More 'after' pics with a few notes following...

One thing I do to keep myself in check is I periodically measure my food just to make sure I'm still eating 1/2 cup of food at meals. Surprisingly, my stomach still stops me at about that point anyway. But the periodic measuring lets me know I haven't lost my ability to gauge how much food I'm eating. I do eat my protein first, so there isn't much room for other things and I try to keep my protein high. But I do eat what I want. For me, it seems that the quantity is what matters most. Also, I do NOT drink my calories (with the exception of a bit of wine now and then). I don't drink soda either. I'm worried about the effects of the carbonation irritating the lining of my stomach as well as the bloating/stretching possibility. I also have to make sure my calories aren't too restricted; when they are, the scale stops moving. I have to eat MORE to keep losing. Very strange, that phenomenon. 
Overall, I do try to eat healthy and stay away from fried things (they don't make me feel very good anyway), drink plenty of liquids, get plenty of protein (always eat it first) and only moderate exercise. Actually, when I was very active on my bicycle this summer, my weight loss stalled. I was doing 20-30 mile rides and burning a TON of calories, and I think my body straight freaked out. When I had an injury to my knee, and couldn't ride the weight started pouring off again. 
These are a few of the things I have discovered works for me.
xoxoxoxoxo,
Lisa

I have officially met my goal of losing 130 pounds. I was sleeved with Dr.  Alvarez in Piedras Negras, Mexico on January 24th this year. It seems insane to me that in less than one year's time I would be at my goal weight. I find myself wondering now though, what's going to stop me losing more? I always said "I really don't expect to even make it to my goal weight, I really don't expect to have to worry about losing TOO much weight."  well, here I am. I mean if I got down to 140, it wouldn't be a disaster, but I wouldn't want to lose more than that. I am 5ft 6in tall with a medium/large frame. Any suggestions? Keep in mind that while I do still always eat my protein first, I eat what I want. Including candy, butter, sour cream, bacon, potatoes and occasionally pasta! Any comments would be appreciated!
Xoxoxoxo,
Lisa

Slloowwwwinnggggg down....

A month and a half to lose 9 pounds.  I posted on August 27th that I had hit 175.  This morning I'm at 166.6.  So actually that's only 8.4 pounds?  Well, aside from the riding (1-2 times per week) I haven't been putting in a lot of effort.  So, no complaining!  And, if my memory serves me right, weight lost slowly is supposed to stay off.  And as long as the scale is moving in the right direction, I just can't see myself bitching a whole lot.
I do have a lot of room for improvement, however, beginning with water intake.  When I don't drink enough water, the scale does NOT move (or very slowly).  When I do, it moves.  One would think that this information would stick in my brain cells, somewhere, somehow, but it just DOESN'T!!!  Secondly, my eating habits could be cleaned up a LOT.  I'm still basically eating/drinking what I want including candy, butter, sour cream, wine...ugh!  Old habits die hard, and while I don't feel deprived eating this way, there is a lot of room to clean up.  I will need to get better with the diet to make lasting permanent change.  Eventually, it will be easier to eat more quantity of food, so I will have to have better habits by then!!!!!  And finally, I have decided that it would be a good idea to do several different workout types through the week.  I've only been cycling, and would like to add some strength training and yoga to the mix regularly.  Like cycling 1-2 times per week (either on the road or on a training device, yet to be purchased), yoga once per week and strength training once per week.  More if I am feeling up to it.  I think mixing it up will help my metabolism ramp up more and help me get the last 15-20 pounds off.
Our last ride (Sunday with Heather and Craig) has left me with a bit of numbness (still, it's Wednesday) in an unspeakable area.  A very sensitive area.  I'm telling you, if I've damaged nerves in that area at all, I'm going to be a very unhappy Momma.  I need butt butter.  Lots of butt butter.
:-)

Endomondo Cycling Workout

Great ride with great friends! Thanks Parsons! You are beastly!

Endomondo Cycling Workout: was out cycling 23.39 miles in 1h:46m:39s using Endomondo.

Endomondo Cycling Workout

Endomondo Cycling Workout: was out cycling 12.13 miles in 59m:25s using Endomondo.

FABULOUS ride with the hubby. Nice cool temps...feels like autumn!

Endomondo Cycling Workout

Endomondo Cycling Workout: was out cycling 12.18 miles in 1h:21m:54s using Endomondo.

Strange...

