Go here: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2011/12/stocking-full-of-samples-giveaway.html and enter The World According to Eggface giveaway! She's giving away a stocking full of samples of her favorite bariatric-friendly products. Take a look around her site too, she has some GREAT recipes, articles, and just reflections on life that I always enjoy. Good luck!
Weight Ticker
Monday, December 12, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Back On Track
Its been forever since I posted! I really need to start writing in my blog more. We've been on mandatory overtime every week since I started my job in April. :( I am dealing with it and getting routines in place, but it has definitely taken a while for me to come to where working all these hours feels normal.
I have lost 143 lbs since December 14th. I am thrilled that I have lost all this weight, but in looking at my weigh-ins I noticed I have only lost 6 lbs in 2 mos. I knew it has slowed down quite a bit, but I didn't realize that. That was all it took, and I am back on track this week. I had gotten off track and was not tracking my food or really watching what I ate. My stomach is small enough and I was still eating mostly protein and not eating any pasta, bread, tortillas, rice, etc so I wasn't gaining and was still losing a little, but I need to get back on the horse. I'm excited to see what my weigh-in will be tomorrow. I like to weigh on Fridays instead of Mondays.
There is another rule of gastric bypass that I am embarrassed to say I had not been following. After surgery you are not to drink 30 min before or an hour after eating. Doing so flushes the food thru the stomach and makes you hungry faster. One feature of the surgery is that the stomach empties slower, but not so if you drink water so closely afterward. In the beginning I was losing weight so quickly it didn't matter, but lately I have noticed that I seem to be hungry a lot. Most bariatrics talk about eating like 1200 calories a day, but I was having to eat like 1700 calories a day to feel satisfied. I am now doing around 1300-1400 calories, just by not drinking 30 min before or an hour after eating. I still cant do 1200 calories a day, that is just not feasible for me. In the beginning I ate around 800-1000 calories a day, but now that my stomach isn't so swollen and the hunger is back (you don't really feel hungry for about the first 6 mos after surgery), I cant do it. I was feeling abnormal or badly about eating "so much", but I have come to terms with that being just what my body needs. Its true that I am bigger than many bariatric patients I know. I am 300 lbs now and that is what many patients start at or around. And even 1500 calories a day isn't that much! Someone my weight could eat 2500 calories a day and still lose weight!
It feels strange that I am almost a year out and still have a long way to go. I tend to get jealous of those that reached their goal weight in like 6-9 mos. But we all have our own paths to follow, I guess. I wish I could have had the surgery when I first started checking into it, when I weighed about 380. It should have never taken me 3 years to get thru all the red tape and have the surgery.
I went to Fashion Bug recently and tried on some clothes. I can now wear a 2X at at Fashion Bug which has never happened, lol! I was really proud of myself. Recently we went back to wearing business casual clothes at work (we had been wearing jeans pretty much since I started there) and I feel so much more confident in wearing slacks and more dressed up clothes. People who have never had a weight problem don't understand how much more unforgiving fabrics like cotton and rayon are compared to denim, lol.
I have been getting a lot of recipes off The World According to Eggface. You should check her out! She has great healthy recipes that anyone would enjoy! I plan to make some of her recipes for Thanksgiving. I cant believe its only 2 weeks away!
Oh, we also got a new puppy back in June! His name is Monte. He was abandoned at our friend's brother's farm and we had been looking to get a miniature dachshund, so we adopted him. He is the sweetest boy. The vet thinks he's about 2. He likes to blog too. ;)
Friday, April 15, 2011
Update!
Sorry its been so long since I've posted, I've had a lot of things going on! On March 16th I realized I was completely out of Unemployment, and therefore completely out of income. I had a job starting April 11th, but I needed something in the meantime. I worked a temporary job for two weeks before my new job started this past Monday.
The temp job was awful, the only thing that made it bearable was knowing it would be over soon, lol! It was an easy job, but the downside was that sitting all day made the lymphedema in my legs pretty bad. My weight loss slowed considerably during this time because of the fluid retention. I gained 2 lbs the first week and stayed the same the next week. :(
This week I started my new job. While I'm still sitting all the time, I've continued to stick to what I'm supposed to be eating and have continued to work out during this time. I knew that at some point it would show on the scale. I knew I was losing because I could tell it in my clothes. Today I weighed and not only did I lose the 2 lbs I had gained two weeks ago, I also lost another 4 lbs for a total of 6 lbs lost this week! Very happy about that. Just about nothing is more upsetting than working your tail off to lose weight and not seeing it on the scale.
I have also had some really cool NSVs (Non-Scale Victories). Those have really helped me thru while the scale was being stupid. I am now down to a size 28 and can wear a lot of the clothes I was wearing before I moved to Missouri. That is a great feeling, to know I'm back down to the size I was 5 years ago.
Other things I have noticed is that I am able to walk a lot easier now. At my new job we park in a parking garage and walk quite a ways from the parking space to the training room. Before I lost this weight this would have been a huge deal to me. I would have dreaded it every day and would have been in a lot of pain by the time I got to my seat. Now, its really not that big of a deal. In fact, this morning I was running a little late and had to walk quite fast, and I still felt ok. Another thing is that on the first day we had an orientation session. When I walked in the room the first thing I noticed was how narrow the chairs were, with arms on the sides. I was really worried at first, but then I remembered I'm not near as big as I used to be. It was totally ok, I fit in the chairs just fine. Today I went to get some Chinese food for Nat and I (yes, there is a way to do Chinese in a healthy way!). Normally I just stand there while they make the food for me because I was always too big to fit in their small booths there (they are really small, like fast food-size booths). Today I thought I'd give it a try, and I fit just fine! I was pretty happy, I actually called Nat to tell him I was sitting in the booth, lol. Its just things like this that people who have never had a weight problem take for granted. But they are very exciting for me.
Anyway, things have been pretty hectic lately. I haven't been sleeping too well at night, hoping tonight I'll get a good nights sleep. I think I've just been stressed out with planning the wedding since its really coming down to it now, and also starting this new job. The traffic in the morning really stresses me out because I hate the thought of being late. I am starting to make my lunch at night though and considering possibly showering at night instead too so that I can not only sleep a few minutes longer in the morning, but also have some extra time so I'm not so stressed. I've never even come close to being late yet, but since they are such sticklers about being late, it really stresses me out to even risk it.
Well, that's about it for now. I'm going to try to be more diligent about posting blogs, but I really cant guarantee it, lol, especially right now.
The temp job was awful, the only thing that made it bearable was knowing it would be over soon, lol! It was an easy job, but the downside was that sitting all day made the lymphedema in my legs pretty bad. My weight loss slowed considerably during this time because of the fluid retention. I gained 2 lbs the first week and stayed the same the next week. :(
This week I started my new job. While I'm still sitting all the time, I've continued to stick to what I'm supposed to be eating and have continued to work out during this time. I knew that at some point it would show on the scale. I knew I was losing because I could tell it in my clothes. Today I weighed and not only did I lose the 2 lbs I had gained two weeks ago, I also lost another 4 lbs for a total of 6 lbs lost this week! Very happy about that. Just about nothing is more upsetting than working your tail off to lose weight and not seeing it on the scale.
I have also had some really cool NSVs (Non-Scale Victories). Those have really helped me thru while the scale was being stupid. I am now down to a size 28 and can wear a lot of the clothes I was wearing before I moved to Missouri. That is a great feeling, to know I'm back down to the size I was 5 years ago.
