4 days Shy of 22 Months Post Op!

Wow, its been a month since I have wrote anything, I am sorry for that. I have had a lot, a lot, a lot of things going on this past month. To much that is for sure. I will start off by saying that my MRI and CT of my brain came back normal, and I was diagnosed with Exertion Headaches, I need to take Ibuprofen before working out to prevent them from happening. The Neurologist finally released me to work out the end of Aug. So last wk was my first wk back. I took about a month off of intense training and I was so stiff and sore from my leg workout on Thursday last wk that I couldn't even run on Monday of this wk. I have two more sessions with my trainer Ross, and then I have to give it a rest, until my budget will allow for it again. A few things going on right now just aren't going to make it possible for me to see him at a one on one level. I am upset because I had to take the month off for my headaches to make sure I wasn't seriously  injured, and now I cant see him again until things are worked out.

Then...

Last month my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 Lung Cancer. He found a lump on his neck and when he went into get it checked out, they found a pretty good sided mass on his lung. The news of this has been devastating. It's like waking up everyday and you feel like you are in a dream, you never think that you will be faced with this kind of news, and when you are, you just don't know how to deal with it. It makes you put everything in to perspective that is for sure. Dad is doing well, he is being as strong as he can for everyone around him just as we are trying to be strong for him. He started his treatments finally yesterday! He said he felt pretty good after, but ask him again in a day or two and see what he says.

As for the weight loss and my journey I have been struggling, and I think that is only natural seeing all that I have had to deal with the last month and half. I am going up and down the same 10 pounds. Lowest I have been on scale has been 167-169, now I am bouncing up and down in the 170's Frustrating LOL I know its probably my own fault for not being 100% dedicated to my routine. But its still frustrating!

I finally got the Goal tattoo I wanted to get after I hit 1 yr post op, I am two months away from 2 years post op 11-14-14 will be 2 yrs. When my dad told me the news of his cancer, I felt like then was the right time to finally get the tattoo I have been wanting. It has so much more meaning now.

Here it is! I couldn't love it anymore that I do, it came out perfect.

Until next time.... be well!

3 days shy of 21 Months Post Op

3 days away from being 21 Months Post Op.  end of last month really gave me a big scare. While I was at my Personal Training session on 29th of July I experienced my 1st Exertional Headache. I thought at first it was just a random migraine, until it happened again on Thursdays workout. So Friday I was able to get into my PCP, she had a CT scan done and it was normal, then told me I needed to see a neurologist to be cleared to workout again.

I am able to run/ jog or walk if I need too, but no more high intensity workouts til I was cleared by the Neuro.

I thought today I was going to meet with him and him tell me I was just getting Exertion Headaches, how to treat them and then say I can go back to working out. But He requested an MRI be done just to be sure that there isnt anything else causing the headaches. I can understand better be safe than sorry, but I wanna workout hehe. Once my MRI is done (I was able to get it scheduled for 8-21 the soonest appt available at the drs by my house) I can get back to working out and ease into it..  Treatment of Exertion Headaches that I am experiencing is just to take ibuprofen before my workouts and that should stop one from coming on.

Just an update for all those who care to read.

20 Months Post Op Today!

Its been a while since I have blogged, not sure why I'll go with life! Life always seems to get the best of us and get in the way. Things have been pretty crazy around here I am trying to deal with Isaac being gone from home til the end of the year and only visiting on certain weekends. Its been rough, but I am managing! 

I started working out with the trainer towards the end of May and after my first session I was hooked. I love the workouts I get during our sessions. I just need to really start putting them to use on my own. 

In the last two months I have been struggling with weight gain and its terrifying. I was at 169 for the longest time and it stayed there for what seemed like forever. Then it crawled up to 172 and this evening (not my weight in day) I was 180. 180! are you kidding me! ahh not cool and not anyone's fault but my own. On Wed I was 178.6 which is my normal weigh day. I know I don't and shouldn't weigh more than once a wk but I knew what I was on Wed and it was then I decided I was going to do the shakes this wk and see what happens.

I have decided to go on liquid diet for few days with doing liquids all day until dinner. I pre-baked some chicken breast Sunday along with some Sweet Potatoes and Onions. I portioned them out for the wk and have dinners all set. I also went to Sam's Club and got some Strawberry's and Cream Premier protein shakes, I've been dying to try them and they were $4 off!, so I was very excited.

