Tuesday, April 29, 2008
THE 40 LB DIFFERENCE
Ok, so I've been feeling a little blue about the slower weight loss the past couple weeks, so I thought I'd give myself a little visual of the difference 40 lbs has made.The first picture is me at 303.2 - taken from a video on youtube (no, not my most flattering shot):
The second was taken today, wearing the same shirt, at 263:
I'm feeling a lot more positive about my loss now. :)
Sunday, April 27, 2008
WEEK 5 WEIGH-IN RESULTS
Thursday, April 24, 2008
DEAR NEIGHBORS, PART II
Dear Neighbors,I was too quick to judge!
The construction lasted only 2 days, with the second day being MUCH quieter than the first. (although, the dumpster is still there - which makes me a bit nervous)
In any case, I still think you're awesome and peace has been restored in our 15 foot space. Much gracias.
Your happy neighbor,
Taunia
Monday, April 21, 2008
LOUD NOISE BOTHERS ME
Dear Neighbors,I really like you folks - you're really nice and friendly! And despite the fact that our houses are only separated by 15 feet and a driveway, we are able to maintain our privacy. It's ok, we've worked together and we're doing well. Up until today.
Now, you know that I work from home, and that I teach private voice lessons from my home. You also know that I have two very loud and yippy dogs who bark relentlessly when provoked. That's why I'm a little upset that there was no mention of what would be happening today.
At 8:00 am today, my grumpy ass was woken up by louds boys, and the sound of very large objects being tossed into a large empty dumpster right outside my window. Do you know what happens when very large and heavy objects get thrown into an empty dumpster? They resonate. Loudly. Very loudly. Especially when it's right outside in the space of 15 feet.
What would have been nice was to know this was coming. You know, so I could makes plans to either cancel lessons or work somewhere else - like the middle of the highway where it would be much less noisy. Instead, I had to work over loud boys, loud things being tossed, loud music, loud ripping, loud everything. And since my surgery, I can't have coffee, so I'm a little more than peeved that instead of a well-brewed java, I woke up to clanging and banging.
Unfortunately, this brings back memories of my old asshole neighbors who did everything they could to annoy the shit out of me at every waking moment. Perhaps I'm transferring some of my anger onto you. But the problem is, just like my old neighbors, I have no idea how long this noise will last. Or how long it will be until I'm so pissed that I have to go over there and ask through gritted teeth.
The thing is, I *know* you're nice folks. I just can't understand why you wouldn't have mentioned this on one of the numerous times we've said hello in the past couple weeks? It makes me want to open all my windows and blast my Barbra Streisand Broadway album at 11. Becuase that's one higher than 10, you know.
Anyhoo, I think I forgive you, unless this goes on all summer, in which case I'll probably hate you. But it looks like they got a lot done today, so I'm hoping for the best.
Your self-employed neighbor who works from home all day,
Taunia
Sunday, April 20, 2008
WEEK 4 WEIGH-IN RESULTS : SLOW GOIN' THIS WEEK!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
HUFFINGTON POST COMMENT
I was reading an article about last night's debate, and saw this (which I loved) in the comment section:
Also, can someone PLEASE explain to me why Clinton's patriotism is not being called into question? Where's her flag? Apparently, if you're white and have a "white" name, you get a free pass.
Last night's "debate" was ridiculously biased, and it disgusted me. Let's hope the voters of PA felt the same way and vote for change.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
MAMA NEEDS SOME INTERVENTION
Lately I've had this urge to garden. I have a nice little plot in my backyard that gets the perfect amount of sun during the day, and apparently the soil is pretty kick-ass. Never mind that I have absolutely NO IDEA HOW TO GARDEN.Now flashback to TV: remember the show "Mama's Family?" I thought it was ridiculous, but I still liked watching it - it was a guilty pleasure. Anyhow, I very distinctly remember this one episode when "Mama" got a little nutso ordering things from the Home Shopping Network and other infomercials, and her entire living room was filled with shit she ordered. Then she realized she was going broke and had to send stuff back.
Now fast forwarding to present day TV: as you may recall, I wrote an entry about the Aerogarden that I purchased after seeing an informercial on TV. And I have to tell you, my Aerogarden seriously does rock. I've got tasty fresh herbs any time I need them. But the bad thing is that now I'm feeling like I'm getting hooked on two things: 1) growing fresh herbs and produce(good) and 2) buying stuff I see on TV (bad).
Today I saw a new product: the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter! And you KNOW I'm buying this thing! I already have a plan: two planter stakes on each end of my garden with the two tomato planters, leaving the rest of my garden space for everything else. It grows 30 lbs of tomatoes on each planter....that's NUTS. EVERYONE GETS TOMATOES THIS SUMMER!
Do you see? I have a problem. I'm turning into Mama and I'm going to need an intervention. But not until after I get my Topsy Turvy on, ok?
WEEK 3 WEIGH-IN RESULTS
Monday, April 07, 2008
THE "OFFICIAL" WEIGH-IN
I think I'm going to track my weight loss on Mondays from now on. Therefore, today is my first official weigh-in!TOTAL LOSS: 31 lbs
YEE-HAW! Tomorrow is 2 weeks out of the surgery, so that's 31 lbs in less than two weeks. Granted, most of it was water weight, but I don't care!
Just a quick update for ya! :)
Labels: weigh-in results, WLS
Sunday, April 06, 2008
DO YOU MISS BREAD? THEN READ THIS!
