40 lbs and still losing

There has been a lot of learning. Leaning how much to eat, learning how much to drink. learning that I can't eat breakfast and quickly drive to work. It's a very nauseating drive. So far I have had one bladder infection and leg cramps. The infection was due to not drinking enough, and the leg cramps are because my range of motion is changing quite a bit. The more weight I lose, the more I'm moving and my legs aren't use to it, let's say that's a good side effect. I've lost 40 lbs so far and am motivated to keep going and not stop until I'm at my goal. You know I never made a goal, I've been so use to not reaching a goal, I never even made one. well here and now I have made one. My goal is 125 lbs.

Starting weight 215

weight today 175

that's 40 down and 50 to go.

Getting Strength Back

It's been a wonderful week. I downloaded a podcast called from the Couch to a 5K in 9 weeks and headed out the door. It's starts off with a brisk walk, and from there you alternate between running for 60 seconds, and walking for 90 seconds you do this 8 times throughout the first day, and you continue it three times the first week, before going to Week two. Well I did pretty good for being 2 weeks post op however it took me 2 hours to recover. So, I had a little inspiration, and I am creating my own podcast called from the couch to a 2.5K in 9 weeks for Bariatric patients. It should be completed in 8 more weeks and I'll be posting it for all to use. I'm ready to go back to work. I don't know how people stay at home all day (unless they have kids) I'm so going stir crazy.

today is 3 weeks post op and here is my weigh in

starting weight 214

today weight 186

I decided not to join the gym yet. mostly due to knowing I won't use it and I don't want to waste our money, so for now running/walking will have to do... Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. Talk to you all next week.

Ready to Start Living

I went to the doctor's yesterday for my two week post op appointment and it was a great appointment. I am recovering very well and was given approval to start working out. (not just walking) I still can't lift anything for another two weeks, but I can do everything else. Now I need to figure out if i want to join a gym, or work out at home. Decisions, decisions. well here is the official weigh in I know you have all been waiting for.

Prior to Surgery 215lbs

2 weeks after surgery 190

I also got promoted to Stage III foods yesterday which means I can eat pretty much everything except beef, that will take another 6-8 weeks.

I would love you hear some of your exercise idea's you can email me a vestalmt@vzw.blackberry.net

I look forward to reading your responses. Update on sleep, i'm sleeping!

Two days until first weigh in.

I have survived the weekend in fact I actually left the house with my husband this weekend and went to the Tomato festival. I was able to walk around and it felt great. I have two days until my 2 week post op appointment and can't wait. I've been getting ready for my next stage of food with such anticipation. I've also been cooking dinner for my husband then sneaking a lick of the sauce I cooked for him just to get a taste of flavor. I'm getting a lot more energy and can't wait to start getting out daily. I still get light headed on occasion but mostly when I stand too fast. My incisions are healing wonderfully and itching like crazy. My husband has noticed the weight loss on me. He's never noticed a weight loss before and I was touched that he mentioned it to me. He's been wonderful through this whole thing. I remember being afraid of the aftermath of surgery more than the actual surgery. I think it was the feeling of being deprived of eating what he eats. You know, I haven't felt that way at all. Only that I could eat something other than what I can eat. well in two days, I'll be able to.

The Surgeon

The surgeon was busy at the moment and I was finished talking to the doctor, so I was asked to go downstairs to get a chest x-ray and EKG and when I was done, come back up and by then the surgeon would be ready to see me. Mike says to me, “Honey, it looks like they have you on the fast track” I was still fixated on having a baby, or even the idea of being able to have one. We’ve tried several times in the past. And I looked at him and said. “We could have a baby” He just smiled at me. When I was done getting my chest x-ray and EKG, I headed back upstairs. The Surgeon walked into the room and asked me if I was ready to have surgery tomorrow. I am not kidding I about fell out of the chair, the gasp and my loud NO, was all it took for him to start laughing. Whew, I thought, he was joking. But no he wasn’t. Yes he was about the tomorrow comment, but not about having it very soon. He talked about the gastric sleeve and what it would entail, and commented on my weight loss in 4 weeks. He then asked my husband if he could use him to teach other people how to eat, since my husband was the one that did all the cooking for me. They both laughed but I’m still in Shock. He asked me if I was ready for August 4^th. I told him no that I would need to go home and think about it, Talk to my friends and family and most important pray about it, he was very understanding.

My Journey began

Day one began and I felt on top of the world, I thought, this is it, I’m going to have a doctor monitor my weight loss and tell me what I’m doing wrong/right. I went shopping and filled my cupboards with all the food I was allowed to have and cleared out things I couldn’t have, oh and the no drinking with meals, I would love to say that was the easy part but actually, that was the hardest part for me. Every diet I’ve ever been on said drink lots with your meals so you get full on water, what they don’t tell you is that water goes out of your stomach before food, and then you feel hungry again sooner because you weren’t able to get that much food in with all the water. I can honestly tell you it took me two weeks to get this right. I didn’t just stop drinking with meals, I weaned myself off, by getting a smaller cup each time and then spreading out the timeframe I would wait to drink, 15 minutes after I ate, then 30, 45 until I finally reached that hour. Now the only problem I have is remembering to drink starting that hour after I eat and drink lots in between meals.