bariatricbiatch

Memorial Day Weekend...How'd I do?

2008-05-27T15:51:15Z

Well, I think I did damn fine.

We went to the coast this weekend. Normally I don't enjoy going because I never feel like moving around or doing much. But this was going to be a great time and we were going to spend it at a beautiful house with a jacuzzi and a game room only a block from the beach.

I've been feeling so much better lately and so energetic that I knew this was going to be a fun time. So away we went. BTW, my wedding band is now being worn on a chain around my neck because I've lost so much weight.

My biggest concern was of course food. I didn't want to get sick and sweets weren't a big deal because I haven't been craving them.

So Friday night I actually had some canned shredded beef with a mariande I'd put together and some cottage cheese. It did fine, but I wan't thrilled with the taste. I made the marinade too runny.

The next day we went out to breakfast. This was a challange...what should I get? My husband got a heaping waffle with mounds of whipped cream and blueberries. I shuddered. And then I decided on half a sliced grapefruit and some silver dollar buckwheat pancakes with sugar free syrup.

They were awesome and the grapefruit was really good. I managed to eat half the grapefruit and two fo the pancakes and was very happy.

Later that day we had a BBQ. I had a tablespoon of coleslaw, half a cheeseburger, and a little bit of cottage cheese. It was awesome and I managed to eat almost all of the cheeseburger and kept it down no problem.

We went to the casino and the beach that day as well as hit up the outlet store. The next day I had breakfast that consisted of one small pancake with sugar free syrup, cheesey scrambled eggs, and two small pieces of bacon. Pretty high protein breakfast. I ate most of everything and it was great as well.

The secret is chewing. You have to chew. I've yet to get sick or ill from eating because I chew like a lunatic. And I'm picky about what I eat.

A nice little by the way I discovered at Starbucks. Get a sugar free, splenda added Decaf iced latte. Have them make it with fat free milk and go ahead and have them add sugar free whipped cream ( or cool whip). Drink some and then scoop out the ice and pop it into your freezer. When you take it out a couple hours later you have a VERY yummy frozen treat that also helps fill your fluid quota.

As of today I'm at 24 pounds lost. That's with me eating vacation food. Booya!

Work and such

2008-05-20T21:21:42Z

My first day back to work was yesterday. Went pretty good and no pain or anything. Soup is my friend.

I went home and around 4:30 got really tired. Decided to take a nap and woke up at 10 o'clock! I went downstairs had some soup and some cottage cheese. While I ate slowly I watched the pretty that is Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs. I love this man...but that's beside the point. I went back to sleep at 11:30 and got up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 5:15 am for work.

Today has been better. I don't feel tired and I'm coming into the home stretch.

I think tomorrow is my 2 week appt. So I'll know then if I can start having solid food. Man I hope so. This weekend we've got a cottage on the beach rented for the whole weekend. This should be fun and I can't wait. There's a pool table and a hot tub...so I'm hoping I'm also given the greenlight for being able to do that.

I'm feeling great and nearly 20 pounds off my fellow biatches!

Weekend

2008-05-18T03:55:51Z

Well, my first movie going experience happened after surgery. I had a big ass water and no popcorn. I missed the corn, the smell was evil. But I thought about the fact that half the time I ate it I would feel sick and my sugar would hit 300+ and how it gave me gas. I don't feel so bad though. In a few months or so I'll be able to have nuts. I plan on bringing in my own food to the theater and I'll just have nuts. The crunch is the key. And I'll probably be able to have a little popcorn if I want, no more than half a handful...but if I want its there. But I doubt I'll want it after awhile. Sadly the moive was Prince Caspian and it wasn't that good.  Pretty but hollow compared to the first one.

But I did discover yummy soup at Big Lots of all places. Ranchero Tomato Soup. WIN. So very good. Yes it has a bit of bean in it, but the stuff is mushy as can be. And freaking gooooood.

Also, I went out and got sugar free creamsicles and diet soda flavored ice pops. Yay for keeping everything down. I'm being good and it rules.

www.bariatriceating.com is a site everyone should check out. I bought her book and I bought a bariatric cookbook as well. Both of them have giving me hope that I won't be starving and I'll be able to have good food and stuff I actually like. I'm so burned out on the crappy food I used to eat I'm looking forward to being able to eat good food that doesn't hurt me. Her book is AMAZING. Sugar Free/Low Sugar at home blizzards with protein! I never thought I'd be so happy to read those words, but she tells you how to make them.

I plan on ordering food from there. Especially the protein bars. I'm going to need those for my trip next month I'm sure because I'm going to be trapped in fast food central. Soup will be a big part of my diet I'm sure. But at least I won't be spending that much on food. Next I'm going to have to work on getting my vitamins etc. I plan on grilling them at my 2 week visit this week on what all I should get and the best places to get it.

