Finally a hot day!

Today was finally hot enough to where I actually wanted to get into my 70 degree pool after a walk! My son and I went for a walk about 1130am and it was already 75 out. There was no breeze in the sun and we stopped along the way in the shade a couple times so I could take sips of my Powerade Zero (new find, quite good! it was strawberry) When we got home we decided it was pool time. Ahhhh, refreshing! As we sat out back and lounged and played in the water a bit, I was thinking about where I was this time last year. I had lost some weight (which of course lasted a short while before I gained it back and thensome). BUT I wasn't THIS "thin." I weighed in at 212 today... I have been losing slow for a couple weeks, but hey, 46 lbs isn't a small fete. I am happy, slow weight loss is better than NO weight loss. I am hoping that it will pick up a bit, I have been having a hard time eating again. I can't seem to get it into my head that I need to eat S L O W ... I am consistently eating fast, getting sick (queen of puking) and then I am done. Today I didn't eat ANYTHING till 3:30pm, and it was a string cheese stick. And I wonder why I am losing slow, hello Michelle, get your stinkin protein in! I am glad the weather is warming up around here, I love love love staying home and lounging in and by the pool. AND today I got into a bathing suit comfortably that I bought on clearance last summer and DID NOT FIT, but I kept anyways because it was dirt cheap (I think $15 for the top and bottom...tankini). I will never feel totally comfortable in a swimsuit, I am sure of that, but in my own backyard, I am just fine... Welcome Summer... You're a little late!

Little Stall but Feeling Fantastic!

So I have only lost ONE POUND since Monday... I tend to have these little stalls for 4-5 days then lose 4-6 lbs at once so I am staying positive and not getting discouraged. I know that it is IMPOSSIBLE not to lose weight at this point since I only eat 2oz at a time still and am probably only taking in about 400 calories at the most... Keeping my chin up. I am 214 lbs though right now, I have come a very very long way from 258! I feel great. People are complimenting me left and right and my arthritis has been behaving still! LIFE IS GREAT! I thank the Lord every day for giving me the courage to make this life changing decision. My husband deserves a lot of credit since I did it in part due to his own RNY success (he's an RNY super star!). When I reach my goal weight (160), him and I are going to speak at seminars for our surgeon as a couple who have had RNY and I think that will be inspiring and fantastic to those who are just beginning their own RNY journeys. We already look like a whole new couple from our wedding pictures to right now! Just a little under 4 yrs ago! We are going back to Maui for our 5 yr anniversary (woohoo 1 more yr) and plan to take pics on the beach, like new wedding pics, only not to replace our old ones, to mark how far we've come together and our new found health. can't wait for that!!
We booked a Disneyland trip for Sept 6 (our son's 3rd bday!). It will be the first trip (1 of tons) for our son, Hunter. I was online and booking the hotel and buying our park hopper tickets when I got to thinking...I will probably be at goal by September (per my doc's prediction). It will be so odd to be thin and not in pain from walking around a theme park all day (I am usually soooooo sore after day 1 and in the past have actually stared at the wheelchairs, then forced myself to grin and bear it!). It will be fabulous. I will be able to walk all day and night for 3 days, I know I will. And I will be able to keep up with my 3yr old love of my life and have the best time! AND if it's warm, I WILL wear shorts (I only wear bermudas, but I am determined to put these legs in REAL shorts lol). I can't wait to take him. He is going to be in shock when we walk in and he sees everything. And he is a total Toy Story fanatic,so when he sees Buzz Lightyear and Woody in the parade, his jaw is going to hit the cement!!!
Right now I am getting ready to go to my Aunt's 50th Birthday Luau Party! I put on a dress I wore last year, it fits ok (it was a little snug at the top last year) but the top is loose so I had to actually pin it to my bra to keep it up (elastic top, strapless dress). I feel so pretty today, I love that feeling. I am wearing a necklace I bought in Maui on our honeymoon that goes perfect and sandals (dress is long). I will have to post pics from the party, my Aunt has put me in charge of photography lol. I love this new found confidence and being comfortable in my skin. I am a firm believer in beauty coming from the inside out, so I know I have always been beautiful, but my inner beauty wasn't being properly reflected on the outside (ha ha ha). NOW it is!
Have I mentioned how I absolutely love my tool! RNY and I are best buds. WIthout it, I don't know where I'd be today... Love it!

215!

I am a little over a month out and had my 1 month checkup with my surgeon's PA yesterday. She reviewed my bloodwork and found that my potassium levels are a "little bit low." So she said to begin potassium supplements twice a day with meals and gave me a list of foods, high in potassium. Everything else, she said, was great. My kidneys and liver are great and my protein level is excellent! I was so pleased, I thought I wasn't getting enough protein, but apparently I AM doing something right after all (hehehe). I still don't eat very much, but I am trying to! I am just NEVER hungry and nothing really sounds good. Applesauce is still one of my staples and I know I am not getting much out of it protein wise. I haven't attempted to mix any protein powder in it, but I think I might... (maybe, maybe not). Cheese is still my very best friend and meat is still somewhat of an enemy, unless it's soaked in something!!! Marinades are great and necessary. Eggs are getting boring.
I beat the PA's goal of 25 lbs in the first month and have lost 33. I lost 10 lbs during the 2 week pre-op diet, essentially April 1st, so total I have lost...drumroll please...
FORTY THREE LBS!

I have gone from 258 (my highest weight ever and pre-2 wk diet) to 2 1 5 !!! I haven't seen 215 for at least 7 yrs. I am so proud of myself.

