MommyOF3boys

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11/05/2009
          I have no idea that I'm writing this the way I want to, the way I've read on everyone else's profile. I pretty much am looking into the possibilities of surgery after dieting for one full year. I never stick to my diets. I always get too hungry! But I'm trying to teach myself self control techniques. I think that surgery is a major and life altering decision, and I want to make sure that I try at least one last option before I make that decision. 
         
         I have the idea that if you can surgically alter your stomach to lose weight, then you can naturally as well. So, I'm trying out the bariatric diet without actually having the surgery done. Usually, if you are sick, a doctor prescribes a liquid diet to help you get better; so really I'm not doing myself any harm. I won't be taking in tons of extra proteins because my body should be able to absorb anything that is injested anyway. I will be taking multivitamins to make up for anything that I may not be able to eat outside of the last phase of the surgery diet which constricts me to 1000-1200 calories daily. 
          
          Today I'm starting phase one of the surgical diet: Clear liquids only. This phase will last one week. I will have light/diluted orange juice, broths, gatorades, popcicles, jello and other fruit juices diluted. I will start a multivitamin that is either swallowed or chewed before I go to bed. My liquids are being consumed as they would be had I had the surgery. I am sipping them in 2 oz increments over a 20-30 minute period of time and I will continue to do so until I have reached at least 64 ounces in a 24 hour period. I am using 3 oz bathroom cups to help measure my liquid intake. Like all of my other diets, consumption of anything will stop several hours before I go to bed. Unlike my other diet/exercise plans, physical activity will be light to moderate until I am back on solid foods because moving takes energy and when you are sick and on a liquid diet, you are supposed to be resting. Physical activity will probably start in Phase III when pureed foods are allowed. 
         
          Phase I will end about 11/11/2009 where Phase II will pick up on 11/12/2009. Calories will be counted in this phase where as in Phase I will not count them.I will progress, as most bariatric diets do, to the full liquid diet. I will be allowed everything I was allowed in Phase I plus creamy soups, protien shakes (Slim Fast), skim milk, fat free or low fat yogurt and diet puddings. I will continue my multivitamin and continue to train myself and my body to eat slowly throughout the day and in small amounts.
         
          Phase II will end about 11/18/2009 where Phase III will respectively begin 11/19/2009 where I will be allowed to eat things in the consitancy of applesauce. Foods will be blended with liquid broth, skim milk or low calorie gravy. No chunks. I will not eat and drink simutaneously. Instead, as many bariatric patients are instructed to do, I will allow 20-30 minutes between eating and drinking. Physical activity will be scheduled in Phase III. The minimum amount: 30 minutes of walking, daily.
         
          Phase III will end about 12/03/2009 where Phase IV, the final phase will begin about 12/04/2009 and will tentatively last the rest of my life or a year in the least as I explore this option as an alternative to surgery. During this phase I will be allowed finely diced meats, canned/soft fruits, cooked veggies, rice and macaroni. I will choose tender, easy to chew foods that will be portioned into 6 small meals throughout the day, with sips of water in between each meal. I will still follow the rule of eating first, protein rich foods like lean meats, eggs and yogurt in each meal, but I will not be too strict on how much I'm actually consuming in mg. I will continue the 1000-1200 calorie restriction and limit foods that are high in sugar, fat and calories but low in nutrients. I will continue a multivitamin. I will limit myself to no more than 1 1/2 cups of food at a time. I will stop eating before I am full. I will take at least 20 minutes to consume any one meal and concentrate on chewing 15-20 times per bite. I will allow myself at least 20 minutes to take in 1 cup of fluid. Of course, I will include fruits and veggies in my meals and stay hydrated by drinking 6-8 cups of water daily.

          I will blog each day how I am doing with my diet/exercise as well as record my weight each week. If I cannot achieve results this way, then I will look into surgery sometime around this time next year. I am afraid of having surgery that will limit me so badly and most of all, I'm afraid of losing energy from being sick all the time as a result of the surgery. I have 3 little boys who need their mommy physically which is why I want to lose the weight. I'm giving myself one last attempt to do it on my own before I make the decision to permanently alter my life with bariatric procedures. If I can't do it, then that's what the surgery is for and I'd rather take my chances with that than tell myself I'll always be fat anyway and I'll never be able to do what a normal person does with their kids!

          I weigh 237.8 pounds right now with a BMI of 44.8. A bigger part of my life starts right now. Wish me luck, anybody who knows me or is following this!