All in all so far so good. 17 pounds and going.

Variety is the spice of life

2008-05-15T18:31:03Z

Sorry for the lag in posts. So here's the run down.

I've been driving again! Woot! Yes, 7 days after surgery you can start driving around again. I've made short trips. You have to be careful though. I've been having some big time pain in my left side. I think they may have pulled a muscle or something. Last night it was so bad I couldn't breathe. But after the magic pain medicine of I don't care, it went away. I think I'm pushing myself too much and I need to just take it easy which is my goal for today.

Tomorrow I check into work, drop off my return to work formy thing, and hit up our sample sale because I want cheap size 18 clothes that I can eventually wear next month. Yay for working for a clothing maker!!

Okay so now for Jessica's advice on what to get to eat while in stage 2 diet monotony. I get bored if I don't have a bit of variance. This diet consists of the following:

Pudding
Jell o
yogurt
protein shakes
water/flavored water
broth/creamish soups
applesauce
cottage cheese

What do I prefer out of this? Let me tell you by catagory.

Pudding

Jell-O Sugar Free Pudding cups are awesome. They are remarkably easy to keep down and one is plenty. 60 calories a pop. They have a lot of new flavors now but I stayed away from the new sugar free Rice Pudding because...well...It's got chunks of rice in it. My favorite flavors are the new dark chocolates, chocolate mint, and the vanilla/chocolate swirl. Do we see a theme? Possibly.

Jell-O

Once again, the cups are AWESOME. Just one is all you need and they are a whopping 10 calories. They also have a big bunch of variety now including my fave Watermeleon.

Yougurt

Yoplait Light is win. Just one for breakfast and you are set. I love the blueberry but they also have an orange strawberry sunburst flavor (or something pretentious like that) that's really good.

Protein Shakes

Ugh. Until you get used to these its going to suck. They have a funky aftertaste no matter what kind you get. I like conveniance so the best way to go is to get the Muscle Milk kind in those mini cartons which is a full serving. You can get a big case of them for like 24 bucks at Costco (sadly only one flavor) and considering they are normally 3 bucks a single that's pretty good. But like I said, variety is a good thing. So I went over to GNC and grabbed a couple of single serves to try.

Root Beer Float flavor is something to AVOID. Oh god. It was beyond gross and over sweet to the point I wanted to puke.

Banana Cream is win. I really like this one. The flavor combines with the protein shake stuff really well.

Chocolate is the one you will find in most places and it's okay. I can tell if you whirrled it around with some fruit or other it would be better.

I still need to try and find some vanilla. That's the easiest to combine with things, but at this stage you shouldn't be doing that yet.

Walmart has started stocking up on the flavor test tube protein shots. These are great when you are on the go. They pack a hella lot of protein in them too. They come in these hard plastic test tubes. Typically they run for 3 bucks but Walmart is carrying them now for 2 bucks or less. Limited on the flavor choices though, they only have Fruit Punch.

water/flavored water

At this point I've kissed caffine goodbye. And you should as well. My new love is Propel bottled water. It's good because its got viatmins and not a lot of sugar. I'm keeping myself 10 grams and lower on the sugar scale, actually more like 7 and less. Vitamin Water is evil and don't go near it. Look at the back and you'll see what I mean.

Crystal Light single serve packets are great, especially their new White Grape. But look out as they have started making it now with caffine in them. Kool Aid also has some great new Sugar Free singles. Best place so far to stock up on this stuff is Walmart. Massive selection and really cheap.

broth/creamish soups

My friend Pam who had bypass surgery over a year ago told me that Tomato Soup was her savior. She's right. Campbell's Tomato soup is a happy alternative to broth. Condensed so you can make it as weak or thick as you want it's yummy and is great with a 1/4 cup of Low Fat Cottage Cheese or Ricotta Cheese.

cottage cheese

I typically have the soup/broth for my dinner along with a side of Cottage Cheese. It makes it feel more like a dinner to me rather than a pudding cup would. Cottage Cheese is awesome btw. If I feel I can eat more than a pudding or Jello cup I just take a couple of forkfuls of cottage cheese and away I go.

applesauce

This is a weird one. I got the no sugar added stuff in Granny Smith flavor and the blueberry flavor in the Senaca brand (I believe). For some reason the blueberry stuff went fine. But the Granny Smith made me not so happy. I can only eat a 1/3rd of single serve container and it make my tummy hurt. This may just be me, but keep that in mind. I've started to shy away from it for right now and I'm doing fine with the pudding and jell o.

So there you go. I'm off to rest a bit more and maybe watch some old school Pam Grier.

The 3 S's.

