Gina F.
8 weeks post-op pics!
Nov 25, 2008
I have about 30 lb to goal, so I am working hard on advancing my exercise program. I am really starting to feel stronger, and happier when I go. I get a charge and miss it on my off days. I think I will eventually add more days than the 3 I go per week eventually...
Messing up a bit!
Nov 23, 2008
I am a little worried because I have been adding in carbs and in my opinion eating too many carbs the past couple of days! So that is another thing I plan to watch this next week. It is back to my plate and tracking everything so I do not get off task!!!
Here was today's menu...
B- nothing (opps again)
L- 10 sour cream & onion soy crisps and 1/2 cup of Lf black beans14g
s-2 Sf candies
D- 1/2 Taco Bell Bean burrito 7g
S- Other 1/2 of burrito 7g
Midnight Snack (because I was so short on protien today)- Protein Shake 30g
Totals-
Protein 57g
Water 56oz
Vitamins- good
no exercise today
Much better!
Nov 21, 2008
Things have gotten a lot better since I last posted. I have been able to eat more, exercise more, and I feel better. The hemorrhoids are even a lot better even though they are still not gone.
I have been trying some different foods and I have temporarily stopped tracking everything I eat. I have decided for now if I continue to loose wt. I am going to trust my body and eat when I am hungry. I am eating a protein shake every morning. Then I eat lunch & dinner depending on what I want. If I get hungry I eat a South Beach 10g protein bar. I can eat nuts, chicken (especially if it is moist and in something else), & beans. I ate 1/2 of a South Beach Santa Fe Rice n' Beans frozen meal for lunch yesterday. I have added some carbs into my diet. One thing I discovered the other day is Soy Crisps (sour cream & onion) with black beans on them (like a dip). That was the tastiest thing I have had yet! Yummy! I am pretty sure I am averaging 800 cal per day & eating at least 60mg of protein most days. I always take beano with my beans to help with the gas & I am having to take milk of magnesia every other day to keep my BM's soft. Nothing else seems to do the trick and I have tried just about everything! I guess until I add more veggies into my diet that is just going to have to be the routine. It is gross stuff, but I get it down. I take a ton of supplements (as we all do). I guess the reality did not set in until well after surgery! But, it is becoming a routine and I am actually healthier than everyone else around here. I am the only one who has not had a cold or flu... So, that is great!
I am so sore from exercising, but I know it will get better. I go to the gym 3 days per week now. I do around 45 minutes of cardio (if I can handle it) then I do a lot of stretching and crunches. I am avoiding the wts. too much right now, because just pushing myself on the cardio machines is making me really sore! I am seeing a difference in my body. I can actually see my collar bones a little & my upper ribs that I did not even know I had above my boobs! My legs are changing a lot too, my thighs are actually starting to indent in the middle... it seems weird!
My husband is so sweet. He is always calling me skinny and telling me how great I look. Last night we were snuggling in bed and he asked me "where did you go"? It was funny because I felt a lot smaller too (curves were they should be). I told him before too long he will be able to pick me up like a rag doll and move me which ever way he wants in bed! lol! That will be kind of fun!!!
Food is still weird. Sometimes I could care less about it and other times I miss it. I guess that is normal. Sometimes I am really disappointed that when I do sit down to eat food it does not taste the same or as great as I remember it. But, I have discovered new stuff that I love too, so it all will work out.
I can't believe that I am down to 182 and the realization that I will soon be in the 170's & then to goal is crazy to me! I changed from a size 16 in jeans to a size 14 in less than 2 weeks. That was weird and a waste of money! I thrift shop, but I will not wear clothes that are too large and baggy on me. I intend to enjoy every stage of this and I refuse to look like a slob getting there. A couple pair of pants, a few shirts, and a skirt is all I need at each stage. The work out clothes are stretchy so I can wear those for a while until the draw sting does not hold them up anymore! lol!I am not sure that I will buy more than one new pair of pants in the size 14 though. I have a feeling I will love the size 12 so much that I am saving up for that size! lol!