Other things I have noticed is that I am able to walk a lot easier now. At my new job we park in a parking garage and walk quite a ways from the parking space to the training room. Before I lost this weight this would have been a huge deal to me. I would have dreaded it every day and would have been in a lot of pain by the time I got to my seat. Now, its really not that big of a deal. In fact, this morning I was running a little late and had to walk quite fast, and I still felt ok. Another thing is that on the first day we had an orientation session. When I walked in the room the first thing I noticed was how narrow the chairs were, with arms on the sides. I was really worried at first, but then I remembered I'm not near as big as I used to be. It was totally ok, I fit in the chairs just fine. Today I went to get some Chinese food for Nat and I (yes, there is a way to do Chinese in a healthy way!). Normally I just stand there while they make the food for me because I was always too big to fit in their small booths there (they are really small, like fast food-size booths). Today I thought I'd give it a try, and I fit just fine! I was pretty happy, I actually called Nat to tell him I was sitting in the booth, lol. Its just things like this that people who have never had a weight problem take for granted. But they are very exciting for me.
Anyway, things have been pretty hectic lately. I haven't been sleeping too well at night, hoping tonight I'll get a good nights sleep. I think I've just been stressed out with planning the wedding since its really coming down to it now, and also starting this new job. The traffic in the morning really stresses me out because I hate the thought of being late. I am starting to make my lunch at night though and considering possibly showering at night instead too so that I can not only sleep a few minutes longer in the morning, but also have some extra time so I'm not so stressed. I've never even come close to being late yet, but since they are such sticklers about being late, it really stresses me out to even risk it.
Well, that's about it for now. I'm going to try to be more diligent about posting blogs, but I really cant guarantee it, lol, especially right now.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Dealing with Stress
I was asked to blog about how I deal with stress. Stress is something that seems to affect everyone, and dieters seem to really feel it. Trying to lead a healthy lifestyle is difficult enough in our society, but how do you deal with stress after the one thing you used to run to--food--is no longer an option?
I used to be a big stress eater. I was one of those people who, any time something went wrong, I was sick, feeling emotional pain, anything like that, I ran to food. My monthly cycle was a huge excuse to just go all out. I've never been a big chocolate person, although I do like sweets. But mainly my drugs of choice would be things like Banquet fried chicken (that shitty stuff that comes in the box--I love it!), ice cream, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, that kind of stuff. And more fast food than you can shake a stick at.
But now that I had gastric bypass surgery, I cant run to food. Physically I cannot hold as much food as I once was able to--hence the reason for having the surgery! I also cannot eat the types of foods I once ate. I used to LOVE pasta and bread, sometimes just making plain pasta with butter and Parmesan cheese on it for a "snack". Gee...wonder why I'm fat? But I cant eat carbs like that anymore. I eat for fuel. I have to, or risk making myself very ill. I make my choices based on what has the most protein, the least fat, and is going to be easiest to pass thru my small stomach opening (the opening to the stomach is swollen for about 6 mos after surgery, so foods have to be very soft and moist to go down--otherwise they *don't* go down, if you know what I mean).
Initially I did not deal well with food being taken away. I was released from the hospital 1 week before Christmas--the biggest food holiday of the year. Even though outwardly I felt I was dealing very well, on the inside I was very depressed to have my best friend/worst enemy/crack taken away. So I started coming up with other ways to deal with stress.
Here are 5 things I've come up with that are free or low-cost.
1. Check out for a while.
Find something to do that requires very little brainpower. Watch a dumb movie (Legally Blonde, Mean Girls, anything with Will Ferrel or Adam Sandler--you get the idea), read a celebrity rag magazine, or play Solitaire (I like the card version instead of the computer version--keeps your hands busy!). For those types that cant seem to carve out time for themselves during the day, do something easy like sweeping the floor or sitting and folding clothes. Sometimes I find if I can do something that doesn't require me to think, I wont think about what is bothering me.
2. Idle hands are Stress's playground.
Occupy your hands by doing something crafty or utilitarian. I have recently taken up knitting and find its a GREAT stress reliever. I love it and actually crave and look forward to it. Its not near as hard to learn as I always thought it would be. Just check out a book from the library or watch some You Tube videos (both = free). Buy some knitting needles with a 40% off coupon (Michael's has them every week) and some cheap yarn (yarn can be had for as little as $2). Crocheting would also be great. I also love scrapbooking and card making, and if you don't get too fancy you don't have to spend much. Colored papers and glue sticks are cheap. They are great time wasters, er..ways to occupy yourself. :) Solitaire, again, would be a good one, or you could play board games with your family. Nat and I have started a collection of board games and find these game nights are an inexpensive and fun way to reconnect with family and friends. Buy some sugar free popcicles (SF bomb pops are the best, lol!) or make low-fat Greek yogurt and fruit parfaits and you're all set! You could also do something like organize a space that needs it--when's the last time you organized your bookshelf or desk in your office? Or you could hang those pictures you've always been meaning to. If you're me, you could finally unpack your spare bedroom. :)
3. Work it, girl!
Another great way to burn off stress is to exercise. I know, I know, I used to roll my eyes when people would say this to me, but it really is true. A couple weeks ago I was really upset about my hair. I would wake up every morning and just feel this sick feeling in my stomach about my hair coming out. I would pull my hair back and see the spots in the front where there used to be more hair. Talk about depressing. Some days I would just want to pull the covers over my head and lay in bed all day. But instead, I got up and did my workout DVD. It really does help. Any kind of exercise is going to help, but I find doing a workout DVD or something monotonous like walking helps me a lot. They are inexpensive and I don't have to think about it, the moves are right there on screen, or I just put one foot in front of the other. By the time I'm done, I forgot what I was stressed about.
4. A change would do you good.
Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what the Dr ordered. Go to the nearest mall or discount store and walk around. Or just get in the car and drive. Hit up a specialty (thrift, consignment, kid's clothes, knitting, scrapbooking, coffee, etc) shop you've driven past 100 times but never gone in (you don't have to buy anything!). Go to the natural foods store and check out all the interesting merchandise. Go to an ethnic store and buy something you've never heard of, like an interesting spice. Don't be afraid--they're glad to have your business! Just get out of your comfort zone. Thinking about and experiencing the adventure is a great way to clear your head and burn off those icky feelings.
5. Use one of your lifelines.
Phone a friend (or relative). Call your sister, mom, Aunt Tilly, or best friend and tell them all about it. Sometimes we just need to voice our concerns and have them be heard and validated by someone else. Sometimes we're looking for solutions, and someone else might have a fresh perspective on it. When my surgery was going to be rescheduled after I had waited almost 3 years to get it, I about lost it. I called my sister and told her all about it. Just by hearing her voice and hearing her outrage at the situation that matched mine, I felt better. It made me feel like someone was on my side, when it felt like the surgeon's office was not. She also provided me with some good ideas to take control of the situation, which always makes me feel better. I think sometimes we all feel like if we call people we're bothering them. But the truth is, I've heard many people say they wished they got to talk to their friends on the phone more often. In this world of Facebook, Twitter, email, blogs, forums, and chat, we tend to lose that personal voice-to-voice communication, and I don't think we're better off for it. Also, most of the people I know actually enjoy helping someone in times of crisis. If I pick up the phone and you're crying, but by the time we hang up you are feeling even the slightest bit more hopeful, that makes me feel like I made a difference in your life. And I know I'm not the only one that feels that way. :)
What are some of your favorite ways to deal with stress?
