Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Rapid Weight Loss Plan
This morning, the scale read 287.5lbs - SEVEN DAYS!!! That is crazy! Today was a pretty good day, I had enough to eat (drink, actually). I went to the YMCA to visit - we walked a half mile on the track. We'll join later this week, it's definitely worth it. I went home and drank a bit more (all nutrition). Then I went to therapy and gave her a play-by-play of my surgery. Which ya know, I never posted here. Then I came home and ate/drank some more. I got the worst case of cramps that I have had in a long time, so I took some LQ Tylenol and fell asleep on the couch. Steve called and woke me up at 6p and the whole right side of my body was numb. I slept on that side and I was light-headed when I woke up. I finally got some food in my belly and felt better. Steve and I went to the grocery store and came home. And that's my account of today. I am not a fabulous blogger.
Monday, June 16, 2008
My Summer Movie Reviews
The Great Debaters - loved it! It was poignant, thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, uplifting, and thrilling. 4 stars
Across the Univers - not feeling it. So much hype with this film, and my students love this movie. I am not a fan. It is very artistic, and interesting in that regard. It is also intriguing how they use the music of the 60s as a backdrop to a storyline that is weak at best. The amount of drug use is disturbing to me. 2 stars for artistry.
Kissin' Cousins - old 1964 Elvis Presley movie, probably one of the more stupid ones that he did, not impressive. It was a Elvis & Hee-Haw combo flavor. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Hee-Haw originated from this movie. 1 star
Girl Happy - another E.P. movie from 1965, one that he was not very visible. The storyline was not on the star who carried the movie, that was evident. I will say that this one was much, much more risque that the other one. 1 star
The Holiday - love this Cameron Diaz/Jude Law/Kate Winslet/Jack Black romantic comedy! One of my favorite chick flicks. Lots of little goofs in it, but I love, love, love it! It doesn't matter how many times I see it, it is sure to please and warm the heart! 4 stars!
Across the Univers - not feeling it. So much hype with this film, and my students love this movie. I am not a fan. It is very artistic, and interesting in that regard. It is also intriguing how they use the music of the 60s as a backdrop to a storyline that is weak at best. The amount of drug use is disturbing to me. 2 stars for artistry.
Kissin' Cousins - old 1964 Elvis Presley movie, probably one of the more stupid ones that he did, not impressive. It was a Elvis & Hee-Haw combo flavor. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Hee-Haw originated from this movie. 1 star
Girl Happy - another E.P. movie from 1965, one that he was not very visible. The storyline was not on the star who carried the movie, that was evident. I will say that this one was much, much more risque that the other one. 1 star
The Holiday - love this Cameron Diaz/Jude Law/Kate Winslet/Jack Black romantic comedy! One of my favorite chick flicks. Lots of little goofs in it, but I love, love, love it! It doesn't matter how many times I see it, it is sure to please and warm the heart! 4 stars!
13 lbs. lost...
In 5 days - isn't that amazing? By drinking my food and walking 4x a day! I know, I know, it's water weight, but I feel great! My incisions hurt a lot last night while I tried to sleep. A couple of the incisions seemed to have drained a tiny bit, but I put big huge bandages over them yesterday. The full protection helped seal everything up really well.
Today, my goal is to drink all the leftover food that I have made - or at least make a dent in it. I must admit that I do not love protein powder in my food. I made a great bowl of cream of wheat - okay, no one think c-o-w is great - but I flavored the milk with SF strawberry preserves. I strained it and sweetened it with splenda - it was much better. But the nutritionist suggests adding protein powder to it - that does not excite me at all.
I do struggle with emotional eating due to boredom but with this plan - I am certainly not bored! We'll see how that changes in the next few weeks...
I am inspired this morning by a story on the Today Show with Hoda Kotb/Kathie Lee Gifford about a woman who weighed 400 lbs. and lost 262 lbs. She weighs 138 now. That is AMAZING! She was so gracious and sweet and did it without surgeries or pills. I am inspired.
