Started feeling a little woozy last night. I have been on meal replacement shakes and liquids since Sunday night (Monday fill). And the Slim Fast is not really working well so I haven't gotten in 60 gms of protein for several days.
Cut down on exercise -- only worked out Tuesday morning. None on Monday or Wednesday. But I'm dizzy and weak and I know its from not getting enough energy intake.
Staying home from work today and will drink at least 80 oz of fluids. Made some egg beaters and managed to eat about 1/2 of the serving so I'll just lay low today and get some work done from home and rest.
I remember my dad saying when I was a little girl that he felt as weak as a kitten when he was sick. Yep!
Take care everybody, and have a good day
I changed my picture -- there have been some pretty noticeable changes in just eight weeks. My face is smaller and I've lost some chins along the way.
I'm tired today, but I haven't really eaten since Sunday -- just shakes -- after the fill Monday. But I exercise a lot and have more energy (usually) than I have in 10 years.
I'm down at least two sizes -- from 22s to 18s -- but I haven't tried on clothes -- I'm going by the stuff in my closet that doesn't feet and needs belts, safety pins or is in the tailor pile.
I've met some fantastic people in the last two months. Caring, compassionate, knowledgeable people who listen, provide advice, support and a shoulder to cry on. Most of those people are from this site and I can't thank you all enough.
Here's to the next eight weeks!
Had a big fill again yesterday and felt restriction from the start. I had a protein shake in the afternoon and drank as much water as I could. When I got home from Support Group I was starving. I made some canned chicken up with a little may, shredded it fine and took ONE bite. Never went down and took about an hour to get over it.
Today is a new day. Drank about 1/2 of a protein shake on the way to the gym, drank as much water as I can. Nothing solid gonna even pass these lips today. I need to let this swelling go down before I even try to eat.
Support group was fun. There were about 35 people there. First we did taste tests on chocolate and vanilla meal replacement shakes and then 5 different kinds of bars. I was very interested to find out my favorite bar wasn't even in the running for lowest calories, fat and carbs and highest protein. The ones we tried and liked were:
Muscle Milke Light Vanilla Toffee Crunch
South Beach Cinnamon Reaisin
Special K Strawberry
Zone (Graham Cracker Chocolate?)
I've been eating Kind Protein Bars, and they have way more calories for the amount of protein I get. I'll be giving those to a friend as a present :-).
Slim Fast Low Carb won both for chocolate and vanilla. We tried Bariatric Advantage, Premier and Optifast.
We also talked about hunger triggers, more on that tomorrow. Have a good day everybody!
:rolleyes2:
My blood pressure was up a little so they put me back on medication daily for awhile. Could be the fact that its 100+ degrees? Oh well I'm good with that. I'm going to watch my salt intake a little as I think I eat a lot of salty fish and turkey bacon.
I lost 9 lbs since the last visit on 6/28! I've lost 31 lbs since surgery 5/26 which is pretty fantastic for an old lady! I'm happy with that, given I didn't really have any full signals and was getting hungry way before the 4 hour time windows.
Spoke with the surgeon at length about the amount I'm working out and eating. I was told to reduce the days I work out to 4-5 max for right now, and have a 2nd meal of protein and carbs within an hour after working out. I might be doing a little too much right now.
I had 5.5 ccs in a 10 cc band before today. I'm up to 7.25, so she added quite a bit. After she was done I drank a sip of water and it came back up so she took out .25 (there was 7.5 in there). I'm still feeling a little tight and she told me to stay on liquids all week if I can as the band tends to tighten in two or three days. I am getting closer though!!!
I have the next fill scheduled on 8/6 (2 1/2 weeks from now), and I've left that open and will see how this goes.
I'm going to a support group meeting tonight on taste testing protein bars. Even if I can't do much testing myself, I'll get a good idea of what tastes good and what's out there so I'll send out some info tomorrow.
I also have to start an emotional eating support group on 7/28. This was part of the contract I signed when I started. It is once a week for six weeks and I'm sure it will help but I just don't like that length of committment lol.
News from the band front here in So Cal. Happy Monday everybody; have a great day!
