7/14/09 158.2  -100.5 since surgery

I finally hit the century mark from surgery. :- )  Woohooo!
Still a few more to go but I’m very happy with where I am in mind and body.
I can do so many things that I couldn’t a year ago. 

B Protein shake with 1.5 scoops protein powder, Hood Calorie countdown milk
L Low carb cheese bread, liverwurst, swiss cheese, mayo YUM
S low carb brownie muffin (recipe below)
D Protein shake and Flax-z-snax Strawberry hot cereal with 3 walnuts
Water: 91 oz
Protein: 93g
Vitamins: calcium, multi, Iron, Vitamin D, Omega-3 with DHA, Dulcolax

Life is good!

Low Carb Cheese Bread Recipe:
1/3 C CarbQuik
1 T ground flaxseed
1/8 C shredded cheese
1 egg
1/8 tsp italian seasoning herbs
2 shakes garlic powder
1/8 C water

Mix well and put in a large bowl.
Nuke 80-90 seconds

Protein 8.7, Calories 130, Fat 9.4, Carbs 9.48, Fiber 8, Net Carbs 1.48

7/13/09 159.6

I blew through my surgiversary busy as a bee.  We’ve been out fishing a lot, playing with a ship plotting program, at a neighbor's, that shows where all ships over a certain size are, and dealing with hubby's medical issues.

After 2 months in the 160s I finally broke through to 159.6 today!  Woohooo!  I went back to basics and am able to exercise again.  It was a royal pain with my knee out so I’m happy to have it working again.
High:       330.0   -170.4
Consult:  282.8   -121.5
Surgery:  258.7   - 99.1

B Protein shake with 1.5 scoops protein powder, Hood Calorie countdown milk (Thank you Raley’s for carying Hood!  The chocolate is awesome)
L Shrimp, chream cheese and salsa
S low carb brownie muffin (recipe below)
D Protein shake and Flax-z-snax blueberry hot cereal
S 2 squares SF Guilain milk chocolate

Walked to the bluff and back for 2.05 miles.

My annual visit with Dr J is the 7/24.  I’m ready for that and anything else that comes my way.  I hope your journey is/has been as exciting and rewarding as mine. :-)

Brownie Muffin (2 servings)

1/4c almond meal
1 T ground flax seed
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 heaping tbsp pure cocoa powder
1/4c cream
2 T SF Davinci Caramel syrup

Mix dry ingredients.  Mix wet ingredients. Combine both in a large bowl.
Cover with plastic wrap, slit top, nuke for 86 seconds.
Protein 8.4, Calories 183, Fat 15, Carbs 7, Fiber 3.5, Net Carbs 3.55

4/19/09 177

We’re still in Virginia and I’m playing catch up with my journal.  We got to Vrginia the 9th, spent the day visiting with my folks then drove to my sister’s the 10th.  We shopped and talked and played Wii bowling, looked at her antique booth and went to Natural Bridge and caverns.  We had a great time and sampled many ethnic foods.  Somehow I managed to lose weight...maybe the Leslie Sansone Walk Away The Pounds 4 miles had somehting to do with that!  My sister and I did it every day. 

We drove back to my folks on 4/15, stopping at Lurray Caverns on the way.  I’ve forgotten how amazing it is there!  Absolutely stunning.  If you ever have a chance to go, don’t pass it up.

We’ve somehow managed to go through the days quickly and have 2 days left.  Mom and I are getting pedicures tomorrow, going though old photos and trying on clothes.  That’s my big WOW moment.  I fit into my mom’s clothes!  I never would have believed that would happen.  I’m taking several outfits home with me.  : - )  Thanks mom!

We fly back Wednesday and I have my 9 month post op with Dr. J.  It’s been a slow 3 months weight-wise.  I stalled out for 2 months and finally started down again just before we left for vacation.  Stressors took their toll but I’m back on track and eating more carbs.  I had a bout with low glucose levels that were causing my vision to blur.  After talking with Dr. J’s office I added some carbs and my weight started slowly coming off again. Yay!  I hve to tell you, anyone near SF should have their surgery done at LAPSF.  Dr. J is always available and supportive. 

