New picture soon.

I will have Derrel take my picture as the first of the month is coming around. So I will post a new photo this week.

Man last night was a rough night for me. I am taking Zinc now for hair loss. I've read it can be hard on people and make there tummy upset or doubled over in pain and cramps. Well I got sick last night from midnight to two in the morning. I think it was the zinc. I took the zinc and other vitamins about 10pm, and by midnight - BARF... No food came up as it had been hours since we had ate. Just acid in my tummy. It had to be the zinc. That is the only differences I have made in my vitamin regimen. Well I would rather be bald then sick and yucky.

1.9 pounds this week...

I weighed this morning as Saturday's are my day to check in and write down what I weigh for each week. I am down just about 2 pounds this week. 1.9 is the number. Down to 258 from 291, that's 33 in 9 weeks. I've tried milk now, hamburger, even had a bit of ice cream for Derrel's birthday the other day. Just had all these is small amounts and I did just fine.

I'm off to work now as it's my turn to work the weekend. Boo

till later...

Had a Monday off...

The sun is shining here. It is sure nice to see the sun out. We have had a wet spring here in Oregon. Had today off from work because I have to work the weekend shifts this week. We went to the grocery store and out to breakfast before the store. Today for the first time I felt icky and did not want to eat. I felt crampy and not really good. I did not feel like that about a hour prier. I ate because right before we left I took my morning vitamins and that messed my tummy up I think, so I ate a little to help that yucky feeling. I take a hand full of vitamins and 1 prilosec and Actigall is a pill that Dr. R has prescribed to us (Actigall is used to help dissolve certain kinds of gallstones while you lose 10+ a month). I had only had my protein soy drink this morning and it was 11am when we headed out the door, thought that was enough but guess not. Pissed my tummy off I did. Won't do that again without putting something else in. Anyway we went shopping @ the grocery store, kind of cut it short and came home. Felt better by 2pm or so.

Cleaned the house, did the laundry... blah blah housework. Have to work most of the week, and all weekend as my boss is out of town on another managers meeting with the DM. So I am working all weekend. Yucky :(

MOVIES, MOVIES, MOVIES...

Otherwise.... I'm good!

Funny...

I did this to be healthy...

(i don't wish anyone to be phat, experience it yes, be it, NO.)

I saw this picture today and it made me giggle. :)

5 pounds this week...

I am down 5 pounds this week. I am down from 291 to 259 today. That's 32 since surgery! Happy, happy, joy, joy...

15 hours alone...

We had a date @ 7pm Thursday night. We rented one night at our timeshare not to far from our home. The rooms are hard to get because it is such a nice resort and most people stay awhile. If you can find a open room 15 days or less on there web site you can get the room pretty cheap. I just kept checking the web site and one popped up sure enough. The place is only 35 minutes from our home. We live inland from the ocean but not on the coast. This room is right off the rocks and on the ocean. Derrel (my hubby) got off work last night and I picked him up at work. I had already dropped of our son at a friends house for one evening, got the candles and we drove down. We both just happened to have Friday off together this week. Anyway, had a great few hours out. The condo had this BIG jet tub, it's wonderful. Plenty big enough for both of us and the candles! It was nice just to be alone and talk and soak in the tub together. Good time!

Awww...

I will post tomorrow on what my scale tell's me!

Ta Da Moment...

I had 2 what I call "ta da moments" this week. I tried on a pair of work pants that had not fit for sometime and they fit. Cool! And today (Thursday) I dug to the bottom of my dresser and saw my favorite pair of jeans. I didn't want to try them on cause I didn't want to be disappointed. I thought to myself they won't fit yet, and they do! There even a little big. Yeah for me! Great feeling!

