Christmas Blues

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! What a week!!! Way to Much Food!!!! But I did very well. On Jan 5th I go for my three month post op. Still can not believe that is has been 3 months since the surgery. Down to 235 to 240. Not to bad for a three months. Still looking to lose another 50 pounds to get where I want to be at. In two week I start school again and I know that I will not be temped to get food. I try to walk every day for an hour, but the weather here in Seattle has gone back to NORMAL!!! RAIN And More RAIN!! I still putting in the protein and drinking water. I still can not handle coffee yet, so I have been staying with Chi Tea with soy milk. Plus I have gone from a VINTE to a Tall. ( SIP SIP), a couple of times I did over do it, but everyone I talk to says that is normal until I learn how much I can eat. I think what is hurting me this year is that it was the first Christmas as a single person and with a new family. Tammy has be awesome is supporting me with my ups and downs and like wish me for her. Christmas has always been hard for her and I hoping that I can show her the true meaning of Christmas is.

Here is a picture of me and Christopher at NW Trek and one taken on Christmas day here at home.

The Pictures are about two years apart, and I just can not believe how I look. 60 pounds is a lot of weight, and I feel so good and I sleep a whole lot better. The problem is that I do not seem like that when I look in thew mirror. So now here comes the New Year, and then back to normal eating ( or as close to it as I can get). (SIP SIP).

Until next week Remember to (SIP SIP) and have a Happy New Year!!!

What a week

Well is has been 9 days since I last updated, so here we go. Last Friday was the end of the winter quarter, and two Christmas party's. I feel that I did very well at them, did not finish any food I had on my plate and it was very little at that. ( SIP SIP) Then on Sunday night Tammy and I with the kids ( Alena, Sydney and Christopher) went to Jimmy Mac's restaurant, where Tammy and I shared ( yes I said SHARED) a pulled pork platter. We still brought home a doggy bag.

This weekend I made Cookies, Brownies, no bake cookies and Magic bars. Do not worry, I have been very good, and the kids eat them all before even I had a chance to sneak anything. I through that Christmas was going to be very hard with all the cakes, cookies and sweets, and for the most part it has not been. Well,,, just a little, OK I WHOLE LOT!!!! I love baking and with the smell of cakes and cookie felling the air it is so hard not to just EAT AND EAT!!!! But I have to admit if the kids where not here I would not have made the cookies and cakes. (SIP SIP) I love my kids, old and new ones, and see the smile on their face when the eat some things good, like cookies and cakes. I want this Christmas to be special, for Tammy and the girls, Like them I have had a rough past couple of years.

Tammy has been my support and rock, with out her I would not have been able to get as far as i have. I have learned that with this type of surgery you will needed a strong support group, and for someone to you can lean on from time to time. I am not saying that this as been a walk in the park, in any means. As I lose the weight, a lot stuff goes through everyone mind. Like will he/she change after he/she loses the weight, or will he/she still love me as I am? Tammy and I went in to this with our eyes and hearts wide open. We talk about all the what ifs and what not's. We will work through any issues that may come up. ( SIP SIP)

Will time for bed and I will up ate you later this week.

Remember ( SIP SIP)

Associated Risks and long-tem consequences.

Last week someone wrote "Bariatric surgery has associated risks and long-term consequences and should be considered only part of an approach to treating obesity". I will have to agree with them. Bariatric surgery should be the very last resort when all other means have failed. The only person you talk to about this type of surgery is with your doctor. Before I was even a prove for the surgery I had to talk to 5 different doctors, my normal Doctor, a Cardiologists, a nutritionist, a psychiatrist, and a surgeon. I had to attended five classes on nutrition. Had to do a stress test.

This happen over a course of 5 months. After years of fail dieting, and not losing the weight after working my ass in the gym. I went this route.

Again the surgery is not for everyone, but if you do decide to do it talk to your doctor and ask people that had the surgery like it did. Keep track of your progress. This blog was the best thing for me. Away for me to keep track of my progress and away for others to follow.

Now to my weekly update, When to a Christmas party on Friday night, had a blast, met a lot great friends of Tammy's. I was told that I had to wear my BIG BOY Pants. But after meeting her co workers, I would have fit right in. So today I weight in and boy I am doing great I am finally under 240 pounds. I have not weight this in 8 years.