So, for about a month now I've been stalled and have been bouncing around between 177-179 pounds.  Several times this last week I had said to myself "I just want to see 175...175 something, 175.9 even, but 175 something!"
This morning, guess what the scale said?  175.0.
Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it!
Going to try to get some miles in on the bike this weekend again with the hubby and perhaps a ride with the kids too.  I've also been doing stomach crunches while sitting upright a lot lately, whenever I think about it and it seems to be making a difference.  That's one area where I've been weak, so all the help I give it is goooood.
One good sign for me was that one of my co-workers had been on vacation for most of the month of August, and while my weight hadn't changed much at all, she said she noticed a big difference in the appearance in my hip and thigh area.  She even said I am looking skinny.  Another good sign; my clothes are fitting much differently.  I'll be heading to the resale shop for some size 12's soon.
Long story short; I love my sleeve.  It has helped make my body healthier, lifted enough weight from my body so that I could start doing things I had lost the confidence to do, made me see how people of a normal body weight eat, helped me realize that food is not the axis upon which my life spins, and has actually helped me work through some emotional stuff as well.
At the same time, my sleeve has caused me much physical pain, from the moment I came back from surgery to barely being able to get down water the next day.  The following months were a trial and error, with pasta, bread and soda being the enemies (which used to be my lovers.)  It has also caused emotional grief.  My love affair with food is not over, but is no longer allowed to monopolize my life because I simply cannot indulge the way I once did, practically getting 'high' off of my binges.  I realize now how much I counted on food to pick me up when I had fallen emotionally, and when I was just plain bored.
Question is, would I do it all again?  ABSOLUTELY.  In a heartbeat.  No question about it.

Butt pain

Ok, so the butt pain isn't resolved.  I haven't exactly eased back into cycling, so I guess it's to be expected.  What is continuing to plague me is the numbness in my toes.  It's worse on the right side than the left.  When I get off the seat and stand up for a bit, it goes away.
I purchased a new seat yesterday, because the one that came with it was definitely too narrow.  I'm will be experimenting with foot positioning, shoes, and the pressure in my tushie (are padded shorts really a good idea?)
Anyway, I am definitely sore this morning and think I need to cut back on mileage till I get these issues resolved.  Daily rides are probably fine as long as they aren't over 10 miles until I'm accustomed.  Cycling is definitely my passion however, and I WILL figure this out!

Plateau broken?

I think I've broken my plateau.  I was stuck at 179.2 for a while and stuck between 177-179.2 for a month now.  I upped my protein intake and it started moving within 1-2 days.  As of today, I'm at my lowest weight of 176.8.  Which means I've lost 103 pounds.  So I think I've broken the plateau.  It obviously helps that I've also dramatically increased my level of activity.  Yesterday was about 15 miles on the bikes.
My wonderful darling amazing husband bought me a used Trek Pilot 5.0 that is utterly AMAZING yesterday.  It fits me like a glove and it's FAST.
Now to get a good helmet so I don't crack my noggin on pavement.

Today we rode...

Today, my BFF and I went cycling.  8 miles in about 50 minutes.  She had already run 3 miles this morning, and she still outpaced me.  My excuse was "I've spent the last 5 years getting unfit!!!"  I have a LOT of catching up to do.
We had a blast and made a memory.  And I will take burning 398 calories anytime.
I am still stalled with the weight loss.  Yes, it's starting to grate on my nerves.  I am in a VERY pissy mood right now and want to punch something.  Where does that come from?  I should be overflowing with feel-good hormones right now.
And, I'm starting to punch my laptop keys a bit too hard, so I guess I'm done blogging for the day!

Just for fun

Working out is working!

Yesterday and today I got out my bike.  Yesterday, with the family, and today with the hubby for a trip to the grocery store.  We haven't been able to be active on our bikes recently with the unbelievable heat we've been having.  80-85 degrees feel like heaven even if it's a bit humid.
Usually, I try to keep my gearing such that it isn't too difficult to pedal.  Yesterday and today both, I kept it in a very high gear so that I was forced to really work, and man did it feel awesome!
Up until the very last time I rode my bike, I had been having extreme pain in my sit bones every single time I ride--and numbness in my toes and fingers from the pressure in that area.  The last couple of days, however, my butt hasn't hurt during the ride at all.  This morning, my sit bones were sore from the ride yesterday, but it's usually the pain DURING the ride that makes me stop short.  So, today when I got back on the bike with minimal discomfort it was a real treat.  I can only attribute it to the reduced weight from my body pressing down in that area...I had even gotten padded bike shorts from my mother as a gift so I could ride without so much pain!  Now I can get them out for the really lengthy rides and know that they will work!
Tomorrow I will probably get a ride in and perhaps a yoga workout.  Working out is acting like my anti-depressant (which I was recently able to quit taking after 10 years of struggling to stop taking!)  

