Friday, May 29, 2009

Bought New Clothes!




Well, my pics tell the story. I am inching up to the 45lbs lost mark. I am helping Andy lay tile. That is a very physical job, so plenty of exercise. My energy level is back up. I am still sleeping well and my body is really changing. I went to the consignment shop and bought some new (to me) pants. My others are falling off me! That is so awesome! People are really starting to tell me how dramatically I am changing. I am a melting mama. I am eating more or less what I want to eat. Trying to focus on the protein. By the way, the Nectar shakes were horrible! I have been using the powder a little and mostly protein bars or Muscle Milk Lite shakes. I am doing well with the vitamins, but not so well with the gall bladder pills. No need to lie about it...I take about 1 or2 a week. I am loving G2 Gatorade. Still addicted to the sf popsicles. I ate a tiny bite of mom's coconut creme pie. It was good, but I could have lived without it. Still no cravings. I feel very blessed about that. I did a bad this week...I got in a tight spot and ended up drinking a sip of a carbonated beverage. It made my pouch growl at me. I don't think I will be doing a bonehead thing like that anytime soon. I have decided to have 3 celebrations; first will be when I weigh less than Andy...give me another week. 2nd will be when I go below 200lbs, that will be about 2 weeks away and 3rd will be when I reach my goal weight of 160. I am currently 206lbs.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Still hanging out at 40lbs.

I am still hovering around that 40 lb mark. That is ok with me, because I tend to think I have lost it too fast anyway. My clothes are fitting very well. That is really more important than the number of lbs lost...to me anyway. I tried the cherry nectar shake. It was ok. I am still lovin the soy chips. Tonight I had some tenderized steak for supper with some fried taters. I made some fresh squeezed lemonade with splenda. Yummy! I had to chase somebody at work today...boy did that ever wear me out! Well, at least I got my exercise in today. One deputy got there before me and one after me. I am not naming names-but at least I did not come in last! At least I should sleep well tonight.
I want to thank everybody for their support and most importantly God for making all this happen for me and for taking care of me! I am not going to write daily anymore because it will just become too repetative. I will write every few days and will keep the pics coming.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Picture Day




Well, I am approaching the 40 lb mark. It feels great! As you can tell by my picture, I am either going to have to go to the tailor or go shopping. My pants are very loose on me. I am also getting in the mood for a new hair do. I went to a lunch meeting today, that was catered, and everyone kept saying "is that all you are going to eat?" I just eat a little bit and I am full. I had a small taste of salad, some spaghetti and a little toast. I have been doing better with my protein as of late. I got my samples of Nectar from Vitalady and I tried my first one, which was cherry. I mixed it with 1/4 cup of water and I crushed some ice and added it. It was "interesting" tasting. It was not bad, but not great either. I think it was something that will grow on me. I have other exciting flavor samples to try that probably sound better than they actually are. Such as, Caribbean Cooler, Fuzzy Navel, and Apple Ecstacy.


On another note, Dr. McNatt's nurse called and told me that he is calling in some Vitamin D for me to my pharmacy. I have no idea as to why?? I did not have labs since my surgery, so why it is all the sudden a need for Vitamin D is a mystery. But, I will do what they say to do.


The exercise program is good. I walked to the barn yesterday and lifted a few hay bales. I hope to have time to go riding on a nice long trail ride very soon!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Fri, Sat, Sun

I have been really busy this weekend and just catching up on the blog. I am trying to stay very active and even though I am tired, I feel like I am regaining my energy. I think the exercise is helping. I have really been focusing on the protein too. The Dr. and Amber told me that not getting enough protein slows the progress of weight loss. Since I have been getting the protein in, I am loosing again. I am pushing the 40 lb mark! Awesome! I am trying new foods and so far so good. Mexican food is going down really well and I am loving the soy. I just got my samples of the Nectar in and have not tried them yet, but I am going to make a smoothie in the morning. I only have one more of those nasty Lean Body shakes from GNC left and Janie/Rob got me a supply of lite Muscle Milk. I really like those.
The best news of all is that my clothes are not fitting at all now. I wore a pair of jeans to church today that I had to keep pulling up because they were about to fall off! Just 2 months ago, I had to lay on the bed to get them zipped up. I have a waist again! I still have the upper and lower intertube, but at least they are not joined now! It is amazing to feel the weight melting off. I am thinking about trying some swimming this week. We have a very busy week, so we will see how it goes. I am going to have to start some toning exercises. I have "wings" beginning to develp under my biceps. Thing are looking up! This week will be 6 weeks post surgery.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