~Amy
P.S. Just an FYI to all my peeps--I'm taking a 30-day hiatus from Facebook from now until April 14th. You can keep up with me thru my blog or by email: amybell1@comcast.net. I'm going to continue to post my blog updates to Facebook, but any comments should be posted directly on the blog as I wont be checking Facebook. :) If you dont have a blogger account you can still leave a comment by selecting "Annonymous" from the drop-down box, but make sure to sign your name so I know who you are. :)
I used to be a big stress eater. I was one of those people who, any time something went wrong, I was sick, feeling emotional pain, anything like that, I ran to food. My monthly cycle was a huge excuse to just go all out. I've never been a big chocolate person, although I do like sweets. But mainly my drugs of choice would be things like Banquet fried chicken (that shitty stuff that comes in the box--I love it!), ice cream, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, that kind of stuff. And more fast food than you can shake a stick at.
But now that I had gastric bypass surgery, I cant run to food. Physically I cannot hold as much food as I once was able to--hence the reason for having the surgery! I also cannot eat the types of foods I once ate. I used to LOVE pasta and bread, sometimes just making plain pasta with butter and Parmesan cheese on it for a "snack". Gee...wonder why I'm fat? But I cant eat carbs like that anymore. I eat for fuel. I have to, or risk making myself very ill. I make my choices based on what has the most protein, the least fat, and is going to be easiest to pass thru my small stomach opening (the opening to the stomach is swollen for about 6 mos after surgery, so foods have to be very soft and moist to go down--otherwise they *don't* go down, if you know what I mean).
Initially I did not deal well with food being taken away. I was released from the hospital 1 week before Christmas--the biggest food holiday of the year. Even though outwardly I felt I was dealing very well, on the inside I was very depressed to have my best friend/worst enemy/crack taken away. So I started coming up with other ways to deal with stress.
Here are 5 things I've come up with that are free or low-cost.
1. Check out for a while.
Find something to do that requires very little brainpower. Watch a dumb movie (Legally Blonde, Mean Girls, anything with Will Ferrel or Adam Sandler--you get the idea), read a celebrity rag magazine, or play Solitaire (I like the card version instead of the computer version--keeps your hands busy!). For those types that cant seem to carve out time for themselves during the day, do something easy like sweeping the floor or sitting and folding clothes. Sometimes I find if I can do something that doesn't require me to think, I wont think about what is bothering me.
2. Idle hands are Stress's playground.
Occupy your hands by doing something crafty or utilitarian. I have recently taken up knitting and find its a GREAT stress reliever. I love it and actually crave and look forward to it. Its not near as hard to learn as I always thought it would be. Just check out a book from the library or watch some You Tube videos (both = free). Buy some knitting needles with a 40% off coupon (Michael's has them every week) and some cheap yarn (yarn can be had for as little as $2). Crocheting would also be great. I also love scrapbooking and card making, and if you don't get too fancy you don't have to spend much. Colored papers and glue sticks are cheap. They are great time wasters, er..ways to occupy yourself. :) Solitaire, again, would be a good one, or you could play board games with your family. Nat and I have started a collection of board games and find these game nights are an inexpensive and fun way to reconnect with family and friends. Buy some sugar free popcicles (SF bomb pops are the best, lol!) or make low-fat Greek yogurt and fruit parfaits and you're all set! You could also do something like organize a space that needs it--when's the last time you organized your bookshelf or desk in your office? Or you could hang those pictures you've always been meaning to. If you're me, you could finally unpack your spare bedroom. :)
3. Work it, girl!
Another great way to burn off stress is to exercise. I know, I know, I used to roll my eyes when people would say this to me, but it really is true. A couple weeks ago I was really upset about my hair. I would wake up every morning and just feel this sick feeling in my stomach about my hair coming out. I would pull my hair back and see the spots in the front where there used to be more hair. Talk about depressing. Some days I would just want to pull the covers over my head and lay in bed all day. But instead, I got up and did my workout DVD. It really does help. Any kind of exercise is going to help, but I find doing a workout DVD or something monotonous like walking helps me a lot. They are inexpensive and I don't have to think about it, the moves are right there on screen, or I just put one foot in front of the other. By the time I'm done, I forgot what I was stressed about.
4. A change would do you good.
Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what the Dr ordered. Go to the nearest mall or discount store and walk around. Or just get in the car and drive. Hit up a specialty (thrift, consignment, kid's clothes, knitting, scrapbooking, coffee, etc) shop you've driven past 100 times but never gone in (you don't have to buy anything!). Go to the natural foods store and check out all the interesting merchandise. Go to an ethnic store and buy something you've never heard of, like an interesting spice. Don't be afraid--they're glad to have your business! Just get out of your comfort zone. Thinking about and experiencing the adventure is a great way to clear your head and burn off those icky feelings.
5. Use one of your lifelines.
Phone a friend (or relative). Call your sister, mom, Aunt Tilly, or best friend and tell them all about it. Sometimes we just need to voice our concerns and have them be heard and validated by someone else. Sometimes we're looking for solutions, and someone else might have a fresh perspective on it. When my surgery was going to be rescheduled after I had waited almost 3 years to get it, I about lost it. I called my sister and told her all about it. Just by hearing her voice and hearing her outrage at the situation that matched mine, I felt better. It made me feel like someone was on my side, when it felt like the surgeon's office was not. She also provided me with some good ideas to take control of the situation, which always makes me feel better. I think sometimes we all feel like if we call people we're bothering them. But the truth is, I've heard many people say they wished they got to talk to their friends on the phone more often. In this world of Facebook, Twitter, email, blogs, forums, and chat, we tend to lose that personal voice-to-voice communication, and I don't think we're better off for it. Also, most of the people I know actually enjoy helping someone in times of crisis. If I pick up the phone and you're crying, but by the time we hang up you are feeling even the slightest bit more hopeful, that makes me feel like I made a difference in your life. And I know I'm not the only one that feels that way. :)
What are some of your favorite ways to deal with stress?
~Amy
P.S. Just an FYI to all my peeps--I'm taking a 30-day hiatus from Facebook from now until April 14th. You can keep up with me thru my blog or by email: amybell1@comcast.net. I'm going to continue to post my blog updates to Facebook, but any comments should be posted directly on the blog as I wont be checking Facebook. :) If you dont have a blogger account you can still leave a comment by selecting "Annonymous" from the drop-down box, but make sure to sign your name so I know who you are. :)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
A Little Help From My Friends
I wanted to share some things that have helped me since having gastric bypass in December. If you've had surgery or are considering it, I hope you find it insightful. If you're just trying to drop some lbs in general, you might find this helpful as well. :)
1. A good whey protein powder.
I've heard it through the grapevine that whey isolate is best for post-bypass patients, but my surgeon says any type of whey is ok. Of course check with your surgeon to see what he/she wants you to do. You also want something with very little sugar (3 grams or less) and that tastes decent. If it doesn't taste good, it doesn't matter how cheap it is because you wont drink it. At first I was using Body Fortress ($15 for a 2 lb canister at Wal-mart), but it was SO sickly and disgustingly sweet that I could barely stand to drink it.
