I'm Proud To Be An American!

  Before firing up the grills this Memorial Day, please pause to remember and honor all those who have sacrificed in service to their country, as well as their families and loved ones.  Be careful out there today and thank your service men and women for their sacrifice so that we can be free. 

I'm Proud To Be An American and I always will be!

 

8 Months Out And Other Ramblings

 So, here you have it...8 months in the making of an RNY post-op patient.  I started out in October at 302 pounds and currently (today) I'm down to 206...96 pounds gone forever.  FOREVER!!!!  It's still hard to believe and hard to see sometimes, but as I sit here today, it's also bittersweet.  I know I posted my first 6 months of post-op pictures a couple of months back, but I still wanted to share this with you all.  There's one thing you can see changing in these pictures every time besides my weight.  It's my smile.  With every picture my smile is becoming bigger and bigger as I am becoming smaller and smaller.  I went thru a bunch of my pictures last night and compared them all.  I have my mom take at least 3 pictures a month, so I had lots to flip thru and every time I kept coming back to my smile.  All the pain and frustration I've been thru, not only post-op, but the years of being overweight have been worth it to be able to share my story with others.  Even if only one person listens to my journey and makes one healthy change in their lifestyle, then it's all been worth it. 

Now, moving on to things less serious :)  I was up at 5:30am today (and on my day off) and decided to just get up and start my day.  Why I was up so early is beyond me, but I have been able to get things done.  I've gotten some laundry done, some dishes done, my walk in and I've been to Walmart already.  I made me a "big" purchase at the Mart today.  A new Oster My Blend Blender.  I got the orange one and I love it!  I've only used it once, but so far, I have no complaints.  I used it to blend my protein drink and it was perfect.  I don't call mine shakes because I can't stand the consistency of a shake.  Instead of 8 ounces, I use 16 ounces of liquid and then pour it over 6 ice cubes.  Yes, 6.  I don't know why that's the magic number, but it is.  This blender is the perfect size, being 20 ounces.  It didn't foam over like it did in the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender, which is only 14 ounces.  The Oster one also doubles as a travel bottle with an interchangable lid for on the go use.  I haven't used it yet, but I will try it tomorrow when I go to work.  Also, Oster sells extra bottles, which I think will come in handy if you want to make more than one drink for on the go.  I plan to get at least one extra bottle, if not 2 and try to pre-blend my drinks.  

This comes in a couple of different colors, but orange matches my kitchen.

Other than that, not much is going on this weekend.  I'm going out to dinner with some friends tonight and they have decided to go to Lonestar Steakhouse.  I haven't been there post-op so this should be a new, fun adventure that I'm looking forward too.  I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!  Peace out, Girl Scout!

Wahoo!!! I Love Getting Stuff In The Mail!!!!

Today was a WONDERFUL mail day!!!!  I had done some online shopping (shocking, I know) last week and I got me some fun new stuff!  And today is delivery day!!!  I've been stalking the postman and the UPS man and it seems to have paid off.  I'm still waiting on the UPS man, but he should be here before I go to work.  If not, it will be another surprise when I get home! 

For starters, I got the above medical ID bracelet from Lauren's Hope and I love it!  They have so many choices, including one for gastric bypass awareness and it comes with a super cute little skinny jeans charm!  I didn't get that one...this time, but I'm sure there will one in my future.  These bracelets are so neat!  You can change out your medical alert tag with any of their bracelets...ANY OF THEM!  And you can add the skinny jeans charm to just about any bracelet also.  The initial cost was a little higher because of the medical tag and the engraving, but that's a one time cost and more than worth it.  I had called their customer service to get started because I didn't know what all I needed/wanted engraved. LeAnne was more than helpful and made my shopping experience more than pleasant.  With her help, I ended up getting my name, gastric bypass surgery, No Blind NG Tube, No NSAIDS/Sugar and ICE.  It looks really nice and is super cute.  You can't even tell it's a medical alert bracelet.  5 stars and 2 thumbs up to this company...I will be ordering again from them. 

Today was also delivery day for my Click Vanilla Latte Protein.  I am addicted to this stuff, almost as much as I am to Amazon.com!  I have been out of this for probably close to 2 weeks and I think I've been going thru withdrawals!  I have been trying to recreate the same drink at home, but nothing is better than the real deal, baby!  I can't wait to mix one up for work!  Oh Click, how I've missed you!  It's good to have you back again! 