Since the summer started I have been looking and registering for 5k's that I see and think I would enjoy doing. So far I have done 

• Cleveland Electric run on Jun 20th
• Registered for Wigs for Kids Sat July 26th!
• Thinking of the Cleveland Foxtrot in Aug. and also the Spartan Workout both are Aug 24th not sure what one I want to do.

Cleveland Electric Run 2014

I have to think of what I wanna do in Sept. and in Oct I am doing Roc the Croc again!

Being active is so much more fun now, I enjoy finding new things to try as well.

Wish me luck this wk and here's to hoping that I can get back on track and stay focused!

Stats:

HW 309lbs

SW 272lbs

CW 180lbs

LW 169lbs

74 wks Post Op and 17 months Post op (4-14-14)

And Life must go on hehe....

Weigh in Wed. and I am well... you guessed it 169.2! Last wk 168.4. Am I forever gonna be at 169? lol. I know its my own fault because I probably follow the rules about 80% of the time. I snack (but I tend to make sure it had low cals. and good protein still don't think its good for me tho.)... I do have liquid calories mainly in my morning cup of coffee. 

And Dr. B's 4 Golden rules are... 

• Eat 3 meals a day, no snacks, no grazing 
• Don’t drink with your meals, or for an hour afterward 
• No liquid calories 
• Eat protein with every meal (20-30 grams) 

I am going to try and stick with 3 meals a day and no snacks.... I am no sure, if I can. I think that if I just make me meals heavier in the protein area like 30 g of protein that I will stay full long enough to not feel like I need a snack. 

I don't drink with my meals, and this I thought was going to be the hardest rule to live by and it was actually the easiest for me.

Liquid Calories.... I was great with this until I discovered COFFEE! Anyone know how I am make a great cup of hot coffee taste great and have less than 10-15 cals. per 1-cup?

As I said before the 14th of April was my 17 Month Post op Surgiversary. And you know what I did to celebrate it?? I went to my first support group meeting. Better late than never right!?!?  My surgeons office has Pre-Op and Post-Op support group meetings, every month and the Post -Op one is on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. This months meeting was on exercise. We talked about NEAT. NEAT stands for:

Non

Exercise

Activity

Thermogenesis.

Examples of NEAT would be standing while you are working at a desk instead of sitting in a chair, you could have a standing station instead. If you are used to taking the elevator everyday to our office or appt, use the stairs. During commercials instead of sitting and fast forwarding through the DVR get up and do some jumping jacks or jump rope. If you are on your phone a lot and like to talk instead of sitting down and chatting get up and walk around. Park further way from the store. Getting you to burn more calories a day without even knowing it.

I have started a support group on Facebook for those of us who have Dr Ben Meir as a patient. To help us stay connected and stay focused. If I haven't added you and you want to be added let me know. It is a private group, so nobody but those of us in the group can see what you post. None of your information you share in the group will be repeated or posted to the public.

With this I leave you until next Wed. Have a great week!

73 Wks Post-Op!!!

 Hello, hello, hello!

I am here to report some good news I suppose. Its Weigh in Wed Again! Just like every other Wed. I woke up and nearly forgot it was Wed. and I almost forgot to weigh in. Had to undress myself, because I had already started getting dress for work. Most of us on this journey weigh- in a certain way each week and or each time we weigh.  This is how my weigh- in's go. I get up, make sure I use the bathroom first and if I am going to shower I get completely butt naked and then jump on the scale. If I am not showering just yet, I will get down to my undies and then jump on.

I know we all have our own rituals to weighing in.. What are yours?

I am training with C25K again for the next 9 wks, I am finding it to be rather easy since I have already done it once, but I will have to see what happens after I start wk 3 when the running portion of the training gets LONGER hehe. I have one 5k paid for as of right now and that is the Electric Run happening in Cleveland on 20th of June.

I plan on doing a few more 5k's this summer prob a few local ones and maybe a few more bigger ones too.

I was thinking of giving the 5 Day pouch test another go. Since when I did it a few wks ago I had to stay on mostly liquids due to the horrible pain I was dealing with from having my wisdom teeth removed on St. Patrick's Day. Now that they are healed, I can eat whatever I want again, Not that I should tho.

Well things around the here are going okay. I will leave you with some pictures that I have posted on Facebook, so I am sorry if you have already seen them and are seeing them for a second time.

70 wks Post op and just over 16 months Post op!

I figured it was time for an update. I have been MIA for a while been upset with the scale and the weight not going where I want it too. So I took a step back from what I enjoy doing spreading the word of my journey and not participating in my groups on Facebook, I need a break to remember why I am doing this and what I am doing this for. ME! not anyone else simply ME!

