Monday Weigh in

Went for my Monday official weigh in - now 210.4 - thats a total of 31.1 pounds - about 11 pounds to go to be in "onederland".

I picked up my multi-vitamins, Iron and Calcium chewables!  They are especially made for persons who have the gastric band, etc., - they taste really great.

I bought some "Cheese and Broccoli" soup from Quiznos today - 1 cup serving - I ate half at 11 am and the other half at 2pm.  That was the very best soup I have ever eaten :)  So I am feeling so much better today - also got some powdered protein which now makes me feel that I can make it through the next 8 days!

Good Night !

Middle of the Night !

Here I am at 2:30 am - woke up at 2 am and could not get back to sleep.:(

I had a really hard time with hunger on Sunday - finally went to bed at 9 pm - just to get away from food, lol !

Today will be day 13 on liquids - I don't know if  being able to eat creamy soups is a help or a hindrance.  I have day dreams about taking a piece of steak and pureeing  it :) and I haven't even thought about eating steak for over a year - shows how crazy I am feeling.

Anyway I guess I should go back to bed - the kitchen is way too close!

Today I go to officially weigh in -  Have a great day everyone !

Saturday wanderings

Went to my second support meeting today - a very small group of 5 - we are going to set up a schedule of once a month and hopefully more people will attend.

I brought some clothing to give away and I am pleased to say that all was taken and everyone was happy to get some each.  Only one of the ladies didn't take anything and that's because she is at her goal weight and slim and trim as can be.  She had her procedure done in 2006 and at that time she was 285 pounds - she looks fantastic !

The meeting flew by - I learned a couple of new things from these ladies - next time, I must take a notebook with me to jot down key points.  I want to be successful at this!

My daughter and granddaughter came and picked me up - we went to a "gourmet" deli that is our favourite place to go to for lunch and I had Pureed 3 bean soup (she did it especially for me) - Barbara had a veggie mushroom sandwich and Faith had a grilled cheese - "gourmet style" - my mouth was watering just looking at those two sandwiches !

We then went to the mall and I bought 2 small forks and 2 small spoons to use when I can start eating solid foods again (December 8th - can't wait ).

I have done very well with drinking plain water today - so far up to 56 ozs and am starting on my next 20 oz.

Oh, also bought some very nice Christmas place mats (6 red and 6 green) and also napkins and napkin holders to match.  The table will look nice this year - I will have to take a picture and post it here !

I go on Monday to officially weigh in - I am hoping for a good loss!

Trying on clothes

Yesterday I spent about two hours trying on clothes and was able to fit into a couple more outfits - I have clothes now from size 18 to 10 in my closet so will have a great time giving them away as I get smaller and smaller.

I have packed up my size 20's to give out tomorrow at my support meeting .

I finally cleaned my apartment today - did it slowly and sat down when I got too tired but eventually got it done - I feel so much better now - not that I cleaned as hard as I should have but I figure next week I will be able to start cleaning from top to bottom so that it will be spanking clean for when I put up the Christmas tree and decorations - I love how nice my apartment looks with all the decorations up  :)

Nikita - Secret Agent

  I have named my band - " Nikita" - she is going to be a "secret agent" who will search out and destroy any desire I may have to over eat !   My darling daughter came up with the name and it seemed to fit perfectly :)

I would like to say Hi and thank you to my newest follower " Amandakiska" :)  I will be heading over to your blog to get to know you !

Happy Thanksgiving - hope it will be a wonderful day for all of you !

Day 7 and creamy soup

Added creamy soup to my menu today - who would have thought I would get excited about having soup.... but I was !

I did 10 minutes on the treadmill today - on a low mileage  - just wanted to start a little exercise - I am feeling restless - my apartment is getting more and more messy and I just want to start cleaning like mad - I am not the best housekeeper in the world but I do like to see shiny floors and dustless furniture - where does all that darn dust come from anyway !!!

Biggest Looser is on tonight - the ones left are getting makeovers - I just love to see the changes in them -!

Have a great evening everyone :)

Bandages Off !!!

