Happy New Year...A Little Early!

Happy New Year!!!!  I know it's a little early, but I have to work tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday (okay, so the whole weekend) and wanted to make sure to wish everyone that follows me or stops by a Happy New Year!

I'm still battling the crud and am on my 2nd round of antibiotics.  Keep your fingers crossed that this one will kick it, because I'm tired of being sick!  Thank goodness my drugs were still working last weekend during the Christmas holiday.  I took my last dose yesterday morning and by this afternoon, my sore throat was back, I'm all congested and starting to cough again.  I'm so thankful my doctor's office just prescribed me something over the phone, otherwise I wouldn't be able to get in to see him until Monday. 

But enough about me being sick.  I am actually excited for 2011 and anxious to see what the next year has in store for me.  This is the first year in ages where I won't have to make the resolution to lose weight and fail miserably within the first 2 weeks of the year.  It's a great feeling knowing that I'm going to lose the weight, I'm going to feel better and I'm going to succeed.  I am going to make a resolution to have a better attitude towards work and to just be more positive.  I like being happy and laughing, not bitchy.  Okay, so maybe I like being a bitch a little bit sometimes, but hey, don't all women?  LOL 

There's a lot to look back on in 2010, that's for sure, but I'm all about looking forward and being more positive!  I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!  I hope you're all blessed with happiness and good health in 2011 and may everyday be an exciting new day for you!

Mmmm...My House Smells Wonderful

I'm sitting here relaxing after my family Christmas and the smell of gingerbread is filling my house.  And even better, I didn't have to dirty a single dish or lift a finger...I got a Scentsy Warmer and Bricks for Christmas from my sister!  This little thing rocks!  I have looked at these a couple of different times, but never bought one.  It's stylish, fits into my decor and of course, the gingerbread smell is wonderful! 

I've been looking around on their website and I cannot believe all of the different smells and warmers they have and they are way reasonable (I'm starting to sound like I work for them...Hmmm, I could be onto something).  I'm thinking I might need a couple more for my house and of course more smell good scents!  If they made a mint chocolate smell, it would really be on! 

I also got a Wii gaming system and the Wii Fit Plus from my parents!  I was just like a little kid last night hooking up the Wii...I stayed up until 1am playing tennis and bowling!  I was jumping up and down when I got a strike, but very grateful that my blinds were shut LOL  I'm going to be hooking up the Wii Fit Plus here in a little bit, after I get another load of laundry done and a load of dishes out of the way.  I'm really excited to start using the Wii Fit Plus and to see what other fun games are out there.  I know that I want the Biggest Loser game, but want to see if I can rent it somewhere first.

We had a wonderful, white Christmas with family and friends on both days.  I am far enough along in my recovery that I could have just about everything for breakfast and dinner.  I made an egg dish for breakfast yesterday that used biscuits on the bottom and then you pour Egg Beaters, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, onion and pepper over the top.  It was fabulous!

My mom made a ham for dinner, with cheesy crockpot potatoes, veggies in a cheese sauce and an orange Jell-o salad, and I made low-fat, low-sodium green bean casserole.  It was a wonderful meal and then we opened packages.  There were a lot of left overs for today, but I just grabbed some ham to bring home and will probably eat on it for lunch tomorrow at work.  Well, the dryer just went off, so I'm outta here to go finish that laundry so I can better my bowling skills on the Wii!  Have a wonderful night!

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes

As I sit here on the morning of Christmas Eve, I have a lot to reflect on as I watch the snow fall.  It truly looks and feels like Christmas today.  I have my Christmas tree up and decorated with the strings of glass beads my great aunts used to put on their trees.  Garland on the shelves with lights and of course the stockings for the puppies and myself.  The only thing missing are the wrapped packages....because I haven't wrapped a single thing yet! 

I just got back inside from clearing the snow from the driveway and sidewalks, I bet there's at least 5 inches out there.  It's the perfect snow too, light and fluffy and ready for a snowman.  My neighbors were out clearing the snow also and the one neighbor boy was going around in his coveralls and Santa hat helping us out.  I hate to sound all Norman Rockwell, but it was picture perfect. 

Tonight for Christmas Eve it's going to just be me and my parents at their house, which will be nice since this is the first Christmas Eve I've had off work in over 7 years.  We will be having some soup, sandwiches (I'll just be having the meat) and just relaxing before the true storm hits...my nieces and nephews tomorrow morning!  My sister, her husband and family should be here in the morning sometime and then let the fun begin!  Which reminds me I'd better charge my new Kodak camera (Merry Christmas to me!) and get it ready for the big event.  I guess that means I'd better get off of here and start wrapping packages.  But before I do, I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  I hope Santa brings you everything you wished for and that you can all be with your family and loved ones this holiday season. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND BEST WISHES FOR 2011

Feeling Yucky...Again *sigh*

I thought before I go lay down for a quick nap, I would check in with everyone.  Not much has changed, BUT I'm on my 2nd cold in less than a month.  Really?!  Just when I was feeling better and my weight was on the way back down, I get hit with this. 

