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!