mrscastillo

i gained weight 4lbs since moving to soft foods.... I know I've been eating crap.... I'm basically eating protein and starches....
 
I need help with this.... I need to get back on track but I never know what to eat :/ I need a set meal plan! Can anyone help?

Spanx -
This all started when I decided to put a dumb joke on a forum post. The question was a serious one, about when you could start wearing Spanz again after surgery. So I added a version of the age old joke, and it was well received:
 
A guy is undressing at the country club and his friend notices he is wering a pink girdle. He asks when his friend stated wearing a girdle. His friend replied, "Ever since my wife found it in my car."
 
And since I now have a good bit of extra skin around the old equator, I thought, maybe I should see if there is something like that for me. Well, it turns out that there is and soooo much more.
 
I do not see myself as the kind of guy that needs or would wear a pair of briefs with butt enhancers, but it is good to know that if I need them, they are out there - in three color options and an entire array of various lifts. I guess I am lucky in that my butt looks pretty much like it should (I guess). So I do not see this as a necessary accessory. I do think it is funny that you can get different lifts, like determining how high you want to jack up the rear end of your car.
 
If you do not know, Spanx actually has a brand for men called "Manx." It is very expensive. A "compression T-shirt" is 88 bucks. Seems a bit high since it is still 80% cotton. The other 20 percent must be stainless steel if it is going to hold me in...
 
Now about the briefs. There is way too much enhancement going on. Not to be rude, and I understand that men come in all sizes and that goes for each and every part. Again I guess I am lucky there as well. But unlike other things I do not need, I do not see the point of these. This is one area that it seems like if your plans are successful, your secret is going to be out.
 
Finally, what is with the models? The people that are wearing these things do not need them. I get it. You have to sell sexy. But a guy buying a pair of underwear designed to squeeze in his gut like a boa constrictor does not want to see a 30" waisted model wearing it. I need to see if it works. I want to see a big guy in it. I do not need to see smooth tanned sexy abs rippling through the spandex like ... (sorry got carried away there). Give me a good trucker, or a lumberjack, not a super model. With a shaved chest no less... I have chest hair, but I do not shave them - either of them!! Granted, on the man's thong page (which I was only visiting for academic reasons) the super models are nice, but for the shapers ... we need more offensive linemen and less tight ends. (pun intended)
 
Finally, I will admit that you ladies are awesome for wearing some of these things. They look very constricting. And some go from your ankles to your neck line. If I did that I would either have size 25 feet or have 25 chins looking like a badly folded cheap pink turtleneck. You can only squeeze so much, it has to go somewhere. You gals can let it all move upward and enhance the bustline. We do not have that option. Maybe they could squeeze it down far enough and around the corner and make a combination waist reducer and butt enhancer.
 
So I guess I just need to order one and see how it looks. Who knows? Maybe it will take the giggle out of my middle, until I get it down to where I want it to be.

I havent been on here in a few days and since then ive been wondering....
 
WHY DO I HAVE TO BE ON LIQUIDS FOR FOURTEEN FREAKING DAYS!!!!!!
 
okay but seriously i am so tired of water, powerade and tomato soup.... nothing else tastes good and now now I'm getting tired of the only things that tastes good -__- i move to soft foods on tuesday/wednesday and it cant come fast enough

I havent been on here in a few days and since then ive been wondering....
 
WHY DO I HAVE TO BE ON LIQUIDS FOR FOURTEEN FREAKING DAYS!!!!!!
 
okay but seriously i am so tired of water, powerade and tomato soup.... nothing else tastes good and now now I'm getting tired of the only things that tastes good -__- i move to soft foods on tuesday/wednesday and it cant come fast enough

