For Days of Auld Lang Syne....

Yes the new year is just around the corner and I cannot wait!

2010 come on baby!
This happens to coincide with the beginning of my 3rd month post surgery. I have to be honest--I have survived the holidays- threw up some- got the sugar shakes some---but it is all behind me now! I can honestly say I have not overindulged, but rather not eaten enough, drunk enough, vitamined enough-- all the things they say---do-do-do-do-do-do!

I am not down--- but I could not seem to get in the big Christmas celebratory spirit socially because I could not imbibe, or enjoy all - or any of the goodies as the rest of my peeps. I even tried to have a bit of wine--but it just did nothing for me

.

I kind of feel like I have lost some of my Sally Sparkle!
That is something I hope will return soon. I love a party! I love to get "beautiful" I love to visit-- and I feel sure as I can eat a bit more normally and have a small glass of vino--- or perhaps-- "sniff sniff" some bubbly- the old me will return!


But in the mean time! I have resolved to be a text book RNY diva- and take my supplements, and ensure my continued good health in 2010. I even had a protein shake today-- first one in 2 months-- ( I went "off " them post surgery- they held no appeal).

So here I stand - feather boa in hand to say-- I made my goal of entering ONE-DERLAND- and 25 pounds lost post surgery- by Xmas day. -( I must confess I chose not to weigh on the 25th because I didn't want to be bummed out if it didn't happen)

My weight loss is slowish comparatively to other surgery peeps- but I did lose 50 lbs since last Xmas (248 lbs. - 12/2008)- I went into surgery at 225- and I am at 198 as of today.

This equates to about 3.375 lbs each week- I am content with the stable progress, and believe as impatient as I am by nature-- this is the best way for me!


I have been getting lots of support and compliments from my siblings and family whom I saw over the Holidays-- and my clothes are certainly comfy!

So folks- that is about all for now- and I hope to have good reports in a

VERY HEALTHY NEW YEAR.


Much Love and Best wishes to all who stop by.

Make a Smilebox greeting

5 weeks and life is good!

Hey everybody--I am in a warm fuzzy mood this moment-- I just finished watching the marvelous movie Julie & Julia. I have laughed, I have cried, I have a desire to cook french food...only one problem-I don't know if I will ever be able to eat it! hahaha! Maybe some pate? Protien! At any rate I have had another interesting week...I was seduced by rotisserie chicken at the Costco- and I was hungry when I got home with it...and one thing lead to another and I was miserably violently ill-just from eating to fast- and not chew chew chewing! So let that be a lesson to me! Back to mostly pre-dessicated food! YUM! I find my issue will not be eating too much- as I can tell when I am full quite quickly and easily. My issues will be with gulping, speed eating etc. It is a learning curve I must - by necessity conquer. One thing I was told when deciding between Banding and RNY- was with the band you can easily cheat-- and the RNY if you cheat it will be as if you were being hit upside the back of the head with a board- and therefore you will learn to keep in line!

So true.-- So far!

I am feeling hunger pangs more familiarly than in weeks past, so I must watch and be sure not to be too hungry and then eat quickly to squelch the pangs--I am ready to buy a quantity of mini bell light cheeses and laughing cow too, much like when I did South Beach.

I discovered the wonders of small dry toast you can purchase in the latino section of the grocery. 2 little pieces and a wedge of laughing cow have saved me this week- post chicken fiasco! that and yellow squash-cooked all mushy with a touch of sour cream. and a meal or two of Stouffer's spinach souffle. I also had the most yummy first time eating butternut squash soup in a local eatery - I could taste the apple, and curry and I think some apple cider in it too! I found an Ina Garten recipe and am going to try it. I wonder if I will ever eat beef again? or have a glass of champagne? I can live in hope!

I have rambled enough for one week but I want to say how much I love my YOU TUBE family of WLS patients across the globe! Shout outs to so many who I follow for encouragement- Steven in London, Allison in SC, Rocky (not wls) who cooks so healthfully out of her tiny kitchen in NY, and many more who don't even know I follow their video blogs diligently. I am a big devotee of " the world according eggface" on blog spot. So many wonderful and creative people connecting across the WWW! what a world we live in!

