Spuddie
One Year Ago Today...
Nov 13, 2007
...I was at the hospital with nurses trying to get an IV into my pudgy little arms...no, let's call it what it was...my FAT arms...and not having much luck. A few hours later I remember (vaguely!) making some calls to family and friends saying, "I'm out of surgery!" and then relaxing into the drugs.
Fast forward ahead one year...they'd have no problem getting an IV in today, as my veins are standing out like ropes on my considerably thinner hands and forearms. I'm (about) 125 lbs lighter, wearing size 14 jeans and size L tops, feeling good, eating well and still trying to get used to my "new" body. I still don't recognize myself sometimes. It's been a great year, and want to thank Dr. Wetherille for doing such a wonderful job--he's gotten me to within 10 lbs of his goal for me with his skillful operation. I've had no complications at all, and whenever I see him in the hallways at the hospital, I want to run up to him and hug him around the knees and say THANK YOU! But I don't, being a very dignified person and all. HA! He probably wouldn't recognize me anyway. LOL
Now, the rest is up to me. I'm perfectly comfortable where I am today--not thin or skinny by any means, in fact still well into "obese" based on whatever charts you want to look at. But I'm wearing the same size I did in high school, and feeling wonderful. My goal of being off my diabetes medicines and having normal blood sugars, was met long ago. I would like to lose a few more pounds just so I have a bit of a cushion in case I regain a little. I still only weigh about once a month and generally don't worry about it too much, though...I am healthy and feeling well and that's what counts! Still need to get some activity going which would be even better, but I'm (still) ye olde couch potato. I think I just haven't found something I really enjoy doing yet.
Anyway...hard to believe it's been a year already and I still feel amazed and dazed when I see all the changes. Happy Surgiversary To Me!
Fast forward ahead one year...they'd have no problem getting an IV in today, as my veins are standing out like ropes on my considerably thinner hands and forearms. I'm (about) 125 lbs lighter, wearing size 14 jeans and size L tops, feeling good, eating well and still trying to get used to my "new" body. I still don't recognize myself sometimes. It's been a great year, and want to thank Dr. Wetherille for doing such a wonderful job--he's gotten me to within 10 lbs of his goal for me with his skillful operation. I've had no complications at all, and whenever I see him in the hallways at the hospital, I want to run up to him and hug him around the knees and say THANK YOU! But I don't, being a very dignified person and all. HA! He probably wouldn't recognize me anyway. LOL
Now, the rest is up to me. I'm perfectly comfortable where I am today--not thin or skinny by any means, in fact still well into "obese" based on whatever charts you want to look at. But I'm wearing the same size I did in high school, and feeling wonderful. My goal of being off my diabetes medicines and having normal blood sugars, was met long ago. I would like to lose a few more pounds just so I have a bit of a cushion in case I regain a little. I still only weigh about once a month and generally don't worry about it too much, though...I am healthy and feeling well and that's what counts! Still need to get some activity going which would be even better, but I'm (still) ye olde couch potato. I think I just haven't found something I really enjoy doing yet.
Anyway...hard to believe it's been a year already and I still feel amazed and dazed when I see all the changes. Happy Surgiversary To Me!
Ten months post-op...
Sep 15, 2007
...and all is still going well. Fall is fast approaching and I love it, because it's my favorite time of year...warm-ish days, cool nights, pumpkin spice scented candles...perfect sleeping weather. Ahhhhhhhhh!
Still doing well post-op; the weight-loss has slowed down but I'm still losing. I'm still only weighing once a month and on my 10-month anniversary a couple days ago I was 189. AND I fit into a pair of size 14 pants comfortably for the first time since like 8th grade! Mostly still wearing 16's, but it depends on the brand. I need a new fall jacket and winter coat--I don't think my mens size 3XL parka is going to cut it this year! LOL
Everything else still on track...still taking all my supplements and at least 2 protein shakes a day--and they're good ones so it's not a bad thing at all. I'm eating well, pretty much a low-carb/high protein/low-to-moderate fat diet (kinda modified South Beach style I guess) and tolerating most foods without problems and ENJOYING it all! My hair is growing like crazy and I have to get it trimmed up every 3 or 4 weeks or it drives me NUTS! I only lost a little hair and that was from about 5-7 months out, and it wasn't too bad, really--after that the shower drains were pretty clear.