I am 8 days into the liquid diet and super surprised I have not cheated, I am so proud of myself. I am really thankful I have supportive friends and family that have encouraged me to keep going. The worst was day 6, I was extremely nauseated and had a horrible headache. However, on day six I left work early and went home and watched Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended version of course!). I had wanted to have crackers in my soup but it is not allowed. I started viewing those crackers as the ONE ring and I wasn't going to cave, but boy did I want to but. Those crackers stayed in the cabinet or going back into Mordor as I thought of it. I did better than Frodo in the end thank goodness. (refering to the end of the trilogy)
So on day 8, I am pulling a Finding Nemo and I am just going to keep on swimming, the only trouble I have now is actually wanting to do the protein shakes and soups, I just take a few sips and I am done, I just can't bare another. All I want is water with and without crystal light and kind of gross but it's what I want Klaussan's pickle juice. I did get one shake down and a yogurt in so that is good. I highly recommend dannon's oikos greek yogurt 12-15g of protein and very satisfying. The hardest part is the lack of variety especially when I don't like to have all the sweet tasting stuff, but only a couple more days at this point I am in it to win.
God Bless everyone on your journey!

My sister stopped by yesterday, and walks in the door and says OMG!! I can tell in your face already..... She makes me go in the bathroom in front of the mirror and we stood there and she told me to lower my face so you can see how many double chins we had. I noticed!!!!!! it was not there compared to the way I used to have BIG double chin. So then She started looking me over and said let me see your stomach so I showed her........ she said YEP I can tell your tummy is not out as far. Well I am down from my highest weight of 263 to 242... 21lbs down!!!!!!!!!! and then we measured my waist down 2 inches!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!
 
She started saying OMG ( yes one of our favorite words to each other)" now I have to really start working on myself!" She has gained weight over the years but still not as heavy as I got, she is about 180 something. So she is doing the protein drinks for 2 meals and then salads, chicken, shirmp, and different low cal. meals. So because of my surgery my sister might get healthy also.
 
Another side note, my boyfriend has been eating healthier he is down 15lbs by eating healthier which will help me in the long run. Been working at this since May!
 
My mom is coming over today to do our toe nails, I bought some fun colors!! Should be a good day!
 
Friday is my Dr. follow up appointment, I shall see how far my new scales are off from the Dr.'s scales!!! I do not look forward to the drive about 2 hours up, 2 hour appointment, and 2 hours back. So for a long day tomorrow!!

Today marks the one week mark since surgery. I am almost still in shock that the day has came and went. If not for my limited intake and the incisions on my belly and oh the weight loss (lol) I would not believe the surgery had taken place...Other than my own self induce discomfort, I have had no pain..My steri strips are beginning to come off now. The top incision just underneath my breast came off completly and the lowers ones are all peeling at some level. I am really surprised how tiny the incisions are and how unnoticeable they will be with a lil scar treatment.
 
I overdid it a bit today shopping and running errands so my belly was a little tender from twisting, turning and bending. I took a pain pill and it has settled down. Yesterday, was my first day back at work and it went pretty well. I was able to get in the most fluids since the day of surgery. I had a couple of times where I rushed the next sip so there was some momentarily discomfort but really all in all the fluids went down well. I did work to get in 36 grams of protein as well...Need to increase that a bit more but overall I am feeling better about my ability to get my fluids in. I did notice today that I have yucky yellow-whitish tongue. After panicking for half a second, I realize that I both need to continue to push my fluids as I had did the today and yesterday as I was likely dehydrated and that I had also entered ketosis. Ketosis, is really a fancy word that means because my body starved of carbohydrates, it is using my stored fat for energy...Not a bad state to be in...I got a bit of energy reserve to spare...lol...
 
I begin full liquids on Sunday...So I will have a better chance at getting all my protein in. And speaking of protein I highly recommend Unjury protein products. They are absolutely the best unflavored ones and so are considered clear and can be used during the clear liquid phase. I made my drinks with skim milk to give it an additional 8g of protein and a lil sugar free caramel syrup and it was super good. I am looking forward to having pudding and some cream soups...add a lil variety to my diet.
 
And for the numbers
Surgery Date 08/17/12
Height 5'8
HW 232
SW 227
CW 218 (Down 14lbs total)

hey all!!!
 