I still get dizzy when I get up too fast. The Dr. told me that will lessen in time as I can drink more water. I went back to my big cup with a straw and that is helping a lot with the water. The straw causes me no problems at this point. I would not have tired it earlier but around 6 weeks I was sick of sipping! I am a straw girl all the way. What every makes me drink more water. I do not drink Crystal Light or anything except my protein shake and water. I only like water and pretty much was that way before surgery too. A lot has stayed the same (which I am grateful for). I can drink ice cold water, which I have always loved. I was worried it would hurt me. It does not bother me a bit! The first few weeks I craved warm herbal tea, but not anymore. I think this is the best thing for me, so I am grateful that I am still a water girl.
I have finally started cooking! I stayed away from the kitchen as much as possible in the beginning. But, I am feeling more comfortable now that I can try more things. I made meatballs Sunday to go with our spaghetti & salad. Then last night I made a big pot of ham hock & 15 bean soup. I added some potatoes and carrots. I can eat about 1/2 of a cup at a time and it is yummy!
So, that is my update. I will post again soon!
Things not going well???
Nov 12, 2008
Protein Shake
Protein bars
nuts (chewed well)
cottage cheese
string cheese
Sometimes I can eat a little chicken salad (full of fat from Safeway)
I can eat just about anything in the stage 1 and 2 of course but rarely do because they are not nutrient dense.
The past few days I have not even tracked my food because I know I am not eating enough, and when I eat something that hurts I have thrown it up. I can't take the pain when that happens. So, I am recommitting myself to writing everything down no matter what and going back to the shakes if I have to in order to get my calories and my protein in right now. I am also out of cottage cheese so I need to go to the store to get some more. That is a good easy source for me to eat. My Dr. is just going to have to be patient with me, and so am I...
I am extremely happy with my wt. loss, it is weird to want to loose as much as possible right now but at the same time to worry that I only have 30 more pounds to loose. I worry that if I can;t start getting good solid protein sources in that I will end up loosing too much and look under wt. I know a lot of people on OH would probably think I was crazy for worrying about that, and maybe I am. But, I want to be a healthy wt. not over or under wt. For once in my life I want to be just right and healthy!
I guess if I ate the way I am for the rest of my life plus added calories with some carbs it would not be the end of the world, but I wonder will I ever be able to eat real food again. Like a chicken taco or a even a few bites of a steak dinner???
The worst thing is that I am on my period and I have the worst case of hemroids ever! It hurts really bad! The only other time I had these was after my daughter was born 3 years ago. They are really bad, thrombosed in fact and I am not sure they are going to go away. I have not called the Dr. because it is so embarrassing! But, I am afraid I can't take it too much longer. I am doing everything! Creams, sitz baths, suppositories, even ice suppositories. OMG! It hurts! I am taking MOM to keep everything soft but that is not helping and won't until they go down. Being up at all sitting or standing is painful, so I must call my Dr!!!
I can't think of anything they can do except cut them off and OMG that will be so much pain! No wonder I do not feel like eating. Even my shakes make me feel nauseated these past few days!
Well, I will keep this updated more. WLS is not easy, who ever says it is is absolutely lying!
Update pictures and letter! 11-4-08
Nov 04, 2008
It has been six weeks since my surgery and I thought I would send out a quick update. I got my energy back at 4 weeks to the day and I am now doing fabulous! I have lost 28 lb in the last 6 weeks and a total of 56 lb since the beginning of this year. I feel a little better everyday and I am hopeful that I will reach my goal wt. within the next 6 months. I still have another 42lb to get to the goal my doctor and I set for my height. It was a very scary decision to have this surgery, but I am feeling hopeful and encouraged that this is the tool I have needed for wt. loss, good health, and decreased pain (with the back pain issues I have had for so many years). I just started back at the gym yesterday and I am sore, but so happy to be back! I can't wait to get my body strong and toned up! This will enable me to not only look and feel better, but be able to take better care of my kids (especially Juliana)! So, I am taking everything day by day, and so far I have had no problems what so ever. The psychology of not being able to eat like I used to is very strange, but it is getting easier and in time things will balance out in that department…
The pictures above are of me and my sister Michelle who is pregnant with twin boys! We traveled to Utah this past weekend for her baby shower. It was so great to see my sisters, grandmother, Aunt & Uncle and all of my cousins! We had a Halloween party on Friday night, then Saturday was the baby shower. This is why my sister is dressed like a cow, with utters! Soon she will be feeding twins!!! I can't believe my baby sister is having babies! I am so excited, yet so sad that I will not be closer to watch them grow up… I wish we could move there, but we just can't, so we will just have to visit as much as possible and send lots of pictures!
