I have been really good about weighing weekly. Giving it a week between weigh-ins is good for a # of reasons - mainly bc it is less than obsessive and it actually can give an accurate picture of significant loss/gain.
What however is more depressing than eating less than 1000 calories a day, every day, is when you don't lose weight from one week to the other... With such consistency and significant reduction in calories, you begin to expect to see losses weekly... not the case. This week I hit my 2nd week overall without a posted loss. I guess that's better than a gain... but it goes to show that for a portion of the population, losing weight *isn't* always a sure thing if you 'just eat less.'
Overall, I'm still down more than 27lbs since I began this journey less than 2mos ago. Which is phenomenal - and I'm thrilled about it. I think I'm slightly more disheartened bc the last time I lost a significant amount of weight (since my 100lb loss 6 years ago) was about 2 years ago - and that was 25lbs. I need to make it beyond this hump to not feel like this is yet another 'fad' diet.
But to the new part --
I got my first fill.
A quick refresher -- the band has a hollow/balloon like piece around the band itself - this is connected to a tube that ends in a 'port' - basically a large circular tough 'pad.' (same as when ppl get lines for chemo) -- this port is attached to my abdominal wall via stitches during surgery.
There's a pic about 2/3rds the way down the page --
http://www.realizeband.com/dtcf/pages/realize-surgery.htm?pgn=1
Anyway, fills are meant to make the band tighter - and therefore keep you fuller longer with any food consumed - and this is about 1/2cup. It is filled w cc's of sterile saline - and can hold 8-10cc's.
SO the first fill -- headed to St Mary's, checked in - had to get the hospital bracelet and everything! They do these fills at something called the 'Pain Center' -- really?! who named that?!
So you get directed to this room - the pain center is also a pain to find - you actually walk out of the hospital and then back in - it's an externally accessible room. There's a bunch of people waiting - fellow banders - some fatties, some not as fatties and one slim woman who has lost all her hair to cancer - I'm not entirely sure that she's there for a fill - perhaps taking fluid out to ensure she can eat a lot to make up for the chemo effects.
What I've discovered that's outrageously refreshing is how OPEN people with the bands ARE to talk about their experience, weight loss, issues, etc. It's like this topic that's been totally taboo for all our lives -- even most relatives you don't discuss your weight issues openly with... Because we've all gotten to a place where we acknowledge our shortcomings and need for help - and it's totally liberating as we can finally talk about it bc there's hope that this doesn't define us and that it may change in the future. So picture campfire, guitars, com ba ya, etc. I will spare the details since most folks who don't have issues with this could care less... Let's just say I think I've been a SAINT on my first few months - bc about everyone in there had some comment about having issues w certain foods - all of which were ones they told us NOT to eat! haha! (subs? icecream? WTH?)
SO I get weighed and then sit for a while - then get called into a room where I immediately recognize 2 of the 3 people from my office appts - very comforting!
I then stand in front of what looks like an open MRI machine sans bed - turned on its side. It's a stand up x ray (but w less clunky camera and smaller plates. I stand in front of it, the dr finds my port and puts mark on my skin where it is. (recall - port is subdermal - not visible from the outside - when I get smaller I'll be able to feel it and possibly see it slightly) She then tells me NOT to look at the needle - apparently it's not small...
In goes needle (all this is being xrayed) - little prick - not bad - some rooting around to get it situated and then attached is the syringe - she pulls out the oxygen (they apparently prep the bands w oxygen for surgery) - then she puts in 3 cc's. She has me take a sip of barium -- while she watches it go down on the xray - pretty cool! She has ME holding the syringe at this point so she can move to see the xray pictures - apparently bc of the hard plastic the port is made of, it'll shoot out if not held in. She puts in another 1.5cc's - I drink more barium and she says I'm good to go and they record the amount.
