6 Weeks Post Op - Better Late than Never

My post is later than normal and I forgot to take my measurements (I am telling you as if you didn't notice), but I did weigh and take pictures on time (Thursday). My weight loss is better this week than last, so for that I am happy. This has been a difficult week. Easter is a hard food holiday for me because of the candy. I LOVE Easter candy, and while it was hard I made it and so did my children's Easter candy (unscathed by me, which is huge). I have resisted the temptation to eat any of the candy, and it has been an extreme test to my will power, but up to this point I have done it, and I plan to continue to fight the good fight. Logically, I know I can have a piece of candy I also know I don't usually stop at one, maybe one bag, but never one piece. In my mind, eating that one piece is would be the slippery slope to failure for me, and I am not failing. So until I feel like I have some self-control, no candy for me.

When you have gastric sleeve surgery you should expect to be on prescription prilosec for a minimum of two months post surgery. Friday before Easter I took the last of my first month's prilosec prescription. So, Easter Sunday I did not have any prilosec to take. For the first time since before my surgery I had some wine at our family gathering on Easter Sunday. One itty bitty, tiny taste of wine was all I could take, it burned once it hit my stomach. I am certain this would not have been the case if I had taken my medicine. As soon as the pharmacy opened Monday morning I got my prescription refilled. I am just wondering, will two months of this medicine be enough? Will I ever be able to enjoy my favorite adult beverages again? Time will tell.

This past week my husband and I did a ton of yard work. I mowed, pulled weeds, cleared brush and cut trees from our fence line, planted grass seed, and treated our grass for weeds. I say "I" but really it was a joint effort between my husband and myself. It was a lot of work. It felt good to work in my yard, but I could feel it in my back and legs the next day. I can't wait till my schedule lightens up a bit so I can devote more time to my my yard.

This week I have had a good food week. I cooked my family spaghetti, I made myself an alternative meal. I strained some of the spaghetti sauce over rotisserie chicken breast. That way I still felt like I was eating what they were eating without the pasta and the pork. It was delicious, and is one of my new favorite things to eat. I have started to eat less yogurt and instead will eat more chicken, turkey, or tuna. I still get full really fast, but am really noticing my old appetite returning. I have said it before, I am not hungry, but unless my body is busy doing something I want to eat. So I have been trying to keep myself really busy. I am taking classes right now, and sitting down doing research and homework for my classes is when I most want to eat. So I have been trying to keep my mouth busy with gum. I have always loved gum, but on the days I chew gum I notice extreme bloating and gas issues. The gum helps me not eat when I shouldn't be, so friends & family buy a gas mask.

I am getting close to "one"-derland (if you don't know what this means, you've probably never been over two-hundred pounds). I know I will get there soon and am very excited. My family is going on vacation soon and I hope to be in "one"-derland by the time we go. So exercise and continuing my new food habits will be imperative to reaching this goal. I have to say I am a little disappointed though. I have lost about 32 pounds now and no one has really noticed (besides myself, husband, and kids). I thought when I went to my families Easter dinner someone would mention that I looked like I had lost weight, but no one said a word. I have family who we haven't seen for like 5 months, and they didn't notice. My friends, who I see infrequently, haven't noticed. So I have to wonder, have I been so fat that a 32 lb weight lost hasn't put a dent in my appearance? I can see a difference, my clothes are fitting very differently and I know that's all that really matters. This is something I am doing for myself and no one else, but let's face it, it's nice when your hard work is acknowledged by others.

5 Weeks Post Op- Disappointing Results

It was another great week, or so I thought until I got on the scale. After following the WLS dietary guidelines and consuming very little, just as I have done in previous weeks, I have only lost 1 pound this week. I am frustrated, but not defeated. Quit honestly, around 30 lbs of weight loss is usually where I plateau normally and fall back into bad habits. I am hopeful the WLS tool will help me push through this weight loss stall to continue to lose weight. So this next week I am going to try to step up my physical activity to offset whatever is going on in my body and try to have greater weight loss next week.

This past week I tried added a couple new items to my menu, rotisserie chicken and canned pineapple. I chopped up the chicken added a little light mayo to make a chicken salad type of mixture. I have been eating it for several days, it is pretty good and definitely smells better than tuna. I added a little pineapple to some cottage cheese, it is good, but not better than with grapes. Easter is one of my favorite holidays, mainly because of those damn mini robin eggs, marshmallow 3 musketeers and marshmallow bunnies. I LOVE Easter candy, so it's a particularly challenging food holiday for me. I got a whiff of a Reese's peanut butter cup today and I nearly lost control.