I’m continuing to enjoy and learn chain maille.  I’m on my 5th pattern and and have orders for them.  Imagine that, having fun and making money doing it!  I’m hoping to take a class with spiderchain.com the end of this month.

On Friday, 4.15.09 we went to a Concert at Music Center At Strathmore and heard the Tokyo String Quartet + Lynn Harrell
Hayden: String Quartet in G Opus 76 No 1
Beethoven: String Quartet in C minor Opus 18 No 4
Shubert string Quintet in C Major Opus 163 Deutsch No 956

On Sunday we went to the Patriot Center in Fairfax and saw Ringling Brothers & Barnum Bailey Circus.  I forgot my camera but asked someone in front of me to send me copies of their’s.  They did!  

It was a good trip and I lost 5 lbs.

4/24/09  174.4

I had my 9 month post op with Dr. J today.  We’re both happy with my progress even though it’s a little slow.  We settled on 145ish as a target weight.  I may not make it by my surgiversary, but that’s ok with me.  I’m content where I am so the rest is gravy.

4/25/09 174 I’ve reached overweight status!  I’m no longer obese.  Woohoooo!
It’s been a long haul but I finally made it.  Not far to go now. 

Today I am no longer Obese, I'm merely overweight!!
calcium  2 hours before or after iron
multi
b-12 5ml/1 tsp
green tea
Whey protein powder, choc, Jay Robb's, SF Hazelnut DaVinci, BSN Cinnamon Protein Powder, skim milk, heated
run 10 minutes  ped = 2529
blueberry water
iron
Omega-3 with DHA Rhino Gummy, 100mg
blueberry water
run 10 min ped = 4337
Lunch: chili Con Carne 1/3 C
Vit D
2 SF Coastal Bay Coffee Flavored Hard Candy  French Vanilla
Power Crunch Bar Tripple Chocolate, ½ bar
multi
calcium
4 Dulcolax
run 10 min  ped = 6887
Omega-3 with DHA Rhino Gummy, 100mg
run 10 min  ped = 8323
blueberry water
Whey protein powder, choc, Jay Robb's,  BSN Cinnamon Protein Powder, skim milk
10 min run  ped = 10,043

Daily Totals:
calcium
Total water should be  weight * .55Steps = 10,223  cstep = 8174  kcal = 280  miles = 3.23
Water 111 oz
Protein 90.5g
Calories 756.5
fat 19.5g
Sat Fat 9.5g
Carbs 57

4/26/09 173.4
We’re cleaning and packing the RV for the next part of our journey.  Lookout bats, here we come!  We’re also heading for South Dakota for lots of tourism and visiting friends in Nebraska and Missouri.  We leave Wednesday. 

Drum roll please!  I finally made it to 170's!  woo hooooooo!  Turns out my glucose was too low!  I have permission to add carbs. LOL  I did and the weight started dropping again.  Who knew?!?  I've lost 5 lbs in 8 days.

I can't believe it's been so long since my last update.  We've been busy with the Coast Guard and did a county wide emergency drill with our ham radios, relaying messages from the medical center to the county emergency operations center.  We have another drill in July trying to get everyone prepared in case of an emergency. 

We did our first racewalk race and Chris took the bronze in his age group.  We continue to enjoy racewalking.  I did a PR but I'm still pretty slow compared to others.  At least I didn't come in last this time.

I’ve been having fun learning chain maille.  I’ve even had someone request a bracelet in gold.  I’m ordering the links tomorrow to be delivered to my folks so they’ll be there when we get there. 

I’ve also been planning our trip in the RV.  We’re heading for Tombstone, AZ to have a new photo done (hopefully in the same costume as my original one here) then to Carlsbad Caverns to see the bats flying out of the caves at night (I’ve always wanted to see that).  We’ll head north east to Kansas and Nebraska to see friends then on to South Dakots to see Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse monument, a wild mustang ranch, a mammoth dig, Toadstool Park in the badlands (where rocks look like mushrooms from erosion), Fort Robinson Park to see buffalo, then wind our way home.

Have a great spring!  I probably won’t have internet very often until June.

into the future.  -Steve Miller Band "Fly Like An Eagle"
Life keeps taking over and keeping me away from the computer so here are a couple updates.

1/29/09 186.7

Daily Topic:
What is the one book (or website) that has helped you the most with life after WLS?

