Kimberly L.

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I'm officially at 6 weeks post-op today.  It was a slow loss this week at only 1.5 pounds, but it was still a loss.  I find myself trying to figure an average for myself and then projecting how much I'll weigh at various points in this upcoming year.  Too silly.  

I can no longer claim to have never thrown up.  Sigh.  Tried pork-chops and peas last night.  DH made them super moist by cooking with chicken broth and also making a red wine sauce to go on top.  they were really good on the way down... not so great on the way back up.  I think it was just a matter of eating too fast, not chewing enough, etc.  That's OK though... vomiting once in 6 weeks isn't too bad.  And I had an excellent lunch of Wendy's Chili yesterday.  V. good.

My measurements keep going down, and I think that sort of made up for the low pounds this week.  My rings are spinning around my fingers now, and my shoes are even getting looser.  My coworker gave me a couple pair of 14 slacks which I tried on last night.  I could get them both on, but the one pair were still a little snug around the waist, but OK everywhere else.  I could get away with wearing them now, but they are white, and I think I need to find something to wear with them.  The others were sort of draw string pants, and they still bunched up weird around the waist too, so I still probably could stand to lose a couple more pounds before I can comfortably wear either of them.  Maybe in another week or two.  But it is cool that I'm more or less officially starting to fit into 14s.  My one 14 shorts are starting to feel a little loose around the waist, but I think they're cut big.  

I'm still struggling to get in 64 oz of water.  I think yesterday I ended up with about 32oz or maybe just a little bit more.  I'm determined to get it in today, but I'm still waiting for it to be 1/2 hour after eating my breakfast.  

Not too much else going on today I guess.  I'm happy it is the weekend and I'm not working tomorrow.  I feel like I could sleep all weekend.  Need to start thinking up stuff to cover in the trianing I'll be giving in August.  I'm a nervous wreck about that.  According to my projection I should be somewhere around 166 by then, so maybe that will help with the teaching confidence. LOL!!  I'm such a nut.

Kim

Cottage cheese 2%
splenda mandarin oranges
SF orange jello
splenda pineapple
fat free cool whip (only a small amount)

all mixed together.

I went to my 6 week check up visit today.  I was supposed to go yesterday and see my surgeon, but I had a conflict with work and had to reschedule, so I saw her nurse today instead.  The nurse said she'd had the surgery herself, so had some unique insight I think.  I enjoyed meeting her.  

I'm doing OK pretty much.  I weighed more there than I did at home, of course, but I was expecting that.  I think they had me at about 189 or so.  I was told what I had heard I would be, which is to ignore the dietitians, and stay at 3 ounce meals for at least 6 months, I can add whatever meat I want, including pot roast and steak.  I was also told I could have salad now.  And zero to very little carbs.  This is different than the dietitians will say... they say carbs are OK, and no beef yet or salad yet.  I think since I'm still not hungry physically I will go ahead and stay at the three ounces for now, and I will avoid carbs for the most part, unless it is something I really really want maybe.  I think I won't make it a part of my normal day though.  

I totally want a pot roast tomorrow now! LOL.  We'll see.  Today my tummy is very gross and gurgly and not feeling too great.  


Will post more later.
K

Meat Crust Pizza (PK’s recipe)

 

 

1 lb of ground beef extra lean

Pizza Sauce

Light Mozz cheese

Any other pizza toppings you enjoy

20 All Wheat Crackers Crushed

2 eggs

 

Directions:

 

Mix the ground beef, eggs and crushed crackers together and press into a cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10-15 mins until brown.  Then top like a regular pizza and cook an addition 10-15 mins.

So today I'm 5 weeks post-op.  Haven't had a lot of new fun things to eat this week even though I've been allowed "real food."  I had the Tilapia last Friday, some tuna, a 98% lean ground beef patty, some peas and yesterday and today, some sliced tomato.  (YUM).  As of this morning I'm down a total of 31.5 pounds, and since the day of surgery I'm down 23.5 pounds.  It seems to be really slowing down.  The last couple of weeks I've only lost two or three pounds each week, but it is still going down.  I've been still struggling to get in enough water, and I think that is causing some of my problems.  Protein is doing a lot better so far.  Next Tuesday I was supposed to go back to my surgeon for my 6 week check-up, but I have to be on a conference call that morning at work for a class I have to teach in August, and I can't miss the call, so I called today and rescheduled it for Wednesday.  I can't see my surgeon then, though, so I'll be seeing her nurse.  That is OK, but I'd really like to have seen my surgeon.  