Today, my goal is to drink all the leftover food that I have made - or at least make a dent in it. I must admit that I do not love protein powder in my food. I made a great bowl of cream of wheat - okay, no one think c-o-w is great - but I flavored the milk with SF strawberry preserves. I strained it and sweetened it with splenda - it was much better. But the nutritionist suggests adding protein powder to it - that does not excite me at all.
I do struggle with emotional eating due to boredom but with this plan - I am certainly not bored! We'll see how that changes in the next few weeks...
I am inspired this morning by a story on the Today Show with Hoda Kotb/Kathie Lee Gifford about a woman who weighed 400 lbs. and lost 262 lbs. She weighs 138 now. That is AMAZING! She was so gracious and sweet and did it without surgeries or pills. I am inspired.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
one ounce at a time...
We do what we have to do so we can do what we want to do - Denzel Washington?
So, this morning, I got up and began the task of a full day of eating and exercising. 1 oz. of liquids every 15 minutes - it requires a lot of dedication. I will admit that honestly.
Last night, I got the munchies, but I did not act upon them. I wanted to, oh, how I wanted to munch on some junk food. But I did not.
Currently, I am drinking protein shakes, hot tea, water, and eating cream of wheat. I went on a 13 min. walk this morning. I feel just fine.
Yesterday, I went to a concert and to a theater open house - I was tired afterwards. Very tired. Therefore, I am staying home today. I woke up this morning and my incisions hurt. I slept for the first time w/o elevation, I wanted to roll around. Trying to toss and turn in bed is what made my incisions hurt. LQ tylenol helped take that ache away.
So, now, I am going to eat again and continue watching The Great Debaters.
So, this morning, I got up and began the task of a full day of eating and exercising. 1 oz. of liquids every 15 minutes - it requires a lot of dedication. I will admit that honestly.
Last night, I got the munchies, but I did not act upon them. I wanted to, oh, how I wanted to munch on some junk food. But I did not.
Currently, I am drinking protein shakes, hot tea, water, and eating cream of wheat. I went on a 13 min. walk this morning. I feel just fine.
Yesterday, I went to a concert and to a theater open house - I was tired afterwards. Very tired. Therefore, I am staying home today. I woke up this morning and my incisions hurt. I slept for the first time w/o elevation, I wanted to roll around. Trying to toss and turn in bed is what made my incisions hurt. LQ tylenol helped take that ache away.
So, now, I am going to eat again and continue watching The Great Debaters.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
15 min. living
15 minutes of fame. 15 minutes of exercise. 15 minutes in between drinking liquids - 1 oz. at a time. That's me. I am drinking my nutrition. Yesterday, I felt like I drank milk all day in various forms. Today, I figured out how to make Cream of Wheat taste good w/o the extra sugars. I took four 10 minute walks yesterday. I took a short walk this morning at 7:30p as well. I think I need a nap right now. I have to go to a 2pm concert, so I want to be rested for that event.
I am watching the Today Show - dedicated to remembering Tim Russert, a political journalist whom I just adored. I am taking two quotes from him:
You are always, always loved, but you are never, ever entitled. - talking to his son, Luke
Study hard, laugh often, keep your honor. - to his son about going to college.
Great words of wisdom.
I am watching the Today Show - dedicated to remembering Tim Russert, a political journalist whom I just adored. I am taking two quotes from him:
You are always, always loved, but you are never, ever entitled. - talking to his son, Luke
Study hard, laugh often, keep your honor. - to his son about going to college.
Great words of wisdom.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Life after Lap-Band Surgery
Well, I did it. I had Lap-Band Surgery! I have 5 small incisions on my upper belly. Pre-Op was not so bad. All of my nurses were wonderful. Surgery & Recovery - I don't remember much of it. I remember that they gave me the "loopy"meds before they wheeled me into surgery, I remember the surgery room being bright, bright, bright white. And that's it. Then I remember coming to in some room, but I don't know where I was - I saw a clock that said 1:30p - so I am thinking that was Recovery. And I know I was in pain. Then I remember two nurses fussing over me in my room about 2:20p. I had to go do a Upper GI and drink something that tasted like medicine. Then they brought me ice chips and a tray full of liquids.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The Day Before Surgery
No Diet Cokes. I haven't had any since Sunday night. I had a small headache last night at dinner. So far, so good. I tried to eat mostly liquids yesterday. It wasn't bad, but I departed from the menu to eat the last of the cookies in the house and the shrimp on my husband's plate. The shrimp was tough, not satisfying at all. I am drinking a Carnation Instant Breakfast right now - with added non-fat dry milk, ice cubes, and a banana. The banana was added after I decided that I didn't like the taste of 1% milk plus dry milk. On the otherhand, I did LOVE the double milk with the Jello Sugar-Free Vanilla Pudding Single yesterday. That was yummy! My veggie soup turned out very well, it's very orange.