After some trial and error, I found two that work for me. ON and Designer Whey. The ON has 24 grams of whey isolate protein, 120 calories, and 1 gram of sugar. The only variety I have tried is the Vanilla Ice Cream. It has a very mild taste and is not very sweet at all. It also mixes up pretty thin (made with skim milk and no ice) which makes it very easy for me to drink. It could easily be fancied up with fruit or flavored syrups (more on them later). For best taste, this one really does need to be made with milk. A 2 lb can costs about $23 at The Vitamin Shoppe (cheaper than Amazon).
Designer Whey is also very good. Very mild flavor, not too sweet and a nice hint of chocolate. Its a little lower in protein, 18 grams of whey protein (this one isn't whey isolate), but it only has 100 calories and 2 grams of sugar. It also mixes up pretty thin if made with skim milk and no ice. I've added sugar free Raspberry Torani syrup to it, and it was very good. This powder can also be made with water and it doesn't drastically affect the taste. I always make mine with skim milk though--why miss out on the extra 8 grams of protein? A 17.5 oz can costs about $12.95 at The Vitamin Shoppe, but its about $1 cheaper on Amazon, and eligible for free shipping with Amazon Prime.
2. Smaller dishes and utensils.
Baby spoons and forks work great and are usually cheap. Of course they can be pricier, but the pack of pink and purple spoons and forks on the right was $1.72 at Wal-mart. Look towards the bottom of the rack, that is usually where they keep the cheaper stuff. I really like these forks, they are pretty durable for just being plastic, and they have caused me to slow down my eating a lot. For spoons I like the actual baby spoons pictured on the left (the ones in the pack on the right are more for toddlers) since they are so small. This pack of spoons was about $2.50. For dishes there is no reason to run out and buy new, unless all you really only own are platter-sized dinner plates. I just use small dessert bowls and saucers to eat off. It really helps me to control my portions and also makes my one chicken thigh dinner look a little less pathetic, lol.
3. A good water bottle.
A good water bottle is a must. My surgeon recommends 64 oz of water a day, but this can be difficult when I can only sip small amounts at a time. You need a water bottle that is easily transported, does not leak, and preferably with measurement lines so that you can track your consumption. My favorite brand of water bottle is Contigo. They are of course a little pricier than the $2 variety you might find at your local Wal-Mart, but they are SO worth it. They are made of very durable BPA-free plastic (I have dropped mine several times on the pavement and have yet to break it!), do not stain or retain odors, and are virtually leak-proof. There is a button on the lid that you push to drink, and when you release, the Autoseal feature seals it up with no leaks. You can drink, release, and throw it in the car seat next to you with NO leaks. Here is a video showing how it works. It also comes with a carabiner clip built in to the loop on the lid which makes it nice to attach to your purse or gym bag. These come in varying sizes with the largest being 32 oz. The 32 oz is nice because you know you only have to drink 2 of them a day to get your water in. I had a pink 32 oz-er and it was a little more cumbersome to carry around when running errands, etc. The 25.5 oz (like my turquoise one pictured) is easier to transport, and with it being 25.5 oz I know if I drink 3 bottles a day I'm well over my goal. They also sell them in solid colors with the oz markings on them. This one doesn't have the oz markings because of the design on the bottle. The 32-oz pink one did have the markings, as most of them do. The 32 oz bottle was $12.99 on Amazon, but we recently found a deal on them at Costco. Three 25.5 oz bottles for $15 after a coupon, so keep an eye out for deals. However, even if you have to pay full price, this is one area where you don't want to be chintzy.
4. A smaller water bottle.
I love this little red water bottle. It holds about 16 oz. Sometimes in the morning I'll make a double batch of protein shake and put 1/2 of it in this water bottle to save for later. When I'm out running errands, I just pop a couple of ice cubes in the bottle and take it along. Its also great when traveling because it has oz markers on it. Just put your protein powder in the bottle and throw it in your bag. When ready to drink just add your milk or water up to the line. I got this bottle for $.50 at a local discount store.
5. Sugar free flavored syrups
Torani makes about the best sugar-free syrups out there. They also make them in TONS of flavors. I know most people typically associate these with coffee, but they can be used to flavor just about anything. I use the Vanilla and Raspberry varieties to flavor plain Greek yogurt. This way I can control the ingredients, the sweetness, and the flavor. They are also great for adding flavor to protein shakes. One of my favorite sites www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com has a ton of great protein shake recipes using Torani sugar free syrups. The 25.4 oz bottles cost about $16 each on Amazon.com, but they also have a variety 6-pack that comes with Vanilla, Raspberry, Irish Cream, Chocolate, Classic Carmel, and Hazelnut for $36.81. These also qualify for free shipping with Amazon Prime. This may sound like a lot for flavorings, but they really do go a long way. The bottle in the picture has been used to flavor yogurt about 4 times, and you can see how little of the bottle has been used.
6. A good blender.
A good blender can prove invaluable when you're making all those protein shakes and pureeing food during the liquid and soft food stages. Even once you are released to a regular diet you will likely still need protein shakes for the rest of your life. That said, you will literally use a blender every day. The blender pictured is the Ninja which retails for $92.07 here. However, while this is a great blender, you'll notice this is a stock photo and not of one sitting in my house, lol.You don't have to spend $100 or even half that for a good blender, but you do want something that will crush up ice easily. That's the main reason why the Ninja is my dream blender...lol. :) There are also great little single-serve blenders that sell for about $16, like this one. Some of them also have detachable cups with lids so you can mix it up and take it with you in the same container.
7. Good vitamin supplements.
Vitamin supplementation is vital after bariatric surgery, especially after gastric bypass. The part of the anatomy which is bypassed, the duodenum, is where most of the nutrients in food are absorbed. I take Bariatric Advantage Complete Multi Formula. for my multi, and Calcet Creamy Bites for my calcium. I make sure to take calcium that has calcium citrate in it because it is the most bio-available form of calcium, and therefore the easiest to digest. The multi is about $39.95, depending on where you get it, for a 90-day supply, and the calcium is about $26 for a 30-day supply. Some surgeons also recommend B12 and Iron supplements, of which I also suggest the Bariatric Advantage brand, or another bariatric-strength brand. I don't feel regular vitamins can meet our very specific needs, and therefore I don't use them. That, of course, is my opinion only, check with your surgeon to see what he/she says. On the Calcium, I used to take the Batriatric Advantage Calcium Citrate Chewy Bites which are about $22 for a 30-day supply, but the Calcet has twice the calcium and therefore you only have to take two a day instead of four a day. The Calcet are also a lot softer and better tasting than the Bariatric Advantage. Worth the extra $4/mo, in my book.
8. Other good sources of protein.
Carnation Instant Breakfast No Sugar Added is a great way to boost your protein. I wasn't very impressed when I read the box and saw only 5 grams of protein, but add that to the 8 grams in a cup of skim milk, and you've got 13 grams in a 1 cup serving. Its got 60 calories, so its a little lighter than a protein shake. Sometimes when I know I'm going to be out running errands I'll make two servings of this and put it in my little red water bottle with a couple ice cubes. It has a great mild chocolate flavor which kind of tastes like (diet) chocolate milk. It costs about $3 for 8 envelopes. I get mine at HyVee since my Wal-mart doesn't carry the No Sugar Added variety.