Exercise has been good, but slowed down this week too.  I've only done two mile walks this week, and I've had three days where I didn't end up walking at all.  I'm going to try to do better at that too.  

My clothes are really getting baggy - especially my work clothes.  I've got some shorts and jeans I can wear around the house, and a few t-shirts and stuff, but nothing I can wear at work really.  I did find a pair of black slacks that I can wear now, and they are pretty comfy.  I need to get to the goodwill soon.  

I've been being a lot more open at work about the surgery.  I'm just finding that now that it is over and things are going well, I honestly don't care who knows anymore.  It's not like I can take it back now!!  LOL.  

I guess that is it for this week.  Will post more later.
Kim

Today I'm 4 weeks post-op.  It has dragged by in some ways, but also I can't believe I'm already about a month out.  I get to start eating real food tonight and I get to bump to 3 oz a meal instead of 2 oz.  I never would've thought 3 oz of food would be way too much, but it sure was this morning!  Only managed about 2 1/2 oz.  Today I weighed 189.  I was really hoping for 188, because that would put me down 30 pounds since my consult, and yesterday I was 188.5.  Oh well.  So I'm 29 pounds down from 2/28 at my consult, and 21 pounds down from my surgery date of 5/11.  Not bad, I guess.  Would like for it to be more, but then wouldn't we all?!?!

Tonight I'm eating baked Tilapia with Cajun seasoning on it.  I can't wait.  I think we're also having baked potatos and probably some peas.  Dennis got the little red potatos and he's going to bake one for me.  I won't be able to finish it, but maybe can have an ounce or so.  Can't wait!!  Hope it goes OK.

I talked to my gyn's office yesterday about birth control, and they concurred with my surgeon that it is just fine for me to continue on birth control pills, but they did change the pill to a different one since I was having some problems.  I'll start taking the new ones the week after next.  I hope it solves my little issues.  LOL.  If not, I'll ask them to give me the patch or more likely the Nuva Ring.

Everything else is going OK.  Still haven't gotten sick other than the one dumping episode, and even then no vomiting, thank God.  Have been walking between 2 and 4 miles every evening.  Blood pressure is way down and totally within normal ranges.  My PCP wants to wait till I'm three months out to do a Cholesterol screening and see how that is going.  Am basically feeling pretty good.  Have been doing better about protein, but don't feel like I'm getting in enough water - only about 6 glasses instead of 8, so I'm working on that.  And for some reason I keep forgetting to take my last calcium supplement of the day.  I keep trying to take it right before bed, but I keep forgetting.  I will probably tell Dennis to start reminding me to do that.  Otherwise, everything is OK.  

Will close for now!  
Kim

Nothing to blog really, just wanted to add a recipe from the message boards so I can remember it later.

I use the flat out Light Herbal Bread.  Spray Pam type Olive oil lightly on both sides, place in oven till lightly crisp. I make my own marinara sauce and put on the toasted bread, add some Low Fat Mozzarella cheese, either turkey italian sausage, or turkey peperoni, place back in oven till cheese is melted... presto low carb low fat, high in protein pizza.  Or for the hawaiian lover use low fat smoked ham and pineapple in unsweetened juice (make sure to drain well)... and use the Reg Light Flat Bread.
I can only eat about a 1/4 of this so I share it with my daughter.

