11 Month Belated Photos

Hello, everyone! Sorry it's been awhile since I've updated. I just got back from a much needed vacation to south Florida! Got to spend time with my amazing family as well as romp around Universal studios.

Of course I didn't lose any weight while I was on vacation, actually I believe I gained 2 lbs...but I'm pretty sure its because I was mostly sedentary while in FL.  Anyhow, now I'm back and I'm back on track with my food journaling and exercise! I've found that food journaling keeps me honest...as well as help me see where I can subtract carb/calorie wise from my diet.

Anyhow, I do have new pics. They are of me at 174!! My one year surgiversary is Nov 24th and I cannot wait!
It's crazy to think that in only a year, I've lost 116 lbs!!

Me before at 290lbs Oct 2009                   Me now 174lbs Oct 2010

EGD Results

Had my EGD on Friday, by my RNY surgeon, Dr. 'H'.  Had yet another great experience at the outpatient surgery center I went to! Excellent staff-very friendly, great service!
Anyhow, after I woke up from the procedure I was told that Dr. 'H' found one small ulcer. I'll have to call his office on Monday to figure out where the ulcer was. Anyways, I was told that he was not very worried about it. Dr. 'H' put me on a stronger proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and he really thinks this will take care of it!

I'm sure I will have another follow up EGD in a few months to check on it.

Thank you, Lord, that everything is going to be okay!



*****Confession time*******
So Friday night was a Halloween party that one of my fellow co-workers hosted. Needless to say...I consumed WAAY too many refined carbs.....and yes...as usual I feel like crap. On top of which I also now have a cold. *double joy* It's the usual bloated/gassy/lethargic feeling of carb overload.
I know better, and it shall not happen again. I am quite happy eating low carb and high protein anyways.
Anyhow, aside from the chicken and stars I'm sipping on now...it's back to protein Protein PROTEIN and low carb!!  I feel sooo much better eating this way. I almost always have energy, feel satisfied and not guilty. lol
Anyhow, that's all I've got for an update now. Check out the pretty fall photos I've taken over the past few weeks!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=324832&id=505564895&l=a765d663a2

 

Happy Halloween everyone!

Possible road bump...again...

So the past few weeks I've been having problems with 'heartburn'. I've woken up a couple of nights around 2 a.m. with NASTY heartburn and mild pain around my 'pouch area'.
I take Prilosec OTC once a day, Tums 1000mg as needed *not exceeding 6 a day* drink milk and eat yogurt. By the grace of God, I have not had a problem whatsoever for the past 3 days.
I did, however, schedule an appointment with my RNY surgeon, Dr. 'H' to see what course of action needs to take place.
First of all, I am proud to say that he is VERY happy with my weight loss so far.  116 lbs in 11 months, and still losing 1-2 pounds per week! Now officially 14 lbs away from my first goal of 160 and 29 lbs away from my long term goal of 145 lbs.
Anyhow, Dr. 'H' wants me to have an EGD ASAP to check for ulcers. He said that ulcers postop are common. He also said that if I do have an ulcer that he'll put me on Karafate for 90 days and do another EGD to see if they heal. If I do not have an ulcer he said it may be a hiatal hernia causing my heartburn.
We shall see! 
I've scheduled my EGD for this Friday morning. Please pray that everything goes wonderfully. Dr. 'H' will be doing this EGD.
I am thankful that my awesome boss at work has allowed me to take the day off to do this. Also, I am thankful that my wonderful boyfriend Craig,  will be taking me, as I will not be allowed to drive home after the procedure due to anesthetic still being in my system.

Shew...that's a lot to update! Other than the possible ulcer stuff, all is going well here.

Take care everyone!

EGGFACE IS MY RECIPE HERO!!!

Okay, for those of you who do not know, I follow a blogger who happens to be a RNY patient. She has a blog: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO EGGFACE  and it is awesome!  She has a great perspective, positive thoughts and a killer talent for making everyday foods bariatric friendly!

Today I made a recipe of her's for the most delicious apple cinnamon protein muffins! I love these so much that I want to share the recipe. I hope you are willing to try this, you will thank me!!
*also I added chopped pecans to the recipe for extra crunch*

Shelly's Apple Cinnamon Protein Mini Muffins

1 Egg, beaten

3 Tablespoons Milk

2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Vanilla Torani Syrup

2 Tablespoons No Sugar Added Apple Butter

1 Tablespoon Canola Oil

3 Tablespoons Multigrain Pancake Mix (I use this)

2 Tablespoons Almond Meal (aka Ground Almonds, aka Almond Flour)

1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder

1/2 teaspoon Apple Pie Spice

Pinch salt



Optional topping:

1 teaspoon Xylitol

dash of Apple Pie Spice

Mix egg, milk, syrup, apple butter and oil and combine thoroughly. In a separate bowl, mix pancake mix, almond meal, protein powder, pie spice and salt. Tip dry into wet and stir till combined. Pour into a non stick mini muffin pan that has been sprayed with Pam. Sprinkle with optional topping.

Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes, until knife inserted comes out clean. Makes 12.

STOP....look around....and proceed

Strange post title eh? lol Well, allow me to explain....

This past week I've slowly been slipping back in to old habits...nothing earth shattering...just little things. But as we all know it's the little things that can turn into BIG things quickly!
For example: I woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, I then head to the kitchen to see what I could eat....*YES in the middle of the night*
Another example: Sitting around being bored, waiting...then all of a sudden I notice 'snack foods' just hanging around....so I eat a few pieces. *And I'm not even hungry!!
Thankfully, I stumbled upon an old book with excellent principles of healthy eating habits. I re-read this book in just the right areas to help me get back on track.
Principles such as:
-Do not be deceived, know why you eat!
-Never eat when you are bored or tired
-Drink water the moment you feel hungry to make sure it isn't just dehydration masking as hunger
-Always write down what you eat (which I do)
-Exercise is a great way to relieve stress AND fill time!

Anyhow, after my time of reflection, I now have a better understanding and handle on the way things are going now. This is  and will remain a daily battle. I knew, going into this surgery that it would be difficult to maintain the proper eating regimen 100% of the time.  I'm not perfect by ANY stretch of the imagination, but thank God that I can take this thing one day at a time.
Things to do instead of snacking:
-Read a book  -Exercise: Pilates, Yoga or go for a walk  -Crafts  -Watch a movie  -Netflix!!  -Get together with a friend  -Take a hot bath/shower  -Sleep  -Play a game  -Play on Internet  -Blog  -Journal  -Cross stitch  -Draw/Paint  -Clean  -Organize bills etc  -Paint nails  ....and the list goes on!

Let me reiterate, this surgery is NOT the easy way out! It is a tool that is meant to be used properly. I do not want to be one of the hundreds of gastric bypass patients that gain weight back! I have a new way of living and I plan on keeping myself healthy and on the right track.
I have 28 more pounds to lose for my personal goal of 150lbs and I will achieve this by next May.

Until next time, take care everyone!!

It's a "mental game"

After having gastric bypass, I knew I would have to change my habits forever. My eating habits, exercising habits, my thinking habits etc.
Old habits die hard. Habits can be embedded into your mind for YEARS, whether it's drinking a cup of coffee every morning for 20 years or eating while watching t.v. Naturally, bad habits just don't go away overnight.
It is a daily chore to make sure I put good 'nutritious fuel' into my body. Everything that passes my lips MUST be of good nutritious value...I have no leeway for anything else if I want my body to continue to work properly. Naturally, every once in awhile, I do partake of something very small and non-nutritious....but NOT often. This is a slippery slope and if I've learned nothing else, I've learned that it is easy to fall back into old habits. One Hershey kiss here....1/4 of a cookie there....and WHAM!!....you're doing it again!

Anyhow, the reason for me posting this is simply for reflection sake. I NEVER want to go back to living the way I use to. This journey can be difficult at times...but boy is it well worth it!

6-7-08                                      9-22-10

Update

Alrighty, well as of this week I have officially lost 110 lbs!

As I wrote last week, I did do my two days of exercise and VERY much enjoyed them! One day I did Yoga/Pilates for 25 minutes and the other day I did my Wii fitness for 30+ minutes.

Also have been kicking butt with the low carbs, high protein and low fat eating.

This week has been good, the two times I did indulge this week it has been very small (serving size the size of my thumb) and I very much savored every bite.

As far as my exercising for this week....I haven't done a darn thing...and I will explain why:

Last Wednesday I sprained my ankle, I was on call for work of course. Basically, I was leaving a department store with my boyfriend, wasn't looking at where I was walking....tripped and fell off the sidewalk. I skinned by Rt knee *also ripped a hole in my jeans* and then landed sideways on my left ankle. Let's just say that there was a LOT of pain involved. I waited about an hour, elevated my ankle and my sweet boyfriend put ice on it. After I tried putting weight on it I about fell over again SO...I decided to go to the E.R. for an x-ray.

To my surprise I got in and out of the E.R. rather quickly. The doctor said there was no fracture, just a few pulled/torn ligaments. Sweet boyfriend dropped me off at my apartment then went to pick up my pain/anti-inflammatory medicine.

By the grace of God, I was not called in at all during the night for work....the next day at work was fun...let me tell ya. I got to hobble around the O.R. for 7 hours...not in the best of moods to say the least.

Although my ankle is not hurting like it did last week, it's still pretty sore. Still taking extra strength Tylenol when needed and ACE wrapping my ankle/foot for support.

I DO PROMISE to resume my exercising by at least the middle of next week.

Anyhow, that's all I've got for an update. Will write next week and let you know what's going on!