Sizzlin’ Summer Weigh-In: Week 2 Post Op VSG

Summer’s here! Which means that fun in the sun is a daily way of life.  Getting outside and getting active is easy, and it’s on my agenda for each and every day this summer.  Being on summer vacation means I don’t have any of the workaday responsibilities that can get in the way of my plans.  Now that I’ve had the VSG surgery, achieving my weight loss goals is only a matter of time, and this summer is going to be HOT.  Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend, and will give me a positive goal to begin each new week. I’m not on a diet, I’m establishing a lifestyle – my new life. My Sunday progress updates will be called Sizzlin’ Summer Weigh-Ins.

I was looking forward to today’s weigh in all week long.  I’ve been weighing myself every day, and recording those weights in MFP, but I was still excited to get on the scale this morning and see what my total for the past two weeks was.  When I weighed in minutes before surgery, the scale showed 277.  When I weighed in when I got back to my house, after surgery, I had ballooned up to 284 due to the air they pumped in my stomach during surgery, the resulting gas and bloating, as well as issues with regularity.

The suspense is killing me, what did the scale show?

I weighed in this morning at 267.2, which is a loss of 9.8 lbs since surgery, and a total of 47.8 lbs lost from my highest weight. This is incredible progress!  Especially since I was up more than 7 lbs right after surgery.  I am so thrilled with these numbers, and completely excited to see how far I can go during these three months of summer.

In terms of how I’m feeling, I’m happy to report that I’m feeling almost back to normal.  I’ve stopped taking pain medicine of any kind (including the liquid Tylenol) because the pain is more of a soreness than anything.  I still can’t reach all the way down to the ground to pick things up without pain, but each day it gets a little bit easier.  In terms of my energy, I feel almost back to normal, but I do notice that if I don’t take a nap in the afternoon, I end up going to bed really early (9:30pm).  This is unheard of for me!  I am not a napper, and never have been.  Even when I was young, I would spend my naptime playing in my room instead of sleeping.  And you guys know that I usually function on 5-6 hours of sleep a night.  So this is a whole new thing for me, but I know my body is healing, and since I have the luxury of not really needing to be anywhere at any certain time, I might as well take advantage of it while I can.  The bloating is gone, although I’m still struggling with regularity.  I know it’s because my diet has consisted solely of protein with no fiber or roughage of any kind. I know this will improve as I am able to add more variety to my diet. Speaking of which…

Tomorrow is my 2-week post-op visit with my surgeon, and I’m looking forward to quite a few things:

• The removal of the surgical bandages that have been covering my incisions.  I’ve been able to shower with them on, but they’re starting to come loose from the skin, and they are annoying and ugly.
• The okay to drive again.  I’ve been cooped up for the past two weeks, and I can’t wait to get that freedom back.  My family has been incredible about doing errands for me, but there’s nothing like being able to do things for yourself.
• The approval to start swimming and other active activities. You guys know how much I love to swim in the summer, and I’ve been longing for the peace and serenity I feel in the pool. Plus, it’s an amazing full-body workout.  I’m also looking forward to getting back to the gym.  I want to start weight training as soon as possible, but more on that in a separate post.
• Moving to Stage III foods.  I haven’t minded the Stage II foods that much because my mom made me some delicious soup from Ina Garten, and found great soup flavors from Trader Joe’s (creamy roasted corn and red pepper, Latin black bean, roasted red pepper and tomato), but I miss chewing.  Stage two opens up a whole new world of flavors and textures, and I’m looking forward to that.  I’ll write more about that in another post.

I’m so happy with my decision to have VSG surgery, and I couldn’t be prouder of how well I’m doing.  I’m sticking to the nutritionist’s plan to the letter, which isn’t always easy, but it’s what I know I have to do to be successful.  This feeling and knowledge that I WILL achieve all my goals is what I was striving for those 2 years and 8 months, and though that path was arduous, it was worth every step (or misstep), because it brought me to this moment.

Friday 5: A Few Summer Treats

For today’s Friday 5, I thought I’d include a few things that I’ve bought for myself as a special treat. With budget cutbacks and furlough days, I’ve had to cut back on lots of extras and fun things, but every May I get a bonus check for some of my extra activities. The bulk of the money is bookmarked for more practical purposes, but I do like to use a bit of it to treat myself to a few things I’ve been wanting.

