Shelley L

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Well lousy week for the scale again.  Seems to do that to me.  Maybe it thinks it funny!  hmmmm.  I only lost 1 lb this week.  I am pretty sure it had something to do with the sour cream on my potato and the butter on my crab legs this week :o)  Plus with all the kids exhibition soccer games this week, I have yet to make it to the gym.  Luckily I do some physical movement at work!  I think things will be better ext week as their games are down to one a week then.  Plus with the long weekend here, I have sooooo much backyard work to do.  The front is beautiful and done, but the back is still in need of attention.  Well at least it will be sunny and warm!  

So my WOW moment this week, I went to Value village to find a pair of shorts.  Well, I found out that I fit into a regular 13/14!  Elastic waist I can wear 11/12!  I can't remember the last time I fit in those sizes!  The pair of 16 jeans I bought a month ago are getting saggy and my work has had to place a special order for a new uniform as even a belt is not helping me!  Awesome feeling!!  I think I have lost about 8 inches from my waist!!  Of course I still have about 8 more to go, but this is great news after 2 months!  I am feeling much more confident and beautiful!

That's about all for this week!  Thanks to all those who follow along in my journal of my journey.  I only hope to help someone throughout their journey.  Whether it be to prepare themselves, compare notes or just be comfortable in knowing that the decision can be a life altering wonderful thing!  Cheers!!



 

Boy this time went quickly!  I wish it was that fast while I was waiting for my date!  I am thrilled at the results of this surgery.  I have learned alot about food and my own eating habits.  What things are really good for me and learned how to curb cravings.  I realize just how big those portions I was eating!  No wonder I was putting on the lbs!  I honestly didn't feel I ate a whole lot before, but I was wrong!  I am getting better with keeping foods down.  I still can't stand much meat and I tried salad. Some days its good, others its not staying down.  Fussy little pouch of mine!!  But this fussy pouch has helped me lose officially 57lbs!!!  Wow!  I now weigh 163lbs!  This is awesome!  It is a little annoying to pull my uniform skort up all day long, but I'll live.  Don't know how those kids do it with their pants under their @ss!!   took my measurements last night and have lost another 2.5 of each of my waist, hips and butt!!!  Sagging chest has lost another 3!  LOL!! Total of 7 inches just from my waist!!  

A wonderful WOW moment this week was realizing I actually was sitting with my legs crossed!!  That actually felt really good!

I love this rollercoaster ride!!


Some of my measurements today:

Waist down 2.5"  - total of 7" lost
Chest down 3"     - total of 6.5" lost
hips down  2.5"    - total of 6.5" lost
butt down  2.5"     - total of 6.5" lost
biceps down 2"   - total of 3" lost
neck down .5"     - total of 1.5" lost  

Well, things are getting better.  Still have the occasional "upbringing".  I was really happy last night when I had 4 bites of lettuce, 2 small bites of Italian sausage and then grazed my way through a small piece of corn on the cob!  I was nervous about it, but had to try.  I have been having massive salt cravings and so some becel butter and salt on the corn did the trick!  If I can handle corn on the cob, my summer will be awesome.  It is my favorite summer snack!  
On the numbers side, I have made it down to 168 lbs!  I am now officially lighter than my husband!  Wow it's been a long time since I've been able to say that!!  Ok well he's got about 7" on me but still......  Work is getting better, especially with the sunshine!  We opened our pool 2 weeks early even though its still too cold, I just have been feeling so good lately.  I have cleaned up the yard and did at least 6 hours of gardening twice this week!  It is hard work, but the beautiful garden is a wonderful payoff.  I am able to get down on my knees and work the soil without crumbling every bone I have in my legs!  
I haven't decided yet if I want to do a monthly measuring of my inches or if I should go with every 2 months.  Guess we'll find out when I post them here!  We're also having a garage sale to get rid of some big winter clothes! Even some shoes are fitting again and my ankles aren't aching when I wear a bit of a heel!!  Love these WOW moments!  My husband and children cheer me on when I tell them.  They are so wonderful and supportive!

  Well, better get heading to work. 

Well, I had a really good week!  Still working on keeping some things down, but got to have a couple of bites of spaghetti and it stayed down!  It is my favorite!  Also has 2 bites of porkchops off the BBQ yesterday.   Yummmmmmmmm!  I love BBQ meats!!  I tried to have a couple of cooked slices of carrots with it, but I guess I pushed it too far.  My little pouch is so moody!!  Didn't like carrots. 

