Starting to notice the weight loss!

I haven't really noticed much in my appearance until I compared the picture taken on the day of surgery to the one John took on Saturday. I was pleasantly surprised that there is a difference in my face and waist. I was so excited...I am so excited. The biggest impact I have noticed, however, is in daily living. I got a pedicure last week and I couldn't believe how much more comfortable I was in the chair. I am also less winded than I use to be going up the stairs at home. I was so happy to find that I did not get out of breath walking across the sand when I went to a bonfire at the beach this weekend. These may all seem like little things but they are a big deal to me...I can't wait for all the great things that I will discover as I loose even more weight!

Week 5

Here are the results for this week:

Original weight: 295

Weight when I got home after surgery: 283

Last week's weight: 261

Today's weight: 257

Weight loss this week: 4

Total weight loss: 38

Gotta Get Motivated

Part of the deal to this surgery is that I am supposed to go to the gym at least 3 days a week. Every week I get myself pumped up about following through and nearly every week I fail to go. This week was no different. I went Monday as planned and then I decided to go on Thursday and Friday. Sure enough, when Thursday came, I spent the whole day finding things to do to keep me away from the gym. The worst part was that I was dressed for the gym all day. Today, I flaked too. I don't know what my problem is. I know the importance of going to the gym, I know I will see results faster, I even have plenty of time to go...I just hate going. John is so supportive and my mom makes me accountable but I am lacking in motivation. The reality is I need to figure it out, make going to the gym a part of my life style. The problem is...just getting started. I commit to myself and all of my friends and family that support me that I will go to the gym 3 times next week...no excuses!!! Maybe having this person struggle be a matter of public knowledge, I will be more motivated. I would hate to have to say I didn't keep my promise...again!

Week 4...1 Month

I am so pleased that I have had a week of all good days with a few moments of discomfort. I am not so please with loosing only 3 pounds. In the normal world of weight loss, 3 pounds would be cause for celebration but in my world...it is a bummer!

Here are the results for this week:

Original weight: 295
Weight when I got home after surgery: 283

Last week's weight: 264
Today's weight: 261

Weight loss this week: 3
Total weight loss: 34

No More Sleep Aid

I have been having really good days lately and I am so thankful. Yesterday was a good day but I had a little bump in the road. I ate too much at lunch and I felt like I was going to pop for sure. I laid down just to get comfortable and the next thing I know I am waking up 2 1/2 hours later. I thought 'oh great, now I'll never get to sleep tonight'. I have been having trouble sleeping since I have so much energy and I was sure the nap would keep me up all night. To fix this problem I took 2 Tylenol PM capsules. I didn't think it was a big deal since I was using them before my surgery with no problem. Little did I know that now they are like a major drug to my body. 20 minutes after I took them, I was super tired...almost drunk. As soon as I hit the bed I was out. I didn't even feel John come to bed. I was out all night long and had a heck of a time getting up this morning. In fact, I am still groggy and it's 10:30am nearly 13 1/2 hours after I took them. I am learning new things about my body everyday and this is just another lesson to add to the many I still have to learn.

Week 3

This week has been my best so far in terms of how I feel. I am starting to be me again and I am so relieved. I have less frequent pain/cramping and my energy level is at an all time high.

Here are the results for this week:

Original weight: 295
Weight when I got home after surgery: 283

Last week's weight: 271
Today's weight: 264

Weight loss this week: 7
Total weight loss: 31

Life-Style Changes

This week has been very interesting. I am starting to make life-style changes that I never thought I would. I started at the gym this week and I met my goal of going 3 times. As much as I hate going to the gym, I discovered something very motivating. No matter how much my stomach is hurting, as soon as I get going at the gym, it stops. I can go an entire work out without cramping. The relief usually lasts for a while after I leave. Also this week I have discovered more about how my body reacts to food. I get really crampy and nauseous if I eat super fatty food but when I make healthy choices, I have no reaction at all to food. I went to the grocery store to get some Crystal Light which is my source of hydration now that I don't seem to like water any more. While I was there, I bought some low fat, low sugar snacks and didn't even think twice about it. In the past I would have never considered low fat anything but now it is a no brainer. I think I am on my way to a healthier, happier me!

