michele_b

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Weigh in - 206

Well I am an angel today.  Mireille R. was to have her surgery today and I agreed to be her angel.  I tried calling the hospital and they would not give me any info because I am not family.  

My dad is in the hospital so I am falling a little off my wagon as far as eating, drinking and vitamins are concerned.  I had better get back on track.  

~m

Weigh-in - Sept 15 - 208. 

Weight is coming off - slow but sure.  I'm really OK with that.  I'm feeling a little tired these days and occasionally feel not so good.  Need to go to doc's this week to get blood work done.  Hopefully all is OK. 

Still having difficulty getting in the food and sometimes the water but working at it every day.  Still haven't found a protein drink that I like. 

Who said this was the "easy way out". 

~m  

 

 

Weigh in- 211(40 lost since surgery) and almost 60 since May 1 ...

Well, summer is almost over.  Just tried some raw vegetables the other day for the first time.   I love munching on the baby carrots and the tomatoes taste soo de-lish this time of year.  Going for my blood work on Sept 11.  Did OK in a restaurant last Thursday at the OH Get Together.   It was great to tocuh base with some of the new ladies in the Capital.  

A "stall" at this point is inevitable, and here is why. 

Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet.

As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored.

got this from someone's post - very useful info

Beef
• Hamburger patty, 4 oz – 28 grams protein
• Steak, 6 oz – 42 grams
• Most cuts of beef – 7 grams of protein per ounce

Chicken
• Chicken breast, 3.5 oz - 30 grams protein
• Chicken thigh – 10 grams (for average size)
• Drumstick – 11 grams
• Wing – 6 grams
• Chicken meat, cooked, 4 oz – 35 grams

Fish
• Most fish fillets or steaks are about 22 grams of protein
for 3 ½ oz (100 grams) of cooked fish, or 6 grams per ounce
• Tuna, 6 oz can - 40 grams of protein

Pork
• Pork chop, average - 22 grams protein
• Pork loin or tenderloin, 4 oz – 29 grams
• Ham, 3 oz serving – 19 grams
• Ground pork, 1 oz raw – 5 grams; 3 oz cooked – 22 grams
• Bacon, 1 slice – 3 grams
• Canadian-style bacon (back bacon), slice – 5 – 6 grams

Eggs and Dairy
• Egg, large - 6 grams protein
• Milk, 1 cup - 8 grams
• Cottage cheese, ½ cup - 15 grams
• Yogurt, 1 cup – usually 8-12 grams, check label
• Soft cheeses (Mozzarella, Brie, Camembert) – 6 grams per oz
• Medium cheeses (Cheddar, Swiss) – 7 or 8 grams per oz
• Hard cheeses (Parmesan) – 10 grams per oz

Beans (including soy)
• Tofu, ½ cup 20 grams protein
• Tofu, 1 oz, 2.3 grams
• Soy milk, 1 cup - 6 -10 grams
• Most beans (black, pinto, lentils, etc) about 7-10 grams
 protein per half cup of cooked beans
• Soy beans, ½ cup cooked – 14 grams protein
• Split peas, ½ cup cooked – 8 grams

Nuts and Seeds
• Peanut butter, 2 Tablespoons - 8 grams protein
• Almonds, ¼ cup – 8 grams
• Peanuts, ¼ cup – 9 grams
• Cashews, ¼ cup – 5 grams
• Pecans, ¼ cup – 2.5 grams
• Sunflower seeds, ¼ cup – 6 grams
• Pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup – 19 grams
• Flax seeds – ¼ cup – 8 grams

Weight- 218 and shrinking

Went on a business trip and found it difficult to maneuvre my eating and drinking.  I went to a grocery store to help me - bought SF fruit cups, baked beans for breakfast, kashi cereal to munch on, almonds to munch on, and ordered poached salmon with mashed potatoes for dinner.  Don't think I got in all my food but I don't at home either.

Airplane was difficult but I bought a litre of water to drink while on the flights. 

Exercise - notta.   :(

Bought some new pants - they were on sale - size 16 (yippy)

Was tired when I got home... oh well,  ~m

Update

I am seven weeks out and am still having issues with food, water and vitamins.

Eating - If I eat too fast, it all comes back up. I do my best (always do protein first)i.e. kashi cereal, yogurt, chicken-cut up small, chili, lf mozz cheese.  If you have room, put some veggies/fruits/potato/crackers in.  I get full very fast... and I throw up occasionally- especially  at restaurants (hotchicken sand without bread, gravy on the side - to be used if chicken is dry).  I don't think I am eating like other RNYers but that's OK for now - I am a slow learner I guess. I have absolutely NO appetite but I know intellectually that I need to eat.  If  I  ate  when  I  was  hungry, I wouldn't eat.  And the smeller works very different now. I smell everything.