I have more pictures to send of my beautiful babies, Valerie, and others, but I have to upload them off of my camera. Sean had the girls for Halloween here while I went to Utah. He did great and the girls looked adorable in their costumes! I am planning on starting a blog so I can keep everyone updated, but this week is too crazy to do it really. Juliana is having dental surgery today, I have to work in Bethany's classroom, get ready for a huge event I am running this weekend, and then a party that night! Whew! I am not sure I am going to be able to stand the next day on my own 2 feet!
I am sorry I have not written some of you back sooner to give you an update, it seems that since I got my groove back I hit the ground running and have not stopped! Thank you each for your love, well wishes, and support!
Things are good...
Oct 25, 2008
10-25-08
Wow, I have not written in 10 days! That is a long time for me! Things have been going well. I still have had no major complications and I have gotten a lot of my energy back. I still have my moments in the day that I feel crappie but that usually means I have not eaten or drank enough. When I do everything right I feel fine. It is when I wait too long to eat (I will not feel hungry then when I do I feel like I am starving) that I get into the most trouble. I will eat too fast or just a bite too much and then I hurt. Or if I try to take even a tiny sip of water right after a meal, it hurts then too. So, if I break the rules I pay for it! These are all habits that I did not break before surgery, so I am still in learning mode. I am getting better, especially with the water. I thought I could never stop drinking with my meals no matter what my Dr. told me. I drank tons of water with my meal my whole life. Now, I do not even bring water to the table 99% of the time. I did practice everything before surgery, but I was a little stubborn with the one area. I thought drinking water is a good thing. I do not drink, smoke, drink soda, or any of the other stuff they told me not to do. What can water hurt? Well, it hurts me unless I wait the 30 minutes. By then sometimes I forget to sip, sip, sip and I get behind on the water intake big time. I have always hated to drink from a glass. I love to drink my water ice cold from an am/pm cup with the big straw before surgery. So, guess what I did yesterday? I busted out my insulated cup and carefully tried to drink from a straw…no pain! So, I tired a little more later in the day kind of conscious gulps… still no pain! I later tired to drink too much and got a little pain, but over all I am drinking way more water with the straw than I was with the glass. I am so happy because it hurt so bad to even drink much water at once a week or two ago. Now I can get more in at once, it stays cold the way I like it and my pee is getting lighter in color (TMI I know)!
So have been listening to my body and some things are working better for me than others. One thing I did and still do sometimes is; I eat smaller amounts every couple of hours. This was some advice I shared with another OH member when about when I was on full liquids. So, I would eat some cottage cheese (2oz) then whenever I could I would have a sf Jell-O cup or sf pudding or what ever. Maybe that would be 30 minutes later or an hour or 2... It just depended. I know some people are very strict from the very beginning and only eat those 3 meals, but at your stage that is impossible! My Dr. told me to watch the scrambled eggs because people have problems with them. He said I would be better off poaching my egg at first. I bought a microwave poacher and it works great! I can only eat one egg at a time still, but with salt and a little pepper it tasted pretty good!
Some foods are going to sit better with you than others and everyone is different. I did not like the cream soups I only tried them once. I really enjoyed the cottage cheese the most when I was at your stage. It is funny because the kind we got was from Costco and I hated it before surgery. It was too creamy! Now with salt and a little pepper it was really good. Our taste buds can really change. I made some pumpkin pudding and I can't even eat it. I tried making the pumpkin protein shake and I could not take it! Yuck! Pumpkin was what I thought I wanted; it is my favorite food this time of year. I am going to make a sf pumpkin pie for thanksgiving, but I bet I won't like that either! It is weird cuz I LOVE pumpkin pie!
I have major problems with eating too fast. The biggest problem with it is you do not have time to listen to your pouch and before you know it, you have taken one bite too many. Once you do that it is over... PAIN! For some people it is vomiting. I did vomit tonight, but when I do I only vomit a little to relieve the pain and discomfort (this was only my second time since I had surgery). I tried some meat and it was not tender enough. The best thing I have been able to add is protein bars. I feel as if I can now travel and be out and about. If I start to feel hungry I just eat a south beach bar (protein) or 1/2 of a think thin bar. I chew it very well and do not drink with it no matter how bad I want too! I will eat something and then take a tiny sip and then I move from comfortable to pain! It is weird... Everyday is a new learning experience. I just can totally relate to the eating fast thing. I have rarely taken 30 minutes to eat since surgery. There is too little to eat to take that long!!! I go as slow as I can most times and as long as I chew really well, set down the spoon in between bites (that is so hard for me) and listen to my body then I am good.
