5/6, 14, 22/05

Jun 11, 2009

5/6/05 - I'm 18 days out from surgery and doing fine. Blood sugar and
pressure remain normal, I'm 30 lbs. down and my walking is
progressing. I bought a pedometer to measure my distance. During my
previous post I was walking 1.5 mi., this week I'm up to 2 mi. and
just today I upped the routine to 2 mi. in the morning and 2 mi. in
the evening, the leg muscles are a little sore but I feel fine. I saw
Dr. Brader this past Tuesday for my 2 week visit and he was pleased
with my progress and lifted all restrictions. He told me when I work
out he wants me to sweat between the shoulder blades. Well I'm
sweating there and alot of other places too. This Monday I'll start
on pureed foods and begin using the local fitness center where I'll
meet with my personal trainer. I'm psyched.

5/14/05 - 26 days out, still doing well. I'm down to 305 (40 lbs.
down) and have stepped up my training. I saw the trainer at the
fitness center on Monday, was weighed, measured and tested on a
stationery bike (12 min.) for heart health. Felt good throughout. Was
also tested for flexibility (hamstrings and calves). My flexibility
was not even on the scale, these hammys of mine are tight, but I'll
work on loosening them up. I stayed after the appointment and used
the place for the first time. Thirty min. on the treadmill, a rest,
then 15 min. on the bike, a rest then 15 min. back on the treadmill.
A good workout, even better than just the walking I've been doing.
With the treadmill I can push myself by increasing the speed and the
incline. So I've been working out everyday day at the fitness center.
I had my 2nd appointment with the trainer yesterday and went over
treadmill and bike use as well as 3 resistance machines which will
aid in muscle tone. I'll continue the workouts once a day and fit in
a daily walk if I feel up to it. So far so good.

I had some food issues this week. I started pureed foods Monday,
basically the same texture of what I've been having for the past 2
weeks with some additions like apple sauce, instant mashed potatoes,
refried beans, tuna, eggbeaters. I tried lightly scrambled eggbeaters
on Tuesday. I used a butter sub. and the taste was foreign to me. I
finished them, kept them down, but it's not something I want to try
again. I had a similar experience with a chopped up hard boiled egg,
again not something I want to try again. I've heard all along that
your taste may change soon after surgery, but I hadn't  experienced
it due to the liquid stages. With these few solids I've tried - well
they made me feel like - I don't want to eat. And of course I've
rarely had that feeling. It's definitely strange. I'm still w/o
hunger, but I do remember to get in what I need (liqs, protein and
vits). I know hunger will return down the road, but this taste thing
is an adjustment. I tried a real scrambled egg on Thursday with real
butter and it tasted okay, not quite as I remember before surgery but
alot better than the earlier experiments. I can deal with that real
stuff - but only occassionally.

5/22/05 - I reached a milestone today. I am below 300 for the first
time in 10 years. Today I am 296 lbs. It's incredible to me. Now I've
been working my butt off, literally, since my 1st week out. I started
'slow' with the walks and kicked it up a notch 2 weeks ago with the
workouts. Now I'm working out 5-6 days a week, 2 hrs. a day.
Treadmill, stationery bike, elliptical trainer and every other day I
add weight resistance training (low weight, many reps) to help
preserve my muscle mass as I lose the fat. I still have quite a ways
to go to 200, my initial goal or 180, my ultimate, but I'll be
smiling and sweating all the way.

No real food issues this last week. I start soft foods on Monday for
a week and then I'm back to regular food. I'll deal with any taste
changes. The progress I've made in weight loss override any food
issues. My mindset concerning food has changed for now where it's
about getting just enough in for adequate fuel and metabolism burn.
This attitude may change in time but I'll always have to battle my
food demons and keep them at bay - everyday.

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