I asked her how she knows what the right amount is - and she patiently explained the xray pics - which were totally rad (and I will see if I can take a pic w my cell of it next time) - much like the upper GI post surgery. She shows me where the band is and where the barium is passing through it -- then she shows me - using her THUMB where my 'pouch' is - ie the piece above the band that holds the food -- and I'm shocked that it's little wider than her thumb! Then I notice how small the opening is between this and the larger stomach below the band - like the width of an ink refill! Unreal - and super cool!
Then I'm done - that was IT! Nothing scary at all :) They have you then drink some liquid before you leave to be sure it's not too tight (too tight = liquid comes back up) - I'm then on liquids the next day and a half and then mushies and then solids again tomorrow -- Friday.
I actually think the liquid part (which was terrible this time - as before) has me probably ingesting more calories bc they are 8oz portions (rather than my 4oz 1/2 cup ones) - which I attribute to this week's plateau. But damn does tomato soup still make it all better...
Safe travels to Spevak!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The unseemly Smoketree underbelly
There is a plague upon this quaint, quiet suburban neighborhood... I think thy name is teenager...
I expected less property damage in the burbs than the hood - but alas, so far my annual neighborhood dues have only contributed to MORE expenditure...
Oct08 - I bitched about the pumpkin being taken off our porch and smashed down the road...
Nov08 - I bitched about the mailbox being beaten...
Dec08 - then it was run over - totally obliterated...
(drumroll please) -- and now the latest juvenile deliquient scheme - no doubt replete with cunning and rigorous planning...
Picture this - we wake up - the first Saturday of 2009, we're recovered from our houseguest and candy coma; we're bracing ourselves for the last day of vacation before 09 really starts... we look outside, it's chilly but not too cold - what will today have in store? yard work? shopping? hermitting? And something is wrong with the picture. It's not so much the inclusion of a strange element - but the opposite - something's MISSING... hmm
Jan09 - dumbass took our trashcan and drove it a block and a half away - dumping it in someone's ditch.
Luckily Rob had the wherewithall to go on the canhunt. I assumed it was stolen or we somehow had forgotten to pay our trash bill. In parallel to the canhunt, I rummaged through any outstanding mail to verify that indeed we were not deadbeats and were all paid up.
What followed was what I'd call adult temper tantrums - which I have much more frequently than my better half - well because I'm way more vocal, stressoutable, and enjoy my moments of being a drama queen... the rest of the day we went on relationship SWAT and pretty much did our own things alone so we didn't bite each others' heads off (for something that had NOTHING to do w either of us!)
For Rob that meant heading out to a bar, watching football and drinking beer. For me, it was heading upstairs to catch up on my trashy tivo'ed teen drama - One Tree Hill. Which cleverly btw - an homage to the network formerly known as the WB's original teen drama Dawson's Creek - they cast James Van Der Beek (Dawson) as a coke addicted Hollywood director - amusingly exactly what was always Dawson's dream - plus a drug addiction - SWEET!
All because of some punkass teenager - that or some Hokie that is really bothered by my UVA flag. Get over it - you got a bowl game and are now 'America's university'...
We'll stick to our #1 public university status - most recently apparently we made the 'best value in public school' designation - which I'm not sure is *exactly* the right connotation -- I mean 'best value' makes it sound like Walmart or Big Lots...
bit of a clash w our ultra pretentious 'The University' windshield stickers
I expected less property damage in the burbs than the hood - but alas, so far my annual neighborhood dues have only contributed to MORE expenditure...
Oct08 - I bitched about the pumpkin being taken off our porch and smashed down the road...
Nov08 - I bitched about the mailbox being beaten...
Dec08 - then it was run over - totally obliterated...
(drumroll please) -- and now the latest juvenile deliquient scheme - no doubt replete with cunning and rigorous planning...
Picture this - we wake up - the first Saturday of 2009, we're recovered from our houseguest and candy coma; we're bracing ourselves for the last day of vacation before 09 really starts... we look outside, it's chilly but not too cold - what will today have in store? yard work? shopping? hermitting? And something is wrong with the picture. It's not so much the inclusion of a strange element - but the opposite - something's MISSING... hmm
Jan09 - dumbass took our trashcan and drove it a block and a half away - dumping it in someone's ditch.
