me forever to get through, but I am hoping I can find some liquid type in future.
But back to the cottage cheese. I am literally drooling over it at this moment. John said he would make me some beef broth for lunch, but he's into some game now and I'm obviously going to have to pretend to get out of bed so he will freak out and go do it. I try to tell him I am supposed to be up and moving every hour, as much as I can tolerate, but he still hates for me to get up for any reason. I finally talked him into helping me shower this morning and that was about all he could handle for stress. I must admit, though, I am still so weak (I can only assume from lack of food) that the shower was absolutely exhausting and I am still recovering from it. But the important thing is that I now smell good again. And while we're on the TMI front, I really, desperately need to shave my legs but John absolutely freaks out if I mention it and he forbids it. Since he is still giving me Lovenox (blood thinner) injections in my belly every morning, I really don't want to be cut because I'm not sure I would stop bleeding at this point. So I have really hairy legs. And I don't care for it much.
Enough information for ya?? :)
~k
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