Went to see Dr. D this morning to get my bandages off  and to check my weight, etc.,.
He is such a lovely man - we gave each other a big hug and I thanked him for changing my life.
He was pleased with my progress and we set a date for my first fill - December 16th.

I am on a 21 day liquid diet - only clear liquids for the first 3 days and I started to add liquid yogurt to the menu on day 4 - today is day 6 and I added liquid protein - I need to take in 30 g of protein a day and tomorrow I get to add creamy soups to the menu and that will go on until day 22 when I can start eating solids.

I weighed this morning and the scale said 211.5 - that's about 9 pounds since November 15th - I am thrilled !  Of course I don't know what my scale would say since my daughter has that hidden for me but I may get it back on Sunday or not - I go every Sunday to my weight loss club and weigh in there so I guess that's enough weighing!

I have a support meeting to go to on Saturday and I am looking forward to that !

Now I need to catch up on the blogs as I have lost touch these last few days but I am back and feeling great !

4 days postop

Back in the land of the living !

I was up early on Wednesday (5 am) because I couldn't sleep !

My daughter drove me to the hospital and we got there at 9:10 am - I was set for surgery at 10 am.
Didn't get in at 10 because there were two emergency operations and I didn't get into the operating room until 2 pm (4 hours later).  I kept thinking what if they cancel and then I have to go thru all this again!

Dr. D said I had a very clean liver - how's that for a compliment :)  !

There was a bit of delay in the procedure(once I was in the operating room)  because when they opened up me and the kit - one of the pieces was missing so they had to go get another kit.

I have no memory of getting dressed or driving home - although I do remember that my husband and daughter both came for me around 6 pm. and I don't remember too much about the first night.

Day 2 - was kind of rough because I was very nauseous and threw up a few times, luckily my daughter called Jessica and told her what was happening and she told Barbara that was not a good thing to be doing so Barbara called Sam and she told her to get some liquid gravol and for me to take that every 4 hours - which did the trick and no more throwing up - thank the lord because it hurt my stomach!

Day 3 - was finally able to get a few cups of chicken broth and juices and a couple of pop cycles in me.  Took a sponge bath (can't bath until I get the bandages off on Monday) - felt much better at the end of the third day.

Day 4 - Feeling much better today - my stomach is sore around where the port is .... I think.... and my stomach is black and blue.   Drinking much better today - have graduated to liquid yogurt today - not really hungry but know I have to get something in me.

Everything tastes so sweet, yuck!  never thought I would cringe at sweet tasting things..... but I do !!!

The worst thing is that I have to crush up this big pill (for inflammation) and add to a little juice and swallow it - thank the lord that I just finished taking the last one - I pray I don't have to take it ever again !!!

So I am now a "Bandster"  - happy I did it !

Thank you for all your good wishes and prayers - it certainly helped me !  - now I have to think of a name for my band!

Have a great week end everyone :)

 

Last Day !

Ok Ladies - this is my final count down !

Tomorrow at this time (2 pm) I should be waking up in the recovery room.

I am happy, happy, HAPPY  :)

One more Day

I went for my last fitness training class today - did the bike, treadmill and some ab exercises - total about 1 hour.
I signed up for 12 sessions .... so have 4 left  which I will finish as soon as Dr. D lets me - probably  in  4 weeks time.

 I only have one more day (after today of course) and then on Wednesday I will have my procedure done - I can't believe that it is almost here and I am so ready for this to happen!


  

Sunday

Its a beautiful Sunday morning - getting ready  to go to church!

This is my second day of clear liquids - still feeling good
Bfk - 20 oz water
         8 oz apple juice
          1  frozen juice bar


Went to my first support meeting yesterday - just a few of of us there - but all of them in good spirits and I liked them all - I was the oldest (by one month) so that's another bonus to have someone who is my age there because lets face it as persons over 60, we have a few more issues (sagging parts, lol) !(although, I must say  she is in much better shape than me in that regard)

We are going to have another meeting in 2 weeks at which time there should be a lot more ladies there.

Only 3 more days - I can hardly believe it !