Luckily Rob had the wherewithall to go on the canhunt. I assumed it was stolen or we somehow had forgotten to pay our trash bill. In parallel to the canhunt, I rummaged through any outstanding mail to verify that indeed we were not deadbeats and were all paid up.
What followed was what I'd call adult temper tantrums - which I have much more frequently than my better half - well because I'm way more vocal, stressoutable, and enjoy my moments of being a drama queen... the rest of the day we went on relationship SWAT and pretty much did our own things alone so we didn't bite each others' heads off (for something that had NOTHING to do w either of us!)
For Rob that meant heading out to a bar, watching football and drinking beer. For me, it was heading upstairs to catch up on my trashy tivo'ed teen drama - One Tree Hill. Which cleverly btw - an homage to the network formerly known as the WB's original teen drama Dawson's Creek - they cast James Van Der Beek (Dawson) as a coke addicted Hollywood director - amusingly exactly what was always Dawson's dream - plus a drug addiction - SWEET!
All because of some punkass teenager - that or some Hokie that is really bothered by my UVA flag. Get over it - you got a bowl game and are now 'America's university'...
We'll stick to our #1 public university status - most recently apparently we made the 'best value in public school' designation - which I'm not sure is *exactly* the right connotation -- I mean 'best value' makes it sound like Walmart or Big Lots...
bit of a clash w our ultra pretentious 'The University' windshield stickers
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Another year down...
I already did my 08 retrospective so I'll keep it short w just a Happy New Year!
Rob and I rang in the New Year at the new house w a roaring fire, Andy Cooper and Kathy Griffin on CNN and the notable LACK of the staccato of gunshots outside... WOOT!
Now I am a Kathy Griffin fan (thanks to D List's endless repeats on Bravo.) When it comes to comedians, Rob is a misogynist so he's predisposed to dislike KG... well he got a taste last year w KG and Andy, and as this was our 2nd celebration, he was starting to break down and perhaps not *hate* her :) -- well she has now forever endeared herself to him - with what will likely have her FIRED from doing anymore Andy CNN NYE celebrations...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsR8DVGS9bM&feature=related
Happy 2009!
Rob and I rang in the New Year at the new house w a roaring fire, Andy Cooper and Kathy Griffin on CNN and the notable LACK of the staccato of gunshots outside... WOOT!
Now I am a Kathy Griffin fan (thanks to D List's endless repeats on Bravo.) When it comes to comedians, Rob is a misogynist so he's predisposed to dislike KG... well he got a taste last year w KG and Andy, and as this was our 2nd celebration, he was starting to break down and perhaps not *hate* her :) -- well she has now forever endeared herself to him - with what will likely have her FIRED from doing anymore Andy CNN NYE celebrations...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsR8DVGS9bM&feature=related
Happy 2009!
Oh and Merry Effin Xmas in the new house...
As most of you know already, we've been initiated into the burbs w 1 smashed pumpkin and a batted at mailbox (which broke off the flag) in the first 6mos of living here...
What more could there be?
We found out 2 days after Xmas -- some asshole (probably drunk bastard taking the backroads from Cap Ale Midlo) ran over our mailbox.
As in left it in 4 splintered pieces - w 6 inches left in the ground - the clearance of a car bottom... RAN IT THE FUCK OVER... And he left tiremarks in the grass - clearly showing the swerve afterward...
So thanks - and merry effin xmas to that douche. Glad that the Lowes giftcards we got for Xmas - the FIRST ONE IN OUR NEW HOUSE - will be put to such good use - as to buy a new mailbox bc of some worthless puke who's probably headed back to some b list VA college to 'get ter drinkin' w his frat bros in another week.
As I found myself stressed the hell out after a botched grocery trip for NYE provisions yesterday, I actually took some solace in cruising the hood looking for dented bumpers and our culprit. To no avail of course...
What more could there be?
