Thursday, January 16, 2014

29 Weeks Out From Surgery, Which Is Just Over 7 Months.

  
January 16, 2014

Top is from June 12, 2013. 308 pounds. Bottom is from January 16, 2014. 205 pounds.


I have been playing with the same 5-7 pounds for the past month. I know why. I haven't been getting in the protein I should, and I haven't been working out like I should. Starting next week i am getting back in to the gym. I need to start losing again. I have thought about doing the 5 day pouch test, and I just might do it when we go grocery shopping on the 25th of this month. 

I don't eat too bad. Breakfast can be half of a bacon and egg breakfast sandwich with a sugar free red bull with sugar free raspberry flavoring. Lunch is usually a grilled chicken breast, or left overs from the night before. Dinner can be anything from pot roast and veggies, or chicken stir fry, or tacos, or chicken chili, or chicken sausage, or hamburger patties with mac and cheese, or turkey roll ups. For snacks I eat maybe 1 ounce of Cheez Its, or 1 ounce of Pita Chips, or beef jerky, or a protein shake. I always make sure to eat the protein part of my dinner first. I am sure I can cut down on a lot of my carbs and I could jump start my weight loss again.

This is not an easy journey, but it has been well worth it. Surgery isn't for everyone, but if you have done all you can do to lose the weight and still can't get it off, then maybe it is for you. I am so thankful for all my family and friends, near and far, for the support they have given me. 

One thing that does bother me is when people who are a year or more out tell me that I will eventually fall off the wagon and eat the things I shouldn't eat. I had a lady tell me at a support group on Tuesday that she is 4 years out and her weakness is Skittles, even though they make her really sick. Why in the world would you continue to eat things that make you sick? I can honestly say I have not purposely eaten anything that I knew was going to make me sick just because I wanted it so bad. I have eaten some things I didn't think would make me sick and they did end up making me sick, like too many carbs that turn in to sugar. I don't purposely eat sugar. I have found a lot of substitutes for the things that I used to eat that I can no longer eat. I have found a few sugar free candies that are good. I only have or or two a day, I don't go over board. A lot of people say the sugar free candies can have a laxative effect, but I don't eat enough of them to have that effect. I have so desparately wanted a donut since surgery, but I know even one bite has so much sugar in it that it would make me sick. So why would i eat it? I saw a girl on a support group online that ate two donuts and then complained about it making her sick. DUH!!!!!!!!!! It is going to make you sick because it is pure sugar. I know that only about 30% of bypass patients get dumping, by why chance it just to eat that one thing.

I spent about 9 months before surgery changing the way I eat and changing my thinking patterns. My husband and I were just talking the other night how my emotional eating has really gone down, maybe even has been deleted from my life. I used to reward myself with food as well, and now I find things to reward myself with that are not food. I have come to realize that it is ok to have bad days and not have to eat myself silly because of them. I have come to realize that I can get together with friends and family and it not revolve around food, or if it does, then I can limit what I eat and I don't have to eat myself silly. I have come to realize that I don't need a Venti Starbucks Coffee every two weeks when I get paid just because I made it through the two weeks of work. When I hit my 100 pounds lost I went indoor skydiving. I didn't reward my loss with food. When I hit my goal weight I am not going to celebrate with food, I have plans to go shark cage diving or real sky diving. I am really proud of myself for coming so far.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Newest Measurements

Here are my newest measurements. Last ones were taken 27 days ago. It's sad that I haven't lost more inches in the last month, but to be honest I haven't tried as hard as I had been trying. With Christmas and work and school and getting sick I took some time off from the gym. I need to get back in the gym and get things moving again. I am only 5 pounds away from Onderland! I can do this.

Right Arm: 12"  (I stayed the same)(I have lost 5")
Left Arm: 12"    (I stayed the same)(I have lost 5")

Right Leg: 21"  (I stayed the same)(I have lost 10")
Left Leg: 21.5" (I stayed the same)(I have lost 10.5")

Right Calf: 15.5"  (I have lost 3.5")
Left Calf: 15"    (I have lost 3.5")

Chest: 42.5"      (I have lost 17.5")
Waist: 39.5"      (I have lost 14")

Current Weight: 204lbs   (I have lost 111 lbs since highest weight)
Current Height: 5'5"
Current Size: top is 14/16 and bottom is 16
Total inches lost:  69

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Head Hunger/Cravings

I belong to several gastric bypass support groups on facebook. Today someone who is pre-op asked about head hunger and cravings. This got me thinking about those two topics. Here are my thoughts on them:

There are times, especially close to that time of the month, where I crave certain things. I know without a doubt that if I were to give in to the sweet cravings and have that cupcake that I used to have before surgery I would get sick. Instead of having the cupcake full of sugar, I find a way to have something that is sugar free. For instance today I made sugar free cookies with sugar free frosting. They were pretty good, but alot sweeter than regular sugar cookies are.

I had also been craving something fried. So I went to McDonalds. Before surgery I would have had two cheeseburgers, a large fry, a large sweet tea, a mcchicken, a 6 piece nugget and an extra cheeseburger. I would eat all of that in one sitting. Today when I went to McDonald's I had a 4 piece chicken nugget Happy meal. It came with the 4 chicken nuggets and a kids size fry. I shared 1 of my chicken nuggets with my dogs, so I ate 3 and I shared some of my fries with the dogs so I didn't eat all the kids size fry. I would have to say that is a drastic difference!!! My head totally wanted to get the extra stuff, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to eat it and the only reason I had thought about getting it was because it had become habit from before.

