It is so hard to believe that it has been nearly a month since my surgery. I look at how my life has changed and how much different I feel, and it blows my mind. I caught sight of myself in the mirror the other day, and it startled me! You get so used to seeing yourself a certain way for 20 years and then you lose some weight and you feel like a new person.
One of the biggest differences that I see in myself is the way I move. Things like going for walks are a thousand times easier. Something like that felt so out of reach for me when I was nearly 60 pounds heavier. Now, I can't believe the change. My mum and I walked 1.5 miles the other night, and I didn't break a sweat or anything! Typically when I would walk before, I would be huffing and puffing before I even left the driveway. But now, I feel like I have this freedom to move that I never had before. I feel like the world is opening up in front of me! So long, being embarassed to fly! Goodbye, waddling to and fro! See ya later, giant belly! It is such a relief to be on the right track now, and to be taking these steps to get my life back. I have let my weight hold me back for too long, and now, I will NEVER allow myself to go back there again. Yay me!!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Down, Down, Down!
Well I am officially one week post-op, and feeling great! Mum and I started walking yesterday, and it feels so good to be out and walking around. Even though I am still in a fair bit of pain, I found that I had a lot more energy for walking, that I WANTED to go for walks, and that I really enjoyed it! We went for a quick walk yesterday to the mailbox, and then today we did about 1/4 of a mile, with a stop at the playground for Miss Jellybean! It just felt SO amazing to be out in the sunshine! Well, today at least! Yesterday, it was quite windy but we decided to go anyway. We were gone about 2 minutes and it started raining. Then after we got the mail, it started raining harder, and the wind picked up, making it feel like we were getting pelted with little razors!! Then, just as we were coming in the door, it started to snow in blizzard formation! It was crazy! Then, 1/2 an hour later, it was sunny again! Crazy Prairie weather :)
Things are going well from a recovery point of view. Two of my small incisions are nearly completely healed, but my 3 larger ones are still very painful and unhealed. I have little steri-strips covering the incisions, but at this point, they are all starting to come off. I'm a little freaked out, though, because I'm afraid that something is going to pop out!
I am able to shower for the most part on my own, which is AWESOME, and I am slowly getting my mobility back. I am still stuck sleeping on my side mostly, as it is still really painful to be on my tummy, and I have to make sure I am on the right side, not the left as that is where the majority of my incisions are. If I lie on the left side, I get a terrible muscle cramp from the bottom of my stomach all the way up to my chest. My poor hubby has been woken up more than a few times by me moaning in pain! Luckily I am able to find a comfortable position with just a bit of work :)
Other than that, life is just ticking right along, and life is good :) My mum has been taking SUCH great care of all of us, and has been experimenting with all kinds of pureed foods. She made some amazing creamy rice pudding for me, and then tonight, she cooked up some chicken and pureed it with broccoli, green beans and carrots with some cream of mushroom soup. IT WAS SO GOOD!! I am now able to have some textured foods, and had Cream of Wheat this morning for the first time in about 25 years. I am already feeling more energy and am feeling good; I'm ready to tackle the rest of my life!
I'll keep you posted!
Love J
Things are going well from a recovery point of view. Two of my small incisions are nearly completely healed, but my 3 larger ones are still very painful and unhealed. I have little steri-strips covering the incisions, but at this point, they are all starting to come off. I'm a little freaked out, though, because I'm afraid that something is going to pop out!
I am able to shower for the most part on my own, which is AWESOME, and I am slowly getting my mobility back. I am still stuck sleeping on my side mostly, as it is still really painful to be on my tummy, and I have to make sure I am on the right side, not the left as that is where the majority of my incisions are. If I lie on the left side, I get a terrible muscle cramp from the bottom of my stomach all the way up to my chest. My poor hubby has been woken up more than a few times by me moaning in pain! Luckily I am able to find a comfortable position with just a bit of work :)
Other than that, life is just ticking right along, and life is good :) My mum has been taking SUCH great care of all of us, and has been experimenting with all kinds of pureed foods. She made some amazing creamy rice pudding for me, and then tonight, she cooked up some chicken and pureed it with broccoli, green beans and carrots with some cream of mushroom soup. IT WAS SO GOOD!! I am now able to have some textured foods, and had Cream of Wheat this morning for the first time in about 25 years. I am already feeling more energy and am feeling good; I'm ready to tackle the rest of my life!
I'll keep you posted!
Love J
Monday, March 12, 2012
A Whole New World!