Day 3 post op.... FeelI better than yesterday.... Still haven't taken any of my pain meds... Woohoo go me
 
I got 2oz of tomato chicken broth down.... Still working on the other 2oz while I'm watching Hell's Kitchen! Some of these people on this show are....very interesting hahaha!!!!!
 
I've almosted finished my 20oz bottle of powerade zero.....starting on my 16oz of water.... I still can't seem to stay awake all day, which is screwing up my night sleep schedule.... I called my doctors office to set up my one week appointment for Tuesday.....
 
I'm not going to lie.... I used to hate stepping on the scale..... Now, every time I go pee (TMI) I step on the scale! I love seeing my weight fall off!!!!!
 
241 before surgery
223 today!!!

Today's the day! Surgery in 4 hours!!! I decided to continue my journey with the sleeve.... Insurance is still giving me an issue but my doctor says don't worry about it! I love y surgeon!
 
wish me luck, say your prayers

Today's the day! Surgery in 4 hours!!! I decided to continue my journey with the sleeve.... Insurance is still giving me an issue but my doctor says don't worry about it! I love y surgeon!
 
wish me luck, say your prayers

Today's the day! Surgery in 4 hours!!! I decided to continue my journey with the sleeve.... Insurance is still giving me an issue but my doctor says don't worry about it! I love y surgeon!
 
wish me luck, say your prayers

Today's the day! Surgery in 4 hours!!! I decided to continue my journey with the sleeve.... Insurance is still giving me an issue but my doctor says don't worry about it! I love y surgeon!
 
wish me luck, say your prayers

Today's the day! Surgery in 4 hours!!! I decided to continue my journey with the sleeve.... Insurance is still giving me an issue but my doctor says don't worry about it! I love y surgeon!
 
wish me luck, say your prayers

so now is the real test. can i really stop drinking liquids before and after meals? will i be able to cut out my favorite carbs? can i do a liquid diet for two weeks at a time? i don't know! and now i get feedback from loved ones that say "dont do it!" "are you sure about this? you know how WE eat?" i've been known to be a 'quitter' in my own right. i am guilty of this from time to time. but i do understand the severity of what i am doing. i know the consequences of my actions from here on out.
 
i dont want to fail at this and somehow gain my weight back. i have not heard stories of that yet, is it because it's too new of a surgery? i know in my nutritional classes most of the people getting a lap band or sleeve were there for revisions of a surgery gone bad (not the surgery but ther person gained the weight back). i dont want that to happene to me. i'm scared of that!
 
this is all new for me, in my head i want a healthly lifestyle. i want to be healthy. i want to success with thsi surgery. i knwo it is only aa tool to use to help me, i cant expect to do nothing! i have to do the two things that i could never do on my own: EXERCISE AND EAT RIGHT!!
 
can i do this? YES I can. i believe in visualization. i see myself thin and happy and enjoying life as it should be. not to be confined by my body image and the restraints of being morbidly obese.

my doctor told me I needed to be on a 1200 calorie diet.... So far, so good. I've lost 8lbs!
 
today for lunch I decided to make a turkey wrap..... So last night I went to the grocery store, bought my ingredients and made my hubby and myself some lunch....
 
374 calories later, we are enjoying the healthiest most delicious turkey lunch wrap on the planet LOL
 
Low carb smart & delicious tortillas= 80 calories (regular tortillas are as much as 150 calories!!!)
Buddig turkey deli slices (90 calorie package, divided into one wrap for each of us= 45 calories)
1 small haas avocado (224 calories, 1/2 each= 112 calories)
1/2 tomato, cut into slices = 16 calories
Classic ranch dressing (ONLY 1tbsp!) = 50 calories
Lucerne Mexican four cheese blend (1/4 cup) = 55 calories
Iceberg salad, lettuce = 10 calories. <---- AWESOME!!!!!
Raw lemon juice 0.5fl oz = 4 calories
 
Total calories = 374
 
first I heated up my tortilla for 10 seconds....cold tortillas are gross lol
Second, I mixed 1/2 avocado with 1tbsp ranch and 0.5fl oz lemon juice.
Next, I layered. Tortilla, avocado-ranch mix, turkey slices, lettuce, tomato, cheese and wrap it like a burrito and cut it in half.
 