So I got my lab work back from Nov 11. Only issue I see is that my total Cholesterol is 92 range is 125-200 mg/dL, and my HDL is 20 but needs to be greater than 40 mg/dL.

My LDL was 53 mg/dL and it had to be <130 mg/dL. Need to find something that can rise my HDL and Total Cholesterol. Vitamin D over all was 29 needs to be between 30 - 100 ng/mL. My GLUCOSE was 104 needs to be 65-99 mg/dL just a little high. Over all not bad for one month after the surgery. I have more blood work being done in two weeks for my 3months post surgery. I hope the number look as good as they did in Nov.

Will time to run Remember

SIP SIP

I DID IT!!!

I Broke down and went to try on cloths today. I went from a size 50 inch waist to a size WAIT FOR IT!!! WAIT FOR IT!! 42 inch waist!!!!! YES 8 INCHES GONE!!!!!! Shirt sizes DOWN AS WELL. 3XL to just an XL. I got the biggest smile across my face today. I am so happy but also know that I have just started my journey.

Until next week remember to

SIP SIP

Pictures

OK OK!!

A lot of followers have asked for some update pictures. So today I will give you a side by side pictures of the begging and today.

10-4-11 the day before TODAY 11-26-11

10-04-11 The day before TODAY 11-26-11

Until I saw the pictures side by side I felt that I was not losing the weight, but know Not only I can feel the difference I can now see the difference. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and I hope you have a great Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Remember Sip Sip

The Dayafter

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Yes Yes I know it a day late and as Christopher says "and a dollar short." How was yesterday everyone has been asking me. Well Let me tell you!!! CRANBERRY is a NO GO!!!! I started off with Turkey (3oz) 1/4 cup of mash potatoes (no gravy), Sweet potatoes, Green bean casserole, and a fruit salad. It took me about an hour to eat. What made yesterday ( be side me) was all my friends ( Abby) and family Christopher, Tammy, Alena, Sydney and Grandpa Will. I had my baby Plate with me ( OK it was really Christopher's, but it is mine now), and my Little fork and my measuring cup, ( 1/4 cup). I made some home made rolls( 5 dz) that did not stay long. Well today I my breakfast shake, I cup of egg drop soup, ( while I was in Seattle ) and left overs when I got home. This is when I had the CRANBERRY!!!! WAY WAY to sweet. It did not seat well and I had my first dumping sensation. It was not fun. Stomach hurt and did not feel good. I thought I would have an issued with the fruit salad but no, just the cranberry. Here is a picture of me and the gang.

Me and Tammy

Until later, SIP SIP

Nov 22

Well Thanksgiving is just around a corner, and this will be the biggest test of all.This time of year is going to be real hard. This will be the first time that Ashley and Christopher will not be here. Not hearing their voices in the morning, the laughter and the yelling watching the parade, and making my home made rolls with Christopher. Still working on grieving stage after the divorce, some time I feel that it is getting better and then other times I feel anger and asking why me. But lately that has been farther apart then in the past. I can say that the hurt is stil there but not as bad. I havew been told that time heals all things, well that is one thing that I have more of after the surgery. I have more time to be with the ones I love, and I hope that someday I will be able to sit down and talk about things and not get angery or up set.

I am looking forward to Thursday, but at the same time a little scared. You see, to me this is a test of will power. I have lost 50 pounds since Oct 5 and I am fitting into cloths that I have not worn in a long time. I have see people who have had this surgery and failed. I do not want to go down that path. So I have a 1/4 measuring cup and a kitchen timer. Have to remember that I need to drink 30 minutes before I eat and I have to wait 30 minutes after. so if it takes me 45 minutes to eat then that means 1 hour and 45 minutes with out drinking. WOW!!!!! THAT IS A LONG TIME!

Well that is all for now Will give you an update on Friday.

Remember SIP SIP!!!

