Not a great day

Ok so I'm feeling really discouraged. The first week I lost 11 pounds, and this week I only lost 2. I know part of it is because I am eating soft things and not necessarily what is "diet" food, but the first week I dropped so quickly and now I feel like I must be doing something wrong. I'm going back to mostly protein today, and leaving off some of the extras that we've been enjoying, and see if that will kickstart me.

This is a really bad trigger for me...stress/depression eating. I would just about kill for a taco right now, even though I don't really want it...I just want to eat something bad for me...aka comfort food. I'm going to need to find some healthy alternatives to the comfort food issue. And the weekend us coming up, which is always a bad time for me, especially if I don't have enough to do. Time for some more active hobbies I guess.

Week 1 Wrap Up

I lost a total of 11 pounds this week. I didn't think to take measurements before surgery, so I don't have a clue about inches. I can report, however, that my jeans are feeling very very loose, and I will likely be in that other pair next week. I've started walking some at work and will step that up this next week. I've been hungrier than I thought I would be, but then I'm just having liquids and "mushies", so I guess that's pretty normal. The swelling is almost gone, as is the soreness, and I would be a happy girl if the steri strips would fall off already!

Woo hooo!

Oh my gosh! I put on an old pair of jeans tonight...they are a size I haven't been able to wear in forever...they were tight, and probably too uncomfortable to actually wear yet, but they zipped!!!!

Day 6

Today was a better day...not so tired, not so sore...but still a lot of both. I was in a really good mood when I got to work...that faded fast. I put on a top this morning that I haven't worn in a while cause it was kind of tight...and it was loose! So of course I go running to the scale...10 pounds down since Friday pre-op. Woohoooo! That certainly is good motivation to stick with the liquids and not try to move ahead too quickly. And I know it'll slow down as I start adding solid foods back in, but still! 10 pounds in 5 days!!

Day 5

I went back to work today, and made it to the end of the day, but I think it'll be a very early night. I'm kind of hungry, but I can't really decide if I'm really hungry, or if it's the gas rumbling around in my tummy, or if my brain is just hungry. I was wishing today for chewing gum flavored like chips and salsa. I didn't really want the chips and salsa, I just wanted to taste chips and salsa. Perhaps I'll invent that and be a bajillionaire! I have to say I'm getting sort of sick of chicken broth. But tomorrow I get to add V8 juice and cream soups and applesauce. At least there will be a little variety! I've been kind of weepy this evening, and I'm sure it's just because I'm so tired...at least that's what I'm telling myself. The pain is mostly better...although I had to keep reminding myself to sit back in my chair at work. The swelling hasn't really gone down at all, but the bruising is starting to show up. It should be really pretty and colorful in a couple of days!

So today's menu: apple juice, 2 Flintstone vitamins, 2 protein drinks, half a can of french onion soup (just the broth), and some mint tea. Sounds exciting huh? Tomorrow will be V8 juice, cream of potato soup, 2 protein drinks and maybe some jello or applesauce. See why I feel the need to taste chips and salsa? I know it will be all worth it in the end, but right this very minute I guess I'm feeling a little deprived and jealous that my mom had chicken for dinner. :)

Who knew...

...that a shower could make one feel sooo much better? I'm still really really sore, and all lumpy and bumpy, but I feel better now that I'm clean. I need to get up and move around some but it just hurts to get up and down. When does it feel better?? And can we fast forward to that day? Please?

Day ONE of My New Life

Surgery was yesterday. I ended up having to stay overnight because my insurance company insisted, but that's ok. If I had only been able to sleep...nurses in and out of my room all night...IV pump going off all night...such fun. I'm home now, and going to bed as soon as I finish here.

The surgery went well. I'm really swollen, and pretty sore, but honestly I expected to feel worse. I do have good meds though, if I need them. The hardest part is the cotton mouth from the anesthesia...and I can only have 6 oz of water at a time, so I don't feel like I'm ever getting rid of the dry. I guess that will pass.

My friend Margaret's surgery went well too, although she was much later in the day and still hasn't been able to have any water or juice. I saw her at 4 this morning when I was making my lap around the nurses' station, and she came to my room this morning before I left. She looks great and was moving really well, so that was nice to see. (That's Margaret and me at our work Christmas party in December.)

