Erinn W.

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I weighed this morning and am at 178.  Holy cow!  I can't believe I've come this far. 

 

Last Friday, I hit 236!  

Still losing!  I had my 3 month follow-up with my surgeon on 01/25.  He says I'm doing great and to keep it up.  My vitamin D level was 28 but should be a minimum of 30 but he says he's not too concerned about that right now.  (I tend to stay away from sunshine... May have to get out in the sun a bit more to have better levels.  I already take 1000 IU per day of vitamin D3.)  I'm down 5 pants sizes, from 32 to 22 now.  I've lost 47 lbs since my date of surgery.  That's not too bad!  I'm down 70 lbs since I started seeing the surgeon and over 107 lbs down from my very highest.  It was somewhere over 350 but not sure if it was 351 or 370 so I will assume it was 351.  I need new bras.  They are bunchy and gettting loose around me.  I hate bra shopping.... I'll have to do it, though.  Maybe I'll take some time this weekend to go.  I've been able to pick up several pairs of jeans at the thrift stores since they are temporary sizes.  You don't find a lot of 32s at the thrift store, but you can find 22s and 24s!  I don't know why, but that tickles me.  I can buy clothes at thrift stores again!!!  Simple things make me happy.  Dopey things, too. 

Hubby is losing quite well.  He's 70+ pounds down from his highest and 38 or so down from date of surgery.  Men lose so much faster!  That's ok.  He's still struggling with eating too fast.  He's learning, though.  We've been walking a lot and I want to start doing some muscle building.  I'm jiggly and not muscular at all.  I can see them though.  They are in there!  On my legs and arms... what do you know??? 

TTFN!

 I'm under 250!  I haven't seen this in at least 15 years.  That's pitiful, but I'm headed in the right direction now!
Still not getting adequate protein and still fighting with the water, but I'm doing ok.  There are a lot of things I used to eat that I just can't or won't eat now.  Bread sits in my pouch forever.  Mayo... just the thought of it makes me queasy.  Even hamburger, at this point, sounds awful.  I'm still drinking a protein shake for most breakfasts.  It's just easier for me to drink than eat in the morning.  Hubby is doing fantastic!  He was 437 on surgery day 12/29/2011 and yesterday was 406.  So not fair how guys drop weight so much faster than us females.  I'm glad for him, though.  Glad for both of us.  

 I weighed this morning and was 260!  That's 30 lbs gone since the day of surgery!  I've been eating food rather than drinking my protein and it does work.  Who-da thunk?  I went to a thrift store yesterday to buy some smaller jeans and a top.  Three items...  $12 and change.  I really missed going to thrift stores and being able to purchase clothing that fits me.  (ok... so the jeans don't fit yet, but they are not far off)   I look forward to more shopping trips like that!  I hate the thought of wasting hundreds of dollars buying clothing that will fit me for a while. Thrift stores, here I come!  

I went to my appt with my nutritionist and I am free to eat all the things I couldn't have and wanted now.  I can have raw fruit and veggies (SALAD!!!) and chicken and steak and basically whatever I want within reason.  I am paying close attention to my pouch and not getting too full.  I ate about 3 ounces of meat (chicken and beef fajita meat) this morning and that was almost too much.  I had to stop before I finished it.  I am learning!  It's a slow road, but I'm getting there.  Hubby starts his pre-op diet on Thursday and has his surgery on 12/29.  I'm excited for him and for US.

I'll write more in a few days...

I went to see the surgeon on Wednesday and he told me to get off the protein shakes and eat food.  Don't be afraid to eat food.  Well...  I am.  However, I started eating more (ate what seemed like the most since I've been eating food) on Thurs/Thanksgiving and was down 2 lbs to 267 on Friday morning.  Who knew?  Dr Matin knew...  He said the food burns more calories being digested.  Also, I think I may eat less calories than the protein shakes were giving me (only 170 per shake, 2 per day).  That's why he's the doctor.  :) 

It's terribly frustrating... I'm stuck at this plateau and have been for more than a week.  I'd really like this to end very soon so that I can lose more weight!  I know it happens...  I'll discuss with the surgeon tomorrow...  Will post any tips or ideas he offers.
 

 Haven't written lately...  going through a bit of a plateau.  Stalled out at about 20 lbs after 3 weeks.  Reading the forums on OH, it's not unheard of.  I have my one month follow up with my surgeon on Wed and am making a list of questions for him.  I checked on Thurs morning and was down to 269, so that is 21 lbs...  maybe the plateau is broken.  I also think the plateau hit the same time I finally started getting all my water in, and water weighs a lot so maybe my body was just adjusting to not being dehydrated or not hydrated enough.  Otherwise, feeling pretty good.  Went back to work on Thurs.  Glad I am easing back into it.  If I had gone back on a Monday, I may have had to call in sick/exhausted.  It worked out well for me.  Next week, 3 days on, 1 day off, 1 day on, then the weekend.  I can do that.  Thanksgiving is just the hubby and I this year.  We are cooking a turkey breast in the crock pot and I am going to chew chew chew my way through a few bites.  I think it should be ok.  I can have some mashed potatos and green beans (really, it'll be a bite of each).  Getting some activity/walking in daily.  I can't afford to not take advantage of being a bit thinner...  I found an exercise ball that has a 1000 lb capacity for core exercises and I think I'm going to get it for myself.  I may tell hubby to get it for me for the holidays.  :)  Only $25 at a store called Destination XL (used to be Casual Male XL).  I need to get after it...  

