Okay, okay Ronnie!  I'll get off my lazy blogging ass and write a freakin' update.  (Thanks for making me feel loved Ronnie).   Warning:  There is a total overshare in the last paragraph so you might oughtta skip it....don't say I didn't warn you.

So, how am I?  And what is it like having VSG?

It's been 8 weeks since surgery.  I've lost 17 pounds.  That puts me at 163.  I still want to lose 20 more pounds.

Some of you have urged me to count what I lost on my "pre-op diet."  Uhhh, well, that was supposed to entail 2 weeks of protein shakes for breakfast & lunch and one lean protein & veggie for dinner.  So let me confess right now that I only lost 3 pounds on my pre-op diet because I just didn't follow through with it.  I tried, but keeping up with two little kids (and breastfeeding!) on that little was a NO GO.

Here's what I ate yesterday:

Breakfast:  1 scrambled egg, 5 grapes
Lunch: 2oz tuna fish, mixed with 1T of light mayo.  one slice of whole wheat bread.
Snack:  half a protein bar (Clif's builder bar)
Dinner:  2/3 of a grilled chicken breast & sauteed broccoli (1/2C)
Snack: chobani greek yogurt.  Have you tried the lemon flavor?  Mmm.

Total:  919 calories

I'm kind of concerned about not getting in as many veggies as the food pyramid calls for but......oh well, I guess that's what vitamins are for.

Today so far:
Breakfast:  coffee with 1T half n half, 1 scrambled egg sprinkled with cheese
Lunch: hubby took me to a breakfast place and I had grit cakes with chorizo gravy.  It was so good.  I ate about 1/4 of my plate.

Before surgery, these amounts of foods would have NEVER satisfied me.  But now I feel fine.  I eat a meal and don't get hungry until the next meal.  That's pretty amazing for me.

I wish I was losing weight faster, but I'm not, so I'm trying to accept that.

Despite the slight disappointment regarding the slowness of losing this weight, I'm SUPER happy with how I feel after surgery.  I'm not starving.  I'm not thinking about food 24/7.  I no longer feel like I'm "white-knuckling it."

From reading other VSG blogs, I've noticed that some people can't enjoy spicy foods, ice cream, or junk food after surgery.  Let me tell you though---for better or worse, I CAN.  I can eat ANYTHING without suffering ill effects.  I can eat ice cream.  I can eat chips, candy, whatever.  I have to avoid these foods because they DO NOT MAKE ME FEEL FULL.  At all.  If I wanted to eat that junk, I totally could.  All day long.  Protein fills me up quickly and will "stick," so I have to do my part and eat that first.  Once I do that, I can't get much else in.

So it's up to me.

My gym routine:  I've been doing spin classes, the elliptical machine, and strength training classes.  I go at least 4 days a week for an hour.  Monday I did a kickboxing class and had fun.  :)

And!  That morning it was so hard to make it to that kickboxing class.  The Fat Gods were totally conspiring against me.  They got my youngest son to smear oatmeal in his hair during breakfast.  Then, of course, the Fat Gods hid my 3 year old's shoes!  So we had to do conduct a full-scale archeological dig to find them.  Despite these hurdles, we got to the gym with a  few minutes to spare, but then I went to the bathroom and discovered my TOM had come a few days earlier than expected.  The tampon machine was empty.  For about 5 seconds, I considered leaving the gym all together, but, well ladies, I did what I had to do.  I wadded up some toilet paper, stuffed it in my pants, and said a prayer.  (Oh please God, don't let this fall out my pant leg like that time on the bus in 9th grade).

little bitty update

So, I'm down a total of 13 pounds since surgery.  It's been over 6 weeks.  Are you amazed?  I know, me neither.  It's kind of frustrating as I'd like to see a more dramatic drop.  I'm working out 4-5 times a week for an hour.  Right now I alternate spin classes with doing my own cardio workouts.  Next week I'm going to add strength training classes to the mix.

Spin classes are intense.  After each class I literally mop sweat off the floor with my towel.  It's not like I'm going to the gym to take naps in the locker room.  Although, now that I've thought of it, it's not a bad idea...

When I do the elliptical, I do the harder one that looks like a gazelle machine.  And I push myself.  I crank it up to level ten and require myself to run at least 5 miles in an hour.  For some people, that's easy.  For me, it's a challenge.  