BBQ

I went to the athletic banquet last night and I tried BBQ for the first time. I did not eat much of it, but I was happily suprised that it went down really well. I had to chew it lots. I worry about "string" foods like that. I had to endure the constant "is that all you are going to eat" from about 10 people. I am getting use to it now. I also ate a little bit of pizza yesterday.
My Revival soy package came in the mail too. I ordered a sample pack of soy nuts and soy chips. They are delicious! Caleb likes the nuts too and Kallie likes the chips. Andy does not like any of it. Oh well, more for me! I doubt very seriously that I will be ordering much of that. It is way too expensive. 15 of the small bags of chips (which are about the size of what you would get at Subway) cost $18 + shipping. Amber just raved about how healthy they are, but I just can't justify the price. It is nice to have something crunchy plus they have lots of protein. I am still trying to polish off those Lean Body shakes that I got from GNC. I am going to Janie and Rob's this weekend for a Preakness party and they got me some of those Muscle Milk Lite shakes. They taste much better. Weight loss is hovering about the same. 37-38 lbs loss. Clothes are fitting dramatically better. I am still trying to get more exercise.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Official Exercise Program Begins Today

Today is picture day-(heck if I know what was going on with my hair???)! I am 5 weeks post surgery and I am feeling better every day. Kallie and I began our walking program today. We walked the fence around the farm..up and down the hills. I found that I did not get winded at all, just tired. My muscles just seem to give out on me. I have very little stamina. I am sure that the exercise is good for me. Especially after sitting in court all day...I am getting to dread court days. I hate being tied down all day. I guess that is just part of the job...you can't love every aspect of every job. I had some wonderful tasting Pollock from Brown's Restaurant today. Along with a few baked apples. I ate slowly and it went down really well. Along with some unsweet tea. I have adjusted to it. I think sweet tea would be too sweet now. Andy made us some great pintos for supper. It is nice to be able to eat "regular" food again.

Monday, May 11, 2009

I did it again!

Another rainy day at work had me feeling blah and weary, and Andy had his trip to the VA today, so that meant no one at home to watch The Price Is Right during lunch. Shane and Staci had brought their lunch, so I thought...what the heck...I will get some Chinese takeout. I went to the local eatery and ordered a very small box of shrimp lo mein. I got two small bites down and I was sick as a dog! I have no idea why, because I ate the very same thing about 2 weeks ago at PF Chang. Unless, they fix it differently I have no idea. But I was sooooo sick. It came back up and kept coming until there was nothing but the dry heaves. It gave me a killer headache. I ended up going to mom's house and taking a short nap. It just wipes me out to get sick like that.
Later, for supper, I was able to eat a small bit of chicken casserole and some baked peaches and raspberries. It went down well. I am also enjoying the change of eating protein bars instead of shakes or yougart with protein added. I was given a sample of a new type of soy chip from Revival Soy. I loved it! I have so been wanting something crunchy. I ordered some today along with some yogurt covered soy nuts. I will see how that works out. Boy, is it expensive! I hope it will be worth it! I am at 37.5 lbs of weight loss 5 weeks out. Best of all, my clothes are very loose.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Dry Chicken is a No No

I have recently learned of the "revenge of the dry chicken". Me and dry chicken don't get along very well. It likes to try to crawl back up on me. Fish goes down the best of anything. I ate 1/2/ of a chicken finger last night and I was sick again. I did not hurl, but it was unpleasant. I am trying to drink those nasty protein shakes-yuck! I am listening to the Dr. and Amber. I did order some samples of a new type of shake called "Nectar " from vitalady.com. I thought I would try them out before committing to a huge thing of it and then not liking it. Good ol' vitalady will send you some samples. Dr. Jeff told me about her.
We went to Wendy's today on our way back with the new horse, and I amazed my Dad at how little I eat. I got a jr. cheezeburger - plain, took it off the bun and ate less than 1/2 of it. I got him turned on to unsweet tea today. That was worth the trip, cause good ole poppy needs to drop a few lbs too! He could not believe how good it was with sweet and low. It tastes like real sweet tea! Nothing other to report than that right now. Energy still low...trying to get more exercise. I might ride the new horse today or tomorrow. Dr. said I could.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

First Post Op Dr. Visit

Andy and I took off this morning for my first visit to Dr. McNatt since my surgery. My weight loss is just a hair over 35lbs in one month...I was excited to be going so he could see how well I have done. Well, low and behold, all I got was fussed at. Protein, protein, protein was all I heard. Amber did most of the fussing at me. I also heard the word "exercise" about 20 times. People...I have had surgery only 4 weeks ago. I am working full time and I am tired! Dr. McNatt said "working does not count". He ought to try living a day in my life! I also heard that the average one month post surgery loss is 25lbs. I am 10 above that. I say "yeah for me", they say that is too rapid. I got a swift and stern lecture about better quality vitamins and Rolaids don't count as calcuim. It has to be "calcium citrate". Amber mentioned such things as heart failure, liver damage and loss of limbs. It was like my own person horror movie! I think they are over-reacting a bit. I feel good...except for tiredness. And, Dr. McNatt says my incisions are looking great! Best of all, he told me I can eat anything I want to eat (within reason). That means salads and fruits are back in my life! I even get to try a little bit of steak! To celebrate, Andy and I went to Chick fil a' and I had one of those wonderful fruit and grilled chicken salads with with berry vinegrette dressing. It will probably take me several days to finish it, but it was great! I also love their diet lemonade.
I took heed of all that was said to me today. I forgot to mention Dr. Jeff...he is the psychologist. You get one of those when you go thru something like this. It is part of the package deal. He talked more to Andy about his food guilt than he did me and that is ok, because poor Andy hates to eat in front of me. I think he helped put it in perspective with him when he told him that while he eats in front of me, it has about the appeal of a cardboard box. That seemed to ease poor Andy's mind.
I also found out that I have HUNDREDS...yes HUNDREDS of staples in me. Dr. McNatt said it is like sewing a shirt up. I thought that was pretty darn cool! I think me and my pouch are doing just great and we are learning to live in peace with one another.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

One Month Post Surgery!


