I had my 1 month post-op visit this past Friday. I was down 26 pounds since surgery, and almost 50 pounds since my first blog entry in March!!  I feel pretty good, and have not had any complications.(knock on wood)  They drew blood for my first labs-who knew they needed so much??!! 10 vials!! Hoping to get some results by Friday.

I started eating fish, as my diet allows, on Saturday.  I went to the Cracker Barrel, where I got the haddock dinner with green beans. It had a cornmeal/flour dusting on it, and was grilled. I picked off the "dusting", and ate about a 1/4 of the fish, and a few green beans. It was very good, and sooooo different than when I used to go into the Cracker Barrel, and eat everything on my plate and a salad, biscuits with jelly and anything else I could get my hands on!! I did bring home the leftovers, and have eaten about a 1/4 more of the fish! LOL! I am guessing the dogs will be eating the rest of the fish...I am ready to grill my own!! 

I have been kind of scared to try new foods as they come up on my diet...but, after having the fish, I feel a little more daring! Not so daring that I want to mess up, tho! My husband and kids brought home a funnel cake for me, last night, from the county fair.  I could see the excitement in my little ones eyes, but, said you know, I would be so much happier if you all ate it for me!! They were thrilled, and with it split 3 ways, it didn't last long!   

I haven't been hungry, until recently. I am not sure whether it is head hunger, or real hunger. Probably a combination of both. I recently dropped one of my shakes from my diet, as I am eating enough protein to cover at least one of my shakes. Besides, have I told you how gross the shakes are to me??!  I am wondering, tho, if my hunger is from the absence of the 3rd shake?  I may take a day or two and test the waters, and add the shake back in...see how I feel.  

I still struggle getting everything in. The day I went to the doctor, I was gone all day...unprepared, and simply was unable to catch up with all my pills, water, shakes and food! It was a sucky day for me-as I am pretty good at getting in all my water, vitamins, and protein!! Was a little dizzy and weary that evening.  Lesson learned to be more prepared!! 

All in all, I think I had a good first month! My personal goal was to lose 25 pounds, and I exceded that by one pound!!  Excited to see what this next month brings, and excited to up my exercise!! 

So, today at church, the people noticed that I had lost weight! I even had one lady call me a movie star-LOL!! Soooo not a movie star!!! Hee hee!! But, it felt good to finally be noticed! I have been dieting and making food changes since March when I thought I would be having surgery in May! I was losing weight then...just not enough for others to see!

My hubby came home from the hospital, and his sleeve surgery, yesterday. He is doing well, but, he says he is hungry. I think it must be head hunger-and visual wanting of foods that look good!!  I have not been hungry...which thrills me to death! I have no idea if this is good, or not...normal, or not. But, I will certainly not complain!  

I am trying to eat more-like I was eating soup once a day, and the rest was just protein shakes. Am I suppose to be eating once, twice or three times a day?! I guess I need to talk with my nut!! Besides,  I sort of stink at eating my shakes...early on I drank the bullet proteins-which appear to be quite the punch when it comes to protein. But, I just can't stand the taste!! Could they be any sweeter?  Anyways...as I have written before-I am sold on on only one shake-Nectar's chocolate truffle. I like it with skim milk, or water.  I  have been struggling to get 3 of them in-plus all the water! I do my best, and some days do great! I am hoping to get approval for exercise soon, so I can get back to my couch to 5k training for a 5k in September! Don't get me wrong-I have been walking, but, just not enough! Oh, and my pool is screaming my name!!! 

So, overall I feel so much better than the first week after surgery...it really has gotten better! My husband has the same "what did i do to myself" look that I had the first week...but, the weight has just been dropping off us both.  It was fun seeing my surgeon and the same nurses that treated me in the hospital, treating him. They all said I was doing great, and looked good!  One morning I was getting dressed to go see my husband in the hospital, and I had to dig out some "too small" capris that I had put back! It was a great feeling, as they slipped right on, and easily buttoned without me tucking in all my extra puff! I floated in on a cloud that day! I just hope that me and my pouch can be the best of friends!!

Today, I woke up and my incisions were madly itching!! I thought I would pass out as I gently rubbed each and every one of them!! The bariatric nurse told me that I must be having a reaction to the surgical tape used on them! UGH!! I just got back from picking up some anti-itch cream. 

I had my first doctor's appt today at 9:00am.  I lost 12 pounds my first week!!  I was such a good girl-didn't weigh myself all week!! I followed all the rules, and somehow managed to get down my 70 grams of protein every day!

I will admit...right after leaving the hospital, it was a breeze-for 2 days.(Probably the comfort from my narcotics) I had some of the little protein bullets and a few shakes. Day 6 got me, though. I woke up a new person...everything tasted NASTY!! Protein, shmoteen! YUCK! So, here is where all my pre ordered samples came in! I had one protein that I ate at noon, and the first thing I tasted the next morning was the nasty smelling protein flavor-a bit like baby spit up!! I will admit...I don't like the majority of them, but, I only need one! So, I am currently drinking Nectar's Chocolate Truffle! Tastes a bit like watered down chocolate milk-mmmmm.... I can handle this! 

I have a touch of diarrhea-totally normal and expected. I was just happy that at Day 4 I was able to go! I was panicked that I would be constipated!! I would much rather have diarrhea than constipation, any day!!   Anyway, I can look forward to the constipation once I add in solid food, according to my nurse.

I guess I can say that I am doing good... I just want to write all this down, so that I can remember how I felt!!  It is a one day at a time process-something that I am quickly learning! Every day is a new day, and I have to start over each day! I can't imagine being a month out, 6 months out, or even a year out! I have no idea where my weight will be in a month, 6 months, or a year out! I am excited, and scared! I look forward to this journey, and I am headed to my place on the loser's bench! Yay, me!  

If you are reading this, may your journey be amazing and awesome! Let's get to "onederland" and beyond!  

~Sabra

 and feeling so/so. I am guessing if I hadn't had to have a band removed, I would have been bouncing off the walls feeling great!

Most my soreness comes from the incision that they removed the band from. My incisions are itchy, which I assume means they are healing. I don't scratch them-just gently rub over them.

I was happy they removed the OnQ pump and drain, as they were so bulky!  Those incisions look pretty good. I go this Friday for my first check up, so I will get confirmation on that.

I have no trouble getting in my protein-I have the little bullets, and shakes that I have been weeding through. I am picky about shake flavors, and usually go with the basic flavors-chocolate, vanilla bean torte, and the Nectar's cappuccino. I am not big on fruity flavored shakes!

I still feel quite puffy-hoping that I can get some of this off before Friday, as I don't really think I have lost any weight. It would make a girl feel good if I had lost a few pounds...   Still working out the anesthesia...started some gas x strips. 
I walked, walked, walked in the hospital, and started a walking schedule up and down my driveway(with a slight incline) about 15 times a day after  I got home.  Called the nurse cause my calve was hurting, and I was worried about a blood clot. She said that I was walking far to much for someone who hadn't really been walking that much before surgery. I am keeping an eye on it, and will call her again tomorrow if it doesn't calm down.

I have discovered that cold beverages just don't do it for me anymore...prefer room temperatures...funny considering I used to crave ice! 

Oh, well, just wanted to post a little update, so I can remember what I was doing in the beginning, and how I was feeling! 

Hope anyone who reads or sees it is doing well!