I'm back to work this week.  Man it was nice to put my uniform on and have it fall off!!  Felt good!  Good thing its a skort, it can be held up better with a belt.  Oh but the belt, I had to make a hole in it!!  A WOW moment!  Work is going good.  Of course I'd rather be rich and just do yardwork!  I love keeping up the house.  Its been nice these last 6 weeks.  People asked if I was going stir crazy bored?  Not even for a minute!  There's always something to do when you have a home and kids to care for!  

Yesterday I got to achieve one of my personal goals.  We all went to the park last evening and took all the sports balls with us.  Basketball, soccerball, football and volleyball.  I  may have been a bit slow, but I ran and played with the kids for over an hour!!  They laughed watching me try to boot the soccer ball!  It is alot harder than it looks!  Kids can send that ball flying with what looks like minimal effort.  It was a special time for us as the kids are busy 5 nights a week with soccer and family time has been minimal with practices.  Plus when teenagers only have 2 days off a week, they want to see their friends not hang out with Mom and Dad!!  It was really nice and fun.  I almost cried!  I'm a little sore today but it was soooo worth it!!  Thanks to the choice of WLS it has made this wish a possibility. 

So the scale made up for the stall last week!!!  I hit 171lbs!!!  I am 1lb away from losing 50lbs!!  It is truly amazing!! Now people say that I am looking thinner, but they didn't think I lost 50lbs!  Some look at me like "yeah right".  I guess they figure it looks more like 25 lbs.  Oh well, I know what the scale said! 

Oh I also had a great WOW moment last weekend.  I went to the Goodwill for some shorts.  Well I didn't find much, but did find a pair of jeans!  My first pair in a long time!  I guess the brands were different, but one pair was a 16 and the other was a 14!!  WOW!!!  I was hoping to fit in 18!!  It was so nice!!!  I even bought myself a couple of skirts.  Still have to wear the longer shirts as I am still carrrying my bulges.  Unfortunately I don't think those are going anywhere!  Those rolls that hang around my mid-section are easier to hide with a long baggy shirt.  

Well that is my event filled week!  It has been busy, but lots of good things have helped me get through the hard time I've had keeping food down.  So until next update.......

Well made the drive again to Toronto to see Denise the dietician and Dr Starr.  Denise had some good suggestions for me to help reintroduce foods again.  I have been having a hard time with veggies and meat.  She said it is normal for veggies and just keep trying the meats.  Did some bloodwork and she'll get back to me on that.  Her scale read 179.  I have hit quite the stall this week.  Frustrating, but I keep at it.  I like Dr Starrs scale better, it is always 3lbs less!  I weighed in at 176 on his!!  Denise  was not happy with the amount I've been sick, so she wants to see me again in a few weeks.  Dr Starr said that between 5 to 10 weeks the stoma can narrow with scar tissue, but they don't do much about it until 10 weeks because it can stretch out again.  He thinks my pouch is still oversensitive with food and it isn't helping being sick.  He wants me to start back to pureed or full fluids to give my pouch a rest.  He suggested baby food.  I may get some of the fruits, but there is no way I'll get in pureed meats!  yuck!!  They are very happy about my protein and my weightloss!  They averaged it out to 4lbs a week!  Although it will slow down, it sounds good for now!! 

Well I start back to work Monday.  Ugggg  I kinda liked being a stay at home Mom again.  My house is looking nice and organized!  I guess it will makae things back to normal for me and it is a highly physical job, so maybe it'll be like low-impact aerobics!  I tried on my work uniform and it is falling off!!!!  YEAH!!!  The pants ans skorts are too big!  Wow!  I'm thrilled!!  Now I got to go and get them taken in.  

Well wish me luck for work.  I'll check in again this time next week!

Well my Easter Sunday started off wonderful!  I hit the scale on my one month anniversary and found that in total I have lost........  40lbs!!!   Oh wow that feels good!!  I can not believe it.  So 20of it was pre-op and so 20 since surgery!  But it all adds up to a wonderful 40 lbs!!   Finally at 180lbs!!

