Week Twelve

1 stupid pound.

I was really frustrated this week because I have only lost 1 stupid pound. I measured last week because a friend at work suggested that I do it. I am so glad I did! I may have only lost 1 stupid pound, but I have lost 9 inches this week!!!
6 inches in the waist, 2 inches in the arms, and 1 inch of of my calves.
Honestly, I'd rather lose inches!!! I'm so glad I measured!!!

Looking Forward

This is going to sound really odd. I am SO excited to be able to ride a bike. When you weigh as much as I did, riding a bike is not really an option. I really had balance issues. I put a new bike on lay-a-way at Bingham Cyclery. I'm REALLY excited about it.
Right now, we only have one car (don't ask...it's a story I can't tell without getting very angry about) On my days off, Robert takes the car to work and I am stuck at home. The bike will be for exercise and transportation. I took Rob to see the bike that I picked out and to make a payment on it. (Hopefully I get it out of lay a way before winter haha) While I was there, the salesman said I could take the bike for a ride outside. It was a nice day, ok..earlier today was nice. It made me so excited to be able to get out and ride. My dad has one of those little carts you can pull behind your bike and put kids in, so I think it's going to be something really fun that I can do with my kids.



I picked out this bike because it's comfortable. I don't have to hunch over to ride it AND the seat is big enough for my bootey.

3 Months

It's been 3 months and I'm down 75 pounds as of today. I get asked all the time how I'm feeling...really, the answer is amazing. I go to the gym pretty much every day. If I miss a day, It pretty much ruins my day. I honestly feel like I have a completely different life now. There's the presurgery life...and then now. I'm not tired any more, I'm way more active and I feel like my life style is overall way more healthy!

Week 11

Ok so this picture is significant to me because I have not been able to wear this shirt since early 2002. Now that I see a picture of myself in it, I don't think I'll be wearing it again, but it makes me happy!

Feeling a little better

I've been really frustrated about my lack of progress this week. A friend at work suggested that I take my measurements. He has lost about 30 pounds but has lost even more inches. I have looked at my before and after photos and I've realized that I've come a long way. I have a long way to go, but it's possible. Yesterday was actually a big day for me. I've been working out very hard, but I haven't been able to get my stamina up to really run. I jog, about 1/4 of the track...then I walk and so forth. Yesterday, I made it one lap without stopping. That may not sound very good, but for me, it's amazing. I guess that's my progress for the week.
It's odd, but I love going to the gym. I look forward to it everyday, and if I miss, it makes me mad because it slows my progress. I never ever thought that I'd be one of "those people" that enjoy the gym, but I really do.

Stuck

Ok. So I was at 72 lost. I've gone back and forth between 71 and 72 lost this week. I'm really frustrated. I've killed myself at the gym every day. I have spent 1 1/2 hours lifting weights and then 30 minutes on cardio, with nothing to show for it. I've decided that I'm going to be more dilligent with what I'm eating and increase the amount of water I drink. I guess that's the best I can do.

worth it

Sorry for the lack of posting. I've been sick. Really, really sick. As in I actually called in sick to work. I got RSV from Jonah (my 3 year old). For most adults RSV hits like a cold and is miserable, but really no big deal. Because I've had a stricture, it kind of knocked me out. The swelling in my airways caused problems and I again had a problem keeping down solid foods. I've resorted to my remaining zofran, and so far today, I think it's working. I feel a lot better and even made it to the gym. I went to work yesterday and talked to my supervisor. She pulled up an email from one of my managers saying that I had been sick to see how many days I had missed. When she pulled up this email I saw the first line which said "Man, gastric bypass is so not worth it." I was a little irritated, but that's her opinion. For me, even as sick as I have been at times, it is worth it. It's really not about the weight loss. If it was just cosmetic, it might not be worth it. For me, I have an entirely different life. I'm not worrying about dying. I don't have sleep apnea. It's totally quality of life, and it's getting better and better. I can run and I'm not wheezing. I can do anything I want. Before my size really limitted me, even in a movie theater or airplane.

I guess my point is, I guess it's perspective, but for me, it was worth it.

Things I love/hate

I can't count how many times a day I say "No thanks," or "Oh, I can't have that." It's fine and I'm getting used to watching others eat things that probably taste better than what I am eating. I also probably feel better than them, that's what I tell myself to make me feel better. The following things are things that I've found that are healthy and delicious. I'm pretty limited. I keep my calorie intake at less than 500 calories and I also try and eat food with high protein levels.

LOVE:




The laughing cow cheese were some of my favorites on crackers before the surgery, now I eat it smeared on deli meat. Yum, and only 35 calories for one triangle. Blue Cheese and Swiss are my favorites.