So- here it is folks- as of 5 weeks out today I have lost 20 lbs! and since this time last year--- I have lost a total of 43 lbs!

I am going to the gym starting today and ride the stationary bicycle with the video screen that allows me to travel to far away exotic bike paths! I can report I am up on my vitamins & calcium now, and trying to get in my vitamin water (another new product to me).

So until next week- Have a warm and wonderful December, hug those you love, and give something of yourself to those who cannot give you anything in return. and...LIVE LARGE!

Sally

how many weeks make a month?

Okay- not sure if I am supposed to say this is my 4th week, or month surgiversary- 11/2 to 12/2!

In any case it has been rather a frantic,week. I am honestly not losing much- this week all of 1.6 lbs? Not much , but considering how poorly I did this week I am not surprised. I find that with lots of activity and rushing around which will happen during holidays and family gatherings, Children home etc... It is hard to have a quiet moment to swallow. I was sick twice this week after eating, and found food was stuck more than any other week. All due to an atmosphere not conducive to chewing thoroughly and not rushing. I have also not been a poster child for how to do this correctly. I have not had enough calories, or water, or vitamins....I am thoroughly ashamed- but oh well. Now that my house is my own again I will make a greater effort to follow the rules. I am concerned about what will happen down the road a couple of months if I do not. I will not be happy if my hair all falls out!

On a happier note, I have been out and bought some new P.J.'s and a nightgown in smaller - much smaller sizes- than I was wearing before. I also pulled a cute pink and black animal striped fitted cardigan out of the closet I always thought of as my "thin " clothes- and am wearing it right now! I even was out and about and didn't feel the need to cover up my lower half like I usually do- with a longer top or cape etc. So I am feeling more free and confident no matter what the scale does each week. I feel a lot of improvement in this first month overall.

I have been to more social events than normal for me and have had some wonderful compliments - which never hurts!

So I quess that is all for now...no words of wisdom today.

Love to all who pass by to read my musings.

Have a great week .

Twenty-one days and counting...

Well, I am a day late if not a dollar short-- but at least I could remember the steps to blog a new entry! It is Tuesday 21 days post surgery--- still a learning curve but at least I don't feel like I am failing the class! I will tell you now that I am as of this morning 14 lbs down! that is about 4.6 lbs a week- or .6 lbs a day! with out struggle or temptation, or hunger.
Where have you been all my life??

I haven't begun an exercise regimen at the gym yet-- but I do walk the dog, or should I say the dog walks me every day.

This week I confess I was frustrated sometimes over the lack of weight loss-- I am on the scale too much- and I know this is not the way to do things-- so next week- once a week- well maybe twice a week. The scale didn't move from Monday to Thursday then Friday down some, and then today - down some more! Now I believe WLS will work even for me!

Energy ! Wow do I have energy- I am up in the mornings- cleaning like a fiend- I never cleaned like this before.
( Could it be my 1 cup of weak java?) Yesterday I was upside down looking in the jumble of my kitchen cabinets below the island and exclaimed "Ugh"- in disgust. Before WLS I would say to myself-- Steve needs to reorganize this mess for me...(Mr. Organization himself) But Yesterday! I pulled all the crap out with a clang and a bang...and put the pieces back and weeded some out!

WHO is this amazing new woman?

I also experimented in the kitchen! I made Protein Ice cream in my new cuisinart icecream maker/toy! Note to self- first batch too sweet- and not so yummy after packing in container for later. Much the texture of ice milk--
(remember Ice milk?-if not you are much younger than me!) Next batch Will be much better - made simply with the protein powder I drink every day in water/milk- I might try Pumpkin this next week!

Speaking of Pumpkin-- Happy Thanksgiving to all my peeps- I am so thankful this year for all of you, my new friends and my old, my family -- and my Dear Husband Steve, my daughters Louisa and Emmaline- all together this Thursday for the first time in 6 Thanksgivings-- and then again at Christmas!
I am aglow!