I'm still not exercising like I should--having a fairly significant amount of back and hip pain so walking is fairly limited but I do some; I was taking a yoga class which seems to have triggered the bursitis in my shoulder to flare up again, too, so I've cut way back on how much I do with my arms. More concentrating on the relaxation/breathing aspects of yoga. That, plus I'm a self-professed sloth. I'd much rather be sitting in front of the fireplace reading than chopping the wood!
Well, that's it for now, seize ya next time!
Cheryl
Still doing well post-op; the weight-loss has slowed down but I'm still losing. I'm still only weighing once a month and on my 10-month anniversary a couple days ago I was 189. AND I fit into a pair of size 14 pants comfortably for the first time since like 8th grade! Mostly still wearing 16's, but it depends on the brand. I need a new fall jacket and winter coat--I don't think my mens size 3XL parka is going to cut it this year! LOL
Everything else still on track...still taking all my supplements and at least 2 protein shakes a day--and they're good ones so it's not a bad thing at all. I'm eating well, pretty much a low-carb/high protein/low-to-moderate fat diet (kinda modified South Beach style I guess) and tolerating most foods without problems and ENJOYING it all! My hair is growing like crazy and I have to get it trimmed up every 3 or 4 weeks or it drives me NUTS! I only lost a little hair and that was from about 5-7 months out, and it wasn't too bad, really--after that the shower drains were pretty clear.
I'm still not exercising like I should--having a fairly significant amount of back and hip pain so walking is fairly limited but I do some; I was taking a yoga class which seems to have triggered the bursitis in my shoulder to flare up again, too, so I've cut way back on how much I do with my arms. More concentrating on the relaxation/breathing aspects of yoga. That, plus I'm a self-professed sloth. I'd much rather be sitting in front of the fireplace reading than chopping the wood!
Well, that's it for now, seize ya next time!
Cheryl
Update
Jul 08, 2007
Well, here I am, nearing the 8 months post-op mark, so thought I should leave a post in case anyone actually reads this stuff. I'm still doing great and still have absolutely no regrets about having surgery. Enjoying food, no problems, still losing weight, labwork was good, taking my supplements and protein, etc. The only thing I haven't done is exercise--I did start a walking program but kept pulling something in one of my hips or my back which made it very difficult to achieve any actual cardio benefit. So I've decided to try a yoga class instead, at least to begin with. Hoping to add back the cardio/walking later on. I have my first yoga class at the Minneapolis Yoga Center on Friday the 13th of July...I hope that's not an omen! 
For those contemplating the surgery, I'd advise you to research thoroughly before going ahead. This isn't an easy fix, and if you don't have your head on straight, you can learn to eat around your bypass. You need to use this first year (honeymood period, so called) to change your old habits and learn new ways of coping. Food can't be your best buddy anymore. Eating the same things and the same ways you did before will sabotage you. Oh, you will lose just fine for the first few months or even up to a year. You may even be fine for the first couple years. But I have met and come across waaaaaaay too many surgical patients who gain back most if not all of the weight they lost. Why? They treated this like any other diet--something to do short term and then go back to what they did before. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you--a tool for you to use. Don't disrespect it!!
So what's life like 8 months post-op? AWESOME! I'm down about 114 lbs that I know of...I only weigh once a month so not sure exactly. I'm wearing size 16 clothes, which I haven't done since high school...way too many years ago to count. Okay, it was 30 years ago.
