Sweating into shape

My sleep cycle has been ccrraazzyyyyy since surgery.  I have never been a good sleeper to start with and I am a teacher so I am off for the summer.  No need to go to bed early but I have days I sleep until 11am.  Have nites/mornings I fall asleep at 3 or 4 am.  Some times awake for 24 hours.  Big mess. 

I can't take Tylenol PM anymore (bad for the walnut).  I have been taking sublingual Melatonin and that has helped. I notice I actually "sleep" nicely.  I think if I would go to bed when I take it, I would go to sleep.  Oh well,  I'll get back on track by the time school starts at the end of August. 

Today I was wide awake at 6:30am today soooooooo......house cleaned, laundry started, grass cut (with a push mower nonetheless), mended my entire fence, weeded the yard and sidewalks, swept everything, shower, breakfast and DONE by 10 am.   I was soaken WET because it is so ddddaammnnnnnn diggity hot here in Alabama right now. 

I weighed after the yard workout AND......I lost 2 more pounds.  That is a total of 29 pounds since surgery!! Yay!!  My goal for this week is to lose 30 by June 30th. 2 more days to go!!

My girl Madea says.....

As my girl Madea would say......hallelujer, hallelujer and praise THA LORT-A for all he has dooooonnnn--aaa for me!! I lost 2 more pounds!!  That is a total of 27 pounds for 25 days post-op!!

Still felt really nauseated this morning.  Ready for this to pass but NOTHING feels as bad as being fat, unhealthy, and sad feels!!

I would love to hit the 30 pound loss on June 30th for my Dad's birthday.  He is a big fan of mine!

If you do not know who Madea is then please meet her.  She is quite FABULOUS!!  I have a super celebrity genius crush on Tyler Perry too!  He is just brilliant!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljhuDeuebak

 

My first cooked dinner!!

I have been so desperate to find a meal I can indulge in.  I want to cook.  I want to enjoy the fresh veggies of the season and I want to eat.....not drink my meals.  Here is my first "cooked" meal of my journey!!

Panko Fried Tofu:  (click the title for the recipe).  I only made 8 small squares of this dish.  Not the whole block of tofu.  I mixed garlic salt, cayene pepper and cumin in with the panko crumbs.  I didn't use chili sauce like the recipe calls for.  Instead I just dipped the tofu cubes in egg (more protein!!) first then the mixture.  Lightly fried in a pan.  I ate half (4 cubes).  Did not dip it in anything.  Enjoyed the flavor as is.  Was so yummy. I did REALLY well eating this.  No pain, discomfort etc. 


My side dish tonight was Low-Carb Squash Casserole.  I made several changes to this recipe and it was PEFECT for me!  I cooked the squash, diced onion and chopped garlic down to a soft state. (I had tried steamed squash earlier this week and it HURT to swallow).  Chopped it all up while warm in the pan.  In a bowl I mixed 1 egg, GREEK YOGURT (not mayo) and lower fat/2% shredded cheese.  Low fat cheese would do great in this dish. Mixed all of it together in a baking dish and added some garlic salt and pepper.  Baked as indicated in the recipe.  It was FABULOUS.  Using the greek yogurt instead of the mayo the recipe called for made this dish even healthier and with A LOT of protein (eggs, cheese, and greek yogurt).   The greek yogurt really made this dish so creamy.  I am not a big mayo fan anyway and the thought of baking mayo makes me want to gag.

I nibbled on the tofu while the squash casserole cooked.  Made it easy to eat slowly and spread it out over time.  Everything went "down" nicely and I was quite satisfied.  So much protein tonight and a lot of leftovers!!   I cooked and ate my first post-op meal!!  Rock on!!

I can eat...kinda!!

I've whined enough about the challenges of week 3 food issues.  The upside is that I just work harder to do what is right and finding foods I like (#1) and help me get in my 60g of protein a day (#2) (without drinking it out of a bottle or box). 

