9/10/07

Well, actually, I think it’s foolish to say “Gone forever”. Surgery doesn’t cure obesity. It only helps you win half the battle. The rest is up to you. Okay, okay. I know you’re sick of that cliche, but it’s true.

I have to say I’m not happy with my weight loss progress. Although I want to scream on the Gastric Bypass Forum, “My surgery is not working. I could have lost more on a diet by now!”, I’m not ready to do that just yet. I already know there are things you can do to try to speed up your weight loss, such as:

- More protein.
- More exercise.
- More water.

And I am working on those. Protein does seem to make a difference in my weight loss. I am struggling to make my 80 gm per day, and when I was losing faster, I was getting in more protein. Aha!

Although I am getting 60-64 oz. of water in per day, I know darn well that isn’t enough sometimes. When we were having the 80-90-degree heat wave, I still felt dehydrated, especially in the early part of the day.

Also due to the heatwave (and possible dehydration), I have not been able to walk for the past week at all. I have had no energy. But, finally, the heat has lifted. Yesterday it was in the 70s and I did walk. Today it is also pretty cool. I will walk again.

I should be glad for my 18.5 lbs. but most of it was lost in the first week and I have lost anywhere from 0.5 to 2.5 lbs a week since then. That really sucks because I am losing less weight than I did on my last diet in which I was eating more calories. Aha! Maybe that’s the problem!

But maybe I can’t complain because I did cheat. I ate about 1/3 of a small slice of cheesecake at work. I’m not sure if I dumped, although I did feel bad afterwards, maybe some slight nausea or dizziness — I couldn’t tell which. I did feel my heart beating fast for a few minutes, but no stomach cramping or diarrhea that I’ve heard others complain about. It wasn’t even worth it. It didn’t taste good! And thank goodness!

I also think I have not been eating enough. I have been eating only 3x a day. At work I had 200 calories all day yesterday. I know we are supposed to be on a very low calorie diet, but that’s crazy! I usually only eat 3 meals a day, but when I got home I ate 2 more servings of protein, and I’m glad because the scale moved down a pound today. Aha!

I ordered a protein pack sampler from bariatriceating.com. It should be here early next week. I’m hoping I can find a favorite out of one of those samples. I have to find a protein drink to supplement my protein. I can’t do it from food alone– at least not before I get to eat meat. Nothing has as much protein per serving as meat. And I can’t add protein powder to everything. I get to start chopped foods this coming Friday. Woo hoo! I’m definitely looking forward to it.

I have snuck small pieces of chicken a few times and chewed very well and had no problem. Yes, yes! I know what you’re thinking. 2 weeks out and you cheated already. Shame on you! What is your problem?!

Well, the cheesecake was a mistake, and I suck for eating it, but I’m sorry I don’t think the small pieces of chicken were. Many people get to eat some meat sooner than I am supposed to. Yes, I should follow the dietician’s and surgeon’s orders or I could end up the hospital. I know. I know. But no matter how I look at it, this graduated food diet sucks.

The good news is the worst is over in about a week. I get to eat chopped food for a week then I can try anything except lettuce. I can’t eat lettuce until 8 weeks out. NO bread, rice or pasta for 6 months. I will not miss bread or rice, but I will miss pasta. I think I was Italian in a past life…hehe! I know I can do it though. I’ve done it before multiple times.

Nonetheless, I will try to think positively. After all, I haven’t weighed what I weigh now since March of this year. Wow! When I think of it that way, I realize I am definitely glad for that. So I will just keep adjusting protein, water and exercise and hopefully I will continue to see results.

Thanks for reading. Thank goodness for blogs. We complainers can now gripe to a worldwide audience. LOL!