I'm not on a diet. There ARE certain things I don't eat, but that's my choice. I no longer drink carbonated soda pop. It's crap. Why put it into my body? I don't eat sugar as a rule--but then, that's nothing new for me, having been diabetic for many years. I have on a couple of occasions taken one bite of a dessert that my son or husband was having while out at a restaurant. I eat mostly protein, then some good carbs and fats. I eat out when I want to. I do take a round of supplements and protein shakes to make sure I'm not going undernourished. With the forced malabsorption that occurs with our surgery, we don't really know for sure how much of many nutrients (including protein) are absorbed. So I have a couple of good-tasting, high-quality protein drinks a day to make sure.
What am I eating? Here's a couple of sample days:
I start the day every day with 2 cups of home brewed coffee with some sugar-free DaVinci flavor syrup and vanilla Micellar Milk. (see below)
Breakfast: 1-egg omelette (egg, shredded cheese, onion, mushrooms) and 1 sausage link.
Either mid-morning or mid-afternoon, I have a protein drink--sometimes both!
Lunch: If I'm working it's something cold like tuna salad (3 oz of tuna with a little onion and mayo) with Trader Joes soy & flaxseed tortilla chips.
Dinner: 3 oz ribeye steak, small green salad with balsamic vinaigrette
At bedtime, I have another protein drink.
Another day:
Breakfast: 1/4 cup low-carb granola with 1/4 cup vanilla Micellar Milk
Protein Drink
Lunch: Shrimp sauteed in garlic butter, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds in the shell
Dinner: 1/2 a whole wheat and flax wrap stuffed with about 3 oz of taco meat, chopped fresh tomato, lettuce and chipotle sauce
Protein Drink
Sounds like I'm suffering, doesn't it?
Eating out....my favorite things to date:
Famous Daves: I usually get an a la carte order of the ribs and eat half of them for a meal, take half home to eat cold for lunch the next day. I've also had the appetizer sampler platter and tolerated everything on that in small amounts.
Chinese Buffet: Crab legs, plain shrimp with butter, shrimp with garlic sauce, chicken-on-a-stick, teriyaki chicken, bbq'd ribs, meat from various dishes--although you do have to be careful of sauces, as sometimes they are loaded with sugar and make you feel sick.
Quiznos: I get the Black and Bleu flatbread salad and throw away the bread. It's a green salad with thin-sliced black angus beef, blue cheese crumbles, red onion, etc. with a lovely dressing. Usually half of one will do and I'll save the rest to haul to work the next day.
Pizza Hut: When I order pizza for the family, I often will pick the cheese and toppings off of a couple slices of Meat Lovers pizza and that will be just enough for me. If I'm still hungry I'll have a little salad to go with it.
PROTEIN DRINKS
My favorite supplements are
1) Micellar Milk which is a high-protein, low-carb, low fat milk type product. I don't really care for it plain but I use this in my coffee in place of milk or cream and also use it with Jello sugar-free pudding mix to make a homemade protein pudding. It comes in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry flavors. I get mine from Netrition.com, which only charges $4.95 for UPS ground shipping regardless of how expensive or heavy your order is--and a lot of these protein drinks are very heavy so it's a GREAT DEAL! I believe some GNC stores may carry this product. Don't confuse it with Muscle Milk--not the same thing at all!
2) Worldwide Protein RTD (ready to drink) shakes. Chocolate Frosty and Vanilla Creme. I get these at Trader Joes, but Netrition also has them. They are best served ice cold and are even better with a little sugar-free Davinci syrup added
3) Champion Pure Whey Stack (chocolate) which is my chocolate protein powder of choice. it's a darker, richer tasting than some others I've tried, mixes easily and tastes good. I mostly drink mine hot like cocoa. I get this at Netrition.com
4) Syntrax Nectar protein powders. These are a fruity, sweet tasting protein that again are best ice cold. They mix well just with shaking and my favorites are Fuzzy Navel, Twisted Cherry and Roadside Lemonade. The only one I really didn't like was the Lemon Tea flavor--that was gross!