The rule for the rest of my life is protein, protein, protein first.  Veggies second.  Not much room for anything else after that. Drinking my protein has gotten boring but eating meats (shredded chicken, ground turkey, etc) has not been too easy yet. 

I have fallen in love with foods I otherwise may have never endulged in.  My fav fav fav snack is Edamame (soybeans).  Publix (best grocery store EVER) sells them preshelled in a bag for about $2.50.  When I am craving the crunchy, salty carb snack I warm up some Edemame in a little bowl and sprinkle some salt on top.  EXCELLENT source of protein.  There are about 12g of protein in 3.5 oz of edamame.  Yes, there are carbs but good carbs AND these are low fat and low cal.  Can easily be mixed into salads and other healthy dishes.  Right now I do have to eat these slowly and chew them up nicely.  So yummy nonetheless!!

Tofu!  I've never had desire to have tofu in my diet.  But, it didn't bother me when it was served to me in dishes such as asian soups, fried rices etc.  Then I realized the awesome nutritional value in tofu.  My prior understanding of tofu was that it was this plain white, rubbery, jiggly, tasteless something something!!  Something vegetarians ate but I didn't know why or what purpose it served.  Now I know!  Low cal, low fat, NO cholesterol and HUGE protein.  Good protein.  One more fabulous fact about tofu is it basically takes on the flavor of anything it has been cook with.  Can be sweet, spicy, savory, mild, or just spectacular!  I love it and it will certainly be a forever friend in my diet. 


I have already confessed my love for Greek Yogurt so won't go on and on about it but.......it is so much like tofu.  Can do so many different things with greek yogurt and excellent source of protein.  I don't have a favorite brand.  It all tastes the same to me and I buy it plain. Mix in honey or sugar free jelly to flavor it for something sweet. 



Feel the need to clarify at this point.  I do not ONLY eat protein.  Like any well balanced diet, I need my fruits and veggies and some carbs too.  Just healthy ones.  Right now I can eat mushy fruits and veggies.  Steamed squash even hurt going down.  Needs to be mush. I can do overcooked squash, green beans, minced cooked onion, cucumber (chewed well),  zucchini, cooked carrots and tiny bites of mashed potatoes.  No lettuce.....no salads. Applesauce and bananas go down really well.  Really yummy in protein shakes.  I will chew up the occasional saltine cracker (to mush) if I am just craving a good crunchy carb.  Small bites and chew to mush.  These will HURT if not chewed up. 

My biggest "cheat" is sherbet.  I have not found a lactose free or greek frozen yogurt I am dying to try......or buy for the outrageous price.  A 1/3 cup of sherbet occasionally does me fine and gets me that sweet satisfaction. Publix has the most AMAZING flavors.  I am currently endulging in a mixture of watermelon, honeydew melon and catelope.  YES!!  All beautifully harmonized in a brick of a container.  FABULOUS!!!!

I can eat the sugar free pudding now without pain but still upsets my tummy.  Most likley the dairy still.  Sugar free jello is great but quite boring at this point since I've been eating it since day 1 of post-op. 

FINALLY.......

I'm fine, I'm fine.......

I've had several people message me to ask me if I am ok since I haven't posted much in the past few days.  Really wasn't much to post.  I finally lost that ONE pound I wanted to lose in order to have a total of 25 pounds lost.  That is 25 pounds in 23 days post op.  I am still disappointed but hoping as week 3 goes AWAY that the weight will begin to come off.

I have been so lucky having people I actually know to consult about the process.  Even though most of us all had a different WLS, we all were pretty much on the same postop diet and restrictions.  So, they have been a fabulous support.  I still consult with the people in my Belite Weight Loss group too.  HIGHLY recommend if you are considering surgery that you start creating your souces of formal and informal supports NOW. 

I have been whining about Week 3 from the very beginning of it.  I have felt so yucky and the food hasn't been feeling so fabulous at times. I feel so full and bloated.  I have had pretty bad nausea the past few days.  It is uuugghhhhhh and all day long.  I can smell everything and nothing smells good.  Meat has made me physically sick.  My back hurts too so I am thinking it is just that "time" of the month soon and this will pass.  I have read that times like this just come and go throughout the healing process.  I have to remind myself constantly that I just had a major invasive surgery that removed 80% of my stomach.....24 days ago.  Crazy.