Sandy
:rolleyes2:
Yesterday afternoon I bought a WII fit. Didn't use it yet.
Anyways, on the way home I was hungry for ice cream for the first time in a long time. Kitty corner from the Best Buy strip mall is a McDonalds and an El Pollo Loco (which has a Tastee Freeze). I drive through El Pollo and order a fat free small vanilla cone. Not bad. I'm told they don't have any ice cream.
Sign? Probably. But do I listen? No. I have to drive around a block to get to McDonalds. During the drive a lap band commercial comes on. I quickly change the channel. I go through the drive through and get a chocolate dipped cone no less. $1.04 well spent!
I'm driving away and its hot out and my window is down. The vanilla ice cream melts fast and I have ice cream running down my face, my shirt. I got about 1/3 of that thing down before I had to pull over and throw it away. And then I have to walk into my townhouse, full of chocolate and ice cream all over me, carrying a WII fit!! The irony...........
What is up with that??? I don't even want to imagine..............
:rolleyes2:
I am glad its Friday because I get up at 3 am during the weekdays to travel to a gym by work.
I'm glad I'm banded because having the procedure has moved me to change my lifestyle -- eating habits, exercise, what I do and the energy that I do it with. I don't have much restriction (if any), and I haven't lost 30 lbs a month since I started, but I'm proud of making the changes I have in my life.
The changes have improved my overall health -- I don't take blood pressure medication, I don't pant walking up stairs, I have much more energy.
My clothes are big and I've lost a significant amount of weight toward my goal. I have a long way to go, but I'm looking to add the band (restriction) to the mix over the next month (two fills scheduled) which should help.
Until then, and after then, I'm so grateful that I was able to take this step. Its changed my life A LOT.
:thumbup:
I'm just tired. I feel every bit of my age today. Yesterday was a very busy day at work which is good, and I worked out hard. This morning I kind of went through the motions at the gym and I'm kind of going through the motions at work as well.
I'm tired of working hard and not getting anwhere. I try to stay upbeat, but today its not going to happen.
I eat less than 1200 calories a day, every day. I work out every day at least once (elliptical, weights, water aerobics or a combination), every day. Today I put on a size 22 skirt that fit before the surgery, and it fits now.
Nice. I'm just fed up with this. I must be one of those people that don't lose weight no matter what. Maybe 50 is too old to do this.
I have a fill set for Monday, but seriously, what good will that do? I don't eat any carbs and my calories aren't out of whack for losing at least 2 lbs a week.
I'll let the doctor decide Monday I guess. Until then I think I'm gonna lay off the working out and get some rest.
I expect to wake up every morning feeling thinner. I never do, but I expect to!
I expect to work out hard at the gym and walk out of there feeling wonderfully fit and look put together. I never do, but I expect to.
I expect to put on pants/skirts every day and have them be so big they need safety pins to keep them on. Sometimes this happens but not always.
I have very high expectations for myself after this surgery. I'm not meeting them, and instead of learning some amount of patience to deal with the fact that its only been 7 weeks and I'm not going to look like Cindy Crawford yet, I get frustrated and this affects my eating, sleeping and workouts.
I wish I could take a pill and sleep for a year, wake up 100 lbs lighter and move on my way. I know it took time to get this heavy, but I lack the patience to wait for the time to not be this heavy. I don't mind the workouts or the cooking or the planning, I just want INSTANT RESULTS every day, every way.
Thinking a discussion with the therapist is in order on this one.
I'm not really down, I just want to buy some patience or better yet trade in a couple dozen pounds for some patience??? :rolleyes2:
OK, I had a trainer appointment this morning. I got measured (4 weeks since joining gym and having first measurements), and had a nice chat. At $100 an hour I could find a nice dog to chat with and buy a new pair of pants, but ok. And its not as if I didn't enter into this contract with eyes wide open and wanting the motivation and information.....
First, I have lost 2 inches from my hips, 1.5 from thighs and 1 from my waist. Considering I can't and haven't done any core or lower body weights these results are just from the elliptical. I'm over the moon. Explains why my pants fall off when I walk.