Well, I am 5 days post-surgery, and life is good :) I've had a lot of people asking about the surgery and what it was like and how things are feeling and the like, so I am going to do that here. I have a couple of pictures, but I won't post any of the incisions or anything like that :)
The Lead Up:
So as I have posted before, I was on a liquid fast for the 3 weeks leading up to the surgery. It was hard, but I ended up losing 30 pounds on it so I really can't complain!!
The Day-Of:
Getting ready to go in!
We got to the hospital at 8am, and by 9 we were all checked in. They started my IV around 10, and started me on saline and an antibiotic to make sure I didn't get an infection after surgery. I am a really hard start with IV's, and they got it on only 3 tries!!! (This is compared to the 27 tries when I was in hospital after Gracie was born!) After that, we got to play the waiting game. I was due to go in at noon, and got delayed until about 2pm.
When I got wheeled down to the OR waiting area, my doctor, Dr Church (AMAZING SURGEON!!), came to discuss the surgery and make sure I was ready to go. I made a point to make sure to ask if he was feeling steady and if he'd had a good sleep :) Then, the anaesthesiologist came over to chat and tell me about the anaesthetic part of the surgery. Then, I waited about 20 minutes and the nurse came to get me and she wheeled me down to the Operating Room. When we got down there, I was introduced to the other doctors and nurses in the room, and I was transferred onto the operating table and my legs were strapped down. The sweet nurse came and held my hand, and the last thing I remember was her promising me that they would take good care of me :)
When I woke up, I had a blood pressure cuff on my arm and compression stockings on my legs that help prevent blood clots. I was super groggy when I woke up, and kept asking why I had 3 blood pressure cuffs on :) And I must have asked at least a half-dozen times if the lap-band was in; I was assured several times that it was :) I was really nauseous and it quite a lot of pain, so I ended up staying in the Recovery Room for 4 hours; poor Keith! He was such a trooper, and he stayed the entire time I was there, so he was on his own for about 8 hours all together.
After the Recovery Room, I was taken back to the Day Surgery area which would be my home for the next 18 hours, and I was FINALLY able to see Keith. It was a tearful reunion! Or at least, it was tearful for me! I got to have my first sips of water, which was HEAVENLY, and then I was taken off all liquids until the next day as I had to do a Swallow Test, where you swallow some fluid and they take an X-Ray to make sure that the band is in place and that it all looks good before they send you home. A couple of hours later, the surgeon came in again to chat with me and I was told that everything looked good and I was cleared to go home! YAY!!! We waited for a wheel chair for about 90 minutes, and then we were on our way!
I have 5 incisions on my belly; one in the middle under my bustline, one about 3 inches below that, one to the right and between the two, and then two on the left side. The one at the bottom in the middle is the largest incision and is about 2-3 inches long, and the ones under my bustline and on the top left are currently the most painful. I also had my tummy pumped full of gas during the surgery, so there has been a lot of pain from that as it tries to escape as well. At one point I was worried that I would need a string tied to my wrist so I wouldn't float away! The worst was that the pain gets deferred from the diaphragm to the shoulder, so it felt like every muscle in my left shoulder and across my chest was cramping at the same time. It was brutal! Luckily that only lasted for a couple of days, and the pain I'm feeling now is mostly from the incisions. The gas pain is slowly ebbing, thank God, and I'm very slowly beginning to feel a bit better. I was given liquid codeine to help with the pain, and I definitely can't take that again. I get horrible dizzy spells and bouts of nausea, so I have only taken that twice since I've been home. Liquid Tylenol has been my best friend, although I REALLY don't understand why it is so ridiculously sweet!! No wonder Gracie always wants to take her "medicine"!!
This is the surprise I came home to! It smells heavenly in our room right now!!
I have been resting a lot, and have had lots of cuddles from the best little nurse in training :) My sweet mum has been cooking and cleaning and taking care of my little girl, and my wonderful hubby had just been amazing. He's been camping out on the floor of our room in a sleeping bag, just in case I need help in the night :) He has been so supportive and amazing, and I don't think I could have done this without him!!
And that's basically it! I am down 55 pounds since I started the Weight Management Program last year, and I feel like a new woman! Here is a very blurry "After" shot :) Please keep in mind that I have a very painful incision in my bustline, so the "Girls" aren't up where they should be!
Love J
The Lead Up:
So as I have posted before, I was on a liquid fast for the 3 weeks leading up to the surgery. It was hard, but I ended up losing 30 pounds on it so I really can't complain!!
