Changes

My life has changed so much in the last year...

A year ago today I would probably have been watching TV for 2-3 hours each night.  Now we go many nights not turning on the TV until we go to bed and I am usually reading and he falls asleep in less than 30 minutes.  It is really refreshing.

Our evenings are busy with spelling words, playing games, reading alone or together, and preparing for the next day.  Then there are the days with special activities like gymnastics, special olympics, speech thereapy, and going to the gym. 

Then some weekends we have a lot planned like this weekend with Izza getting to go up in a private plane with Challenge Air Dallas.  Then we will all don our costumes, get our can goods for donation and entry to the Bedford Halloween event.  Sunday is family day at church and we will all be wearing our costumes.  A fun, busy weekend ahead.

I love my quiet weekends, and I believe Izza and Kerry do also, but it is nice to have these things to do as a family also.

I love all of the changes in my life and I would not go back for anything.  It is just amazing to me to take that look back and see how different things are for us now.  I knew things would change, but I guess until they happened I did not know how they would look or how they would feel.  I am here to say the picture is beautiful and the feeling is contentment.

Namaste my friends.

Eating a Frozen Entree

Okay, so today is the first day post op that I have eaten a frozen entree.  I needed something for lunch and as much as I love refried beans just did not feel like having them today.

So...

I had one frozen entree in the refrigerator that has been there since pre-op.  So, it was like two weeks from it's use by date.  Good thing I looked, huh?

It is an Eating Right, Chicken with Basil Cream Sauce (white meat chicken and spaghetti with the basil cream sauce.  An 8.5 oz serving with 280 calories, 7 g fat, and 19 g protein.  Not the best all around for me, but I could do worse.  I should have had more protein with the amount of calories and of course there was 550 sodium which is why I usually avoid these things anymore.

I was not sure if I could eat the whole thing so I brought a microwavable dish just in case, but it has taken me 30 minutes eatting slow the way I am supposed to and I did eat the whole thing.  I am full so my berries will have to wait for a couple of hours.  But I feel a little more full than I like so I probably won't do this again.  I usually eat about 4-6 oz of food in about 15 minutes.  I am guessing that eatting slower allowed me to eat more food.  Which is probably what I am supposed to do, but I have trouble with the slow part.

So, I do believe frozen entrees are out for me.  Just does not seem worth the calories, etc.

The learning never stops with this new way of living, eating, etc.

Namaste.

My Spiritual Life

Yeah, I guess a lot has happened in the last two months.  During the month of August hubby and I attended Wednesday night classes at the Unity Church of Fort Worth and decided to become members during the Membership Cermony and Spiritual Baptism on September 11th.

I also signed up to teach the 2nd-4th graders on the 3rd & 4th Sunday of the month.  I love it.  At first when I signed up I thought I might be getting a job in WV, but then this job I am in now was offered to me the day after I signed up and made a committment to teach through May.  Funny how things work out.  I had to the Youth Director that I did not feel comfortable signing up because I might get that job in WV and she wanted me to sign up any way...and then here comes the job offer that would keep me here.  Amazing, no?

Well, I love teaching the children.  I always have loved teaching those ages.  This year we are teaching virtues. I think that is an excellent subject for children and I love the format of reading them a story, discussing the story, and then doing a project that reflects what they learned in the story.

Sadly right after we joined the church we found out it was in turmoil.  Our whole board stepped down the Sunday after we joined, but we are back on track with a temporary board until the new board is elected in  mid-November.  This spiritual group has a lot of healing to do, but I believe we have some good people in place to help with that.  I don't regret joining them at all. 

I have been to a few things classes and seminars and it seems no matter who you talk to they all say the same thing.  That when they came to the Unity Church of Fort Worth they just felt like they had come home, to their Spiritual Home.  I would have to agree.

Well, enough of my sharing for now...

Namaste.

Gone to Long - - Again

Wow, I did not realize it has been so long since I posted...Life is busy with a child...who would have thunk it...Plus we joined the gym so that has taken up more of our time.

Well, the big news.  At last weigh in I was down 70 lbs...check out the last two pictures here:

Stephie's Bariatric Living

I am feeling really good, but having a tough time finding things to wear to work as I don't want to spend any money on clothes yet.  What a problem huh?

I started a new job on September 26th.  I am closer to home and am really enjoying the time I have with my daughter and husband in the mornings.  I am learning so many new things and believe I have made the right choice to go to the IT side of things with the VA and shedding my payroll/hr skin.

Well, that is all I have time for now.  I need to check in on all my wonderful blogging friends and will do that in the next couple of days.

Namaste.

Four Weeks Out

I am four weeks post op and on  my last week of pureed food.  I did not lose any weight on my first week of pureed and it had me a little down, but I am hoping it is just my body going through it's changes and learning how to deal with the new way that I eat.  I have an appointment with my gastric sleeve MD on Thursday so we shall see then how they think I am doing.

I am getting at least 30 minutes of walking/stationery bike a day and am starting to increase it a little here and there.  I need to get up to 60 minutes of exercise in the next 30 days.  I am going to look into a gym nearby that has a pool so that I can get back into water aerobics.

Hubby was supposed to take my pic on my 4 week date, but we got distracted and did not get it done.  Today is my 30 day mark so we will take it today.  You will be able to check it out at www.stephiezone.com and go to my gallery.

I am down 40 lbs from when I started my pre-op diet and I am down 26 lbs from the date of surgery so all in all I am happy with what I have accomplished so far...big goal right now...dropping below 300.  I have two more lbs until that goal is met!!  Oh, we were at Sam's last weekend and there was a 37.5 lb bag of dog food and I told Kerry, this is about what I have lost now and he lifted it...he was very impressed.  It made me feel good and it was unbelievable that that much weight is already off my bones.  You know they have to be heaving a sigh of relief.