My kitchen counter looks like a small pharmacy and my bathroom has 2 boxes of Puff's Plus with lotion tissues open...yes, count them 2.  I don't know why I have 2 boxes open, maybe I was hoping one would feel better on my poor sore nose than the other, but no such luck.  However, I have found that TheraFlu Nighttime Warming syrup is the next best thing to Diet Coke or fully loaded Chocolate.  Yep, it's that good!  

My BodyMedia Fit Armband told me I slept at 62% efficiency last night...really?  I was only up about every hour, I don't know why it would be so poor?  Weird. Even though I took my TheraFlu and it helped my cough, I was still up with that annoying runny nose.  Cross your fingers I get more sleep tonight. 

I did manage to get out of bed, shower and go for my walk this morning with my mom.  We even walked 45 minutes today.  That's 15 minutes more than usual!  Leave it to me to walk more when I feel like death.  Hopefully it will help kick this cold in the butt and I can get back to normal.  After all, I can't be sick next week...it's Christmastime!  No one should be sick on Christmas, right?

Christmas Spirit

Finally, after all of this time, it looks like we might be getting some good old fashioned Christmas spirit...SNOW!  It's no secret around here that I love the snow, especially before Christmas, but I have been waiting very patiently.  Looks like all my waiting is about to pay off!  My small little town has been placed in a Winter Storm Watch with Blizzard Warnings about 2 counties north of here.  With any luck, that will drop a little further south and BAM!!!!  We have ourselves one heck of a winter storm and I get to keep my happy rear stuck inside with my puppies and a bunch of Christmas decorating! 

Some of my best childhood memories include the huge snow storms that would come thru and dump inches of snow, school would be canceled and my mom would be home with my sister and I.  My dad always made it into work, he had to, he owns a clothing store and when it snows, everyone ends up there getting their winter gear...including the city road crew!  But when he would come home at 5pm he would always let me go outside with him while he would clear the driveway and let me "help".  Mom would be making dinner, usually a casserole of some sort and wait for us to be done.  More than likely that night, dad would start a fire in the fireplace and we all would be nice and warm.

That is just one of many winter memories that comes to mind.  Another one was when I was probably 5 or 6 and we had a huge snow storm come thru on Christmas Eve.  Dad could barely make it home from the store and no one could make it to our house that night for dinner.  My mom had been cooking and cleaning all day long and we were left with a bunch of soup and sandwiches for days.  That was the only time my sister and I were allowed to open a gift on Christmas Eve.  I would say that was one of my favorite Christmas memories growing up.    

Funny how all of those memories drift into your thoughts, all because of a simple snow flake or two.  So, while I wait for the storm to hit and walk down memory lane, I think I'd better go to the grocery store and pick something up to make just in case I can't get there tomorrow, now I just have to figure out what i want.

2 Months and 46 Pounds Later

That's right!  46 pounds down from my surgery date of October 5, 2010.  This picture was taken today for my 2 month post-op picture.  My mom has been taking my pictures and we started on the day before surgery, at one month and now 2 months.  I need to get the other pictures up on here too, but until then, you can see a couple of my before pictures near the bottom of my page under the Random Goodness of Me. 

I was pretty busy today, or at least I think I was considering it was my day off.  I started out with my walk at the hospital with my mom and the hospital was having a fundraiser...a sheet sale.  So, I picked me up some new 1200 count Egyptian cotton sheets.  Then I was off to Walmart for dog food and dryer sheets.  Up next was a hair cut and some much needed highlights (my hair would have been a little more spiked but it was WAY windy here today) and after that I had my pictures taken and lunch with a couple of friends.  I had to head to work to make copies of our contract for our dinner meeting tonight.  Went to that, Walgreens and then back to Walmart because my TV remote kept telling me it needed batteries.  Too bad I left there $40 later with new flannel pj pants (loving them) a Food Network Magazine (my porn), a new mug for work and 2 new sweaters for the puppies. 

Thank goodness I'm home because I spent way too much money and whats worse?  At my last Walmart trip, everything I bought fit into one bag *sigh*

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

Charlie Brown, one of my favorite cartoon characters from growing up.  And even better is the Charlie Brown Christmas special they show every year on TV.  I even own one of those little, sad, pathetic Charlie Brown trees they sell at Walgreen's.  I think I finally broke down and bought one a couple of years ago.  It is one of many trees I put up in my small but festive house.