Trainer says I need to start lower body this week which I agree with. I'm going to meet with him again next Sunday and start core. My pain (from who knows what) on my left side is mostly gone and I'm cleared 8 weeks out (next weekend) to start core so that's that.
I need to kick up my elliptical -- not working hard enough. WHAT??? I guess I wasn't pushing hard enough and I need to try to get my heart rate up over 130 (target is 150-170? JEEZ). Its around 100-110 now, but I'm off high blood pressure meds so it should go up fairly well now. But I'm not supposed to be able to easily hold a conversation during the 45 minutes so there you have it.
I went online and recorded almost 100 songs that I can play while I'm on the elliptical that will keep me moving faster. That way when my workout buddy flakes on me or I'm on my own I can listen to some catchy fast tunes to keep my pace up!
Watching the soccer match, cleaning, laundry and packing food for lunches. Fun, relaxing day!
:rolleyes2:
I usually get up at 3 am during the week to drive 50 miles to a gym close to work. Being Saturday I can work out at a home gym!
I got out of bed at 6:30am! I know to some of you that will be a laugh, but it felt so good to be able to roll over and snuggle in for awhile -- kind of like a special treat.
I set up some training appointments this week both here and at the work gym so that I can have some motivation if and when my buddy flakes again. As one of my fellow bandster friends said "I can do it myself". And I can!
The amount of support I get from reading posts and blogs and forums is fantastic. I sincerely appreciate all the help, information and just downright kindness.
Have a wonderful Saturday everyone.
:smile2:
I went back to work 2 weeks after my surgery. It was a great week that week -- everyone oohed and aahed over my baggy clothes and my skinny face, and my workout routine was formed with a friend from work who was my primary source of motivation and my "workout buddy".
We would work out together every day during the week. I drove up from my house, leaving at 4 am to get up to the gym by work by 5, work out and get ready and get to work by 7:30 or 8. She even brought me breakfast sandwiches (she would go home to get ready for work).
Then came a three day weekend. I did a lot of working out at my gym near my home, but she didn't, and she fell out of the routine. Since then she flaked on me every day this week. She won't talk about it and finds excuses and I can't say anything to motivate her.
I'm sad. It was more fun, less of a task, more challenging to work with her and I realize I have to do this on my own. I'm going to talk to her one more time today when she gets to work and if it seems like its not going to work out I'm going to "re-route" my thinking and my workouts to do them from the home gym instead.
Its early in the stages of my band, and I don't want to get off track so soon. I was already in a funk yesterday because I can't get a second fill until 8/6 (first one was 6/28), and I'm gonna need another one before then!
:confused:Thanks for letting me vent!
Yesterday we did 45 minutes on the elliptical in the morning. All good. Last night I stayed at a local hotel to go to a Zumba class with my workout buddy, do some swimming afterwards, and enjoy our night without having to drive 90 minutes each way to get there.
I'm in the hotel, unpacking my suitcase and I realize my tennis shoes are in my trunk. I go downstairs with my workout clothes on and no shoes and we have a little earthquake, rendering the elevators inoperable. I walk up four flights of stairs (should be no problem after 4 weeks of ellipcial right?). NO. Winded and tired big time. OK, learned I might not be working as hard as I could be on the elliptical, or maybe need to do some stairmaster here and there?
We go to the Zumba class last night. Somewhere over the last 20 years I lost any ability to follow an instructor's moves, and any hope of coordination I had. I stood in the back and moved my feet and arms a lot and hoped no one on the street was watching. I worked up a big sweat and we left 5 minutes before the class was over as my friend was really warm.
But I'm going again next week, or even some time at my home gym this weekend. I'll never learn it if I don't keep trying!
I feel great this morning. Slept in instead of working out, and will go to water aerobics at the home gym at 6pm tonight instead.
I'd love to be able to follow the instructor, but I'm happy just with hanging around and getting exercise to music, so its all good.
Happy Thursday everybody!
I read a lot of postings and blogs this morning (took short time to get ready?), and I'm thinking a lot about support -- who gives it, who doesn't, who I think should and who suprises me.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. This website is an amazing find and an incredible source of support for me every day. I can always find information and someone that has/is/was going through what I am/did/anticipate and its been a Godsend.