The Day-Of:
Getting ready to go in!When I got wheeled down to the OR waiting area, my doctor, Dr Church (AMAZING SURGEON!!), came to discuss the surgery and make sure I was ready to go. I made a point to make sure to ask if he was feeling steady and if he'd had a good sleep :) Then, the anaesthesiologist came over to chat and tell me about the anaesthetic part of the surgery. Then, I waited about 20 minutes and the nurse came to get me and she wheeled me down to the Operating Room. When we got down there, I was introduced to the other doctors and nurses in the room, and I was transferred onto the operating table and my legs were strapped down. The sweet nurse came and held my hand, and the last thing I remember was her promising me that they would take good care of me :)
When I woke up, I had a blood pressure cuff on my arm and compression stockings on my legs that help prevent blood clots. I was super groggy when I woke up, and kept asking why I had 3 blood pressure cuffs on :) And I must have asked at least a half-dozen times if the lap-band was in; I was assured several times that it was :) I was really nauseous and it quite a lot of pain, so I ended up staying in the Recovery Room for 4 hours; poor Keith! He was such a trooper, and he stayed the entire time I was there, so he was on his own for about 8 hours all together.
After the Recovery Room, I was taken back to the Day Surgery area which would be my home for the next 18 hours, and I was FINALLY able to see Keith. It was a tearful reunion! Or at least, it was tearful for me! I got to have my first sips of water, which was HEAVENLY, and then I was taken off all liquids until the next day as I had to do a Swallow Test, where you swallow some fluid and they take an X-Ray to make sure that the band is in place and that it all looks good before they send you home. A couple of hours later, the surgeon came in again to chat with me and I was told that everything looked good and I was cleared to go home! YAY!!! We waited for a wheel chair for about 90 minutes, and then we were on our way!
I have 5 incisions on my belly; one in the middle under my bustline, one about 3 inches below that, one to the right and between the two, and then two on the left side. The one at the bottom in the middle is the largest incision and is about 2-3 inches long, and the ones under my bustline and on the top left are currently the most painful. I also had my tummy pumped full of gas during the surgery, so there has been a lot of pain from that as it tries to escape as well. At one point I was worried that I would need a string tied to my wrist so I wouldn't float away! The worst was that the pain gets deferred from the diaphragm to the shoulder, so it felt like every muscle in my left shoulder and across my chest was cramping at the same time. It was brutal! Luckily that only lasted for a couple of days, and the pain I'm feeling now is mostly from the incisions. The gas pain is slowly ebbing, thank God, and I'm very slowly beginning to feel a bit better. I was given liquid codeine to help with the pain, and I definitely can't take that again. I get horrible dizzy spells and bouts of nausea, so I have only taken that twice since I've been home. Liquid Tylenol has been my best friend, although I REALLY don't understand why it is so ridiculously sweet!! No wonder Gracie always wants to take her "medicine"!!
This is the surprise I came home to! It smells heavenly in our room right now!!And that's basically it! I am down 55 pounds since I started the Weight Management Program last year, and I feel like a new woman! Here is a very blurry "After" shot :) Please keep in mind that I have a very painful incision in my bustline, so the "Girls" aren't up where they should be!
You can see how bloaty my poor tummy still is. But look! I have collarbones!! HOORAY!!
Love J
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Tomorrow! Tomorrow! It's Only A Day Away!
I wasn't nervous about tomorrow until I got my surgery time. I've managed to keep myself busy and distracted all this time, but now that I have my time, it's all so real! I'm down to my last two opti-fast shakes, and this is it! After midnight, no food, no water until after my surgery, and even then it will be ice chips and small sips of water. Then, the next day, I can start on my thin fluids! I never thought I'd beexcited about drinkable yogurt!! I have now lost 30 pounds in the last 3 weeks, and I can't even begin to tell you how good that feels! I am down nearly 50 all together; only 150 to go! I am 1/4 of the way to my goal weight! I have NEVER been 1/4 of the way before! I'm so proud of myself, and I can't wait to keep going with this!
I'm trying to decide what is making me the most nervous. I'm nervous about the surgery (obviously!!), but I think what scares me is not waking up afterwards. I feel like I need to say goodybye to everyone before I go in, and that I need to tell everyone I love them, just in case! And I'm also scared of gaining weight back after I am allowed to start eating again. And I think that, after my terrible infection after my c-section with Gracie, I'm scared that this won't go well, or that it won't heal. But, I think that above and beyond all of that, that I won't have done enough to get the surgery, that my liver won't be small enough to be able to do it. What if there was something more I could have done? What if I shouldn't have had sugar-free jello? What if what if what if? I've really been putting my faith in God, and I have just been praying that everything will go according to plan. There's nothing that I can do at this point, and it is what it is. So hopefully GOd will be on my side tomorrow, and by this time tomorrow, I will be in recovery and then after that, hopefully I will be on my way home!
I'll keep you posted!