Today is the day that I'm going to start putting up the trees and decorating the house for the most wonderful time of the year *insert your own favorite Christmas song here* and I can't wait.  This will be the first Christmas with the puppy Stella, so this could be interesting.  She has a thing for dragging the pet bed and the kitchen rugs all over the house, so something tells me the tree skirt won't stay put either!  But I will give it a try and with any luck, she will leave it alone.  I think I'm going to have to invest in a lot of raw hides this Christmas season to keep both she and Quincy out from under the tree.  Quincy loves to lay under there and hang out and try to blend into the packages.  Silly dogs...what would we do without them though, right?

But getting back to my point (you all know how I tend to ramble), I'm pretty excited to get the big tree up today and with any luck will get it almost done today/tonight.  It's a 7 foot tall tree and I usually put about 1300 lights on it.  I think every year Alliant Energy depends on me putting up my tree and lights for bonuses for their employees.  I will have to post a picture of it when I'm all done.  I was looking for pictures of my tree from last year and I can't find them.  If I find those, I'll post one of those as well.  Anywho, I'm off for my walk, a trip to the grocery store and then I'm cranking up the Christmas music (you can stream your own there) and decorating until my little heart is content!

I Feel Pretty Good About Myself After Yesterday

Yesterday was my 1st Thanksgiving since RNY on October 5, 2010.  I had to work from 10am to 10pm and I thought it was going to be a breeze.  I was completely wrong!  We had a potluck at work, on top of having the traditional Thanksgiving meal at lunchtime.

I pretty much ate my way thru the entire day, but I made sure the eats were high protein "meals" and I was very careful to make sure I got extra fluids in, paying close attention to our drinking rules:  No drinking 1/2 hour before, during or 1/2 hour after a meal.  

I started out with my breakfast being a slice of cheese and a slice of salami.  At lunch I had a little bit of turkey with gravy (I couldn't pass up the gravy), 1/2 of a deviled egg and 3 small bites of mashed potatoes with gravy.  Later in the afternoon I had another slice of cheese and another slice of salami.  Dinner was a small amount of homemade baked beans with Lil' Smokies (WLS friendly recipe) and a snack before bed of a deviled egg. 

I was really upset with myself for eating so much yesterday, especially since we're not supposed to snack at all, we get 3 meals all day, that's it and I broke the rules.  But when I look back at it this morning, it wasn't all THAT bad.  Everything was high protein and very small portions and best of all, the scale didn't move up at all!  After mentally beating myself up for yesterday, I got to thinking...yesterday only happens once a year.  I haven't been eating like that for the last 7 weeks and one day isn't going to make or break me for my weight loss journey.  I didn't over do anything, I didn't have any pumpkin pie, I didn't have a ton of sugar...I enjoyed my day at work, I enjoyed my holiday and given the choice, I would do it again!

Planning Ahead For Thanksgiving

Many of us probably feel the same way that turkey does since our WLS, I know I do.  But thanks to Pam and her tips and the recipes from The Girls I'm feeling better about my 1st big holiday post-op and I'm not even attending a Thanksgiving! 

I have to work that day from 10am to 10pm in dispatch which is fine by me.  The cook in the jail is fixing a Thanksgiving lunch with turkey, stuffing and all the fixings and since we're working we get a free tray (we get a free tray anytime we work a shift that is during a meal time) and then some.  Rex, my favorite jail cook always piles our trays with extra goodies and super huge portions.  Which was great last year, but I'm kind of dreading it this year.  Although I can't have the stuffing and potatoes (yet) I can have the turkey and the gravy.  Will I?  I'm not sure yet.  I'm going to pack my lunch and dinner still just in case I panic and don't feel I can handle the holiday feast.

I also need to take something potluck style because we do a potluck that day as well.  Since the administration is gone, it's just us lonely dispatchers and jailers all day long.  I used to always take vegetable cheese soup, but after looking at the package, I decided there's too much sugar and sodium in there for my liking and I'm not going to bring something I can't have.  So, I need some ideas.  I can't have raw veggies yet and someone else is already bringing the meat and cheese tray.  I was thinking of picking something off of Eggface's site or maybe something from The Foodies site, but I cant make up my mind.  HELP!!!

In A Funk

I have been in this horrible mood since I got off work at 4pm today.  Why?  I have no idea!!!  But I've got to shake this feeling!  I'm 6 weeks out from surgery and I've worked very hard to change my crappy attitude and be more positive.  Could it be that all my positive energy is gone?  And this is what's left?  A pissy, pouty, leave me alone Katie?

