Virus Sent Me a New Pic! Much Better Than the 1st One!

Dec 05, 2007



I think her thighs are slimmer in this one! Another classic pic!

RNY vs DS - From Lola!

Dec 03, 2007

It never ceases to amaze me that one persons reason for getting a particular surgery, is another persons reason to NOT get that surgery.

RNY - I got the surgery so I'd dump and the fear of that would keep me away from sugar.
DS - I got the surgery so that I wouldn't dump.

RNY - I needed the restriction to correct my relationship with food.
DS - I didn't want the restriction because I want to enjoy my relationship with food.

RNY - I wanted/needed to change my eating habits.
DS - I've dieted my whole life -- I want to quit dieting.

RNY - I'm sick of dieting and failing.
DS - I'm sick of dieting and failing.

RNY - I want a tool that I can work.
DS - I want a surgery that does the work.

RNY - I didn't want to be able to cheat the surgery.
DS - I want to be able to 'cheat' from time to time.

RNY - I want to be healthy.
DS - I want to be healthy.

RNY - I didn't want someone cutting off my stomach.
DS - I don't want a blind stomach.

RNY - I don't want to have to eat massive amounts of food.
DS - I want to be able to eat what I want.

RNY - I needed to change my habits.
DS - I've been trying to change my habits my whole life!

RNY - I never want to eat sugar or fat again!
DS - I don't want sugar and fat to be 'off-limits'.

The best choice is an informed choice!


The Numbers!

Nov 20, 2007

A very smart DSer told me to take my measurements preop so I could compare the numbers postop. A painful practice preop but what a joy postop! So here they are:

                      Pre             Post           Change
Foot             9.75"          9"                -0.75"
Ankle         11.25"          9"                -2.25"
Calf            18.25"        14.75"          -3.50"
Knee          21.00"       16.00"          -5.00"
L.Thigh      23.00"       18.00"          -5.00"
M.Thigh     29.50"       21.75"          -7.75"
U.Thigh     33.00"       24.75"          -9.25"
Hips           54.25"       41.50"          -8.75"
Waist         48.00"       33.00"         -18.00"     
Bust          49.25"       39.75"           -9.50"
Chest        47.00"       36.50"          -9.50"    (under arms)
Neck         17.00"       15.50"          -1.50"
Wrist           7.25"         6.00"           -1.25"
Forearm    12.50"      10.50"          -2.00"
Bicep         17.50"      12.25"          -5.25"

Total inches lost - 89.25" (YAY!)
(More if I'd measured in more places! :)
* Preops take your measurements! You'll be amazed!





Read Em and Weep!

Oct 17, 2007

I AM NORMAL! IN FACT, I'M ON THE LOW SIDE OF NORMAL!

# Weight Loss Total Loss BMI %EWL Total %EWL
0 272.0 lbs 0 lbs 0 lbs 39.0 0 0.0%
1 241.5 lbs -30.5 lbs -30.5 lbs 34.6 -23.1% -23.1%
2 224.0 lbs -17.5 lbs -48.0 lbs 32.1 -13.3% -36.4%
3 216.0 lbs -8.0 lbs -56.0 lbs 31.0 -6.1% -42.4%
4 207.0 lbs -9.0 lbs -65.0 lbs 29.7 -6.8% -49.2%
5 191.0 lbs -16.0 lbs -81.0 lbs 27.4 -12.1% -61.4%
6 182.0 lbs -9.0 lbs -90.0 lbs 26.1 -6.8% -68.2%
7 176.0 lbs -6.0 lbs -96.0 lbs 25.3 -4.5% -72.7%
8 171.0 lbs -5.0 lbs -101.0 lbs 24.5 -3.8% -76.5%
9 170.0 lbs -1.0 lbs -102.0 lbs 24.4 -0.8% -77.3%
10 168.0 lbs -2.0 lbs -104.0 lbs 24.1 -1.5% -78.8%
11 155.0 lbs -13.0 lbs -117.0 lbs 22.2 -9.8% -88.6%
  TOTAL -117 lbs  

Phylo Wrapped Asparagus

Sep 18, 2007

Phyllo Wrapped Asparagus
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
See this recipe on air Wednesday Sep. 19 at 1:00 PM ET/PT.
8 or 9 asparagus spears, depending on size
1/2 (16-ounce) package frozen phyllo dough sheets, thawed
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus. Unwrap the phyllo and cut the stack in half lengthwise. Reserve 1 stack for later use. Cover the phyllo with a damp towel to keep it from drying out. Take 1 sheet of phyllo and brush lightly with some melted butter. Sprinkle with some Parmesan. Place 2 to 3 asparagus spears on the short end of the sheet. Roll up, jelly-roll style. Place each piece, seam side down, on a baking sheet. Brush with more melted butter and sprinkle with more Parmesan. Repeat until all the asparagus spears are used up. Place baking sheet in oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.