I'm trying to decide what is making me the most nervous. I'm nervous about the surgery (obviously!!), but I think what scares me is not waking up afterwards. I feel like I need to say goodybye to everyone before I go in, and that I need to tell everyone I love them, just in case! And I'm also scared of gaining weight back after I am allowed to start eating again. And I think that, after my terrible infection after my c-section with Gracie, I'm scared that this won't go well, or that it won't heal. But, I think that above and beyond all of that, that I won't have done enough to get the surgery, that my liver won't be small enough to be able to do it. What if there was something more I could have done? What if I shouldn't have had sugar-free jello? What if what if what if? I've really been putting my faith in God, and I have just been praying that everything will go according to plan. There's nothing that I can do at this point, and it is what it is. So hopefully GOd will be on my side tomorrow, and by this time tomorrow, I will be in recovery and then after that, hopefully I will be on my way home!
I'll keep you posted!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
It's the final countdown!
This time 4 days from now, I will be comfortable at home drinking thin yogurt and having REAL FOOD! I CANNOT believe how fast this has gone. When I first started, I thought that 3 weeks sounded like a lifetime. But now, here I am at day 20 of the fast, and I feel amazing!! I went shopping with my mum today, and I could not believe the differences I was seeing in myself. I was able to walk faster and farther, and it was the first time in ages that I have walked that far. It was amazing. I didn't realize how much I was letting my weight control my life, and how much of my life it had taken over. Now that I am down 43 lbs., I can't believe that I haven't done this sooner!
It struck me today how very, very lucky I am. I have some amazing family and friends supporting me through this, and I can't believe how lucky I am, and how blessed my family and I are to have such wonderful friends. One of my girlfriends, whom I have known since high school, has offered to make meals and to help out wherever she can. She has 3 small children of her own, one of whom has been very sick off and on in the last few months, and she is also actively involved in her Faith and in her community. Not only that, she lives on the complete opposite side of the city. And she has offered her time and skills to help me after my surgery. That blew me away!! Another wonderful friend has offered to take my daughter to preschool so she won't have to miss any school while I can't drive. My sweet mum has offered to stay for 5 weeks, to make sure I am feeling well enough to take care of Jellybean. She has a life and a home and responsibilities of her own at home, yet she dropped everything to be here with us. My husband has worked hours and hours of overtime to get the time off to take me to the hospital and stay with me the day of, and to drive me to various appointments. He has also been the biggest source of moral, emotional and physical support, and I thank God every day that I get to be married to this amazing man! His love has seen me through these last weeks, and I can't imagine doing this without him! And then, there is, of course, the support of the littlest love in my life; my sweet, beautiful daughter. She is always quick with a kind word and a huge hug when I feel down, or like there is no light at the end of the tunnel, and her sweet, quirky nature has been such an amazing source of happiness for me going through this! And then there is the wonderful thoughts, prayers and love that I receive on a daily basis from everyone. I am so thankful to each and every one of you; I couldn't do this without you!!!
Much love to everyone! I'll keep you posted!!
It struck me today how very, very lucky I am. I have some amazing family and friends supporting me through this, and I can't believe how lucky I am, and how blessed my family and I are to have such wonderful friends. One of my girlfriends, whom I have known since high school, has offered to make meals and to help out wherever she can. She has 3 small children of her own, one of whom has been very sick off and on in the last few months, and she is also actively involved in her Faith and in her community. Not only that, she lives on the complete opposite side of the city. And she has offered her time and skills to help me after my surgery. That blew me away!! Another wonderful friend has offered to take my daughter to preschool so she won't have to miss any school while I can't drive. My sweet mum has offered to stay for 5 weeks, to make sure I am feeling well enough to take care of Jellybean. She has a life and a home and responsibilities of her own at home, yet she dropped everything to be here with us. My husband has worked hours and hours of overtime to get the time off to take me to the hospital and stay with me the day of, and to drive me to various appointments. He has also been the biggest source of moral, emotional and physical support, and I thank God every day that I get to be married to this amazing man! His love has seen me through these last weeks, and I can't imagine doing this without him! And then, there is, of course, the support of the littlest love in my life; my sweet, beautiful daughter. She is always quick with a kind word and a huge hug when I feel down, or like there is no light at the end of the tunnel, and her sweet, quirky nature has been such an amazing source of happiness for me going through this! And then there is the wonderful thoughts, prayers and love that I receive on a daily basis from everyone. I am so thankful to each and every one of you; I couldn't do this without you!!!
Much love to everyone! I'll keep you posted!!
Friday, March 2, 2012
There IS light at the end of the tunnel!!