Greek yogurt is also a great source of protein. Even the fat free variety is very thick and rich. I buy the plain and fancy it up. There are flavored varieties out there, but most of them contain too much sugar for post-ops. My favorite is Fage 0%. They also make a 2% fat. A 1 cup serving of the 0% has only 90 calories, no sugar, and 20 grams of protein. I try to eat 1 cup of this every day to really boost my protein intake. It also works very well for taking crushed medication. Post-surgery you will likely have to crush all of your medicines into a fine powder. It tastes very bad, so you have to mix it with a spoonful (or two, like I do) of something to get it down. I have tried Yoplait Light yogurt and sugar free Jello pudding as well as Greek yogurt. The Greek yogurt masks the taste better than anything else, hands down. And its smooth texture makes it easy to swallow and easy to pass thru the stomach opening. The 8-oz containers are a little over $1 at Wal-Mart, but Costco has a 35-oz container for, I believe, less than $5. Even though its not a huge savings, I go thru this stuff so fast that its worth it to get the large container.
Another good source of protein is Carl Buddig lunchmeat. Typically you will only be able to have turkey or chicken meat for the first few months, and Carl Buddig makes both. One 2-oz serving has 90 calories and 10 grams of protein. Sure, any lunchmeat is going to have protein, but this is also very thin and soft, something us bariatric patients need to be very concerned with. This lunchmeat is more processed than, say, actual turkey breast meat, but this is the only lunchmeat I've been able to eat and not have a hard time getting down. Breast meat or any white meat is typically drier than dark meat, and therefore more difficult to get down. I've never gagged when eating Carl Buddig lunchmeat. I take 2 oz of lunchmeat and roll it up with 2 slices of cheese and put a little light mayo and mustard with it, and I have a meal with 20 grams of protein that is easy and tasty. These packages are about .58 at Wal-Mart, or $3 for the large pack.
9. Workout DVDs
I love workout DVDs. You can workout anytime, rain or shine, you don't need any special equipment, and they cost very little. I love Richard Simmons because his workouts are easily modifiable for obese people or those that have other issues/impediments to movement. His videos are all low-impact as well. He is also really encouraging and upbeat thruout the videos and tries to make it fun. Most of the moves are really fun and they are set to popular music. I really like the Blast Off series (most of them have a toning session at the end) and the Party Off the Pounds DVD shown at left. Most of his DVDs can be found for $5-$15 on Amazon, and if you still have a VCR collecting dust, the VHS tapes can be had for $2-$5.
10. Dumbells or arm weights
Everyone knows that one of the side effects of losing a lot of weight in a rapid amount of time (with or without surgery) is excess skin. This can be worse for someone who is starting out at 300-400 lbs or more. There is no fail-safe way to ensure there will be no loose skin, whatever you do it is likely going to happen. But toning exercises help to tighten up the muscles under the skin and therefore leave you will less loose skin. Also, more muscle makes your body a more efficient fat-burner! I suggest 1 lb and 3 lb dumbells or wrist weights to start. Dumbells can be purchased from Wal-mart for about $5 a set. Wrist weights run about $8-$12 a set on Amazon.
Anyway, those are a few items that have helped me on my way. What items have helped you lose weight and/or keep it off?
1. A good whey protein powder.
I've heard it through the grapevine that whey isolate is best for post-bypass patients, but my surgeon says any type of whey is ok. Of course check with your surgeon to see what he/she wants you to do. You also want something with very little sugar (3 grams or less) and that tastes decent. If it doesn't taste good, it doesn't matter how cheap it is because you wont drink it. At first I was using Body Fortress ($15 for a 2 lb canister at Wal-mart), but it was SO sickly and disgustingly sweet that I could barely stand to drink it.After some trial and error, I found two that work for me. ON and Designer Whey. The ON has 24 grams of whey isolate protein, 120 calories, and 1 gram of sugar. The only variety I have tried is the Vanilla Ice Cream. It has a very mild taste and is not very sweet at all. It also mixes up pretty thin (made with skim milk and no ice) which makes it very easy for me to drink. It could easily be fancied up with fruit or flavored syrups (more on them later). For best taste, this one really does need to be made with milk. A 2 lb can costs about $23 at The Vitamin Shoppe (cheaper than Amazon).
Designer Whey is also very good. Very mild flavor, not too sweet and a nice hint of chocolate. Its a little lower in protein, 18 grams of whey protein (this one isn't whey isolate), but it only has 100 calories and 2 grams of sugar. It also mixes up pretty thin if made with skim milk and no ice. I've added sugar free Raspberry Torani syrup to it, and it was very good. This powder can also be made with water and it doesn't drastically affect the taste. I always make mine with skim milk though--why miss out on the extra 8 grams of protein? A 17.5 oz can costs about $12.95 at The Vitamin Shoppe, but its about $1 cheaper on Amazon, and eligible for free shipping with Amazon Prime. 2. Smaller dishes and utensils.
Baby spoons and forks work great and are usually cheap. Of course they can be pricier, but the pack of pink and purple spoons and forks on the right was $1.72 at Wal-mart. Look towards the bottom of the rack, that is usually where they keep the cheaper stuff. I really like these forks, they are pretty durable for just being plastic, and they have caused me to slow down my eating a lot. For spoons I like the actual baby spoons pictured on the left (the ones in the pack on the right are more for toddlers) since they are so small. This pack of spoons was about $2.50. For dishes there is no reason to run out and buy new, unless all you really only own are platter-sized dinner plates. I just use small dessert bowls and saucers to eat off. It really helps me to control my portions and also makes my one chicken thigh dinner look a little less pathetic, lol.3. A good water bottle.
A good water bottle is a must. My surgeon recommends 64 oz of water a day, but this can be difficult when I can only sip small amounts at a time. You need a water bottle that is easily transported, does not leak, and preferably with measurement lines so that you can track your consumption. My favorite brand of water bottle is Contigo. They are of course a little pricier than the $2 variety you might find at your local Wal-Mart, but they are SO worth it. They are made of very durable BPA-free plastic (I have dropped mine several times on the pavement and have yet to break it!), do not stain or retain odors, and are virtually leak-proof. There is a button on the lid that you push to drink, and when you release, the Autoseal feature seals it up with no leaks. You can drink, release, and throw it in the car seat next to you with NO leaks. Here is a video showing how it works. It also comes with a carabiner clip built in to the loop on the lid which makes it nice to attach to your purse or gym bag. These come in varying sizes with the largest being 32 oz. The 32 oz is nice because you know you only have to drink 2 of them a day to get your water in. I had a pink 32 oz-er and it was a little more cumbersome to carry around when running errands, etc. The 25.5 oz (like my turquoise one pictured) is easier to transport, and with it being 25.5 oz I know if I drink 3 bottles a day I'm well over my goal. They also sell them in solid colors with the oz markings on them. This one doesn't have the oz markings because of the design on the bottle. The 32-oz pink one did have the markings, as most of them do. The 32 oz bottle was $12.99 on Amazon, but we recently found a deal on them at Costco. Three 25.5 oz bottles for $15 after a coupon, so keep an eye out for deals. However, even if you have to pay full price, this is one area where you don't want to be chintzy. 4. A smaller water bottle.
I love this little red water bottle. It holds about 16 oz. Sometimes in the morning I'll make a double batch of protein shake and put 1/2 of it in this water bottle to save for later. When I'm out running errands, I just pop a couple of ice cubes in the bottle and take it along. Its also great when traveling because it has oz markers on it. Just put your protein powder in the bottle and throw it in your bag. When ready to drink just add your milk or water up to the line. I got this bottle for $.50 at a local discount store.
