Requiem for a cheeseburger--- Five weeks out

vinesqueen · April 17, 2005

Tomorrow will be five weeks since I’ve been banded. I haven’t really written much lately because I’ve been in a contemplative mood I suppose. Trying to figure out what is going on with me and my new symbiote. A couple of days ago, I moved to solid food and feel like I can eat anything, even a cheeseburger. I haven’t had a single PB or a sliming event, so yay! for me. I haven’t attempted a cheeseburger yet, but I’m not anticipating any problems. I’ve had ground beef, and have had no issues with it. Mike can’t do any form of ground beef, except taco meat texture.

People have been talking a lot about mourning food, and Jessie suggested that was what I was doing. I’m honestly not mourning food. I did that when I was on the 20/20 program, and I’m not doing that now. I suppose that part of it is because I see everything that Mike eats, and I know that I’ll probably not have difficulty eating either. One of the benefits I gained from the 20/20 program is knowing what foods I’m sensitive too, and another benefit was getting off breads and carb-loading. I used to eat a lot of carbohydrates, but after the program, I understood how bread really messes with my fibromailgia.

I know a lot of bandsters are not as fortunate as I am, in that they don’t have someone who is just a head of them in their journey. Mike has done a great job of breaking the way for me, but he does a great job of that at company functions! LBT is great because it provides such great support, but it just isn’t the same as having a local person as opposed to a virtual person. I suppose that is why support groups are so very vital—there are people in all stages of their journey. Because I don’t have access to a meatspace support group, Mike is so important.

I’ve come to terms with my lower calories, but since I’m breaking 1K everyday, I feel much better than when I was only at 800 calories a day. After a month of 800 calories, I was starting to feel weak and a bit out of sorts. I’ve also given myself permission to have ice cream when I just can’t get my calories up past 800. Not a huge bowl mind you, but a sensible 4 ounces. It isn’t that I feel hungry on 800 calories, but I’m worried that I’ll shut down my metabolism.

Mike and Jessie are convinced that I’m obsessed with counting calories. I suppose at some level I am, but not in the way they think I am. I am not trying to limit my intake, I’m trying to figure out how to increase it in a healthy way. I track my calories on the Cereal with peaches. This snack would help me get up to the target calories, it was yummy, gave me all the Fiber I needed, and as an extra bonus, my sweat smelled like peaches! I find I am having a heck of a time getting my fiber and my Calcium in, so this would probably be just what the doctor ordered.

Here are my assorted and collected NSVs:

This is a gi-normous NSV. I haven't used my inhaler in 25 whole days!
My starting BMI was 47 and it is now 41.6! This is so exciting!
I can run up a flight of stairs with my 20 pound book bag on my back and not even be winded when I reach the next floor .
It doesn't hurt to stand at the sink when I do the dishes anymore. I believe it is because I can get closer to the sink because my tummy is smaller.
My old "Chick shirts" fit
One of the women in my math class wanted to know how much weight I’ve lost. “You’re looking good! How much have you lost?”
My purple robe fits me!
My jeans slide off my butt!

the best me · April 18, 2005

It isn’t that I feel hungry on 800 calories, but I’m worried that I’ll shut down my metabolism.
That is what I’m trying to do with my calorie counting, get my intake up so I loose weight.

Here are my assorted and collected NSVs:

This is a gi-normous NSV. I haven't used my inhaler in 25 whole days!

My starting BMI was 47 and it is now 41.6! This is so exciting!

I can run up a flight of stairs with my 20 pound book bag on my back and not even be winded when I reach the next floor .

It doesn't hurt to stand at the sink when I do the dishes anymore. I believe it is because I can get closer to the sink because my tummy is smaller.

My old "Chick shirts" fit

One of the women in my math class wanted to know how much weight I’ve lost. “You’re looking good! How much have you lost?”

My purple robe fits me!

My jeans slide off my butt!

You are doing SO awesomely well! And you are (IMHO) EXACTLY right about your calories. All that crazy diet stuff actually works when you are satisfied with your food intake! Wow. I think you are SOOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOL!

Zoe · April 19, 2005

Fantastic NSVs, Crystal! Yeah, it's strange to find yourself seeking out ice cream so that your calorie count doesn't get too low -- I went through the same thing. As for the symbiant, Jack has written some great posts about exactly that; I don't have the links, but a quick search should reveal them.

Congratulations on your weight loss, NSVs, and attitude: All pretty damn impressive for five weeks post-op.