Last summer Ani told me about Erin Condren, and she opened up a whole new world of organization to me. I’ve coveted the Teacher Lesson Planner for a year, and finally, today, I bought it for myself. The one I ordered looks something like the one in the photo, only my cover design has black lace and hot pink dots. It will also be personalized with my name on the front. So cool! The reason I decided to splurge on it for myself is because I love staying organized, write EVERYTHING down on a calendar to plan the daily lessons for my classes, and because I’m going to be teaching a new class next year that will require even more organization than usual. I’ll definitely post a photo as soon as I receive my planner in a couple of weeks.

You guys know how much I love makeup, and I’ve been loyal to Bare Minerals for several years, but I wanted to change up my everyday summer makeup a bit and try something new. I’d been hearing great things about the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, and decided to give it a try. My face routine is to use Garnier BB Cream as a base and then add the Mineralize Skinfinish on top to set it. I tried it out yesterday, and the coverage is light to medium, which is perfect for summer. I also like that it helps me feel “done,” but lets my skin show through. I love that it’s a pressed/baked powder. I use Bare Minerals Ready pressed foundation daily for work and I love it, but it does make me feel more “made up” than I want to be on a regular summer day. I’ll save it for special outings this summer.

I love Bath & Body Works products because they help me start the day smelling great. It was time to stock up on shower gel and body cream for summer, and today’s order included a few new (to me) scents. Beautiful Day smells incredible – floral, fresh, and light – perfect for summer. Sweet Pea smells just like the flowers, floral, light, fresh (notice a trend). I also decided to try Capri Seaside Citrus, because Capri is one of my favorite places ever, and I thought the light scent would be nice. Of the three, Beautiful Day is definitely my favorite, and one that I’ll repurchase again and again.

So, those are my fun splurge-y purchases – nothing too over the top, but just enough to set a festive feel to the new season.

The weather’s heating up this weekend, and I wish I was cleared to swim. (I’m hoping that at my 2-week post op appt on Monday, the surgeon will remove the surgical bandages and clear me for swimming, because my plan is to make it a daily activity). Instead, I’m planning on getting out and taking some nice walks, reading outside in the backyard, and enjoying plenty of water in Mason jars. There’s something so summery about Mason jars, isn’t there?

I’m going to see Before Midnight with Ani this afternoon. I’ve seen each of the movies, Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, and it just seems right to continue the series. It’s gotten great reviews, and there’s something so charming about the characters of Celine and Jesse.

Progress Three Ways

Today marked three significant milestones that I wanted to share.

1. Last night I was able to sleep in my bed! I’ve been on a couch since I left the hospital, because my stomach was too sore to lay flat. Last night I was feeling good, and decided to give it a try, and while it wasn’t the most comfortable night’s sleep I’ve ever had because I couldn’t only sleep on one side (crick in the neck this morning), it sure felt great to stretch all the way out.

2. When I first got back to my house, about 5 days after surgery, it showed 284, which was up 7 pounds from where I was right before surgery, when I weighed in at Kaiser at 277. I wasn’t too freaked out because I knew the weight gain was all from fluids, gas, bloating, and constipation. This morning I felt less bloated than I have since surgery, and I decided to get on the scale. It was down a couple of pounds from the surgery weight! It showed 275.8, which is great. Now that I’m past the “hump,” I know that the scale is going to slide down, down, and down. I can’t wait for Sunday’s weigh in.

3. I got to move to Stage 2 foods today. These include things like cottage cheese, yogurt, and baby food. I’ve never in my life eaten baby food, but I’m intrigued by the variety of flavor that it will offer. My sister said that she tasted all the baby food before giving it to her girls, and that it was actually very good. To help celebrate this new stage, she kindly bought me a bunch of different “kiddie approved” baby food. Is it weird that I’m looking forward to having string beans and chicken tonight? LOL. One thing I learned this afternoon as I was eating 1/2 cup of cottage cheese was just how slowly I have to eat this more solid food. I was going slowly, chewing carefully, and putting my spoon down between bites. I thought I was doing well, but all of a sudden, I got super-full and a cold sweat came over me – a sure sign that I’d eaten too fast. So tonight I’m going to slow down even more. This stage lasts for the next week until Monday’s 2-week post op appt. Update: The baby food?  Definitely not something I’m going to repeat.  The taste wasn’t terrible, but the consistency and texture was pretty yucky. So, I’m going to donate the food to our local food bank and stick with the soups that I’ve been enjoying.

I’m feeling really good today; the best I’ve felt since surgery.  I still have pain, and need to take things slowly, but I don’t feel the terrible bloated/uncomfortable feeling that I was struggling with as recently as yesterday. I was able to vacuum my floors, walk 10 minutes on the treadmill, and do a bit in my backyard. This is what I’ve been waiting for.  I’m not trying to rush anything, but I’m so happy to be able to feel more normal again.