Well here I am, Day 17! Only 4 days left until I am done my Opti-Fast fasting, and only 5 until my surgery! I can't believe how fast (pun intended!) this has gone! I thought that it was going to be much worse than it was, but I am actually surviving!
My sweet mama got here yesterday, and I am so happy to have her here! She will be here for at least a few weeks to help me recover, and I am SO thankful to her! Not only does my daughter adore her, it's been SO great to have someone here to help me out with the kiddos as I have been battling some severe tummy issues as I near the end of this. Knowing that someone is here to make sure my little girl is safe just means so much! It is just one less thing to have to worry about :) I don't know what I would do without her! I'm so very lucky to have her. She has always been so supportive and helpful, always pitching in where she can. I'm such a lucky girl! I guess I am also pretty lucky that my dad was able to spare her for a month :) Thanks, Chief!
As I near my surgery date, I am keeping my life as stress-free as possible. I am doing things that I love (Pampered Chef, shopping with my mama, spending time with my hubby and of course, playing with my beautiful little girl!), doing a lot of mental cleansing, meditating and enjoying life to the fullest. I am so excited to begin this new chapter, and I am starting it with a whole new mindset. I have a beautiful friend, Tina, who has been such an inspiration to me over the years, and how she made a decision to change her life. I was the fortunate winner of a free copy of the e-book that she wrote, and I have been trying to save it as a treat for when I am recovering next week, but I keep peeking at it! I am so excited to read it!! (You should, too! http://the40by40.com/landing/the-decision/). Her story is so inspiring and beautiful, and I can't wait to read more! I love the thought of making a decision to change your way of life, your thoughts and your attitude. One more new change coming up in my new life!!
I am getting so close! I'll keep you posted!!
My sweet mama got here yesterday, and I am so happy to have her here! She will be here for at least a few weeks to help me recover, and I am SO thankful to her! Not only does my daughter adore her, it's been SO great to have someone here to help me out with the kiddos as I have been battling some severe tummy issues as I near the end of this. Knowing that someone is here to make sure my little girl is safe just means so much! It is just one less thing to have to worry about :) I don't know what I would do without her! I'm so very lucky to have her. She has always been so supportive and helpful, always pitching in where she can. I'm such a lucky girl! I guess I am also pretty lucky that my dad was able to spare her for a month :) Thanks, Chief!
As I near my surgery date, I am keeping my life as stress-free as possible. I am doing things that I love (Pampered Chef, shopping with my mama, spending time with my hubby and of course, playing with my beautiful little girl!), doing a lot of mental cleansing, meditating and enjoying life to the fullest. I am so excited to begin this new chapter, and I am starting it with a whole new mindset. I have a beautiful friend, Tina, who has been such an inspiration to me over the years, and how she made a decision to change her life. I was the fortunate winner of a free copy of the e-book that she wrote, and I have been trying to save it as a treat for when I am recovering next week, but I keep peeking at it! I am so excited to read it!! (You should, too! http://the40by40.com/landing/the-decision/). Her story is so inspiring and beautiful, and I can't wait to read more! I love the thought of making a decision to change your way of life, your thoughts and your attitude. One more new change coming up in my new life!!
I am getting so close! I'll keep you posted!!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
A cause for celebration!
So I did a weigh-in this morning, and I am down nearly 40 pounds since I started the Weight Management Program in July of last year! 40 pounds! That's like carrying around my daughter all day every day! They say that for every pound overweight you are, that's an extra 3-5 times that weight on your joints. So if you lose 10 pounds, it's like relieving an extra 30-50 pounds of pressure on your joints! So by the time I get down to my goal weight, I will have relieved 600-1000 pounds of pressure! THAT BLOWS MY MIND!!!! I am so glad that I am getting this surgery now. It is so sobering to think of how this affecting my whole life. It has affected my confidence, my lifestyle, relationships, job opportunities, career adancement; everything. And that's just on the outside. Imagine the damage being this heavy has done to the inside! How long can your heart continue to pump when it's got this much body to pump blood through? How long can your liver keep processing crap? I am looking at this surgery not only as a life-style changing tool, but a life saving tool. I want to be there for my family. I want to be able to run and jump and play with my kids. I want to be there when Gracie falls in love and gets married, and when she has babies (when she is 30!). I want to grow old with Keith, side by side in our matching barca loungers. I want to go on a Ferris Wheel and ride comfortably on an airplane and so much more! My life is just beginnig with this surgery. I can't wait to see where it takes me! I'll keep you posted!!