Water- As for water, wherever you are, you should always try and have abottle or glass of water with you ... at night, try bringing some water to leave by your bedside table and if you wake up during the night, take a few sips (it helps).   Try with a drink of water first thing and drink until you go  to bed.

Vitamins - As for vitamins, get into a routine with them (I had a difficult time trying to find something I could get down).  Now I start with Isotonix powder and mix with water first thing in the morning, then at lunch I do one tbsp of liquid Wellesse calcium,  mid afternoon I do vit B-6 under my tonque and then more liquid calcium with supper. 

Constipation - If I don't go every 4 days, I take milk of magnesia at bedtime and it works first thing.

Exercise- I am starting an exercise class with our fantastic Ottawa support group in two weeks.

It's manageable ... finally.  Who said this was the easy way out ...NOT.

Oh yah, finally, I have lost 40 lbs (17 post surgery).  Just remembered - that's why I did this... lol... but for me at this time, my priority is getting into the program so it is natural for me ... if I can do that I know the weight will drop.   

~m

Went to see my favorite doctor Huynh on July 24 and he is very happy with my progress.  I think I was at 230 lbs.  He gave me a script for my heartburn/indigestion.  I also saw Sue / Denice the nutritionists and they are also happy with my progress.  They gave me some other ideas for getting in the protein and of course, they want to ensure I am following the vitamin regime.  I am having a hard time with that but I just found some Isotonix powder vitamin that I add water and drink first thing in the morning.  It is pretty good.  I thik it is expensive, but I'm worth it. 

I am also back to work now.  It was so nice to have 5 weeks off.  I still dump every now and then but if I eat every second minute it helps.  Thanks to Andrea Doe for sharing that little secret with me.  

Today August 6, I am at 223.  It is still coming off me.  Still get a little tired.  Need to incorporate some weight lifting or dumbell work to strengthen my muscles.  People are noticing abit.  But they are not going crazy over it - thank God.

Anyway, later,  ~m

Well I had a birthday ... 52 and holding.  Holding what I don't know.  My friend bought me a chocolate vanilla swirl cheese cake (she does't know I had WLS) and I didn't even lick the knife.  I am so proud of myself. Another friend brought me some beautiful white / red tipped roses.  I look at those and they are so beautiful. 

I finally managed to pull off the final white strip tape that was covering my 5 little incisions.  I would cut off the hanging tape and that helped.  One piece at a time.  I must say they are looking pretty good.  Now if I can only take away the tape residue.  I'll try some baby oil and maybe some rubbing alcohol - I just need to be sure I stay away from the incisions.   

Well, I'm kinda thinking that the eating isn't going as well as it should be.  I am still struggling.  I have had the foamies (yuck) a few times and  I don't think there is anything as gross.  And I don't think I am eating too much - maybe too fast.  I'll have to slow down.  Once on yogurt of all things, milk ... that was gross ... and the other time on strained cream of mushroom soup, organic peanut butter (what can I say I was trying to add protein).  It is a gross feeling.  It is almost always starts like heartburn, then I feel like burping, then barfing ... no ... actually it is barfing but you barf up alot of spit and just a little bit of food.    

I went to get my blood work done this morning ... I have my one month follow-up with my surgeon.  I know he will probably say that I am low in something but I'm not sure what ... 

I still get tired during the day.  It is a little exhausting especially when I go out for abit.  And not eating regularly screws up my nutrition intake.  I believe I am doing OK with the water.  But sometimes I catch myself gulping so I just hold it in my mouth and swallow it a little at a time. 

This program takes work ... so hopefully it will get better at it. 

Well, what can I say.  Each day gets better.  Still a little worried about eating too much, stretching the pouch, blood clots, bowel obstructions, losing too fast, constipation, malnutrition. But I am working the program as directed by the Surgeon and Nutritionist.  I am not sure if these little pieces of tape should be coming off on their own or will the doctor remove them.  I didn't really get any advice other than they will come off on their own.  I'm starting to feel itchy.  There has been no leaks from the tape. But I'd love to scatch my belly. 

The Ontario Forum is getting a little crazy and weird for my liking.  There is this one guy that is a bit of an instigator and he is shaking up the tent a little more than I'd like.  He scared the crap out of me just 2 days before my surgery.   Like man, don't you know I already had enough stress in my life without your stupid little post.  I never respond to his posts.  I think that is what he wants.  Anyway.  What can I say?  There is always one bully in the crowd.  I hope the newbies don't get scared away because they can learn so much from some of the more seasoned posters. 

Oh I almost forgot -- weight loss is going great.  232 yesterday morning ... hopefully it is not too fast???

ttfn  `m