Too much travel!!!!!!

I’ve been home 5 days out of the last 26 days…I’ve been traveling more for work, then took a working vacation with Mr. McButterpants to San Francisco.  I leave again in a week for two weeks.  I told my boss that I need to limit travel starting in April because my son plays baseball and I am not willing to miss any of his games.  She was so nice about it, “No problem, I understand completely.”  Refreshing since so many bosses I have had in the past would not have been that understanding.

Our time in San Francisco was awesome.  We rented an apartment about 8 blocks from the ocean.  We have always stayed downtown or in Nobb Hill…this year we ventured out to the more residential, Outer Richmond.  We worked during the day and explored in the afternoon and evening.  It’s largely residential, so we didn’t have the sirens and city noise we have had in the past.

We walked, walked and walked some more.  We explored Lands End and Golden Gate Park.  We logged over 56 miles in a week…17 miles in one day!  OMG, I could not have done that 75 pounds ago.  I was tired, EXHAUSTED, but I was really proud of myself.  Though we were tempted at times to call a cab, we just kept moving and finding new sights to explore.  It was a beautiful day wondering through a beautiful city.

(One of my favorite spots at Fisherman’s Wharf…I could watch the sea lions for hours!)

We rented a convertible one day and hit the road.  We stopped in Pacifica and went for what was supposed to be a little walk.  It ended up being a 45 minute hike up a cliff.  It was beautiful!  Again, something I couldn’t have done 75 pounds ago!

(Our car is parked in that parking lot…)

I started back at hot yoga when we returned from San Francisco – it had been over three weeks since my last practice.  Wow, it was hard.  I didn’t feel good for a day or two after that first practice.  I have gone two days in a row now and am getting back into the swing of things.  I leave again next week, so I’ll lose it again!  Ugh!!!!

Post op – Week 5…Where does the time go? and I need to poop and exercise more!

Time is just flying by.  I can’t believe I am at five weeks post-op already!

I feel like the eating, drinking protein shakes and drinking water is a full time job.  You can’t drink water 30 minutes before or after a meal or a shake.  So I watch the clock or set the timer on my cell phone so I know when I can drink water again.  Eating takes a lot of time – about 20-25 minutes for a scrambled egg.  It is cumbersome and it gets old, not to mention the food is cold by the time you get to the last bite – I used to save the best bite for last…not any more – the first bite is the best one because you never know if you’re going to get another shot at it!  Also, when I feel hunger I can’t just go to the refrigerator and eat – I need to make sure I wait until it’s been 30 minutes since my last drink.  That hunger doesn’t happen a lot, but it does happen.  It’s funny I just re-read that last sentence…I guess it’s a good thing that I can’t just go to the refrigerator and grab something.  Isn’t that what got me in this predicament in the first place?  The formula looks like this:  Eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted equals morbid obesity.  I think they call this an “Ah hah” moment.

I feel like I need to have a bowel movement, but I can’t go.  Sorry – too much information, I know, but I’m being open and honest in this blog.  I’ve tried Metamucil.  I’m drinking a strong cup of real coffee right now to see if that will get things moving.  Grrrr.  This is really my only “complication” from this surgery.  It’s frustrating and it’s painful.  I feel bloated and uncomfortable.  I feel fortunate that I haven’t had any other issues – I had no issues with my incisions, I haven’t vomited during this process, the only thing that has upset my stomach was my vitamins, I was able to walk/exercise almost immediately after surgery.  I feel like I’m whining, but sweet Jesus, I just want to poop!!!!!!

I am still only cleared for walking.  It’s getting so boring walking on the treadmill for 60 minutes.  I can’t wait to get cleared for doing the elliptical and the bike.  I took 3 days off of exercising last week – not a good thing and I can see a pattern of excuses for not exercising.  That’s an old habit I need to break and soon.  While I really don’t mind exercising, it’s very easy to push it off, probably because it’s not something in your calendar that absolutely has to get to done.  It’s so easy to prioritize something in front of it or say “I’ll do it later.”  I’m good for the “I’ll do it later”…although “later” rarely happens.  I find if I don’t do it in the morning, I probably won’t do it.  I need to re-focus on the walking – I have 13 days to walk 27 miles to reach my revised goal of 54 miles.

Here are some of the things I’m eating:
Chicken salad (canned chicken mixed with low-fat mayo and mustard) – about 2 ounces
Turkey lunchmeat and Sharp Cheddar Cheese (1-2 ounces of meat and ½ ounce of cheese)
Pizza made with a Carb Balance tortilla shell (I can eat ½ of a fajita sized tortilla).  This is a favorite of mine.
Roasted chicken breast (1-2 ounces)
Ground beef hamburger patty with cheese (1-2 ounces).  This was so good yesterday!  I hardly missed the bun.

I hope that in the next week or so, I can include an entry from my husband (hint, hint, Honey!).  I think getting his perspective every once in a while will be good.

Weigh in is tomorrow…feeling a little nervous!!!!!

Weigh In – Week 3…The dreaded three-week stall…UGH!

Starting weight (08/20/13):                256.0
Pre-op weight (11/12/13):                 238.2
Today’s weight (12/06/13):               222.2

Total weight loss:                            33.8 pounds
Weight loss since surgery:            16.0 pounds
Last week’s loss:                              1.8 pounds

I’m in the dreaded three-week stall and it sucks.  I knew this was coming.  I knew it was going to happen.  I thought I even prepared myself for it.  I have preached to others that it’s not big deal.  That it’s your body saying, “Whoa, what the hell did you do to me?” and, “Your body needs to figure it out before it loses more weight.”  I know all that, but it doesn’t make it suck any less and it doesn’t make me any less pissed off.  There, I said it.  I’m pissed off.  I said it again.

Rationally, it makes sense.  My body is wondering if it’s a time of famine, so it’s not going to allow it’s self to lose any more weight until figures out that this is the new normal.  This may take some time – I’m in a Facebook group where some people who had their sleeve operation in November stalled for three weeks.  That’s a major blow to my already fragile psyche!  After years of yo-yo dieting, when you don’t see the scale move, that’s when you find the donuts, or bread, or cookies or (insert vice here).  That is not an option.  Eating a donut or other off-plan food will not only make me sick, even worse, it could damage my sleeve.  It’s also not an option because I must be accountable for my actions.  I need to be an adult.  I will add that accountability and being an adult sucks, too!  🙂

So, I am writing this post as much for me as for anyone that reads it.  The three-week stall will most likely happen.  Try to prepare yourself for it, but know that no matter how much you prepare for it, it’s still going to be difficult when you go through it.

What am I going to do about it?  I’m going to keep on keepin’ on.  That’s all I can do.  I am going to stick to my plan – 3 meals and 3 shakes per day with 80-90 grams of protein; just as the doctor ordered.  I’m going to continue going to the gym and walking on the treadmill.  These are the two things that are going to help me achieve my goals.  I cannot lose sight of that.  I also know that this is temporary.  My rational mind knows the arithmetic behind calories in vs. calories out.  I’m consuming 600-800 calories a day right now and I’m burning about 250 on the treadmill daily.  That formula will equal weight loss as soon as my body realizes we’re going to be OK.  I just wish my body knows what my brain does!