I sure hope not.  I've been for my walk, thinking that would help.  That's a big negative McFly.  It's almost like it's gotten worse!  Is this one of the mood swings the surgeon had been talking about?

Maybe I need a nice cup of hot chocolate, my pj's and a good movie?  Oh wait...tried that.  CRAP!  Now what?!?  Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day, because I don't like this crabbiness I'm feeling and displaying.

Working and Leftovers

Chicken Mock Pie

Yesterday was my first day back to work since before my surgery on October 5.  I was a mixed bag of emotions, not only the night before but about 3 days before as well.  Friday night I had this huge overwhelming feeling.  I couldn't explain it to anyone at first and then it hit me.  For some strange and unknown reason I felt that when I went back to work I had to show them I had made huge results.  That if I didn't look like I had lost weight that my 6 weeks off work was a complete and total waste.  By Saturday that feeling had left and I thought, if they don't like what they see, they can all go pound sand, but that wasn't the case at all Monday morning.  It was so good to be back and to have everyone tell me how happy they are to have me back. 

Sunday rolled around and I started to think about what I was going to take to work for lunch the next day.  I flipped thru my cookbooks and websites and finally decided on a family recipe for Chicken Pot Pie.  But, I was going to have to alter it...A LOT!  Our family recipe has a mashed potato crust and a whole can of those green bean casserole french fried onions (yum!) not to mention tons and tons of cheese.  So after searching thru my pantry and freezer, I came up with my Chicken Mock Pie.  It was awesome!  I can't believe I actually altered a recipe and that it tasted good on top of that!  So, I'll share it with you guys and let me know what you think about it.  It's what I took to work Monday and what I had for dinner tonight. 

1 can Cream of Chicken Soup (I used Healthy Request by Campbell's)
1/4 cup skim milk
2 cans of chicken, drained
1 small bag of frozen veggies, cooked (I used the pea, carrots, corn and green bean mix)
minced onion (I didn't have real onion on hand)
1/2 cup Weight Watchers Double Cheddar Shredded Cheese
dash of garlic salt
dash of kosher salt
dash of pepper
1/4 tsp ground mustard
Parmesan Cheese for topping (grated)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook veggies according to package directions.  Strain off any access liquids, pour into mixing bowl.  Add remaining ingredients into veggies and mix together.  You may want more or less salt, garlic salt and pepper depending on your tastes, so season to taste.  Pour mixture into a 9x9 casserole dish (or something the same size) and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Bake for 30 minutes.

*I had about 1/2 cup for dinner and I'm 6 weeks out.*

I Love Cooking Again!!!

Yep, that's right...I love cooking again!  LOVE IT!  Before my RNY I would cook things here and there.  But found like many of you, it was just easier to run thru a drive-thru or have food delivered.  There were never any leftovers and the clean up was easy.  Pretty simple life except for one thing...that fast food lifestyle was making me HUGE!  I can't believe how much money I have been able to save by not going back to my old habits.  I've been able to put that extra cash towards fun kitchen utensils and a couple of new clothing items.

But thanks to my friends over at Pouch Party and the beyond talented Eggface (AKA Shelly) they have made me realize that even though this was a life style change, it wasn't a food death sentence.  They have made food fun, wonderfully tasteful and shopping for recipe ingredients fun for me again.  Now, I will NEVER be able to throw recipes together like these cooking queens, but I can actually cook up some of their yummy creations.

I love having leftovers now and am excited to take some to work tomorrow in my Bento Box (thank you Shelly) and see what all I can make with my leftovers or can freeze for a later date.  My parents are really liking my new found love for cooking as they are getting to sample just about everything I have made so far.  It hasn't been much, but it's always been enough so my mom doesn't have to stop quilting to make dinner, which is the least I can do for the both of them (they were great, beyond great, during my surgery and recovery) and it's nice to have dinner with them during the week.

So, if you're looking for new recipes, some great inspiration and just good reading in general to make you happy, I highly recommend you check out the above ladies.  They deserve more credit than they get and many, many thank yous from me and my pouch!  Thank you ladies!!! 

It's The Little Things

My goodness...it's been a very long time since I have checked in!  Granted it's only been a little over a week, but where did the time go?  I don't know that I can even remember everything I've been up to.  I can tell you, I've been up to dropping some more pounds!  It's the best feeling in the world.  Well, that and FINALLY being able to eat red grapes.  Oh, my red grapes, how I've missed you!