Hovering

My weight is still hovering between 177-179.  Buy as I mentioned earlier, I'm not so concerned about the weight loss now as I am about getting healthy, both with my diet and exercise.
I've definitely amped up the fruit/veggie intake as well as the fitness aspect. I am feeling absolutely fantastic and strong these days and have never been happier with my sleeve.
I do have an admission to make: yesterday we made one of my alltime favorite foods-hummus. I was so upset at the tiny amount of food I was able to eat that I had a complete meltdown. I had to leave the table and bawl. It was the first real meltdown I've had since this journey began in January this year. I guess I knew it would happen, and its probably a good thing I let it out. I felt much better after letting it out.
Not much else to report.  Thanks for reading!
Lisa

Being there while getting there...

I've been working hard on my mental and physical fortitude as of late.  I think it's paying off.  Every moment of every day is reason to celebrate life, and I am doing that more effectively recently than I ever have.  I am meditating, reading and have started practicing yoga again, and with all of it together, I am realizing so many things.
We've gotten back to juicing with our fancy-dancy juicer we bought a year or two ago...there's something that happens to me when I drink the juice of fresh fruit and vegetables.  It seems to make me happier, more energetic, and just vibrant in a way that I almost can't describe.
The same is true of yoga.  When I'm doing it, it kicks my ass.  But when I'm done, I feel utterly amazing.
My weight loss has stalled recently; I am hovering at about 178-179, which is 100 or 101 pounds lost.  I'm not so concerned with the weight loss anymore; I feel like I'm entering phase 2 of this journey which is maintenance, building strength and overall health and well-being.  By doing what I am doing, I think I will pick up a few more pounds along the way.  If I reach my 150 pound goal, I will have done more than I could have expected.
One of the things I'm realizing as I mentioned in the beginning of this post is that there is no "getting there".  Reaching goals is not the main purpose of my life, rather, finding true happiness in every step of the way.  Which is what they mean by "Being there while getting there".
 So many of us have spent the greater part of our lives like the proverbial hamster in the wheel...reaching, striving, wanting more.  While the real trick to loving every moment, is just that...love every moment.  Don't take anything for granted; just love and be.
I am a human being, not a human doing and that's that.

100 Pounds Lost...

and I thought I'd have some monumental words to share about how great it is to be only 29 pounds away from my goal weight...but I don't.
Yes, I am very happy and feeling fabulous, but I guess today I'm just feeling a bit lackluster.  I am blogging today simply for posterity's sake.
I promise to write something inspired when it happens (which is when I usually write anyway).
Thanks for reading this very uninspired blog post today.  :)

Generosity

I'm writing today to talk about generosity.
A funny thing has happened to me since I had my Gastric Sleeve Surgery on January 24th this year.  I have become more generous, and yes, it is a direct result of the surgery.
For some strange reason, I have always had an intense fear of ever being hungry.  That is why when I go to work, I pack more food and snacks than I could ever eat in the course of a day.  Yes, I still do this now, even with a stomach the size of a hi-lighter pen.  So, you could say that I am a food hoarder.  I don't keep food in my room, or hide food (although I have done that before).  But you could say I was very...stingy with my food.
I always had my eye on the serving bowl to be certain that noone had taken the last of anything, and if it looked threatening, I would gather more onto my own plate to be sure I didn't miss out.
This has been a huge revelation for me.  I still have the feelings that I might miss out on some of the food fun, but now, I'm forced to be happy with what I have.  And let me tell you, that lesson spans over a person's entire life.  Be happy with what you have.  Quit always wanting more, that little bit extra that you believe will make you happy.
So when I look at my plate, I now realize, "I have the same exact stuff I would be having as before, the flavors are all there...so now, just enjoy every single bite because that's all you get!"
I'm getting to the generosity part.
Being a bit of a selfish person (I'm realizing), it is an entirely foreign concept for me to give away food that is on my plate that I can't eat.  And when I do, holy cow.  It sets off such a wonderful rush of emotion in me that is hard to explain.
Who knew that sharing my food with others would or could make me feel like such a generous person.  The cool thing about that is, it inspires me to want to be more generous in all areas of my life.  I am inspiring myself.  What????
I want to be a better person.  And so I shall be.
xoxoxo
Lisa
P.S.--I'm down 97 pounds.

90 pounds is a lot...