7 weeks

Will, It has been 37 days since I had my surgery. and this past week I tried to eat some real food. I learned that I am not ready for rice or pasta. I fix the other night chicken and rice. I had about a 1/4 of rice and 3oz of chicken. Rice went down and it came right back up. Then I made a pasta salad and again, that did not stay down. So I will wait a while to try them again. I have talk to a lot a people that have had or know someone who has had the surgery, and lot of them are still unable to eat certain foods like rice, pasta, and bread. So far I can eat bread /toast. There are time where I feel bloated after I eat. I think the hard part is that I must learn to eat 5 SMALL MEALS times a day, or three small meals and a couple of protein shacks. I am getting in about 64 oz of water a day. I am starting to have lots more energy and I am sleeping all night. Something I have not done in years. (sip sip) I am walking about an hour a day either in the morning or afternoon. People are saying that they can tell that I am losing the weight. To me I am still FAT, but working on it. I know that I am harder on me that others, but they must understand that I see my self and 24/7 and I just hate the way I look. Thanksgiving is coming up and I am fixing the works, Turkey, stuffing, Mash potatoes , gravy, and cranberry sauce. Got a friend bring a green bean casserole, and a apple pie. I know that I will not be able to eat a whole lot, but a 1/4 cup and a 1/4 cup there, plus a timer set for 45 minutes. I can do it. (sip sip). I will up date you on Thursday. OHHHHH BTW. I step on the scale today 253!!! not bad for on 7 weeks out. Until Thanksgiving. Remember to drink your water and get your protein in

5th week

While it has been 5 week since I had the surgery and I was given the go a head to eat real food. Had my first slice of pizza the other day. It took me about 45 minutes to eat it. Boy it was SOOOOOO GOOOOOD!! Have to keep a log of foods that do settle in my stomach. So far Rice and corn bother me. Still doing lots of soaps, and protean shacks, and blended foods. This week I slowly eat a sloppy joe and three fries, for dinner last night. This morning I walk for about an hour and had a 1/2 cup of grits and one poached egg for breakfast. So for I have not had the dumping issues but I also have not had chocolate, or coffee. I have had a Tall Soy Chi latte no water no foam, and it has stayed down. It is hard to get the protean in plus the water with out the 2400mg of sodium. a day. Sip Sip.

Went to the doctor yeasterday and had blood work done. weight was still at 265. THey said that it was normal. My body is getting use of not having the food in take like it use too, so in a couple of weeks I will have another weight loss burst. Pictures soon, Remember to drink water and get your protean in.

What a weekend

To start with, I never thought the eating regular food would be so hard. Boy was I wrong!! This past week I started eating foods that I love, ( in very small amounts mind you), and I got very sick. The first time was I fixed Stir fried rice with chicken, (1/2 cup) and the other was chicken (2 oz) , 1/4 cup of corn , and 4 pieces of boil potato, and both times they did not stay down. I got to believe that it is not the chicken but the starches, I know that I did not eat too fast, so that was ruled out. This weekend I got a TALL Soy Chi latte with no water and it took my almost 2 hours to drink it and I still did not finish it. Had a bowl of Egg soup while I was in Seattle yesterday and I had tuna fish( 1/2 cup) and apple sauce (1/2 cup) for dinner. The hard part of walking down town Seattle was passing my favorite places to snack, like the Mac and Cheese place and the french bakery it Pikes Place Market.

I am still eating cottage cheese( getting to point where I can tolerate it) with fruit, and eating lots of soup. I was looking and these pre made dinners, high in protein but higher in SODIUM. Need to found something good and easy fix with high protein and LOW SODIUM.

Until next time remember SIP SIP!!

What a week.

Will it has been a good. I went to the doctor on Tuesday, and I weight in at 270.65 down around 30 pounds. (My scale at home say 40 pounds). So I have to go with what to doctor said I lost. I feel really good. I need to in prove my exercise. Because I can start adding REAL FOOD to my diet. Last night I had Alaska Cod and 1/2 cup of sweet potato. Still have not had any coffee since the 4th of OCT. do not know when I will start drinking it. A little scare because I have heard so many people could not drink it after the surgery. I will put more pictures on here this weekend so you can see the difference. ( I hope you can because I can not).

Pictures

Here are two pictures of me the first was taken on sept 25. and the second one was taken just now ( ok the hair is not fix) I could never tell if I lost weight but people said that I have. You be the judge of it and let me know.