Clear Liquids

Today I started my clear liquids - I will be doing this for the next 4 days and then Wednesday, November 17th is    THE DAY    - Yeah!!

Woke up  had 20 oz water
Did 20 mins on stationary bike and 20 mins on elliptical l machine
Had a hot cup of turkey broth
Now sipping on a 12 oz bottle of Coconut Water - that is delicious - called  O. N. E

I am going to meet some other ladies this morning who already have the lapband or like me in the process of having it done - I am looking forward to meeting them and talking with them about their experiences.

Have a great day everyone !

Detoxing

I spoke to Dr. Pattie (my nutritionist) and explained how I was feeling and what was happening and she thinks that I was having a hard detoxing experience.  

Also, I have been drinking too much water and therefore was washing the electrolytes out of my system so she told me to reduce the amount of water I was drinking and to eat 4 oz of probiotic yogurt (plain) as a snack.

Also she thinks I was probably feeling anxious about the procedure - even though I am totally committed to doing this and happy to be doing it - and that does make sense - she said I should always try to analyze  why I am feeling the way I am feeling and not to ignore it....of course.... I always have been the type to bury my feelings and not think about them so it is something I have to start doing !

I had to go grocery shopping after work and while I was gone she called to find out how I was doing - wasn't that great of her to call - not many doctors do that - showed me that she cared about me - nice feeling :)

Also, as you can see from my tracker.... my BMI shows that I am no longer "Morbidly Obese"  just "regular Obese"  !

Woke up feeling nauseous

This morning I woke up around 5 am (my body still thinks its 6 am) and felt nauseous and have been to the bathroom about 5 times now - I don't know where it is all coming from - since I am on "Full Liquids"  now - I broke out in a cold sweat and felt a bit week on my legs and my heart was beating faster than usual - almost like a mild anxiety attack

I was thinking maybe my body doesn't like getting so much protein (about 117 grams per day)  - now it is about 11:am and I am feeling better but still not my usual self.

I called my nutritionist but she is out this morning and won't be back in office until this afternoon.

So have any of you ladies had a similar thing happen to you when you were on "Full Liquids" ????

Also, I decided to be brave and posted my picture in my profile - still not telling anyone other than DH, DD and Jessica that I am having this done - maybe down the line !

A quick hello to two new followers

Thank you Nikki and Miss Vickie for putting yourselves on my "Follower List" - I will be dropping by shortly to view your blogs.

Exercise is good for the body and the Soul :)

Had my 6th session with my fitness instructor this morning - started at 10:15 and ended at 12:00 - after only these few sessions I am already seeing and feeling the improvement in my body and energy level.

I started at level 3 on the exercise bike and today I was doing level 7 and doing 45 second sprints - amazing !

Then on to strength training - I am now actually able to balance on the exercise ball (first time, I kept falling off) ... also I am lifting weights up to 5 pounds (started at 2) and stepping and all kinds of  things!

I am on "Full Liquids"  as of this morning - that means two raw protein meal replacements and two snacks of raw protein added to a smoothie and for supper very liquefied soup :)  - it will still taste good ... no matter what it looks like.!

7 more days !!!!

A day of making payments

Today is my last day for soft/pureed foods - tomorrow starts full Liquids  - I have learned how to make smoothies which certainly helps to mask the taste of the raw protein.

Also this morning I went out to pay for my surgery - everyone wanted payment in full -so my pockets are empty now - darn insurance company... couldn't get them to pay a dime !  Oh well, this is an investment in my self and my health -

 I made some lentil soup last night - the recipe was on the tin - and I just added a few more things, like veggies and spices - it turned out really, really good - (oh yes, I blended it until it was completely smooth).  I will probably have the rest of it tonight.

8 more days !!!!!

Second day of pureed/soft foods

I did very well at the Fair yesterday - although the smell of  barbecued food had my mouth watering !
But I just kept telling myself, No, No, No - so made it thru without falling off the wagon.  I bought some books, some raffle tickets and played the punch board and had a good time. The weather was perfect!