Today makes one month since surgery. I think I have done really well! 35lbs loss to date! Even better than that number is the fact that my clothes are fitting loosely now. My underwear is almost to the point of falling off-HOW EXCITING! I know, that might be too much info. But before, they were tight on me and leaving red marks around my waist. I ate some fish Andy fried today and it gave me a little indigestion. I also ate a tiny bit of pizza for lunch. It was great! I am still drinking my water with Crystal Lite. My treats are still sugar free popsicles. I have adopted eating low fat/low cal fruit yogurt with protein powder added for my breakfast. I really despise Carnation sugar free Instant Breakfast. I hate the shakes too, so this is an alternative for me. It takes me about 2-3 hours to get that one little cup of yogurt down. I really miss my salads and fruits that have seeds like strawberries. I hope Dr. McNatt will let me start eating that stuff soon. We will see on Thursday. By the way, I got my EOB's from Baptist Hospital. The total surgery/hosptial stay cost $41,000. Unbelievable! My part was $2,100. I figure my life/health was well worth that amount of $. Some people spend their tax refund on vacations-I opt for surgery...go figure. I am just happy that the Lord blessed me with a job and insurance that allowed me to take this leap. It truly has been a blessing and a faith builder.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Feeling Tired

I did not realize how that trip to Charlotte really took the wind out of me. I have been dragging all day. Work was particularly difficult today with many office visits and a lot going on. I bet I walked up the stairs at least a dozen times today, and my legs felt like they could not go any further. I did get to eat a little bit of home baked pizza that I made for Andy and the kids. It was really good and this was my first attempt at eating a little bread. It went down really good, and it tasted great. I am still doing the Crystal Lite and I added a new flavor today-Raspberry Lemonade. It was good. I am still doing the Trop 50 and of course, the sugar free popsicles. Tomorrow is picture day.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

3lb Loss in One Day!

We went to our yard sale in Charlotte yesterday treasure hunting. And boy, did it wear me out! We got up at 6AM and headed out, reaching Davis Lake at 7:30. There were probably 70 houses having sales. I ran into all my buddies there so it is a social event also. There was lots of getting in and out of the truck and lots of walking. I will bet that I walked several miles yesterday and it was up and down hills. I got more than my share of exercise. After the sale, we went to PF Changs and I got to eat some of the lettuce wrap (without the lettuce) and some lo mein noodles. It was the best thing I have eaten since my surgery! I was really proud of myself and did not overeat. I felt that point of being full and stopped. They had some of the most wonderful unsweet tea that also. It was flavored with something sugarfree called raspberry sangria. It was worth the trip alone! Afterward, there was more walking because Kallie (being the teenager that she is) had to go to her favorite stops at the mall. You see, yard sales don't do it for her, she has to pay full price for Hollister and Aeropostale. It's her money so what do you do? One day she will learn the value of a value. All in all, an awesome day, finishing it off with an awesome KY Derby. You gotta love a Cinderella story!
Today has been a day of church and rest. The scales showed my hard day yesterday with a 3 lb loss! The Lord is just way too good to me!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Doin' Better

I did not really have that much to write about yesterday and I worked the night shift so I did not have time to post. Today, I ate some new foods and they were great! I got a chicken biscuit from Bojangles and ate about 3 bites of the chicken only. It was fabulous. Tonight I ate 2 shrimp at the Mexican Restaurant and had some of that marvelous unsweet tea with splenda. It was just perfect! It is weird going into a restaurant and not ordering anything. They look at you kinda funny. I emailed Amber today and she gave me permission to have some lo mein at PF Changs. That is my favorite place to eat! I am going to be really careful not to overdo it.
Tomorrow we go to one of my favorite events of the year-the Davis Lake Yard Sale in Charlotte. I get the coolest stuff there. This year will be particluarly exciting because I get to buy clothes for me-smaller ones! Yeah! Those folks sell designer clothes for nothing! My current clothes are getting too big for me -yeah again! I am going to get tons of exercise. I am sure it will totally wear me out. Tomorrow is Derby Day too, so I look forward to coming home with all my treasures and watching the race. My picks are: Win-Pioneer of the Nile Place: I Want Revenge Show: General Quarters. General Quarters could be the Cinderella story and pull of the upset!