4 of 5 (update on Gastric Sleeve Process)

I am 9lbs down and getting closer to my BIG DAY!

I met with my surgeon Monday and he is pushing more for me to start exercising so that's going to happen real soon! Ill be going on vacation soon but as soon as return I will be hitting the new eating plan hard!

I had a second visit with the Psychiatrist and while she wants to follow up with me in a few weeks, she did send my clearance letter! Whoop Whoop!

All I need to do now is complete a second sleep study/Titration and get set up with a cpap and complete two more visits (August and September) That's when they send for approval from insurance. Once approval comes, Ill meet with the surgeon for pre op, meet with finance dept and schedule surgery. Surgery will be after a two week liquid diet (to shrink the liver) That is the part I dread the MOST!!!!

DIY: Coffee Table

 Im a show off on the DIY Show Off!!! 
Check out all their awesome links after reading my post!


 


So I went through this "red" phase. I bought everything I saw for the living room that was red! I ended up with too much red. Now, Im redoing the living room, which is HUGE for me because I suck at decorating! Below you will see the coffee table that I, once upon a time, fell in love with. I decided to break up the red,so here's what I did.

Step 1
Sand the coffee table. 

Step 2 
Use fingers to apply thin layers of Vasoline to the areas you do not want paint to stick to.

Step 3
Start Painting! In my case, I painted only the top.

 Step 4
After the paint is dry, use a wet rag to wipe the table down and remove the paint that is over the Vasoline. Check it out! I love the way it looks!

What I learned.....

Make sure you apply a THIN layer of Vasoline. I used too much and after 6 days I still find spots that need to be wiped down.  

When I finish the livingroom, Ill post photos! 

My weekend- new chickens and redecorating

 A week ago I purchased five chicks to add to our flock (since we were down to only five laying hens) Then, I found out some friends were moving and needed a home for their laying hens. So this weekend I adopted five hens (that are already laying)

 When I added the new hens to the flock.... I let the new ones explore the run alone while the others free ranged in the yard and checked the new ladies out from the other side of the fence. At night, I opened the coop so they could all be inside together. Again, the new ones stayed in the coop/run alone today while the others free ranged. Later, I let them all back in the coop. Three of my hens decided it was time to lay their eggs at the same time in their favorite box. These silly girls!

 I tried to move two but they only hopped back in there. Later I returned to find three eggs in the box.

I have three Buff Orphington hens now. They are a much larger breed but so pretty! I just love them already!

Im also excited about changing the living room around. We are finally getting rid of the red wall! Cant wait to finish the living room and share photos later!

On again Off again

I got off track with my eating and protein intake. Determined to get back on track this week ! 

I took my before photos but just dont feel comfortable enough to share them right now. 

Finally got a call back to schedule my cpap Titration! 

Next week I have my 4th visit with the surgeon. 

Vacation is coming up and I always get nervous around rollar coasters for fear I wont fit in their seats! I always have but how humiliating would it be to not fit and have to get off?! 

Cant wait to get healthy, lose weight, feel better about myself for one and not be so self conscience! 

In other news...... 

I adopted 5 laying hens and 5 baby chicks and have a grand total of 15 chickens in my flock now! 
Love my chickens! 

We are painting the living room and making some changes in decorating (that always makes me feel better!) I just have anxiety about the time frame Ive put on myself to get it all done before we have a family visitor and before vacation. 

Ill be sharing some photos very soon! 

Life has a way...........

Life has a way of getting you down sometimes. 

I dont want to ask, "What else can happen?" because it surely will! 

We lived without water for two days this week. We finally discovered that the wiring to our well had broke in half. It cost a few hundred dollars and a lot of work (and a day off) for my husband. Thankfully, we were able to walk over to the inlaws house and take showers. 

We went to a new dentist recently and was told my youngest had 16 cavities and her new braces needed to be removed for all the work to be done. This would cost thousands of dollars. I opted for a second opinion. My husband had to take another day off and he took her to the Orthodontist to have the wire removed (not all braces) then to a new dentist for the exam and back to the Orthodontist to have the wire put back on. The second opinion? She has NO cavities between her teeth! She has two on molars and can be taken care of with the braces on. Thankful that I had common sense enough to go for a second opinion. 

Its been over 100 degrees for weeks and I have had little to no air in my truck. You do what you have to do right?