My mom and my daughter are not supportive at all. My mom is just an anorexic old lady who said yesterday "I'm prejudiced against obese people. I can't wait until you are skinny". Jesus. I let most of her negativity roll off me and its actually taught me a lot about how I act and what I say. My daughter is just spoiled and self-centered so I let that go.
My friends are mixed between semi-supportive and non-committal. I'm fine with that and I don't really need a lot of support from the group that isn't.
I am my biggest supporter. When I get down I either self-talk myself into the positive, allow myself to be down for awhile, or find something on the site to bring me up. I pray a lot; I have a strong faith. Or take a walk or even work out. I can count on me to help; I'm never sure I can count on anybody else.
This is my battle to save my life. My blood pressure, heart, lungs, joints, bones. All suffered under morbid obesity. I am arming myself with the tools to fight the battle. The band is a big one, exercise is another. One of those is my mind, my attitude, my ability to let the negativity slide off me and not bring me down.
It won't always be good, easy, upbeat. But at the end of the day, its me and God.
Hugs and peace to everybody............
So I hurt myself Sunday morning. Really pulled something, even made a popping noise, and still have significant pain. I spent all day yesterday "laying low" and planning on not going to work today or working out.
Sleeping hurt on either side, I did not imagine the pain which I still feel, by the way. But now, I feel more embarassed than anything.
I called the doctor first thing this morning AFTER driving to the gym and doing 60 mins on the elliptical. It doesn't hurt when I'm on the machines, only standing up, getting up from sitting and laying on my side(s)? (Who knows).
She calls me back. It has nothing to do with my band or my port at all. Probably pulled a muscle that was torn up during surgery. I felt pretty embarassed with that one.
My band is in the center of my abdomen between the rib cage, about 4 inches above my belly button. My port is to the right (my right), just above the belly button on the right. The pain is on the left below my rib cage. She told me to go ahead and start core workouts by the end of the week which should strengthen some muscles and hopefully help me not do this again!
I've never been so concerned with not getting hurt, or damaging a band which is far more protected by layers of fat than my wrist, or teeth, or knee!
I wish I could just take back the last couple days and not have gotten so dramatic with it. I apologize to all of you as well!
Reaching in a cupboard yesterday morning to pull something out for the picnic and I pulled something. Felt something "pop". Just under my lowest rib on my left side.
The initial pain was pretty bad, but it seemed to go away in about a minute. Kept on getting ready to go. Bent over to get some flip flops to wear and the pain came right back!
Took a couple Tylenol capsules. Went to the parade and concert. Ate fine (no problems other than finding decent food to eat around hot dogs and bratwurst lol). No other issues.
Got home, still sore like I pulled a muscle. Put some ben gay on it and went to bed where I could not get comfortable. Finally put a heating pad on and fell asleep.
No better this morning. I want to go work out and go to water aerobics but I'm gonna lay low for another hour and see if it improves at all. I'll be calling the doctor after 8 -- even though they aren't there I'll get someone to call me back.
Pulled muscle? Haven't done any weights on lower body and those muscles were tore up anyways during the surgery? Wonder if I didn't do something with the band or the port? I didn't really strain that hard, and I'm 6 weeks post op??
Any suggestions or insight are greatly appreciated. Hope everyone had a nice fourth!!!
Sandy
:frown:
Next year I'll be able to say I'm no longer dependent on airplane seat extenders, shopping at Lane Bryant, and not being able to go on roller coaster rides.
This year, 6 weeks in, I'm no longer dependent on food as my primary source of focus during the day. I'm no longer dependent on needing three minutes to recover from walking up a flight of stairs. And no longer dependent on worrying about my feet swelling and my blood pressure.
That is a good feeling. However, at the base of all this is the fact that I live in a country where people fought and died to allow me to enjoy those lifestyle changes, and I'm grateful for living here in USA.
We are watching fireworks over Coronado on the Navy Base in San Diego. Beautiful day full of picnics, games, beach and awesome fireworks. Have a great day!
