Kookichu

The beautiful life is back on track! I am down to 232lbs which is 102lbs since my first WLS consult in July 2013. I have mentioned that I am often cold but have noticed that when I am REALLY cold, I am losing weight. I lost at least 2lbs yesterday alone...some weeks, nothing. It appears I am over the antidepressant hump. The only prescribed medicine I take now is synthroid and prilosec. This pleases me. Gone is metformin, gabapentin, celexa!! As a long time sufferer of depression and anxiety, I must be cautious when depression rears its ugly head. But hopefully, when it does I am in a place where I can deal with life's punches without big pharma. I trudged through last week. Size 22 jeans are becoming very roomy. This weekend I plan to invest in a couple pair of size 20s. Today I just am full of gratitude and feeling stalwart. Ain't life so sweet!?!

Before my update, I have to chuckle at the advertisement I just saw here 'Cannabis Pocket Guide $2.99' ...rock on! It's been a very rough week. For one, I am working through a painful kidney stone that is being stubborn. Secondly, I thought it was time to ween myself off of my anti-depressant...perhaps I was wrong OR having this kidney stone and missing work because of it is getting me a down. I weighed in today at 238 which was a welcome sight for alleviating duldrums. Last week was a great food, protein, and activity week. This week not so much. I am trying to drink as much water and diet cranberry juice as I can and my appetite is non existent. My activity has been schmoozing with the heating pat, laying on my right side and watching Roseanne on dvd...who wouldn't be down over that, right? That used to be the norm pre surgery but, these days, it's hard to keep me still. I am winning but the kidney stone is in the lead this week. If only I had some cannabis! ...I don't need the pocket guide.

Finally getting the hang of eating. small desert plate. slice of garden tomato and hungarian wax pepper (farmer's market), several cubes of pepper jack, 2 heaping tablespoons of chicken salad and 1/4 whole grain english muffin....and there are leftovers for a snack at work tonight. down to 242lbs. Life is good. [ATTACH]43655[/ATTACH]

And I lol'd at the heathen part...you, too, have a way with words. Freebird(s).

Tgarden, you have the right outlook. I don't know how I felt so good post surgery, really. For one, the surgery was over...a lot of work, misery, and preparation seen to fruition. Secondly, remember I live alone so I had no one to "need" me other than my two fur babies. With the demands of family, I can see where recovering could be more difficult. I know I said it before, but just take things as slow and easy as you can. Time will start to work in your favor!

245! I had my 3 month post-op appointment with my surgeon and all was well. My blood pressure was 110/72 which is down from the 140s/90s range. Non fasting glucose was 89 down from 180s and A1C at 5.2 down from the 7-8 range when I made this decision in July. 65lbs gone in 3 months and 89lbs since July. I am nutritionally sound although my Iron was just slightly under range. Next appointment in July. I had my first "I didn't recognize you at first" yesterday. I have been working some overtime which allows me to see specimen couriers that I haven't seen in a couple years. Last night, one came in and looked at me for a few seconds (I had seen him a few days ago) and he said he didn't recognize me until he figured it out once he was back in the car and on the road. That was a proud moment. I do feel different (phenomenal) but haven't made the turn in my mind that I could and do look THAT different. So far, minimal hair loss and I say minimal because it's hard to say ...I have always lost enough hair that I wondered how my body replenished it. My TSH was right where it needs to be so I am to continue .300 mcg of synthroid. The weather is beginning to perk up here in the mountains which is having a positive effect on my mind and mood. I predict this Spring and Summer will be ones to remember! As for appetite- hit and miss/hot and cold. I don't crave the crap foods much, but yesterday I wanted a hot dog or cream chicken, biscuits and mashed potatoes. lol. Instead I had a 1/4 C. of unsweetened applesauce and ice Water. Today, I want nothing. Yet. and a quote I found this week "we know so perfectly how to give birth to the monsters inside us but, for reasons I will never figure out, we have not the slightest clue of what to do with all the love" I am figuring it out!

Tgarden, sounds as if you are right on track and that is great to hear. Not that it matters now, really, but I never had a leak test that you and most RNY patients had. That first ice chip was heavenly! I am 3 months post-op this week and down 65lbs since surgery day and find myself having energy galore not to mention excited to face ...life. Take it slow and easy, girl. I am proud of you.

Just thinking about you. Hope you are recovering beautifully!

I lost 3lbs some where today and I am not about to look for it. That is 60lbs since surgery in January and 84lbs since July. These numbers blow my mind, but what really blows me away is the general malaise is mostly gone. There are still days where I just am not "in it" but I have always embraced some melancholy. It's been a moody couple of weeks but seeing 250lbs on the scale is a nice pick-me-up against the battle with myself, life, and all the"what if" and "what now"

I had similar nervous energy. After surgery, you will gradually lose the nervous part, then it should be pure energy! I will be sending you positive mental thoughts all week. As for me rockin' the weight loss...yeehaw! Thank you. I wish I had taken measurements pre surgery just to placate my curiosity. Apparently (lol), plateaus are a part of this process and I am, unfortunately, on one... but the changes in clothes, energy, seatbelts etc. is mindblowingly excellent and carry me through the slow moving scale days. This is your time! And you are gonna rock it, too!!

Yes. Me too!