As for my weight loss journey.....  Ive been excited about this for three months and with everything else beating me down I guess it was time for me to come off my high.... I looked at myself and thought, "why is it taking surgery for you to lose weight and keep it off resulting in better health?"  

Right now Im tired physically and emotionally, Im stressed about finances, health and work issues. Im just worn down and need a break, a vacation just time off from LIFE.

Bad Fall

Seriously its been a tough few months! Last week I tripped at work on the sidewalk and felt strait on my elbow! Im pretty sure I bruised the bone. I can use it and Im not limited in doing anything its just painful to touch it!

In other news..... I completed my third weight check.  I am also waiting on a call to schedule my second sleep study with a cpap machine.

In July Ill finish my Psychiatrist visits and have my 4th weight check! Ive lost about 5 lbs in the past few months (better than nothing)

Im trying so hard to consume 64 oz of water a day, eat six times a day (smaller amounts) and now need to add exercising to the mix!

Sleep Study Complete

I have not seen the results but online I see Im listed as having "Sleep Disturbance"  Whatever that means. Im waiting to hear back from my doctor. 

Tomorrow I see the Psychiatrist, who is supposed to talk to me and decide if she things Im emotionally and mentally ready for a lifetime change. I am pretty sure I am. I read everything I can about the procedure and life afterwards. Im a member of several support groups on Facebook and read people post about struggles and triumphs since surgery. I know its a total lifestyle change and Im ready for that! I am told that this Psychiatrist requires two visits. (most require one) 

Once I am done with the psychiatrist, I will be finished with all the required doctor appointments except for my monthly weight checks with my surgeon. Those visits will be complete at the end of September. 

In the mean time, I am getting through my work week (and trying to save up sick time) preparing for a visit from my step son and a vacation to Florida (at the beginning of August) 
Hopefully if things keep going smoothly, Ill have surgery at the beginning of October (four months away!)

Rough few weeks

The past few weeks have been challenging to say the least. I scratched my eye while caring for my chickens! That took a week or two to heal completely. I had a stomach virus which made it nearly impossible to keep any food down for four days. Of course, once I could eat..... I wanted to eat everything in sight. I started feeling better last Friday afternoon but on Saturday I woke to a painful neck. That got worse and on day three I went to the doctor for x-rays. I had a very swollen muscle that was pressing on the nerve. I was given Prednisone. Ive never taken that before and I never want it again! 

On the second night of taking the steroids I had terrible reflux and began feeling as if the pills were stuck in my chest. I walked the house, drank water, nibbled on something, all in attempt to make the pills move or to feel some comfort. It didnt help. I started to worry as I remembered about a similar situation with a former coworker who felt this same way and she died in the night of a heart attack! I started itching all over and decided to get in the shower. I stood in the warm shower scratching and crying and holding my chest.It was terrible! Slowly it eased a little but I felt that lump (pain) in my chest for about 24 hours! I stopped taking the medication. On Friday i felt like I was starving all day and got way off my eating plan. 

Then I had to go to my sleep study. That wasnt fun. I have no issues falling asleep but the wires were uncomfortable and the knowing that there was a camera watching me and a nurse in the other room watching me all night just didnt make for easy sleep. 

Oh well......  Im praying that the next few weeks are far easier than my last few weeks! 

Sleep Study is Over

 It wasnt a comfortable night but its over. I guess Ill hear back through my doctor about the results. I was tired all day yesterday trying to make up for lost sleep or not resting as well (I guess)

Now I have to visit a Psychiatrist (required by insurance) and 4 more monthly visits with my doctor.
Still working on taking in enough fluids daily, eating 6 times a day which includes a lot of protein and less sugar.

I made it!

1) I made this yummy dinner for the family. I merged two recipes from the book Ive been using, Eating for Life. I cooked chicken breast, bell peppers, purple onions, squash in a pan with curry powder, pink salt, cayenne pepper, basil. I drained and warmed up corn with no salt and black beans. Then, we warmed wheat tortillas and put the chicken mixture on top, sprinkled beans and corn with a little cheese, salsa and sour cream on top! So good!


2) I made it to my Nutritionist appointment. Ive been doing most of what she had to tell me! Ive lost 5 lbs and only  few more appointments and Ill be done!

3) I made it through the day after seeing a doctor about my neck pain. Strained muscle was inflamed and pressing on nerves. Steroids and pain meds are making a HUGE difference!