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Very Hungry Jenny
Today is a hungry day. I am still down 20 lbs. which is great, but I am kind of at a plateau. Right now, I am on Day 11 of my 21 day fast; the end is in sight! However, I am starvin' Marvin today! The Opti-Fast shakes are great to an extent, but they definitely do not satisfy my popcorn craving!!! I am finding that I am lacking patience, too, which doesn't help with two little monkeys running around!!
I had my appointment yesterday with Internal Medicine and Anaesthesia, and it looks like we are good to go! We are waiting to hear back from the Hospital now as they need to confirm an ultrasound that was done on my heart after I had Gracie. I had an enlarged valve due to complications in childbirth, so they are just confirming that it is back to normal. No worries, it's all good!
It is so hard to believe that I will be on the other end of this in less than 2 weeks. I feel like it has been such a long journey to get to this point and I can't wait for the next step! I also can't wait for some real food!! I have been craving scrambled eggs for the last few days; definitely the first thing on my list when I get to eat in 4 weeks!!
That's all for now! I'll keep you posted!
I had my appointment yesterday with Internal Medicine and Anaesthesia, and it looks like we are good to go! We are waiting to hear back from the Hospital now as they need to confirm an ultrasound that was done on my heart after I had Gracie. I had an enlarged valve due to complications in childbirth, so they are just confirming that it is back to normal. No worries, it's all good!
It is so hard to believe that I will be on the other end of this in less than 2 weeks. I feel like it has been such a long journey to get to this point and I can't wait for the next step! I also can't wait for some real food!! I have been craving scrambled eggs for the last few days; definitely the first thing on my list when I get to eat in 4 weeks!!
That's all for now! I'll keep you posted!
Monday, February 20, 2012
BAD BREATH!!
Oh holy man, I can't believe the breath situation over here!! Because there is literally nothing in my stomach, there is some serious stank going on here!!
OK Rant over. :) Day 7 is drawing to a close, and I am now 20 pounds lighter! My face is thinner, my arms are thinner and my rear end is thinner! (true story!!) Today I also reached a MAJOR milestone in my weight loss, and I was able to comfortably recline in the tub. I took a bath, and I lounged! I haven't done that since high school! There was nothing digging into my side, there was no discomfort at all. I fell asleep in the tub! It was awesome! I've never had that luxury before! It felt so good to know that I am making such huge steps!
I have now told every member of the family about my surgery now, and I am so thrilled to have their support and love. I have also been incredibly blessed with some amazing friends who have been more supportive than I could ever have imagined, and I also have a wonderful new friend that I actually met through the Weight Management Program who just had her surgery a few weeks ago. I am so grateful and thankful for a mentor who has gone through it!! She has given me so much advice and support, and it has definitely made my journey a ton easier!
Week two starts tomorrow, so I'll keep you posted!
OK Rant over. :) Day 7 is drawing to a close, and I am now 20 pounds lighter! My face is thinner, my arms are thinner and my rear end is thinner! (true story!!) Today I also reached a MAJOR milestone in my weight loss, and I was able to comfortably recline in the tub. I took a bath, and I lounged! I haven't done that since high school! There was nothing digging into my side, there was no discomfort at all. I fell asleep in the tub! It was awesome! I've never had that luxury before! It felt so good to know that I am making such huge steps!
I have now told every member of the family about my surgery now, and I am so thrilled to have their support and love. I have also been incredibly blessed with some amazing friends who have been more supportive than I could ever have imagined, and I also have a wonderful new friend that I actually met through the Weight Management Program who just had her surgery a few weeks ago. I am so grateful and thankful for a mentor who has gone through it!! She has given me so much advice and support, and it has definitely made my journey a ton easier!
Week two starts tomorrow, so I'll keep you posted!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Day 5: Stronger than I thought!
Well, it is now day 5 and I am down 17 pounds! That's right! 17!! I am thrilled!! I can't believe how much better I feel, even with just 17 pounds! I say "just" 17 pounds, but it really is huge!! I feel lighter, if that makes sense! I am finding that I have more energy, and even the hunger pangs are subsiding! I made a vinegarette with just plain white vinegar and Splenda for a no-calorie spritz! It's just a bit of flavor for those dull salads! I got to have 2/3 of a cup of chicken broth, and I swear, it was the best thing I had ever tasted! I also got a sugar-free jello - I was in HEAVEN!! It's so great to be able to have a small treat like that once in awhile! I ate it with one of BabyJ's spoons, so it felt like more and I ate it a lot slower! It was awesome!
Today we went to a birthday party, and I was SO proud of my willpower! There were vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting, my kryptonite, and I SAID NO!! I didn't even lick the icing off of my fingers when I gave G her cupcake! How strong am I?!?! I wiped it on the napkin and I had some water instead! Yay me!!!