The Weeklend

Hello,

Yes I know it has been a week since I posted. Still on soft and blended foods ( baby food). Words to the wise DO NOT EAT BABY MEATS!!!! OMG I know now why they spit up!!!!! If it does not look like beef and does not smell like beef then IT IS NOT BEEF!!! Why are we feeding it to the baby's???? Will my roommate has return yesterday and he brought home fish that we are cooking up tonight. Christopher is going home today after the soccer game. Had him since Thursday night. Starting to eat more regular foods in the blender. Had 1 slice of French toast this am with SF syrup in which it took me 40 minutes to eat. Can not drink and eat at the same time yet so not worries there. plus I an still getting about 80 grams of protein. Tues I got a doctor appt with the surgeon, I will post my one month photos. one from last month and one for Tuesday. I will post a picture of my face taken on the 25 of Sept, plus one I will take today.

Remember to sip sip and get your protein in.

Oct 24

Well I made it through the weekend alone!!! Did not get much done, The weather was normal for Seattle, RAIN!!! Had a soccer game on Saturday, Law test taken, Acct homework completed. But still felt alone. This week will be Better. I can feel it in my bones. Went shopping for food yesterday, got ground chicken, tuna (in a can with water), soup, and FF milk. Today I am having a egg, 1 slice of toast (nothing on it) and a 1/4 cup of apple sauce. lunch I am having a 1/2 c of soup and a Greek 6oz yogurt. Dinner is a 1/4 c of meatloaf (BLENDED) and Brussels sprouts, ( also blended). The hardest part of all this is, that it needs to take me almost 45 minutes to eat. I know in a couple of weeks I will move to solid foods. Still have not tried coffee yet, waiting on this coming weekend (maybe) I just do not want to get into BAD HABITS! This is were I know that I will need the support group. ( SIP SIP).

Got to find a support group closer then a 40 minute drive. OA may work, but I real would prefer a Bariatric support group. People who knows the challenges and pain I am going through.

Well it is time for school. Will write more tomorrow.

HELLO MONDAY!!!!

Oct 22

Well it is a rough weekend. I am alone the hole weekend and feeling a little depressed. I like to eat when I feel like this, but I know that I can not. Up to eating blended foods. Pizza does not look like pizza in a blander. Have not weight myself in a while, waiting on Nov 1 when I see the doctor. SIP SIP!! had to get a drank of water. Scares are healing up well, ( looking more like bullet holes) each a day.

Had a soccer game where we won our 2 game, so this was my high lite forthe weekend. Will see how tomorrow will be and what it will bring.

Wednesday 10/19/11

Well what a week so far, Christopher tried his hardest to hide the scale from me. but when LAUNDRY calls and you need to hang things up the closet is not a good place to put it. So the will power failed last night and I got on it. 265 pounds. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! ( I mean DAMN). Should have never step on the scale. 35 pounds since the surgery not to bad. ( goal 150 to 180)
This is day 4 of my Blender/soft diet stage #3. Felt bloated when I started it. I think I went a little fast it first. so I cut back. I am doing half and half on the diet between stage 2 and stage 3. Creamy soups and blended foods.
Had my first egg yesterday, with apple sauce. Oat meat this morning. The hardest part is that I need to SLOW IT D O W N T O E A T. 1/2 cup of oatmeal needs to last for 30 to 45 minutes. That is slow. with 2-4oz of FF Milk. ( FF means Fat Free). They told me that I will start losing my hair and getting fever blister on my lips, (due to the change my body is going through). Well the fever blister here and I still have my hair ( ok 3 hairs). People are starting to see the weight fall off. They tell my that ( sip sip) sorry had to get a drink, any way the first place for me to lose weight is in the face. But I want it off my hips LOL. Will post later this week. remember to sip sip water every 15 minutes.

What a weekend

YES I KNOW!!! Been a little to long to up date.

So where did I leave off? HUMMMMM ok, I started stage 3 of my died plan today. " High Protein Liquid and SOFT or BLENDERIZED Solids. Will Rule START OFF SLOW When Eating, I felt blodded.

up t0 48-64 oz daily of ADEQUATE FlUIDS ( what ever that means)

Breakfast, looks like 1/4 cup of oatmeal with 2oz of FF MILK, or 1/2 cup of cottage with fruit or 1 scrambled egg with F/F yogurt.

lunch: can be mad up of 1/2 can of soup, or 1/2 cup of tuna, or cottage cheese 1/2 cup with fruit.