Finally, enjoy
 
Hope you liked it as much as I did
 

i wish yesterday was my last day of work.... Those people are stressing me out!
 
A coworker of mine yesterday asked me when surgery was (I've only told them I need to get my lapband corrected....they don't know I'm getting the sleeve!) so I told her it was next Tuesday.... In a rude attitude, her response was "so your getting the lapband removed right? Because I don't see why you can't lose the weight with just diet and exercise!"
 
breathe Tiffany........breathe........wooosah!!!!! Woooosah!!!!!
 
this coworker of mine literally weighs 93lbs, has never had an eating problem in her life.... She's just this cute, tiny little Asian woman, about 35-40 years old.......and she's got the nerve to tell someone 3x's her size that 'diet and exercise' a going to fix me????!!!!! Oh hell no! I was so upset at that point.... I honestly didn't know how to respond to that. I just simply and softly responded with "I'm sure you have no clue what it's like to be this big and this disgusted in yourself. I'm glad diet and exercise work for you, but this is my body and my choice"
 
the look on her face was pure stunned..... I'm pretty sure no one has ever responded to her rudeness like that before....
 
 
I'm so tired of people telling me what I should and should not do with this body of mine.... "god gave you this body" yes....he did..... And unfortunately, I ruined it and I'm trying to get it back.....so shove off!
 
 
lord grant me the strength to continue to deal with these haters.... Help me see that they motivating me to work harder at the body I want!
 
anyone else have these issues with friends/family/coworkers who don't know what it's like being like us?
how did you deal with it?

so I've been reading this book called the everything post weight loss surgery cookbook. It's got everything from before surgery to surgery diet foods to 'Ive hit a plateau, now what?'
 
I'm so ready for surgery.... I feel so prepared..... I know it's going to be a swift kick in my behind once I get out of surgery when I realize I wasn't ready but until then I'm just going to go with I'm ready for this
 
purchased all my sugar free jello, crystal lights and waters....I got sodium free broths just in case.... Protein packets will be purchased Friday, liquid vitamins will be purchased as soon as the doctor tells me what I need.....
 
But I feel like something's missing????

i wish yesterday was my last day of work.... Those people are stressing me out!
 
A coworker of mine yesterday asked me when surgery was (I've only told them I need to get my lapband corrected....they don't know I'm getting the sleeve!) so I told her it was next Tuesday.... In a rude attitude, her response was "so your getting the lapband removed right? Because I don't see why you can't lose the weight with just diet and exercise!"
 
breathe Tiffany........breathe........wooosah!!!!! Woooosah!!!!!
 
this coworker of mine literally weighs 93lbs, has never had an eating problem in her life.... She's just this cute, tiny little Asian woman, about 35-40 years old.......and she's got the nerve to tell someone 3x's her size that 'diet and exercise' a going to fix me????!!!!! Oh hell no! I was so upset at that point.... I honestly didn't know how to respond to that. I just simply and softly responded with "I'm sure you have no clue what it's like to be this big and this disgusted in yourself. I'm glad diet and exercise work for you, but this is my body and my choice"
 
the look on her face was pure stunned..... I'm pretty sure no one has ever responded to her rudeness like that before....
 
 
I'm so tired of people telling me what I should and should not do with this body of mine.... "god gave you this body" yes....he did..... And unfortunately, I ruined it and I'm trying to get it back.....so shove off!
 
 
lord grant me the strength to continue to deal with these haters.... Help me see that they motivating me to work harder at the body I want!
 
anyone else have these issues with friends/family/coworkers who don't know what it's like being like us?
how did you deal with it?

i wish yesterday was my last day of work.... Those people are stressing me out!
 