We found out 2 days after Xmas -- some asshole (probably drunk bastard taking the backroads from Cap Ale Midlo) ran over our mailbox.
As in left it in 4 splintered pieces - w 6 inches left in the ground - the clearance of a car bottom... RAN IT THE FUCK OVER... And he left tiremarks in the grass - clearly showing the swerve afterward...
So thanks - and merry effin xmas to that douche. Glad that the Lowes giftcards we got for Xmas - the FIRST ONE IN OUR NEW HOUSE - will be put to such good use - as to buy a new mailbox bc of some worthless puke who's probably headed back to some b list VA college to 'get ter drinkin' w his frat bros in another week.
As I found myself stressed the hell out after a botched grocery trip for NYE provisions yesterday, I actually took some solace in cruising the hood looking for dented bumpers and our culprit. To no avail of course...
Band update
I'm a week into solids - another 1.5lbs down - woot! I'm having no nausea and really no trouble w any foods yet - but I am not full on my 1/2 cup. That said, I have no fluid in my band (which is what tightens it/restricts me more.)
I had my 4week checkup on Tuesday - went great - except for the 1.5hour wait in the office beforehand - astounding!! I am also now scheduled for a fill - which should address my fullness issues above - on January 12th!
I didn't end up getting any visitors post surgery - which bums me out A LOT... I'm also feeling like I'm begging to see folks - i.e. to get people to commit to making time for either a visit here or at their place or in honor of a new arrival, etc. I'm telling myself this is merely bc it is December (but it's not as though my schedule was tough - we're talking home all December - weekdays and weekends) and will get better as we settle into the cold, crappy and planless months of Jan/Feb. And I think the underlying problem is I'm just STIR CRAZY - I've never had this much time off since summer after my freshman year in HS! (And even then I had a season's pass to Busch Gardens and spent all my days there!)
But w Xmas soon afterward, we got a parade of folks visiting starting mid December - which was fun and exhausting. I'm also a little shocked that not a single visitor made their bed when they left!! I mean, really people?!
But I am also relieved to say I've now been able to have some wine and thus far do not appear to have the 'cheap date' syndrome - PHEW! ;)
I had my 4week checkup on Tuesday - went great - except for the 1.5hour wait in the office beforehand - astounding!! I am also now scheduled for a fill - which should address my fullness issues above - on January 12th!
I didn't end up getting any visitors post surgery - which bums me out A LOT... I'm also feeling like I'm begging to see folks - i.e. to get people to commit to making time for either a visit here or at their place or in honor of a new arrival, etc. I'm telling myself this is merely bc it is December (but it's not as though my schedule was tough - we're talking home all December - weekdays and weekends) and will get better as we settle into the cold, crappy and planless months of Jan/Feb. And I think the underlying problem is I'm just STIR CRAZY - I've never had this much time off since summer after my freshman year in HS! (And even then I had a season's pass to Busch Gardens and spent all my days there!)
But w Xmas soon afterward, we got a parade of folks visiting starting mid December - which was fun and exhausting. I'm also a little shocked that not a single visitor made their bed when they left!! I mean, really people?!
But I am also relieved to say I've now been able to have some wine and thus far do not appear to have the 'cheap date' syndrome - PHEW! ;)
Friday, December 19, 2008
My Favorite Things - 2008
So if Oprah can do it, why can't I? Course my list won't end up boosting product sales the equivalent of a 3rd world country's GDP but... I do often find my most favorable experiences are bc of a friend's recommendation. And I'm always happy to share positive ones... (esp since I spend a lot more time bitching about the negative ones ;) )
Obviously there are eternal truths - that affected me specifically this year.
It has been a super eventful one!
1. Being your own landlord is always better than being someone else's tenant.
2. Trader Joe's IS the answer to life, the universe and everything. And thank Hermes (also God of Commerce and Markets) for one FINALLY in Richmond!!
3. Changing teams sometimes CAN make all the difference at work - and then consequently personally!
4. And sometimes admitting you can't do it all and you need help -- and then getting it -- can be one of the most liberating experiences in life.