2008-05-11T16:55:33Z

That would be the following:

Shit
Sleep
Sip

Yes, that's what I've been doing. And believe me, the first one is SOOOO important. Gas is my enemy and it hurts like a momma.  BM's help get the gas out as well as the residual blood left over from the surgery. Don't be freaked out if you see that.. Maybe I should have put a disclaimer on this entry. Hmm.. Milk of Magnesia or MOM is also good. But don't take too much. I only took 2 tablespoons worth and it started working. Remember, you're only doing liquids, it just needs a bit of a push. The next night I took the same amount and it seems to be doing well.

This weekend I've managed to get out and walk around a bit. The family bought a Wii so I can do fun and cool stuff when I work out at home. I had no idea, and I don't know who they sold their souls to to find one. But I have to say Wii Sports is FUN.  But I think I overdid a bit on the bowling. Was really sore after that.

So that comes to S #2, sleep. I've been sleeping a lot. This is normal as I heal when I sleep. Your also not getting as much calorie intake, so you're weaker. Another part of this is I'm coming off of caffine. I'm gettin monster headaches. The doctor gave me some really good narcotic/tylenol liquid stuff that is made of win. I take one dose and it starts working immediately. It does make you sleepy but if you are hurting bad enough then you need it.

I went and saw him on Friday because the gas pains were bad. That's where the MOM recommendation came in.

Sip, the third S. Broth is my friend. As is Propel fitness water. Easy peasy and no need to mix. It also has vitamins in it. I'm doing pretty good on the eating and drinking front. I just wish the tenderness would go away.

Funky sleep schedule is killing me though. I need to go back and lay down again. I'm still tired.

More later gators. :)

Back home already

2008-05-08T21:14:31Z

Yep, it's true. I'm already back home.

Pain is barely a four on the 1 to 10 scale. Mainly just tender and sore. The doctor did a great job on the cuts. Really small.

I've been eating Jello and broth. Had some yogurt this morning and for lunch I had some cottage cheese and Jello. Jello shall be my new friend for the next couple of weeks.

The biggest pain in the butt was the fact they were checking my sugar EVERY HOUR. My fingers look like pin cushions. The reason for this is because I'm diabetic. My sugar jumped due to the surgery and trauma of the whole thing. So they had me on an insulin drip all night and were checking me every hour. When you are trying to sleep this can be pretty annoying. Eventually I'd just hold up a hand and say "pick a finger."

Walking was important. Don't push it though. I went about fifty feet or so the first time. The nurses were really good about helping me. It's also important to use the breathing exerciser they give you to use. Penumonia can be a factor because of the tube they use for putting you out as well as the fact you are on your back for a while. I've been coughing up plehgm (sp?) all day. This is good, because its getting the stuff out of my lungs. At first it comes out bloody. Don't freak out because that's due to the tube. It can make your throat raw and cause there to be a bit of blood.

I've been pee'ing all day. The BM doesn't happen until a few days after. I've been warned not to get worried if it looks bloody (old blood) because that is normal. But if I keep bleeding then there might be an issue. If that happens I have to call the doctor and possibly get a blood transfusion depening on how much blood comes out. That would suck. I don't want that. But all signs are pointing to that not happening so I think I'll be okay.

Drinking water is my new hobby. It helps my throat and you need to drink at least 64 ounces a day.

So that's it for right now. I'm going to go lay down and rest for a bit. I'll talk more later :)

Off I Go

2008-05-07T11:42:56Z

Well, I'm off to the hosptial. Not as nervous as I was but still a bit.

I've got uber comfy Torrid pajamas on, nice and loose fitting. And I've got a pair of lined clogs that I can just slip into. All of these are good things to have.

Yes, it is nearly 5am.

They supposedly give you stuff to calm you down while waiting for anesthesia to get there. That should be interesting.

Not much more to say right now. This is it. The big moment.

Wish me luck ya'all and I'll talk to you again, hopefully in a few days.

Day Before Surgery Jitters? Why yes!

2008-05-06T16:37:54Z

Yeah, day before surgery and I'm nervous...which is normal I suppose.

The throwing up and feeling like I'm going to pass out, that might just get me prepared for any dumping syndrome that I might develop.

I shouldn't be this jittery I just am. It's a big change and don't let anyone tell you different. It's scary and it's intimidating. But it's also going to solve so many of my problems.

After some soup and crackers and my soon to be ex Diet Sierra Mist I'm okay. I just needed to calm down and put have some nice soothing stuff in my tummy.

I swear it's like it KNOWS what I'm doing tomorrow.

So I will try and post before I go to the hospital, so at least you get another entry before I'm out for the day.

My advice to you if you are getting ready to go in and start getting scared? Talk to your friends. Calm down and realize that what you are about to do is going to be a great step towards changing your life for the better. It'll be okay.