cleo66

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Today is 8 weeks since WLS and I've lost 49.5# total.  I'm getting into the realm of weighing less than the last time I dieted, so it's like uncharted waters.  It also means I have very few clothes left to wear.  I wonder how long I can get away with wearing my mother of the groom outfit?  Do you think I'd get funny looks wearing it to work? I don't know why, but I'm not over the edge excited about my weight loss.I'm scared of what to do when LB clothes don't fit anymore.  I'm afraid regular sizes won't fit either.  I'm also afraid I'll do something to sabotage myself as I approach the magic 199# -- which is what I've done with all previous diets -- just couldn't last long enough to get below 200#. 

Anyway---I had knee surgery last Thursday.  I had a large medial tear of the meniscus and a smaller tear on the outside.  Both were cleaned up and stray bits of torn cartilage removed.  Routine operation, but I was in more pain than with WLS.  The only thing worse with WLS was the general anesthesia.  At least with knee surgery I was alert and with it a couple of hours afterward.

So, my DS got here the night before and stayed with me until yesterday.  She was a trouper, fetching and carrying for me and only bumped my leg once!  The family could never figure out how she would ever do primary care nursing as she is soooooo clumsy.  But we made it through and I'm now hobbling with occasional support of a walker.  I'm trying to do the bending and flexing exercises, but it really brings on the pain.  I'm going to make sure I use the heating pad before exercising and perhaps take a percoset, too.  I've been having to take 2 percoset in the middle of the night because I wake with left hip/butt pain, which coupled with right knee pain keeps me from getting comfortable enough to get to sleep.  I'm feeling the pain during the day, too.  I hope as I can do more during the day, the hip pain will subside.  I also notice my left knee starting to hurt as I walk more - probably because I'm favoring the right knee.  Does it ever end?  I need a sip from the fountain of youth!

My sister and I tried on wedding outfits for each other while she was here.  She really did a good job for herself and found a long light blue dress and duster for the rehearsal dinner and a dark burgundy/bronze dress and jacket for the wedding.  I loaned her a handmade purse for the wedding and she loaned me a blue topaz and diamond necklace to go with my wedding outfit.  Too bad my sari hasn't arrived so she could see me in that too.  She also took a bunch of slacks that were too big for me and some blouses and pants suits, too.  I hope she's able to stay with Weight Watchers and lose some more weight, too.  She finally got cortisone and hyaluronic acid shots in both knees and all knee pain is gone.  Thank goodness!  My SIL and I had been telling her for 2 years to go to the doctor.  It's nice not having her unable to do anything - even stand for a couple of minutes - and constantly rubbing her knees, as if that helped anything! Oh well, water under the bridge...

Weight loss picked up the past week - 5 lbs versus 1 or 2 the previous weeks.  No problems getting in protein, liquids, food or vitamins.  I'm averaging 700-800 calories and over 100 g of protein per day (60% protein, 20% carb, 20% fat).

I found an outfit for the wedding in a size 18.  The top is a dark teal waist length fitted jacket.  The skirt is an A-line bisque (gold-tan) tea-length taffeta. My sari should be here in about 10 days, then I'll be set.

Knee surgery is this week (Aug 9).  The spare room is all set for my sister who is coming Wednesday evening to stay with me through the surgery. Her nursing skills will be put to the test!  The fridge is full of food for her Weight Watcher's diet and my high protein foods.  She better eat those WW ice cream bars before she leaves or take them with her! 

She also said she can't wait to see me and asked if I am now skinny.  I told her no I'm still fat with a big ole tummy.  It will be interesting to see what she thinks.  I'm wondering if I'll be like others who get to their goal and still think of themselves as fat.  I feel much better, but I still don't like how I look in the mirror.  My butt and legs are definitely smaller but the arms, chin and middle are still so big or flabby that I get discouraged.

I am now best friends with Laughing Cow Lite cheeses and Fage yogurt with SF preserves and Splenda. The cheese is so creamy and the yogurt tastes like dessert! Thank you to my OH friends for recommending high protein safe foods!