5. And along the same lines -- truly no man is an island. Friends and family weave the best safety net.
Now onto the materialistic goodies...
Fave products of 2008
1. Method cleaning products. Bc bleach stinks and green is the new black. I like the mint window cleaner and lavendar AP cleaners esp. Ooo and microfiber towels - woot! http://www.methodhome.com/
2. Greek Yogurt - generally. All of it -- full fat, partial fat and fat free. Why go through the trouble of making yogurt cheese or buying sour cream? This does it all. I esp like FAGE (pr. fayuhh)'s packs w cherry or honey in one compartment, yogurt in the other. OH and protein superior yogurt - so I can silence the voices in my head saying 'cottage cheese is a better snack' !! http://fageusa.com/
3. Dove SkinVitalizer -- Vibrating Face Cleaner - ironically this I think is the frugal response to Oprah's Clairsonic fave thing back in 2007. That one will set you back like $200... this one sets you back $10. I keep reusing the facial cleaning pads w my own cleansers - and they last weeks that way too. NEVER has my face felt so smooth and clean.
And this link will save you $3.50 on it.
http://www.doveskinvitalizer.com/register.aspx
4. Serious Skin Care - CoQ10 day and night serums. I am now a convert of a nighttime regimen - including night cream too. The inventor - model turned skincare peddler - OH and incidentally Sylvester Stallone's WIFE!
AND
Serious Skin Care - Dry Lo spot treatment. Stuff is pink like Calamine lotion - works overnight - and you can wear it under makeup!! Bye bye blackheads and zits.
Super good deals/packages found on HSN... ok yes FINE I admit it, I've shopped on TV - yikes!
http://beauty.hsn.com/serious-skin-care-skin-care_c-bs0011_a-146_xc.aspx?prev=hp!sf!146
5. Aquafresh Whitetrays. I have been a conoisseur of home whitening since I was 15 - seriously. WAY before it was chic to use them - and no doubt when they weren't as safe as they are today. I recall getting a 'compliment' like 'wow your teeth are SO white - they look like they could glow in the dark.'
I've laid off for a few years - the strips I find annoying AND they give you peroxide burns on your fingers! I still think the best was the more permanent mouth trays you just refilled w bleacher but I'm not sure those are even around anymore...
enter these Whitetrays -- would give them a B+ (so better than avg and better than any other OTC treatment.) The trays don't go all the way back to your molars (who needs them white anyway?!) and the gunk is at the bottom of the trays so I'd argue they don't do well at the gumline to whiten that part of the tooth and in between... BUT they don't hurt to apply, they don't cause outrageous gag reflexes as you choke down saliva bubbling w peroxide. And they're well flavored. I wouldn't advise talking w them on - or going out in public w them on either. They're also a great way to prevent EATING ;)
$7 off coupon for em here -- http://www.aquafresh.com/
An honorable mention goes out to good ol Campbell's Tomato Soup (not cream of just plain ol) -- I no longer find it too acidic when made w milk and it was my saving grace during all liquids! Warhol was right in memorializing it...
So - happy shopping! And perhaps you've found some stocking stuffer ideas... I'd advise *against* putting yogurt in the stockings - perhaps instead make it part of Xmas breakfast...
Obviously there are eternal truths - that affected me specifically this year.
It has been a super eventful one!
1. Being your own landlord is always better than being someone else's tenant.
2. Trader Joe's IS the answer to life, the universe and everything. And thank Hermes (also God of Commerce and Markets) for one FINALLY in Richmond!!
3. Changing teams sometimes CAN make all the difference at work - and then consequently personally!
4. And sometimes admitting you can't do it all and you need help -- and then getting it -- can be one of the most liberating experiences in life.
5. And along the same lines -- truly no man is an island. Friends and family weave the best safety net.
Now onto the materialistic goodies...