I have reached the point in my diet where I can have my vegetables back (except for corn and potatoes) and I have my fruits back.  I never realized how much I loved my red grapes until I couldn't have them anymore.  I have been following a strict diet since September 21 (2 weeks pre-op) and never in a million years did I think I would miss fruits, especially my grapes.  I can also have creamy soups, stews and chili...and just in time for cooler weather and hopefully soon winter.  Although, I'm starting to notice how much colder I am and I've only dropped about 35 pounds, but it must be enough to make me chilly!  Yet again, another great feeling, believe it or not.

I think for dinner I'm going to make some broccoli and cheese soup, but I need to dig up some protein (because I'm still falling very short on my daily totals) so I might throw in some turkey or something into my bowl.  Or I've been thinking about making one of those Yoplait Smoothies that's already prepackaged and throwing in a scoop of protein powder.  And if I make it with milk, that should help too.  Hmm...I just might be onto something here!

My First Lunch Out With My Mom

Today was a pretty big day for me!  I am officially just over 3 weeks out from my surgery and so far I have lost 30 pounds and I have gone down a shirt size and a pant size!  It has been an incredible feeling and I LOVE it!  But also equally exciting was going out to lunch today with my mom and doing some shopping.

We started out by going to a couple of gift shops and wouldn't you know it, I didn't find anything for me, but I found a couple of things for my nieces and nephews.  They always score big when I go shopping with my mom LOL  Then we went to Lowe's so I could pick up a new front light.  We had a really bad wind storm come thru Tuesday and Wednesday this week and it took out my light pole, so I kind of needed to get that fixed.  Then it was off to Super Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby and Jo-Ann's.

But the best parts were yet to come.  Up next was the quilt shop for some fat quarters.  I'm making my sister and a co-worker these for their birthdays and I hope they like them!  Then, finally after starting our day out at 10am it was time for lunch!

There aren't many choices for someone that is just over 3 weeks out who is just adding deli meat and cheese sticks to their diet, so we decided on Panera Bread hoping to find something with a broth.  To my surprise, they had a creamy tomato soup that I thought sounded pretty darned good.  Their soup comes with HUGE croutons and your choice of an apple or chips.  I asked for mine to go, without the croutons and with an apple.  I couldn't wait to dig into this creamy yumminess even though I was a little nervous about how my pouch would handle it.  Good news!  It went over GREAT!  I didn't eat much and of course didn't touch my apple (I'm hoping to save it for next week when I get my fruits back) but now I lunch for tomorrow too.

As my mom and I were sitting there, I made the comment how amazing it was that after a few bites of this soup, I felt full and it was a good feeling.  Not that horrible, after Thanksgiving, I'm going to hurl feeling, but a feeling that made me proud.  I knew I couldn't finish the whole thing when I ordered (hence the to go bowl) and was perfectly happy with the small amount that I had eaten.  Every day, I find out something new or figure out something new about my pouch and I love it.  I've had more good experiences than bad and I'm so glad I decided to take this huge step in my life.  Everyday I'm doing a little better, feeling a little better, but most importantly, I'm living a lot better!

UGH!!!! Keeping a Food Journal

So, I will admit, I hate keeping a food journal.  But I think it needs to be done at this stage of my journey.  I've been looking into a couple of different food journal sites and have finally decided on SparkPeople.com  I'm really struggling to get my liquids and my proteins in so something needs to change.  SparkPeople has an application for my Droid phone, so hopefully this will help out some.  I'm not hungry at all and most days my pouch is so grouchy I'm afraid of putting food into it.  I need some major help with this before I start burning muscle and not fat.

The surgeon told me I'm going to have to force feed myself in order to get my protein in, but it's hard to wrap my mind around that.  Eating when I wasn't hungry is what got me this size to being with, so I needed to eat less.  Enter WLS.  Now I'm definitely eating less and now I'm supposed to force feed myself because I'm not hungry?  When did this change?  I have tried to adopt the mantra, "I eat to live, not live to eat", but it's not working.

I have noticed, however, that the further I get into my different stages of food the more protein I am getting in so that has helped.  My main struggle???  Protein shakes.  No matter how I make them, I just can't get them down anymore.  Sometimes the chicken Unjury powder is going down, but not as often as it should.

I will admit, this is the hardest part for me right now, so if anyone has any suggestions to help me out, I would greatly accept them.  I want to make sure I succeed in this process and to do that, I have to get my fluids and proteins in.  Speaking of which, it's time for some lunch...tuna salad, deli meat or egg salad, all without bread of course.  Pretty big decisions today.  Have a good one!

Why Didn't I Try This Earlier???