My Response:
One will never do.  It depends on what kind of information I'm seeking.  Happy Reading.
The Beck Diet Solution
The Success Habits Of Weight Loss Surgery Patients
Recipes for Life After Weight-Loss Surgery  by Margaret Furtado
The Emotional First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery
    by Cynthia L. Alexander
Exodus from Obesity: The Guide to Long-Term Success After Weight Loss Surgery
    by Paula F. Peck
Before And After: Living and Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery
    by Susan Maria Leach
Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery  by Pat Levine

Websites:
www.sparkpeople.com
www.obesityhelp.com
http://www.thinnerself.com/files/calculator.htm
www.thinnertimes.com
www.lifebeforeandafterwls.com
www.bariatriceating.com WLS products, protein, and vitamins. 
www.webmd.com/diet/weight-loss-surgery/gastric-bypass Web Med
www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass/HQ01465
http://www.theschedule.com
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/recipe/
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/
http://livingafterwls.blogspot.com
http://lowcarbeating.com
http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
http://www.lowcarbfriends.com
http://cleochatra.blogspot.com
http://lovinlifewithlea.blogspot.com
www.cookinglight.com
http://www.controlledcarbgourmet.com
http://www.nashuanutrition.com
http://www.skinnierandsaner.blogspot.com
www.netrition.com
wlsrecipe4life.com
http://www.jayrobb.com/products.asp#
http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/resistance-band-exercises.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC9jkkEjlLI'
www.bulkfoods.com
http://features.prevention.com/walking/calendar
http://www.jerkysupermarket.com
http://www.spanalaskasales.com/shop/basic-cvegetables.html
http://www.changeofpace.com
http://www.beachjumps.com/
http://www.justadrop.net/productpage1.html
http://www.aubergines.org


2/1/09 186.0

Daily Topic:
Do you still "dump", and if so, do you know the triggers? How far out are you?
My Response:
I've dumped 3 times and all 3 had nothing to do with food.

The first 2 times I took my Dulcolax at the same time as my Tylenol PM.  Big mistake.  Nausea, heart palpitations, sweating, the pain in my stomach was so bad, DH though we'd have to go to the emergency room.  Anxiety?  Through the roof. I sat in the bathroom for 35 minutes wishing I could throw up or SOMETHING.  I curled up in a ball and once my stomach quit hurting I fell asleep.   The second night I was just testing to see if that's what caused the dumping.  Yep, exact same symptoms.  All I could think is the pills took up too much room in my pouch.  I switched back to taking my Dulcolax in the afternoon.

The third time I was looking for a cheaper way to take my calcium. HA!  I took 2 Citracal Calcium Citrate caplets.  I had the same symptoms without the stomach pain, but in place of that, I threw up.  Delightful!  Needless to say, I'm back to taking my more expensive chewables.

So far I haven't had a problem with food.  But I'm so militant with myself I've only tried two candies.  One was used for diabetics after WWII because of it's low carb/higher protein aspects.  Niederegger Martzipan.  I got 3 bars at Cost Plus World Market over Christmas and had 1/3 bar each day. (It's something my grandmother used to send every Christmas.)  I counted it as part of my calories/carb/protein for the day and I didn't have a bad reaction.  The other is Guylian belgian No SUgar Added chocolate.  They use Malitol and so long as I don't have much, I don't get the gassy/runny stomach issues.  They'r eboth expensive so I'm not tempted to buy it often.

New food to try:
Tofu Fingers from SparkPeople.  Their’s was a little plain so I used a premarinated version of tofu.
I had some pete's2go Sesame Ginger tofu in the refrigerator and tried it with and without almond flour coating. They're equally good! I liked the crispier ones better so I baked the second batch longer. I sliced them 1/4 " and baked them 20-30 minutes, turning half way through. These are so good!

Exercise: 30 minutes running on the rebounder
Weight lifting: Bench Press 12lbs 12 reps, Rowing 10 lbs 10 reps, Shoulder Press 12 lbs 10 reps, Squats 12 lbs 10 reps, Dead Lift 12 lbs 10 reps, Tricep Extension 15 lbs 12 reps, Bicep Curls 12 lbs 10