Jule's Cheesecake

May 28, 2007

Here are the basics for the cheesecake recipe:

3 8 oz pkgs of cream cheese
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup measureable Splenda
4 eggs
1 tbs vanilla

Mix cream cheese till smooth, beat eggs, mix it all together

Okay - here's where I improvised:   I added 4 TBS of General Foods Sugar Free Suisse Mocha drink mix.   Now, you could bascially add any thing here - I'm going to try lime extract or juice next time, and grated lime peel because I love lime.

I also made a low-carb crust.   I only eyeballed quantities here - so please forgive

About 1 cup walnuts, chopped fine
1/2 stick butter melted
1/2 cup Atkins baking mix (you can also use Vanilla whey powder or unflavored whey powder - i've seen that in some recipes too)
A couple of TBS of Splenda

Melt the butter, add the walnuts and bake mix and such and press into the bottom of a pan.  I did not use a spring form pan, I used an 8 x 8 baking dish.   

Put the baking dish in a larger dish filled half-way with water.  Bake at 350 for one hour.    This was REALLY simple, and you can make it completely crustless if you don't want the bother of chopping almonds.   MMMMMMMMMM!

Jeanie's Low Carb Flax Chips

Apr 30, 2007

FLAX CHIPS

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes

30 g (about 1/3 cup)     flaxmeal
10 g (2 tbsp)                parmesan cheese, finely grated
 5 g (a scant teaspoon) salt 
90 g (about 1/3 cup)     water, approximate
generous grinds of fresh pepper

Preheat oven to 350.  

Mix dry ingredients well.  Add water in two-tablespoon increments, stirring with a fork or whisk, until the mixture just becomes pourable, but still very thick.  

Drop the mixture by spoonfuls, well separated, onto a sprayed or greased nonstick cookie sheet.  Teaspoons will make crackers, tablespoons will make "dipping chips."

Spread the mounds of batter very thinly with an offset spatula.  Try to spread them as thinly as possible without gaps appearing in the batter.  They will not rise or spread during baking.

Place on the center rack of the preheated oven and cook for 15 minutes.  Remove from the oven and flip each chip or cracker with a thin spatula (if the batter clings to the cookie sheet, bake for five minutes more and try again).  Bake another 10 minutes.  

Eat immediately with a dip or spread, or store in an airtight container.

Makes two servings.

7.7 g carbs, 4.4 g fiber, for 3.3 net carbs per serving.


5 Months Out

Apr 08, 2007

April 2nd was my 5th month surgiversary. I couldn't get in to see my doctor, who usually weighs me, so I hopped on my home scale. I couldn't believe what I saw - it read 191 lbs. That would be a 16 lb loss for month 5. Holy Smokes! Onederland!!!

Since I really don't know how accurate my home scale is and there may be a big difference between it and my doctor's scales, I was in a bit of a dilemma if I should claim it or not. The girls on the DS forum said I should, so I did. But keeping in mind that it might have to be adjusted when I am officially weighed at my doctor's. For now it just feels darned good! It's been so long since I was under 200 lbs.

I've had a couple of Wow's this month. I moved to a smaller socket on my prosthetic leg. I feel a bit like a hermit crab moving to a smaller shell. Already that socket is too loose and it badly in need of adjustment again - an excellent sign that the weight is coming off. 

I fit into a pair of very small size 18 designer type fashionable jeans this week. I had bought them a while ago but they were too tight for a long time. I wore them to work and everyone has been noticing my weight loss. It makes me feel both happy and uncomfortable. Weird combination! 

I am feeling much more energetic. My feet and knees no longer hurt when I have to stand too long. I am walking much better. I also find myself taking more pride in my appearance and care in terms of dressing, putting on make up, jewellery, etc. I just feel more girlie. 

My biggest challenges this month have been keeping up with my prosthetic leg, that continuously feels loose and in need of adjustment. (I won't complain too much about this one though!) 

