4 weeks post-op, the scale and NSV's!

This has been a REALLY long 4 weeks. I am glad to finally be feeling better, and have a little bit of energy. I weighed in this morning and the scale says I've lost 28 lbs total. 1 more pound and I will have lost 10% of my starting body weight - that is the goal my doctor's office gave me for my 6 week follow up visit. I'm so happy to know that I will have surpassed that goal!

I swam Monday and did 10 laps along the length of my aunt & uncle's pool.  I was really proud of myself for doing it- but I was EXHAUSTED when I got home that afternoon.  I was physically weak.
That's something I've noticed post-op.  Now that I'm eating for survival/nutrition - I notice when I need to eat.  I'm finally learning what physical vs. emotional hunger is and I'm also no longer craving sugary sweets!  Praise the Lord!   
 
Now, onto NSV's (non-scale victories). The most noticeable NSV is that my shoes are loose now. I had read that other folks who have had WLS lost shoe sizes along with pants sizes. I expected it, but not this soon. 

Pitty Party, table for 1

For the record, to anyone who has ever said or thought that WLS is the easy way out....PLEASE come hang out with me for a day or so. It is not easy...there is nothing easy about recovering from a major surgery. There is nothing easy about detoxing from a sugar addiction. (I have a friend who compared what I am going through to their time in rehab). When I heard that I laughed...cause atleast in rehab you get to eat food....and you get drugs to help you come off the drugs. Ironic...I know! I am so weak and tired all the time. I am really looking forward to having the ability to get enough nourishment in my body so I have energy for basic activities. At this point, taking a shows exhausts me. Crazy! Ok...that's my vent for the day. I know this pain and discomfort will all be worth it one day....at this point I have NO idea when that will be....I'm holding out hope that it's soon. Night

Emotions running wild...and 25 lbs gone

Before I left the hospital, the head bariatric nurse came in to check on me.  She gave me lots of useful information about the first few weeks of life with a smaller stomach.  One thing she mentioned, that I didn't pay much attention to, was that my emotions may be all over the place for a while after the surgery.  I hadn't read this anywhere while researching about the gastric sleeve...so I really didn't expect it would be an issue.

I've been having "moments" for the past week, but hadn't actually broken down and cried yet.  Well...yesterday the floodgates opened.  I started crying in the car, on the way to play mini-golf with my hubby and son.  What the heck?!  After my little crying spell I did feel much better....but today I feel really blue.  I honestly feel like I have the "baby blues" all over again.  I hadn't expected this at all, and I'm wondering...how many people actually go through this and don't say anything about it? 

On a positive note - I've lost 25 lbs since I started this journey.  YAY!

  

                                                                                  

Nausea - you are not my friend

Wow!  This week Nausea hit me, and it hit hard!  It came out of nowhere - suddenly I felt terrible and couldn't drink anything.  I went to bed, hoping it would help me if I got some rest.  Needless to say, I'm now on some anti-nausea meds...every 4 hours like clockwork.  I don't want to go back to feeling like that.
Only being allowed clear liquids and low-fat milk makes it hard enough to stay hydrated and get enough nutrients in...add nausea and not being able to get the milk in and it makes for a very weak girl. 

On the plus side, I'm now down to 272 on my home scale - that's 18 lbs down.  Woo hoo!  I go for my 2 week follow up Wednesday, and I'm going to see what the scale at the doctor's office shows. 

4 days post op....it'll all be worth it in the end, right!?

Wow - I seriously underestimated this surgery and what the recovery would be like! 
The pain and soreness from the incision area is one thing, the terrible feeling in my chest after I drink anything.  It feels like I'm having a heart attack!  Ouch!
I have been told I need to drink at least 32 oz of milk and 32 oz of clear liquids each day.  Well, I have been having a hard time getting just the milk in!

Me, in the pre-op area, waiting to be taken into surgery.  The "Happy Juice" has taken affect at this point...so I'm all Smiles! :)

 

My 1st meal after surgery.  1 oz cups of jello, broth and juice....yummy, I know!

And it begins...

 

...the weight loss, that is!
I started the "official" pre-op diet on Tuesday, weighing in at 292lbs. (Even typing that number is terrifying - but I'm using this blog to document my journey & I have to be truthful, so there you go.)

This morning I decided to weigh in...just to see if this whole "low carb" thing works.  Well, it does!
I'm down 3lbs, to 289.  Wow!

I am so excited, I needed to see that on the scale this morning.  Low carbs is hard and that 3lb weight loss gave me the encouragement I needed to face the next few days.

I'm so proud of myself for not cheating, and for sticking to this. 

Low-Carbs....Day 1....No turning back now!

So, today is day 1 of the low carb pre-op diet I've been prescribed.

I found a really great, no-carb protein shake that I decided to use instead of all of that meat and cheese.  So, for breakfast, lunch and snacks - the shakes are my go-to option.

I'm glad I did a trial-run with the low carb diet...I learned that I hate lunch meat rolled up with a slice of cheese...yuck! 

I love this new shake, though - it's really yummy, especially if I blend it in my new Ninja blender with lots of crushed ice and cold water.

 

I'm not great at those "selfies" that people take in the mirror...but here is my "day 1" pic.