Possible Set Back

Tomorrow Im supposed to meet with the Nutritionist. I dont know if Ill make that appointment as Im suffering with terrible neck pain. I thought Id slept wrong but the pain is worse today and I have a large lump on the back of my neck. (possible pinch nerve?) I also have slight numbness down my left arm. Ill be seeing a doctor tomorrow to see whats going on.

 If Im better I should be doing my sleep study Friday night. I hope this issue wont cause me to get behind on appointments. I have had a rough week! I suffered with a stomach virus Tuesday-Friday and then Saturday was hit with neck pain! 

Praying things calm and settle soon.

two of six

Monday I went to my second pre-op visit for a weight check. It was a short appointment where he asked about my eating habits. I was excited to tell him Ive stopped drinking soft drinks!!! Its been four weeks since I had a soft drink! I drink only water and maybe one cup of coffee a day. I eat the six meals a day ..... example:  yogurt or boiled egg (breakfast) protein shake (around 10m) lunch around 1 which is a salad with egg or turkey in it or a turkey sandwich on wheat bread. around 3 protein shake or bar and then dinner (from the cook book) and many times a light snack like apples and cottage cheese. He said as long as i continue these things Ill do great and lose a lot!

In 1.5 weeks I will see the Nutritionist and then a Psychiatrist and a sleep study.

Only four more visits of weight checks!

Goulash

My doctor recommended that I purchase, read and live by the book,

 Eating for Life by Bill Phillips.

I found it on Amazon for under $5 (and that's with shipping!)

Bill Phillips is a body builder. In this book he teaches to eat six times a day small protein packed foods, including carbohydrates! (from the list he provides) 

The majority of the book is filled with recipes and tonight I cooked American Goulash from this book. I changed is slightly but it was so yummy!

American Goulash

ground turkey, tomato sauce (with no salt) onions, zucchini, green peppers, pink Himalayan salt, chili seasoning, cayenne pepper, fettuccine pasta

 Brown turkey and remove from pan. Cook onions, zucchini and green peppers in a little olive oil. Add back the turkey and can of tomato sauce along with seasonings. heat until hot. Cook pasta and drain. Add a little olive oil. Put a fist size of pasta on plate and pour meat mixture over the top.

On my way

Last week I checked a lot of things off my list when I went to an appointment at the local hospital for and EKG, Labwork, Chest XRay and UpperGI tests.

Next week I see the surgeon for the second time.

I have stopped drinking sodas and increased my water intake. Ive consumed up to 64 oz in a day but thats not an average day.  I consume a very small amount of caffeine and am trying to limit my sugar intake. I now eat six times a day (as instructed by my doctor) in small amounts and a lot of protein.

Making this choice for surgery is not taking the easy way out. Its a lot of hard work, breaking habits, eating a different way, and  exercising, Surgery is simply a tool to help me lose a little faster but with the same hard work!

Review of the past and looking forward to the future

I cannot believe that we are five months into the year 2015. Its been busy thus far but not as busy as 2014.

Last year we started the year by rescuing Lucky-Bear. We bottle fed him every two hours just like a newborn baby! We found and met my husband's son.My children met their oldest brother for the first time. It was an emotional weekend but an amazing time! We cannot wait to see him again in a few months! My oldest child (and only son) returned from Afghanistan safe and sound Memorial weekend (2014) 

My middle daughter, had quite the year as well! She graduated high school and a few short weeks later, after an emergency trip to the ER, she had heart surgery (Ablation) it was scary but it healed her and she is no longer a cardiac patient! She has taken a year off while working part time at a grocery store but will soon begin Cosmetology school! 

Last year about this time we made a drive to Charlotte North Carolina so that my husband and oldest daughter could ride in a real Nascar around the track side by side! Man, those were fun memories! 

I enjoyed a girls weekend with a good friend in the Outer Banks and marked off a few things off my bucket list....  by visiting several lighthouses!  

For so many years Ive battled my weight issues. In 2014 I tried green smoothies. They are actually good and a great way to get greens in but that didn't help me lose weight which is why Ive started this journey in 2015 with the Gastric Sleeve.  While I did make it through a 5K run (walk) in 2014, my goal is to run the entire 5K in 2016! 

If you haven't been  following me for long, you can click on the links above to see my posts from 2014. its was quite the year last year and I think my current journey will compete with last year... but this year its more about "me" about getting healthy, feeling better about myself and losing weight.