When I was at the post-surgery visit (6/14), I asked about taking a probiotic. I had started taking one in February 10 but stopped a week prior to surgery.
In my case its Align which is in capsule form. I was told OK. Started taking it around the 18th of June and I can say it is working well at helping my digestion both in gas and constipation; both of which are basically gone.
Still have some issues if I eat later at night and don't walk afterwards, but otherwise I notice a big difference.
On my way to the gym for some early morning elliptical and a water aerobics class. Have a wonderful day everybody!
Yesterday my workout buddy, who is following a diet MOST of the time told me she lost 9 lbs in two weeks. (She weighs about 40 lbs less than me and isn't banded). OK, I'm eating 1/2 what she is, working my butt off (I guess not!), and today I put on jeans that are no looser than they were the week before my surgery.
Unhappy describes it. I won't get on the scale anymore because its not moving like I want it to.
I can't even eat this week (ref previous blogs) and I'm still not moving in the right direction. I don't eat outside the program, and probably intake between 800 - 1000 calories most days and up to 1200 max. I work out SEVEN days a week. I am 5 1/2 weeks post surgery and I actually lost more weight the two weeks before surgery than I have since.
I'm missing a piece of this puzzle somewhere. I'm kind of tired of self-talking myself into doing the right things when I'm seeing no results!
FRUSTRATION REIGNS.
Yesterday I made lunch for myself and a couple co-workers. I might not have ate enough as I'm watching the fill and taking it easy. Ate around 11:30 and didn't eat again before going to the gym at 5.
Got on the elliptical and started kicking it up. I am off my bp medications and I can get my heart rate into target with a little effort, so I was working pretty hard. About 30 minutes into a 45 minute workout I got really hot, sweaty and a little dizzy. My stomach was GROWLING. Loud. I stopped, took several sips of water, and kept going.
I got off at 45 and I was downright dizzy. I sat in a chair along the wall for about 20 minutes before I was able to get up and walk to the car. Then I waited about an hour to meet a friend for dinner. Headache, dizzy, not good.
I need to pack more snacks and protein, and try to eat more at a single setting. I'm pretty sure I had a cup of food at lunch, but working out on an empty stomch didn't go well. Iget all my protein in for the day, so I am missing something somewhere.
I was still a little lightheaded this morning, and skipped the gym. Brought some fruit, tuna snacks and deli turkey to work. If I'm going to work out I am going to have to eat more than 1000 calories a day for sure.
If anybody has any suggestions, please let me know. I did not like this feeling.
And the kicker? After the fill Monday and fun Tuesday? I have what feels to be less restriction now (at 5.5ccs) than before the fill (at 4.0 ccs). And next fill can't be until 8/6. Ish.
I knew what to do, I knew how to do it. One day after a great fill knowing what I needed to eat and how. Did I? NO!
I got called into a 7 am meeting last night, and I was prepared. I brought a Slim Fast for an easy breakfast, and put it in the freezer at 7, because my meeting would be over at 8.
At 9:30, STARVING, I called a break even though it wasn't my meeting. I ran over to the other building where I found my shake frozen solid. Reaching into my every-prepared lunch bag for backup, I encountered some deli turkey. I kind of downed it fast. I ran back over to the other building and sat down as the meeting reconvened. TROUBLE.
The deli meat might not have been chewed too well. It stuck right there in my chest and I started to gurgle! My boss was sitting next to me giving me these funny looks. I excused myself and walked around for about five minutes and felt better.
Lesson: the best laid plans......... AND no matter what, don't swallow ANYTHING whole!
I went yesterday afternoon for my first fill. Had a long talk with the doctor as well -- probiotics are good, ready to do lower body weights in two weeks. I'm off blood pressure medication!! Yeah!!!And I've lost 21 lbs since the surgery 5 weeks ago.
The fill itself didn't hurt a bit. She took out 4 (!) ccs and put back in 5.5. Made me sip water and told me to stay on soft foods for about a week.
