Week 4 Post-OP---282.5lbs----Down 30.5lbs!

I am a month out this week and I am feeling pretty good! I am starting to get used to a whole new way of living. While I am not perfect in my meal planning or vitamin taking I do accept what it is that needs to be done in order for me to succeed.  So I need to get myself into a different frame of mind where all that is concerned.  For the most part I feel like I am doing well--not perfect--but it will get there.  I have started a new "tier" this week in which my nutritionist added different foods to my diet and has allowed me to swallow my pills instead of chewing or crushing them.  Which is so great because I hate my chewables.  I am allowed to eat more solid foods--although truthfully I had started some of them a week ago.  Which is no big deal--just chew, chew, chew! Speaking of chewing--a couple days ago I tried a slice of 99% fat-free deli turkey rolled with a slice of colby deli cheese and I was talking to my son Noah and I wasn't paying attention and took a big "pre-op" bite and swallowed way too prematurely---It got stuck.  So this is what I keep hearing about.  I had this overwhelming hot feeling, kinda like I was suffocating, and I tried to beat on my chest to make it "go down" and it obviously didn't work. Noah was like "Mommy what's wrong?"  I sat there quietly waiting for it to pass and tried to drink something but it made a gurgling sound on the way down and really felt weird as I felt it pass the blockage. I was miserable so I did what I thought might help and I went to the bathroom and made myself vomit.  It all came out, thick little blobs of turkey and cheese. I felt so much better after that! I came back to the table and had a spoon of applesauce and decided I was done.  For some reason I had this attitude that I was lucky, I have had no complications and I wasn't going to. For a quick moment I had reverted back to how I used to eat; fast and mindless.  Well it bit me in the ass.  The "rules" are  eat dime-size bites, chew to an applesauce consistency, and wait a minute in between bites.  You should consume your meal within 20 minutes and no drinking during your meal.  Pretty easy right?  I missed a few steps and it got me.  So basically, I have to be conscious about everything I put in my mouth from now on or else I am going to get into trouble!!!!  So I lost 6.5lbs in a week for a total of 30.5lbs---GONE FOREVER!!!  YAY ME!  haha  My clothes are feeling looser and I am a size 24 jeans and like a 3x top.  That's down from a 26 jean and 4x top. My body doesn't feel as heavy either. I would get really winded just climbing my stairs but now I feel better!!  I am still a little tired but it could be because I am not doing enough walking and getting out.  I always feel better after I walk and happy that I had done it.  But getting motivated is the toughie for me.  There is no surgery option for that.  However, I am not worried a bit.  I know I can do it.  I am excited to go out and get moving in this awesome Fall weather!!  Till next time, Peace out.

Week 3 Post-OP 289lbs! down 24lbs

This is the 3rd week and I am doing great!  I feel a little lighter and can see it in my face and in my stomach.  I had 2 appointments this week. One with the nutritionist, Sally and the other with Tiffany, the PA at Dr. Anez' office. I brought my food journal to Sally and while my intake hasn't been perfect--in the sense that I sometimes skip a meal, or I am not getting enough protein or fluids, overall I am doing well!  She doesn't expect me to have this all perfectly down-pat yet--its a learning process.  Its a struggle to get down 90 grams of protein in a day!  Not to mention 64oz of fluids.  Because I can't "chug" I have to constantly sip all day.  I get in between 40 and 55 ounces on a good day--otherwise I sometimes get in 24 to 32 ounces. I have discovered a great alternative to a protein shake, which I got really tired of and it never went down well (because it was cold). I used to have a cup of coffee every morning before I had surgery, so I experimented with protein powder and making it into a hot drink.  I heat up Lactaid (yes I am lactose intolerant, even if I wasn't before, apparently its not uncommon for people to develop a sensitivity after WLS) so anyway--I use 10oz of skim lactaid then I stir in a scoop of vanilla protein powder then add a teaspoon of instant decaf coffee.  Delish!!  So that in itself is 32 grams of protein!  I have one in the morning and one at night.  its a little sweeter than I would like but really soothing!  I have the Syntrax Nectar Vanilla Bean Torte protein powder and also the Chocolate Truffle flavor. Those are both 23 grams of protein per serving and they taste better than anything else I have tried so far!  I also bought the Nectar "Medical" unflavored powder which is 10 grams of protein per serving and  I add that to other stuff just so I can get the protein in. I also went to The Vitamin Shoppe and got a few bottles of protein drink.  They were kind of like the Isopure drinks but in gatorade-like bottles and had 30g of protein per bottle. So I cracked one open and tried it in the car. Lets just say YUCK. There was such a heavy aftertaste.  I tried to force it down but I just couldn't do it. I am going to return them. Michael usually gets my rejected items but even he wasn't crazy about it!  So I will just have to experiment and find something that I can tolerate!  I am starting to feel lighter and now I really have to get serious about an exercise regimen.  Walking with Nadav in the stroller is easiest for me right now, so until I get a little stronger, that will suffice!  Peace Out!