Namaste my friends...

11 Days Post Op

I am 11 days Post-Op and have lost 15 lbs.  I had my staples removed today and am so, so happy!!  I can return to work tomorrow and am so ready for that also.

I have one more week and two days that I have to be on liquids than I get to go to pureed food for two weeks.  A person has never looked forward to pureed food as much as I am...

I have set my annual check-up with my regular doctor for four weeks from the date of my surgery which will be a good time to check vitamin levels, etc.  They checked them before surgery and everything was good.  Which is one up for me because obese people are often experience malnutrition because they do not eat healthy.  I on the other hand ate healthy 90% of the time, it was the 10% and not enough exercise that got me to where I was that finally made me make the decision to have this surgery.

I will be taking a picture at every 30 day mark and posting it on my stephiezone.com website so you will be able to keep up with the changes in me...

Well, hungry so I need to go get something to drink...time for a protein shake...yum...not...tired of them really...

4 Days Post Op

I am home and my parents have come into town to be with me during this first week of recovery.  I was able to go home the day after surgery, but they did not let me leave until like 7:30p that evening.  

I still have a bit of gas, which can hurt like the dickens when it is in my chest.  I know I am getting all of my fluids in that I need and I am getting 42g of protein, though only about 200 cals.  Today I was able to add some protein drinks so I was able to get some more calories.

It still hurts to take deep breaths, but I know that will just take time to get better.  And last night I kept coughing and that hurt a whole lot.

I will be so happy when the healing part is done...

Pre-Op Done...5 Days until Surgery

Yesterday I had my pre-op. It took a lot longer than it was supposed to...2 hrs compared to the 1 I was told it would be by Dr. Kim's office. 

I ordered my Journey Multi-vitamins and Pure Unflavored Whey Protein Isolate from Bariatriceating.com yesterday. And today I ordered a multi-flavored New Whey liquid protein from WholesaleSupplemementStore.com. I should have all these in the house when I get home so I won't have to worry about someone going out and trying to tell them what I want. 

I am excited about the New Whey because it has 42g of protein in a 3.8oz serving. I have read that some people will mix these with sugar free drinks of the same flavor to sip and get the protein throughout the day.

I also went and got my hair cut and colored today so I will feel good about myself that way. My parents will be coming into town from GA next Saturday to be with me that first week. I am so glad. It will take some weight off of hubby since he is always caring for our daughter and then I will need his help a little more to get up from a sitting position, etc. They can help me out and or our daughter. And maybe they can take our daughter to the water park or something.

I went to Bed,Bath and Beyond today to look for an insulated cup with a sipper lid. Found a great cup...did not look at the price...that is what I do when I want something and just don't care...probably should have...got home and saw that it was almost as much as what I spent on six insulated cups with a lid that holds a straw. While I was there I noticed they had lids that were sipper lids that might fit my cups so I bought one to try. The lid fit!! So, hubby is going back to get five more lids. I am going to keep my cup because I like the colors in it, but I won't be buying another one. The lids are 2.99. Much better than 16.99 for a cup. I bought a handle too, that fits on these 24oz cups so that will make it better for me carrying the cup on my commute on the train once I return to work. It has been difficult with my bag and the cup without a handle at times.

So, I think I have things pretty much in order for when I return. I forgot...I also got some EAS Advantage, which I had been drinking before the surgery as my nutritionist said I could have that after surgery also.

Now, come on surgery!! One bummer...my surgery is scheduled for 2pm!! No, nothing after midnight and no surgery until 2pm??? I love water!! I don't know how to go without it that long, but I know I must...

I will never diet again...

I have gone on and off diets my whole adult life. I was following the Adkins eating plan the longest...lost the most on Weight Watchers...found I was allergic to Nutrisystem foods...and all the time kept this yoyo thing going with my weight...

Well, diet should be how you eat all the time, not just when you are "trying" to lose weight. So, I have dedicated myself to doing just that changing my diet to a healthier way of eating in order for myself and my family to be healthy and live long active lives.

I am actually looking forward to recreating some of my favorite flavors into healthy options. I'll be sharing them on my personal website stephiezone.com once I get an opportunity to cook and eat again. My husband, whom is about 20 lbs heavier than he would like to be, is also looking forward to this change in our life. My daughter, luckily eats just about anything put in front of her and her favorite seems to be veggies and fish, so we are pretty set with her accepting what is put in front of her.

The closer I get to my surgery date and the closer I get to being able to cook again the more excited I get about life...join me...stop the dieting and change your diet for life...

Working through It

Well, I have been doing this my own way and being very anal about how I do it...I have allowed myself a meal here or there....well, if you can call it a meal.  This morning was a meal.  I made low fat mini quiche and had two.  So, this gives me 5 grams of fat today.  Yesterday I had some fat free refried beans with a tbs of light sour cream and a tbs of 2% cheese and salsa.  That gave me about 5 grams of calories also.  Some other nights I had just refried beans, fat free of course.  I have a really good dinner planned for the 4th, with chicken, sugar free baked kidney beans, spinach, and sweet potato hash browns.  The whole meal has 6 grams of fat.  That will be my last meal before my surgery, which is on the 14th, so I will have 9 whole days of liquids.  I have been really keeping my fat low when I eat so I am sure I am still doing what I need to to shrink this liver and take off a few lbs before the surgery.  I have not been eating every night, but found I just had to at times.  I feel good about how I have handled this...just could not go completely cold turkey to all liquid diet.  And once I have the surgery I will not feel the hunger like I have through some of these days leading up to it.