My hair is still falling out in handfuls, but I have a ton of hair which I constantly had to have thinned out before, so having less of it has been nice for me. 

My last challenge is the most serious. I still find it difficult to get all of my protein in and I just hate the supplements. I am going to try the IDS Protein Bullets, as soon as I can find someone who isn't sold out. I figure on the days that my protein is low, I can always hold my nose and chug one of these as insurance. 

I am so happy and grateful that I had the DS! It has literally changed my life!


4 Month Update

Mar 05, 2007

I'm just over 4 months out and I feel fantastic! I weighed in with my PCP today at 207 lbs, which is a 9 lb loss for month 4, and a total of 65 lbs total. My BMI is sitting between 30 and 31, which is at the low end of Obese. I'm hoping to reach Onderland by next month and, if I'm really lucky, I might even reach the high end of Overweight. 

Good things this month (sounds like Martha Stewart):

My blood pressure is now normal, my clothing is starting to get really baggy, I've re-discovered my ribcage, I'm on the last hole of my "fat" belt, my eating is going much better (although I still find some protein, some of the time, difficult), I can tolerate most foods, and the secretary at work told me that my weight loss is "really noticeable", which was nice since most people still haven't said anything to me. (I think they are afraid of me!)

The bumps in the road:

I had an emergency visit to the ER on February 8th due to abdominal/chest pain, which turned out to be due to constipation. I was really surprised by this diagnosis because I thought I had been going normally and I didn't feel backed up. In hindsight, I think it was my fault since I had missed a dose of my iron supplement and decided to double it up the next day, plus took tylenol 3 for pain. Big mistake! Don't do this! 

After a thorough clean out, I am now paying much more attention to my BMs and, if needed, I have a bottle of stool softners I will take to get things moving along. 

To add insult to injury, I had an allergic reaction to the drugs from the CT Scan and broke out in a rash all over my torso that itched like MAD! To make things worse, the doctor prescribed prescription strength Reactine, which made me dizzy, sleepy and generally whacked out of my skull. So more time off work! Thank goodness for my sick bank.

The only other thing that I have noticed is my hair is falling out. Not the end of the world because I have extremely thick hair. My skin is quite dry. Nothing a little lotion can't handle. I am still suffering from acne, but the doc says it's hormonal and it should resolve once my weight loss slows or stops. I will take the zits as long as my weight loss keeps going!

So I am still hoping and praying that I keep going as I have been. My old dieting mentality has been rearing it's ugly head lately, making me think that, "It's too good to be true." I keep expecting to stall out at any moment and fail, as I always have. But I am trying my best to have faith and let the DS do it's job. 

Thanks so much everyone for your advice and support. I am very grateful for this forum and everyone one of you!

3 Month Update!

Feb 04, 2007

Hello Friends! 

I just passed my 3 month surgiversary and lost another 8 lbs! That's a total of 56 lbs in 3 months or 44% of my EWL! 

With a goal weight of 145 lbs (half way between 128 and 162), I need to lose a total of 127 lbs. I don't know at this point if this is realistic or not, but it is something to shoot for anyway! If I were to reach any weight between 128 and 162, I will be extremely happy and will have nothing to complain about! 

Some Wow's for me this month!

I have gone from a size 24 to an 18! Yay!
I no longer take Nexium for acid reflux!
I am walking so much better!
Someone at work noticed that I lost weight! (finally!)
I am fitting into chairs that used to be a squeeze preop!
The DH told me that I am looking HOT! (hahaha!)
My energy is good and I am starting to find getting in my protein (90g/day) much easier!

I have to admit that initially I was a bit disappointed with only losing 8 pounds this month but I quickly came out of it! My doc reminded me that the 8 lbs is really only for 3 weeks because I weighed in a week late last month due to the doctor's office being closed for the holidays. So my 2nd month loss is probably inflated and my 3 month loss is less than what it would have been. Still, it is easy to get spoiled by those double digit losses in the first few months. 8 lbs is still a very respectable loss!


About Me
Barrie, ON
Location
40.2
BMI
DS
Surgery
11/02/2006
Surgery Date
Apr 10, 2006
Member Since

Friends 94

Latest Blog 22
Virus Sent Me a New Pic! Much Better Than the 1st One!
RNY vs DS - From Lola!
The Numbers!
Read Em and Weep!
Phylo Wrapped Asparagus
Jule's Cheesecake
Jeanie's Low Carb Flax Chips
5 Months Out
4 Month Update
3 Month Update!

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