A coworker of mine yesterday asked me when surgery was (I've only told them I need to get my lapband corrected....they don't know I'm getting the sleeve!) so I told her it was next Tuesday.... In a rude attitude, her response was "so your getting the lapband removed right? Because I don't see why you can't lose the weight with just diet and exercise!"
 
breathe Tiffany........breathe........wooosah!!!!! Woooosah!!!!!
 
this coworker of mine literally weighs 93lbs, has never had an eating problem in her life.... She's just this cute, tiny little Asian woman, about 35-40 years old.......and she's got the nerve to tell someone 3x's her size that 'diet and exercise' a going to fix me????!!!!! Oh hell no! I was so upset at that point.... I honestly didn't know how to respond to that. I just simply and softly responded with "I'm sure you have no clue what it's like to be this big and this disgusted in yourself. I'm glad diet and exercise work for you, but this is my body and my choice"
 
the look on her face was pure stunned..... I'm pretty sure no one has ever responded to her rudeness like that before....
 
 
I'm so tired of people telling me what I should and should not do with this body of mine.... "god gave you this body" yes....he did..... And unfortunately, I ruined it and I'm trying to get it back.....so shove off!
 
 
lord grant me the strength to continue to deal with these haters.... Help me see that they motivating me to work harder at the body I want!
 
anyone else have these issues with friends/family/coworkers who don't know what it's like being like us?
how did you deal with it?

i wish yesterday was my last day of work.... Those people are stressing me out!
 
A coworker of mine yesterday asked me when surgery was (I've only told them I need to get my lapband corrected....they don't know I'm getting the sleeve!) so I told her it was next Tuesday.... In a rude attitude, her response was "so your getting the lapband removed right? Because I don't see why you can't lose the weight with just diet and exercise!"
 
breathe Tiffany........breathe........wooosah!!!!! Woooosah!!!!!
 
this coworker of mine literally weighs 93lbs, has never had an eating problem in her life.... She's just this cute, tiny little Asian woman, about 35-40 years old.......and she's got the nerve to tell someone 3x's her size that 'diet and exercise' a going to fix me????!!!!! Oh hell no! I was so upset at that point.... I honestly didn't know how to respond to that. I just simply and softly responded with "I'm sure you have no clue what it's like to be this big and this disgusted in yourself. I'm glad diet and exercise work for you, but this is my body and my choice"
 
the look on her face was pure stunned..... I'm pretty sure no one has ever responded to her rudeness like that before....
 
 
I'm so tired of people telling me what I should and should not do with this body of mine.... "god gave you this body" yes....he did..... And unfortunately, I ruined it and I'm trying to get it back.....so shove off!
 
 
lord grant me the strength to continue to deal with these haters.... Help me see that they motivating me to work harder at the body I want!
 
anyone else have these issues with friends/family/coworkers who don't know what it's like being like us?
how did you deal with it?

i wish yesterday was my last day of work.... Those people are stressing me out!
 
A coworker of mine yesterday asked me when surgery was (I've only told them I need to get my lapband corrected....they don't know I'm getting the sleeve!) so I told her it was next Tuesday.... In a rude attitude, her response was "so your getting the lapband removed right? Because I don't see why you can't lose the weight with just diet and exercise!"
 
breathe Tiffany........breathe........wooosah!!!!! Woooosah!!!!!
 
this coworker of mine literally weighs 93lbs, has never had an eating problem in her life.... She's just this cute, tiny little Asian woman, about 35-40 years old.......and she's got the nerve to tell someone 3x's her size that 'diet and exercise' a going to fix me????!!!!! Oh hell no! I was so upset at that point.... I honestly didn't know how to respond to that. I just simply and softly responded with "I'm sure you have no clue what it's like to be this big and this disgusted in yourself. I'm glad diet and exercise work for you, but this is my body and my choice"
 
the look on her face was pure stunned..... I'm pretty sure no one has ever responded to her rudeness like that before....
 