I love re fried beans with a little cheese and a dab of sour cream! It fills you up but is still a little bit of a slider so it is no problem to get through the pouch. Today I was out shopping and I got the pintos and cheese at taco bell, it was so yummy! I did not eat it all but I was starving, and did not want to eat my bar while my daughter ate her burritos. I have wanted some carbs so bad. I saw subway today, and I thought... What I would give to be able to eat even 1/2 of a 6"!!! My time will come I know, but this is not psychologically easy. It is torture at times and other times it seems like a breeze. You will get there I promise!
So, things are good. Even though I am at a plateau I am not totally freaking out about it. I have been at 194.4 for a week or maybe two now. I am trying not to keep track but yet I can’t help but wonder if it is something I am doing wrong. Am I eating too little calories, not being active enough, or not eating enough protein? I pretty sure it is not me eating too much; I may have to switch something up though to break this plateau. I had these in years past when I did wt. watchers. I remember getting stuck and my friend told me to go eat a piece of chocolate cake! I thought she was crazy! Sure enough it broke the plateau and I started loosing again. Well, we can’t have cake now (I will dump I am sure)! So, what do I do? I know excursing will help a lot, but I am not 100% there yet. I am still inconsistent and not at the gym. I know I will get there, but part of me wants to take it slow. For one thing I do not want to be in pain, but the other is; I want to have that card when I really need it most. I know with the next 20lb off I will be back at the gym, because I will feel so much better! I know I may seem crazy to some people, and a bit of a rule breaker. But, really I think I am trying to do what is right for me to make me successful in the long run, not just the short term.
I still love “the daily plate” and I will post some of my meals so I can remember what I was eating at this time period. I am still loving my RNY and I am still 100% happy with my choice to have WLS. The hardest part is wanting to eat and know that you can’t. Like I have said a hundred times before… “It is just weird”…
10-15-08 What a difference!
Oct 15, 2008
10-15-08
What a difference a couple of days makes! I have been forcing the water as much as I can to get rehydrated. Especially since my dumb PCP would not listen to me that I was dehydrated the other day and that is why I felt so terrible! I have to find a doctor that knows something about WLS pts. & mainly RNY pts… he knows nothing! He told me he thought I was hypoglycemic (which is a possibility although my labs said my glucose was fine the bottom of normal, but OK). But, instead of giving me fluids he told me to drink some apple juice or suck on some candy! I told him RNY pts can’t have sugar or we will dump (at least I know I will). He did not even seem to know what the heck I was talking about! So, irritating! If you do not know something do not pretend to know more than your pts to save face! Anyways, that is over I am better. I get light headed every time I stand up, because for the life of me I can’t seem to remember to get up slow! I think I will never learn! I sometimes start to black out, but if I put my head down, I come around just fine. It is getting better and that is the important thing.
I am so happy to say that tomorrow is my 4 week surgery anniversary and I am feeling it! Today was the best day I have had. I got work done at home, took care of the kids more than I have been able to in the past and the best thing is I finally exercised!!! It was light, but wow do I feel proud. I went for a 30 minute walk and I went bike riding for 30 minutes tonight. It was great!
I have figured something out too. I found out pre-op that I am vit-D deficient (my ferritin was low too). I think this is a huge wake up call for me. I have always had problems with depression and they are finding links between people who do not get enough sunshine and depression. Well, what does sunshine give you? It creates vit D in our bodies. I have had to use a special light when I was pregnant with my kids in the winter months just to pull out of major depression in the winter time (and I live in CA)! I never had my vit D tested before this surgery, but it makes total sense to me now. They are finding all kinds of health links to vit D especially in the areas of depression & cancer. So, this gives me the opportunity to know and change a deficiency I have probably always had. Holy crap what if I could get my numbers up and go off meds someday? That would be fabulous!!! I have always felt tired & lethargic more than the average person. I always thought it was just because I was over wt and had pain issues. It so happens that the pain issues could improve with vit D as well. It is a stretch but I have a lot of ortho pain, have had back surgery, and this could possibly improve that pain. I went and bought extra vit D and calcium. I have to take 5,000 IU of D and 2,000mg of Calcium a day. Plus because my Ferritin was low I have to take 320mg of Iron every other day. That is on top of all of the other vitamins RNY pts have to take. Holy cow that is a lot! But, what ever makes me healthy, happy, & feel good!