I hit the 90 pound weight loss marker on Saturday (two days ago)...and I'm realizing that there is no way I could strap on 90 pounds of weights and carry that around for even one minute.  HOW DID I DO THAT????
No wonder my knees and feet hurt so bad there towards the end.
I purged more clothes this last weekend.  The exciting part of that was that I got to bring down clothes from the attic I had optimistically saved, hoping I would one day again get into them.  That would not have happened without my surgery though, I am 100% positive of that.
Sometimes I feel like a cheater, especially when I see other overweight people struggling with the urges, guilt and pain associated with carrying extra weight.  My heart goes out to everyone who has ever struggled with their weight, and I will forever send positive energies their way in hopes that they too will find a solution that works for them.  I have luckily found mine.
I have to give a big shout out to my girlfriend, Michelle, for being one of my biggest fans and supporters during this whole process.  It means so much to know that I have my friends and family rooting for me!
Love you all!
Lisa

One-Derland!

One-Derland!

I finally made it. One-Derland greeted me this morning on the scale with a number of 198.6. For some reason, making into the one hundred's feels like more of an accomplishment than the 81 pounds I've lost since January 24th. I'm almost out of the obese category (here I come overweight category!) I have decreased my BMI by exactly 13 points.
More than anything, it is so nice to feel comfortable in my skin again. I have spent most of my adult life NOT comfortable in it, and it's about time. I deserve this.
Thank you to all my Sleeve friends for your support and words of wisdom. Every post made here is helping someone...and I am most grateful to each and every one of you.
Hugs,
~Lisa~

Magic number!

What have I been doing wrong?
Seeds, popcorn, rice, potatoes, butter.

I have a new magic number to help guide me, as I feel lost so much of the time regarding how much to eat. 2 tablespoons equals one ounce.  4 ounces equals 1/2 cup.  8 tablespoons!  8 bites!  That's my magic number!  This excites me. I am at 200.0 pounds today; I just cannot break the 200 pound mark.  But I cannot be surprised with the choices I've been making, and the fact that I haven't been working out, with the exception of the random bike ride with the family. 
But now I have a tool. The number 8. Yay!

Thrilled!

It's been a while since I've blogged...but today, I blog with a passion about my surgery.
Official loss as of this morning is 72 pounds even.
That is nearly 55% of my excess weight (which is good even at a year post op) and I am only 15 weeks out.  That's not even 4 months.
I pretty much eat what I want (albeit very small quantities), and am only cycling for exercise (and not even very consistently).
I have absolutely no regrets; this has been the best thing I have ever done for myself.  Actually, that isn't ENTIRELY true.  There are still times when I wish I could EAT THE WHOLE THING.  But once my stomach has had it's fill, that desire goes away pretty fast.
Aaron and I had a conversation recently about what exactly is going to stop me from losing too much weight once I reach my goal.  My thinking is, if I do get to that point, (which I'm not exactly worried I'll lose too much weight---how could such a thing happen to ME???) but if I DO...I may just have to start drinking my calories!!!!  Or ice cream will become my new best friend.
Either way, I believe I have extended my life span by years, and I look forward to seeing my statistics when I go for my yearly exam.
Thanks for tuning in friends!
~Lisa~

60 Pounds...

Wow.  60 pounds less than I was 11.5 weeks ago.  That's an average of about 5 1/4 pounds per week.  That makes me very happy.
After looking at a popular Gastric Bypass forum, I see that they lose weight at an average of 3-3.5 pounds per week.  So I believe I am on the right track.
We have been very active on the bikes the last few weeks since the weather has been nice...and I am loving it.  I feel so happy when I'm on my bike, and I feel even more fantastic when I'm done.  It's much more exciting for me than walking, and much less painful than when I try to walk.
I turn 40 in 9 days, and sometimes my joints make me feel like I'm 80.  So it's so nice to have an activity that I love that doesn't HURT!
I am still eating between 600-700 calories per day...can't get much more than that and still stay in the healthy category of food.  Oh sure, I could go eat some ice cream or some other high calorie food, but in my opinion it's not worth it.  And as long as I don't dip below 500 calories per day, I continue to lose weight.  That I can do.
I have been watching the two maple trees in our front yard come into bloom, and it is so cool to watch.  You see the tiny buds and within a few days it seems, they are in full bloom.  It is a time of renewal and new life, and I am truly enjoying every part of it.

Keepin' on Keepin' On!

Well, the trip to Tampa was a success.  I got to put my toes in the sand.


My weight stalled for a couple of days, but is on the move again.  I wasn't feeling well for a few days after returning home; I was extremely dizzy and tired.  I don't think my body like airplanes, and I was on a lot of them.

My total loss as of this morning is 57 pounds.  Yay!
We had dinner at mom's tonight, and while I was there she gave me a picture of she and I just before my surgery, and my face truly looks like it's swollen in the picture.  I couldn't believe the difference just 57 pounds makes when I still have so far to go.