Barf-o-rama

I have been very careful to follow all of my doctor's instructions for two main reasons. One because I only have one chance to get this right and I want to loose as much weight as possible. And two I have a huge fear of vomiting. Tonight I made one of my favorite dinners...chicken breast baked in cream of chicken with herbs soup over rice with a side of broccoli. I have recently discovered that many of my favorite foods no longer taste good so I was super relieved that dinner tasted great. I apparently thought it tasted so good that I shoveled it into my mouth and after about 3 bites I had a discomfort in my chest. The next thing I know, I am in the bathroom tasting it for a second time. What a bummer! The moral of the story, my friends, is chew your food completely and enjoy each bite slowly.

Week 2

This week was interesting for sure. I gained 5 pounds at the beginning of the week. I was so confused by this since I hardly ate anything but now I know that sodium will keep water weight. As soon as I stopped eating so much soup, the weight started to come off again. I am not so pleased with the weight loss this week but at least it is a loss and not a gain.

Here are the results for this week:

Original weight: 295
Weight when I got home after surgery: 283
Last week's weight: 272
Today's weight: 271
Weight loss this week: 1
Total weight loss: 24

Good Stuff

This was a pretty good week. My sleeping is nearly back to normal. I am pleased to announce that my energy level is better than normal. In fact, I don't drag during the day like before and 7 hours of sleep is all I need to keep going all day. I did have a few bumps in the road this week. In the middle of the week it went from one extreme to the next. I was constipated for a day and a half and my stomach was cramping very bad. As it turns out it was my high sodium no fiber diet that put me in that condition. I have been living on chicken noodle soup, scrambled eggs and cottage cheese for a week and a half. Luckily with 2000mg of Vitamin C and some oatmeal I was back on track in no time. Also, I gained some weight in the beginning of the week which freaked me out. Again it was the high sodium that made me retain water. I don't know the exact numbers yet but I will update that part tomorrow.
I had my first surgeon post-op visit on Thursday and he said all my symptoms are typical and I am OK to start a full exercise routine and start eating a regular solid food diet. I was shocked about the diet because all the post-op guides say that I would be on a liquid diet for 4 weeks and a puree diet for 2 weeks after that. The doctor said I am not to worry and as long as I chew my food completely I will be fine. I am not allowed to eat cookies, crackers, cheese, nuts or fast food but everything else is a go. John and I went to dinner last night since it was my first night of real food and his first night of having a warm dinner in a very long time. I had beef and broccoli without the rice. To my surprise I did not get sick. I also didn't enjoy the food either because I kept waiting for something to go wrong. I still can't tell when I am hungry or full but I have a system. When my stomach gurgles, I eat. As far as how much to eat, I eat about a cup of food and stop. I don't know if I am full but I am super fearful of throwing up so I just stop eating. So far I haven't thrown up and after I eat the gurgling stops. I am going to stick to this system until I can start understanding my body again.
Nothing is going as I expected but as long as I loose the weight I can pretty much deal with anything. I feel so much better this week and my extra sensitive sense of smell is fading so I am able to kiss John again...woohoo. Before surgery he bought me some soaps and creams that increase skin elasticity and reduce stretch marks. Tonight was the first night I used them and I am hopeful that they will minimize the amount of extra skin I will have after weight loss. Also, I was reminded of what a thoughtful and loving husband I have. Things are looking up...finally!

Great Weekend

This was a great weekend. I slept through the night for the very first time on Saturday and again last night. In fact this morning I didn't even hear John getting ready for work. All of a sudden he was kissing me good bye. This weekend was good for us. I had most of my energy back and we went for a couple of walks. The fresh air was nice and the company was even better. We stayed home all weekend but we hung out and enjoyed each other. My best friend, Pam stopped by for a visit and I was surprised to find that it was like we were hanging out like any other time. I was not too tired to visit and we got to catch up on some missed gossip. I think I am returning to my normal self and I couldn't be happier. In fact, I am doing laundry right now. I know it doesn't seem like a big thing but last week I could have never considered lifting the basket. Life is getting back to normal and so am I!