I swear this stupid computer / website drives me bonkers sometimes.  I had a huge entry and somehow went back a page and lost everything!  Frack frack frack.  Anyway, I am two weeks post-op today and doing OK.  I'm still dealing with the head hunger issues a bit, but I went to a couple of support group meetings on Wednesday and that helped to talk it out.  I asked the dietitian at the newbie support group meeting about my constant gurgling and gassiness and it was suggested that the lactose intolerance may have gotten worse.  She said to go an entire day without any dairy and see what happens, so I did that yesterday and amazing!  No gassiness and not gurgling all the time.  So I'm going to have to either eat lactaid all the time, switch everything to soy or try papaya enzymes or whatever that is that is supposed to help with this.  Eliminating dairy really cuts out a lot of my current protein sources, so that's going to be difficult.  I'm really still struggling a lot to get in anywhere near the 75 g of protein they want me to be getting in.  I'm not even close right now.  I think I got to about 60 one day.  I'm walking a LOT... about 3 to 4 miles a day, but next week I'll go back to work and won't be able to do that much anymore except maybe on the weekends.  I should still be able to do the two miles a day in the evenings. 

As of this morning I'm down 22.5 pounds from my consult date on 2/28, and I'm down 14.5 pounds from my surgery date two weeks ago on 5/11, so I'm progressing!  I'm worried about returning to work though.  I think it will be harder, but then again, maybe I'll be in more of a routine so maybe it will end up being easier.  Also, I won't be able to walk as much anymore, so my rate of loss might slow down.  I know it will eventually anyway, but this pound a day average is kind of nice!  I'm also worried about the "deep dark secret" since I didn't tell anyone much at work, but apparently the rumors are flying that I had some kind of surgery.  I hear people are thinking it is a boob job, which is really funny.  Someone I told this to yesterday suggested I go out and buy a push up bra and wear it to work on Tuesday! LOL.  I might have to do that!!   I may even have one around here somewhere that has been a little bit too little, but who knows... maybe it will fit by now.

So basically I'm doing OK.  We're camping this weekend for the big Memorial Day weekend.  I think it is going to be VERY crowded but oh well.  It will be fun for the girls and we will be getting out of the house for a few days which beats sitting around watching TV all weekend.  I hope it's still fun without all the food.  I don't really know what I"m going to eat.  I guess I'll take some applesauce and yogurt and beans and stuff like that.   I've got enough to get through the weekend just fine, but this will be the first meals away from home and I hope I remember everything I need.

I'm off to go walk and do laundry and finish packing everything.

Kim :0)

I just had to post today because I stood on my scale and it said 199.  I haven't been below 200 pounds since my daughter was born 7 1/2 years ago.  So excited!!

Today I am one week post-op.  I weighed and took my measurements.  I am going to try to remember to do this every Friday to keep track of my progress.  Today my weight was 202.  Last week at this time it was 210, and when I first went to my consultation on 2/28 it was 218, so since my consult I am down 16 pounds, and since my actual surgery I am down 8 pounds.  I know that's not bad, but it seems like I should be down more than 8, but then again, that is like, a pound a day.  If I continue losing at this rate, I'll lose 30 pounds in my first month, and that is incredible! 

I am having difficulty getting in my protein, and since I don't want to go bald or anything, I have to do better at that.  It still seems so overwhelming, all the stuff I have to remember to do!  I'm also having some... ahem... sexual problems.  I strongly believe this is due to the Lexapro Dr. Jones gave me.  It is very annoying.  I called the nurse at her office yesterday and left a message about this, so I'm hoping I get a call sometime today saying I can try a different medication or that it is OK to stop taking it.  I'm afraid to just quit right now while I'm still getting used to everything and there is so much going on.  I am having the occasional head hunger issue, where I just want some pasta or I want to munch on some chips and dip or something!  I'm getting really sick of the soft food diet, and I know I have to do it for three more weeks.  I think I may go bonkers by the end of this time.  Or maybe it will get easier over the next couple of weeks, who knows. 

so anyway, other than those couple of issues, and the fact I'm a bit constipated, I'm doing pretty well.  I'm feeling better each day, and I finally finished my Lovenox injections yesterday, so no more giving myself shots!  Hooray about that!!  I feel like I need a giant spreadsheet to keep track of everything though.  I do have a chart the hospital gave me that is helping me remember everything, but still... I may have to fiddle with this computer today and see if I can come up with something to use for that purpose.  Maybe somebody out there has already done a spreadsheet and would be willing to pass it along to me...

Better get off here and go for a walk.  Having trouble getting in enough walking too, I think, and I'm not technically safe from pulmonary embolisms I think till it's been two weeks, so I need to keep walking.

Will update again later.
Kim :0)