Fave products of 2008
1. Method cleaning products. Bc bleach stinks and green is the new black. I like the mint window cleaner and lavendar AP cleaners esp. Ooo and microfiber towels - woot! http://www.methodhome.com/
2. Greek Yogurt - generally. All of it -- full fat, partial fat and fat free. Why go through the trouble of making yogurt cheese or buying sour cream? This does it all. I esp like FAGE (pr. fayuhh)'s packs w cherry or honey in one compartment, yogurt in the other. OH and protein superior yogurt - so I can silence the voices in my head saying 'cottage cheese is a better snack' !! http://fageusa.com/
3. Dove SkinVitalizer -- Vibrating Face Cleaner - ironically this I think is the frugal response to Oprah's Clairsonic fave thing back in 2007. That one will set you back like $200... this one sets you back $10. I keep reusing the facial cleaning pads w my own cleansers - and they last weeks that way too. NEVER has my face felt so smooth and clean.
And this link will save you $3.50 on it.
http://www.doveskinvitalizer.com/register.aspx
4. Serious Skin Care - CoQ10 day and night serums. I am now a convert of a nighttime regimen - including night cream too. The inventor - model turned skincare peddler - OH and incidentally Sylvester Stallone's WIFE!
AND
Serious Skin Care - Dry Lo spot treatment. Stuff is pink like Calamine lotion - works overnight - and you can wear it under makeup!! Bye bye blackheads and zits.
Super good deals/packages found on HSN... ok yes FINE I admit it, I've shopped on TV - yikes!
http://beauty.hsn.com/serious-skin-care-skin-care_c-bs0011_a-146_xc.aspx?prev=hp!sf!146
5. Aquafresh Whitetrays. I have been a conoisseur of home whitening since I was 15 - seriously. WAY before it was chic to use them - and no doubt when they weren't as safe as they are today. I recall getting a 'compliment' like 'wow your teeth are SO white - they look like they could glow in the dark.'
I've laid off for a few years - the strips I find annoying AND they give you peroxide burns on your fingers! I still think the best was the more permanent mouth trays you just refilled w bleacher but I'm not sure those are even around anymore...
enter these Whitetrays -- would give them a B+ (so better than avg and better than any other OTC treatment.) The trays don't go all the way back to your molars (who needs them white anyway?!) and the gunk is at the bottom of the trays so I'd argue they don't do well at the gumline to whiten that part of the tooth and in between... BUT they don't hurt to apply, they don't cause outrageous gag reflexes as you choke down saliva bubbling w peroxide. And they're well flavored. I wouldn't advise talking w them on - or going out in public w them on either. They're also a great way to prevent EATING ;)
$7 off coupon for em here -- http://www.aquafresh.com/
An honorable mention goes out to good ol Campbell's Tomato Soup (not cream of just plain ol) -- I no longer find it too acidic when made w milk and it was my saving grace during all liquids! Warhol was right in memorializing it...
So - happy shopping! And perhaps you've found some stocking stuffer ideas... I'd advise *against* putting yogurt in the stockings - perhaps instead make it part of Xmas breakfast...
End of week 2 -- 1 week of mushies down!
As of yesterday AM, I was down 3.5lbs on my first week of mushies. So we're down 23.5 lbs since beginning liver shrinking pre surgery -- which is 4 weeks ago. Woot!
This phase comes w its own unique challenges -- how do you make 60grams of protein out of 1.5 cups of mushy food????!!!!! How can you not count everything as mushy - I mean don't my teeth make solids mushies before swallowing?! Does 1 Xmas cookie really count?! :) I haven't strayed much - other than a few pringles (thanks Rob...) and 2 cookies... I did get the A OK at my checkup Weds. My incisions looked 'great' per the surgeon -- all 22 seconds of the appt...
Well my solution to the protein problem has been things like refried beans, tunafish salad, chicken (canned) salad... and I daresay I will go the way of deviled ham next week for some variety.
May no one decry potted meats until you've tried good ol Underwood Deviled ham - comes in a white paper wrapped can w a dancing devil on it. How could that be bad??!!!