Dinner: a lot more chooses like 1/4 of chicken, beef, or pork (blended) cottage cheese applesauce, yogurt, sweet potatoes MASHED 1/4 c, sweet peas 1/4 cup

So I now can try to eat little food. but I am still taking my time at it.

Christopher pulled out the scale and I weight at 270. 30 pounds since the surgery. then I told him to hide the scale. felling better that I have before, looking forward to tomorrow so I can walk.

Speaking of walking, Christopher and I went to Seattle on Friday. Wanted to stop by and get his ID card at the Coast Gard Station, but found the michine down (again). So we walked, Christopher learned very quickly that when I say it s time to leave a store do not stand there and look, after about an hour my farts where ready for deployment and they did not not care where I was at or who I was with.

Well sorry of it being so short still got a lot to write but homework comes first.

Day 7

Well, today was the first day back to school, and boy I never know that I was missed by so many classmates. Where have you been? I was hoping you did not drop the class? Was all I was hearing all morning. :) Felt good to know that people do care, even the teachers asked how I was feeling. Today was a good day. No pain and I did lots of walking. Got a scale from a friend ( I think it was a bad mistake) I was stepping on it 5 or 6 times before I put it out of sight.

Got Christopher from tonight to Sunday. get school and work tomorrow Pulse, soccer Practice for the first time since I been out of the hospital.

Remember to walk ( A LOT!)!!!!

and to drink WATER.

What a DAY

Will lets start off with WOW!!! What a good day. Had a 9 am appointment with Dr. Martin to talk about what has happen over the past week. To start off, I lost 17 pounds. DAMN 17 POUNDS!!! I have not seen 280 pounds in 6 years!! We talk about my Protein, I told him that I was not getting the water intake as I hope but his concurs was my Protein intake. My daily average intake is 140 grams. He says that as long as I am getting no less then 80 grams all is good. TWO THUMBS UP!!

Now to my DRAIN :(

I had to drain this every 6 to 8 hours. You see, the tubing was around 16 inches LONG!! So when he went to pulled IT OUT IT HURTS!!!!!!!!! There was no one, two, three. Left hand was holding me down ( found out afterwards!), while his right hand was holding the drain. We were talking about my blog and Tim Allen new show " Last Man Standing". Then out of no where he PULLLLLLLLLLLLS!!!!!!!!!! I yell WTF!!!!!!!! and then he starts laughing, and says that it will sting for a little while.( THAT IS WHAT HE HAS HEARD!). So here are some things to remember:

1) Do not laugh when a surgeon is standing over you with a knife.

2) stay out of comedy clubs or watching comedy on TV. ( watch it and you will find out)

3) Sip water and get your PROTEIN IN!!!

4) WALK WALK WALK and WALK!!!!

Here are some more pictures for you!!!!

Thinks to remember

TO start with, I am now get comments from people every wear, and I want to say THANK YOU!!! I know the reason why I did this. Here are two of them,

Ashley 18; and Christopher 14. Coming from a military family, I know that a parent should not bury their kids.

So there are some of the reasons, not all; give me time and I will show you more.

While talking to a friend last night, she said about some of the does and dont's before during and after the hospital.

Rule 1: Make sure that the hospital staff have a since of humor; ADULT ESCORT to them may not mean the same to you! ( A word to the wise!).

Rule 2: Do not over pack; (i.e. no Ipod, books to read, and SCHOOL WORK) You may be Gun HO to get it done because of all the free time you (or think you have) it will not work out in your favor, (TRUST ME I KNOW!!!!!!)

Rule 3; WALK and WALK AGAIN, then WALK AGAIN!!!! The more you walk in the hospital, the better you will feel.

Rule 4; If you are on a CPAP machine take it with you. It will help you sleep. ( remember hospitals are the last place you need to be when you are sick!!!!)

Rule 5; Make sure your family has also a good sense of humor. There are going to be times where you are going to fart in public and they need to understand this, (it also helps if you are in line some were and you let one go the kids turn to the guy behind you look it them with a (WTH) look then they pull on your sleeve, look at you then back to them, like he was the one who did it.)