So what gives?

I ordered a monitor to measure my body fat %.  Normal is 21-32%.  Mine is 33.6%.  Which is great considering in September of last year it was 46.7%.

My goal is 25% or less.

I wonder if being so close to "non-overweight" body fat % is what is making this so difficult.

? 

And I'm still breastfeeding.  I can't help but think that is playing a role in how stubbornly this fat is hanging on!!

I'm just scared to wean because it's the only thing that helps my chronic bladder pain....and my husband doesn't want more children.  I have this horrible fear that I'll wean and the pain will come back full force (because it will).  And then, the only way I know how to make it go away is to get pregnant and nurse another baby.  I've had this disease (IC--interstitial cystitis) for 16 years and the only time I've felt "normal" is for the last 3.5 years.  There's something magical about pregnancy and lactation.  I tried EVERYTHING to control my pain.  Narcotics.  Electrical stimulation.     

So, I'm scared to ruin a goood thing just to lose 20 pounds.  And who knows if quitting BFing would even help the weight loss??

As frustrated as I am, I'm feeling pretty good about my body.  I feel SO MUCH better about myself compared to last summer.  But I would LOVE to lose at least 12 more pounds.  Is that so much to ask?

In other news, my parents have split up.  Oh, this isn't the first time....they've split so many times I can't even count.  They are living apart yet again.  We have a trip planned for October to go down to TX to see everyone.  And now---OH WE JUST CAN'T WAIT.  I thought I was visiting my hometown but now I'll be in Drama City walking on tight ropes and eggshells.  

Fun, fun!

Despite less-than-amazing-weight-loss stats and family drama, I have a pretty damn good life and here's a list of all the awesome things coming up this month.

1).  I have tickets to see Jackson Browne.  I know, I know.  You're jealous, aren't you?  

2).  My husband and I are going to an NFL game in a couple weeks.  Before you get too jealous of this one, let me just say it's the Buffalo Bills.  My husband grew up in San Diego, CA and for some reason has always been a huge Bills fan.  In case you don't know, they have been on a terrible losing streak for the last few years (okay, a DECADE, possibly longer).  But we are GOING by golly.  My former neighbor is from Buffalo and she hooked us up with the name & number of a babysitter (that was the tricky part!).

3).  Next week my 3 year old starts preschool.  If I shed any tears on that day, it will NOT be because my sweet little boy is growing up.  They will be tears of joy.  And perhaps a few tears that it's only 2 half days a week instead of ALL FIVE.

4).  This might not pan out, but my friend's husband shot her up with some expired Botox from the clinic he works at.  She asked him if he could shoot me up next time another bottle expires and he said he would.  But you know how men are....they forget.  And I'm not one to pester him so......we'll see. 

5).  We are having a big backyard BBQ this weekend with all of our neighbors.  It'll be fun.

my fat free mass

So.  Let's talk about something.

FFM.  That's fat free mass.  When I agreed to be a research participant before having surgery, they measured me with all kinds of fancy gadgets.  Here were my stats, taken September 2010.

Height: 5 ft 2 (actually no one can seem to agree if I'm 5 ft 2 or 3).  

Weight: 207 lbs 

FFM: 110 lbs

Fat mass: 97 lbs (***k!)

The lady explained that FFM (fat free mass) is what your bones, organs, and muscles weigh.  

Then at the bottom of my printout it says:

Desirable Range: 21-33% body fat

Desirable Fat Mass: 29-54 pounds

So I asked the lady that day, "Does that mean I should weigh 139-164 lbs?"  (That's my FFM of 110 lbs plus my recommended "desirable" fat mass).

She looked at my paper and said, "Yep, you're very solid.  That's good.  You're less likely to get osteoporosis as you age."  She said some people have heavier and more dense bones, especially kids who were chunky (who you talkin' bout?).  She explained that my body frame is still "medium," it's just that I have a dense skeleton......which makes me think of Cartman on Southpark---"I'm not fat, I'm big-boned!"

So it turns out Cartman is right, but it's more like dense bones, not big bones.  At least for me.  I'm sure there are some people out there that are big-boned AND dense-boned.

