the_neighbor

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9.5.10

Down .8lbs this morning. Starting to see a difference which is very pleasing. I am not going to walk today. Yesterday I was really feeling the affects of this low calorie liquid diet.  Just trying to dry my hair I had to stop 3 times to put my arms down.  I spoke with my friend who had WLS 2 years ago and she said that this is totally normal for such an extreme plan.  Today I will rest, I don't want to over do it and get sick or weaken my body too much that I'm not strong for the surgery on Thursday.

Thinking of buying a stationary exercise bike for the caboose. My love is helping me research which one to buy.  I know that I want to walk and bike outside, but I also know there are going to be days that I won't want to go out because it's too cold, or raining or snowing.  Just want to have it here for those days so that I have no excuse not to workout.

Blood sugar this morning was 125 YAY!  Had 85g of Protein yesterday but only 631 calories. Not good. There isn't much I can do on the calorie front, the protein drinks just don't have the calories to let me hit that magic 800 number.  Good news, hunger and growling is gone with the high protein.  My love took my blood pressure yesterday also and it was 120/80.  Very good signs and makes me hopeful that I can also get off my blood pressure meds at some point down the road.  YAY Me!

My love keeps laughing at me because I love to watch the food network.  Funny, watching them make the food helps me to not feel deprived. I'm not 'avoiding' food.  He keeps saying 'sorry' when he eats in front of me, but really, it's not bothering me.  I'm in a good place and I understand this is going to be a 'forever' type of issue.  It's ok for people to eat in front of me and for me NOT to eat when they do. 

Thanks for reading and following my journey.  Knowing I have so many supporters in my corner makes it that much easier to do this.  Love you all*

9.4.10

I'm back, back from Norfolk and the retirement ceremony.  Hurricane Earl behaved and waited long enough to travel past Virginia for the ceremony to go without a hitch.  Dan was in his glory with all the sailors around him.  At the party later in the evening he sat at the table with a bunch of old salty's talking sea stories.  It's a life long bond for those who have served.  I served in the Navy also. I remember my weight back then was 128.  I will reach that weight again!

Anyway, back to T-5.  Down 1.2 lbs since we left.   I drank my 4 shakes while gone but normally I drink 4 different ones throughout the day to give me a variety in both taste, texture and caloric/protein needs.  But since we traveled I had to only take the already premixed bottles.  I met the 60-75g protein goals, but not the calories.  I litterally feel spent.  I know I'm not getting enough caloric intake and just feel so tired.  Drank all my water... that's never an issue.

This morning my fasting blood test was 128.  YAY ME!  Prior to all this my fasting sugar each morning was anywhere from 145-165 and that is when I was taking 3 pills for the diabetes(actos plus met).  Looks like I'm getting closer each day to being free from diabetes. I can't wait til the Dr. tells me I am no longer a diabetic. 

Still managed to walk 2 miles today with my love.  He walks 4 miles every morning during the weekdays and finishes the 4 miles at about 56-58 min.  We walked 2 miles at a 19:54 min pace. I have a long way to go...  :-

Starting to think more about the surgery. I'm not regretting this decision one bit... just thinking about how my eating will change once most of my stomach is gone.  examples of some thoughts: How will it feel?, I hope I don't have to vomit from eating too fast, praying for a complication free recovery... wierd things like that.  Maybe that's normal for being pre-op for this kind of life changing surgery.

Either way, no matter what lies ahead... GO ME!  I'm proud of myself.  :)

9.1.10

September morn...This year is flying by so quickly.  Weighed in today and lost 1 more pound.  My love also lost a pound so I have not passed his weight yet. I think he sees this as a bit of a competition. That's ok with me.  If my health goals help him with his health goals, it's a win-win for us.

I probably won't write again until the weekend. We're heading out to a Navy Retirement Ceremony in Norfolk, VA.  Our good friend is a Deep-Sea Navy Diver, and he's retiring after 30 years of active duty service on Thursday.  Should be a great day for him, not to mention there may be a party crasher.  Hurricane Earl is going to skirt the VA coast.  So, of course we are still on a straight course to Norfolk after work tonight, heading right for the storm.  Crazy, yes... but we don't want to miss the retirement.

I'm taking a cooler with my protein shakes and my water bottle so I should be fine with the protein liquid diet. 

Was talking to my friend the other day and I said that I'm not a sweet junkie, or fast food nut... but for me I like to eat. This is what got me into this mess.  You see, I've always been surrounded by memories of good times and family around the dinner table. All my 'good' memories were family get-togethers. I love a full house and I love cooking for other people.  Simply, 'Food is Love'.   (Lightbulb) I need to work on this.

Onward and upward...

8.31.10

So today starts week 2 of my high-protein liquid diet before surgery.  I do feel tired.  I'm guessing my body isn't used to these low calories although I am meeting my protein and beyond, with 84g protein yesterday, 710 calories, 47g carbs.

Just got back from my walk with our daughter.  Today we walked 1.25 miles around the neighborhood.  I woke up feeling well but lately by evening I'm exhausted. I'm sure that the stress of work isn't helping either.  Something I need to work on. (Lightbulb)

So, really haven't given much more thought to the surgery. I think that's because I am in the right place, right time for it. I am wishing these two weeks would go a bit quicker, I am not one for patience. When I want something, I want it now.  Even at 48 yrs old I am a work in progress.

So today I weigh as much as my love.  I'm not sure he's too happy with me blogging that but for me it is another goal met.As I mentioned in a prior posting, the other goal is to get off my diabetes medications.  I have gone from 3 pills a day to 1 pill a day and I am looking forward to the day that I can be off all my daily medications (diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol).

Down .6lbs this morning.  GO ME!