My 40th birthday is right around the corner; not sure how I feel about that just yet.  I may have to pretend I'm 39 for a while.  Like the rest of my life.

All I know is that with the recent passing of my cousin at age 43, I am very happy to have made this very important decision to have the surgery.  I have hopefully added years to my life.  There's a lot to love about it, and I'm all about making it as long and healthy as possible!

Low energy

Haven't been able to eat much the last few days, and am feeling low energy.  My stomach has felt somewhat irritated and I get full much more quickly.  Not sure what's going on, but I think it's normal from time to time to have irritation.
So I've lost a total of 53 pounds as of this morning.  Yesterday was 9 weeks since surgery.  I can't complain about the weight loss.
I walked yesterday for maybe 15 minutes, and my hips hurt.  So frustrating that I'm dealing with this at age 39.  I only hope that as I lose more weight, the joint issues get better.  My feet are already better by far, so I have high hopes.
Leaving for Tampa Thursday (provided the Miami Airport fires are extinguished) and look forward to putting my toes in the sand!

Bad day yesterday...

I consumed food I shouldn't have yesterday.  It was my daughters birthday party at Pizza Hut, and I only ate half of the topping off of a supreme piece, but I did eat a bit of cake.  Then I snuck some marshmallow creme here at home, even though I was feeling so guilty about what I had already eaten.  Obviously, I still have a lot of work to do in the mental department of this weight loss thing.  Too bad I don't get dumping syndrome when I eat sugar like gastric bypass patients do.  :/
I guess I need to realize that I am going to have off days, and that I can't waste the entire next day beating myself up for it.  What a waste of time that is.  I can move on, and I must.  So I am forgiving myself.  You, Lisa, "I forgive you!"  It's ok!  It's not the end of the world, and you aren't going to stop losing weight because of a minor slip up like that.
So we'll see how the positive affirmations go.  I'll keep you posted.

Feeling stuck

This week has been tough.  I feel like I'm stuck, even though I'm still taking in a ridiculously low number of calories per day and doing my cardio.  I lost about a pound and a half this week.  I know there are people who are having 2, 3, and even 4 week plateaus after Weight Loss Surgery, but I sometimes wonder if they are eating the wrong stuff.
For the most part, I am not eating the wrong stuff.  My surgeon says that I should be eating 7-800 calories per day.  I find it counter-intuitive to think that eating more calories will help me lose weight.  So, I make sure  I eat less than 5-700.  Maybe that's what is slowing me down, and what is making me feel down too.
Could be that mother nature has made her appearance for the month as well.  Cramps never make a girl feel good.
Currently, I am eating a protein shake for breakfast most days, other days I'll have an egg and a slice of turkey bacon.  Haven't tried oatmeal yet because of the high carbs.  Lunch is sometimes leftovers from dinner the night before, but can also be about 1/3 can of tuna with light mayo and relish, or canned chicken with the same.
Dinner is usually something like fish or chicken with (if I can get it down) a bit of veggies or rice.  I need to start eating some fruit, but am not sure where that fits in to a diet supposed to be so low in carbs.  Scares me to try a banana.  Am I getting too twisted here?
:-/

I WAS depressed today

This whole weight loss surgery thing is hard to get my head around.
Now that I'm healed from the surgery (5 weeks out), I am basically on my own as far as making choices of what to eat and what not to eat.  I no longer have my liquid/full liquid/soft foods diet to guide me.  I am on solid food now, and I'm telling you...it is harder.
I have to take bites that are essentially half the size of what I am used to.  I am still trying to figure out how to eyeball half a cup (volume).  Further, I think I'm going to go to 1/3 cup at a time because when I eat a full 1/2 cup of food, I am overfull.
I am realizing that I do better eating 5 small meals rather than 3 regular meals.  When I wait that long to eat anything, my stomach is unable to accept much food, and as a result, I wasn't getting enough calories.
Last night, the family wanted pizza.  We had done this one other time since my surgery, and I had a few pieces of the sausage, because the majority of my nutrition is supposed to come from protein.  Fine.  Last night, I didn't eat the pizza itself, I scraped the cheese and sausage off the top.  Mostly protein, but mostly fat too.  Depressing after I thought about it.
I'm also finding it difficult to force myself to work out.  Today, I forced myself to get on the treadmill when I really wanted to crawl back into bed.  I jogged for a bit, and wow.  I instantly feel better.  Why is is such a challenge to just do it every day?  I KNOW it makes me feel better, usually right away.  Well, one little success at a time--I got on today, I can do it again if I'm feeling down.
I think I'll be ok.
:-)

Bad afternoon...