I have even premade today some of the sides, amd prepped for others- tomorrow brining the turkey! I must say I used to dread all the work now I can't wait to do for those I love and I don't care if I have 3 ounces and say all done! I have gained so much more from this surgery than I could have imagined so early on! I am very grateful for my new lease on life.

I thought this week about how many years I have lost in fat misery--and I am determined to get them back tenfold! If I say I have 30 more years (minimum) from 52 to 82-- I am going to say to myself-- I am turning back the clock- living the years between 22 to 52 over again! Maybe my body has aged-- but in my mind and soul I am going to claim the freedom and activities I denied myself due to low esteem, insecurity, obesity, or raising a family.

I choose to reclaim those vital years from this day forward! I will be ageless- I will not stop and say- I am too old for that -- that ship has sailed--No- in my head I will say-- I am having my 2nd go round at my twenties, all options are open for me!

Sounds Crazy? well, never claimed to be sane!

Big Kiss

Live Large Folks... we may never pass this way again!

Sally

Week two is history go week three!

Wow, It took me a week to remember how to access this thing to be able to post-- so I am a little behind the curve...Last Friday 11/13 I had my Dr. check at GW. Actually I should say the Dr.s "staff or Team" check since the "magnificent Wizard of Oz-- er -ah - um- my surgeon- Dr. Brody

steps in ( one foot out of the door at all times) flits in and flits out- everyone else on his team has looked at my incisions for healing etc. So he doesn't feel the need I guess. Ah Well- he has magic hands- so why waste valuable time when the patient is conscious- and his job is done-- as long as his Team can take care of me! Gee- I guess it is like seeing Chase , or 13- instead of House- huh?

I jest! It is all good- I am not looking for hand holding- I want concrete information to go forward with. So--I got conflicting info from my "Team" bout food consumption-- I left being told of I do not eat 1000-1200 calories my hair will fall out in 3 months-- OMG-- I was concentrating on getting the 40-50 grams of protien in-- and the water and the vits/calcium (6 large chewables)

How the heck was I going to eat enough for that calorie load???? with a tiny stomach and no appetite. Now this was told me on my way out by" Brian the cocky" the nurse I deal directly with on the "team"-- no explanation of how--- just "make it so". I headed home with an appointment to return in 3 weeks.

Now the team isn't a total loss... there is Claire "the enlightened one" she is the nutritionist that I have met once and e-mail often! I trust her implicitly- I wrote her last week about a problem I was having -- Almost like a sugar crash ( I tend to have always been a bit hypoglycemic- un officially) . I found that if I ate soup quickly or ate soup and a cracker after not eating all day,(yes i know bad girl, but i have been out and about) then I just crashed- I had to lay down asap, not nausea just I must be horizontal and I sleep for about 1 hour and I am fine- 100% again! ..So I wrote to "Claire the enlightened".

She informed me that I was DUMPING-- ah the syndrome I was avoiding by not touching sugar or sweets of any kind! My dumping was set off when I ate carbs(good carbs) with out protein.I am going to have to watch this- as I was trying to get the protein in in liquid form and then eating as needed and not worrying about more protein.

So After that bit of info and having her write me back and explain NOT to worry about the calories right now- focus on the protein, vita/cal & water! ( poopoo to you Brian )

Then today I got an email from Brian with an actual progressive chart on weeks 1-5 and how slowly to increase calories and protein intake each week-- !!!!!!

End of week 1 30 oz of fluid and 200 calories a day

End of week 2 40 oz of fluid and 400 calories a day

End of week 3 50 oz of fluid and 600 calories a day

end of week 4 50 oz of fluid and 800 calories a day

end of week 5 60 oz of fluid and 1000-1200 calories a day

WHERE was this all along????

I hate being in the dark, this is my body, my health, I am not stupid but I do expect all the info I can handle- so I can make this a successful out come for me!

AHHHHH So that was my eventful week- I have had some wonderful moments- My first real meal out- was with a friend Annie, in my old college town of Fredricksburg Va. We went to an awesome place "Umi" It is sushi etc-- I had a BENTO BOX-- it was so adorable - tiny food tiny bites chew chew chew! Oh, and my first MISO! Yum! I felt great afterwards- ( of course I did not touch the snowball mound of rice that came with).