 
I'm so tired of people telling me what I should and should not do with this body of mine.... "god gave you this body" yes....he did..... And unfortunately, I ruined it and I'm trying to get it back.....so shove off!
 
 
lord grant me the strength to continue to deal with these haters.... Help me see that they motivating me to work harder at the body I want!
 
anyone else have these issues with friends/family/coworkers who don't know what it's like being like us?
how did you deal with it?

i wish yesterday was my last day of work.... Those people are stressing me out!
 
A coworker of mine yesterday asked me when surgery was (I've only told them I need to get my lapband corrected....they don't know I'm getting the sleeve!) so I told her it was next Tuesday.... In a rude attitude, her response was "so your getting the lapband removed right? Because I don't see why you can't lose the weight with just diet and exercise!"
 
breathe Tiffany........breathe........wooosah!!!!! Woooosah!!!!!
 
this coworker of mine literally weighs 93lbs, has never had an eating problem in her life.... She's just this cute, tiny little Asian woman, about 35-40 years old.......and she's got the nerve to tell someone 3x's her size that 'diet and exercise' a going to fix me????!!!!! Oh hell no! I was so upset at that point.... I honestly didn't know how to respond to that. I just simply and softly responded with "I'm sure you have no clue what it's like to be this big and this disgusted in yourself. I'm glad diet and exercise work for you, but this is my body and my choice"
 
the look on her face was pure stunned..... I'm pretty sure no one has ever responded to her rudeness like that before....
 
 
I'm so tired of people telling me what I should and should not do with this body of mine.... "god gave you this body" yes....he did..... And unfortunately, I ruined it and I'm trying to get it back.....so shove off!
 
 
lord grant me the strength to continue to deal with these haters.... Help me see that they motivating me to work harder at the body I want!
 
anyone else have these issues with friends/family/coworkers who don't know what it's like being like us?
how did you deal with it?

Ok so I've posted on the past and the fun stuff, now time for a current update.
 
I'm 20 months post-op. I've been stalled at my weight for probably 4 to 5 months. Sucks I know, but I have no one to blame but me. Bottom line I got lazy and some bad habits came creeping back in. I haven't gained which makes me so happy, but I haven't lost either .
 
So what are these bad habits you ask....
 
Not eating enough protein, eating unhealthy foods, drinking while eating, not drinking enough water, not exercising regularly, and not sleeping enough.
 
So to be fair to myself I have a crazy schedule. I work full time and go to school full time. I don't have children, but I am the one that cleans and cooks and keeps our house in order. My husband isn't lazy I just have OCD when it comes to cleaning and he can't cook to save his life. Still that is no excuse to eat crappy, skip the protein, and not exercise. I should be able to work all that in. I just let myself be lazy.
 
So now I am correcting all of that. We I've been increasing my water intake and setting alarms for when I can drink after I eat and working out. That's been for the past couple of weeks. I caught myself the other day sipping while eating and someone shared the applesauce video with me. I haven't done that since lol.
 
I have this great fear that I will stretch out my stomach, so I constantly test myself with water. I can hold 6 oz of water. My dr says that is perfect and exactly where I should be. So I haven't stretched it. Whew!
 
I haven't gone up in inches either or clothing size. I've maintained it even through my laziness. The biggest change has been my hair.
 
Yes, my hair started falling out after surgery and yes, it has all grown back. Only now....it's textured (technical term from my stylist). Meaning somewhere between straight and curly. Just enough that if I brush it with a brush it frizzes. It's annoying to have to figure out how to take care of my hair now that it's different. Lots of trial and error.
 
Also, I hit that magic 18 month time for when I can start adding to our family. My surgeon gave me a go and my other Dr is happy with my weight and my blood work. So the good old fashioned way of having kids didn't work. That was step one. Now we are on step two, Clomid round one. Hopefully soon I'll have updates of future sleepless nights, but for now I have no such thing. I'm just happy that I can try.
 