I'm even bordering on pulling out my old favorite that I haven't had since I was a kid -- but sans the nutritionally worthless white bread WITH country crock AND mayo (Gammy was one for condiments) and a rip of iceberg lettuce --- LIVERWURST! I do believe I was the ONLY 6th grader packing Braunschweiger for lunch...
But I gotta say, it's pretty good stuff... I mean it's what - 1 rung below pate?! ;) I was mature for my age!
So I'm now tackling the issue of making room for more than just 1/2cup of protein for each meal. This is a challenge in that usually the protein is a lot tastier than the veggie - and if protein is the most important component for me on such small qtys - WHY make room for a veggie?? Well I just know it makes good nutriotional sense to... (and to keep taking my vitamins - which now must be in liquid and chewable forms for the most part - if they could only find a way NOT to make them horsepills I could swallow them!!) --
Which reminds me -- does anyone want unopened good for year+ new vitamins I can't use anymore??!!! Free to a good home!
Anyway, so I'm now pulling out the tablespoons for measurement -- there are 8 tblsp in a 1/2 cup - so I can make 2 or 4 of those veggies adn the rest protein.
It will also make me feel a little less of a dinner companion reject - bc I can also then have 'meals' again w Rob - rather than what we've been doing the last week -- of me pulling out some impossibly and depressingly TINY tupperware container of prepared protein and eating half of it for dinner.
I'm doing pretty well at pacing - and find it much more satisfying to eat at the kitchen table.
So all in all, I've begun to see the future - how this will become habit - along w some of the possible saboteurs I may also face. I'm pretty stoked - and feeling better and better about my decision daily!
This phase comes w its own unique challenges -- how do you make 60grams of protein out of 1.5 cups of mushy food????!!!!! How can you not count everything as mushy - I mean don't my teeth make solids mushies before swallowing?! Does 1 Xmas cookie really count?! :) I haven't strayed much - other than a few pringles (thanks Rob...) and 2 cookies... I did get the A OK at my checkup Weds. My incisions looked 'great' per the surgeon -- all 22 seconds of the appt...
Well my solution to the protein problem has been things like refried beans, tunafish salad, chicken (canned) salad... and I daresay I will go the way of deviled ham next week for some variety.
May no one decry potted meats until you've tried good ol Underwood Deviled ham - comes in a white paper wrapped can w a dancing devil on it. How could that be bad??!!!
I'm even bordering on pulling out my old favorite that I haven't had since I was a kid -- but sans the nutritionally worthless white bread WITH country crock AND mayo (Gammy was one for condiments) and a rip of iceberg lettuce --- LIVERWURST! I do believe I was the ONLY 6th grader packing Braunschweiger for lunch...
But I gotta say, it's pretty good stuff... I mean it's what - 1 rung below pate?! ;) I was mature for my age!
So I'm now tackling the issue of making room for more than just 1/2cup of protein for each meal. This is a challenge in that usually the protein is a lot tastier than the veggie - and if protein is the most important component for me on such small qtys - WHY make room for a veggie?? Well I just know it makes good nutriotional sense to... (and to keep taking my vitamins - which now must be in liquid and chewable forms for the most part - if they could only find a way NOT to make them horsepills I could swallow them!!) --
Which reminds me -- does anyone want unopened good for year+ new vitamins I can't use anymore??!!! Free to a good home!
Anyway, so I'm now pulling out the tablespoons for measurement -- there are 8 tblsp in a 1/2 cup - so I can make 2 or 4 of those veggies adn the rest protein.
It will also make me feel a little less of a dinner companion reject - bc I can also then have 'meals' again w Rob - rather than what we've been doing the last week -- of me pulling out some impossibly and depressingly TINY tupperware container of prepared protein and eating half of it for dinner.
I'm doing pretty well at pacing - and find it much more satisfying to eat at the kitchen table.
So all in all, I've begun to see the future - how this will become habit - along w some of the possible saboteurs I may also face. I'm pretty stoked - and feeling better and better about my decision daily!
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