The proof is in the protein shakes ---

So I weighed yesterday... I couldn't wait.  I wanted to know if all these damn protein shakes, sugar free jello, broth were paying off.  And the drum roll on loss is....

Yep... down 5 lbs.  Kind of crazy.  Even stranger is people asking if I lost weight.  Lol.  I know it can't be that noticeable.  But then again... since June 26, 2014; when I was at my highest of 241.5, I am down about 15 or so pounds.  I think MyFitnessPal rounds up or something.  The good news is I'm back in some work pants that I busted the button on... and I learned how to sew on a button.  Learning new things.  Haha.

So the good news is, I haven't had no other breaks in this diet.  I'm feeling pretty good and want to keep this thing going.  We shall see what I weigh come Sunday.  

I know one thing is for sure --- I need to drink water!  I've been drinking these Fruit2o drinks, they are pretty good.  That is helping but I have to make it priority because I have been having issues with going numero dos.  Its freakin like rocks scrapping my poor butt.  I wanted to cry.  Its bad enough having freakin constipation issues from the band but this high protein is not helping and I forgot that I need to have all water in with high protein.  Its just hard since I am drinking what I'm eating and then don't feel like drinking water after that.  Meh.

As for my Healthcare Admin class... its just going.  My professor is so laid back and chill, its strange.  Well more so than others at school.  Got 3 more weeks of class with this and then onto Western Civilization and Spreadsheet Software.  Sucks having to get your core classes still.  But I will get through this and I will be lookin' FLYY come graduation.  :)

Weigh-in... what?

So I keep forgetting to blog on my weigh-in days.  It was so much easier at work.  Lol.  Anywho, weighed myself on Monday and I was 230.4 lbs.  I dropped like 0.6 lbs.  Hahaha.  No lie, I ate bad because I knew that my 2 week pre-op diet was coming up fast.  So I wanted to enjoy regular food prior to doing liquids.

In fact... I'm doing liquids for about 6 weeks straight.  Thats 2 weeks pre-op of full liquids, 2 weeks of clear liquids post-op and then 2 more weeks of full liquids.  I had a hard time the first night... did good at work - usual, but at home with the husband and kids eating... I was like, let me eat.  Thank God for my husband, helped pull me through it.  And then I chose to go to bed early to stop the head hunger.  I did fine yesterday... and in fact was fine at night.

So I'm on day 3 of this full liquid.  I was fine but I had to do some pre-op class at the hospital and meet with the anesthesiologist and do some last minute tests, etc.  I made sure to have a shake prior to going there at 9am.  Got to the hospital at 10am... and I didn't realize it was going to take so long, I didn't leave until 3pm.  I was starving and I saw a P. Terry's... I got me a small burger combo with a shake.  I knew better but I did it.  On to the next day and working on making sure I don't have that happen again.  Just sucks when my protein shakes are usually cold, I guess now that I think about it... I could have stopped by a corner store and got something --- but not all protein shakes are the same.  Ahh... just excuses, next time I will go get one at a corner stores.  Thats better than the decision I made.

I did my measurements and I'm updating my weight on the tab for VSG Stats.

Thats about it.

Some good news!

I haven't posted in a minute because 1. my job no longer allows us to use the internet as freely and 2. my computer at home has been on the crapper --- just cleaned it out & hoping it works better.

I did weigh myself last Sunday... and I am down 1 more pound to 231 lbs.  I have been doing horribly at NOT eating out.  So easy, so convenient.  I have to figure something better out for myself and my family in general.  I'm still logging all of my food intake with MyFitnessPal, so far I'm on a 26 day streak, whoop whoop!  Only bad thing is... I'm struggling with drinking water.

I also got my FitBit and I'm using it religiously as well.  I like seeing my numbers and in some ways it is keeping me accountable.  I may be eating a little over my calories but not as bad as it could be. 