5. Sugar free flavored syrups
Torani makes about the best sugar-free syrups out there. They also make them in TONS of flavors. I know most people typically associate these with coffee, but they can be used to flavor just about anything. I use the Vanilla and Raspberry varieties to flavor plain Greek yogurt. This way I can control the ingredients, the sweetness, and the flavor. They are also great for adding flavor to protein shakes. One of my favorite sites www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com has a ton of great protein shake recipes using Torani sugar free syrups. The 25.4 oz bottles cost about $16 each on Amazon.com, but they also have a variety 6-pack that comes with Vanilla, Raspberry, Irish Cream, Chocolate, Classic Carmel, and Hazelnut for $36.81. These also qualify for free shipping with Amazon Prime. This may sound like a lot for flavorings, but they really do go a long way. The bottle in the picture has been used to flavor yogurt about 4 times, and you can see how little of the bottle has been used.6. A good blender.
A good blender can prove invaluable when you're making all those protein shakes and pureeing food during the liquid and soft food stages. Even once you are released to a regular diet you will likely still need protein shakes for the rest of your life. That said, you will literally use a blender every day. The blender pictured is the Ninja which retails for $92.07 here. However, while this is a great blender, you'll notice this is a stock photo and not of one sitting in my house, lol.You don't have to spend $100 or even half that for a good blender, but you do want something that will crush up ice easily. That's the main reason why the Ninja is my dream blender...lol. :) There are also great little single-serve blenders that sell for about $16, like this one. Some of them also have detachable cups with lids so you can mix it up and take it with you in the same container. 7. Good vitamin supplements.
Vitamin supplementation is vital after bariatric surgery, especially after gastric bypass. The part of the anatomy which is bypassed, the duodenum, is where most of the nutrients in food are absorbed. I take Bariatric Advantage Complete Multi Formula. for my multi, and Calcet Creamy Bites for my calcium. I make sure to take calcium that has calcium citrate in it because it is the most bio-available form of calcium, and therefore the easiest to digest. The multi is about $39.95, depending on where you get it, for a 90-day supply, and the calcium is about $26 for a 30-day supply. Some surgeons also recommend B12 and Iron supplements, of which I also suggest the Bariatric Advantage brand, or another bariatric-strength brand. I don't feel regular vitamins can meet our very specific needs, and therefore I don't use them. That, of course, is my opinion only, check with your surgeon to see what he/she says. On the Calcium, I used to take the Batriatric Advantage Calcium Citrate Chewy Bites which are about $22 for a 30-day supply, but the Calcet has twice the calcium and therefore you only have to take two a day instead of four a day. The Calcet are also a lot softer and better tasting than the Bariatric Advantage. Worth the extra $4/mo, in my book.8. Other good sources of protein.
Carnation Instant Breakfast No Sugar Added is a great way to boost your protein. I wasn't very impressed when I read the box and saw only 5 grams of protein, but add that to the 8 grams in a cup of skim milk, and you've got 13 grams in a 1 cup serving. Its got 60 calories, so its a little lighter than a protein shake. Sometimes when I know I'm going to be out running errands I'll make two servings of this and put it in my little red water bottle with a couple ice cubes. It has a great mild chocolate flavor which kind of tastes like (diet) chocolate milk. It costs about $3 for 8 envelopes. I get mine at HyVee since my Wal-mart doesn't carry the No Sugar Added variety. 
9. Workout DVDs
10. Dumbells or arm weights
Anyway, those are a few items that have helped me on my way. What items have helped you lose weight and/or keep it off?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Just Call Me Cleo...
Because I've totally been the Queen of Denial about something lately. I haven't wanted to write about it or even verbalize it to anyone, but it has been bugging me for a long time.
I am losing my hair.
I have tried to deny it and say that my hair has just "changed texture" and that's why my ponytail is smaller. I've ignored the fact that it seems wispier and not as substantial. The hairs that come out onto my comb and all over my bathroom floor have been dismissed as just natural "shedding". But in the last week I took a hard look at my hair and realized that all of this is not normal. My hair is coming out.
My hair has always been very thick and coarse, I am lucky for that. Because of this, other people cannot tell I'm losing my hair. When I finally told Nat about it on Monday he said he hadn't noticed. I take comfort in the fact that the person that is with me the most hasn't noticed. I think I would have to lose a LOT of hair before it would be noticeable to others. But its noticeable to me.
Here is a picture of me before gastric bypass, in November '10:
So I hadn't told anyone, I just stewed on it inside for a while. Actually, when I got my hair done in January I was thinking it felt a little thinner, but I talked myself out of it (See? Totally Cleopatra). Sunday I was sitting in the car with Nat's sister Angie. She mentioned that her hair was getting really thick. Before I knew it I was blurting out "I'm losing my hair". Thankfully she is not someone who would ever judge me or make me feel bad. She is also a very positive person who would do nothing but encourage me and try to make suggestions on how to make it better (which she did). Maybe that's why I chose her to tell my big secret to first. I knew it would be safe.
I think it was also so hard to admit because I don't want to admit that I'm having these kind of negative side-effects from surgery. I had a few people caution me strongly against getting the surgery because of their own fears or opinions (most times not based on facts) of how dangerous it was. I don't ever want those people to have a reason to come back to me and say "I told you this was a bad idea" (yeah, because living at my pre-surgery weight was so much healthier). However, many problems after gastric bypass surgery are due to the patient not adhering to the diet, not taking vitamins regularly, failure to exercise, etc. Hair loss is typically a direct result of not consuming enough protein. So I guess I feared that people would think I wasn't eating enough of the right things or wasn't tracking my protein grams or wasn't doing what I was told in general.
I can tell you that this is far from true. I have a huge desk calendar hanging on the wall with a pen hanging next to it that I use to track my protein grams. I write down the protein in everything I eat. I can count on one hand the times since December 4th (the day I started the 10-day pre-op liquid diet) that I have been under 60 grams of protein (except for the week I was in the hospital, which I had no control over). The calendar looks like some kind of weird math equation for each day: 26 + 4 + 8 = 38 + 10 + 10 + 5 = 63, for example. And even though fruits, vegetables, mashed potatoes, etc are on the list of foods I can eat, I rarely eat them. I always eat my protein first and only after I have met my daily requirement will I allow myself anything else, and that's only if I'm hungry. I also never deviate from what I am told I can eat, I measure everything, take my vitamins like I'm told, drink my water, and exercise at least 3 times a week, which also includes toning work (which I was also told by the bariatric office to do). The point is, my hair is falling out despite all my best efforts.
So, I decided to take action before these shenanigans got any worse. Starting Monday, I began Operation: Protein. I decided to make my protein goal 100 grams/day. This is not an easy feat to accomplish with a stomach the size of an egg. It typically takes two protein shakes, a lot of cheese, chicken breast, and some Greek yogurt. Thankfully I found two protein shakes that actually don't make me want to gag and don't cost a million dollars, lol. The brands are ON and Designer Whey. I'll post more about them later.
I have done pretty well so far. Monday I did 95, yesterday I did 100, and today I've got 72 so far. I'm getting there. It is difficult, but this is what I have to do. I also got out my information packet the hospital sent me before surgery and reviewed the information about protein, vitamin supplementation, and hair loss. Turns out I'm supposed to be taking a B12 vitamin and an Iron pill in addition to my multi and Calcium. I was never told that. Even on my discharge instructions I was never told that. I didn't attend the pre-op nutrition class because my hospital was 200 miles away. They just sent the information in the mail. If I had it to do over again I would have made the trip and attended the class. I was willing to, but they said I should be able to get all the info I needed from reading the packet. I guess not. So anyway, if I have an Iron deficiency that could be causing my hair loss as well. I'm going to call the bariatric office tomorrow and see what brands of B12 and Iron I should be taking. I know too much Iron can make you sick, so I want to check with them before I do anything.