Its been a crazy start to this wk. I had my bottom two wisdom teeth removed on Monday and recovery has been pretty good, I cant complain. I was taken great care of on Monday when I was at the office and on my way home and at home.

I decided that while I was recovering from the wisdom teeth surgery I would do the 5 day "Sleeve" test. Now I am calling it this because I have a "Sleeve" not a pouch.

This is what I am following :

5 Day "Sleeve" Test

Day 1 & Day 2 Liquid Protein

• Low-carb protein shakes
• Broth
• Clear or cream soups
• Sugar-free gelatin and pudding 

The first two days are all liquids. You can have as many low-carb protein shakes as you like to satisfy hunger or cravings. In addition drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of water each day. The purpose of all liquids is to break any snacking, grazing or processed carbohydrate habits. In addition the liquids will work to cleanse your system and prepare you for the following three days. 

Day 3 Soft Protein            

• Canned fish (tuna or salmon) 
• Eggs 
• Fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy. 

The next three days you get to eat as much as you want as often as you want! But there's a catch: it has to be solid protein and you only get 15 minutes each time you sit down to eat. No drinking 15 minutes before or 60mins after meals and no drinking with your food. A dry pouch will hold your soft protein longer helping you to feel full and fed longer. Measure your portion (1 cup volume or 4-6 ounces weight) and eat only until you feel full, not overfull. Remember we are going back to the beginning and fluids will prevent you from filling your stomach. If you need to add a moist condiment (Miracle Whip or mayonnaise) to the canned fish I understand, but keep it to a minimum, so the meat is not too moist. One reason we lose the sense of tightness in our pouch is that we eat "slider foods" - foods that are too moist and do not stay in the stomach very long, they slide right through the stoma. 

Day 4 Firm Protein

• Ground Meat (Turkey, beef, chicken, lamb) 
• Shellfish 
• Scallops 
• Lobster,
• Fresh Salmon or Halibut

By now you should be experiencing that familiar tightness that will reassure you that your pouch is working. Remember to drink plenty of water between meals. 

Day 5 Solid Protein

• White meat poultry
• Beef steak
• Pork
• Lamb
• Wild Game

Remember to chew chew chew. Measure your portion (4-6 ounces) and eat only until you feel your pouch tighten. Remember, only 15 minutes per meal, so you'll have to work fast to chew your food completely. By now you should be out of any carb cycle you were in and perhaps you have lost a pound or two. You will have new confidence in your pouch and your ability to work the tool for your health and emotional well being. Don't go hungry! Remember, you can eat as often as you want as long as it is solid protein, consumed without liquids and measured in 4-6 ounce portions.

I know this is a long post due to the plan I just copied here sorry if you dont want to read it all. It may help someone else in the future.

So I am on day 3 of this so called test, and I am kinda of scared to eat real food. I was doing good with my broth and creamed soups and jellos n puddings, but I am afraid to try eggs. Just dont want it to hurt my mouth hehe.  

Last wk I weighed in at 175 and I was very annoyed at that number so I decided to follow this plan for a wk. Monday I was 172 when I started the plan and today on Wed. Weigh In I am at 170.8!  5 lbs lost in a wk I havent seen that in a long time! very excited!

65 wks POST OP!!! 2 Days away from 15 months Post OP!

I will start this off with a comparison picture from Jul 2013 vs Feb 2014 I was 189-190 in Jul and am now 169 in Feb. 

I didn't even notice this, it was brought to my attention by Isaac. He had seen this picture on the automated picture frame I have running in the dinning room and noticed our vacation pictures from Jul. He asked me very kindly how much I weighed in that picture and guess at least 200 or over, and I said I don't know let me look it up.. To my surprise I was 189-190 around that time. Then I had to compare it to another picture from recent days to see the difference.

My weight loss has slowed down dramatically in the past few months. So This 20 lb loss has been one of the most drastic to see. I know I have my 300 lb pics vs now pics, but to see such a huge difference in 20 lbs amazes me!

I was stuck in the 170s for what seemed like for ever and I finally get out of them only to be stuck at a stall of 169. With that I decided to not weigh in on wed for a month... my next weigh in will be March 5th. I woke up today and wanted to weigh in the thought of not has been stressing me out. I have not missed a weigh in or not weighed in on purpose ever in the last 15 months.  This is going to take some getting used too, but I hope that with my working out and watching my calorie intake I will see results in the months end.