Chicken flavored Protein Powder...who'd a thunk?!?  And who would have thought it would taste so darned good?  My pouch has been so angry in the mornings that I haven't been able to have anything to eat until about 4pm in the afternoon or so.  Well, today, it finally dawned on me about noon or so, that I have some of this in my cupboard and I should probably try it!

Well, I did and I have never been happier!  It went down no problems, and it has 21 grams of protein to boot!  I've been a bad girl when it's been coming to my protein and only getting in about 50 grams a day.  So hopefully this will help me get a little closer to my goals.  Since I'm not up for anything cold and sweet in the mornings I'm wondering if this won't go over better?  I guess time will tell :)

Getting My Toes Wet

I think the time has come for me jump on the Torani Sugar Free Syrup wagon and start spicing things up a bit in my post RNY world.  I am quickly growing tired of plain old vanilla and orange protein shakes and it's only been about a week...this is not looking good for the future LOL

I looked at my local grocery store and they only had one SF syrup and it was Hazelnut...no thank you.  So, I called over to the next city and they have SF caramel and SF chocolate.  I think I might pick up the caramel one and then possibly order some others online.  Anyone have any suggestions?  I'm thinking I want a pumpkin spice type flavor and a peppermint type flavor as well.  One thing I'm really going to miss is the Peppermint Mocha creamer this winter and am hoping to re-create that in a protein shake, which could interesting.  

I have heard though, once you buy one, you don't stop there and that your collection keeps growing and growing and growing.  Is this true?  And if so, am I going to have to add onto my house or would it just be a better bet to start looking for a new house now?

I Have The Best Friends!!!

I have the best friends ever that have been keeping me in stitches since I've been off work for surgery.  One of my co-workers sends me e-mails daily with either get better soon cards or links to blogs.  She sent me this one the other day and I was laughing so hard, my sides hurt even worse and I was crying.  It's called "Waking Up Is Hard To Do."  So, check it out, have a good laugh and let me know what you think of it!

I Made It Thru Surgery!!!!

That's right!  You read it right, I made it thru surgery!  I had surgery October 5 (last Tuesday) and got to come home that Thursday.  It's been a bit of a challenge, but I haven't had any major regrets so far.  My mom and dad were at my side the whole time and a couple of friends took time to stop down and see me too!  I received some really pretty flowers and lots of balloons from friends and family as well.  My nurses and techs were wonderful people and made my recovery that much easier.

I had an upper GI today down in Des Moines.  That is one test I'll never have again if I have a say in it LOL  That contrast was horrible and made me gag, but I made it thru it.  I went back up to the 4th floor to drop off thank you gifts to my nurses and techs and then we headed back home.  I'm pretty tired, but very proud that I walked the entire time, not one single ride in the wheel chair.  I have another appointment tomorrow in Des Moines and hopefully get my drainage tube removed so I can really be on the mend.  I also meet with the dietitian and go over my new meal plans and get to start soft foods on Saturday as long as everything from today's tests come back okay.

I know this update is short, but it's time for me to sip, sip, sip, walk, walk, walk, and sleep, sleep, sleep!   Thank you for all of your well wishes, thoughts and prayers!!!!!

Well....This Is It!!!!!

I just started my surgery prep, so there's no turning back now!!!! I had to drink that lovely bottle of magnesium citrate followed by 2 glasses of water.  I decided to get the grape flavor and have it over ice.  I mean, how bad can it be, right?  It's grape!  WRONG!!!!  It was worse than the original lemon-lime flavor, if that is possible.  Guess what, it's possible!  It was so sour it made my cheeks pucker and they actually hurt from the sourness.  I suppose now the fun starts.
 
Actually the fun does start, because after tomorrow, I will be on my new journey.  Onto a new me, a better me...a skinnier me!  I think for the first time, I am actually excited.  Excited and truly happy.

Getting Ready For The Big Day!!!

Well, the big day is almost here!  I can't believe it...October 5th will be here before I know it.  So, to keep me busy and my mind off of surgery I have been cleaning like a mad woman with my mom since yesterday morning.  So far we have tackled the kitchen, the dining room and living room.  We rearranged the pantry and went thru all of the plastic storage containers.  We also did the floor in the kitchen and we just got done cleaning the carpets in the dining room and living room.  Up next is the bathroom before tonight and then I think I'll be done until tomorrow.  Tomorrow brings me the real excitement though...mowing the yard, doing laundry and straightening up my bedroom, 3 things I hate.  After that is done, I can finally relax!  But by then it will be Monday and I will have to prep for surgery.  This weekend is going by fast, but it's nice to know that when I get home, I won't have to do anything at all but get better.

Finally After 10 Days...