Here's the kicker----according to the BMI chart, I'm "overweight" as soon as I pass 136 pounds (at 5 ft 2).  ANDDDDD,  I'm "obese" at 163 lbs.  But according to the fancy measures these research docs took, I'm actually not even overweight at ALL until I weigh 165.  At 5 ft 2!

When I was a kid, my mom told me women should weigh 100 pounds if they are 5 ft tall.  Then, for every inch over 5 feet, they can weigh five more pounds.  I'm not sure where she heard this little formula, but it's obviously not for every body.  According to her (or that) I should weigh 110.  And noooow I see that I can't EVER weigh that little.  It's not possible.

The funniest part is that when I got down to what I now consider my "skinny weight" (142 pounds thanks to Weight Watchers), I considered myself a failure (for years) because I thought losing more weight was necessary (at least 6 pounds so I could have a "normal" BMI).  In fact, I had joined WW on-line (I started at 171 lbs) and was working super hard to get down to 136 pounds so I could nominate myself to be one of their featured "success stories."  For some reason, I couldn't see (or didn't care) that you could see veins rippling from my ankles to my knees, from my hands to my biceps, etc.  But, if only I'd known then what I know now......

I was already a "success story," but I got too caught up in the stupid in numbers, particularyly the ****-ing BMI chart, to see it.

HOWEVER, if these doctors are right, I was only 3 pounds over the minimum weight recommended for me (and my boobs alone weigh more than that).  And I did maintain 142 lbs for over two years.....the problem is I had to work out 1-2 hours a day, 5 days a week, and then on weekends I typically went skiing or hiking for 4-8 hours just because I enjoyed it.  Not only that, but I had to feel like I was starving 24/7 AND it was also necessary to avoid outings (of a non-fitness nature) with friends.  It required avoiding parties to prevent myself from overindulging.  It required refusing dinner invitations.  If I hadn't been so strict I could have never achieved that weight or maintained it for as long as I did......

Another thing, recently, that helped me see that 142 was a perfectly acceptable weight for 5 ft 2 (or 3, whatever I am!) is that Stephanie from Electric LadyBand, posted about her friend Bitchcakes, a Weight Watchers success story.  Like me, she is 5 ft 2.  She achieved her goal weight of 138 pounds.  And she looks fabulous.  I'm glad she was wise enough to ignore those blasted BMI charts.

I'm really thankful she's brave enough to post her height and weight so morons like me can see that it's not necessary to weigh 115 lbs to have a fit & fabulous body.

So I get it now.

142 lbs at 5 ft 2 was good.

Can I have it back now?  Please God?

I will appreciate it this time.  I promise.

officially not "obese"

Thanks for all of your encouragement after my last post.  Five days ago, I swore off the scale because it was pissing me off.  This morning, when I hopped back on, it was so happy to see me again that it told me I lost two pounds.  Not as much as I'd like......but....Yay!  We're friends again.

I'm not sure if I'm 5 ft 2 or 3 and since being 5 ft 2 no longer benefits me (ala BMI calculations), I will hereby go with the taller of the two measurements---so, ahem, I'm 5 ft 3.  Aaaaand, at 168 pounds that makes me OVERWEIGHT.  Not obese (good Lawd how I hated that word).  Woo hoo!

The nutritionist from my surgeon's office called yesterday to see how I was doing & feeling after progressing my diet to the second phase (mushies).  I feel great!  I hadn't thought about it until she asked, but I feel back to myself.  The first 2-3 weeks after surgery I felt rundown and had nooo energy but yesterday was the 4 week mark and I feel great (and have for over a week).

She asked if I was getting all my water in.  Check.  All my protein?  Check.  All my vitamins?  Check.  She said "great" and was juuuust about to hang up before I blurted out, "But I've only lost 10 pounds.  Shouldn't I be losing more than that?"

She said YES.  I should be losing more than that.

Sigh......

So she sent me some food logs to fill out and email back to her in a week.  I've been tracking everything with that app "MyFitnessPal," and I'm very good about being honest.  And my calories have been anywhere from 600-900 for the past two weeks (less calories before that!).

So I'm still perplexed but actually I've lost 12 pounds total as of this morning--not 10, like I told her.

I can't help but wonder if my body is hanging on tighter because I'm still breastfeeding my 15 month old.

???