Yesterday was 2 months since surgery for me. Best thing is I feel great. I have had not one problem of feeling sick, or having trouble with new foods or weakness. The first few weeks were pretty rough, but now that time has passed I feel fine. I am so happy I made this decision for myself, and have not looked back one time. Still feel like this year is going to crawl by for me, but I promise to be nice to myself with kind words. I will weigh on Saturday and let you know where I'm at. People are starting to share with me that they can see I am losing. I am not sharing with everyone that comes into my store that I have had surgery. I was worried about telling my customers pre-op, and some I have shared my story with. More than not I'd say. I am excited to share my story with some. My boss told me the other day "she hated me, with love" as she is watching me lose. I guess I understand. She is battling weight in her life, so I did not take it personally. People need to understand that it's not all fun and games. It's not easy not to eat too. I did not take the easy way out. Old habits are hard to break, but they can be broken. I like what Scott and Barb say, "it's surgical enhanced behavior modification". Perfect... I do not have the same cravings, I feel satisfied, and even feel satisfied when I have one bite or one piece of chocolate. It does not take much food at all @ this point in my life to fill me. I have been trying to eat more protein this week. Had cottage cheese 2 times this week for lunch, and have felt less hungry @ times. I posted on the MGB post op yahoo groups page this week for some support and ideas on what they went through. I got many replys to my post from other people that have had the Mini Gastric Bypass. We are different then patients that have had the RNY. They do not have as much intestines bypassed as the MGB, and the shape of our stomach is different too. So it was nice to chat with some others about my worries. And to be reminded to follow what MY Dr has told me to do. I have to drink and eat way more salt than a patient that has had the RNY. There are many difference between the two surgery's. I picked the correct Dr, I believe that. The MGB will be the surgery they do in the years to come. There are 10+ different kinds of surgery they do for weight loss and there is not just one "gold standard" for weight loss surgery in physician and insurance company's minds yet. Dr. Rutledge has been doing weight loss surgery's for 30 years. He used to be a RNY surgeon. He is the founder of the MGB. He watched his patients for many years and learned from it and he believes the body will do better and have more weigh loss with better health with the way he created the MGB. It someday will be the "gold standard" for weight loss surgery's.

Today is a better day...

I understand that I am venting. Somedays are tough. My head was getting the best of me. Going to try to stay busy and keep my mind on other things rather than the old negative way. Still wanting to write down what I am eating, so I hope it does not bore you all, but I know when looking @ it I may see something I am missing.

MONDAY-

• Chocolate Whey protein with Benifiber and soy milk in crushed ice.
• 1/2 cup of cottage cheese with 3 club crackers.
• 2 saltine crackers with just a bit of peanut butter between them.
• Gordon's fish fillet (freezer section) did not finish the fish. 2 slices of tomato.
• Made another Whey protein drink with soy milk as I felt I did not eat enough for the day and I love them!

Drank a Propell water today @ work and sipped on Gatorade in between today. Today I am excited for Thursday. We just happened to get a room @ our time share on Thursday. One room came open with a jet tub and is right on the ocean in Depoe Bay Oregon. So we made a date. In the winter season it is the only time we can afford that room as it is not tourist season on the Oregon Coast. So Derrel and I have a date! :) I have Thursday off, but Derrel has to work and will be off my 5:30.

What I ate on Saturday & Sunday...

Sunday's meal blog...

• 1 low fat orange yogurt blended with OJ and benifiber. I crushed that up with ice in my blender. 12oz cup
• Had 6 bites of ham and cheese with egg. A quarter piece of toast with a small amount of strawberry jam. 2 bites of potato's.
• 6 small shrimp in some cocktail sauce. 6 bites of egg flower soup.
• 1 piece of chocolate
  

Drank my Gatorade (16 0z) today and some propell water. We went to the aquarium today so we got to get out and walk today. It was nice outside today so it was nice to get outside.
That's it... I don't remember feeling hungry today as like the past few days. Maybe I was just busy.

Saturday food blog:

• my whey protein drink with soy milk blended with ice and benifiber
• thin slice of ham (3-4 oz) and one string cheese
• glass of ice water
• pop cycle
• Graham cracker
• 2 wedges of cheese quesadilla
• propell water

Not a really good day protein wise I see now that I write it down. I don't think I left anything out... I'm thinking I will keep blogging on what I am eating so maybe I can learn from it!

7 weeks down...

I weighed this morning and I am down 2 pounds this week. That means the total for 7 weeks is 26 pounds. All my other liter mates are ahead of me in weight loss. I don't think I should be worrying and thinking about there number as it bothers me, this is not a race. I also have to find some way to be patient, and kind to myself. Each week for me is passing slowly, watching and waiting and wanting what I deserve NOW. I knew this would be a long year for me, probably the longest year of my life. At my meeting before surgery in Vegas I remember one lady sharing a story with us. She told us you plan and prepare for this surgery for months, your excited, you arrive and have surgery and after there is no orgasm as you just head home and wait. You come home with no baby, no surprise after all your hard work and planning. I am feeling that this week. Time is passing slowly and the pounds are dropping slowly too. I can't compare myself to others and there numbers. We are all different. I found myself looking at other peoples story's and seeing where they were at 6-8 weeks out. I have found many different numbers of weight loss. There is no rule. It seems the sicker your body is at the time of surgery the more you lose. My body is holding on to this as much as it can. I just hope my surgery wins and not my body. I am looking forward to starting exercise class again. I just want to lose some more pounds so I can do my job on concrete floor and life and not hurt. It is getting better. I will push my self soon to return to class, as I need to push rather than not. I am getting through life and my job with no pain killers which in it's self is GREAT. I was so afraid @ 50 (10 years from now) I would have to take Advil or pills to get through my day. That scared me looking at my future.