5) AchievOne. This RTD coffee protein is meant to mimic Starbucks "frappuccino" type drinks in the little glass bottles. Unfortunately, they are very expensive and because they're in glass, shipping is also ridiculous. They are a small company and Netrition doesn't stock them. When I let myself indulge, I get them at BariatricEating.com but they are not cheap.
6) Protein Bars--I use these as meal replacements, NOT snacks! My favorites are the Think Thin bars you can find at Trader Joes. I also enjoy some flavors of the Oh Yeah! bars and Power Crunch bars. These are rare eats for me, but it's nice to have them around for when I'm out running around and can't be bothered to eat. These do have sugar alcohols in them which can cause BAD intestinal gas if you eat too much.
7) Protein snacks--Kay's Better Balance products are great! They make a high-protein/low carb pretzel, protein chips and cereals. They're made right here in Minnesota, too, so I feel like I'm supporting a local business. Netrition has some of those and BariatricEating also carries some of their products.
That's enough for now! If you have any questions about any of this stuff, feel free to PM or e-mail me.
Happy trails!
Cheryl
I'm still doing great and still have absolutely no regrets about having surgery. Enjoying food, no problems, still losing weight, labwork was good, taking my supplements and protein, etc. The only thing I haven't done is exercise--I did start a walking program but kept pulling something in one of my hips or my back which made it very difficult to achieve any actual cardio benefit. So I've decided to try a yoga class instead, at least to begin with. Hoping to add back the cardio/walking later on. I have my first yoga class at the Minneapolis Yoga Center on Friday the 13th of July...I hope that's not an omen! For those contemplating the surgery, I'd advise you to research thoroughly before going ahead. This isn't an easy fix, and if you don't have your head on straight, you can learn to eat around your bypass. You need to use this first year (honeymood period, so called) to change your old habits and learn new ways of coping. Food can't be your best buddy anymore. Eating the same things and the same ways you did before will sabotage you. Oh, you will lose just fine for the first few months or even up to a year. You may even be fine for the first couple years. But I have met and come across waaaaaaay too many surgical patients who gain back most if not all of the weight they lost. Why? They treated this like any other diet--something to do short term and then go back to what they did before. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you--a tool for you to use. Don't disrespect it!!
So what's life like 8 months post-op? AWESOME! I'm down about 114 lbs that I know of...I only weigh once a month so not sure exactly. I'm wearing size 16 clothes, which I haven't done since high school...way too many years ago to count. Okay, it was 30 years ago.
I'm not on a diet. There ARE certain things I don't eat, but that's my choice. I no longer drink carbonated soda pop. It's crap. Why put it into my body? I don't eat sugar as a rule--but then, that's nothing new for me, having been diabetic for many years. I have on a couple of occasions taken one bite of a dessert that my son or husband was having while out at a restaurant. I eat mostly protein, then some good carbs and fats. I eat out when I want to. I do take a round of supplements and protein shakes to make sure I'm not going undernourished. With the forced malabsorption that occurs with our surgery, we don't really know for sure how much of many nutrients (including protein) are absorbed. So I have a couple of good-tasting, high-quality protein drinks a day to make sure.
What am I eating? Here's a couple of sample days:
I start the day every day with 2 cups of home brewed coffee with some sugar-free DaVinci flavor syrup and vanilla Micellar Milk. (see below)
Breakfast: 1-egg omelette (egg, shredded cheese, onion, mushrooms) and 1 sausage link.
Either mid-morning or mid-afternoon, I have a protein drink--sometimes both!
Lunch: If I'm working it's something cold like tuna salad (3 oz of tuna with a little onion and mayo) with Trader Joes soy & flaxseed tortilla chips.
Dinner: 3 oz ribeye steak, small green salad with balsamic vinaigrette
At bedtime, I have another protein drink.
Another day:
Breakfast: 1/4 cup low-carb granola with 1/4 cup vanilla Micellar Milk
Protein Drink
Lunch: Shrimp sauteed in garlic butter, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds in the shell
Dinner: 1/2 a whole wheat and flax wrap stuffed with about 3 oz of taco meat, chopped fresh tomato, lettuce and chipotle sauce
Protein Drink
Sounds like I'm suffering, doesn't it?