This afternoon I got very ill at the end of my workday. I felt suddenly nauseated, weak all over, felt like I was going to have diarhheah, my heart was palpitating, and I was dizzy as well. I think I figured out that it had just been too long since I'd eaten anything. I had my high protein lunch at around 11:30-12:00, and this happened at 4:00-4:30. I truly felt like I was going to pass out and vomit. I am still not feeling well, but am a bit better. Not sure if this is because of not eating, (which I just forgot to grab a little snack because I wansn't hungry) or if I'm dehydrated. I am still not able to drink enough.
I have lost exactly 39 pounds as of today.  That is 14% of my total body weight, and 28% of my excess weight that I want to lose.  
Oddly enough, my hair seems to be growing.  I was worried my hair would fall out to some degree which is common, but maybe with me taking the biotin it is preventing that from happening.  *hope*
Relatively speaking, I have had  very few "OMG I feel horrible"  episodes, and I feel very fortunate.  I may have to plan on eating every 2-3 hours to hopefully prevent what happened today.
Overall, I am feeling fabulous and I am loving my sleeve.
:-)

I've resorted to a timer....

for getting in enough liquids.  I have been very dizzy today, (one of the first signs of dehydration).  I know I'm not drinking enough, despite having a water bottle at my side 24/7.  I have set the timer to go off every 5 minutes, and wow.  I don't know if I can keep up the pace.  I guess I really wasn't doing as well as I thought I was.  I should have known by the very few trips I'm making to the bathroom.
I've read about some other forum members doing the timer thing to remind them to drink, and well, it works.  Every time it goes off, I'm like, "REALLY?"
The only problem I see with this method is that it is filling to have so much water in your stomach, and at 500 calories or less, I'm already not getting enough calories in per day.  I can only hope it goes thru me quickly.
I'm officially down 37.2 pounds as of this morning.  Yipee.
My hips were a bit grumpy the last couple days from the jogging on Monday, but I stretched a bit this morning, and that helped more than anything.  At least it's muscular, and not joint pain.  That makes me very happy...

I JOGGED today...

OMG. I jogged today. Slowly, granted. But I jogged for 15 minutes. Straight. Like, non-stop. I haven't jogged that long since high school. I will be 40 next month. My hips may hate me tomorrow, but I don't care. I JOGGED TODAY!!!!!!
Guess I'd better get back on my glucosamine, eh? It felt so good.  Amazing. I may have looked ridiculous jogging at a meager 3.2  miles per hour, but I DON'T CARE.  I loved it.  Every second of it.
I may not be able to do that every day, but this is encouraging!

What a week!

For starters, I lost 6 pounds.  Yipee, yay, hooray!  (I lost 3 yesterday)  Oh well, I don't care how it comes off, as long as it does.  Total pounds lost: 36
I recuperated from my nearly debilitating side pain from last Sunday, and am back to feeling good.  Monday will officially be 4 weeks since surgery.  That means I'm on solid food again!  Yipee, yay, hooray!
I have been successfully eating things  like salmon, fish, cottage cheese, a bit of lettuce last night, and a bite of tomato!  The one thing I haven't been able to eat has been my nemesis possibly my whole life...PASTA.  I think this is a blessing in disguise.  I mean, you would think something as easily digestable as pasta would go down easy...nope.  Not me.  But like I said, pasta has been my weakness my whole life.  So, I guess this will be a good thing.  I think.
I am finally back into fitting into my size 20 jeans comfortably, (I had been outgrowing them for some time) so that is a relief.  I hadn't gone so far as to buy clothes that truly fit me at my all time high weight...thank goodness because that would have been a complete shock to have to buy 3X or 22-24 clothing.
One thing that is very nice since the surgery is that I no longer SNORE.  My poor husband had resorted to wearing ear plugs it had gotten so bad.  And just with the small amount of weight I've lost, he no longer has to.  One small success at a time, right?
I will be trying to add in different foods as I go along here, seeing what agrees, and what doesn't.  Right now my favorites are Sargento Light string cheese, fat  free cottage cheese, shredded chicken and pork, chunky soups, and still loving the sugar free puddings as a treat.  I'm still at a point where I'm not able to eat much of anything after I've finished my protein, but I have gotten in a few green beans and a couple fork-fulls of rice pilaf.  Rice does seem to be okay, just not the pasta.  I am still at 4-500 calories per day; yesterday I had 629, and felt absolutely uncomfortable and piggish.  I will not do that again for a long time.  It is very difficult to get that many calories in one day.
I do still need my acid reducer first thing before putting anything in my stomach.  Hopefully that doesn't last too long!
I want to thank all my family and friends for being so supportive of me thru this process; it would be so hard if I didn't have you all surrounding me lifting me up every day.
I hope to update soon; thank you for reading!
Email me with questions!  lshepler@gmail.com

Day of surgery--January 24th

This post is dated today because I didn't have my blog yet; but it is from the actual day of surgery.