I'm going to bed now...I think I've been sitting at this little machine too long!

The Day After Tomorrow

So the house is almost clean, the grocery list is made for the liquid diet post-op, and the never again foods are packed up to send home with mom. I am so ready, and just want Friday to get here. I'm not scared or nervous about the surgery at all...just very very excited. And now back to cleaning the bathroom...

I can't believe....

I am so miserable. We went to bruch today for my friend's birthday, and I decided that since I had been really good all last week, and have another 5 days before the surgery, that I was going to just eat what I wanted for lunch. Now there were things on the menu that I could have had and stayed pretty much on my diet. But I didn't choose any of those. I had a plate full of food, and the only thing there I was allowed to eat was the eggs. And I ate every single bite. All of it. Including a bite of the cheesecake the waiter brought to our birthday girl. And now I am miserable. My tummy hurts...I'm a little nauseous...and I'm disappointed in myself. One good thing that came out of this though, is that I never want to eat like that again. No one person should ever eat that much food.

It amazes me how much of our lives revolve around food. We meet for lunch, for drinks, for dinner...get togethers and parties always include food...even phrases we use every day are about food (couch potato, veg out). This will be the hardest thing for me to adjust too I think...that my world will no longer revolve around food. Food needs to become, for me, just something I need to do to maintain my health, just like brushing my teeth or clipping my toenails. I need to learn that there are so many more things in life than food, and that all social occasions need not be about food.

Does this mean I won't meet my friends for dinner anymore? No, of course not. It just means that I will have to find a way to look forward to spending time with my friends rather than looking forward to what I can eat.

I think this will open up a whole new world for me!

It's Official!!

I am officially scheduled for February 13th...yes, on Friday the 13th. I saw the surgeon this morning, and he told me I'll feel like I've been beaten with a baseball bat. Something to look forward too! I got the whole run down of what to expect when, post -op...when I can eat real food and all that stuff. I have my psych evaluation tomorrow morning, so that issue is all settled.

So that's where I stand, and all I really know until next week. Now I just gotta stay true to the South Beach and not cheat AT ALL so I'm good to go for next Friday. Wish me luck with that...the weekend is coming!

Day one...

Just when I thought everything was settled...turns out I have to have a psych consult. That's kinda scary, huh? I talked to the surgeon's office and they are going to expedite it, so we may still get to have surgery next week. I sure hope so, cause I've got myself psyched out about the date, and it'll bug me a lot if I have to put it off for two weeks. I see the surgeon tomorrow, so I should know more then. Wish me luck!!

I started my pre-op diet today. Most surgeons require liquid diets the two weeks before, but mine doesn't agree with that plan...thank GOD! I just have to do South Beach, Phase 1 for 7-10 days. Lots of lean meats and veggies, no carbs and lots of protein. I was really hungry today, but I think it was psychological...I kept thinking about that bag of pretzels in my drawer that I couldn't eat. So I went into the snack drawer and gave away the pretzels and the crackers and the english muffins and the oatmeal...felt pretty proud of myself!

The coworker that started this process with me found out today she's been approved too, and we might actually be having surgery on the same day. How fun is that?

So, one day down...8 more to go!

Leanne

The Beginning

I have so many people in my life who are not part of my day to day world, and won't be able to see my progess up close and personal...this is for you! I will post photos and updates as I take this journey through lap band surgery.

Some have questioned why I'm doing this...isn't will power enough...why don't you just diet...all the usual questions. I have tried just about every diet over the last 20+ years, and I've lost tons of weight, but gain it all back as soon as I start eating regular food again. Losing weight is clearly something that I cannot do alone. I have high blood pressure and sleep apnea, and there is a high family history of stroke. I see myself headed in that direction if I don't do something, and do it now. So, here we are.

I start the pre-op diet tomorrow. The plan right now is for surgery on the 13th. After that it'll be liquids for a couple of weeks, and then I start adding foods back into my diet. I see the surgeon on Thursday, and I'll get all the scoop then.

Keep coming back to visit and see how I'm doing...

Leanne