8.30.10

Struggled to get up early this morning for my walk. Knowing our daughter was coming over to walk with me was the motivation I needed but I still grumbled a bit as I made my way down stairs.  Happy to say, down another pound (10 total while on liquids, 14 total from highest weight).  My head doesn't know how to process this weight loss which is happening so quickly, 10 lbs in 7 days. Seriously, unbelievable!  

I have to say, letting people know my weight, or highest weight is like walking naked through the a crowded building.  It's so difficult to put yourself out there like that. Weight = taboo.   But it's ok, I'm proud to say I did it, my husband, family and certain friends now know how much I weighed. I owned it.  There is no more hiding and it feels good to be free of that guilt.  Yes, being overweight carries a lot of guilt.  This is now a new beginning to guilt free living. (lightbulb moment!)

10 more days until my surgery (9.9.10), which means 10 more days on this liquid protein diet. I'm managing to meet the protein requirements, but still at about 700 calories / day.  This morning we walked 1.98 miles (Thank you RunKeeper) at a 19.51 min pace.  So I've already seen improvement in how fast I can walk.   YAY me!

Yesterday was very strange, I was dizzy every time I stood up.  I haven't experienced the dizziness this morning ::knocking on wood:::  so hopefully yesterday was just an off day. 

Met with a nice woman who had VSG in 10/09.  She doesn't live too far from me and we may try to meet again post surgery. It was good to connect with someone who has gone through this.  I will also try to get to the next support group up at Lake Norman once the surgery is completed.  It's a bit of a drive, it's the 3rd Wed. of each month at 6pm which means that I'm driving with the traffic up to the Lake.  A 45 min drive can take 1:15 or more so I'd have to leave work early to get there by 6pm.  I know, excuses...  unfortunately it's not as convenient as I would like but I will go and participate, share and learn.

I'm really looking forward to my friend coming from California.  I miss her terribly since she's moved.  She's coming to take care of me for 3 days post-op. 

Well, here's to a happy Monday and beginning of another week!   Onward and upward.  :)

8.29.10

Wow, is this too good to be true?  Another lb down. From my highest weight I am down 13 lbs,and 9lb since the liquid diet.  I'm averaging 75g protein, still at about 700 calories and walked a little over a mile with my dog yesterday.  Was pretty busy with house chores, shopping and such also.  Still trying to sip and extend the protein drinks. Seems to be doing the trick. Amanda my nutritionist said to try to lean towards 75-90g of protein, apparently new research says higher is better. 

Good news, down to one diabetic pill a day. I was taking 3 so these small victories are one step closer to being free from diabetes.  GO ME!

Having a few cravings but my love (husband) is so very supportive. I'm so glad that he's on my side with this. We talked yesterday of the 'why's'... why am I doing this.  And the whats... what do I expect.  I just love him <3.

Going to meet someone today who had VSG in Dec. '09.  I am looking forward to connecting and sharing.  

Have a great day all ya'all. :)

8.27.10

Great morning so far, down another 1.2 lbs and my headache is gone! ::::dancedancedance::::

Walked for 48 min with my daughter this morning and all the stretching yesterday paid off, my shins felt much better. Still soreness but not sharp pain with each step.

Doing good on the hunger scale, cravings aren't too bad.  I really wanted a glass of wine yesterday after work, but that passed quickly.  Still haven't been able to get to 800 calories.  These protein shakes I bought I guess are low calorie/carb. I am averaging 700-720 cal. per day.    Protein is another story... I am averaging 77g of protein each day which is great. Maybe the reason I'm not struggling too much with hunger and cravings is because I'm meeting my protein needs. Lighbulb moment.

Great 'App' for this has been the calorie counter on my droid.  Also found a new one for tracking my walks called 'RunKeeper'. I have to figure out how to run it, something about turning on the GPS and some other setting.  I'll work on that today so that I can start tracking my walks a bit more accurately.

Happy Friday!

8.26.10

So today is day 3 of the protein liquid diet. I am surprised that I am having trouble meeting the 800 calories that they recommended.  I have met the protein requirements of 75g each day.  No problem meeting my water intake and again we walked. Today we only walked for 30 min because my shins are killing me.  I may go get new sneakers this weekend to see if that will help.

Just 'drank' my breakfast shake.  I've been sipping it and trying to extend the amount of time it takes to finish so that my stomach has a chance to tell my brain that it is satisfied.  Seems to do the trick, plus they don't taste so bad.

Still have a horrible headache. I googled and learned that this is common for people starting the liquid diet and it 'should' go away within a week. I hope so!

Today, down 1 more lb. YAY!   Still very encouraged.  GO ME!

So I'm sitting here drinking some chicken broth and listening to my stomach growl. Seems to be louder today. I also have a terrible headache that started yesterday afternoon.  I'm guessing my body is detoxing and asking 'what's going on'.

Went again for a 2 mile walk (40 min) and my legs are a bit sore and I have some shin pain. Always happens when I start a new exercise program. Hopefully it'll work it's way through before my surgery date.

I have a confession, the night before the liquid diet I was asked what I wanted for my 'last meal'. Well of course, PIZZA!  Well pizza always makes me bloated the next day so I gained 2.4 lbs the night before I weighed in to begin the liquid diet.

So, today's weight loss seems a bit high, but I know it's also due to the pizza 'passing'. .

Day two... let's roll.

My insurance approved the Verticle Banded Gastroplasty last week.  My surgery date is set for 9.9.10.  Today I start my liquid diet. 

My daughter came over this morning at 0600 and walked 2 miles with me. I plan to walk each day until the surgery date to help get myself ready for the surgery. I know that will also get me into the 'habit' of exercising.  I'm ready. Coach put me in.

:)