Joy Graz

Well, it's been a week and my life is already different ... in a good way that is My husband and I took a ride in our new car since it hit finally hit 75!! What a beautiful day. We even went to a pizzeria and I had broth with a smile, didn't even crave the pizza!! I decided that I need to go about my life as if I would normally or else I may fall into a rut. We have lots coming up soon with family and friends and I will be @ all Have a great night everyone!! Getting ready to have some broth while the family has greek chicken for dinner.

I can't believe it's been a month already!! Life is so much like normal now. I can eat out, go to parties with no issues, etc. I am down 29 pounds and feel great. I went to a communion yesterday and was able to find enough friendly protein to eat. I think the hardest part this week has been to eat enough! My calorie intake is not high enough so I have hit a plateau. I ate some shredded cheese in between lunch and dinner today, let's see how that works. It's very hard to make yourself eat when you really don't want it .... I guess that's always been my issue though. Does anyone have any snack ideas?

If you asked me this morning I would say there was no way I could handle this. However, I feel so much better this evening! Yay me!! I showered, which I think was the best part of the day's progress!! LOL. The gas is slowly but surely getting better. I ate some protein, definitely need to get much more in tomorrow. I kept my water up pretty well, got in about 45 ounces, I know I need to get more in but it's only been 3 days. Tomorrow I plan on trying some decaf tea. Then Sunday I plan on trying some skim milk. I figure as long as I give myself a goal a day I can get through this. I go to the Dr on the 19th and that is when I can start soft foods again, that should be a whole new world but until then I plan on a new liquid a day to mix it all up a bit I hope this is what I should be doing. I walked around alot today and that definitely helped! The fact that it was warmer out today was nice. I hope to sleep well tonight with all the fresh air and walking I did today. I can't believe how much I am looking forward to drinking tea tomorrow! LOL. The little things in life, as they say! I hope everyone is well tonight!

I've been horrible about blogging-- can I say that first? When I started this process I thought there would be nothing I'd rather do than write about my experiences before and after weight loss surgery. Well, I still would LIKE to, but life and all of its obligations have continued, so forgive.
But I had to write today. Today, I got under 200 pounds for the first time in. . . I don't know. . . 14 years? That's before I started teaching.
I can't believe how amazing I feel. I've lost 63.4 pounds total, putting me at 196.6 this morning. (I always record my official weight on Fridays.) I knew that I was right about there, but actually having that number pop up on my weigh in this morning was amazing. (My surgery was 12/11/12, btw.)
 
Let's see. . . what else. Protein bars are my friend, eggs are not. Which is too bad because I used to love eggs. I'm averaging about 3 pounds of weight loss a week, and I'm working on my running. Last night I ran the most I EVER have, going about a mile and a half in 20 minutes of continuous jogging. I'm not very fast, but I'm getting stronger. The biggest challenge I've had on that front is that I'm having trouble switching my runs to the outdoors. I'm not as successful, but I'm trying to stay positive. I have a 5k scheduled on 4/20. I don't know if I will run the whole thing, but I should be able to do most of it, hopefully. I just hope my knees cooperate.
 
So that's where I am! What a wonderful day, and I'm looking forward to blowing all kinds of goals right out of the water! My next goal is to get into the 170s by the end of May for my son's graduation. Piece o' cake!

Today was my 3 week post op appointment. I am doing incredibily well, all incisions are healing nicely, no side effects, no problems. I can drink all the liquid I need to, and am getting all my protein. I have been cleared to slowly and carefully start adding in other foods. And best of all I have lost 19 lbs since surgery and 43 total since I started the pre-op diet. 43!!! That is only 7 lbs less than I lost the entire 2 years I had the lap band.
 
For anyone who is trying to decide between the lap band and the sleeve, or anyone considering converting from the lap band to the sleeve. I cannot say strongly enough...Go For The Sleeve!!! The difference is night and day. With the band I could eat very little, but I was always hungry (still had my whole stomach) with the sleeve, I can eat very little and I can honestly say I am full. For example at lunch today I had 4 oz of cottage cheese and 2 oz of imitation crab, and I couldn't finish it. Not only oould I physically not finish it, but I was honestly full! Whoot Whoot!!! Before the sleeve, I told my husband I never felt full until I was stuffed (which might explain my obesity
 
I am so glad I did this!!! My husband says I'm melting before his eyes!
 
 
Heaviest Weight: 281
3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24)
3/13/13: 251 (-6)
3/20/13: 245 (-6)
3/28/13: 238 (-7)