What's on the menu today, RNYers?

Hi OH Friends,

Today is my four-month surgiversary!!!  I can't believe how quickly it has gone by!  Since day of surgery I am down 89.2 lbs, and down 107.2 since the start of my pre-op diet.  I went from a BMI of 60 to a BMI of 44.9.  I feel amazing and hope everyone has such a positive experience!  I posted a pic of surgery day vs. today (I swear I don't only wear black though it must seem like it - it's cold here today and the shirt I am wearing today came in my awesome Gwynnie Bee box last night and has long sleeves thank god).

A housekeeping note: I am traveling to NYC this weekend so if anyone wants to start this post for the next few days, that would be much appreciated by all, I believe :)

Also, DaisyDoo had a great idea that we could share some WLS-friendly Easter dinner ideas (for those who observe Easter).  I will be brunching in NY, but if I were to make a meal, I would DEFINITELY make this:  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/garlic-mashed-cauliflower/

B: Last day of leftover egg white frittatta with crab, light cheddar, artichokes, onion, garlic

L: Leftover pan sauteed thin strips of tofu with seasoning and spices - made 3 oz for dinner last night but couldn't eat half of it, so I brought it to the office

D: TBD.  Literally nothing at home sounds good to me, but I am traveling so no point in going grocery shopping.  Maybe I will pick up some sushi

S: I will have to have a shake to get my protein in

Totals will be around 700 calories, 70 g of protein, less than 20 g of carbs (this is my standard)

V: This reminded me, I just took them

W: Not a sip yet - waiting 30 minutes after breakfast

E: None planned.  Did 1 hour on treadmill yesterday and 25 minute training session.  I feel it today!

WOW! You look great! Happy anniversary! I will be happy to post the thread this weekend if no one minds. I cannot wait to see the recipes. I did not try the Syntrax yet. I opted for coffee instead. LOL! Have a great day! Check out my protein: 110 grams today!  WHOA WHOA!   

Good job on those protein numbers indeed!

Congratulations on your four month surgiversary, my surgisister! You're doing SO well, your determination and hard work are such an inspiration. Thank you for being such a great example, and congratulations on your weight loss!

Speaking of loss, you look like you've lost YEARS in those pictures! So much more youthful looking, and obviously feeling more comfortable already in your new body. AWESOMESAUCE!!!

I love the new shirt Emily! Congratulations on your surgiversary too! I used to wear black a lot but since I've lost my weight I now LOVE colors and the brighter the better! B 1/2c steel cut oats with nuts and 1/2 banana with peanut butter L 3 Oz's ground beef left from last night and 1/2 c sweet potatoes with cinnamon S whole grain crackers with peanut butter D not sure yet but some sort of meat with steamed green beans S 3/4 c Greek yogurt with nuts. On track with vitamins and fluids. Exercise-30 minutes on treadmill at 4.2 miles per hour and 20 minutes on the bike. Have a good hump day everyone!

Karenp8, do you count calories or proteins? How far out are you? Thanks! 

I count both because I was not getting enough calories and my bmi got to the underweight range. My dietitian advised me to add some non white carbs back in and to weigh daily so I know where my weight is. I am 19 months out and started at 260. Today I weighed 121.4. If I don't keep an eye on it I can still lose a couple pounds a week. As long as I exercise about 45 minutes a day and eat small amounts every three hours I do great. I am so thankful for my surgery and have so much more energy now. 

Happy surgi-versary, Em! I'm totally in love with that new Gwynnie Bee shirt! It totally makes me want to start a subscription - but I've decided that my first priority has to be adding the expensive, but beautiful, new, and well stocked with classes I'm into and a pool, YMCA membership into my budget - then we'll see if there's room for Gwynnie Bee, LOL. 

Yesterday turned into a rough day for me and I experienced my first crazy emotional swing alla the hormone dump. My little 5 month old niece is having seizures. Her older sister had them at just this age and after finding the correct medication, took it for 6 months, was weaned off, and has not had another seizure - she's now 3. It's a little easier with the little one - we know what's happening, we know she isn't in pain while it's happening, we know, we know, we know, but it's still scary for sure. She's at the neurologist at CHOP as we speak and they have one of the best pediatric epilepsy programs in the country so I'm confident things will be cared for correctly - but it turned into a very stressful night for me. But as I blogged last evening, I didn't end the stressful day with a pint of ice cream or an entire pizza, so I gave myself a pat on the back for that.

I ended the day by trying out the Nectar Sweets Double Stuffed Cookie flavor and I was...nonplussed. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. I felt like it didn't have much taste to it - more just like the unsweetened almond milk. I'm going to try adding some stuff to it to see if I can up the flavor next time.

Today I graduate to my programs "Soft Foods" phase of eating! This means I can finally have fruits and veggies, string cheese (oh god, I've missed you, string cheese), yogurt with bits (!), and even some well toasted bread if I want it. I tried to have half of a half of an Arnold Thin this morning with my egg salad - I thought I was craving a crunch - but it turned out it didn't taste good to me at all so after two tiny bites, I tossed it. 

4 weeks, 1 day post RNY

B: egg salad, 2 bits of well toasted Arnold Thin

S: 8oz Nectar Lemon Tea Protein Shake

L: 1/4 FF refried beans, 1 tablespoon LF cheese, 1 teaspoon FF plain greek yogurt

S: 8oz Nector Roadside Lemonade protein shake, 1 stick 4C 2go Lemonade

D: 1/2 Light & Fit Peach Greek Yogurt

S: 8oz Nectar Double Stuffed Cookie protein shake made with unsweetened Almond milk and something to fancy it up

Calories: 580, Fat: 10.1g, Carbs: 24.4, Protein: 95.9g

My carbs are about 8-10 higher than usual, I'm doing a little experiment to see if upping my carbs a bit helps me have a little more energy. 

Anny, good for you for not turning to food because of stress! That's a shame about your niece, I hope they can come up the solution for her soon. When my son was four he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and had to have surgery, and was in the hospital for three weeks. Anything wrong with kids is scary, but brain stuff is especially freakout-causing. (Son is fine now, 18 years later, btw.)

Have fun exploring the world of soft foods! It's a nice step up, right?

Congratulations on controlling the urge to overeat when you were stressed. That is a struggle for me too. On the epilepsy, I have a son who was diagnosed with epilepsy at age three when he had a grand mal seizure at daycare. He was flown by helicopter to the children's hospital in St Louis and not expected to live through the night. Today he is a junior in college majoring in biology. He has some issues with memorization but has a B- average because he works hard and gets help when he needs it. He is getting ready to give a scientific presentation to the Illinois Academy of Sciences about the work he has done with the grass leaved lady tresses orchid which is endangered in most states in the United States. He and another student treated seeds with a fungus that they found in the roots of the plant in the wild and got seeds to germinate in 84 days. Previously and with the control group it took almost 2 years. So even if a diagnosis of epilepsy is found,it doesn't have to be a bad thing. My son's seizures are controlled now on meds and he has been seizure free for over three years. He probably will be on meds for life though because when we tried to wean last he had a seizure. I will be praying for doctors to be able help your nephew and for peace for the family.