I feel better already. I'm finding moving a lot easier, and I am just feeling good. I'm super tired sometimes from the calorie drop, but that is just temporary. And if I have some water or salad, I am good to go again! I wish I had done this years ago, but I am proud of myself for making this decision to do it now!
I'll keep you posted!
Love J
Today we went to a birthday party, and I was SO proud of my willpower! There were vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting, my kryptonite, and I SAID NO!! I didn't even lick the icing off of my fingers when I gave G her cupcake! How strong am I?!?! I wiped it on the napkin and I had some water instead! Yay me!!!
I feel better already. I'm finding moving a lot easier, and I am just feeling good. I'm super tired sometimes from the calorie drop, but that is just temporary. And if I have some water or salad, I am good to go again! I wish I had done this years ago, but I am proud of myself for making this decision to do it now!
I'll keep you posted!
Love J
Friday, February 17, 2012
Are you kidding me?
15 pounds!! I have lost 15 pounds!! I can't believe it!! I have now officially lost all of my baby weight (it only took 3.5 years!!), and I am now thinner than when Keith and I started dating! It's crazy! Today is the first day that I feel like I actually have some energy, so my house is actually getting cleaned!! I am finding that my body is now getting used to the caloric loss, and I am starting to feel really good! I am sleeping better I am happier I am just feeling great! I have more patience, I am less grumpy and life is good!! After the 2nd day of fasting, I was seriously ready to giv eup and quit. But then I realized that I am losing weight, and in doing that, I am saving my own life and getting my life back! It's been such a hard road (I totally just wrote hard toad) to get here, but now that I am here and the end is in sight, I am so excited about getting my surgery and starting the next step in this journey! It has been so much hard work and sacrifice, but every single morsel of food that I've passed up is completely worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeat! At almost a week in, there are definitely things that I am missing, like popcorn. A friend asked me to go to a movie this weekend, and I had to pass because I'm not sure I could handle the popcorn aroma!!! Eventually, after I have my first fill (having fluid added to my band), I'm sure that I will be able to re-introduce air-popped popcorn. But for now, I"m good with just veggies! Although, I DO miss having a sauce or dressing for my veg! There is only so much stir-fry I can handle, and I am already done with it! So raw veggies it is, and hopefully I will figure out a yummy drizzle to put on top!!
So that's what's new with us today! I'll keep you posted!
Love J
So that's what's new with us today! I'll keep you posted!
Love J
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Is that willpower or what?!?!?!?
So my 3-year-old is in preschool, and on Valentine's day, I was the parent volunteer in her class. The day before I started my fast (the day before Valentine's Day so no romantic dinner for me!!), I had made cookies and prepared their snack so I wouldn't be tempted and was really proud of myself for thinking ahead!! We were supposed to go to a playdate that morning so I had som eextra cookies, and then when the kids got sick, I sent them to work with my hubby so I wouldn't be tempted by them. Yay me! The BIG test was, however, came at preschool. When you're the parent volunteer, you do the craft with the kids while the teacher is, you guessed it, teaching! Sure, no problem, I can handle that. So I get to the class, and the craft is painting a strawberry with chocolate!!! That was seriously rough. But that wasn't the worst part. I had to clean up after "craft" time, and her teacher told me that I could dispose of the chocolate. SO there I am at the sink, dumping this bowl of beautiful, melted chocolate. I desperately wanted to stick my hand in there and munch down!! But I didn't! I stayed strong!! I held my ground!! And even though a piece of my heart went down the drain with that chocolate, I am proud of myself!!!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Day Two on the alien planet...
Welcome to Day 2! I am on #5 of 63 Opti-Fast drinks. Only 58 to go! I have to admit, they don't actually taste THAT bad. They are definitely not the most delicious thing that I have ever put in my mouth, but I have DEFINITELY tasted worse! I get 900 calories per day to play with 800 of which are taken by the opti-fast. I can have 2 cups of veggies per day, which sounds like a lot, but is actually not a whole lot at all, especially when it all has to be spread out throughout the entire day! I made an amazing stir-fry last night with mushroom, celery and broccoli and 4 tbsp. of ginger-beef consumme,and let me tell you, it tasted fantastic after a liquid diet all day! I also made a calorie-free slurpee for myself using crystal light, a bit of water and ice! It definitely satisfied my sweet-tooth and fulfilled my required liquids for the day. The ONLY problem is that it is SUPER easy to eat a lot of them, which makes you super have to pee!! I will most definitely not be having one before bed again!
In other news, I am down 6 pounds already. What's that? Six pounds? That's right! SIX!!!! I had to re-weigh myself 4 times to make sure!! If nothing else, the weight loss will keep me motivated! I'm really excited to already be seeing results!