TTFN!

 Hooray!!! Last night I finally met my goal for water!  I got in about 67 oz throughout the day.  I had to push the last 8 oz or so (not push, just keep at it).  I did it!!!  I find that I need a visual reminder.  I have two 23.7 oz bottles that I fill up in the morning.  Then with those and 2-12 oz protein shakes, that's my water!  

I'm going back to work on Thursday, 11/17.  I'm sure my co-workers and manager will be glad.  I know they were hoping I'd come back today, but not yet...  I'm kind of ready to go back.  I'm kinda bored at home and wouldn't mind a few ego strokes when they see my 20 lb weight loss since surgery.  :)  I admit it.  I want it to be obvious I've lost this weight. I've lost a few pounds here and there over the years, but only me and the scale know it.  Right now, all of my pants are falling off my butt.  I finally broke down and bought a few pairs of elastic jeans I can wear at work.  I don't want to spend a fortune on temporary clothes, but I know I needed some pants.  Tops can go a while without being downsized.  

Incisions are healing nicely.  Abdomen doesn't hurt.  Ankles are hurting less and less.  Feet, too.  I have more energy.  

I am finding, however, that when I do eat some of the food that is on my soft solids diet, I tend to get tired.  I don't have as much energy.  I had a friend tell me that's normal.  It takes your body a lot more energy to process/digest food than it does to process a protein shake.  Almost wish I could just continue on shakes.  Same friend told me she still feels that way 8 years post op.  She eats all day, a few bites at a time.  She still drinks her protein shakes, too.

Talk to you later!

Water.  My nemesis.  I need more of it.  I am still trying to get this part going right.  I'm not getting my 64 oz in daily, even if I count the protein shakes.  I'm trying.  I just need to DO IT instead of saying I'm trying to do it.  Just Do It.  Right???  

Well, the Lovenox (anti-blood clot) shots are finally done.  Didn't enjoy that at all.  It's a struggle for me every Friday night when I have to give myself my shot for my MS.  Having to do one shot a day wasn't fun at all.   Glad that's over.  I just struggle with actually putting the needle through my skin.  It doesn't hurt really that much, I'm just a big baby.  Who wants to give themselves a shot? What can I say?

As of two days ago, I'd lost 15 lbs since surgery day (290 on 10/27, 275 on 11/7).  Starting to have more energy and feeling better.  I don't get hungry.  It's quite strange.  I get "head" hungry... I see something that smells or just the idea sounds good and I want it, but I get to start having my soft solid diet on Thurs or Fri this week and I have no idea what I would like to eat first.  Very strange.  I've been wanting roasted chicken and some salad.  Can't have the salad for about another month or so.  :(  It's ok.  I'll survive.  I can have the chicken, but it's gotta be canned or chopped up quite fine.  We'll see how that goes.

Still off of work.  Going to see the nurse at the surgeon's office tomorrow morning for her to check my incisions and do an overall assessment on me.  I'd like to be out another week.  I really don't want to go back to work on a Monday for a variety of reasons.  Monday's are our busiest day.  If I go back on a Monday, I have 5 days until I get a day off.  I'm thinking, I'm going to see if Thursday 11/17 will work.  That way... I work two days, I'm off two days.  Then the next week, I work 3 days, then off on Thanksgiving.  Then one day, then a weekend.  I can do that.   Ease back into it.  I'm fortunate to have the sick time that I do.  I know that and appreciate it!

Pouch accomodates about 3.5 oz without issue.  I'm ok with that.  I don't want to push it and stretch it out.  I'm still trying to let it heal.  I'm trying to do the right thing so that this tool can do its best job to help me on this journey.  So tired of being so big!  I have noticed, even with "only" 15 lbs gone, it's easier to get up the stairs, I'm less dizzy and not losing my balance as much, my ankle doesn't hurt as much (I slipped and fell down the stairs in the ice in Jan 2010 and it hasn't been the same since).  Oh...  a huge thing for me right now, I admittedly have NOT been taking my daily dose of Metformin for my type 2 diabetes because my blood sugar has been at and BELOW 100 for the last week and a half.  Last night, after I ate some sugar free pudding, it was 109.  Before surgery, after a meal it would be above 155.  I'm not hardly eating anything right now, so the sugar is low.  I'll have to keep a careful eye on it after I start the soft solids.   

Gonna go jump in the shower.  Take care!