I will take my 4 week pictures tomorrow so I will be able to look at the changes I have made and will make along this journey. I will also post my daily plate again. I want to show everyone how much of a difference the exercise makes in your net cal intake. It is amazing!
OK, I will report back in a few days!
October 15th, 2008
Your Total
Meal
Item Brand
Item Name
Calories
Sugars
Carbs
Fats
Protein
Cholesterol
Sodium
Dietary Fiber
Your Servings
Calories
Sugars
Carbs
Fats
Protein
Cholesterol
Sodium
Dietary Fiber
breakfast
Syntrax
Chocolate Truffle Protein Powder
100
0g
1g
0g
23g
0mg
160mg
1g
1.00
100
0g
1g
0g
23g
0mg
160mg
1g
Dryers
Fruit Bars - No Sugar Added
30
2g
8g
0g
0g
0mg
0mg
1g
1.00
30
2g
8g
0g
0g
0mg
0mg
1g
dinner
Avacado
50
0g
2g
5g
1g
0mg
2mg
2g
1.00
50
0g
2g
5g
1g
0mg
2mg
2g
dinner
Knudsen
Cottage Cheese Free Nonfat 32 oz
80
5g
7g
0g
13g
5mg
430mg
0g
1.00
80
5g
7g
0g
13g
5mg
430mg
0g
evening snack
Organics (Safeway Brand)
Organic Soymilk Vanilla
90
7g
9g
3g
6g
0mg
120mg
1g
1.00
90
7g
9g
3g
6g
0mg
120mg
1g
evening snack
Syntrax
Chocolate Truffle Protein Powder
100
0g
1g
0g
23g
0mg
160mg
1g
1.00
100
0g
1g
0g
23g
0mg
160mg
1g
evening snack
Skippy
Creamy Peanut Butter
190
3g
7g
16g
8g
0mg
150mg
2g
0.50
95
2g
4g
8g
4g
0mg
75mg
1g
lunch
Safeway
Chicken Salad
260
3g
7g
22g
10g
30mg
580mg
1g
0.20
52
1g
1g
4g
2g
6mg
116mg
0g
breakfast
Celestial Seasonings
Cinnamon Apple Spice Herbal Tea
0
0g
0g
0g
0g
0mg
0mg
0g
1.00
0
0g
0g
0g
0g
0mg
0mg
0g
breakfast
Organics (Safeway Brand)
Organic Soymilk Vanilla
90
7g
9g
3g
6g
0mg
120mg
1g
1.00
90
7g
9g
3g
6g
0mg
120mg
1g
Swiss Miss
Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding Cup
70
0g
5g
4g
1g
0mg
110mg
0g
1.00
70
0g
5g
4g
1g
0mg
110mg
0g
Exercise
Minutes
Calories Burned
Heart Rate
Distance
Bicycling - 10-11.9 mph (light)
30
267
0
0
Walking, with the dog
30
194
0
0
Totals
Calories
Sugars
Carbohydrates
Fat
Protein
Cholesterol
Sodium
Dietary Fiber
757
23g
47g
27g
79g
11mg
1mg
8g
Wrapup
Calories Allowed
1,369.98
Calories Consumed
757.00
Calories Burned
461
Net Calories
296
Bad Night
Oct 13, 2008
10-13-08
Well, I am done with milk! I dumped last night off of it! I was mixing 1/2 c water with 1/2 c of milk for my protein shakes, because in the beginning I noticed tummy upset from the milk. Last night for what ever stupid reason, I forgot to use the 1/2 c of water and used all FF milk! I think I drank the shake kind of faster than normal too. But, oh my gosh! I felt so bad! I felt like I was going to throw up and have diarrhea for about an hour. I never did do either, but I felt so incredibly weak that I felt anxious about it. I could feel my heart pounding to keep up my BP and I had to lay down. It was an incredible urge to not be on my feet. When I did get up I started to black out unless I kept my head down. It was awful and I am assuming this is not even a full blown "dumping" because I did not throw up or have actual diarrhea... I finally got into bed with the help of my hubby and eventually just fell asleep. Thanks goodness!