This too shall pass.  All part of the healing process and could be worse.  I am still sooooo soooo glad I did this.  I think when I can do real workouts, I will feel and see the progress!

White ain't right!!

I am pushing through hard into week 3!  Frustrated with the stall I decided to do real exercise on Thursday afternoon.  I downloaded some exercise videos onto my Netflix account (which runs straight through my Smart TV.....so awesome).  I did a 20 minute kickboxing workout.  No worries, I did it at my pace and didn't over exert my midsection.  I skipped the section on abs.  It felt fabulous!! 

I had also cut out major carbs starting Thursday as well.  I met a friend at the mall that afternoon.  We walked and walked.  Didn't shop....just walked.  We were both hungry so decided to go out to eat.  I told him we had to get out of the mall if I was going to have any chance of being able to eat something that would work with the walnut.  We decided California Pizza Kitchen might work. 

We ordered a thin crust basil, pesto with sundried tomatoes and mushrooms (instead of chicken).  It was YUM.  I ate one small piece (tiny bites and a lot of chewing). I ate a few bites of another piece and knew it was time to STOP.  It didn't hurt to swallow or anything.  I did it just right.  Basically that means I chewed it until it was mush. 

What I cannot get right is the "not drinking" part.  I am not supposed to drink anything 30 min before, during or 30 minutes after a meal.  Not only am I thirsty all the time but it is just natural to eat and drink together. I mess up with it all the time but need to do better so my body gets the nutrients it needs from the food I eat.  Plus it makes me super full and I don't need to stretch the walnut out.

I have had a few "attacks" of severe severe pain.  It is a stomach spasm from eating something too bulky.  This is usually something I shouldn't eat like a cracker, bread or rice.  So that has to STOP!!  Say no to anything white!!

I did weigh this mornng and the little bit I had gained was right back off.....thank goodness!!!  I feel fabulous (unless I eat something white).  So I am still (back) at the 24 pound loss but nothing gained. 

The pattern I see here is this:  Eat and Exercise!!  I lose weight everytime I actually eat.....and exercise.

I'm a statistic...Day 19

I'm heading into the 3 week post-op window and I am "that" statistic!  Doesn't mean anything bad just means my body is doing exactly what all the documented literature on Sleeve surgery says my body will do right now.......stall and shut down.  By stall, I mean the scale isn't changing right now.  I haven't gained since Saturday but I haven't lost.  This is expected.  I had been ingesting liquids for the most part for about 2 weeks.  This week I started "eating" food with a little more substance to them. That substance made my body say.....hhuuhhhhhh??  Since I didn't do well with the puddings and creamy soups I did go right into eating the mushy potatoes, grits, etc.  I decided this morning that this is too many carbs and I needed to study my info binder to see what the exact protein, to carb, to fat ratio is for me right now.  I know no matter what.....protein is my #1 focus and carbs/fats need to be low low low.

By shut down I mean.....no potty.  No #2!  Again, common but frustrating.  The body basically learned to fuction on the liquid diet.  Put some "food" in it this week and the bottom half of me didn't get that wake up call.  Fortuantely, I had so many reliable resources and was able to check to make sure that not only is the part of the WLS deal but will pass (literally) in time.  I bought some cute little pink pills made for women tummies and I am fine now.....and I am sure you are all cheering for this accomplishment!!  Like I said before, the surgery has some amazing benefits but isn't always pretty.

From this point on I should lose about 2-3 pounds a week on average.  This is a nice steady pace. I'm so ready to do real exercise.  I can walk but nothing too busy.  I downloaded some 10 minute exercise videos onto my Netflix account this morning.  Will start there.  I am thinking I could easily pull off some Richard Simmons too.  I am really wanting to Zumba though!!

2 week update!!