So Easter dinner somehow managed to be at our house.  Not sure how that happened?  It really didn't bother me to be around or cooking the food.  I was in such a good mood.  However, when we all sat to eat, I realized that I can't just sit and eat a plateful of food.  I had a few bites and I guess it must have been too fast.  My 4 bites was about the same time as everyone started on seconds!  But it didn't want to stay down.  Still having a few of those problems.  I did discover though that after everyone ate around 2 pm, I set up the counter with all the plates and people just picked at things right until 7pm!  Well, I realized that it was perfect for me!!  I was able to go in the kitchen, and have a 1/4 slice of ham, then travel around visiting then go back in for a couple of pickled onions!  Wow, they went down and tasted sooooo yummy!   I would wander and peek back in for some stuffing.  It stayed down too!  I was really happy.  I was even sort of dancing around the house.  I was hyper and cheerful, having such a good time.  I love seeing all the kids.  My kids get to invite a couple of friends for Easter every year.  

Not even ineterested in chocolate, but did try those protein balls they talk so much about on cooking and main board!  They were sooooo yummy!  I made mine a little different, but still good!  Here's my recipe: 
1 cup peanut butter(softened in microwave) 
mix in1/4 cup of Splenda brown sugar 
mix in 1 scoop of protein powder
Then mix in Rice Krispies ( used about 4 cups)  
Then spread them in a pan and right into freezer. 

They melt in your mouth!!!
They are just like rice krispie squares but without the marshmellows.  VERY yummy and great protein!

Well,  Easter is over and I made it!  I have my follow-up appointment on April 18th with dietician and Dr Starr.  Think he'll be happy with my progress.  I know I am! 

I have been exercising almost everyday.  I have been making good use of my Goodlife membership.  I try to get in 45 minutes of speed walking (between 3 and 3.5) and then I spend 10 minutes on the eliptical machine at a high arobic pace.  For some reason the pads of my feet really hurt on that machine?  I have orthodics for heel spurs, but never had issues with the balls of my feet?  hmmm.   Then I usually try to hit each machine to workout each muscle.  I have to admit, I have not tried and crunches or situps yet as I'm nervous to pull anything!  I'm starting to really feel good.  Incisions are healing nicely.  I can finally sleep 1/2 on my tummy!  The membership is getting easy to fulfill as my kids have soccer or dance practice almost everyday, so that's where I head to!  There are many different locations of Goodlife so I can always find one near each practice!  It helps! 

Until my next post..............

Ok so I took measurments mid February and then again last night, April 2nd.  So here are my numbers!

upper and lower arms down 1"
calves are down 1"
ankles are down .5"
thighs are down 3" EACH
hips/butt are down 4"
high belly is down 2.5"
chest is down 3.5"  the sagging has begun :-( 
waist is down 4.5"!!  Woohoo!!

It feels soooooooo gooood!  Oh I love it!  I am so happy to see the numbers go down.  Oh and the scale read 183lbs! 

Funny how 3 weeks goes by so much quicker than when your waiting for your surgery day?  Well, I'm happy to say my nights are getting better.  I can sleep on my side and although I still get some discomfort if I move around, I am feeling more rested.  I have been trying to get in a 15 minutes walk everyday.   I still find the tummy a bit sensitive when I walk or when we hit bumps while driving.  The incisions are pretty much healed on the outside, but the inside is still sore.  Doesn't help that I've had at least one sneeze each day!  OUCH!  Those hurt!  I've pretty much been on soft foods for the last couple of days, however I still consume my yogurt and protein shakes.  I am not having any problems getting in my protein, so I'm praying to the hair gods to be nice!  I have more of a hard time getting in all my water.  I guess I just don't think about it enough and I have to drink constantly all day to get enough.  I'll keep working on it.  I think once I get back to work it'll be easier for water.  My job has a lot of heavy lifting, so I'm in no rush.  Sometimes even the bag of milk seems heavier than usual!  My husband bought us a membership to Goodlife fitness club.  I still have a bit to wait, but I'm getting so excited about it!  I'm dreaming of all the extra pounds that exercise will shed!  Hoping my weak ankles will strengthen to help with the walking.   
I have had a few vomiting incidents.  I guess I may not be paying good enough attention to chewing or even really measuring my food.  Because it has been so long for some real food, I think I may have not stopped eating "before" filling my pouch.  I am learning.  The hard way as it is really painful when you overeat or don't chew good.  I had some soft steamed broccoli yesterday and was sick.  I have heard that veggies can give some problems.  I hope not, because I love stirfrys and salads!    Everyday I try something new to get my pouch used to the weights of each food.  I have a follow-up on April 18th with Dr. Starr, so hopefully by then I will have the painful eating under control and if not, then at least I have given it some time to heal and he can look for other possibilities like narrowing.  Plus I don't want to take another 4 hour drive right now.  
Onto the numbers!  Well, I started at 220lbs pre-op.  Hit 200 on the day of surgery thanks to Opti-fast.    I made 188 after week 2!  I hit a bit of a stall this 3rd week.  I heard this is normal, so I didn't get too stressed.  After week 3 I now am at 186 lbs!  So officially down 34 lbs!!  I am thrilled and all those horrible days in hospital are becoming distant memories and I am happy I have chosen this path to a new healthy way of life.