So, I guess the carbs are not going to be a problem anymore (I thought mine were a little too high). I am not too worried about carbs, if I want them I will have them. But, I think keeping it under a certain amount helps burn the fat on a daily basis. With no sugar & no milk it should be a lot easier for me. I am done with milk! I may have to try some soy milk in the shakes for a bit if they taste to watery with out the milk. But, I know by 3 months my doctor really wants me to get my all of nutrition from food and not protein shakes. I just like them for now because they are an easy way to get in my protein.
I started using my plate so here is what I ate/drank yesterday. I know I have not posted any of that in a while. This is showing a little higher calorie count because I can't figure out how to do the portions on some of the items. Like the PB I only had one teaspoon in the shake, and I do not think that is 190 cal...but maybe it is! This was my first day using the site. I think it will be great once I get the hang of it. It also tracks your water, excersise, and how you are feeling. Pretty cool!
October 12th, 2008
Your Total
Meal
Item Brand
Item Name
Calories
Sugars
Carbs
Fats
Protein
Cholesterol
Sodium
Dietary Fiber
Your Servings
Calories
Sugars
Carbs
Fats
Protein
Cholesterol
Sodium
Dietary Fiber
StarKist
Large, 12oz. Chunk Light Tuna In Water
50
0g
0g
1g
11g
25mg
170mg
0g
1.00
50
0g
0g
1g
11g
25mg
170mg
0g
Skim Milk
80
12g
12g
0g
8g
5mg
120mg
0g
1.00
80
12g
12g
0g
8g
5mg
120mg
0g
evening snack
Syntrax
Chocolate Truffle Protein Powder
100
0g
1g
0g
23g
0mg
160mg
1g
1.00
100
0g
1g
0g
23g
0mg
160mg
1g
Dryers
Fruit Bars - No Sugar Added
30
2g
8g
0g
0g
0mg
0mg
1g
1.00
30
2g
8g
0g
0g
0mg
0mg
1g
dinner
Knudsen
Cottage Cheese Free Nonfat 32 oz
80
5g
7g
0g
13g
5mg
430mg
0g
0.50
40
3g
4g
0g
7g
3mg
215mg
0g
dinner
StarKist
Large, 12oz. Chunk Light Tuna In Water
50
0g
0g
1g
11g
25mg
170mg
0g
1.00
50
0g
0g
1g
11g
25mg
170mg
0g
lunch
Safeway
Saltine Crackers
60
0g
11g
2g
1g
0mg
170mg
0g
1.00
60
0g
11g
2g
1g
0mg
170mg
0g
lunch
Knudsen
Cottage Cheese Free Nonfat 32 oz
80
5g
7g
0g
13g
5mg
430mg
0g
0.50
40
3g
4g
0g
7g
3mg
215mg
0g
Syntrax
Chocolate Truffle Protein Powder
100
0g
1g
0g
23g
0mg
160mg
1g
1.00
100
0g
1g
0g
23g
0mg
160mg
1g
Skim Milk
80
12g
12g
0g
8g
5mg
120mg
0g
1.00
80
12g
12g
0g
8g
5mg
120mg
0g
evening snack
Skippy
Creamy Peanut Butter
190
3g
7g
16g
8g
0mg
150mg
2g
0.17
32
1g
1g
3g
1g
0mg
26mg
0g
Totals
Calories
Sugars
Carbohydrates
Fat
Protein
Cholesterol
Sodium
Dietary Fiber
662
32g
53g
5g
99g
65mg
1mg
3g
Itchy, lightheaded, & weak today!
Oct 12, 2008
I felt real weak and shaky last night, so we did not go out on our date night. Today I am getting more light headed than normal, and feel weak if I am up on my feet for too long.
