A Quick Hello...

I don't have much to write about today.  I'm down another couple of pounds to a total of 25 lbs. lost in a little over a month post-op.  I'm very excited to see the scale moving again.  Who knew that eating right and exercising were the key to weight loss?  ;)

Last night the family and I went downtown to a summer festival and bbq competition.  We ate dinner beforehand so I wasn't tempted to indulge in all of the award-winning yummies surrounding us.  But MAN, did all that barbecue smell good!!  We walked ALL OVER downtown (probably a couple of miles total) and had a wonderful time together.  We're going back this evening for their carnival and fireworks show.  Should be a good time!

Quick tip:  I tried the new Kellogs Protein Plus cereal this morning.  Tastes like horse food (ok, not quite that bad), but has 9 grams of protein per serving (not counting the milk)!

Mouth-Watering...

Yesterday was a drizzly, gloomy day here in Colorado so the boys and I headed to the library.  I decided to see if there were any books out there about Lap-Band surgery and I stumbled upon a recipe book called Recipes for Life After Weight-Loss Surgery by Margaret M. Furtado and Lynette Shultz. 

What I like about this book is that its full of easy, practical recipes that are designed for WLS patients.  At the top of each recipe, there is a timeline as to when they recommend you eat this food post-op.  They also include the full nutritional content of each recipe with an emphasis on calories, protein, and fat. 

Last night I made one of their dinner recipes and it was a huge hit with the whole family!  It was Lemon Barbecue Meatloaf and it was SO easy!  I made asparagus to go with it and some baked sweet potato fries for the boys.  I only ate about 3 oz. of the meatloaf, a few pieces of asparagus (my favorite veggies) and a couple of fries and I was totally satisfied!  And I got almost 30g of protein! 

Today I'm going to the grocery store to get stuff for some of the breakfast/lunch recipes from the book.  I'm going to try their Turkey Tomato Spinach Wrap, Mushroom and Swiss Omlette, Turkey and Herbed Cream Cheese Wrap, Carrot Dill Muffins, and more! 

My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Have any of you stumbled upon an amazing resource for practical and yummy recipes for WLS patients?  I'd love to get your input!

Getting My Fat Ass Back on the Wagon.... STAT!

Helly.  My name is Jenny and I'm a fat chick.

((altogether now... "Hi Jenny..."))        

In true Fat Chick fashion, I've been pushing my band's limits these last few days.  I've lost almost all of my restriction (going in on 7/22 for my first fill) and because I'm still so new at this lap-band thing, I'm falling back into old habits.

I've been eating at night again.  That's probably my Numero Uno bad habit besides portion control.  The kids go to bed at 9pm, DH is at work, and I eat.  Its something that I have avoided these past few weeks, but have started to fall back into again.  It must stop.

I haven't been eating my protein.  I know I'm going to regret this in a LOT of ways.  And I know not getting enough protein is going to keep me hungrier.  I need to get back on the protein wagon.

I haven't been listening to my band when it tells me "enough is enough".  Yesterday I broke down and had a bagel with peanut butter on it.  I know bagels, for the bandster, are the devil's work.  But I wanted to see if I could do it.  And damnit, I REALLY wanted some peanut butter!  So I toasted my bagel, topped it with delicious PB and ate it.  And no, I didn't not eat it slowly.  And I did not take small bites.  And when I started to get "that feeling" I just waited a minute or two for it to pass and kept right on going.  Even when I knew I was too full.

*hanging head in shame*   I'm such a cliche.  Could I BE more of a fat chick?

Anywhoozles... today is a new day.  And I have two more weeks until my first fill and I REFUSE to un-do all the work I've done so far.  I cannot rely on the band alone to lose the weight for me.  I will NOT be one of those bandsters.

So, gimme some encouragement ladies!  Gimme a verbal ass-kicking!  Because this fat chick needs all the help she can get!

**Insert Fist Pump Here**

Remember how I was complaining that I wouldn't get my first fill until nine weeks post-op?  So I called the doctors office today and they squeezed me in on July 22nd for my first fill!  That's six weeks post-op and only two weeks away!  I'm so stoked that I don't have to wait until August 10th!

Musings...

We had a wonderful holiday weekend here in Colorado.  We spent yesterday afternoon at my parent's house bbq-ing and watching the kids swim in the pool.  My mom, who has been an amazing supporter of my lapband journey, went out of her way to make me some delicious tilapia for dinner while everyone else dined on t-bone steaks.  YUM!  I am NOT a fish person, but the tilapia was delish! 