Yesterday (Friday) I walked an hour in the morning (almost died) and met a friend in Tuscaloosa to take a beautiful walk around the river (RiverWalk).  We walked about 45 minutes and it was a much more plesant experience without the heat....and good company.

We went to eat dinner after at "Roll (Raun)Thai" restaurant on the strip in Tuscaloosa. The name makes me giggle!! I ordered Won Ton soup and a Veggie Fried Rice with Tofu (I thought I could eat rice already...ooppss).  The Won Ton was tooooooo spicy and did not want to take that chance so didn't eat it. I ate about eight small bites of the rice mix and 2 pieces of Tofu.   Forgot not to eat and drink together.  I was so thirsty from the walk, I was drinking lots of water.  So full but not uncomfortable at all.  Just nervous I overdid it! Got back home and realized that rice is on the "no no" list for now.  Oooopppssss

The great news is I woke up feeling fabulous this morning!  I did my morning weigh-in and lost 2 more pounds!  Total of 24 pounds. I think between the exercise and EATING it helped me move down a little more.   Today is exactly 2 weeks since surgery.  Seems like forever ago!

Hanging in there.....

Nothing too exciting to report.  I am still sitting here at negative 22 pounds.  I go into panic mode sometime and wonder why the weight isn't just peeling off.  Then I remember it has only been 13 days since surgery.  I really do not think I am eating enough either.  I do get hungry but nothing sounds appleaing at this stage in the diet. 

My eating this week is really weird.  Not quite off the clear liquids yet, not doing so well on the creamy full liquids but I can eat the cheap, Walmart brand, instant grits with no problem.  Instant mashed potatoes too.  Just a few small bites.  Grits are yummy and my fav.  Potatoes are boring!!

I do fine with Greek Yogurt too.  Today (as I type) I am eating Fage Greek Yogurt (1 cup) with blueberry preserves.  Delish!!

I just finished my first big exercise walk.  One hour around my neighborhood.  It was 8:30am, beautiful, and 100% PLUS humidity. Had Michael Jackson and Zac Brown to keep me company.   I have the shakes now but may be because it was my first big, long, fast walk. Not much in the walnut either. I don't think all my walking around the mall and stores counted for much.  I felt HORRIBLE post walk. Like SICK!!  Time to get that stamina back up or eat more....not sure??

Easy Way Out

One of my most favorite numbers is the number 22.  So random because I don't really know why. I am so Type A that maybe it gives me comfort with it's even-ness, repetition, divisibility, etc.  It was one of the 500 numbers my high school sweetheart had throughout his sports career, my big time hockey player crush was #22 too. Those things are long lost in the past.  Today I love the number 22 because that is how much weight I have lost since surgery.  I am officially down 22 pounds since June 2nd.

I know I post a lot about the weight coming off but want to make sure everyone knows how important it was for me to get healthy too.  MY surgery was about kick starting a new healthier me. A friend of mine who had  a different surgery (Lapband) told me that people told her she "cheated" to lose weight.  I knew that wasn't true but really couldn't  understand how "not true" that statement was until now. 

For those who feel surgery is the easy way out, cheating to lose weight, or just too lazy to lose the weight let me break it down for ya!!!  

1. All WLSs are quite risky.  All three (Lapband, Sleeve and Bypass) are invasive. Like any surgery there are risks.  Serious risks. It is a CHOICE to take the risk.  Pain, discomfort, scars, sacrifice, expense, etc etc.  Not so glamorous! But being overweight, the constant lose/gain, lose/gain and fad diets are also really bad for the body too. I'd rather take the risk of surgery than live a lifetime of a slow health demise. 

2.  The sacrifice and dedication you make to have a healthier lifestyle postop are very serious!!  Not optional. For me with the sleeve diet, there is no turning back.  80% of my stomach is gone forever. I am on a very strict diet.  Liquids for 2-3 weeks.  VERY slowing introduce foods back into my little walnut.  Sips not gulps. Tiny bites and chewing chewing before I swallow.  I cannot eat and drink at the same time right now. I cannot overfill my walnut.  I need to make sure I am getting my proteins, daily vitamins,  fluids etc.  I need to plan to take something with me to eat/drink when I leave the house.  It takes A LOT of planning.  