FMM: Summer Fun

Happy Monday! I can’t believe that today marks one week since my weight loss surgery.  It’s amazing to me how much my body has gone through, and recovered from, in that short time.  I’m feeling good this morning, and expect that by next Monday for my 2-week post op appointment, I’ll be feeling even better!  Now, let’s get to this week’s FMM.

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

FMM: Summer Fun

This week’s topic is especially fun for me to answer because my summer has officially started!

1.  What is your favorite summer fruit?  I love all summer fruits, but I have to agree with Kenlie that watermelon is at the top of the list.  Nothing is more refreshing, is it?

2.  Do you know how to swim?  Absolutely! Swimming is my favorite way to exercise in the summer.  As soon as I’m cleared to swim, I plan on being at the pool every single day to get an early-afternoon swim in. Can’t wait!

3.  Do you prefer sun or snow?  Living in the Bay Area, I don’t have to deal with the snow, and have only been in it once or twice in my life.  So, I definitely prefer the sun.

4.  What temperature do you like most inside your home?  Right around 70 is ideal, but I keep the A/C to 74 to conserve.

5.  Is it humid where you live?  Not usually.  Once in awhile we get a weird tropical system that makes it fairly humid, but most of the time it’s extremely pleasant.

6. What is your favorite food to put on the grill?  Most often you’ll some sort of fish on my grill, but I love grilling everything – steaks, chicken, lamb, tofu, and of course, veggies.

7. Do you prefer to wear a one-piece  or two-piece swim suit?  I wear a swim dress to help conceal my thighs; it’s two pieces, but it covers everything. I’m actually looking forward to buying some new swimsuits this summer (since the ones I have are going to get too big!).

8.  What is your favorite summer drink?  There are so many drinks I enjoy in summer – iced coffee made from the morning’s leftovers, iced tea, but SkinnyGirl margaritas are right up there, if we’re celebrating.

9.  Do you prefer the pool or the ocean? I prefer to swim in the pool but I love going to the ocean to enjoy the views.

I took this in early spring in Half Moon Bay

10.  What are you looking forward to most over the summer? I’m looking forward to this being a summer of transformation for me.  I plan to kick my workouts into overdrive and really see how much weight I can lose.  I’m looking forward to the new me emerging.  Plus, I can’t wait for all the fun, social events that the summer brings.

Now it’s your turn to answer the questions! And also be sure to go back to Kenlie’s blog and leave a link to your FMM post in the comments! I really encourage you to comment on as many people’s posts as you can – I’ve met some fantastic people through FMM. You never know who you’ll meet today.

Back at Home, Back to Life

Now that I’m back home from recuperating for a bit at my parents’ house, I’m starting to settle into my new life. I’m not cleared to drive yet, nor am I able to lift things heavier than 10 lbs, so I’m relying on my sister and my parents to help me with lots of things around the house. But overall, a nice routine is falling back in place.

Since Tuesday, I’ve been on Stage 1 Foods: protein shakes, cream soups, and water, water, water. I have to stop drinking water 20 minutes before I eat and I can’t drink anything for 30 minutes after I eat. (That way, I don’t get filled up on water and the water doesn’t push the food through my stomach too quickly). I haven’t once felt hungry, and considering the fact that I’m only taking in 450 calories, that’s amazing to me.  To fit in the liquids, foods, and medicines with the proper spacing between, I’ve been following this schedule:

• Wake up, brew hot decaf tea, take Prilosec. (I’m on this for two months to avoid heartburn).
• Wait 30 min.
• Breakfast: 1/2 cup soup + pain medicine (I have to take the pain med on a “full” stomach so that it doesn’t nauseate me).
• Wait 30 min.
• Drink water – stop 20 minutes before Mid-Morning meal
• Mid Morning: protein shake + GasX***
• Wait 30 min.
• Drink water – stop 20 minutes before Lunch
• Lunch: 1/2 cup soup + pain medicine
• Wait 30 min.
• Drink water – stop 20 minutes before Afternoon meal
• Afternoon: protein shake + GasX
• Wait 30 min.
• Drink water
• 30 minutes before dinner, take Prilosec and stop water
• Dinner: 1/2 cup soup + pain medicine
• Wait 30 min.
• Drink water, decaf coffee, and tea for the rest of the night
• Take pain medicine before bed

***I didn’t realize that the GasX would reduce all the pain I was having until I read about it on the Sassy Sleevers FB group on Thursday afternoon. I was in AGONY with all the bloating, and taking the GasX worked like a miracle. I’m still in a lot of pain at times, and very bloated because the pain medicine causes constipation, but nothing like the pain I was in for the first few days.