Hi all. Just an update for all my loved ones.  The surgery went perfectly yesterday.  My doctor and his team absolutsy spoil us.  Although I cannot drink all day today, they will start me on ice chips tomorrow and I will do a barium swallow test to check for any leaks.  I do have some considerable pain with the incision on the left side right under my ribcage because that is where they removed 80% of my stomach thru.  I met three fantastic friends at the hotel pick up point, one of whom's uncle is here with her and himself had the surgery last April. He has been a wealth of information and sort of took us under his wing .  I am having a hard time sleppong tonight because I was rather drugged up most of the day.  Anyway, I hope you are all well and I will send this email in the morning on the real computer in my room.
With love,
Lisa

Therapy session

I had a therapy session today, and my therapist gave me a very simple but profound visual regarding exercise being a stress reliever.
When we are in a state of stress, our bodies hold that energy in the form of tensed muscles.  When we exercise, we are fatiguing those muscles taking their state below baseline into  the recovery phase, at which time we feel relaxed because we basically have no choice; our muscles are recovering from being exhausted.  And in my opinion, to say it another way, when we are stressed, we have a heightened amount of adrenaline in our systems.  When we exercise and fatigue our muscles, we are getting rid of the adrenaline as we would in fight-or-flight mode when the tiger is looking for a tasty lunch and we have no choice but to RUN!
We also talked about the various emotional implications that inevitably come along with a drastic life changing event like having weight loss surgery.  He pointed out that it is important to stay mindful of where my emotions are on this journey, because as we all know, I have a tendency to let my emotions get the best of me.
I have admitted that while things are awesome right now, I know that they won't always be.  I have already gone through a sort of 'mourning' period where I really missed food during the pre-op liquid and post-op clear/full liquid phases.  Now that I am able to eat soft foods, that is much better, and even though I'm only getting 4-500 calories per day, I don't feel deprived.  I eat dinner with my family; protein first, and obviously about a tenth of what I used to eat (if not less).
I am so happy to be on my journey...and as my motto states...Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts
~Lisa~

3 weeks post op

Hi everyone,
Sorry for all the posts in one day; I started my blog rather late, and had all my catching up to do.  I will be posting regularly now, as I find it easier to blog than I do to do my video updates on YouTube.
I began my 4th week post op Monday, and am officially on 'soft foods'.  Wow, does tuna with low-fat mayo and relish taste awesome!!!!!!!
I made some swai (fish) 2 nights ago with blackening seasoning, salt, a little fresh ground peppercorns, fresh squeezed lemon...OMG!!! Eating again is like a little piece of heaven.  Difference is, I appreciate EVERY SINGLE BITE that goes into my  mouth.
I have to say, this whole process is changing my way of looking at food, and nutrition in general.  Because I can eat so little at one time, everything that goes in is high protein, and high quality.  What a difference a month makes, right?  The transformation has begun.
Clothes are fitting better, and some things I hadn't been able to wear at all are now fitting.  I have a very nice Old Navy black wool coat that I haven't worn in over 2 years...I couldn't get it on at all.  Now, I can not only button it, but SIT DOWN with it buttoned!!!!!
People are noticing the change, and everyone around me is so supportive; I couldn't ask for a better group of people to surround myself with.  Along with the new friends I've made at the Gastric Sleeve forum and the friends I made while in the hospital who had the same surgery, I have my hugely supportive family and co-workers.
I am so glad to have been able to do this surgery...it just may save my life!