It's been no secret that I've been on my liquid diet for the past 10 days for surgery.  And finally today the scale moved down...not up!  I had gained a pound starting this darn diet and today I lost that pound plus another 4!  It's beginning to make the diet tolerable and now that I'm seeing results, I think I can really do this!  I didn't think this diet would get any easier, but for the last 2 days, it has been a breeze.  Now, maybe its because I've been at work all day, or maybe it's because my head and stomach are finally getting it.  But whatever it is, I'm pretty darn pumped, even if it is only 4 pounds. 

STRESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, the picture pretty much sums up how I feel tonight.  I'm stressed...to say the least.  Between the pre-op liquid diet, the pre-op physicals, work and things in my personal life I'm pretty much tapped out right now.  I thought by watching The Biggest Loser (dvr'd from Tuesday) it would calm me down and I could relax.  Sure, relaxing is fun if you like crying your way thru the whole show!  LOL  But, listening to their stories and seeing their pain really hit home.  It was then that I decided that I need to work on a few things before surgery October 5.



I had a grandmother that was beyond mean to me.  She would tell me I'd be cute if I wasn't so fat, things like that.  Those words have haunted me since I was 5 years old and to this day I can still remember what I was feeling and how she made me feel.  Those words have followed me into adulthood and it's time I let them go.  It's time for me to forgive my grandmother, no matter how much she hurt me or how mean she was to me.  

The other thing I need to change is my attitude.  It has changed a lot, don't get me wrong.  But I am fat!  No matter how you look at it, I'm fat.  I need to own that.  I did this to myself and have no one to blame but myself.  I need to accept these facts, move on and stop dwelling over it.  I'm doing something about it and I need to act like it!   Now, these 2 things are baby steps, there's no doubt about that, but by changing these things it makes me a better person, a more positive person and a happier person.  After all, this journey is about me and bettering myself...so why wait!  

Lazy Sunday

Today is the picture perfect fall day.  Rain, wind, cool temps and warm protein drinks.  Thanks to my friend Pam over at Journey to a Healthier Me I have been nice and warm drinking her Hot Chai Mix, Caramel Apple Protein Cider and Kristys Vanilla Caramel Protein Tea.  All 3 of these recipes are WONDERFUL!!!  Right now, I'm drinking her Hot Chai Mix, but instead of 8oz of water, I used 12 oz.  Not only does it taste wonderful, but it smells wonderful too!



And not only do I have a nice, warm drink in hand, but I have football on the TV (Go Bears!) and 2 wonderful puppies at my side.  Even though Quincy is about 5 years old, he acts just as young as Stella, 6 months old.  Those 2 are my babies and are spoiled rotten!  They don't know it yet, but when I start my liquid diet Tuesday, they start their diet too.  This whole house will be full of crankiness!  But you know the old saying, "Misery loves company" so we won't be alone. 



I made my last trip to the grocery store today to pick up the final items for my liquid diet.  As I wandered around looking at different items, it finally hit me.  I don't need this junk food anymore.  That my life had revolved around food for far to long and it's time it stopped.  It is stopping little by little.  I looked back to my night out last night and realized that the company last night was far more important than what was on my plate.  I was so worried about missing certain foods before we went out, but when it was time to order, I ended up with a side salad and chicken sandwich.  No fries, no pop...no alcohol.  I had a good time and it didn't matter what was in front of me except my good friends.  Somewhere along the way since I've started this journey, food has taken a backseat.  I don't know when it happened, but it did and I'm not going to argue about it. 



After walking the rest of the store, I looked in my cart and was proud of the items I picked up.  My sugar-free Jell-o, sugar free pudding and sugar free yogurt were sitting there waiting for me to push them across the checkout and it didn't matter that there wasn't a Snickers bar or a bottle of Pepsi in the cart coming home with me.  I can do this!  I will do this!  Last night reminded me that good friends are better than good food and good friends last longer! 

Celebrating Me, Food and Friends...

Well, tomorrow night is the night.  One last final night out before I start my liquid diet and have surgery.  I have the best friends ever!  They have planned a get together at my favorite restaurant with all of them to celebrate my surgery.  We're starting at 6pm at the Gigglin' Goat for dinner and then going out after that for a few drinks and hopefully a lot of fun and good laughs.  I know I've blogged about the Goat before and I can tell you, I'm going to miss that place for awhile. 



However, I do not plan on blowing all of the hard work I have done in the past months.  I do plan on having one of the Tex-Mex egg rolls (to die for!), their Philly Steak sandwich and maybe a drink or 2.  But that's it.  Now, I know it sounds really unhealthy and that's because, well, it is.  I'm not going to lie.  But I'm also not going to purge myself until I feel like I'm going to explode.  I'm going to have a good time, enjoy myself and celebrate ME! 