Anyway, hopefully I can nip this in the bud before it gets out of hand. Wish me luck.
I am losing my hair.
I have tried to deny it and say that my hair has just "changed texture" and that's why my ponytail is smaller. I've ignored the fact that it seems wispier and not as substantial. The hairs that come out onto my comb and all over my bathroom floor have been dismissed as just natural "shedding". But in the last week I took a hard look at my hair and realized that all of this is not normal. My hair is coming out.
My hair has always been very thick and coarse, I am lucky for that. Because of this, other people cannot tell I'm losing my hair. When I finally told Nat about it on Monday he said he hadn't noticed. I take comfort in the fact that the person that is with me the most hasn't noticed. I think I would have to lose a LOT of hair before it would be noticeable to others. But its noticeable to me.
Here is a picture of me before gastric bypass, in November '10:
Here is a picture of me from last week:
(Btw, I cant believe my face still looks this fat after losing 71 lbs...*sigh*...but I digress.)
See, its not drastic or anything, but it looks less full. I can also tell my ponytail is smaller. Today when I combed my hair while it was wet I decided to collect all the hair that came out (instead of making 2-3 trips to the trash can to throw it all away, which makes it seem like less) and see exactly how much I was freaking out over. And ok, to take a picture.
Again, this may not seem like much to someone who has experienced hair loss from Chemotherapy or other hair-loss related issues. For that I apologize if I am making a hair mountain out of a hair molehill. But this is a huge deal to me. From the first time I can remember, I was always the fat kid. Always. I was usually the biggest in my class and always the one to get picked on. I've been fat my entire adult life too. But the one thing people have always complimented me on is my hair. The color, the curl, the thickness, people seem to love my hair. Perfect strangers have complimented me many times before--that's when you know its good. ;) So when you lose the one thing that you consider your best feature, it tends to be a one-two punch right to the ol' Solar Plexus. (I think I still have those, even though I've never actually seen them, lol!)
So I hadn't told anyone, I just stewed on it inside for a while. Actually, when I got my hair done in January I was thinking it felt a little thinner, but I talked myself out of it (See? Totally Cleopatra). Sunday I was sitting in the car with Nat's sister Angie. She mentioned that her hair was getting really thick. Before I knew it I was blurting out "I'm losing my hair". Thankfully she is not someone who would ever judge me or make me feel bad. She is also a very positive person who would do nothing but encourage me and try to make suggestions on how to make it better (which she did). Maybe that's why I chose her to tell my big secret to first. I knew it would be safe.
I think it was also so hard to admit because I don't want to admit that I'm having these kind of negative side-effects from surgery. I had a few people caution me strongly against getting the surgery because of their own fears or opinions (most times not based on facts) of how dangerous it was. I don't ever want those people to have a reason to come back to me and say "I told you this was a bad idea" (yeah, because living at my pre-surgery weight was so much healthier). However, many problems after gastric bypass surgery are due to the patient not adhering to the diet, not taking vitamins regularly, failure to exercise, etc. Hair loss is typically a direct result of not consuming enough protein. So I guess I feared that people would think I wasn't eating enough of the right things or wasn't tracking my protein grams or wasn't doing what I was told in general.
I can tell you that this is far from true. I have a huge desk calendar hanging on the wall with a pen hanging next to it that I use to track my protein grams. I write down the protein in everything I eat. I can count on one hand the times since December 4th (the day I started the 10-day pre-op liquid diet) that I have been under 60 grams of protein (except for the week I was in the hospital, which I had no control over). The calendar looks like some kind of weird math equation for each day: 26 + 4 + 8 = 38 + 10 + 10 + 5 = 63, for example. And even though fruits, vegetables, mashed potatoes, etc are on the list of foods I can eat, I rarely eat them. I always eat my protein first and only after I have met my daily requirement will I allow myself anything else, and that's only if I'm hungry. I also never deviate from what I am told I can eat, I measure everything, take my vitamins like I'm told, drink my water, and exercise at least 3 times a week, which also includes toning work (which I was also told by the bariatric office to do). The point is, my hair is falling out despite all my best efforts.
So, I decided to take action before these shenanigans got any worse. Starting Monday, I began Operation: Protein. I decided to make my protein goal 100 grams/day. This is not an easy feat to accomplish with a stomach the size of an egg. It typically takes two protein shakes, a lot of cheese, chicken breast, and some Greek yogurt. Thankfully I found two protein shakes that actually don't make me want to gag and don't cost a million dollars, lol. The brands are ON and Designer Whey. I'll post more about them later.
I have done pretty well so far. Monday I did 95, yesterday I did 100, and today I've got 72 so far. I'm getting there. It is difficult, but this is what I have to do. I also got out my information packet the hospital sent me before surgery and reviewed the information about protein, vitamin supplementation, and hair loss. Turns out I'm supposed to be taking a B12 vitamin and an Iron pill in addition to my multi and Calcium. I was never told that. Even on my discharge instructions I was never told that. I didn't attend the pre-op nutrition class because my hospital was 200 miles away. They just sent the information in the mail. If I had it to do over again I would have made the trip and attended the class. I was willing to, but they said I should be able to get all the info I needed from reading the packet. I guess not. So anyway, if I have an Iron deficiency that could be causing my hair loss as well. I'm going to call the bariatric office tomorrow and see what brands of B12 and Iron I should be taking. I know too much Iron can make you sick, so I want to check with them before I do anything.
Anyway, hopefully I can nip this in the bud before it gets out of hand. Wish me luck.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Tools of the Trade
Monday and Tuesday evenings this week were not good for me. On Monday I did not feel like cooking, but couldnt decide where to go. By the time we decided on grilled chicken from KFC with mashed potatoes and green beans, I was absolutely ravenous. Even so, I stuck to my portions by putting one chicken leg, a tablespoon of mashed potatoes, and about a teaspoon of green beans on my plate. I knew I wouldn't eat more than a spoonful of the potatoes or beans. I started eating the chicken and it went down well. Dark meat is moister and softer than white meat (KFC breast meat = my fave) and easier for bariatric patients to get down, so I have been sticking to legs and thighs. After about the 3rd bite, I became ill. I felt the chicken just stuck at the opening of my stomach.
The opening and exit of the stomach are very swollen after surgery and take about 6 mos to totally heal. This is why I cannot eat any crunchy foods or things like bread or pasta (it becomes gummy and is hard to pass) right now. So when I eat too fast, it gets stuck at the entrance to my stomach and wont go down. If too much gets stuck, vomiting is possible. I have been fortunate (?) to never have vomited, I just gag. I can usually tell pretty quickly when I've eaten too fast. If I drink too fast the effect is immediate. In this case, I didn't realize it until I'd taken about two pretty good size bites.
Typically I deal with this a couple different ways. I start to feel sick, so I will immediately stop eating and drinking (of course) and just sit incredibly still. For some reason if I can sit totally still and not talk, sometimes I start to feel better. It probably has nothing to do with sitting still, that's probably just my way of coping with it, lol. Anyway, in this situation I did not feel better. I gagged once for about 30 seconds, but I still felt the food stuck. About 10 minutes later I gagged again. At that point the food went down. I can always tell when its about to go down because the pain in my stomach gets worse for just a few seconds, and then its gone.