I truly have not gone out and had the donuts and cupcakes and sweets that I used to eat before surgery. Sure I do crave them quite a bit, but I haven't done it because I knew I would be sick. I used to have a ritual of getting a Starbucks drink every pay day. I have only had Starbucks a few times since surgery. There isn't a lot at Starbucks that I can drink that doesn't have sugar. My husband and I used to have a ritual of going and getting donuts every couple of weeks. There is an amazing donut place just down the road from us. I have found myself driving there before and then realizing I can't go there so I turn and go the other way.

I have found some really great recipes online that help me get my cravings out of the way with stuff that I can eat. I made some really yummy lemon bars for Christmas that were sugar free. I found that Walmart carries sugar free chocolate chips that make amazing sugar free chocolate chip cookies!

So here is what I have to say about head hunger and cravings. If you can find a way to make what you are craving in a way that won't make you sick, go for it. If you have to have something you are craving that may not be the best for you such as fatty foods, have just a bite or two of it. I have found that since surgery my taste buds have changed and what I crave may not taste the same now as it did before surgery. 

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

6 Month Update/Newest Measurements

It is hard to believe that tomorrow, December 12, 2013 will be 6 months from the day I had my gastric bypass surgery. Life is so much better these days. I am down 105 pounds. That is amazing! I am down from a size 26/28 to a 14/16. I couldn't even imagine having that extra 105 pounds on me again. When I started to get to the 90 pound lost point my weight loss started to slow down. I have 70 to go until my goal. I know they won't come off as fast as the first 100, but if I continue to work hard at it, it will eventually come off. This is a journey. Like the name of my blog says "You didn't get fat overnight," so I know I won't get thin overnight. People around me remind me on a daily basis just how far I have come. Some days I am brutally hard on myself for the things I eat, but other days I am easy on myself. 

I am so thankful for my husband, my mom and dad, and my friends that have helped me get to this point. They have all had a part in me getting here. They have believed in me, lifted me when I feel low, gave me high fives when I feel high, they have been a great support!

I am amazed at the photos I have taken along the way. In the ones from the beginning I barely recognize myself. The newest photos make me smile. :) 

Here are my newest measurements. Last ones were taken 28 days ago.

Right Arm: 12"   (I have lost 5")
Left Arm: 12"    (I have lost 5")

Right Leg: 21"  (I have lost 10")
Left Leg: 21.5" (I have lost 10.5")

Right Calf: 16"  (I stayed the same)(I have lost 3")
Left Calf: 15.5"  (I stayed the same)(I have lost 3")

Chest: 43"      (I have lost 17")
Waist: 40"      (I stayed the same)(I have lost 13.5")

Current Weight: 210lbs   (I have lost 105 lbs since highest weight)
Current Height: 5'5"
Current Size: top is 14/16 and bottom is 16
Total inches lost:  67

Top photos from 12-11-13, bottom photos from 06-20-13
 

Sunday, December 8, 2013

23 Day Challenge

So as of tomorrow there are 23 days until the 1st of the year. When I weighed in today I was 211. It is my goal to be in ONDERLAND on the 1st of the year. That means I have to lose 12 pounds in 23 days. That is about a pound every other day. I think it's doable, but not quite sure.

I plan on drinking a protein shake for breakfast and lunch and eating a sensible dinner. I plan on working out my 3 days a week. I hope that with these two things I can accomplish this. I will try to eat snacks high in protein in between meals, like nuts or beef jerky.

I really really really want to be in ONDERLAND soon. I haven't been under 200 pounds since I was in high school. I graduated high school in 1998 so that was 15 years ago!

I am making this public so people who are around me can help hold me accountable. There are two instances where I will be eating lunch instead of a dinner. We are having a pot luck at work on the 20th and I will be having my shake that day for breakfast and again for dinner. On the 14th I am meeting up with a dear friend for lunch so that day I will be having a shake for breakfast and one for dinner.

Let the challenge begin!!!!!!

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Thankful on Thanksgiving

Today marks 22 weeks from my surgery day. My highest weight was 315. My surgery day weight was 292. My weight today is 215. That's a total loss of 100 pounds total. I am so thankful for my journey. Thankful for my surgeon who gave me a new lease on life. Thankful for this tool to help me lose this 100 pounds and feel the best I have ever felt. 


This photo shows the comparison in my body from beginning to now. The left photo was on June 20, 2013 which was a week before surgery. The photo on the right is from today November 28, 2013. 

I am going to go indoor skydiving at IFly in Tukwila to celebrate losing 100 pounds. I'm not sure when I will be doing it, but probably in the month of December. I am so excited. 

My next goal is to get under 200 pounds. I want to be in "Onderland" soon. I know it will happen. This journey is hard but worth it. There are some days that I eat and feel nauseous afterwards and just wish I could eat normal again without feeling that way. But I think of the healthy rewards for losing this weight and I know I am doing the right thing. 

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Newest Measurements

Here are my newest measurements. Last ones were taken 14 days ago.

Right Arm: 13" (I stayed the same) (I have lost 4")
Left Arm: 12.5"    (I have lost 4.5")

Right Leg: 22" (I stayed the same) (I have lost 9")
Left Leg: 22.5" (I stayed the same) (I have lost 9.5")

Right Calf: 16"  (I have lost 3")
Left Calf: 15.5"  (I have lost 3")

Chest: 45.5"      (I have lost 14.5")
Waist: 40"      (I have lost 13.5")

Current Weight: 221lbs   (I have lost 94 lbs since highest weight)
Current Height: 5'5"
Current Size: top is 14/16 and bottom is 16
Total inches lost:  61