2 weeks post op

I am down over 28 pounds and feeling good.  I have started introducing soft foods into my full liquid diet, as the jello, shakes, and protein bullets are getting boring.  Fish goes down wonderfully, as does cottage cheese.   I have also been experimenting with the protein shakes and using coconut milk as well as soy milk, and almond milk.  Each imparts a slightly different flavor and makes it a little less boring.  It still takes about 2 hours to get a full 8 ounces of the shake down, but I'm happy to be getting it down!  Clothes are definitely fitting differently and I'm feeling good.
Surprisingly, I'm not weak (for the most part) or exhausted.  The only time I really feel weak is when I shower first thing in the morning and have no food in my stomach, or when I've been sitting cross-legged and stand up.  I actually blacked out while visiting my grandmother.  Didn't completely pass out, thank goodness.  This is probably due to my low blood pressure rather than lack of nutrients.
I am taking the following supplements:
Chewable multivitamin (Centrum)
CoQ-10
Biotin
Prilosec OTC
Stool softener
Fish oil
Flax oil
Chewable calcium citrate
I will get back on my vitamin C when I get to the store to buy the chewable variety since the regular ones I have are rather large.
Being back to work feels good and increases my activity level.  I have tried to walk most days this week, and it is going well.  My goal is 1-2 miles per day, 5 days per week.  My joints already hurt less with the small amount of weight loss!  Yay for the Gastric Sleeve!

One week post op

After about a week, I am eating clear liquids and struggling to get 3-400 calories per day.  Unable to get enough liquids down, but I don't feel dehydrated at all.   I've lost 24 pounds though!  Great news!  Pain is manageable and I'm going back to work on Friday this week.  I will have been off for 12 days before  going back to work.  I intended to go back in one week, but since I am able to have someone cover for me, I''m going to take advantage of it.

2 Days after surgery-release from hospital

Day after surgery, and they want me to drink WHAT???  Grape juice???  Ouch!!! Still having trouble with just the ice chips!  I look haggard and almost green.  Walking outside feels good though.  Missing my family.

Pre-op I had lost 15 pounds; looking forward to getting on the scale once I get back home.

Day of surgery--January 24th

Today was difficult, between not being able to remember going into surgery, and the new sensations in my belly. Trying to eat ice chips was painful.  It truly feels just like my stomach was cut.  (Duh???)  Trying to walk seemed easy at first, but became increasingly difficult for me as I felt nauseated and was in pain.  Tomorrow will be better.

Day 11 pre-op Diet

I am getting nervous.  Tomorrow I work, when I get off it's off to Hannah's birthday pizza party...then comes Saturday, packing day then I'm off.  Late Saturday/early Sunday morning about 2:30AM I'll leave for St. Louis airport.  I'm much less hungry today, on only 666 calories.  I'll probably gain weight again tomorrow. Although I did have a bowel movement finally today.  Whew.  Time is suddenly passing by so quickly, as I knew it would.  I am very happy to be so close to my final destination.
My friend Hollie had her surgery Monday, and she is home now and doing well.  She had a fever, but they said it was probalby because...I can't remember now, but it wasn't serious and would be resolved soon.  I watched a video on the boarding process at Southwest.com, and I feel more confident about what I need to do.  I found the directions to the parking lot in St. Louis, which makes me feel better too.
So many things have to happen for me to get this procedure done, it is a bit nervewracking.  Once I'm on the 'train', I know I'll be fine.  I am a smart cookie, and I'll be fine.  It's a fear of the unknown.

Pre-op Diet Day 5

Wow.  Day 5.  Today at work went by more easily.  I'm realizing a lot of things.  Like, when I can finally eat real food again, I am really going to appreciate it.  I hope I never lose the appreciation for having the food I need to sustain my life. It is truly a gift, and I have been abusing it for so many years.  The smell of food affects me some, but not much.  I guess it's having the mindset that I am on a mission, and that mission includes being on this pre-op diet for 14 days.  I do wish I was further along in this phase.  However, I know that come next Wednesday or Thursday, I will probably be freaking out, knowing tha it's getting close.
On the way home from work tonight, I realized that this is really happening.  I only ever dreamed that I could have the surgery, and now, it is a reality.  It is hard to get my head around it.  I know it is serious surgery, and that there are major risks and possible complications.  And it still just freaks me out that it is really happening.
The fact that I am getting by on 7-800 calories every day is freaking me out.  I don't think I could do it on my own if it wasn't a requirement.  But somehow, knowing that it is a requirement, it is easier.  If I had been told I could eat a variety of things, it might actually be harder.  So strange.
I look forward to the time after I'm back on regular foods, and eating small portions, small bites.  I think that all of this re-training is going to be just what I need to develop new habits.  I really look forward to being a skinny, healthy me.

Pre-op Diet Day 3

Well, today has been more of a challenge.  Monday and Tuesday I sailed thru with not much trouble controlling my hunger with only 700 calories.  Today, I did pretty well until later in the day.  My neck is really hurting, and I am feeling more tired.  After eating "dinner", I wasn't hungry anymore and that helped.  So, today my calories are 814.  When I weighed this morning, I had lost a total of nearly 6 pounds in 2 days.  We'll see if I lose any more tomorrow.  For now, I think I need some sleep.  08:38 1/12/2011