But NO, I literally forgot on the way home. Had brought a little sandwich with deli turkey and orowheat thins. NOT what to eat! Bread got stuck first bite down and it was a painful three or four minutes until I could exit the freeway and get to a gas station. Gave the bread to the environment, walked around for about 10 minutes and I was fine. She had told me no bread for a week! No more than 15 minutes earlier!
Other than that it was uneventful, although I'm eating slower and definitely getting full faster. I'm sure I didn't eat a cup of ground turkey and ground up carrots for dinner -- about 1/2 was all I could do for now.
We'll see how the week goes. Next fill is scheduled for 8/6. I still need to work on habits like chewing, waiting between bites, and maybe introducing some foods more slowly.
On my way to the gym for a short workout before a long day of meetings. Have a great day everybody!
I need it.
I'm having an issue with eating too often and too much and its affecting weight loss. Not a lot more, but a lot more often most definitely. I think I under-journal as I show about 1000 - 1200 cals/day but I'm eating a lot and I think I'm on the low side of journaling.
I had it in my head I should have lost about 40 lbs in the first month. Ridiculous I know. 10 was just fine.
I do need to drink more water. I get about 50 oz a day and I need to be better about that..........
I work out a lot, and hard, and I'm waiting for those muscles to build up and kick in my metabolism! Since I can't do anything but upper body, I do that three times a week right now and cardio 6 times a week. I added water aerobics on Saturday morning as well.
I feel a lot better. I just want to have to take my clothes to the tailor~!
I'm ready for liquid diet the next couple days. I also have some questions for the doctor during my fill today.
Happy Monday everybody! Have a great day!
I went to bed last night saying those words to myself. I'm not weighing on Saturdays anymore -- if it isn't good I can't stop myself from overeating (yet) and if it is good I can't stop myself from celebrating (yet).
Weekdays are better -- I'm working and farther from food. It doesn't mean I won't eat, just not as much as I did yesterday. And tomorrow is my fill so at the least I'll get some advice and at the best -- some restriction.
I'll muddle through the day -- exercising and maybe getting some soon. I'm watching season 1 of True Blood and I'll get through an episode as I'm on my elliptical this morning.
I ate twice as many calories yesterday as the day before. The big bad one? A bag of Ralph's (Kroger) popcorn. The WHOLE bag.:thumbup:
I'll try to stay away from the kitchen today as much as I can. But its Sunday and my day to do stuff around the house, so I'm pushing myself.
UGGGGGGH. This is no one's fault but mine. No band, weather, scale, doctor, fill, nothing. Weekends will be difficult for me and I need to develop healthier ways to deal with them.
Have a good day everybody!
Saturday mornings are weigh in at Weight Watchers. I follow the plan religiously and work out hard 6 days a week. I expect losses in the 2-3 lbs range each week.
Nope. .4 lbs. 4/10th of a pound? I shudder to think what would have happened if I didn't sweat my ass off one day or ate two pretzels!!!
I'm going to have my first fill Monday. I'm calling Monday morning to see if I can get in with the nutritionist and print out my logs from daily.plate and have her take a look. Maybe not enough food = really really slow metabolism/starvation mode??? Maybe too much protein? Who knows but I'll look to people who have been there or are the doctor's staff for support at this point.
My first instinct after leaving WW was to go home and eat something like fries and skip the gym -- water aerobics and some cardio. I'm gonna try instead to stay really busy this weekend, eat well and be smart about it.
:smile:
Even though she is not on the site, I want to thank my co-worker and friend Jodi, who is beside me all the way, since I made the decision to get a band back in January 2010. She changed her eating habits, encouraged me to join a gym, and now we work out together every morning before work. She is nothing short of encouraging and supportive and I would not be in the place I am now if it weren't for her. She lives close to the gym (and work) and makes me breakfast every day! I thank God for her and her support.
Fridays are always pretty laid back at work; and everyone is looking forward to a beautiful weekend. Its a blood drive today, but I can't give blood because I had surgery 4 weeks ago and they won't take me. Next time!
Monday is first fill day. The weekend will be full of cleaning, errands, church and working out. My goal is to not overeat this weekend compared to weekdays.
Happy Friday everyone! I hope your day goes (or went) well!