Thursday I had a strange day. I was hungry all day. Just felt like I ate a lot. So I started feeling guilty. Like I did something wrong. Old habits... I should be proud as there is Easter candy in the house and I have not eaten hardly any. I was just hungry all day Thursday. I ate several pop cycles trying to get rid of my sweet tooth that day. That was the worst thing I did that day. Was I bord and just thought I was hungry, or just having a day? I just need to look at that too. The things I have tried have settled in my tummy well, and have not found anything yet my body does not seem to like me taking in. We went to Arby's yesterday as we were in Eugene. I got a ham and swiss market fresh sandwich. I can take a bite or two of bread but can't eat the bread overall. Just makes me feel to full and does not feel good going down or later after the meal. I can only eat half as I eat the insides out of the sandwich. I wish I didn't feel hunger pangs. I really wish I was never hungry as it might not bother me as much. All this is just my head and the things we tell ourselves. But I am going to drive my self crazy waiting. Like life doesn't go on till I am 170 pounds. That's crazy. I will blog next week on what I'm eating as then I can look at that too on paper. Should I still count calories, fat?

What I ate yesterday:

• protein drink with soy milk and ice when I woke up.
• one granola bar in the car to Eugene. 90 calories.
• 1/2 of Arby's ham and swiss. Just picked the insides out of the sandwich and ate a bite or two of bread. One mozzarella stick. I picked most of the breading off the cheese stick.
• Missed my magic bullet and the drinks I make with ice, so I stopped and bought a small icee at 7 eleven and some peanuts. I looked the peanuts had 300 calories.
• 1/2 of can of soup for dinner
• one more protein drink in the evening hours with soy milk.

Of course I drank my Gatorade through out the day. Well that's it... That's my nag for today...

Just hanging out today...

Well today is Tuesday. I don't feel really hot today. Just feel tired today and kind of shaky. Does not mean it's due to my bypass surgery, just don't feel hot today, but not sure why.

We had a nice Easter with family. Was most nice to see my step mom Carolyn. She has been so good to me since the death of my sweet dad years ago. Carolyn has always treated me like family, that's just the kind of person she is. I see why my dad loved her so much. Dinner was good and I just ate a bit of the things I wanted. I even had a bite or two of desert. So Easter was a nice day. Got a pretty good visit in too.

Not much else to report.... Just blah...

Phooey

I weighed in today. I lost 500/1000 of a pound. Boo... I lost 1/2 of pound this week. That was just a fancy was of writing it. Guess it's my week for a plateau. I have added a few new things to my diet the past 2 weeks. But still I can only eat 8-10 bites and I feel full. Still eating lots of cottage cheese @ least sometime through out the day. I did eat some ham this week. Hmm what else new did I eat this week. I had one strawberry with chocolate on it. A co worker made chocolate covered strawberry's this week for us for Easter. Just had one though. Anyway, slow week this week for weight loss and I am not happy about it. But I knew I would have plateau weeks.

Derrel bought me some zinc for hair loss. I will start taking it today.

I can see some changes in my body. My legs look a bit smaller. I feel a bit lighter on my feet. But I still have my days when I think this won't work for me either. I would be lying if I said it never crossed my mind. How can it not work. The amount of food I am taking in is small. I still do feel hunger pangs, as some people do not after surgery. The amount of food that fills me is small and not much at all. That is still amazing to me! But yes, I still feel once in awhile I will be the one person that will fail, it does cross my mind every once in awhile.

Just trying to be honest...

Crocs

OK, I am not going to write today about my weight loss. If you have been reading my blog you know that I have been complaining about the pain I have in my ankle from a 20 year old injury. I am used to the pain, but when I am at work (on concrete) my ankle does hurt very bad at the end of a work day. Anyway, my sister in law Barb offered to send me a pair of running shoes that she had in her closet. I took her up on her offer, and they did help. But in the box she also put a new pair of Crocs in there for me. Barb and Scott both swears on these shoes called Crocs. There funky looking, light plastic shoes. Oh man..... They are so comfortable! No joke. I can't believe it. There like walking on air. I wore them all week at work this week. There unbelievable. I am so amazed @ how well my feet and ankle don't hurt this week. I'M SOLD!!!

Thanks Barb! :)
http://www.crocs.com/

I will post later on this week. All is well and no regrets and no problems. Life after surgery is going really well for me...