Lesson's I have learned:

It's a journey that is long and slow.
 
Take it one step at a time.
 
Don't get discouraged and don't give up.

I didn't become fat overnight and I won't become a size 2 overnight. :wub:

Have you decided what you plan to do once you hit your goal in 2013? After getting surgery in 2012? Well I hope we all can get together and take a trip or cruise or for some both. I have talked to many people and we are all on the same page. We are getting together to plan a trip and I would love to get as many sleevers as possible to go. We are going to the Bahamas on a cruise in April and a trip to Las Vegas in November.You will find more information on the site we created for the reunion.
 
If your are interested please RSVP https://sites.google.com/site/weightlossreunion/weight-loss-reunion-sign-up
 
If you are on any other forums please repost the link we are inviting any and all gastric surgery patients in 2012 to have fun and show off their new bodies in 2013.Sorry all I am normally on Gastricsleeve.com and posting, blogging, etc.

NOTE: As always, this is a funny look at the things that have happened/are happening as I continue on my weight loss journey. I in NO way plan to replace food with alcohol or need to be told how bad I am for drinking one night with a friend (mind you it's a friend I haven't seen in 15 years). Please don't feel the need to lecture me or get passive aggressive with your comments. As my regular readers know, I am just giving a comedic side to WLS. Also, remember that everyone's journey is different and just becasue I may or may not be doing it the same way you are, does not mean that I am better or worse than anyone else. Ok, I think I covered it all. As always, enjoy and I hope the story puts a smile on your face.
 
 
Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged but I've been one little busy beaver. I had my friend and her family in from Costa Rica, then my friend from Ireland came in for two weeks (she is still here), and while she was here, my brother-in-law and niece came for a two night visit. Needless to say, I've been the hostess with the mostest. I've really missed doing my blogs. They seem to keep me focused and help me put things in perspective. I've also not had time to do myfitnesspal.com. So, for about a week and a half, I haven't written any of my food intake down. That just makes me feel like I've been a bad, bad girl....and not in a kinky good way. (sorry, those hormones are still pouring out of the fat cells LOL)
 
Anyway, I have so many stories for you all. I wish I could just sit down and type them all for you but I can't so today I am going to let you know about my first drinking experience since the sleeve and the interesting things I've learned from that experience. I hope I can give you a good idea of how the night went as I am not sure if I remember it all....but more on that later.
 
First, you have to understand how I met my Irish friend Cat. 15 years ago, I worked and lived at the beach. Cat worked at the same place and even though she didn't live with me, I swear there were times I thought she did. We were 21/22 and we were having fun. We worked hard and played harder. We spent many nights at a bar across the street from my house and only a 1/2 block away from work. I somehow was able to keep up with all the Irish kids that were in town for the summer. I could go one for one with them with any drink (except Guinness. That stuff is REALLY thick). I was even told I had become an honorary Irish lassie ( I even learned most of the Irish pub songs that they sang). I tell you all this to explain that after 15 years, loosing more than 1/2 my stomach, and a lot of weight I for some reason thought I could still drink like a fish. Never mind the fact that I haven't drank in almost a year (except for an occasional glass of wine or a night cap).
 
So, we go into a local bar and order two drinks. I got a L.I.T (long island iced tea) as I have always enjoyed them when they are done well. As I drank my drink and did some catching up with my friend, I could feel the effects of the liquor seeping into my blood. I won't lie, I enjoyed it. Paying less to feel this way was great (before anyone freaks, I don't plan to go out drinking on a regular basis......BUT....it was nice to go out and spend less money and get tipsy). This is about the time I knew the night was getting ready to change. The bartender (a little bored) asked if we wanted shots. "Are you buying them for us?" I asked. Of course he wasn't but after talking it over with Cat, we decided, "Hey, why not"? Now as I explained already, I haven't seen Cat for a long time and we needed to go on "a tear". Patron it was. Lick. Slam. Suck. OHHHHH how smooth. Now, from that moment on, the night began to just blend together. I know I played pool...and lost. (wonder why!!!) The drinks went down easier than I ever remember them going down and I have to admit, I was enjoying myself. Through it all, I never felt “drunk”. I mostly felt tipsy and then I would feel mostly sober....then tipsy again...and so on and so forth. I never thought anything about it as I was having fun and enjoying being out and about...the alcohol was just an added positive.
 