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do...

Why is it so hard to dump my relationship with Diet Coke?  We have been on and off for many months now, but lately we have been getting along really well.  It was kind of unexpected, but it was a welcome change.  Just a couple of months ago, I said goodbye to the caffeine drama and had an affair with water.  Any kind of water that came along...ice water, flavored water, carbonated water.  It didn't matter as long as it was water.  Then something happened.  I started missing my one and only true love.



Ever since then, we've been going strong, picking up where we left off.  It was like we had never been apart.  Well, love of my life, it is time for a clean break.  A break that will hurt and be painful, but it has to be done.  Starting tomorrow, I will no longer be involved with Diet Coke.  We are not good for each other, in fact, we are somewhat volatile together.  I'm sorry it has come to this, but it is something I must do...I will always love you!

Shopping For THE Liquid Diet...And a Baby Gate

Today was the day that I decided to go shopping for my liquid diet for my bypass surgery.  There are actually more things I can have than I ever thought I could, so I didn't think this experience would be too horrible bad.  WRONG!!!  We're having 2 huge town events going on right now in our town, so I decided to go to the college town that's about 20 mins away to find my things and to try to avoid all the people.



I started my journey out by hitting Super Walmart for all of my things.  It's Super Walmart, they should have everything, right?  Wrong, again.  Now, when I couldn't find the chewable sugar free kids vitamin I wanted, that should have been my first sign, but nonetheless, I continued to shop.  Up next...a Dust Buster.  Can you believe they only had 1 left.  ONE?!?  Are you kidding me?  You're Super Walmart!   But good for me, it's the one I wanted so I went on with my list.



I strolled my way over to the baby section (with the loudest cart the store owned, I swear) and went looking for a baby gate.   My puppy Stella (who is home and doing fine now) chewed her way thru one of the cheap wood/plastic ones so I wanted something just a little bit stronger.  $35.00 later and a metal gate in my cart, I make my way to the grocery section.  I found everything I needed on my list but 2 things.  Ground cloves and the sugar free creamer pictured above.  Okay, no big deal, I'll just check Target next door.  Run my happy butt thru the check out and head on over to Target for those 2 things



I get to Target, run in and they don't have either items.  No big deal, there's another grocery store near by, I'll check there...with no such luck.  No, problem, I'll come back home, and check the grocery store near my house.  Nope, they don't have it either.  Neither does our Walmart or our other grocery store.  Is there some big rush on this creamer that I know nothing about?  Or did word get out that I just wanted one container and someone is playing a cruel joke on me?  LOL  I did happen to find it on Amazon.com, in a 6-pack...I think that might be over kill.  I now have my mom on the hunt down in Iowa City at their stores for a container of the creamer.  Wish us luck!

Poor Stella...

This is my baby Stella, when I brought her home.  She's a pure white Chihuahua that weighed all of 1.5 pounds.  Well, now she's a big girl at 4.5 pounds and 6 months old and just got dropped off at the vet to be spayed.  Poor little girl was just shaking and whining when I handed her over...and the only dog there at the time so she was all alone.  My other chihuahua Quincy is now walking around, trying to find her and he is now whining.  At least I get to go pick her up tomorrow after noon.  I'm thinking I'm going to be there right at noon to get her.  On a lighter note...maybe this will calm her down some????

Salsa Aerobics and The Goat

I don't know what got into me yesterday, but my friend and I decided to take an aerobics class at the local YMCA.  It was a salsa aerobics class, which sounded fun at first...but after about the first 10 mintues I figured out the hard way that my body doesn't move like it should for certain moves.  Something about your body should look like an S-curve.  Really?  How do you get this huge body to look like an S-curve?  And then once you get it started, how do you get it to stop?!?  There was also supposed to be some hip action side to side or something, yet another move I couldn't do.  But in the end we had fun and Mexican for lunch.



So, after a fun filled morning of "dancing" it was off to a restaurant called the Gigglin' Goat.  Yep, we have a place in town called The Goat.  Surprisingly enough, it's not full of rednecks and square dancing, but a decent bar and grill.  We started out as good girls in the dining area, but quickly moved back to the bar where the drink specials were hard to beat.  A bucket of beer is just what I needed to wash down my Philly Steak sandwich.  All in all, it was a good night, with good friends, good food and good drinks.



Today is hopefully going to be a day of relaxing AFTER I clean up the Sunday paper my puppy decided to shred all over the first floor of my house.  She's a terror, but I wouldn't trade her for anything in the world.  Enjoy your day!!!!  *Kates*