3. As time goes by I will get back to normal. Sure I can eat hamburger, fries etc.  BUT if I want to stay healthy then I need to live healthy forever.  Eat right, exercise, get sleep, have healthy social outlets, minimize stress etc.  

4.  Being healthy isn't about weight.  It is all on the inside! Mental, physical, emotional! 

Not sure how any of this is easy, lazy or cheating but all I know is I made the decision to have a better life......period!!  

Weight Loss Simulator

This is the coolest online simulator for anyone working on losing weight that needs to see a little light at the end of the tunnel.  My Virtual Model~

Here is me at my beginning weight and then me at my goal weight!! You can personalize your model.  Male or Female too!  Fun~~

Creamy is not so Dreamy

Day 8:  Still at the 20 pound mark but I am fine with that.  I think that is a little ahead of where I should be right now anyway.

Sadly, as much as I was so so ready to start my "creamy liquids" today, it isn't going as well. I am sitting here eating lime jello for dinner right now.   My dinner was a few bites of Cream of Chicken soup (mixed with water/not milk).  Within minutes I felt so sick.  Nauseated, shaky, just uuuuuggghhh.  A few bites of sugar free pudding did the same thing to me earlier.  Clearly, my walnut is not ready for the creamy liquids that are more "rich".   I didn't do well with those type foods before surgery so may just have to avoid them all together. 

I did do well with the premade cream protein shake today (EAS). My other food and drinks that have made my little walnut (new stomach) happy are:  Isopure Zero Carb, Apple juice (no sugar), "zero" vitamin waters, sugar free jellos, sugar free popsicles, Tazo tea with splenda, and broth.  I only had the broth once.  I dont like it but it is more a wierd little thing I have with it.  Just reminds me of being sick.  Don't love it.

I think I am pushing myself too hard. I am ready to get out and just go, go, go.  When I run to the store I am exhausted when I get back.  I have to remind myself it has only been 1 week. ( I have the sweetest friend who tells me everyday to chill and just rest).  My sleep schedule is completly upside down too.  I am getting my 8 hours just not when everyone else is.  So I pulled an all niter last nite, forced myself to stay awake today and going to bed NOW!! Slow down and heal girl!!

Onward and upward.......

Yogurt, Honey, Cinnamon Ice Cream

Now that I am slowly going to ease in to actually "eating" again, I am going to be obsessed with new recipes.  Found this one tonight and will make this tomorrow since I can have Greek Yogurt. 

Yogurt, Honey & Cinnamon Ice Cream (Makes 4-6 Servings)
16oz Greek Yogurt
1/4 Cup Honey
1/2 Tsp Cinnamon

1. Place all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine.
2. Pour the yogurt mixture into an ice cream maker and chill according to manufacturers directions
3. Place the mixture in the freezer to firm up, about 1-2 hours.
4. Serve.
*If you don’t own an ice cream maker, no worries, this mixture can be poured into popsicle molds and frozen for 6 hours or longer.

Hello 20!!

I have lost 20 pounds since surgery 1 week ago!! I know.....it is mostly water weight, bloated weight and yes, I had surgery.  So what.....I have lost 20 pounds and it is fabulous to me!!

I am ready for some substance in my tummy no doubt.  Tomorrow I can start protein shakes, cream soups, nonfat milk or Almond Breeze, Greek Yogurt (my fav), sugar free pudding, and lowfat cottage cheese. 

I will be honest and say I did eat a few bites of the cottage cheese last nite.  Ironically, I had been at a weight stall for 2 days.  Woke up this morning and had lost 4 pounds.  May be time for that substance!!

1 Week Update

This time last week I was waking up in a hospital bed in Juarez, Mexico.  CSI: Miami was on the TV in the background, I had no idea what time it was and I was soooooooooo thirsty I could lick the wall.  A few hours prior (2pm Juarez time to be exact) I had just had -% of my stomach removed in the Vertical Gastric Sleeve surgery for weight loss.  When I woke up I knew there was no turning back, no reversing the decision I just made and  no way I would ever gorge on pizza and coke in 1 sitting again.