Take care everyone and thanks for reading!

Shelley
220/186/130

Well after the events of the surgery, I am happy to say that they are slowing becoming memories.  I am still pretty sore.  There are a few muscles that have yet to heal.  I never realized how many tummy muscles we use during so many different daily activities!  So weightloss is good today.  I started this journey at 220lbs.  The day after surgery I was 198!  Dam that Opti-fast was awful, but it did the trick!  Although I lost 20lbs on pre-diet, doctor said my liver was still large?  hmmmm?  I only cheated and had a small salad on day 4?  I was so good on that stuff!  Oh well, at least he didn't cancel me!  So I started on March 9th at 198.  Last week I was at 192!  The scale finally budged again this morning at 188!  OMG I can't believe it.  32lbs gone forever!  I know the 188 may fluctuate and is why I am only going to check Monday mornings!  I don't want to see that 2lbs back there tonight...LOL!!!  Overall I am doing good.  Although I am only 10days post-op, I tried some pureed  foods.  I can't take much more soup.  They really know how to make you sick of a good thing!  I enjoyed the cream soups before depending on them!  Luckily I love yogurt and cottage cheese!  I'm not sick of them yet!!  I just keep trying to pound in the protein.  Hoping it will lessen the hairloss when that time comes!  I have a shake for breakfast and one just before bed.  I make it with milk for the extra protein too!  The ISO XP is a whopping 45g of protein!  So I get my 90g of protein just in those two drinks.  Then add on all the good foods full of protein.  I can hardly wait for chicken!  I could eat chicken everyday.  I did before the surgery, so as long as I keep it cooked moist, I should have no problems!  

I have really enjoyed all the cooking programs lately!  Oddly enough I can almost taste this stuff and yet I'm not upset that I can't have it!  I don't really want it, it just seems to satisfy my love for coooking and food!  My husband says I'm crazy to watch them!  Oh well, he'll enjoy it when they start hitting the table!  

Haven't posted too much.  I am still physically tired.  I try to just rest my body lots even though I am not sleeping.  I check in daily, but since I so new post-op, I don't have much advice yet!  Just try to stop in and give support like I received it!

Well that's my latest check up.  Dr. Starrs office was closed last week so I have to call today to book my check-up.  Think it'll be later than 2 weeks checkup, but still all good!  I'm not looking forward to the drive back again!

I am still sore, but it is more manageable now.  I get spurts of energy that make me feel human again.  I've been walking more today and no gas pains.  I even went to the grocery store.  Felt like I'd run a marathon when I was done, but the fresh air made me feel so good.  I insisted on making my kids a little lunch.  I still love to blend all those wonderful flavours together when I cook and it doesn't bother me yet to see them.  In fact the nurses at the hospital were laughing because I watched the food channel the whole time learning recipes!  Then I veg on the couch with a movie.  I'm not going to push it, but I like to make progress.  Oh and I was so happy to have yummy cream of chicken soup today as I spent the last few weeks on Opti-fast!!  Never touch that stuff again!  Thanks to you all for all your concern over the last few days.  I am still happy I had this done, and everyone is right (It does get easier) and I wish each of you success and safety in your journeys. 

 Now onto the losers bench!!!!!

Have made it down to 198 (-22lbs) since I started the opti-fast!

Woohoo!