A doctor that I saw back in March remarked that breastfeeding helps moms lose weight at first but the low estrogen of breastfeeding is similar to menopause.... ?  Something like that.

Perhaps that is to blame for the slow weight loss?

Perhaps it's that I only had about 40 to lose to begin with?

Oh well, we're down to 28 now!!

NSV yet frustrated.

Just got from a family camping trip in West Virginia so I'm behind in blog reading.  First, I'll report an NSV (non-scale victory).

I've actually worn a bathing suit out in public (gasp).  For me that's pretty huge.  Honestly I don't like the way I look right now (30 lbs overweight) but I don't hate the way I look either.  So that's progress!

However, I'm totally frustrated with the scale.

I'm over 3 weeks out from surgery and have only lost 10 pounds.  The scale hasn't moved in 12 days.  TWELVE days people!!

I'm eating less than 1000 calories, usually around 600-800, still eating mushies, etc.  So WTF?  I mean seriously!!!  WTF.  

Not once have I gone over 1000 calories.  What gives??

I kind of regret telling any friends about having this surgery because in my imagination they are wondering what the hell is wrong with me, that I have surgery and still can't get my weight under control.

I mean, how is this even possible?

I even started going back to the gym!  I'm not doing classes yet but I went 4 times and did the elliptical for an hour before going on vacation.  During vacation I didn't even "splurge" because all I could really eat were protein shakes and water because I couldn't eat any of the food my husband grilled, like chicken and vegetables.  The only food I ate was a scrambled egg every morning for breakfast.  And greek yogurt in small quantitities.

Also, during vacation, we stayed at a KOA campground and did a ton of swimming in the lake and bike riding.  I also walked a TON and played frisbee with my 3 year old, which means I spent an inordinate amount of time fetching his wild throws.  

And.....nothing.  No weight loss. 

12 days, my friends.  This sucks.  

Here's my 3 year old roasting marshmallows.  Then the bottom photo is me (in pajamas) with my 1 year old, the only picture of me on the entire trip (my 3 year old took the picture).  Not sure why we are glowing heavenly white.....

Survey Says!

Did you imagine me saying that title in my best Richard Dawson voice?  Because I totally was.

Okay, everyone is doing it.  Why not?

1.            What is your occupation right now? 
SAHM.  (stay at home mom!) but I'm an occupational therapist when I do work, most of my experience is in hand therapy, acute trauma, and pediatrics (like kids with developmental delays like autism).  I've taken the last year off since my second son was born.  The key to being a happy SAHM is to never actually stay home.  That is the key.  We go places almost every day.  Anywhere from the gym, children's museum, to the grocery store, to playdates in our backyard or in the park---seeing other adults during the day is the only way to stay sane.  

2.            What color are your socks right now?

Barefoot.

3.            What are you listening to right now?
I'm listening to the other night's episode of Big Brother.  It's playing on my computer while I read and write.  

4.            What was the last thing that you ate?

Greek yogurt with splenda & Crystal Light mixed in for flavor.

5.            Can you drive a stick shift?
No.  My BFF tried to teach me in highschool.  She chose the cemetery (of all places!) to try and coach me through it.  She was a great teacher but I suck when eye-hand-feet coordination is required.  Which is funny b/c my dad is a helicopter pilot.  Did you know helicopter pilots have to use both feet and hands to fly?  All at the same time!  I obviously was not blessed with any of his coordination.

6.            Last person you spoke to on the phone?
I had to call about a bill saying I owe $1,598 for the anesthesia during my surgery.  Umm, no I don't!  It was $800 and I paid it a month ago.  I even checked with the bank to make sure the check cleared.  WTH?

7.            Do you like the person you stole this blog from?

Yeppers.

8.            How old are you today?
34.

9.            What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
College football is the ONLY sport I watch. Go Longhorns!  Texas fight!

10.          What is your favorite drink?
Coffee.  Especially the "bold" flavors made by Keurig.

11.          Have you ever dyed your hair?
Highlights mostly.  I was blonde as a child and it became dark blonde after puberty but I put highlights to make it more blonde.  Once, I got tired of the expense (in college) and dyed it brown.  I did not recognize the girl in the mirror.  Never again.

12.          Favorite food?
Thai.

13.          What is the last movie you watched?
I honestly can't remember, it's been so long.  We have Netflix but the only thing we watch are TV shows.  Right now my husband and I are watching the 3rd season of True Blood and Friday Night Lights.