I have been cleared to start my stage 4 diet and my next goal is another 25 lbs by mid-July at my 3 month post op visit. She will be having my bloodwork done again prior to that appointment as well as my B vitamin levels checked. I asked about my energy level being so low and she said that it could be the potassium but it's hard to say what is causing it. I will be doubling on the B12 to see if it improves and I can have caffeine again, so that is a plus! I need caffeine. I can't believe I hadn't had any in 2 months! DANG! Coming off of it was miserable, I was almost afraid to even get into drinking it again... but not too afraid cuz I am sitting here sipping my coffee. I have a Keurig Coffee Maker so it uses the little K-cups and makes 1 cup servings! I love that coffee maker! I also use it for tea (they make tea k-cups, but I also just put a bag in the holder and it works perfect) and I can use it for hot water. I recommend this machine. Between my Keurig, my Magic Bullet and my scale, I have been all set.
Good luck to everyone.'

PS Made a trip to Victoria's Secret yesterday and for the first time in YEARS, I bought panties there and...they fit... A LARGE! WOOT WOOT! hahaha

Shopping...used to be my favorite...

I love shopping (as do most women, haha)... Today I went with my Aunt and played stylist/personal shopper for her. I picked out EVERYTHING for her and man, I did a damn good job! She bought almost everything I had picked out and loved it all and they all fit her perfectly. If only I could make a real career out of it! I think I have a knack for that...

However, I did not buy 1 piece of clothing. I would normally buy a couple of things, even at 258 lbs, but not today. I am waiting till I lose some more weight and absolutely have to get a few smaller things. Right now, I have a lot that I can still wear in my closet (I did pack an entire garbage bag of clothes up to pass along to my sis) and things are getting baggy, but wearable. The jeans that were too tight to get on before, now sag after an hour. BUT, I refuse to even try on anything right now because I know next week I could be in a smaller size OR a smaller size won't fit me right now and I will be so disappointed.

My Aunt wanted to buy me an outfit for Mother's Day (so sweet) but I told her I'd rather wait till I lose some more weight... I am hoping soon I will NEED new stuff!! We had a nice day, had some lunch and dinner together and walked around the mall. It was nice to get out. It was also nice to wear jeans and a tshirt and not cover up with a sweater or something. I am feeling pretty good with my weight loss and more comfortable in my own skin. I am less self-conscious and more self-confident. I love my tool!

As of yesterday morning, 36 lbs down.... Woohoo! 1 month has already passed! I have my one month check up next week...I have met my surgeon's one month goal already, actually I have even surpassed it by about 5 lbs. So they are going to be very pleased with my progress. I am sooooo damn happy I had this surgery...

Can't believe I am saying this!!.....

I HAVE NO INTEREST IN FOOD, WHATSOEVER... NOTHING SOUNDS GOOD...NOTHING TASTES GOOD...EVEN PLAIN WATER HAS A GROSS, METALLIC TASTE! HELP!

I am forcing myself to eat and drink. Nothing "hits the spot." Not even the bad stuff I can't eat sounds good. NOTHING. Never in my life did I think these words would come out of my mouth, but, I DONT WANT TO EAT!
The thing is, after RNY, you have to eat and get lots of protein or the weight will not come off as well and your health will go dramatically downhill. So the forcefeeding begins...

So far protein shakes are not working for me. I have also become Lactose Intolerant. So milk, yogurt and cottage cheese are out. BUT other cheeses are ok. Protein sits heavy in my pouch and gives me a pouch-ache. No one likes the pouchie grouchies! I have been vomiting a lot from eating too quickly, once I really paid attention and committed to forcefeeding myself slowly...no vomiting. Amazing how much better it is when you FOLLOW the rules!! Be kind to the pouch!

I am hoping this is something that will go away with time and further healing. I will be a month out Tuesday and have an appointment with my surgeon's PA next week. I will definitely be bringing this up to her.I am also considering going on my own for another visit to the Registered Dietician, Arun. He is very informative. At the post op class last week I certainly (re)learned a lot! My husband bought a gastric bypass recipe 2 yrs ago after his surgery and I am looking at it as soon as I log off. Maybe some new foods will help. I DO NOT regret my RNY one bit. I have lost 33 lbs and that is terrific. There are so many pros to it that they way way outdo the cons. I'll keep ya'll posted...take care of yourselves!

One of the MOST important tips for RNY-ers

You learn this and you hear this more than once.... EAT SLOWLY...chew 20-30 times...take tiny bites....it should take you 20-30 mins to eat your (tiny) meal!!!

After vomiting after/during almost every meal (cuz I eat fast and dont pay attention to the time--even though I was taking small bites), I was reminded of these tips at a post-op class yesterday... So today I made a conscious effort to time myself for 20 mins during my meals... VOILA... I can eat without getting sick... Ugh, if only I paid attention to this sooner, instead of week 3, I wouldn't have gotten sick so many times and gotten so much "stuck"... It was miserable.

Don't forget this tip...it will mean the difference between a nice comfortable meal and a trip to the bathroom...

THIRTY pounds gone...as of today...omg! Hooray!

I am feeling TERRIFIC. Getting my energy back and back at my version of "normal" (which is probably abnormal by the rest of the world's standards).

I was pleasantly surprised to weigh myself this morning and find out that I had lost a couple more lbs and am now officially down THIRTY POUNDS! I lost a toddler! Seriously, my son is 30 lbs... hahahaha How wierd

My clothes are getting baggy, some I cannot wear cuz I look like I am swimming in them. My "tight" jeans pre-surgery are even getting loose! Amazing. I am so thrilled. The very best thing is that I have not had as many problems with my osteoarthritis in my knees and ankles etc as I did before my RNY. AMAZING. Some people don't even know how good it feels to be able to just walk without limping or pain or aches... My fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis have been good also, no flares... THANK YOU LORD!!! Maybe the weight loss is gonna send my autoimmune diseases into remission! That would be a god send for sure!

Good luck to everyone on their journeys.embrace your choice. We are on our way!