I love the new Yoplait Delights. They are 100 calories and they taste like a sinful dessert. Yummy. My favorites are Cherry Cheesecake and Lemon Torte.



It's really sad to say it but I take so many vitamins, that after I finish them, I'm full. I take Viactiv Calcium chews that are caramel, also very low in calories, this seriously tastes like I'm eating a piece of caramel.
I also take a daily multi-vitamin (FYI the viactiv chocolate multivitamin is not near as good. It kind of tastes like a chewy bit of yoohoo), b12, and biotin to prevent more of my hair from falling out.







As a girl who loves her juice, these are some of my tricks. I love crystal light raspberry lemonade (with added fresh lemon slices), the walmart brand of crystal light cherry limeade with added lime slices, lemon water, the ocean spray sugar free juices are great and also the costco high protein shakes are really pretty good.

The things that are horrible that I've tried are the GNC whey protein orange creme shakes and the protein bullets. (I dry heaved with both of them.)

Week Nine

Work in Progress

Yesterday, I realized that none of my clothes fit, even the new jeans I bought two weeks ago. I went through everything I own, and the shoulder line of my shirts came to my elbow, so I knew it was time to give the old stuff to the DI. The only problem is that I don't own anything that fits!!! I went to Kohls because I had a 30% off coupon and was able to find two shirts, and I have the two pair of jeans that I bought a couple of weeks ago, but those are already getting really big. I tried on a pair of 20 jeans but they were a little tight. I'm right in between a 20 and a 22. I figure I'll wait a couple of weeks before trying to get jeans. I keep watching thrift stores, but so far, i haven't been able to find anything there that works.

Jeans

I was so happy to be able to buy a pair of 22/24 sized jeans at lane bryant that I bought two pair. They are kind of expensive, and I'm sorry to say, it's only been 2 weeks and they are SO baggy. (Well, I'm actually happy they are baggy) but they are already huge in the bum and the legs. I guess the gym is working!

Week Eight

A couple of weeks ago my friend Jessica suggested that I take a picture in the original gray shirt I had posted on this page. I really think this shirt makes me look fatter now, because it is SO big, but here's a that photo for week 8.

Two and Two

On February 28th I celebrated 2 big days for me: 1. My 2 year anniversary 2. My two month "surgerversary" (they use the term all the time on my surgeons website, I think it's lame, but don't know what else to call it) I've lost 60 pounds in 2 months and I feel great. I will admit, last week was the very first time that I've really regretted the surgery. It was a split second, but I had a little regret. When I eat, it is a chore, I have to eat very slowly, chew my food very well and eat things that are lean and soft. The surgery has really destroyed my relationship with food. I dislike eating, sometimes it hurts. Often it feels like I'm choking, and if I'm not careful and slow, it makes me throw up. When we got to Kauai, we hadn't eaten in hours. We went to a restaurant and I ordered a teryaki beef salad. I was starving and ate too quickly and promptly felt myself choking. I couldn't breathe and I knew what would follow, me vomiting. I ran for the bathroom, but sadly someone was in there and the door was locked...and so I vomitted on the ground in front of a group of asian tourists eating ice cream.
The beef was delicious.

While in Kauai I tried to be really active, and the two days we stayed in the marriott courtyard, I used their fitness facilities. I signed up for a gym membership and I really feel addicted to the gym. Today, I looked forward to going to the gym all day long.

The following was my workout for today:

Leg Press: 50 lbs. 11 reps of 10 (110)



Tricep Extension: 50 lbs. 1 rep of 10, 30 lbs. 10 reps of 10 (100)



Seated Leg Curl: 70 lbs 11 reps of 10 (110)



Lat Pulldowns: 40 lbs. 6 reps of 10 (60)



Seated Row:40 lbs. 3 reps of 10 (30), 25 lbs. 10 reps of 10 (100)




Pectoral Fly: 25 lbs, 4 reps of 10 (40)



Cardio-Precor Elliptical: 14 minutes, crossramp 10, resistance 1 (126 calories burned)
(I would have gone longer, but the gym closed...and I got kicked out, lol)

A week in Kauai

So, this is where I have spent the last week.




It has been rough. I've cheated a little. I must confess, in Kauai and actually Hawaii in general, there are a few things I LOVE. 1. The macaroni salad there. If you've never had it...you're missing out. 2. Coconut syrup 3. Pineapple 4. Chocolate covered toffee macadamia nuts. I had a bite of all of these while I was gone. Now, I'm committed, no more slip ups. I also bought a gym membership today, so I'm committed. Speaking of which, I'm off to the gym. :)