Week 2 Post-Op

I am in my second week of post-op and I have definitely had my highs and lows. I am able to get around more and my incision is healed but I still have soreness.  Mentally, I have been completely fucked.  I suffer from extreme WANT-TO-EAT-THAT syndrome. I had been watching Food Network, Man vs. Food and Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and all those other shows that shows the American obsession with gluttony.  I am amazed at how much we Americans actually eat. I never thought about it before, because I WAS the gourmand. I was that person who would pig out at restaurants completing my very over-sized meal often only after I had an appetizer and a cocktail. I LOVED going out to eat, food was my preferred social outing. Anything I did whether it be with family or friends usually included choosing where to go to eat.  My favorite places to go where, The Cheesecake Factory, PF Changs, Coastal Flats and anywhere that had a fantastic, juicy steak!!!  Now, I am not saying I will never be able to go to those places ever again, I HOPE I will be able to, but I know that it will be a whole different experience.  Other than that--I have been feeling okay, I am sick of protein shakes and I hate all my vitamins, specifically my chewables.  I have a chewable multi-vitamin that is orange and at first it was good, but my tastes are definitely changing and sometimes I want to hurl.  I also had this chewable iron pill that was lemon-lime flavor...DISGUSTING.  Think about sucking on a lemon-lime candy and adding a penny into your mouth.  I quickly stopped taking those and was given the clearance to swallow a small iron tablet.  I also have these calcium chews that are chocolate flavored and lemon flavored. They are the size of a starburst candy and at first taste okay but then you keep chewing and then the grit hits.  UUUGGGHHHH!  So since I have to take in 1500mg of calcium a day I am looking for food and drinks that are fortified with it.  So, I go to my 3 week checkup next week and I will get weighed again.  I don't have a scale at home so I really have no idea how much I have lost so far, but I will say my clothes feel a little looser!!  My stomach has gotten a little smaller and my face seems a little thinner. Oh and my wedding ring is a little looser as well!  So thanks to everyone who is following my blog!!!  I will keep you posted as exciting things pop up!!! Peace out.

This is going to be a really long ride.......

Today I went to my first social outing since the surgery.  Let me start off by saying--AAAAARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! The neighbors of my in-laws threw a birthday party for their  son--these people are Iranian and know how to entertain, with lots of tasty food and beverage.  There were meatballs, chicken wings, cheese and crackers, Iranian potato salad, other salads, chips and salsa, guacamole, roast chicken breasts, garlic bread, pizza and not to mention MARGARITAS AND BEER---MY FAVORITES.  I came over with my cup of chicken broth and sipped on that while I watched everyone else around me helping themselves to all this food that I was salivating over!!!!! I was in a really great mood and I am feeling great and then I started to look around me--these people are eating and having a great time and not all of them were skinny.  There were a few that were overweight.  So I asked myself as I sat there, "Could I have been happy being overweight and being able to eat what I wanted for the rest of my life?"  So it really got to me and I had to leave the party for a while.  My husband knew the reason why I  had left but I told the others who asked where I was going that I needed to go to the bathroom.  I needed to escape.  I feel better now that I am away, but I know that I am not going to be able to avoid these situations in the future.  I even packed my dinner- 2T of cottage cheese and 2T of applesauce.  Hopefully in a few more weeks my meals will be second nature and all this head hunger will get better.  So to answer the question,  No.  I would not be happier overweight and just eating myself to death.  That's why I got the surgery.  I needed help and unlike the people at the party, I couldn't control myself.  But I also can't speak for anyone else--that is their lives and this is mine---so off I go to eat my quarter cup! I am going to eat the hell out that cottage cheese and applesauce!!! lol