Today, I am going to spend some time with Marie, then go to psycho-therapy, then meet Diane at the Music Rack. I don't know what I am supposed to discussing with Diane. I know what I want to discuss with my psych though.
On a random note, we came home last night to discover one of the cats had pooped on the bed - somebody has the squirts. That's the problem with having 2 cats - when one of them has a problem, it is hard to figure out who it is.
So, my rant today is from last night's dinner with our family - rather Steve's parents, his sister and her husband. But let me back up....Steve is very concerned about a couple of things with this surgery 1. what pastor will pray over me before surgery or what pastor should he call in case something happens 2. who is going to visit me in the hospital. Well, the surgery takes an hour and is minimally invasive, so I don't think I need prayer from a pastor before I go in. I denied the clergy in my room - not b/c I am anti-clergy. I just don't want some random minister walking in my room - I've seen those guys in action, it is not effective. But truly, this is an experience that Steve and I have never been through together, so we have brand new topics of conversation that go with it. Honestly, I never thought about have a minister visit me b/c I didn't think it was needed. Then to discuss the minister of my choice in the event of a fatality - well, that was new one, too. Then we move on to who will visit me....well, I am not taking out a billboard to announce my hospital stay. There's a 50/50 chance that I will go home the day of the surgery, so I don't want to tell too many people that I am going to be in the hospital if I end up going home the same day. Sure, I'd love some visitors, but I don't want to have to invite them, I think they should come on their own accord.
Which brings me to my rant....as if the last paragraph wasn't enough...Steve's parents said that they were coming up on Wednesday morning during my surgery to sit with Steve. They said that several times. After the 2nd or 3rd time, I thought to myself, "So, you're not coming to be there during my surgery, you're coming to sit with your son for moral support. It's indirect support. I get it. He's afraid of hospitals, so you are going to come sit with him like he is 5 yo. He is 36 yo, he goes to the doctor by himself, he gets bloodwork done by himself, he even took himself to the ER when he had a boil on his face, and he took himself to the doctor when the problem came back. He is capable of getting through medical procedures on his own. But please, do come and sit with him to support him, not me. I guess this is what I get for not having my mother in my life. Since it my choice (and healthy decision) not to tell her about the surgery, then what I get is the parental figures in my life who don't really want to be my parental figures. They want to make it clear that they are not my parents - they are my husband's parents. I don't think of them as my parents, but they are people who are parents and pretty good ones, so they are good role models for me. Plus, they belong to my husband, so I have a kindred relationship to them. But ya know, it's okay, come sit with your son during my surgery. I'll be fine."
I wish in-laws everywhere had a universal understanding of how much easier it could be if they simply embraced the idea of inclusion.
Today, I am going to spend some time with Marie, then go to psycho-therapy, then meet Diane at the Music Rack. I don't know what I am supposed to discussing with Diane. I know what I want to discuss with my psych though.
On a random note, we came home last night to discover one of the cats had pooped on the bed - somebody has the squirts. That's the problem with having 2 cats - when one of them has a problem, it is hard to figure out who it is.