After the food passed, I went back to my dinner. I ended up eating the rest of my leg and all of my mashed potatoes and beans. After that I felt like I could eat more, and I did need more protein for the day, so I ate another leg. It felt alright going down, and while I was eating I didn't feel like I was eating too much. However, soon after I finished eating I knew I had eaten way too much. My stomach was in such pain, it was like a huge rock in my gut. Its not like when you have a normal-sized stomach and eat too much, its actually painful and it lasts forever. One of the things the surgery does for you is cause your stomach to empty VERY slowly, which is a great thing so you're not hungry all the time, but is a bad thing when you eat too much or eat something that doesn't agree with you. Soooo, I was sick for about an hour with that.
Tuesday I made chicken cordon bleu (http://www.bariatriceating.com/BErecipes/recipefiles/chicken--turkey/chicken-ham--swiss-rolls--chicken-cordon-bleu/90/index.html). Great recipe, not nearly as difficult at is seems, and very delicious. It is made with chicken breast, which of course is white meat, but I find if its baked it doesn't dry out near as much as if its grilled or pan seared. One side note--Dijon mustard is a very strong flavor. I left it off and made a dipping sauce of equal parts low-fat mayo and Dijon mustard instead. I'm glad I did, it was much better that way, and turns out Nat doesn't like Dijon mustard at all. :)
ANYWAY, I again let myself get WAY too hungry, so by the time we ate I took way too big of bites and probably did not chew as thoroughly as I should have. I was again sick, gagging, stomachache, the whole 9. It didn't last near as long as Monday's episode, luckily this time I just went straight to the gagging, lol, but it still sucked. Afterward I was able to finish the rest of my portion (bariatric portion for this recipe is 1/2 a roll, but still has 20 grams of protein, yay!), thankfully. I then remembered a video I saw on You Tube discussing certain "tools of the trade" that another post-op found useful. Check it out, you might find it useful too. Also check out her You Tube channel, she has done a good job of documenting her journey.
One of the things she discusses as being useful are baby spoons. Yes, like the kind you use to feed babies. So, Wednesday when I was at Walmart I bought some baby spoons and small plastic forks like maybe a 1 or 2-year-old would use. They are really cute, lol.
Soooo Wednesday we had chicken casserole. I ate with my little fork and I didn't get sick! Very exciting! Tonight I ate a leftover thigh from KFC with my little fork, and didn't get sick tonight either! Yay! I've been using the baby spoons for soft foods that I don't have a problem getting down as well. Its just good to get myself into a pattern of eating smaller bites.
I wish the bariatric team where I had my surgery would have mentioned that this would be a good idea. I have had to alter the way I do things in many different ways such as crushing pills, taking vitamins, counting protein grams, etc. Using baby spoons would have been a pretty easy and useful change to implement.
The other change I am making is to make sure I am eating more frequently. I haven't been eating regularly, just waiting until I get pretty hungry to eat. I think having a better eating schedule will help me to not get so hungry and therefore not eat too fast.
Anyway, tomorrow is weigh-in day! We'll see how it goes, and I'll post once I have the new number!
The opening and exit of the stomach are very swollen after surgery and take about 6 mos to totally heal. This is why I cannot eat any crunchy foods or things like bread or pasta (it becomes gummy and is hard to pass) right now. So when I eat too fast, it gets stuck at the entrance to my stomach and wont go down. If too much gets stuck, vomiting is possible. I have been fortunate (?) to never have vomited, I just gag. I can usually tell pretty quickly when I've eaten too fast. If I drink too fast the effect is immediate. In this case, I didn't realize it until I'd taken about two pretty good size bites.
Typically I deal with this a couple different ways. I start to feel sick, so I will immediately stop eating and drinking (of course) and just sit incredibly still. For some reason if I can sit totally still and not talk, sometimes I start to feel better. It probably has nothing to do with sitting still, that's probably just my way of coping with it, lol. Anyway, in this situation I did not feel better. I gagged once for about 30 seconds, but I still felt the food stuck. About 10 minutes later I gagged again. At that point the food went down. I can always tell when its about to go down because the pain in my stomach gets worse for just a few seconds, and then its gone.
After the food passed, I went back to my dinner. I ended up eating the rest of my leg and all of my mashed potatoes and beans. After that I felt like I could eat more, and I did need more protein for the day, so I ate another leg. It felt alright going down, and while I was eating I didn't feel like I was eating too much. However, soon after I finished eating I knew I had eaten way too much. My stomach was in such pain, it was like a huge rock in my gut. Its not like when you have a normal-sized stomach and eat too much, its actually painful and it lasts forever. One of the things the surgery does for you is cause your stomach to empty VERY slowly, which is a great thing so you're not hungry all the time, but is a bad thing when you eat too much or eat something that doesn't agree with you. Soooo, I was sick for about an hour with that.
Tuesday I made chicken cordon bleu (http://www.bariatriceating.com/BErecipes/recipefiles/chicken--turkey/chicken-ham--swiss-rolls--chicken-cordon-bleu/90/index.html). Great recipe, not nearly as difficult at is seems, and very delicious. It is made with chicken breast, which of course is white meat, but I find if its baked it doesn't dry out near as much as if its grilled or pan seared. One side note--Dijon mustard is a very strong flavor. I left it off and made a dipping sauce of equal parts low-fat mayo and Dijon mustard instead. I'm glad I did, it was much better that way, and turns out Nat doesn't like Dijon mustard at all. :)
ANYWAY, I again let myself get WAY too hungry, so by the time we ate I took way too big of bites and probably did not chew as thoroughly as I should have. I was again sick, gagging, stomachache, the whole 9. It didn't last near as long as Monday's episode, luckily this time I just went straight to the gagging, lol, but it still sucked. Afterward I was able to finish the rest of my portion (bariatric portion for this recipe is 1/2 a roll, but still has 20 grams of protein, yay!), thankfully. I then remembered a video I saw on You Tube discussing certain "tools of the trade" that another post-op found useful. Check it out, you might find it useful too. Also check out her You Tube channel, she has done a good job of documenting her journey.
One of the things she discusses as being useful are baby spoons. Yes, like the kind you use to feed babies. So, Wednesday when I was at Walmart I bought some baby spoons and small plastic forks like maybe a 1 or 2-year-old would use. They are really cute, lol.
Soooo Wednesday we had chicken casserole. I ate with my little fork and I didn't get sick! Very exciting! Tonight I ate a leftover thigh from KFC with my little fork, and didn't get sick tonight either! Yay! I've been using the baby spoons for soft foods that I don't have a problem getting down as well. Its just good to get myself into a pattern of eating smaller bites.
I wish the bariatric team where I had my surgery would have mentioned that this would be a good idea. I have had to alter the way I do things in many different ways such as crushing pills, taking vitamins, counting protein grams, etc. Using baby spoons would have been a pretty easy and useful change to implement.
The other change I am making is to make sure I am eating more frequently. I haven't been eating regularly, just waiting until I get pretty hungry to eat. I think having a better eating schedule will help me to not get so hungry and therefore not eat too fast.
Anyway, tomorrow is weigh-in day! We'll see how it goes, and I'll post once I have the new number!
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