Down 20 lbs!

I haven't updated in awhile, but I'm down about 20 lbs. After about 3 months, I finally hit the place I needed to be and my appetite is diminished considerably!

Update - 10 weeks post-surgery

Tomorrow is my 10-week post surgery appointment with the adjustment nurse and my last appointment with the fitness trainer.

I had a good fill to tighten my band two weeks ago and it really made a difference. I definitely cannot eat as much food as I was before that and I am staying full longer. I think I am very close to being at a good tightness so we will see what happens at my appointment tomorrow.

I notice food getting stuck more often if I eat too fast or do not chew very well. Things like meat and some bread foods are the main culprits. I found out that I cannot eat muffins because they get stuck. I am still missing diet soda, but I do not want to cause any problems, so that is keeping me from drinking it right now.

On a good note, I finally broke my plateau and lost two more pounds! I think I had originally lost those two and then they came back, so I am back down to my lowest weight. I have lost about 14 or 15 lbs total and I would like to see 5 more come off in the next month or so. Today I am wearing pants that I couldn't wear for awhile and they are ones that I bought about 7 years ago, so that's awesome! I wore a pair of shorter shorts the other day to the gym and I wasn't as self-conscious as I used to be (and they were looser than before). Part of that is weight loss, but a slight tan doesn't hurt anything either! I am not embarrassed to wear a swim suit now either, except you can see my surgery scars but they are not that bad. A tan will help more too.

I have been doing really well with exercise. I took about a week or so off because I had a sinus infection that wouldn't go away and I was really worn down with that, but now I am back to it. I had an excellent workout on Monday (2 weight training classes for work and then cardio and weights at the gym). I am getting a little bit stronger. I used to be able to do about 10 boy push-ups (on toes, not on knees) and then after surgery I went back to doing them girl style/on knees. The other day I did about 5 boy push-ups so I am getting there! I want to run a 5K in July or August, so I had better start increasing my running so I can do that. It is much easier to run when you are carrying at least 14 lbs less weight! I also want to do a pull-up by myself, so I have been using the assisted pull-up machine. My main goals for the next year or so regarding fitness are:
1. Do a pull-up by myself.
2. Run a 5K in less than 33 minutes (about an 11 minute mile, which may be no big feat to some, but for a slowpoke like me, it is a big feat).
3. Bench press 125 lbs (this will be tough, I'm not sure if the pull-up or this will be tougher).

Stuck at plateau

I am disappointed because I have hit a plateau with my weight loss and I may have even gained a pound or two back.

I am a little discouraged because I had been doing so well with my eating, exercise, and weight loss. I feel like I am still doing well with my eating and exercise, but not with the weight loss. I have had 2 fills so far and sometimes I feel like I don't notice any difference. Sometimes I can eat a really small meal (1/2 cup or a little more) and feel full and great. Other times I am super hungry and feel like I can eat and eat with no restriction. The hardest part is not doing that when I can. The only big difference I've noticed lately is that I cannot eat muffins. They get stuck, so at least I know that now.

I got in trouble with the nurse for drinking soda. Even though I wasn't drinking a lot, I was drinking some and she said it might stretch my pouch or mess up my band, so I am not doing that anymore. I have added weight training back into my routine and have upped my cardio. Now I am doing about 35-40 mins of cardio (either the elliptical or walk/jog intervals) and weights. I am working out about 4 times a week, this week I am aiming for 5 times.

It's very frustrating because it was a lot easier and I was doing so much better right after my surgery. I wasn't hungry, I wasn't eating much, and I was losing weight. Now it's the opposite. I feel like my life revolves around food. I feel like I am eating the right amount, but I am hungry A LOT. I know another fill will probably help.

I have cut out a lot of starches (no pasta, very little bread) but I have been eating some sugar. I have been eating chips and salsa though. I drink mostly water, a little unsweetened decaffeinated tea, and once a week I drink coffee.

I have not been eating out much. I bring my lunch to work most days and allow myself to eat out once or twice a week for lunch. I am not eating out for dinner usually except on weekends. That has been a huge change from my previous routine of eating out quite often. And when I do eat out, I eat a LOT less food. I either order a small meal or it lasts 2-3 meals. It is tough.

My body usually does this when I make big changes. It holds on and holds on to weight and then finally it starts coming off a little faster. It stinks!!

Still hungry but looser pants!

I am still really hungry in between meals but I am trying to eat pretty good. I didn't eat so good this weekend, too many sweets.

Friday night I wore a pair of jeans I haven't worn in awhile and they were even a tiny bit loose! Today I have on a pair of dress pants that I couldn't wear because they were too tight in the waist and legs, but they fit great today!