So, my rant today is from last night's dinner with our family - rather Steve's parents, his sister and her husband. But let me back up....Steve is very concerned about a couple of things with this surgery 1. what pastor will pray over me before surgery or what pastor should he call in case something happens 2. who is going to visit me in the hospital. Well, the surgery takes an hour and is minimally invasive, so I don't think I need prayer from a pastor before I go in. I denied the clergy in my room - not b/c I am anti-clergy. I just don't want some random minister walking in my room - I've seen those guys in action, it is not effective. But truly, this is an experience that Steve and I have never been through together, so we have brand new topics of conversation that go with it. Honestly, I never thought about have a minister visit me b/c I didn't think it was needed. Then to discuss the minister of my choice in the event of a fatality - well, that was new one, too. Then we move on to who will visit me....well, I am not taking out a billboard to announce my hospital stay. There's a 50/50 chance that I will go home the day of the surgery, so I don't want to tell too many people that I am going to be in the hospital if I end up going home the same day. Sure, I'd love some visitors, but I don't want to have to invite them, I think they should come on their own accord.
Which brings me to my rant....as if the last paragraph wasn't enough...Steve's parents said that they were coming up on Wednesday morning during my surgery to sit with Steve. They said that several times. After the 2nd or 3rd time, I thought to myself, "So, you're not coming to be there during my surgery, you're coming to sit with your son for moral support. It's indirect support. I get it. He's afraid of hospitals, so you are going to come sit with him like he is 5 yo. He is 36 yo, he goes to the doctor by himself, he gets bloodwork done by himself, he even took himself to the ER when he had a boil on his face, and he took himself to the doctor when the problem came back. He is capable of getting through medical procedures on his own. But please, do come and sit with him to support him, not me. I guess this is what I get for not having my mother in my life. Since it my choice (and healthy decision) not to tell her about the surgery, then what I get is the parental figures in my life who don't really want to be my parental figures. They want to make it clear that they are not my parents - they are my husband's parents. I don't think of them as my parents, but they are people who are parents and pretty good ones, so they are good role models for me. Plus, they belong to my husband, so I have a kindred relationship to them. But ya know, it's okay, come sit with your son during my surgery. I'll be fine."
I wish in-laws everywhere had a universal understanding of how much easier it could be if they simply embraced the idea of inclusion.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Summer is here!
I am so excited to have walked away from the school at almost 4pm on Friday! In 13 years of teaching, I can say that has never happened. It's quite an accomplishment for me. I am definitely a workaholic who is learning to balance my life. So, I will be returning on Wednesdays beginning 6/18 - to do administrative stuff, work with a few students, etc. Right now, I am blogging. Actually, I am prepping to clean my house and do the laundry as I will be having surgery on Wednesday. I don't want to return to a upside down house. And if my mil wants to visit, I am certain it needs to be somewhat presentable.
I am cooking a vegetable soup - carrots, potatoes, onions, zuchinni squash, butternut squash - ummmm, yum! I bought an immersion blender last night so that I can puree it when everything is soft. I have a food processor, single serve blender, and an immersion blender - I think I am ready for this surgery.
So, I am more than a little fearful of the surgery itself. Putting myself on the op table, having them cut me open (no matter how small), how much it is going to hurt afterwards, healing, getting lots of exercise, etc. Steve is frustrated b/c I have been throwing out the food that will tempt me later - the man needs his junk food. I don't. Fortunately, we don't crave all the same kinds of junk food. So, some of it doesn't bother me. But I told him no cookies in the house for a few weeks - ugh, he is not excited about that one. I am going to have to find someone to give this 12 pk of Diet Cokes to....;)
I am cooking a vegetable soup - carrots, potatoes, onions, zuchinni squash, butternut squash - ummmm, yum! I bought an immersion blender last night so that I can puree it when everything is soft. I have a food processor, single serve blender, and an immersion blender - I think I am ready for this surgery.
So, I am more than a little fearful of the surgery itself. Putting myself on the op table, having them cut me open (no matter how small), how much it is going to hurt afterwards, healing, getting lots of exercise, etc. Steve is frustrated b/c I have been throwing out the food that will tempt me later - the man needs his junk food. I don't. Fortunately, we don't crave all the same kinds of junk food. So, some of it doesn't bother me. But I told him no cookies in the house for a few weeks - ugh, he is not excited about that one. I am going to have to find someone to give this 12 pk of Diet Cokes to....;)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