Eating out....my favorite things to date:
Famous Daves: I usually get an a la carte order of the ribs and eat half of them for a meal, take half home to eat cold for lunch the next day. I've also had the appetizer sampler platter and tolerated everything on that in small amounts.
Chinese Buffet: Crab legs, plain shrimp with butter, shrimp with garlic sauce, chicken-on-a-stick, teriyaki chicken, bbq'd ribs, meat from various dishes--although you do have to be careful of sauces, as sometimes they are loaded with sugar and make you feel sick.
Quiznos: I get the Black and Bleu flatbread salad and throw away the bread. It's a green salad with thin-sliced black angus beef, blue cheese crumbles, red onion, etc. with a lovely dressing. Usually half of one will do and I'll save the rest to haul to work the next day.
Pizza Hut: When I order pizza for the family, I often will pick the cheese and toppings off of a couple slices of Meat Lovers pizza and that will be just enough for me. If I'm still hungry I'll have a little salad to go with it.
PROTEIN DRINKS
My favorite supplements are
1) Micellar Milk which is a high-protein, low-carb, low fat milk type product. I don't really care for it plain but I use this in my coffee in place of milk or cream and also use it with Jello sugar-free pudding mix to make a homemade protein pudding. It comes in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry flavors. I get mine from Netrition.com, which only charges $4.95 for UPS ground shipping regardless of how expensive or heavy your order is--and a lot of these protein drinks are very heavy so it's a GREAT DEAL! I believe some GNC stores may carry this product. Don't confuse it with Muscle Milk--not the same thing at all!
2) Worldwide Protein RTD (ready to drink) shakes. Chocolate Frosty and Vanilla Creme. I get these at Trader Joes, but Netrition also has them. They are best served ice cold and are even better with a little sugar-free Davinci syrup added
3) Champion Pure Whey Stack (chocolate) which is my chocolate protein powder of choice. it's a darker, richer tasting than some others I've tried, mixes easily and tastes good. I mostly drink mine hot like cocoa. I get this at Netrition.com
4) Syntrax Nectar protein powders. These are a fruity, sweet tasting protein that again are best ice cold. They mix well just with shaking and my favorites are Fuzzy Navel, Twisted Cherry and Roadside Lemonade. The only one I really didn't like was the Lemon Tea flavor--that was gross!
5) AchievOne. This RTD coffee protein is meant to mimic Starbucks "frappuccino" type drinks in the little glass bottles. Unfortunately, they are very expensive and because they're in glass, shipping is also ridiculous. They are a small company and Netrition doesn't stock them. When I let myself indulge, I get them at BariatricEating.com but they are not cheap.
6) Protein Bars--I use these as meal replacements, NOT snacks! My favorites are the Think Thin bars you can find at Trader Joes. I also enjoy some flavors of the Oh Yeah! bars and Power Crunch bars. These are rare eats for me, but it's nice to have them around for when I'm out running around and can't be bothered to eat. These do have sugar alcohols in them which can cause BAD intestinal gas if you eat too much.
7) Protein snacks--Kay's Better Balance products are great! They make a high-protein/low carb pretzel, protein chips and cereals. They're made right here in Minnesota, too, so I feel like I'm supporting a local business. Netrition has some of those and BariatricEating also carries some of their products.
That's enough for now! If you have any questions about any of this stuff, feel free to PM or e-mail me.
Happy trails!
Cheryl
Century Club!
May 23, 2007
Almost 6 months...
May 11, 2007
And down 98 lbs! I now weigh 217, and am feeling wonderful! I have my 6-month checkup with Carol on May 25 (a couple weeks late, due to me not being able to get away from work with co-workers on vacation and such)...so we'll see then how my labs check out. I hope they match how I feel, 'cause I feel great!