About 6pm the rain rolled in and we spent the rest of the night in their house playing games and watching baseball.  Even the local fireworks show was cancelled.  C'est la vie, right?

In Lap-Band news... I'm down another pound or two this week, which really surprises me.  I've lost almost ALL of my restriction and can eat anything I want including white breads and raw fruit/veggies.  But I'm really watching my portions and drinking TONS of water, so I think that helps.

I've decided to call my doc this week and see if I can get in for my first fill before he leaves for vacation.  The idea of waiting nine weeks post-op for a fill is starting to freak me out.  If I can just get it two weeks earlier before he leaves, I think it would make a huge difference.  I'm not trying to fool myself... I got this surgery for a reason.  If I could lose weight on my own willpower, I wouldn't have gone through all of this, kwim?  I need restriction!

Well, I gotta go.  The sun is back out in full-force and I promised the boys I'd take them swimming at my sister's pool.

Until next time....

Diagnosis: Take Two

Apparently medicine isn't an exact science.  Who knew?  So they've reevaluated my "asthma" diagnosis and are now leaning more towards walking pneumonia.

Yeah.  Awesomesauce.

I got a chest x-ray and will have the results on Tuesday.  Until then, I'm on no fewer than five different drugs to combat whatever is ailing me. 


I have to admit, that as much as it sucks being sick, I would rather have pneumonia any day over asthma.  Asthma is no joke.


Stay tuned...

BYOC

Ok, so I haven't done one of these before, but I figured it give it a shot since I'm in no mood to blog on my own.  I just found out I have adult-onset asthma, which explains my asthma-like symptoms since January.  And I'm really upset because I feel like crap all.the.time and I can't be active until I get my breathing under control and I'm just really really grumpy about it!  Hopefully answering these questions will cheer me up at a bit, or at the very least, save you all from more of my woe-is-me complaining... 

1. Seeing that it's a patriotic holiday of sorts I thought of this one: Where were you on September 11th?
I was asleep in bed, three months pregnant with our first son.  Jeff was in the shower listening to the radio when he heard about the first plane.  He woke me up and told me "somethings happened in New York" and told me to turn on the TV.  It turned it on in time to see the second plane hit the second tower.  It was so surreal.  I still didn't fully grasp that it was a terrorist attack.  The most horrifying moment came a little bit later when the first and then the second tower collapsed.  Jeff said, "no, it was just another explosion" and I said, "no, the tower just fell" and when the smoke cleared, sure enough the towers were gone.  It was a terrifying day.  I was so scared for my unborn baby, bringing him into a world that was suddenly thrust into a war.

2. What is your idea of fun? If given the chance to skip work/life for an entire day, what would you do? (assume you'd be by yourself)
I would make a beeline for the bookstore or library.  I'd grab myself a latte on the way and just spend hours browsing the books and flipping through them.  Then I'd come home and take a 2-hour nap, wake up and freshen up, and head out to do some shopping.  Ahhh... sounds divine...

3. What are some of your quirks?

Let's see... I read magazines back-to-front.  Its something I picked up from my mom.  I also cannot stand to run my windshield wipers unless I absolutely have to.  I prefer salty to sweet, most oftentimes.  I have a shower ritual that goes...shampoo, condition (not rinse), body wash, rinse conditioner, face, shave.  It always goes like that.  Always will.  :)

4. Repeat question. Pick one day and one healthy thing you'll do for just that day next week.
I will get my water in tomorrow.  I love drinking water, so there is no excuse for me to not be getting in all my fluids!!

5. Repeat "Make someone a superstar" question. Whose blog or blog comment stuck with you this week and why?
Tracy Z's blog is my favorite.  Her and I both live in Colorado and we both started out near the same weight.  She is spunky and sassy and sarcastic just like me.  And she's a total inspiration!  She's lost almost half of her desired weight and doesn't let anything stop her!  She's inspired me to put myself out there instead of always waiting "to lose the weight" before I try new things.

Ok, thats it for me.  I'm exhausted because, you know, breathing is hard and stuff.  *glare*  But I think DH and I are going to take the kidlets to the pool this afternoon.  Nix that idea.  Just looked outside and the clouds are rolling in.  Awesomesauce.

On to plan B...