I am now making smoothies to add the "raw protein" to and that certainly helps with the taste - that's 2 times a day and a meal replacement once a day  of "protein powder" which I add to water.... I really have to find something else other than water , I know I can add it to fresh squeezed fruit juice but as I have only started doing the meal replacement protein , I can still swallow it without too much difficulty ... I just keep saying to myself, this is only for a little while,.......... right ?????   I am looking forward to eating my soup for supper !

I am feeling good, otherwise, I feel as if I have more energy !

Well , I am off to read other blogs and get some inspiration from you all.

Post Operation Nutrition program

Wow, I have 23 followers - I am looking forward to getting to know all of you and will be  visiting your blogs within the next few days :)

I just finished my 5 weeks of "Solid Foods" .

Today I started "Pureed/Soft" Foods this will be for 4 days  Nov 6 thru Nov 9th

Next "Full Liquids" from Nov 10th thru Nov 12th (3 days)

Lastly "Clear Liquids" from Nov 13th thru Nov 16th (4 days)

Then  November 17th !!!!!!!  at 10 am   in the operating room I will be changing my life forever !

Made 2 cakes last night  for our church bake sale /Fair - was sore as heck from my workout routine that day - my caves and the backs of my thighs  were in agony but thank heavens for my wonderful daughter who helped me by making the frosting and decorating the cakes and washing up the dishes - couldn't ask for a better daughter :)

It will be a little bit hard to be at the fair because in past years, I would eat junk but this year I won't be able to so I will have to concentrate on "Non Food" booths!

A Long Day

First - thanks everyone for your good wishes on my surgery date.

I left home at 9:30 this morning to go for my physic evaluation - and it lasted until 1 pm - phew!
Wow, it was a very involved question and answer and talking session !  I will meet with her sometime next week for her to go over the results with me.  She did say, however,  that she could see no reason why I should not go ahead with the surgery as I had a very realistic idea of what this "change in my life" would involve and my commitment to making these changes.  So I am happy about that.

Then I had to go to my fitness training session  and  also to consult with my nutritionist,  Dr P,  to draw up my food plan for the next 12 days.

I finally got home at 6 pm .... so it was a very, very long day.

Only 12 more days - I am so excited.

Confirmed Surgery Date !!!!

Just got back from seeing Dr. D and he confirmed a surgery date of....... November 17th.............................-   I am so excited, happy, joyfull and a bit scared !

Now I have to go and make supper for DH and me.

Exercise, etc.

I went for my 2nd fitness training class yesterday - it feels so good to have someone watching you do the exercises and telling you how to do them right - you feel like you are accomplishing something !

I did not feel tired at all - like I did on Monday - the only thing a did different was that I drank a "Coconut Water" which replenishes your electrolytes big time - and it was really tasty, I was surprised - I must ask Dr P when I see her on Friday. (my third training class).  I am trying to get in at least 6 more classes before the surgery.

Which  reminds me (as if I needed reminding :)! ) I am going to see Dr. D tonight to get my confirmed surgery date - I am so excited!

I now have 18 followers - how great is that !!!!!

Massage - I am a convert !

This afternoon I went to have an adjustment and a massage.

I should say I was not a fan of massages because of the fact that you had to take off all your clothes and then have someones hands all over you.  Because of being overweight most of my adult life and having all kinds of rolls and rolls - I was ashamed to have someone handle all my flesh but...... I am here to say..... that I now love, love massages - at least with the person who gave me my massage today.

First off she was very nice and professional and I felt at ease with her right away - she had such a wonderful firm touch and at the end of the 30 minutes I felt like a new person.  I have decided to give my daughter a gift certificate of a "Spa Hour" with her - she loves massages so I want her to have the joy of this experience too.

Also my Chiropractor is  excellent - she takes her time and works on all my problems  - I would highly recommend her to anyone !

Two more days and I go to see Dr. D about a confirmed surgery date.  I am so excited !

Tired

I am so tired right now - I had my first fitness training today and although it went very well and I was feeling great afterwards .... right now I just ran out of gas.... I am going to bed very early tonight, for sure !  I am going to be hurting  tomorrow.