Anywho... the big BIG news is that after doing all the things I needed to do with my insurance ---- I have been approved through insurance to have my revision from the Lap Band to the VSG!  So I will be doing my best to document everything related to it here.  My surgery is scheduled for November 4, 2014.  Its crazy because its almost 5 years since I had my band put in place (November 17, 2009).  They will be removing the Lap Band, any scar tissue from it and doing the sleeve all at the same time.  I'm kind of scared of the thought of really cutting part of my stomach off, which is the reason I didn't go through with the more permanent option in 2009.  But I know this is ultimately the best thing for me.  I'm using a different surgeon, the staff is amazing --- and I love the fact that my surgeon is totally involved in this whole process compared to what I dealt with, with True Results -- I never saw my surgeon EVER again --- prior to the surgery.  Woke up, didn't see him.

I will not bash the Lap Band because to be honest, it did help me.  I did lose some weight, but I also think had it not been in me this whole time, I could have gone up to 300 pounds easily.  So it has helped and I didn't have a totally bad experience with it related to medical issues like erosion or slippage.  The only thing is... like a relationship, the band and I were not meant to be together forever.

I start my 2-week pre-op diet this coming Tuesday...

That means doing the protein shakes, sugar-free jello/popsicles, soup broth and lots of water to help shrink the fat on my liver.  I forgot how it went 5 years ago.  I do have to say that in the last few weeks... even with eating out, its not like I have this ultimate craving to do so.  I just do it so I can eat something and its easy.  In fact, lately food has been tasting different to me... its just not the same.  So hopefully that's a good thing.  I'm not that hungry either... I have to remind myself to eat.

So the last few weeks, I've been trying out different versions of pre-made protein drinks... Muscle Milk... blech.  I tried this clear drink called Isopure, it was this fruit punch thing... it was okay, but it felt like it dried my mouth out.  Lol.  So in the end, I had to drink water.  But that drink had like 40 grams of protein, easy right... not when it dries your mouth out from the whey protein and aftertaste.  I don't mind the EAS Advan shakes.  I will probably go with those.  But I am also thinking of just buying the powder and making my own again... I can deal with that taste over pre-made.

So yeah... that's whats going on with the whole surgery thing.  In other great news, my husband is in the works for getting the surgery himself.  He was recently diagnosed with hypertension and put on meds.  And he has to go see a cardiologist (hoping its nothing too serious) and he can get his clearance to get his health in order.  It wouldn't be so bad doing this journey with him.

That's about it.

Weigh In for 10.05.2014

Alright... this weekend was pretty busy.  I'm so exhausted from it.  I had a baby shower that I was hosting for my good friend.  Her baby is due near my birthday in December.  I'm so happy that the shower part is done.  Lol.  However, I did have a fun time preparing for it.  It was the executing the party part... that stressed me.  Add in my children or TEENAGER and his friends annoying me during the process.

Now as for my weigh in yesterday...

Weigh-In:  232.0

That is a loss of about 2.8 lbs. I think.  Not bad.  I do have to admit though, I've been eating so bad.  I wanted to do this 30-day challenge of not eating out.  Uggh.  So hard.  The late nights for working and school, have made it hard to really do a better job of meal planning and grocery shopping.  Add in this past weekend with the shower.  I'm out for the count.  But I've been managing to stay under my calories for the day and I've been faithfully using my FitBit.  

I really need to get in more water.  I had my last Personal Wellness class this past Thursday night.  I was talking with some classmates, who suggested I just have a water bottle that I carry every where with me.  I am going to invest in one of those.  Usually, I just have my water cup at my desk at work and really don't drink a lot of water outside of work.  It was also suggested that when I wake up first thing in the morning, drink at least 8 oz. of water, to get things moving inside and wake up my metabolism.  I will work on that too.  I know water is sooooo important.  I need to fall back in "like" with it.  Oh and by the way... I got an A in this class.  So happy to have another few credits to add toward obtaining my bachelors degree.  I am also very happy to be able to see my oldest son, Aries play football again now that my Thursday evenings are free.

Another good thing is that I have been tracking my food faithfully, each day on MyFitnessPal.  Even with all the bad food choices.  I am hoping this helps me change things by being aware.  So I will keep up my previous goals, trying to take baby steps into doing things that worked.

So as mentioned, I hosted the baby shower for my best friend.  It had a nice turn out.  And overall, she was happy.  Here is a little photo of it.

Until next time...