This is the end of 6 weeks post-op and included my birthday.  I was lucky enough to celebrate twice.  Once with dinner and concert in the park with friends , and a second time this weekend with my son, his fiancee and her family. Two meals at restaurants showed me I still am not an expert at the eating routines.  I eat too fast when I'm interacting with others and Saturday I even forgot not to drink while eating!  I ordered unsweetened tea while waiting for lunch and sipped it twice before remembering!  Then my meal was a bit dry and sat heavy in my stomach, but everything digested, stayed down, and I was fine.

I finally got a photo to upload to my profile.  First I had to figure out how to upload it, then the file size was too big and it wouldn't upload.  Found a jpg resizing program to use as a free trial, so I was able to upload it.  Now I find the gremlins in charge of websites squished the photo to fit into their little space and my face is even wider than it is in reality!  Oh, well, "I yam what I yam."

The photo was taken at my nephew's wedding in March 2007 when I weighed 262 lbs. I have some other photos from the wedding that I'll try to post. No pix yet of me now at 228 lbs, but I'll try to post one from 2004 when I weighed about 220 lbs.  I guess I could go into the photo archives and scan one of me at a not-obese weight, too, for comparison.  Only trouble is those pictures would show me in my 20s!  Even if my weight gets there, my face and body won't.  What's an old broad to do?

Anyway, medical progress report:
I've had no eating problems and am now on the progression diet (regular, real foods). Weight is dropping VERY slowly even though I get 90-100+ g of protein and 6-8 glasses of liquids every day and I'm exercising at the gym 4-5 days each week.  At my 1 month check up the nutritionist and the doctor said I needed to increase my calories from the 600/day I was averaging to 800+, with a goal of getting to 1000/day. The doctor also released me for strength training with weights again. That will make the boring cardio a bit more palatable at least. I had a fitness evaluation that showed I was below the norm for fitness.  Big surprise, huh?

Trying to get a mother of the groom dress for September 1 is interesting.  How much weight will I have lost?  What size do I buy?  I know now I'll still be in a plus size (drat!), but maybe after knee surgery on August 9 I'll be able to wear some fancy shoes with that fat dress!

I'll be set for the rehearsal dinner at least.  My future daughter-in-law, Sahar, is taking me sari shopping since it will be a Muslim wedding (her heritage is Pakistani).  The tailor will make the under-blouse and skirt from my measurements and Sahar assures me no one will faint when they see my measurements!

All in all, except that I have a scar and can only eat 3 oz at a time, I forget I had surgery.  Once I get below 200 lbs, I think I'll really start getting excited.  Right now, I focus on the fact that the pounds I've lost since March WILL NOT RETURN! 

It's been 2 weeks and 1 day since surgery.  Had my first post-op visit yesterday and I'm doing well.  G-tube removed (much easier than the JP tube!).  Lost a total of 24 lbs.  I'm not all that excited about the weight loss because it doesn't show and I don't feel it yet.  I don't think I'll feel it until another 20 lbs are gone.  That will get me down to where I was 3 years ago.  Then all weight loss from that point will be thrilling!  Anyway, the doctor was pleased that I had re-started exercising (treadmill, bike, elliptical), but won't approve any strength training with weights for several more weeks.  I knew exercise that affected abs would be out (I still feel the stress there), but I was hoping for arms and legs at least.  He was also amazed that I consistently got in the water and protein.  Well, I'm a rule follower, what can I say?  Plus I don't want to lose hair!

Two days at work and at 8 pm both nights I felt like a deflated balloon.  Not sleepy, but TIRED!

Great news!  I made plans for a BEACH VACATION in October!  I haven't been to the beach in a dozen years and really miss it.  Ooooo- I can't wait!

Tomorrow is my first day back to work.  It's probably a good thing that I'll only work 6 or 7 hours (depending on what time I can get there) since I have my first post-op visit at 2:30 pm.  Having a day off mid-week will help, too.

I think I've lost another 3 or 4 lbs this past week.  We'll see...Anyway I've lost the weight I gained since last summer, so I deposited a bunch of blouses and slacks in the spare room.  I'll get them packed up and take them to Goodwill next week.  I only have one more size down before I have to buy clothes.