I have been missing caffeine. I have only had caffeine a few times (once when I was driving 3 hours and I was very tired, and once when I ordered a latte and forgot to ask for decaf, another time when I needed some caffeine so I wouldn't fall asleep in class) and I've had a few small glasses of soda here and there, so it's tough. All in all, I think I've had coffee 3 times and less than probably 32 oz of soda in over a month.

I am having to learn how to eat in restaurants. I haven't eaten out a lot since surgery, but I am learning that I cannot share an appetizer and eat a meal too. If I eat any of an appetizer (even what I feel like isn't a large amount) I can only eat a few bites of my food. This happened on Saturday. I took my meal home and had 2 meals from it the next day. I am just worried about eating Mexican because 1. I love Mexican food and 2. I love chips and salsa. I hope I don't just fill up on chips and salsa and not be able to eat my meal. Of course, I can take it home and eat it later. The only time I would not be able to do that is if I was traveling or wouldn't be able to get it into a fridge within an hour or so. If that's the case, I will have to either say no to an appetizer or I will have to just have a small side of soup or something if I eat the appetizer.

Tuesday, April 9

I have been sooooo hungry the past few days. Last week I did ok on my liquidy diet (except a few things) but I haven't been as good since last week. I have kind of been eating whatever, still a lot of liquidy foods, and small portions, but things not on my allowable list. I am really tired of eating liquid foods. It has really gotten old.

I did have some caffeine the other night. I had an iced coffee. I was so tired driving back home after being on th road and being busy all day Friday. I've had a few sips of soda here and there, because I've been craving it bad. Drinking water (even flavored) is really boring. I can have decaf tea, thank goodness, or I would go crazy.

So far I've done ok with the food I've eaten, no bad side effects. I'm suppose to switch to a different diet starting tomorrow, with small portions of protein and either a fruit or vegetable, which is awesome (no more soup!).

I am also going to try the elliptical today to build up some more of my cardio. I can tell I am out of shape from not being able to workout and then only being able to walk really slow after surgery. I need to get in shape!

I've lost about 10 lbs so far. Some of my pants are a tiny bit looser, but not a lot. I am well on my way!!

6 days post-op and first day back to work

The past 4-5 days have been pretty uneventful and not too difficult. I have been doing good with eating my soups and liquids and haven't had too much pain. I had some upper back pain yesterday but that may have just been from sleeping weird.

But today was my first day back to work. It's an easy day and not a long one. Tomorrow will be more hectic and longer, as I have class and won't be home til probably 9:30 p.m. and will have to leave about 7:45 a.m.

I woke up feeling nauseous, which is weird because I haven't felt that way since I woke up at the hospital. I took some anti-nausea medicine and it seems to have helped. I am also more hungry than I have been any other day. I am REALLY craving a soda. I know I can't have one, so I won't, but that won't stop the craving. I ate my tomato soup for lunch and it was way more filling than I figured it would be. I am definitely full.

I need to be better prepared at work from now on, I need to bring some of my mix-ins for water because drinking plain water all day gets old. I do have a protein shake for a snack later this afternoon.

My tummy is also itchy, I guess the wounds are healing and that's why. I haven't had a pain pill since before bed last night and I don't feel like I need one. I am getting sleepy though.

Otherwise, everything is good back at work. Just trying to get caught up.

3-4 days post op

Nothing really new to report. My appetite is better and I'm trying to distinguish between real hunger and not real hunger. Watching tv commercials makes me think I'm hungry when I'm not. But so far, so good.

I went to the grocery store and spent less than $30 and that food should last me almost the rest of my time on this 2 week diet. I have 10 days left on it. After that i will switch to a soft foods diet for a few weeks. I'm amazed at how little food it takes to fill me up. I am supposed to have meals consisting of 4 oz of liquidy foods. Have you ever measured 4 oz of milk? Yeah, it's not much. Neither is 4 oz of soup. Earlier I wanted a treat so I had 2 powdered donuts soaked for awhile in 4 oz of milk. It was a tiny amount of food but it filled me up. Earlier I had a tall (small) decaf sugar-free vanilla latte from Starbucks and it was almost too much.

It is hard trying to stay hydrated. I am used to gulping water, which I can't do anymore. I have to sip. I also can't have fluids when I start eating. Those are both tough and I am going to have to get used to them as I progress.

I went for longer than 6 hrs for taking my pain medicine and I slept better last night. I was worried about going back to work on Tuesday but I think I will be ready.

The kitties have been really sweet. They lay by me and purr, which is soothing and they have been on pretty good behavior.