Also, a weird thing is happening I am not sure what it is... Last night my face felt every dry, so I put some night cream on. About 45 minutes later my face felt dry and itchy. I started rubbing my cheeks and skin started rolling off! At first I thought it was from my hands. So, I went in the bathroom and started rubbing and rolling off all of this dead skin off of my face & neck! I was kind of freaked out. So I decided to get some exfoliate and scrub my face a little bit. That made it burn a little, so I added a ton of really good moisturizer to my face and neck. I started looking at my skin closely all over my body, (it looked very dry) and started thinking about how I have had little spots here and there where I thought I had a bite or something over the past week (where I had become very itchy in one area). So, I started lathering myself in moisturizer all over my body. I had to put a towel on my bed because I did not want to get my sheets oily! Today my face feels dry, burning, & itchy. It is also a little red. I am also itchy on the fronts of both thighs. I am thinking this may mean I am dehydrated. Should I go in for fluids? I am trying to drink enough, but it just does not seem like I can get enough down!
What do you think? If I go in for fluids will it be a big deal or can I just get a refill to get feeling better and start fresh? I wish I had the stuff I would just put a damn IV in myself and get it over with. I do not want a big fuss at the hospital!!!
Feeling much better!
Oct 11, 2008
10-11-08
I have been feeling better! I went back to work last night and did a Passion Party last night for the first time since surgery. It was great to be out with the girls laughing and having fun! I did a stupid thing though. I was out running errands (some fun stuff too) for hours, then I came home exhausted, went to lay down for 15 minutes before I had to get ready to go, and I feel asleep! My husband came in an hour later asking me “shouldn’t you be leaving”? AHHHH! I had to get up and rush out of the house, luckily I had the start time wrong and I still made it on time.
It was weird though, I felt a little off when doing the party. I would have trouble keeping on topic of what and how I normally say during the party. Kind of like having brain farts. I could not find the right word at times…it was right there on the tip of my tongue, but nada! I had to tell everyone I was sorry that I had just had surgery and had “anesthesia brain”. I know that is probably what it was, but I felt a little embarrassed at times. Everyone still had a very fun time, laughed and bought stuff, but I can’t help but feel like I was not “in my element” like I usually am. I assured everyone that at the next party they see me at (a lot of girls booked parties of their own) I would be feeling better. I think I was a little dehydrated too. I drank 2 bottles of water while I was there with no problems. But, I felt very thirsty from all of the talking.
It has been really fun to see people who have not seen me for a long time. I went to the Salon yesterday and the girls could not believe how much wt. I have lost. They said something the second I walked in the door. I have always had a very chubby face, so that is the first thing people notice. I see it too but not as much as other people do.
This whole process is weird psychologically! From the fact that food really can no longer be a big part of your life like before to the weird emotional rollercoaster I have about the wt. loss itself.
The food is weird because when I wait too long to eat sometimes, my body has that “desperate I am starving” feeling similar to before. But, then it is hard when you actually sit down to eat and can only eat a few bites of something. Do not get me wrong… it is great! It is just really strange! The other things that are disappointing are that food does not taste as good. You expect it to, and then it is just OK. Last and the most difficult thing for me right now, is that when I am hungry and I eat one bite too much, not chew it well enough, or eat it too fast; it causes pain. It is temporary, but having discomfort associated with eating is really weird. I know it works how it does to re-teach us good eating habits, and of course to loose wt.
I do not regret any of this. It is just new, weird, new, and a learning process everyday. I guess I am making it sound hard. It is in some ways, but it really is not. I can’t put it into words at this point…other than “new, different, hard, easy, and wonderful”. Does not make a damn bit of sense and so that is why I said in the beginning it is just all “weird”.
I am 3 weeks out down to 196 for a total wt. loss of 50lb since I went to orientation at Kaiser. A total wt. loss of 22lb post-op! I have lost a lot of inches everywhere I am sure. But, the places I feel it the most is in around my torso. My lower stomach has shrunk too but I have a lot more to loose from there. So, I have almost another 50lb to loose to make goal. I do not know how long that will take me, but I am determined to make goal within a year. That is my long term goal anyways. I started out in a size 18/20 at the time of surgery and I am now in a 14/16. Today when my husband hugged me goodbye I noticed that he could wrap his arms all the way around me and his hand came almost all the way back to him. I think he is enjoying my wt. loss. He keeps calling me skinny and has been very encouraging and supportive. I know I am very lucky to have a man that is not insecure about me losing wt .most of all he just wants me to be happy!
P.S. I will take 4 week pics and measurements and post those in a week!
