Check-In/Newest Picture

It has been many months since I have checked in.  I finally have the time to sit and write. It has been a busy summer.  My part time job was closer to a full time job.  Approximately 30+ hours a week.  Since school started it has only slowed down this week.  Next week; however proves to be even busier.  Seventy plus hours leaves little energy to do much more than survive.

I did take some time to run in the Dirty Girl Mud Run.  It was a 5K with all kinds of crazy, muddy obstacles.  I felt very unprepared, but my darling hubby pushed me to run anyway.  I can't say I was too happy with him at the time, but felt a huge sense of accomplishment when I was done.  I didn't run the whole way, but I didn't walk the whole way either.  I completed every obstacle that was put before me and I crossed that finish line!  Would I do it again? Yes!  Thank you Paul for the push even when I pushed back!!

This summer did bring some down time.  As a family we went on a vacation to Florida with a brief stay in the Bahamas.  It was wonderful and I came home seven pounds slimmer than when I left.  I can truly say that has NEVER happened before.  It was hot and we did a ton of walking.  I am pretty sure the previous summer that same trip would not have been described as wonderful.  Another great bonus was not spending the whole trip trying not to catch glimpses of myself in the mirror to see how far my belly would precede me.  All in all, a very successful and fun trip.

I decided to try something new that I could never have pulled off before. I cut my hair off.  Before weight loss my only stipulation when getting my hair done was to leave it below my chin to counter the effects of no longer having one (a chin) or having it in multiples.  It was time for the hair to come off and not hide behind it anymore. I may grow it back out, but at this time the real me is coming through. Daring (or scary) as that may be.

Fall brought me back to my doctor for an ulcer and my sixth month check.  Ulcers are much more common in people with weight loss surgery and since I have had them before my stomach medicine was increased back to two a day.  That will be the dosage for at least a year out and may always be something I have to deal with.  I am okay with that. All my labs were great with the exception of my cholesterol.  It was much better however, so no complaints and no medication there.

I was told that I need to increase my protein intake which is much harder to do than it sounds.  I have to make sure I drink protein shakes every day and continue to eat my protein first. I am not a huge fan of protein, but if that's what it takes only I can make sure it happens.  Tonight I made some mini crustless egg quiches with ground beef, mushrooms, eggs and black olives (recipe below).  Very yummy in my book.  Inspiration and a base recipe came from The World According To Egg Face blog.  She is a great resource and inspiration.  If I can help even one person the way she has helped me I will consider myself a success.

I updated my Weights and Measures page to my current status.  It is amazing to see in black and white how many inches have disappeared from my waist.  I wish I could say I was just as excited about the inches that have disappeared from my bust as well. Lol. I CAN say that being able to actually see my collarbone and feel my ribs is an experience that has been way too long in coming. There are times when I still feel that I have a ways to go. I am flabby with "shrinkles" that I didn't have when I was heavy and technically at 147 I am still considered overweight by 7 pounds. Exercise will help when I get in more than my 17,000 daily steps from both jobs.  Only time will tell how much weight I will lose.  I need to be okay with where I am at and if this is as far as I go I need to be okay with that is well.

This journey has not always been easy, but I would do it again in a heartbeat! It was the greatest gift God could have given me and I could have given myself. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to get my life back!

Mini Crustless Quiches
1 cup browned ground beef
3/4 cup cheddar cheese
1 cup mushrooms, sauteed in 1 t. butter
1/2 cup sliced black olives
5 eggs, beaten
1 t. seasoning salt

Mix all together and bake in a sprayed mini muffin tin for 30 minutes at 350. (Makes 24)

Goals Revisited

Three months post-op so I thought I would revisit goals that I had set back in February to see where I am now.

#1 - Being healthier (Weight loss truly isn't number one) Achieved
Not being tired all of the time. Much Better! I still don't sleep well so I think this is a permanent part of my life.

Being able to sleep without my CPap machine. AND not having to hawk it where ever I go. Achieved!

Less Acid Reflux and getting rid of the chronic cough that goes with it. (Already achieved!) I only take one of my reflux pills now.  The cough is still there, but seems to come mainly when I eat or laugh.

Shopping for clothes that don't have the letter x associated with them in any way.  Actually shopping in the regular clothes section of the store, not just a measley 15 x 15 portion.
Achieved!  I am now in size 14 pants that are starting to get a little baggy and Large tops.  No X in there anywhere.  This is one of those goals that I have a hard time believing. I still tend to gravitate toward the larger clothes and have the feeling like my stomach is going to drop to the floor when I try something on for fear it won't fit.
Lower blood pressure (Already achieved!) No more meds!
Lower blood sugar levels (Already achieved!) No more meds!
Energy Achieved! I can make it up the stairs without being winded.  I don't need to stop when I am out and about to rest!
Control over food, rather than food controlling my life. Still working on this.