Then we walked around dowtown and shopped- a perfect day!

So here it is folks the bottom line: on my 2nd week post surgiversary I have lost exactly 11 lbs. I am content. 214.8- I have along way to go but I haven't been past this way in over a year...so I am happy. I hope to go to the gym this week, and continue to walk My Big Dog.

Oh- cooking- new experience- I poached some tilapia and it was DIVINE! I could eat this 3 times a week. Absolutely the best way for this flaky tender fish!

Cheers-

A new life...in 7days!

That is truly how different everything looks from my perspective today!

To exercise like maniac- ( well maybe not that much) and eat very healthfully and calorically/carbohydrate friendly-- and struggle to lose even 13 lbs last year so I would be approved for this miracle surgery, and to have the weight literally "evaporating" off my frame in my first post op week is to me---CRAZY RIDICULOUS!

Before I give you my"numbers" for the week- I want to say- after watching MADMEN this morning-(I love DVRs) I am inspired to share an analogy for the purpose of helping our average sized friends "get" the agony of weight struggle.

Much like working hard, paying your dues, playing by the rules, giving it your all- at a job and then be passed over or not rightfully rewarded nor appreciated-

That is EXACTLY what is feels like to try and fight, cajole, manipulate thru exercise, low carbs , low fat, portion control, self denial ....(while those around you eat with out pause to junk everyday and never gain or very little in comparison to our gain) AND then, to have your body metabolism pass your over for promotion to the "thin side" .....well, it just ain't fair is it?

Now granted- when I was thirty and walked 3 miles a day , and ate low fat WW- I did lose 125 lbs-- but forget that! it aint gonna happen at 52 and 248 lbs (last December) no matter what!

And you wonder- well why did she put all back? ...perhaps if I had therapy back then, I would not have gone back. Very clearly I recall my physical after this loss, and I asked the Doctor" so am I thin enough now?" I weighed 147, and still didn't Win with WW- never got "full approval" as being done according to their weight chart.

Nor did I get what I hoped from my Mother- approval for being good enough after years of being the fat child in the family.

So when the Dr. pronounced me "thin enough because she could count my ribs!- that I guess was all it took and somehow slowly it all crept back.

So maybe that helps those who say to us- there is no such thing as slow metabolism, or it's willpower or whatever!

So to close today, I had a good week, I feel better everyday, less sore in the rib cage area, no exhaustion, ( quite the opposite) no dehydration, little need for tylenol all. I would say the turning point was Friday afternoon- somehow I have felt less like a surgical patient since then.

I do have to watch my level of activity because I don't have tons of resources to draw on yet.

However I am pleased anounce....drum roll please.....

8.8 lbs lost in the first week post op!

Today I am 217- down from 225.8 the morning of surgery 11/2!

I am patting myself on the proverbial back, counting my blessings and appreciating that the "BOSS" my body is finally seeing and responding to me differently, rewarding me for all those years of trial, and striving and strife.

Until next time... live large!

Wow- I did it! RNY is history!

I did it- after 9 months of prepping emotionally and physically- I have the RNY behind me on the road map of my life. No longer looming in the murky future-it is done. Now I am home and have to adjust- so here I blog. I suppose if I could figure to the video of my Youtube I would do that- I am beautiful and very entertaining- haha!

So here I sit, to blog about my pain, my intake of liquid- hmmm jello or popscicle- the only things that appeal at all to me 4 days post surgery- Bored yet?

Well here is the skinny folks- I have been heavy all my life-yes it affects your life path and your choices for sure-- but since my lack of driving all men wild led me to my dear husband who loves me all the time- I am not regretting anything as far as family and my beautiful girls go. I do want to live a full and adventurous life from this year on- at age 52(10/26) and not a moment to spare.

I am blogging for me- and for others like me who want to feel less alone in this process. I find more support and interesting people online than in my backyard. I look forward to women of power who reach back to share their experiences with me and I reach back to those coming along behind me.

More to Follow- but for today- I need a drink a water!