And last, but not least...the UPS man.  He is going to be bringing me my Torani Sugar Free Syrups.  It took me a day or so to decide on what flavors I wanted, but finally decided on Pumpkin Pie, White Chocolate, Strawberry and Raspberry.  I also ordered the pumps to go with them.  I wasn't going to, but they really are nice to have and there's no clean up.  I'm excited to try my new flavors and see what I can come up with.  I'm wondering about trying the strawberry one in water and want to use the raspberry one in a protein drink.  I'm thinking a White Chocolate, Raspberry, Vanilla Ice Latte (made with Click) sounds wonderful.  Time will tell and I'll keep you up to date.  So, what are you waiting for?  Get out there and do some cyber shopping!

OMG!!! You HAVE To Try These!!!

I found these yesterday while I was wandering around Walgreens.  For those of you that know me, you know I'm a bit of a Walgreens junkie...okay, I need a 12 step program for Walgreens.  But if it weren't for my obsession for the store, I never would have found Dark Chocolate flavored almonds!  That's right...I said CHOCOLATE!!!!  I am in love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows it! (I also have a thing for the movie Elf) 

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the best on knowing my stats, like carbs and whatnot, but my surgeon and dietitian require us to watch calories and protein, that's all.  I know a lot of people watch other stats, but for my "requirements" these fit in and made a wonderful dessert...twice!  Oh, and maybe a snack too!  I took them to work last night and I had to have my partner in crime (the other dispatcher) take them away from me! 

I'm not much of a chocolate fan post-op, but for some reason yesterday I was craving it...thank goodness!  I'm going back to Walgreens today (big shock) to stock up on some more, although you can order them online, which is probably what I need to do so I don't over indulge in them.  Here are the stats for those of you that are interested. 

So go out...NOW!!!!  Go get yourself some of these and let me know what you think!!!!!

I'm Sizzling!

That's right!  I'm smokin' hot...and not in the "I'm looking good" sense of the word.  This pastey white Dutch kid (and I do mean bright white) decided to get some color yesterday and hopped in a tanning bed.  I LOVE tanning.  I know, I know, it's harmful and not good for you, but I find it so relaxing and after the last couple of days of being crabby and pissy pouty, it's just what I needed.  Just me, a nice warm tanning bed and 10 minutes.  I turned on the radio to some Chuck Wicks Old School (I know, my music tastes are a little odd, but that's a completely different post for later), put on some tingle lotion and relaxed.

Those 10 minutes were a little piece of heaven for me...I loved every second of it.  After those short minutes, I left the tanning salon feeling like a different girl, for a couple of different reasons.  One reason?  I actually fit in the tanning bed...with room to spare!!!  I couldn't believe it when I laid down and my smaller body fit in there perfectly, room on either side and I fit comfortably.  It was an amazing feeling!  Another reason?  And this is for you ladies...when I laid down, my boobs didn't smother me!  It was like I was a normal sized person laying there.  WAIT!  I am a normal sized person!  When did this happen?!  Don't argue with it, go with it!!! Now, I'm burnt to beat hell...but I don't care.  I had 2 AWESOME NSV's yesterday!  2 of them!

One other reason I wanted to get my color on is because of the Big Country Bash 2011 coming up at the end of June.  I can't wait!  I went to Bon Jovi last week and now I'm going to this.  With Trace Adkins and Dierks Bentley and only $32 to get in, you can't go wrong at all!  It's an outdoor all day/all night long concert.  I can't wait!  It's amazing how much more social I have become since losing my weight.  It feels good going out and about and being able to fit in smaller places like concert seats or bar stools and not have to stand because you're too big.  I'm loving this RNY thing!!!! I'm down 91 pounds and couldn't be happier!!!

Crabby

This pretty much sums it up for today.  I have been one crabby chick!  Or pissy pouty as I like to put it.  Whatever you want to call it, I made it perfectly clear I was not in a good mood.  So, what did people do?  That's right, they poked me with a stick!  STUPID MOVE!  I thought I was done with these mood swings post-op, but I guess not.  Just when I think I'm in control...BAM!  Hormones rear their ugly heads and make my day unbearable.  Not to mention make me unbearable for others.  I'm really hoping tomorrow is a better day.  Keep your fingers crossed, please. 

Just One Of Those Days

I like to think that I have a pretty tough layer of skin when it comes to my weight issues.  For years I was always the fat one, the fat happy one or the fat one that's an awesome cook.  I have had a hard time shaking that image of myself until recently, probably within the last couple of weeks...until last night.

My friends and I went out for a girls night and it started out really fun.  We went to the local (and my favorite) Mexican restaurant.  Good food, good friends and great conversation, just me and my girls.  Loved it!  We were there for about 3 hours or so and then decided to hit up a friends birthday party.  Along the way, they wanted to stop at a bar for a couple of beers.  I don't drink anymore, but it didn't bother me to go along.  Not drinking anymore was a personal choice I made after surgery.  I waited my 6 months like a good girl, tried Diet Coke and Crown (my old standby) and hated it.  So, I just decided to give it up all together.  But anyways, back to the story. 