14.          Favorite day of the year?
Christmas (because of my boys).

15.          How do you vent anger?
I bitch and moan to anyone who will listen.

16.          What was your favorite toy as a child?
My Cabbage Patch dolls.  Grace Maricela, Mara Cherry, and Gerard Stu (hey!  I didn't name them!)

17.          What is your favorite season?
When I'm in Pittsburgh, it's summer and fall.  If I'm in Texas, I'll take fall/spring.  Summer is too damn hot and humid there.

18.          Cherries or Blueberries?
Rainier cherries.  

19.          Do you want your friends to blog this survey?
Yepper-dee-doodle.

20.          Where is you favorite place to escape?
Camping anywhere.  But I don't do tents.  Mama needs a cabin with AC and a bed.

21.          Favorite TV Show(s)?
Of all time?  Six Feet Under.  I liked the series Rome on HBO.  And Spartacus!  

22.          Living arrangements?
We own a beautiful place in Colorado with a view of the mountains but right now we are renting an ugly house in a very urban neighborhood in Pittsburgh.  Can you really expect much from a neighborhood named "Squirrel Hill"?  But it's cool!  Lots of restaurants, shops, etc within an easy walk from our house.  I just miss my beautiful brand new house.....the one I'm living is over 100 years old.  It's somewhat charming but I'm not a fan of the awful 1960's kitchen remodel.

23.          When was the last time you cried?
I have no idea.  I don't cry very easily but if I do it's because I'm super pissed off.

24.          What is on the floor of your closet?
Shoes, shoes, shoes! 

25.          Who is the friend you have had the longest?
I'd say it's my BFFs Jennifer & Lara.  We met in sixth grade (so, 23 years ago).

26.          What did you do last night?
Snuggled with the hubs after the kids went to bed and watched Friday Night Lights.  The episode where the coach caught his daughter in bed with the quarterback.  

27.          What are you most afraid of?
Disability (perhaps because of my career).  All it takes is one second .....  From a head injury to getting your leg ripped off in an accident...working with these patients is rewarding and it reminds you every day that your life could change in an instant.  It makes me appreciate everything I have, every day.  Well, most days.

28.          Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
Cheese.

29.          Favorite dog breed?
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier.  Yes, I spelled Wheaten (the breed is spelled with an "e", the color is spelled with an "o.")  We have a 3 year old named Dolly.

30.          Favorite day of the week?
Saturday.

31.          How many states have you lived in?
Texas, Colorado, and Pennsylvania

32.          Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds.

33.          What is your favorite flower?
I love the smell of verbena. 

more on cheating

So a few days ago I confessed to "cheating" by not adhering strictly to my 3 week diet of liquids only.

So now I need to explain myself a little better.  

Before I decided to chow down on applesauce, Malt O Meal, yogurt, and the like, I came across this post-op diet put out by Cornell University.  Check it out here:  Cornell VSG Guidelines.  

Honestly, I have no idea how surgeons come up with the diet they tell people to follow.  Some say liquids for "X amount of time," while others start VSG patients on mushies right away.  Even the flaky fish I ate was considered a mushy, so I didn't go totally rogue y'all.  I have no idea how much (if any) academic research is out there regarding the most appropriate post-op diet for people with the gastric sleeve.

When I came across Cornell's protocol (prior to my surgery), I bookmarked it in case I found myself hungry in the weeks following surgery.  

I certainly don't encourage anyone to follow this Cornell diet without discussing it with their doctor or anything, but I'm just saying that there seems to be no real consensus on what the "best practice" is for post-op diet with this particular surgery.

In my surgeon's case, he gives all patients a binder that's full of information for gastric sleeve, gastric band, and gastric bypass patients.  He gives us all the SAME diet.  Which I find strange.....

Anyhow, I've had no adverse effects from advancing my diet a wee bit soon, and I'm basically following this Cornell timeline.  But with that said, please know that I'm chewing everything for a LONG time and my 15 month old son eats FAR more in one sitting than I do.  This diet recommends 1/4-1/2C of mushies at any given meal but I can only have about 1/4C at a time right now.  It's amazing how little food it takes to satisfy me for hours on end.