Then, we decided to go to another bar only a block or two away. Now, you have to understand that drinking and feeling tipsy was a whole new experience to me. I would go from being (or should I say feeling) sober then in just a few moments, I would be “footloose and fancy free”. The back and forth wold happen so fast, it wouldn't make any sense but to be honest, I wasn’t trying to make sense out it as I really didn’t care.. So, when we left to go to the other bar, I REALLY thought I was sober...that is until the curb jumped up and tripped me. I know it grew at least a foot with out telling me. There is no way a sober gal, like myself, could have missed that curb. Then, as always, I did my thing. I fell. I fell hard...and I fell fast. My knee was the only thing between my face and the pavement and because of that it was all scrapped up. Even my hands had stones imbedded in them, and I am sure I messed up my back just a little more than it was. It was such a hard fall that even the person driving passed stopped to make sure I was alright. Poor Cat, was so concerned, and all I could say was, "Really, I had to fall TONIGHT?" LOL...then it happened. I felt DRUNK. I collected myself, raised myself up from the ground, dusted off my knees and hands and tried to focus on the person only a foot away from me. Needless to say, it took awhile to focus....mostly because my glasses went flying off my face were now in Cat’s hands. Not seeing well is only intensified when your half blind. LOL
 
Once I put on my glasses, Cat and I began the walk (she walked I stumbled) to the other bar. Then it hit me when we were almost there. I was sober. It was like I hadn’t had a drink at all. How was this even possible? So, I did what any sober person of sound mind and body would do....I ordered a drink. LOL As I was sipping on my drink, we decided to get something to eat. I also figured that maybe getting a little food in my tiny stomach may help....it didn’t. I still went back and forth from sober and drunk but now it was happening faster than I can even begin to describe.
 
After finishing up there, it was time to get home. Yes, we were safe about it and no, we didn't just wait for me to "feel sober".. I thought my husband would find my stories funny...and he did when I told them to him sober. But BAM, next thing you know I’m drunk again. This of course caused an argument. Now, I should be more honest. My lack of knowing when to just keep my mouth shut and go to bed is what caused the argument....nothing else. But for some reason I felt it would be a great idea to go for a walk. So I walked out the door and made it down three steps and then THUMP....yes, that’s right, I fell down the steps. I figured this would be a good time to go back inside with my head down and my tail between my legs. Once I did that and listened to my husband give me a very short lecture, I took my Tylenol and went to bed. When I awoke the next morning, I remembered why it was that I no longer drink like I am still in college and then I then looked at my knee. I should say I felt my knee...then I looked at it. Yep, it was bad. It was all scrapped up and swollen. It was so stiff that I was unable to walk down the steps of my condo to get to the pool. I felt like a total gimp having to take the elevator because I was sloppy drunk...or should I say a sloppy sober one minute, drunk the other person? Anyway, .I did get the to pool and worked it out. I had to as the day after my Irish drinking reunion, I had my 20th H.S. reunion (more on that tomorrow) and I figured I would have to be able to walk that night for it. It worked. I got my knee working (and ended up hurting my shin...not sure how), and I was ready to face all the people from H.S....or at least as ready as I'd ever be. Funny thing is, I was more upset to realize that I was no longer Irish!!! Apparently when they took my stomach, the doctors also took my Irish drinking crown as well. Needless to say, lesson learned. Funny thing is, I am sure it won’t be the first or the last lesson I learn after having this surgery....I mean it’s only been three months. But to be honest, this lesson was a fun one to learn...up to the point I fell down...no, that didn't damper the mood.....it was fun until I woke up the next day hung over. LOL