Cheryl
Cheryl
5 months out
Apr 12, 2007
I need another new picture...soon, I promise! Tomorrow is my 5-month anniversary, by date anyway. I don't know how many 'weeks' I am. I now weigh 223, so am down 92 pounds. Wearing size 20's comfortably in most things I have. I feel so bony and skinny, even though I still have a good ways to go to be at my goal of 170.
I've joined the Fitness Center at the hospital (it's only 3 floors directly below the clinic where I work, so I have no excuses anymore!) and hope to start getting in a little better shape aerobically now that I can move a bit without gasping for breath!
Still doing well with eating--occasionally have something I don't tolerate and it comes back up, but for the most part no problems as long as I chew well and eat slowly. I haven't had anything sweet and sugary yet, so I don't know if I "dump" or not. I really don't care to find out. Still taking my protein shakes and vitamin supplements, as I plan to do for the rest of my life. Feel good, energy level good. I had started losing some hair about a month ago, but it's not much...no big clumps or huge amounts in the drain or anything, just a few stray hairs here and there. I'm starting to sag and bag in all those places that older women sag and bag in regardless of their weight, of course it's a bit more pronounced with all my extra, stretched out skin. But I don't much care, to be honest. I was morbidly obese before the surgery and now I'm saggy. Big freaking deal! I'm still me. And a much healthier me, too!
Will work on getting a new picture taken this weekend. Toodles for now!
Cheryl
I've joined the Fitness Center at the hospital (it's only 3 floors directly below the clinic where I work, so I have no excuses anymore!) and hope to start getting in a little better shape aerobically now that I can move a bit without gasping for breath!
Still doing well with eating--occasionally have something I don't tolerate and it comes back up, but for the most part no problems as long as I chew well and eat slowly. I haven't had anything sweet and sugary yet, so I don't know if I "dump" or not. I really don't care to find out. Still taking my protein shakes and vitamin supplements, as I plan to do for the rest of my life. Feel good, energy level good. I had started losing some hair about a month ago, but it's not much...no big clumps or huge amounts in the drain or anything, just a few stray hairs here and there. I'm starting to sag and bag in all those places that older women sag and bag in regardless of their weight, of course it's a bit more pronounced with all my extra, stretched out skin. But I don't much care, to be honest. I was morbidly obese before the surgery and now I'm saggy. Big freaking deal! I'm still me. And a much healthier me, too!
Will work on getting a new picture taken this weekend. Toodles for now!
Cheryl
4 (and a bit) months out
Mar 23, 2007
I saw my primary doctor today for the first time since surgery. She was grinning ear-to-ear when she looked at my labwork and saw that my HgbA1C was 5.4--completely normal on no diabetes medicine! I am soooooo stoked about that!! It had been normal on my own glucose meter for a few weeks now, but it didn't seem "real" until I saw the lab results.
I'm down to 230 pounds, or a total loss of 85 lbs. I have not been this light since I got pregnant for the first time 23 years ago!! I'm slowly adjusting to my shrinking body...it feels weird to not have my belly pressing up against the steering wheel when I drive, or to have to worry about my ass sticking in the doctor's office chair when I stand up. Hell, it feels weird to be able to cross my legs!! LOL
I'll put up a new picture sometime in the next few days. There won't be a whole lot of change from last month's picture, probably, but I sometimes don't notice the change til I look at the pictures so it's as much for me as for you guys. LOL I'm now wearing size 20 jeans, down from a size 28 or 30. Definite progress! And I am doing that little old Snoopy happy dance fer sure, fer sure! :-)
Cheryl
I'm down to 230 pounds, or a total loss of 85 lbs. I have not been this light since I got pregnant for the first time 23 years ago!! I'm slowly adjusting to my shrinking body...it feels weird to not have my belly pressing up against the steering wheel when I drive, or to have to worry about my ass sticking in the doctor's office chair when I stand up. Hell, it feels weird to be able to cross my legs!! LOL
I'll put up a new picture sometime in the next few days. There won't be a whole lot of change from last month's picture, probably, but I sometimes don't notice the change til I look at the pictures so it's as much for me as for you guys. LOL I'm now wearing size 20 jeans, down from a size 28 or 30. Definite progress! And I am doing that little old Snoopy happy dance fer sure, fer sure! :-)
Cheryl
3 months out
Feb 14, 2007
Well, here I am, 3 months out. Tomorrow I see Carol so will find out how much more weight I've lost. (Edited to add--I now weigh 244 so am down 71 lbs. total!) But to me, that isn't really the "important" number. The important number for me is my blood sugar, and for the past couple of weeks, those have been completely NORMAL!! Not "okay for a diabetic" but NORMAL!! My fastings have been under 100!! On NO diabetes medicines!! Wheeeeeeeeeeeee! The diabetes is really the main reason I finally made the decision to have WLS, so this is VERY exciting for me!