Mowed the lawn this afternoon and trying to get a little housework done.  Then it's on to ironing the week's clothes for work and packing my lunch for tomorrow.  Oh, that's right, lunch is water and protein powder - what a time saver! 

My son announced his wedding date - September 1.  I was hoping for another month or two to really get firmly below 200 lbs, but I already had my chance to set a wedding date.  This is his chance and I'm so happy I could scream!

It's cottage cheese, fat-free refried beans, and pureed fish!!!! Can't wait for Monday to come for first post-op appt.  I'll be VERY disappointed if I don't get to move from liquids only to soft/pureed foods!  I've been taking vitamins every day, getting in a minimum of 8 glasses of water, 90-100 g protein, and exercising.  I'm only up to 1.75 miles/30 min, but I feel stronger everyday and know I'll get back to my 3 miles soon.  Also looking forward to re-starting fitness training.  Don't know when that will come.  I guess I'll find out next week.  I still feel like I have a small length of 2x4 behind my surgical incision, but I really only feel it when I bend over or sitting in the car.  

I've been working from home this week a couple hours/day (just keeping up with e-mail) and am looking forward to going to the office full time next week -- I think.  I already have a 2-night/2-day trip planned for the week after.  Just to northern VA (no planes, thank goodness) and will get to see my son and his fiancee, which is really the only reason I'm going!  I have to be back in town by 5:30 pm July 11 for my first WLS post-op nutrition class and support group meeting.

Now I don't know which is worse: having no hunger and trying to get the protein and fluids in or having hunger that the protein and fluids don't make go away.  Went to sleep last night and woke up this morning hungry. Yogurt (2 Tbs) and protein shake (8 oz) have not made a difference.  I'm not "craving" food; I just feel empty and my stomach is growling a bit.  Also, I'm not sleeping well probably because I'm not getting enough activity in.  Can't do much walking because my right knee is still swollen/tender and hurts. Short walks to the mail box and back and around the back yard watering new landscaping is about it.  Also, since I'm home alone, if I want it I walk to get it.  Does that count?  I go to the orthopedic surgeon Wed to get the results of the MRI.  If surgery is advised, do I get it now when the weight will make hopping up and down stairs impossible or do I wait until I lose another 20 lbs so I can actually maneuver on 1 leg and crutches? I'm leaning toward sooner rather than later.  I want to get back to exercising ASAP.  As soon as exercise other than walking is approved by WLS surgeon, I'll be in the fitness center re-starting weight training at least.

I never expected to be sooooooo sleepy!  How do you get 64 oz of fluid in when you're only awake a couple of hours each day?  The first day post-op in the hospital I was hardly awake at all (even when it took three different people 3 tries to get blood from my right arm - I'm lefthanded).  I took a night mask with me (I need it DARK) and most times staff came in I kept it on and let them do their thing.  I did manage to take it off for the doctor (man he starts early!), but afterward seeing how it made me look (think Wanda Sykes during a brief electrocution!), I shouldn't have even made the effort.  I was also brought a liquids tray the evening of the first day post-op.  What a joke. Jello that I don't think was sugar free and full strength apple juice.  A couple of tastes of each told me not to even open up the broth.  Oh - good thing they provided me a straw in case I wanted to drink lying down!  I did get in 4 laps around the floor and 4 oz of protein drink. Home yesterday I got in all the protein and 6.5 cups of fluid.  No vitamins.  Doctor also prescribes Pepcid 2x day, but I can't seem to be able to crush the tablet and am not about to try to swallow them.  Have to call the office to ask advice.  This morning I've had 4 oz protein and 2 Tbs non-fat low-sugar vanilla yogurt (w/crushed Claritin).  Sipping on water; want to make some Crystal Light. I'm on my way!

Oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy! The suitcase is packed; my ride to the hospital arranged; and the housework and laundry done.  It's about halfway through the clear liquids only day (I think my tongue is frozen from all the SF popsicles!) and I'm ready to GO! Sure hope I can actually sleep tonight!