Rule 6: ASK FOR HELP: The first time I had to pee I could not hold the bottle, stand and balance all at the same time.

Rule 7; Make sure that you get your question across to the ward staff ( i.e. If you ask that are you test results are back make sure that the HEAR that QUESTION NOT. ARE MY TESTICLES BLACK??)

Rule 8; Make sure you are close to a bathroom with a extra pair of under wear(if you wear any, I do of course), because one time that fist poop comes it comes, you may think it is a fart but OHHHHHH NOOOOOOO it is not!!!!!! SHIT HAPPENS AND IT DOES!!! I now go to the bathroom if I need to fart just in case ( I know T.M.I. F. T.M. I...) again you will never know when shit happens!!!

As I think of more information for you I will net you know

Sunday Oct 09 2011

Well today was good until 6:30, When I walk into the apartment, and I was alone. Emotions starting to set in, I was alone for the first time since the surgery I was alone. I am scared, How will I do this? No one to confined in. I knew this was going to be hard, but never knowing it was going to be this hard.

If you are reading this and thinking about the surgery. Fond a support group. Start a blog, and put it all on the table. AND DO YOUR RESEARCH If you do not understand something, ASK!!! THE ONLY STUPID QUESTIONS ARE THE ONES THAT GO UNASKED!!!! This will help you more then you will ever known.

Taking off tomorrow from school. work on homework and try to put my mind in the correct place. Started my stage two diet on protein and creamy soups. Isopure drinks are great. 15g of protein in every 8 oz of drink. I am making sure that I am getting close to my daily limit. You have to make sure that you also get in the water.

Sweet dreams my friends.

Day 4

Sunday the 9th of Oct. and I am up more each day. starting to work on stage 2 of the diet. I believe that so far the hardest part is taking in so little. No more then 2 oz in every 15 minutes. I know that I will get a little more, but for now, that is my challenge.

I want to say having a support group through this has help me more then you can imagine. The phone calls, I received while in the hospital lifted my sprites up. today I starting on strain creamy soups, Protein liquids. and taking my vitamins. Tonight everyone will be going home, still I feel that I am not able to to go to school yet tomorrow, as much as I want too. My body as saying not on your freaking life. I go back to the surgen on Tues to get my drain looked it and hoping to get it remove. Will post later.

HOME AT LAST

Well I made t home around 1 pm. then I went to bed. I want ot say thank you for all the loving support and agd great wishes. I will up date late todae with Tammy help who remembers my actions from the bgining.

Pre surgery photos.

Here are the before surgery pictures. ( I told you that I was scary with out my shirt on) I check in at 8 am in the morning. I can not eat or drink after midnight.

24 hours to go

Saw the Anesthesia yesterday. Give more blood, pissed in a cup(FLASH BACKS), and went over what is going to happen tomorrow. I will need to call today between 1 and 3 to get a time for me to show up. I was told that I can not do "ANY STRENUOUS EXERCISE" the night before. Do they really think that I will be hitting the gym today???? Plus I will need an ESCORT, (wounder how much that is going to run me???). I was going to bring Tammy, but now I am not sure any more, the paper work says ADULT ESCORT!!!

Ok all joking a side, Tammy will be taking me tomorrow, I will not have internet there so it will be a couple of days before I can get back on to update. Later today I will take pictures of me. (before surgery) and I take pictures over the next several months.

Todays weight: 297

type of surgery

Here is a picture of the surgery I am having:

Now I need to learn how to eat different. 

Reason for surgery.

The reason for this blog was a way for me to update everyone on my status before on and after my Bariatric surgery. A lot of people have ask my why I was going through with the surgery? Here is the reason, and to me it is the right one. About a year ago Michelle, ask for a divorce. This was after I was let go of my last job and I went to school in stead of going back to work. I weight 315 at that time. I was a member of LA fitness until I could not afford it. I got very depressed, and felt alone.
Dec I was diagnose ADHD and PTSD. around that time I was starting to talk to a old friend. Augs my divorce was finial and I started dating Tammy with the permission of both of her and kids. I wanted to be there for them for a very long time so I talk it over with my doctor and got he surgery planned.
The surgery is set for Oct. 5.