DL, these earthy, self sustaining friends of mine grow everything...peanuts, popcorn, every type of bean known to man (and some Beans are beautiful in a jar), and of course, they grow your usual garden items. The kernel corn they gifted was delicious. I still pop it in the microwave in a brown paper lunch bag and it worked great...any kernels that don't pop, can be added to the next bag and popped again. I understand about missing the butter...but I just add a few squirts of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and a dash of Parmesan (or garlic powder). The coolest thing about the garden grown popcorn is that they grew a blue variety...and it popped slightly blue! Tasted the same but was aesthetically interesting. Way cool. Sorry you miss the popcorn...hoping it's a small, tolerable sacrafice for such an amazing chance at maintaining a healthy life!

No, I have not tried these, but I am definitely going to. Thank you for the idea and link.

Same thing happening to me. I just consider that pre surgery, I drank a LOT of diet Pepsi and now it is a steady intake of water and milk. I chalk the change up to the fact that my body is somehow using the water and milk whereas before it was flushing out the gratuitous amount of diet soda I used to drink.

Tgarden, this was my first real step into experimenting with Protein Shakes and plan to try different variations. I just threw this together on a whim. The EAS Protein shakes alone are a bit too sweet, but this icy concoction was beyond heavenly! Today I bought more Dannon light and fit (strawberry banana) so I have enough to make 5 more. Next time I might use a pineapple yogurt, vanilla Protein Shake, and frozen bananas and pineapple chunks...not sure but will keep you posted. You could probably skip the 1% milk but I wanted as much protein in it as possible...so it had at LEAST 32g. It filled a 20oz glass but I had no problems finishing it over a 45 minute span. Yum.

Garlic bread. DL, I have occasional popcorn, too. Not much at all,but a few handfuls just like my unsalted dry roasted peanuts and sunflower kernels. I use real popcorn kernels in a bag and avoid the pre-packaged microwave kind. Interestly, a friend of mine grows her own popcorn every year and shares a quart jar with us me at Christmas and birthday. Is popcorn just not an option per your bariatric guidelines or a personal choice because there is not much Protein value?

I just experimented and made the most delicious smoothie with 32g of Protein. In blender, add: 1 bottle of EAS Advantage Edge carb.control protein drink-strawberry cream 1 container of Dannon light and fit greek yogurt-strawberry banana about 6 whole frozen strawberries 1/2 room temp banana 1/2 C. of 1% milk 4 or 5 ice cubes Blend on smoothie mode. Stop to stir, then give it another short blend. Makes about a 20oz smoothie that is going to revolutionize my protein intake.

Haha, DL. I recall a friend who had lived on pork rinds and bologna doing the Atkins diet. Knowing they are no carb, I figured them the best option in the vending machine at work, I bought a .50 bag. They were delicious, but...so many buts! Yet another reason it is wise to prepare small meals and Snacks in advance. Maynard is reaping the benefits of my increasing activity. I take him with me when I walk in the wee hours of morning. He used to walk me but is learning not to pull. He doesn't get to enjoy any leftovers anymore, however. I guess he is getting healthier too. Thank you.

Addictions now in full force: photography vinyl records ice Water This is my handsome rescue, Maynard. [ATTACH]42752[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]42753[/ATTACH]

My weight loss tool is teaching me to live! The appetite is hot and cold. This week-hot mess. My favorite things this week have been pears, unsweetened applesauce (which is still delightfully sweet enough) and sunflower kernels. It's the salty/sweet week. Where's the Protein?? Well, I am diligently trying. Yesterday, the scale said 257...this morning 260. I feel like August roadkill, bloated and moody. lol. But all that being said, still too blessed to stress. My basket of size 24 jeans has been fun, but they are becoming loose. Sunday night, I roasted chick peas in the oven (lightly coated with fat free ranch, chili powder, garlic powder, and black pepper) as an experiment...turned out delicious. I used half of them to make chicken salad with mustard and a dab of mayo. Ah, there is the protein. It is so much easier to prepare my food and Snacks for the work week than I anticipated. this week's biggest disappointment-- "not a significant source of protein" on the pork rinds I looked at...

I'm excited for you, THolland! Congratulations!

What a beautiful weekend! I helped prepare and clean up after my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary celebration. I did force myself to eat a few bites of everything except the rigatoni. After the dinner, I had company...mostly to pass off the tons of leftovers, but it turned into what I dare to call a "magical" night. You just never know what life is going to give you. On Saturday morning, I still weighed 265. Last night, I was down to 260. That is 50lbs since surgery and 74lbs since July...seems surreal. The greatest gift is giving myself back to the life that was going on without me. Whatever it takes!

Thank you, DL! I will trust your wisdom on this. At least my vitamin, calcium and ice water regimen is strong. It's strange to have no desire to eat...in my six months of nutrition classes, the nutritionist mentioned a couple times that it could happen but, then, I figured "not to me" I am looking forward to...well actually, just looking forward. Thank you again.

I am 8 weeks post op, down 45lbs since surgery and have gone from 30W jeans to a comfortable 24W (that havd been stockpiled) ...big change for me that still leaves my head spinning. Shirts and blouses will hang on me, but I still wear them. My size 11 shoes are loose so I wear my size 10s most of the timd. When the time comes that I need clothes, I will be shopping thrift stores.

Another victory is my A1C is 5.7...down from July's 8.0. No caffeine since early January so that is one addiction put to rest...