I did not like laying there waiting to have surgery until 2pm.  I got up at 5am that morning to take a shower.  I knew they were coming at 6am to put the IV in.  So tick-tock, tick-tock laying there waiting until 2pm.  Was not so fun.  Especially since I could have no food or drink from 10pm the nite before. 

They finally came to get me around 2pm, prepped me for surgery, I took a few huffs of "oxygen" as they called it and......

Not sure what time surgery was over.  I woke up in my room about 8pm.  Didn't feel bad at all just groggy.  Slept off and on the remainder of the nite and all of Sunday.  I am a side sleeper so getting comfy with a sore tummy and IV on the top of my hand was quite difficult.  I managed but wanted out of the hospital gown, into my PJs and my bed! On the bright side, nurses not only checked on me around the clock, took blood pressure, temp, heart rate, checked blood sugar etc every time but if I hit the call button they were in my room in less than a minute or two.  Was amazing care.  The surgeons also checked on me the evening after surgery and both days following surgery.  Pubic relations came twice to ask me if I had any issues or concerns.  The care just kept coming and it was fabulous.

I will admit I was ever so happy to see the large pitcher of crushed ice be delivered to my room on Sunday.  Was like steak and potatoes as far as I was concerned. I got broth, jello, hot tea, apple juice, and ice on Sunday evening and Monday morning.  Still wasn't as heavenly as the pitcher of ice seemed upon arrival. 

Once they took the IV out early Monday, I slept like a baby until it was time to get ready to leave. Showered, got all dressed up and cute (I wore a dress.  Highly recommend this.  Your tummy will be quite swollen), and the driver picked me up at 1pm to take me back to El Paso. 

My trip to Juarez was fabulous.  Sitting for 2 hours to cross the boarder.....not so much.   HOT, HOT, and boring.  There are TONS of "vendors" walking up and down the miles and miles of rows of cars selling "trinkets and trash" as my dad would call it. 

Finally at the airport, 2 short skips home and back in Birmingham my midnight.  I was not uncomfortable sitting on the plane at all. I had an hour and 15 minute flight to Dallas and about 2 hours to Birmingham (weather).  I did check my baggage in this time.  Didn't want to deal with it.  You will not be able to lift it to put it in overhead by yourself anyway.   I bought a bottle of no calorie flavored water and it lasted me the entire trip home since I was doing my little sips.  I did have to get some hard candy on the way back.  Throat was soooooooo sore from surgery. 

Safe and sound at home and was ready to start my journey......

Sweet 16!!

Post-op Day 5 and I have lost 16 pounds!  I am following week 1 protocol 100%.  Getting at least 40g of protein daily thanks to the Isopure Zero drinks or by adding Unjury Unflavored protein to broth.  I am more of a fruit flavor person so the Isopure has been my fav.  Don't let the price scare you away.  1 bottle has exactly 40g of clear protein.  That is more than a meal. I mix mine in with another liquid like apple juice, orange flavored crystal lite etc.  I sip and refill, sip and refill all day long until I have finished 1 bottle.  Keeps me full, happy and healing.

Sexy and I know it.......NOT!!

The benefits of WLS (weight loss surgery) far outweigh the risks, the sacrifices, the questions, the judgements, the worry and doubt etc  etc.  The benefits are quite attractive, rewarding, amazing, fabulous and fun.  The benefits people will see is a healthy glow, how much weight you have lost, and how happy your are. However, the process of getting there isn't as glorious in the front end. 

Right now I am sooooooooo far from being attractive it isn't funny.  Top 10 reasons why:

1. I live in PJs all day.  Tuck them under the tummy roll for comfort.  Totally look like anyone at Walmart shopping at midnight.  You know the girls in their 30's in the SpongeBob PJ pants with the muffin top....no the pound cake hanging over the top. Just need houseshoes.....set to shop.