Being able to fit into my "cool" coat that has fur on the cuffs and hood again. Thanks to a very long and cold winter in Minnesota I was able to wear this coat!  Even today (May 2nd ~ no that is not a typo) we had snow!

Wearing boots. I don't have any of these to try on yet.
Exercising with my daughter this summer when she comes home from college. Still waiting for summer or something that even resembles it.  Actually, she is staying in Iowa for the summer so this goal will be totally up to me.

Participating in a 5K with the same daughter. (Her choice) I see my surgeon May 10th.  We will see if I have been cleared to train then.

Participating in an obstacle course with mud involved. (My choice) Scheduled for August 3rd!!!

Seeing my toes Woohoo, they are there! I do have toes! CHECK!
Being able to tie my shoes and still breathe LOL! Yes, I can breathe! In fact I don't even think about this any more.

Weighing less than my husband Thirty pounds less!

Being in the foreground of life again rather than hiding in the background. Hmmm... not sure where I am on this one yet.

Other things I have noticed. 
I don't have to move the steering wheel up when I get in to drive anymore.
I am more patient with my weight loss.  It will come. 
Some foods no longer hold their appeal, like steak or anything dry.
Some foods are now more appealing, like peppers and fish.
I am attached to my scale and have a love/hate relationship with it.
Pictures are no longer something I feel the need to avoid.
I have thrown up more in the last three months than I have the last 10 years.
I no longer need to check how big my belly is in any reflective surface.

I have a new normal! 

There have been ups and downs. Not everything has been bells and whistles, but I will take it.  I am so glad I had this surgery and I did it for ME!

Pictures-Three Months Out

Weights and Measures

New weights and measures posted on my tab.

I'm Back

The cruise was wonderful!! A week in warm weather, new sights and my best friend made for the best mix ever.

Actually having a variety of food to eat made things much easier than I thought.  At first, I wanted to fill my plate with every food that looked good. By the end of the week I realized that I didn't have to fill the massive plates that were offered.  I couldn't eat most of what I had put on my plate anyway because it would just go to waste.  Fish and watermelon were my favorites. I thought the hamburgers from the grill would be right up there, but both times I tried them I felt sick. Maybe it was the few french fries that went with the hamburger that were my downfall.  Either way it wasn't fun.  I loved trying different sugar free desserts though.  I am definitely going to have to make sure those are a part of my life a little more often.

One thing I really needed to make sure that I did was drink enough water.  It was harder than I thought to fulfill that need.  However, when I didn't get enough in and tried to eat it was not a pretty site.  I am thankful that Peggy was willing to put up with my new eating habits and was so very supportive.


Easter dinner was a little more difficult to maneuver around.  Some of the usual sides wouldn't work anymore.  Corn and sweet & sour green beans were replaced by asparagus, sweet potatoes were replaced with regular mashed potatoes and pies were replaced with sugar free jello and mandarin oranges.  All in all it worked out well.  The only time I felt deprived was dessert.  I should have made sure that there was something a little more exciting in that department, but didn't plan in advance.  It all turned out in the end though and I was full when the meal was over.  I wasn't exhausted from stuffing myself to the gills which was a great feeling.

After dinner my youngest daughter and I went for a walk.  We had a very nice talk which made the meal such an insignificant part of the day.

We also spent some time looking at pictures on cell phones. What did we do before technology? I was mortified by a picture that Samantha pulled up from her phone that she had taken of me sleeping.  It was horrible and very unflattering, but I had her forward it to me anyway.  That way I will never forget how far I have come and the changes I have made on the inside and outside of my body to make myself a better, healthier person.  A picture speaks a thousand words and I never want to revisit those particular words again! 

 

Pictures (Two Months)

April 2, 2013

New Weights and Measures

It's that time again.  A new post of weights and measures.  One I always begin with a bit of trepidation. I am so very pleased with the results and totally amazed in some areas.

I have lost a total of 29 pounds and 28 1/4 inches since this journey began! I have lost 8 inches alone from my waist!!  Eight inches!! Eight inches!! I wonder how much that lessens my risk of a heart attack?

With that amount of weight and inch loss I am now able to fit into my very favorite fancy coat!  The weather has obliged here perfectly with single digit temps in the mornings many days this week.  There is something about that coat that makes me feel special (and warm).  I love wearing it.  However, I am glad to be putting it away for a week.  I leave this morning for my cruise. Can my day get any better? Oh wait! Yes, it can! That cruise is going to be with my very best friend in the whole wide world!!

I have a plan in place on how to handle the cruise.  I am bringing protein shakes and bars with me as well as some of my new favorite snacks, Brown Rice and Red Bean Triscuits. Yum! We are also planning on being active on this cruise, checking out fitness classes and walking.  Of course, plenty of relaxation will be thrown into the mix.  There is such a variety of food on cruise ships that I am sure I won't have a problem finding something to eat.  I have found that the food that sits the very best on my stomach is fish.  I have never been a fish fan, but that is quickly changing.