One week post-op

Today is exactly one week since my surgery! As you can imagine this is definitely a "lifestyle change"! I have been following the meal plan that my Nutritionist laid out for me and let me just say this--------THIS IS NOT THE "EASY" WAY OUT!!!!  For overeaters, we might have one, maybe two, BIG meals a day.  I have to eat 3 quarter cup meals, PLUS two 8oz. protein shakes. PLUS take all my multivitamins, iron, mineral supplements AND be able to get in at least 64oz of liquids a day!!!  Okay hear me out--I am not complaining, I am just informing the naysayers out there that think gastric bypass surgery is a "quick fix"! It is so not my friend!  All this and only one week out!  ANYWHOOOO! I will give you a brief rundown on what I am eating:

TYPICAL DAY:

8am- 8oz Protein shake

11am- 2T applesauce + 2T cottage cheese (thats breakfast)

2pm- 1/4 C blended bean soup and 2 crackers (lunch)

5pm- 12oz warm chicken broth plus a scoop of protein powder (my favorite so far)

6pm- 1 scrambled egg, 1tsp. shredded cheese, and 1T applesauce (dinner)

8:30pm- 8oz Protein shake

Bed at 11pm

All between meals I have to sip, sip, sip, water or crystal light or warm tea.Whatever I can tolerate.

What I eat varies, but it has to be no more than 1/4 cup/4Tablespoons of soft, pureed foods for the first 8 weeks. Michael has been my "chef" caring for me and making sure I "get down all that protein shake"!  Ha Ha!  I haven't gotten sick or anything, I am walking around just fine and I feel great, just a little fatigue but hello? I had a major operation a week ago!

I got my staples out this morning and got weighed---I lost 13lbs. in the first week!!!! I am officially 300lbs. today!  Achieving my first goal! I still can't believe I am telling people my weight, but you know, as Dr. Phil always states: "You can't change what you don't acknowledge." (that was for you Michael teehee)  Hey People! It is what it is!!!! 

Surgery Day!!!!!

Tuesday, September 1st! I got to the Hospital before 8am with a 10am surgery time.  I didn't actually get called back until about 10:15am because my doc was running behind schedule due to another RNY.  So just the waiting around was hard enough!  So I got called back and got prepped, my family came to give me a last kiss and I was given some meds, rolled to the OR and that was it!!!!  The next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery room.  I was in a little pain but I also felt drowsy and and really struggling to open my eyes, I think I was given meds and I went back to sleep!  I woke up in my room and a pain pump of Morphine was placed in my hand and was told to press it when I needed it.  The next few hours where a bit hazy, I remember my husband and kids coming to see me but I think I was pretty out of it as they didn't stay very long. My throat was rough and sore from the tube and I felt a little nauseous.  I have had three surgeries prior to this: 2 C-sections, and another uterine surgery (the incision was exactly in the same place as the c-sections)  The pain was comparable to those previous surgeries in my opinion.  I slept most of the day and I actually was given food as well!  On the tray there was some chicken broth, cranberry juice (diluted), and protein jello--They were all in miniature form!  in these little sauce cups!  I was actually afraid to try to eat or drink because I didn't know what to expect with my new pouch!  I got up to go to the bathroom and I actually felt a little more nauseous as I was attempting to walk, so the nurse handed me the kidney bowl and I just had a lot of saliva and "that feeling" like I was going to vomit, but I never did. I ended up walking about 15 feet and had to turn around because I was really dizzy (from anesthesia) but was told that was a good start anyway!  Any amount of walking you do after surgery is great, at least you are moving and not just lying in bed. So I had a couple more visitors and I was brought dinner which was the same stuff and I picked at that and enjoyed pushing my pain pump every so often, and for the most part felt good!  I admit I had thoughts of "what have I done", "couldn't I have lost weight on my own instead of choosing this drastic of a choice?' When you are alone in your room, and you start to think about how hard its going to be it can really fuck with your mind, pardon my french.  I settled down and went to sleep thinking "okay Stacy, you did it and now tomorrow is another day"!   And my journey had officially begun..................