2. No makeup.  This really isn't so bad.  I digress but I started using Philosophy skin care products a few months ago and face looks smooth, rosy and clear like a baby's bottom.

3. I am soooooooo bloated and swollen in my tummy to the point I look prego.  It is uncomfortable and there is no way to even try to hold my tummy in. Hence......see the reference on #1 to the Pound Cake.

4. My incisions (5 to be exact) are not covered by bandages anymore. They need to breath like a fine wine.  4 of them are sealed and one has to seal on it's own.  I seriously look like I was stabbed repeatedly in the stomach.  So that will be my story I will tell my grandchildren.  Stabbed in a gangwar on the streets of AL trying to defend my hood!

5. I have some knarly bruises. One on my left arm looks like I got some sort of inoculation shot for Nepal.  No joke that sucker is a knot. 

6. I have the burps. Just liitle ones but they hurt.  If I don't have the burps.......
7. I have the toots.  If I don't have the burps or toots I am not happy. 

8. Sometimes I have both and it is fabulous! 

9. Sometimes I walk like I am going to lay an egg at any moment.  With the bloated/swollen tummy pound cake I am hauling, the walk def gives me the appearance that I am miserably pregnant. People in turn are nicer to me.....at Walmart.....at midnite.

!0. The best of all.......goes like this.  Long story short, I had been doing spray tan since March to stay out of the sun and tanning beds for a change. When I went to Mexico for surgery, I was all tanned and looked like a local.  Well, let me HIGHLY recommend that this makes absolutly NO sense to do pre-op.  Between the compression hose sucking the life out of my legs, the preop scrub down on my tummy in order to disinfect for safe surgery, bandaids being peeled off daily, EKG pads being superglued to my chest, and being taped up under the fat of my tummy, around my back, and appears the girls were taped up too.......nice llloonnnnnggggggg, wide tape used during surgery. (I assume this was to get the pound cake out of the way). With all of that said, my body looks like some sort of Abstract Art Project. All different shapes, sizes, shades and crackles of spray tan vs skin tone vs glue vs bruises etc all over my body!! My legs look like that vintage crackle faux paint people would use to make furniture look distressed. 

In the lyrical words of LMFAO....."I'm Sexy and I know it!  Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle"! (Ouch, that hurt!!)

What's Up Doc!!

See this man right here to the left......he is my OBGYN, Dr. William Huggins.  I mentioned him in a post earlier regarding his years of kindness and support regarding my weight struggles.

Well, one of the recommendations pre-op is to call all your docs and let them know you will be having Gastric Sleeve surgery. That way they are prepared, supportive, and knowledgble post-op. I called and had to leave messages with nurses of course.  Today I am finally listening to voice mails I received while in Juarez and......I had a message from Dr. Huggins.  HE called.....not his nurse!  Left the sweetest message about good luck, let me know if you need anything, can't wait to see the progress etc.  Now that is good stuff if you ask me!! Fabulousity!!

Lucky #13

Thirteen  may be an unlucky number for most but seeing that I lost 13 pounds on the scale this morning is pretty fabulous to me!  Got to put 3 more "jewels" in my weight loss jar! Don't worry, I am eating (well drinking like I am supposed to be).  Trying to get the recommended proteins in for sure as it is most important.  Everything I am drinking (eating jello) is sugar-free, low carb or no carb......hence the weight loss.  Not starving!  Not really 100% yet either so not that hungry.  However, watching the Food Network and pinning yummy recipes to Pinterest last nite made me have cravings.  I think most of that is psychological though.  You crave what you know you can't have.   Here is an update on the looks of my weight loss jars too!~~

Pounds to lose: 87       Pounds lost: 13

Yes, I would "like" to lose 100 pounds eventually.  That puts me in the range of recommended weight for my age, height, and sex.

