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!