I'm addicted

...to weighing myself. Sad, I know! I had the hubby hide the scale because I just couldn't keep myself off of it. I guess when you've waited as long as I have to finally see a transformation, it can get a little obsessive. So, the plan is to weigh in once a week, on Fridays.

I have some great news!!! My wedding ring and engagement ring fits again! I gained so much weight that they were retired to my jewlery box for the last year and 1/2. So last night I got the courage to try them on and THEY FIT!!!!! Go me!! lol :) It feels so great having them back on!

So, anyways.. on other news..I have been on those new vitamins, the ones I told you about in my last post and they are amazing! The taste isn't bad and they are easy to get down and digest. I definently made the right choice to buy them.

I'm doing really good with my food testing. So far the only thing still not agreeing with my new stomach is milk. But I can handle cheese ok, just not too much of it. Eh.. I'll take it! :)

I'll be going to the Farmer's Market later this week to pick up some fresh fruit and veggies. Imagine that! I'm officially a member of the "fresh food" club! You know those people. The one in front of you in the super market who has 10 different bags of fresh veggies and fruit and the organic milk! lol. Why I didn't see a problem with my items being all frozen entrees and bags of oily chips is beyond me.

The other day I sent hubby to the store to buy an onion and a few tomatoes for my homemade sauce. I actually smiled!! Cooking healthier for my family, making delicious homemade meals, controling what does and doesn't go into them.. Do you know how good that feels? lol. I know, I know, i'm corny.. but i'm starting to see life in a whole new way and it feels great! So great, that i've vowed I'm never going back!

So this is how it feels to live?.. to actually live and enjoy life!! Makes me wonder why I waited so long! God is so good my friends!

Well, until next time...stay blessed and eat healthy!

Hugs! <3

New Stage

So today I started my pureed stage. I started out with mashed potatoes and can i just say..OMG! Mashed potatoes have never tasted so good! lol I made the potatoes with a little bit of almond milk (since i've developed that lactose intolerance thingy), i wasn't brave enough to try mixing milk in there. I also added a little spray butter (no cals, no fat) and a pinch of seasoning. It was awesome and so far they are agreeing just fine with my new stomach! Yay me! :)

Making meatloaf in the slow cooker tonight for dinner with a side of baby carrots and little potatoes. It didn't even dawn on me that i could have pureed the meatloaf and had some. So, next time i make it, i'll make it a little more pouch friendly and I'll try some! mmmm! :)

I'm overall feeling better. Doing more and enjoying getting back to my old self. I'm not cleared for exercising yet, but when i am, I intend to make the most of it!

I'm not able to stomach my bariatric vitamins anymore, they are way to gritty and blah! So, i ordered new ones from here and i'm just waiting for them to arrive. Hopefully these will sit better in the tummy. :)

Well, that's it for now...until next time, stay blessed! Hugs! <3

My first day out since surgery

Today was a good day. Took the kids out with the hubby to chuck-e-cheese. It was such a great time! Dylan had a blast with his cousin and it was a nice time out. It felt so good to get out of the house today. I was starting to get cabin fever. :)

I think my hunger is starting to come back. The pizza we got for the kids smelled and looked soooo good! But, i was good and stuck to my sugar free pudding with protein powder. Yay for me (that was a little sarcasm!) :)

The stuffed pepper soup was AMAZING! Of course I couldn't try any, but the whole house smelled so good. I plan to make that for my pureed stage in a week. I have this crazy craving for a taco! Yes, a taco! lol Once I can start on solids again, i'm gonna try my hand at a taco without the tortilla shell. Protein, protein first! lol

You know what's crazy? I was sitting here an hour ago thinking.. "gosh, i would love to have a taco right now". Then I got to thinking of all the ways i can have that the healthy way. My thinking has totally changed! I find myself thinking of how to make what i love or want into a healthy choice for me. Combine that with my 3 oz pouch and I really think i'm gonna do great!

I feel great! Not just physically, but mentally. I feel whole and ready to run into my new future! I wanna get up and get going and leave the couch and potato chips behind me. How great is that! My surgeon and his team gave me so much more than just a new stomach.. they gave me a new way of thinking.. a chance at a new life! If i had to sum it up in one word..here it is... AMAZING!

Here's the picture of the stuffed pepper soup! You've gotta try this!.. till next time.. stay blessed! Hugs <3

1st post-op visit..

Had my first post op visit today with the surgeon. Went great! I'm starting to feel more and more like my old self (minus the poor food choices and raging hunger). The doc says everything looks good. The incision is healing nice and i'm right on track. They asked me if i was trying to set a record.. i've lost 41 lbs to date! lol.. i'm not trying to set a record, but if i do..go me! :) All in all.. life is good! :)

I'm going to attempt to get my protein in today through my sugar free pudding. We'll see how that goes. I'm so thirsty, i could drink lake Erie right now! Sadly, only a few sips at a time is all i can handle to avoid feeling like a blow fish!

I'm making stuffed pepper soup today in the crockpot. A receipe that is bariatric friendly. No, i won't be indulging in it..not yet anyways.. a few more weeks before that's tolerated. But the hubby and kids will have it. It smells delish. Oh...?? i didn't tell you? like it or not..they will be eating the foods that i will be. Healthy and fresh made meals! This change isn't just for me..it's for them too (but shhh... they don't know that healthy food can taste yummy!!!) lol.

I'll post pics later..if you want the recipe, let me know.. i'm more than willing to share my knowledge! :)

Hugs!

July 20th, 2011 - One week post-op

Doing ok today. A little sore, but no where near what I was last week. What a difference a week makes! Not needing my pain meds as much, thank God because I hate how drousy they make me. Still on the lovanox injections, twice a day. I have a new found appriciation for all you diabetics out there because I sure don't know how you put up with sticking yourself everyday.

I'm still on Stage 2 - full liquids. For all you non bariatric surgery people, that means yummy sugar free jello, sugar free pudding and watered down apple juice, which by the way is all i have a taste for lately. I'll be on this stage for another week.

I still have no hunger sensation, which is so weird considering just a few weeks ago I could have eaten enough for 6 people. So, for now I have to try to remember to eat, which honestly isn't going too well. I'm striving for some protein and maintaining my fluids for now.

Nothing is tasting good to me, except for my watered down apple juice! God, what is it with this juice! lol..I seriously feel like a newborn...watered down liquids and a few teaspoons of "food" every 2-3 hours.

Oh and did i mention.. i'm finding myself to be lactose intolerant. Which is a real bummer considering how much I LOVE milk!! Anything made with milk, however, has me feeling like I have a bad case of morning sickness, so hubby picked up a carton of Almond milk. Not bad, really. I'm not crazy about the consistancy, a little thick for me, but when used in making things, not bad at all and a world of a difference when it comes to the tummy!

Even though I can't "eat" right now, i'm making up a recipe book for me to use later post op. The good thing is i'm learing how to cook healthier for not only me, but my hubby and 2 boys. It feels so great to know i'm putting better nutritional foods on our dinner table.

I will be my family's advocate against obesity and obesity related conditions. I've had a hard enough life, I don't want my boys having to go through what I did with weight.

So in with the fresh fruit and veggies and delicious homemade crockpot meals and out with the processed, high sodium, factory made,  pop-it-in-the-microwave meals.

...this new lifestyle is going to be amazing!

Hugs!!