Day 1: The long (dusty) road to Juarez

Woo hoo!!  I am home safe, sore, de-stomached, and sassy from my WLS in Juarez, Mexico.  I flew out on Friday, June 2nd.  Easy flight to Dallas then El Paso.  I was soooooooo hungry though.  I had followed the plan I received from BeLite Weight to a tee and I read that I could not eat or drink 7 hours before arriving in Juarez.  So I didn't.  I finally messaged my facilitator and she said, "Oh noooooooo, you can eat today since you are having surgery Saturday".  Thank goodness! 

Day 1:
The driver was right there waiting by baggage claim when I arrived.  We took off to cross the border into Mexico.  Arrived at hospital around noon, waited a little while to check in, up to room, preop testing, got settled in the hospital room (and EVERYONE was soooooooo nice) and I did exactly what I promised I wouldn't do.....I took off to the mall across the street.  Sidenote: I am from Florida originally and live in Alabama now.  Heat is nothing new to me.  But Juarez is DAMN hot.  Like a dry, dry sun right on your skin and in your face.  However, no humidity so I can't complain.  Humidity > Heat any day!!

The area around the hospital is beautiful.  Very upscale, busy, new, and trendy.  I just waited until several hospital staff crossed the street.  I crossed with them and shopped for hours in the mall.  I even got a pedicure and some homemade chicken tacos.  My very last "meal" before surgery.  The exchange rate when I was here was $12.50 US dollars to $1 peso.  That made for some good deals in the mall. 

The mall has a GNC and I was able to purchase an Isopure No-Carb for $2; The coolest jewelry store where I was able to get tons of rings and earrings for $2 each or less; a spa that does it all but you need an appointment and the food court was fab.  Funny to see a Subway and McDonalds there.  I went for authentic Mexican instead.  Just ate grilled chicken inside a grilled corn tortilla.  There is a huge beautiful movie theater there.  Not sure if it has movies in English or with subtitles.  It is just a really nice mall if you have the time pre-op. 

Left the mall and rested in the room the remainder of the nite.  Now the hospital is AMAZING!!  Like nicer patient rooms than I have ever had in the states.  My room was huge. It had hardwood floors, a microsuede couch with large oversized pillows that came off so someone could lay on it.  The pillows came in handy when I wanted to prop up in the bed.  There was a large oversized recliner as well.  That helped me a lot post-op when I just needed to sit up comfortably.  The bathroom looked like something out of a hotel.  Huge walk in shower with a chair if needed.  They provided shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper and tissue.  I did have to bring my own wash cloth and toiletries. 

There are outlets everywhere and they are the same type we use here in the states so I was able to keep my iPad and phone charged the whole time.  A little closet with an area to hang items, a shelf and a SAFE!  There is a TV in the room.  Took me a little bit to figure out what channels were in English.  Once I did, I was fine.  Has an AC in the room and I was able to turn it on and off as needed.  I was able to pick up the wireless connection inside my room.  I had an iPad and an Evo phone (4G smartphone).  Not sure if that helped or not but was nice to not have to go to the lobby to chat, read email, Facebook and Pinterest.

Dr. Rod did come see me around bedtime.  So sweet.  Was in no rush.  Unfortunately, I had no questions, no concerns, no worries and no anxiety.  Not much for us to chat about. Was just ready to have surgery. Took my bedtime shower and went to bed.

Day 2 will be in the next post.  Day 2 is "the big day"!!

Lottery

Oh goodness.......just realized I haven't posted at all for almost a week.  My last post was 2 days before I left for Juarez.  Too much resting and just a minor surgery (ha ha) kept me from updating while I was still there.  Nonetheless, I am back and feeling pretty fab considering I just had 80% of my stomach removed 3 days ago.

Still sounds so odd to say it  I feel like I won the lottery or something. So excited but not sure what will happen now just know it will be great.  Not many people know I had surgery but the important people in my life or friends who also had WLS.  Soon people will find out and want to chat, ask questions and see the prize.  Just like when people win the lottery.  I guess in retrospect, I bought my winning lottery ticket in Jaurez on Saturday.  The decision to have weight loss surgery is worth more than anything piece of paper can bring me.