Lookee here!

Was waiting for my pedicure yesterday when I noticed my legs were crossed.  A small thing that unless you've ever been so heavy that you couldn't do it I am sure you take it for granted.  Made me smile and I had to take a picture.

Weigh-in: 8.5 down, 161 to go

Holy frijoles, Batman!  I'm down another 8.5 this week for a total of just over 41 pounds.  A big chunk of that was on the pre-op liquid diet, but I've lost just shy of 14 pounds in the two weeks since surgery.  That's an average of almost a pound a day.  I know this rate of loss will not continue as my progress goes on, but I am sure gonna take it while it lasts.  I think the speed in which it is coming off is a testament to just how far out of balance my body was.  It's almost like my body is saying "Hell yes, I want this extra load off of me right now!"

I just finished my 2nd week of the post-op liquid diet.  Getting kind of tired of the protein shakes.  While they do taste good, I've been on them for 6 weeks now and they are getting old.  A couple of days this week I ventured out and added a SF/FF yogurt to my day.  I'm not totally sure that qualifies as a liquid, but my tummy did just fine with it.  It was incredible to feel full after one little 6 oz carton of yogurt and to have it stick with me for several hours.

I am supposed to stay on the liquid diet for one more week, then I can move to "mushies" for two weeks.  I am dreaming of my first mushy meal.  I already have it planned - lowfat cottage cheese and apple sauce.  I've always liked cottage cheese (I know, I'm weird), but I can't say I've ever gotten this excited about the prospect of getting to eat it.  I am just ready for something not sweet and that I have to chew a little.

Changes I noticed this week:

• I can cross my leg at the knee.  It doesn't look all lady-like and dainty yet but I can at least get it crossed.  It was absolutely impossible 41 pounds ago.
• I was able to stand to wait at the cell phone store the other day without my back and feet killing me and without scanning the store desperately for somewhere to sit while I broke out in a panic sweat.
• People are smiling at me more and generally being more friendly.  I don't think this is a weight thing as clearly I am still very overweight.  I think it's because my whole "aura" has changed.  I'm not walking around feeling and looking miserable any more.  Not looking like a miserable, crabby person seems to make people want to engage you more.  Go figure. 

I continue to be happy as a clam with my decision to have surgery.  And I continue to feel positive and optimistic about my future in general.

I Stopped

Today I am home from work, frantically trying to catch up on lectures for the finance class I am doing this semester (I am pursing my MBA part-time at night). I need to catch up and absorb the information so that I can complete a project that is due this coming Friday. I also have my final exam the following Friday. For now I won't get into the reasons I am so behind and therefore so frantic. But as I sit here trying to cram in a semester's worth of knowledge into a day or two I am stressing out. And so I stopped what I was doing, got the ice cream out of the freezer, got a bowl out of the cupboard.....but then I stopped.






I stopped because I know I just want to eat the ice cream because I am stressed and that for just a few moments I could forget how much I have to do in such a short time. I stopped because I knew eating the ice cream would only make me feel worse physically and mentally. And it certainly would not help me to get my work done any faster. So I just stopped. I rarely ever stop a binge before it starts. But today I did.

Positive Changes

While I really can't say I have lost weight since starting this blog, I did have a NSV (non-scale victory) last week. Last weekend I took my little poochie for a 40 minute walk without back pain. This is a victory because my weight had gotten to the point that walking for longer than 10 or 15 minutes resulted in severe lower back pain so this is huge. And what is most amazing about it (to me at least) is the fact that I am absolutely no lighter than I was than when I was having back pain. I am certain this has everything to do with the water aerobics classes I am taking. Abdominal exercises are always a part of the workout and the strength I have gained seems to be helping my ability to walk for longer periods. I am happy about this because the weather is beautiful here in Texas right now and I want to get out and do more walking. Now I can!!

For anyone who is very overweight or for any other reason suffers pain while exercising "on land", I cannot recommend water aerobics enough. I am so greatful I was able to find a class near me. Water aerobics has really been instrumental in making me feel like I can be more active again. So check your local gyms, YMCA's, and city pools (that's where I found my class) to see if the offer water aerobics. You will be glad you did!