Eating is going okay--I am expanding the horizons a bit, and still having the occasional "slime" episode where what I've eaten won't stay down--lots of froth and slime and then up it comes. I have only had one true "dumping" episode (shaky, lots of pain, etc) that was caused by a (breadless) tuna melt--basically it was tuna salad with a slice of cheese heated in a non-stick skillet. I think it was probably too much fat from the combo of mayonnaise and melted cheese or something--not sure. I haven't tried anything sweet yet nor do I really see a reason to. Here's a couple of days typical menus for me:
Day one:
Pre-breakfast I have a cup of decaf coffee with Micellar Milk (high protein low carb milk) and some sugar-free flavor syrup
Breakfast: scrambled egg
Lunch: 1/2 cup of Fage greek yogurt with a packet of Splenda and a few fresh blueberries stirred in
Snack: protein shake
Dinner: baked ham and a couple bites of green bean casserole
Snack: protein drink (made like hot cocoa with Champion Pure Whey Stack chocolate protein powder, packet of Splenda, sugar-free flavor syrup--peppermint paddy or praline are really good--and then 'coffee pot hot' water stirred in) YUM!!
Day Two:
Decaf with "mice milk" or one bottle of Achiev One (a ready-to-drink coffee/protein drink that is supposed to be similar to the Starbucks bottled drinks...I've never had a Starbucks one so can't compare them but these have 20 g. protein, are fat free and only 5 g. carbs and they taste pretty good)
Breakfast--1/2 cup Fage yogurt with fresh blackberries and Splenda
Lunch: 2 slices of deli roast beef rolled up and dipped in horseradish, 1 oz cheddar cheese
Snack: protein shake (Nectar Twisted Cherry is good and mixes up easily just with shaking so no fuss to take to work)
Dinner: 1/2 cup of Chicken Cauliflower Chowder, few pecan halves
Snack: hot cocoa protein drink as above (I have at least one of those a day...they really are GOOD)
I'm going to start trying in more 'crispy' stuff like a little shredded salad, low glycemic fruits, veggies not quite so mushy, more dense meats, high-protein crackers, etc.
My supplements (besides the protein) are:
1 "Gentle Iron" tablet with chewable Vitamin C first thing in the morning
1 chewable multi-vit and 1 Bariatric Advantage calcium citrate lozenge (400 mg) with breakfast
1 chewable multi-vit and BA calcium lozenge with dinner
1 or 2 magnesium oxide tablets--I take these because of my irregular heart beats as it helps keep the irregularity minimized. AND it also doubles as a laxative of sorts--magnesium is the active ingredient in MOM. :-)
B12, I take 4 of the 500 mcg sublingual a week
I need to do a new picture soon too, the current one is a month old already. I "feel" so skinny already, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around how baggy my clothes are--going to do a little shopping of the clearance racks this weekend. Looking forward to a new winter coat next year--my current one is baggier than hell, but I'm hoping winter is going to be DONE soon so refuse to get another one this year.
Will edit this tomorrow to add how much I've lost after I see Carol. So, to summarize...NO regrets, feeling great, and so glad I did this when I did!!