I'll keep you posted!
Love J
In other news, I am down 6 pounds already. What's that? Six pounds? That's right! SIX!!!! I had to re-weigh myself 4 times to make sure!! If nothing else, the weight loss will keep me motivated! I'm really excited to already be seeing results!
I'll keep you posted!
Love J
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Day One In The New World
Well, today marks the first day into the journey of the rest of my life!! I am T-21 days until I am the lucky recipient of a Lap Band. It is so hard to believe that a year of preparation, diet and exercise has finally come to fruition, and I am about to get my life back! I have been both dreading and looking forward to this time, wondering how I was going to get myself through it. Wondering if I could even do it. And now, today, here I am, starting the first day of my 21-day fast. This is what I am doing:
Opti-Fast: It's a high protein beverage that (seriously) tastes like bottom, but will provide me with 800 calories per day of pure, blendeddeliciousness diet power. To be totally honest, it's not actually that bad (she said after only one dose!). It's basically the consistency of thick whole milk, and the Vanilla flavor tastes like very sweet vanilla pudding. I am able to mix it with ice and a sugar-free syrup from Starbucks, which gives it a consistency similar to the Ice-Cap's from Tim Horton's. Not awful, but definitely something that is going to take some getting used to!
In addition to my Opti-Fast, I also get to enjoy my fill of some delicious vegetables:
Peppers
Onion
Mushroom
Cucumber
Tomato
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Beans
Asparagus
So I will be having a lot of stir-frys and soups for the next 3 weeks! I have 100 extra calories to play with, so that could include a sugar-free popsicle or sugar-free jello as a snack, or some consomme soup or clear broth. NOT a whole lot to work with, but hopefully it will help me from being hungry (and cranky!!)
The ultimate goal of doing this fast is to help shrink my liver. When you are overweight, your liver is more prone to bleeding. It becomes fatty, which can cause bleeding if moved, which is (of course!) a huge problem when you're having stomach surgery!
So the liver performs a lot of necessary functions in the body. Unfortunately, because the liver sits on top of the stomach, it is in the way! Here is an image of how it works:
Opti-Fast: It's a high protein beverage that (seriously) tastes like bottom, but will provide me with 800 calories per day of pure, blended
In addition to my Opti-Fast, I also get to enjoy my fill of some delicious vegetables:
Peppers
Onion
Mushroom
Cucumber
Tomato
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Beans
Asparagus
So I will be having a lot of stir-frys and soups for the next 3 weeks! I have 100 extra calories to play with, so that could include a sugar-free popsicle or sugar-free jello as a snack, or some consomme soup or clear broth. NOT a whole lot to work with, but hopefully it will help me from being hungry (and cranky!!)
The ultimate goal of doing this fast is to help shrink my liver. When you are overweight, your liver is more prone to bleeding. It becomes fatty, which can cause bleeding if moved, which is (of course!) a huge problem when you're having stomach surgery!
Liver facts
- The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, weighing on average about 3.5 pounds.
- The liver carries out a large number of critical functions, including manufacture of essential proteins, and metabolism of fats and carbohydrates.
- The liver also serves to eliminate harmful biochemical waste products and detoxify alcohol, certain drugs, and environmental toxins.
- The liver forms and secretes bile that contains bile acids to aid in the digestion and intestinal absorption (taking in) of fats and the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
So the liver performs a lot of necessary functions in the body. Unfortunately, because the liver sits on top of the stomach, it is in the way! Here is an image of how it works:
So the lapband is placed at the top of the stomach and creates a small pouch. This is all done lapiscropically through approximately 5 incisions. They place the lap band around the top of the stomach, and then they close it sort of like a zip-tie. Then, there is a port that is placed in the abdomen, which is where they can add or remove fluid to adjust your band. This can be adjusted depending on your needs. So if you are having trouble swallowing food or are losing weight at a super-fast rate, then can remove some fluid to allow more food in. If you have reached a plateau or if you aren't having weight-loss success, then they can add fluid to tighten your band. This is what the band looks like:
Those little pillowy things in the middle are where the fluid goes. It is inserted via a needle, and takes under 20 minutes to adjust. Not bad!
I'm really getting excited about the surgery. It's been a lot of work to get to this point, and the best is yet to come! I've already seen results just from doing the weight management program, and once I start getting the fluid in my band, it's going to be amazing! I've had a lot of love and support from family and friends, even from people that I wasn't sure how they'd react. I feel so blessed and so loved, and I"m excited to see what's next. I'll keep you posted!!
Love J
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