We walk into the bar, one I hadn't been in for years.  The only thing that had changed is the ownership.  I saw some blasts from the past (old drinking buddies) who barely even recognized me.  That was a great feeling until...wait for it...they open their mouths.  "I had no idea you used to be THAT fat!  You look awesome!"  Really?!  REALLY?!  Is that supposed to make me feel better?  And the worst part?  They aren't even drunk!  WTF?!?  I didn't say anything, just smiled and said thank you and moved on.  I was fuming!  Maybe I took it too personally and it was supposed to be a compliment, but I didn't see it as one.  I let that consume the rest of my night and woke up this morning still just floored that someone would say something like that. 

So, to relieve my anger...I started listening to what I call my angry music.  I'll link you to a few of my favorites that always seem to get me over the hump of being angry and I feel better after listening to them.  I Will Buy You A New Life, Voodoo, and the one that always helps no matter what the situation is, My Way.  I'm hoping that now that I've blogged it out and listened to my music I can move on with my day and just relax and chill out.  I hope...

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there...even you moms to fur babies (like myself)!  Kick back, relax and enjoy your special day! 

My New Addiction

Yummy!!!

Well, the time has come to admit I have a problem.  I am an addict.  My name is Katie and I'm addicted to Dr Pepper (diet and caffeine free of course) *hangs head in shame* 

When I first started my weight loss journey, I had to break up with Diet Coke.  It was a horrible break up, you can read about it here.  It was a very hard thing for me to do, but it had to be done.  Sure, I had problems sleeping and almost took it back, more than once.  But a clean break is what I needed and what was best.

Two weeks ago I picked up this little box at the grocery store.  It wasn't flashy or anything special, but it was on sale.  I have been craving the taste of Dr Pepper for awhile now and I just kept fighting it off.  It's no secret I've gone back to pop and had some here and there, but it's always been diet and it's never been Diet Mt Dew (my old crutch) and it was a treat.  Now, before you flame me, my surgeon doesn't mind pop after 6 months of surgery, but it has to be diet and they would like it to be caffeine free.  So, I waited like a good girl for my 6 months and had a pop and it didn't do much.  But after awhile I noticed it wasn't the caffeine or the carbonation I missed, but the taste.  It took me 6 months for the WLS light bulb to finally kick in and understand my cravings and what they really were.  Sure, pop was something from my past, a very big part of my past.  But before I used to drink it because I wanted the caffeine and sugar rush.  But today, I wanted the flavor and that was it.  I finally made a break thru (in my mind) and realized it's okay to have this as long as I don't over do it. 

Now, many people will feed you lines of OMG!  You can't have pop!  It will stretch your stomach!  Is that true?  No, but if your surgeon tells you no pop, then no pop (your surgeon always trumps the general public, remember that).  But I talked this over with my surgeon and like I said earlier, caffeine free and diet.  I go one step further and fill a glass with ice, pour in the pop and let it sit for awhile until most of the carbonation is gone.  If you've never had carbonation with your new pouch I suggest you skip it, unless you like the feeling of being bloated for hours.  Oh, and if you're like me, there's only one way that carbonation comes out...and it ain't up!

Oh Happy Day!!!

Finally after being on 12 hour shifts for the last year and a half at work, we are on a new schedule.  We have gone back to 8 hour shifts!!!!  Those 12's were beating us up emotionally, physically and mentally, coupled with no breaks had every one of us bitchy, sleepy and just plain worn out.

I was working 3pm to 3am, so not only did my sleep schedule suffer, but so did my diet and exercise routine.  My weight loss slowed WAY down, which was expected, but I didn't think it would be so soon.  I felt like I was always on the go and rushing, rushing, rushing.  I would come home and go to bed between 4 and 5.  Then up at 11:30, take a shower, go for a walk and then rush home, pack food for work (not always good choices) and go work for 12 hours. 

Being a 911 dispatcher is stressful enough, but having/trying to figure out all of these puzzle pieces of weight loss, exercising and counting calories was enough to push me over the edge.  So, when we were told we were going back to 8 hour shifts, I was so excited.  This is my chance to get back on track and use my tool to the best of my ability.  I can't complain, I'm down 89 pounds...89 POUNDS!  Can you believe it?!  I would like to be down 100 pounds by July 1, and under 200 pounds before my 9 month follow up July 13.  I think it's possible...so, I gotta wrap this up, get my rear in gear and get outside and walk, walk, walk!