Cheryl
Eating is going okay--I am expanding the horizons a bit, and still having the occasional "slime" episode where what I've eaten won't stay down--lots of froth and slime and then up it comes. I have only had one true "dumping" episode (shaky, lots of pain, etc) that was caused by a (breadless) tuna melt--basically it was tuna salad with a slice of cheese heated in a non-stick skillet. I think it was probably too much fat from the combo of mayonnaise and melted cheese or something--not sure. I haven't tried anything sweet yet nor do I really see a reason to. Here's a couple of days typical menus for me:
Day one:
Pre-breakfast I have a cup of decaf coffee with Micellar Milk (high protein low carb milk) and some sugar-free flavor syrup
Breakfast: scrambled egg
Lunch: 1/2 cup of Fage greek yogurt with a packet of Splenda and a few fresh blueberries stirred in
Snack: protein shake
Dinner: baked ham and a couple bites of green bean casserole
Snack: protein drink (made like hot cocoa with Champion Pure Whey Stack chocolate protein powder, packet of Splenda, sugar-free flavor syrup--peppermint paddy or praline are really good--and then 'coffee pot hot' water stirred in) YUM!!
Day Two:
Decaf with "mice milk" or one bottle of Achiev One (a ready-to-drink coffee/protein drink that is supposed to be similar to the Starbucks bottled drinks...I've never had a Starbucks one so can't compare them but these have 20 g. protein, are fat free and only 5 g. carbs and they taste pretty good)
Breakfast--1/2 cup Fage yogurt with fresh blackberries and Splenda
Lunch: 2 slices of deli roast beef rolled up and dipped in horseradish, 1 oz cheddar cheese
Snack: protein shake (Nectar Twisted Cherry is good and mixes up easily just with shaking so no fuss to take to work)
Dinner: 1/2 cup of Chicken Cauliflower Chowder, few pecan halves
Snack: hot cocoa protein drink as above (I have at least one of those a day...they really are GOOD)
I'm going to start trying in more 'crispy' stuff like a little shredded salad, low glycemic fruits, veggies not quite so mushy, more dense meats, high-protein crackers, etc.
My supplements (besides the protein) are:
1 "Gentle Iron" tablet with chewable Vitamin C first thing in the morning
1 chewable multi-vit and 1 Bariatric Advantage calcium citrate lozenge (400 mg) with breakfast
1 chewable multi-vit and BA calcium lozenge with dinner
1 or 2 magnesium oxide tablets--I take these because of my irregular heart beats as it helps keep the irregularity minimized. AND it also doubles as a laxative of sorts--magnesium is the active ingredient in MOM. :-)
B12, I take 4 of the 500 mcg sublingual a week
I need to do a new picture soon too, the current one is a month old already. I "feel" so skinny already, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around how baggy my clothes are--going to do a little shopping of the clearance racks this weekend. Looking forward to a new winter coat next year--my current one is baggier than hell, but I'm hoping winter is going to be DONE soon so refuse to get another one this year.
Will edit this tomorrow to add how much I've lost after I see Carol. So, to summarize...NO regrets, feeling great, and so glad I did this when I did!!
Cheryl
2 month appointment
Jan 16, 2007
Saw the Nutritionist today and found out that I've lost another 14 lbs. for a total of 60 lbs off! I now weigh 255. First time I've been under 260 in a LONG time! It feels good. So far so good, tolerating most foods--haven't tried the salmon again. Still doing 2 protein shakes a day instead of milk and eating about 1/3 cup capacity at a meal. No snacking. Drinking lots of water. Constipation is a slight issue but I'm dealing with it. No temptations yet, still not very hungry, though it's getting so that when it's been 5 or 6 hours between meals, I think to myself, "Yeah, I could eat." So...no problems, doing well, absolutely NO regrets!
Happy Birthday to Me!
Dec 21, 2006
I think 48 is going to be a great year for me. :-)