I am not sure if my metabolism is responding to the lack of calories, but I have been tired lately. I try to push through the sleepiness, and have only let a couple unimportant things fall through the cracks. This is a really busy time of year for me and I don't have time for sluggishness, so I hope whatever this is passes soon.

4 Weeks Post Op - Better Every Day

It's been another great week.  I have tried a few new foods and they have all been great.  I tried salmon again, it was the best salmon I have ever had.  My husband and I went to The Range restaurant at Harrah's Casino, and I reluctantly ordered the salmon.  One because it was expensive and I knew I would only have a few bites of it and I won't eat fish left over, and two the first time I tried salmon it didn't go down easy.  The salmon was moist and dressed in a slightly sweet white sauce, just thinking about it makes me want to eat it again.  This week I have also reintroduced grapes and cottage cheese....together!  They are really complimentary foods and delicious together.  This week my family also tried a new BBQ restaurant, Plowboys in Blue Springs.  It was amazing.  I ordered the BBQ chicken sandwich and have made several meals from my left overs (no bread, just the chicken).

We spent the night at Harrah's and Saturday morning my husband was in a hurry to leave (if you know my husband, this is probably shocking to hear he was in a hurry to leave a casino).  I knew I needed to eat and told him as much, but you know how whiney men can get.  So I didn't get to eat breakfast, in fact it wasn't until about 2:30pm that I ate for the first time that day, and I was sick.  I felt motion sick, the room was spinning, I couldn't keep my balance, and honestly I felt like I could pass out.  So I finally ate some soup and laid down for a while.  I felt this way for about four days after this happened.  I think skipping a meal caused my electrolytes or something to be off and today I am just feeling like I have it under control.  So if you have WLS, DON'T SKIP MEALS.

This past week I did something I haven't done in years.....I bought a size 14 pair of pants.  It feels great to be able to buy a size in regular stores, in their normal misses section again.  I know that size 14 is a stepping stone and I will be getting smaller so I am not going crazy with a new wardrobe.... yet.  I am also making good on the commitment to exercise.  I am parking about a 1/2 mile away from work now to get in more walking and today I walked 2.8 miles.  The weather was beautiful today and it felt good to get out again and walk.

As I shared with you before my husband is trying to diet and I am actively trying to sabotage his efforts.  This week I made him tacos and as I was getting ready to add the taco seasoning to his meat he looked at me and said, "Are't you going to drain the grease from the beef before you do that?"  Whaaat? Of course I was going to drain the grease....only because I got caught.  You bet your sweet cellulite if he hadn't been looking I would not have drained the grease and served it to him just the same.  And like the other recent meals I have neglected (accidentally of course) to drain the grease from he would have complimented me and said these are the best tacos you have ever made!  This time I didn't get a compliment, but he did come back for fourths.

3 Weeks Post Op - Mind Games Anyone?

This past week has been successful. I feel great; my energy level is as high as it was previously, maybe even higher.  I am noticing my clothes are loser and I feel like I can see a difference in my body.  I am excited that in a few weeks the first number in my weight will be a 1 and not a 2.  I am even more thrilled that this is the last time I will ever weigh this much.

I am following the prescribed diet. With each passing day it gets more difficult to do the right thing with the food I eat. I want to eat something carb loaded, any sweet bread or pastry item would do. I have to remind myself, I am not hungry, but I am having a battle with my mind over food. It seems with each passing day these mind games are increasing. I am also feeling a little grumpy; I think it's from a lack of sugar...like a withdrawal symptom. I am trying my hardest to not give in. I keep telling myself one more day and I will win this mind game and these struggles will dissipate.  So for the naysayers who think weight loss surgery is a weight loss miracle, you couldn't be more misinformed.  If you do not follow the recommended diet you will not lose weight.  If you graze on food all day, you will not lose weight.  I had weight loss surgery, but I am losing weight because I am changing my relationship with food and eating very differently.

I am finally not taking all the medication for the H. Pylori and it has been a relief. The last few days of choking down those 3 huge pills two times a day was about to get the best of me. This past week I did have some grilled salmon; I had some difficult eating it so I won't be attempting it again for a while. It seems the foods I eat have to be very moist in order for me to eat them comfortably.  Right now my diet mainly consists of soup, tuna with a little light mayo, yogurt, and oatmeal.  I am drinking about 1/2 a protein shake every couple days, which is good, but I should be doing it every day.  With the exception of shopping I haven't added any physical activity.  This week I am committed to start walking again.

I am looking forward to weighing less than my husband, in order to reach this goal faster I have been preparing all his favorite meals to sabotage his attempts at dieting.  I know, I know I am a terrible wife. I have made him very aware of my intentions; he can diet for a week and lose 10 lbs.  Is it so wrong this wife wants to be a less fat hot mess than her man?  I think not, and he will thank me for it in the long run.