Because of the pain and bloating, bending down isn’t easy, but I’ve actually been keeping up with the household chores like laundry. I’m actually very proud of myself for how much I’ve accomplished in just two days that I’ve been home. I think staying busy is going to speed up my recovery.

Yesterday I saw quite a few friends who came to visit me, and it really felt good to have a reason to get a dressed in something other than lounge clothes. Nothing makes you feel better than connecting with friends and family. When it comes to good wishes, I have the best people in my life. Lots of cards and small gifts, but the best thing, by far, was this arrangement my sister had waiting for me at my parents’ house when I came home from the hospital: Simply gorgeous!

I’ve also been getting out and walking, albeit slowly.  Today was my longest jaunt out – 20 minutes, and I’m going to add 5 minutes to that time every day.  Next week, after my 2-week post op appointment, I’ll start to increase speed.  I can’t wait until I’m cleared to swim, because I know how great that will feel.  I’m also looking forward to getting back to all my usual workouts, too.

Usually on Sunday I’d be stepping in the scale, but because of all the bloating and constipation, I’m avoiding it like the plague.  I am so thankful that I came out of the surgery healthy, and that I’ve made as much progress as I have, but I have to be honest.  This is killing me.  I just want to feel normal.  I don’t even mind having pain where the incisions are, that’s fine.  I just don’t want my stomach to be so full of…well, you know.  I’m hoping that by next Sunday, I’ll be able to get back to my regular weigh-ins with an awesome first result.

Until then, I’m going to listen to the words of my favorite Transcendentalist…

On the Mend and Finally Feeling Like Me

It’s been three days since surgery, and I today I hit a turning point. Thank you to everyone who has left such nice comments, tweets, FB posts, and emails. I’ve read and appreciate every single one.  They mean more than you know.

Since Monday, the day of surgery, I’ve been in terrible pain.  Pain from the incisions and the surgery itself.  Pain from the extra gas they flooded my stomach with so they could work.  Pain from the staples and the fact that they cut away 80% of my stomach for the VSG (vertical sleeve gastrectomy) surgery.

I expected there would be discomfort, even some pain, but what I’ve experienced the past several days wasn’t anything I was prepared for.  I think it’s sort of like childbirth – everyone who has had WLS is so pleased with their results that they forget about the pain of the process immediately after surgery.  Of all the people I’ve spoken to about the surgery, no one mentioned this kind of pain.  And the thing is, I have a really high pain tolerance.

But today I turned a corner.  I went on the Sassy Sleever group on FB looking for tips and was reminded about taking GasX to help with the bloating.  That worked like a miracle!  Then one of my friends pushed me by saying I needed to get up, get out, and walk – no excuses.  I’m so glad he gave me that kick in the butt, because it was what I needed.  I’d been walking around the house, up the stairs, etc., but I hadn’t ventured outside yet.

Today I decided that I had been in this slump long enough.  I cleaned myself up, put on a bit of BB cream and a touch of blush, got dressed, and went outside to take a slow, short walk in the sun.  My mom accompanied me, because I don’t feel strong enough to go outside on my own for a walk just yet.

Between the walk, the GasX, and a more positive attitude, I feel like myself again.  I am so glad that I made the decision to have the VSG, and I’m so proud of myself for the steps that I took to get here.  I’m looking forward to heading home tomorrow and really starting to live my new life.  My journey is just beginning, but I’m confident about where I’m heading.

Today’s the DAY!!!

After all these years, I can hardly believe that today is the day I’ve been striving toward for so long.  My surgery day!!!!

I wanted to make sure to post something up here, since I’m not sure how long it will be before I can write a proper post. My surgery was pushed back to 1:45pm, so I don’t need to leave for the hospital until 10:30am (11:30 check in).  Instead of sleeping in, I was up at 5:30.  I took some time to just center myself, watch a few YouTube videos, catch up on Twitter, FB, and MFP, change the sheets, empty the garbage, shower, and now I’m relaxing on the couch.  Life would be perfect if I could have a steaming cup of coffee, but alas, nothing by mouth from midnight on.

I’m still feeling incredibly calm, confident, and just ready to wake up in recovery.  I know that when I do, I’ll have an entirely new life waiting for me, and I just can’t wait to start living it.

I’ll update as soon as I can, but you’ll most likely see me on MFP or Twitter first. See you on the other side!