I have always loved watching cooking shows. Yes, partly because I'm a food addict, but also because I think cooking can be a real art...one that I've never had a knack for.Anyhow, I was flipping around the TV last night and found this channel called FitTv, which is part of the Discovery Channel. There was a program on called Blaine's Low Carb Kitchen. The host/chef is a guy on a diet, cutting carbs out of his eating and finding really unique ways to be satisfied. He made low-carb Monte-Cristo sandwiches that looked amazing, but more amazing was the bread he used : hardly any carbs to it at all!
Since having gastric bypass surgery, I know soft bread (toasted is ok) is out of my diet for a while. This sweetbread he made is the perfect alternative, and I went a little nuts over it. I obviously can't have the sandwich, but the bread is something I'm going to try toasted as some point. Here's the recipe for the sandwich starting with the bread..moving it's way into low-carb high-fat heaven. Enjoy!
Simple Syrup: equal parts water and Splenda
Low Carb Sweet Bread:
6 egg whites
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tbsp. wheat flour - sifted
2 tbsp. soy flour - sifted
Raspberry Jam:
1/4 cup simple syrup (equal parts Splenda and Water)
6 oz. fresh raspberries
1/4 tsp. pectin
Sandwich Filling:
6 egg yolks and 1 egg
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 lb. sliced deli ham - very thin
1/2 lb. sliced deli turkey - very thin
2 oz. sliced Swiss cheese - very thin
2 oz. sliced American cheese
Sweet bread preparation: 3.3 net carbs per slice, makes 4 slices
In mixer beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add cream of tartar, salt and vanilla extract and continue to mix until hard peaks form. Fold in both flours gently to keep volume. Spray bottom of metal loaf pan and place egg white mixture in pan. Bake for 25 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Remove pan from oven and let cool by inverting pan on cooling rack. Slice loaf of bread horizontally first then in half to make 4 - 6 slices. (NOTE: he also mentions that this freezes well and you can make this in advance and freeze it for later!)
Raspberry Jam Preparation: makes 6 servings -2.5 net carbs per serving
In heated sauce pan add simple syrup and raspberries. Mash raspberries with bean masher and add pectin then stir. Pour raspberry mixture into small bowl and let chill in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator and serve with Monte Cristo.
Sandwich preparation:
Preheat non-stick pan over medium heat. In a bowl, beat eggs and cream with fork. Dip two slices of bread at a time and fry in pan with canola spray. Flip bread and top with one slice of cheese on each side of bread. Take 3 oz. of sliced turkey and 3 oz. of sliced ham and heat in pan while cheese melts on bread. Top one slice of bread with turkey and ham then one slice of cheese. Remove from pan slice in half and serve with raspberry jam.
Yields 2 large sandwiches - 14 net carbs per sandwich
Labels: low-carb recipes, WLS recipes
Thursday, April 03, 2008
BLAH, BLAH. MORE NEW ABOUT MY BELLY.
Since this blog isn't devoted totally to my weight loss surgery, but to all things in my life, I feel a bit guilty that this seems to be the only topic that I talk about lately. Perhaps after I get off my meds, eat real food again, and leave the cocoon of my home, I'll have more to talk about.So here are some things that have changed for me post-surgery. Some AWESOME, some not great, some weird. Ready? Here we go:
GOOD STUFF:
-As of today, I have lost 26.8 lbs. That's right. TWENTY-SIX POINT EIGHT LBS in 1 week and 2 days. Holy mother! I still can't believe it.
-Because of above mentioned weight loss, it is suspected by my doctors that when I go in for my first follow-up appt this Monday on 4/7, I will told that I no longer need to take my blood pressure medication. People! That means that I will no longer be on any of my previous medications that I've taken FOR YEARS! It changes a bit: now I take a multivitamin (thank you, Fred Flintstone!), a calcium supplement that taste like cinnamon and melts in my mouth, a B complex, and an antacid (for now). Mostly vitamins as opposed to my mostly life-saving meds before.
-I have zero acid reflux right now. I was dealing with it a lot in the past 6 months, but now - no symptoms. My throat feels great!
-My clothes (well, let's say pajamas since I've only gotten dressed once since I've been home) are fitting LOTS better now. Some are even loose!
-I only have to take my pain meds at night now**, but during the day, I can pretty much deal with it. It's still there, but much much less now.
-I finally got my puppies back yesterday! :)
WEIRD THINGS:
-I have gotten the hiccups twice in the past two weeks. Both times, I hiccuped three times in a row, then it was gone. POOF!
-My steri-strips are still on my incisions after a week and two days and multiple showers. I also still have two massive bruises on my arms. It's not bothersome at all, I just guessed both would be gone by now. Maybe it's normal, who knows?
BAD THINGS:
-Steal dealing with night pain**. Last night, I tried to be a hero and sleep without any pain meds...and at 3:00am, I woke up in screeching pain. I took the pain meds, went back to bed, and woke up still in pain. I toss and turn a lot during sleep, so I should have known better. But still, OUCH. Go away.
-I get winded pretty easily now. I know that it takes a bit for the diaphragm and abdominal muscles to get back to normal, and since I breathe mostly from my diaphgram, that presents a problem when...uh...walking. I took a very short walk yesterday and was breathing pretty heavy. I think the change in diet takes a little getting used to as well, so I have less energy. All of this should improve over time, just weird getting used to the feeling.
Overall, I'm feeling much more like my sarcastic and cranky self. I'm not having any tolerance issues, and other than occassionally feeling winded and the night pain (sans meds), I feel pretty great - especially seeing the scale drop so drastically.
So there you have it. And update from the coccoon!