Losing Weight and Energy Struggles

So it's now been a full three months since my surgery. Things are going along quite nicely with a weight loss of 47 pounds to date. I am at the point where I can begin to increase my food intake from a quarter cup to a half cup which can include some cooked veggies. I'm actually dying to have a salad, never thought I'd say that! I've introduced a few things but still struggle to eat enough at each meal, so I've come to snack in between which is a no-no, but I'm really just trying to get in the protein that I need. 

I keep a tracker and it appears I'm getting between 50-70 grams of protein a day, and most days I feel good. Along with exercise I'm am sustaining energy levels for the most part. However, over the weekend I mowed the lawn and helped hubby with a project and got completely wiped out. Two days later and I could barely do 15 minutes on the treadmill today. Didn't skip a meal and drank plenty of water, so not really sure what the problem is.

I did go for my blood tests yesterday and have a doctors follow-up appointment in two weeks, so we'll see what the blood test reveals, if anything. I'm hoping my iron is not low, really don't want to add any more medication to my already fist full of it. ugh.

So overall, feeling well and still losing about 2 to 2.5 lbs weekly which will keep me on track for the 100lb loss by the end of the year.

Will write soon.
Much Love, Jodi


Current weight: 239 lbs
Weight loss to date: 47 lbs
3 months

. . . and We're Moving Right Along

Sorry I haven't posted for several weeks, (I am now at week 10 since the surgery) I think I was just being lazy, it happens sometimes. Anyway, things seems to be moving along as they should. I was getting concerned as I was only losing about half to one pound a week and thought maybe I was doing something wrong. A call to the nutritionist let me know this is normal and assured me the weight loss would pick up and it has.

She told me a lot of times the reason why we lose energy can be because we are not getting enough protein, which is what I thought, but the surprising thing was you also lose energy if you are not taking in enough water. That was the ticket for sure. I've been working on drinking at least 32 ounces of water a day and my energy levels have increased, so yay for that!

Have now gotten into a workout routine three times a week which consists of a 30 minute circuit workout (Planet Fitness) and 20 to 30 minute treadmill walk. It seems when I do the workout I can only muster up enough energy to do about 15-20 minutes on the treadmill, without the workout I can definitely get in the 30 minutes. They tell me to just do my best, do what I can do and don't get stressed about it.

Well, I am now starting to lose 1.5 to 2 pounds a week and feel more on track to lose the 100 lbs I am hoping for by the end of the year. 

So far so good. 

Weight loss to date 34 lbs
Current weight: 252 lbs

PHUCKIN' PROTEIN

Well it's now the start of week six since the surgery. I'm pretty much healed and have figured out how to eat without discomfort. Now I'm having issues with energy. I'm sure hoping that I get this right sometime soon! I don't think I'm taking in enough protein. I do keep a tracker on my food and I'm pretty sure that's the issue. 

I just can't seem to eat enough with decent amount of protein. I also discovered that I have a hard time getting scrambled eggs to go down, but I still keep having an egg for breakfast. Then I start on some water and then lunch. Mid afternoon I try to get a protein drink down but can only drink about half at a time, by the time I feel I could drink the rest, it's time for dinner.

Today, I decided I was just going to drink protein drinks, eat protein bars and drink water. I'm hoping that will give me a boost and get some energy back.

Honestly, I just feel like sleeping all the time.

Trying to get it together folks. I'll keep you posted. zzzzzzzz

Much Love,
Jodi

Weight loss to date 26 lbs
Current weight: 260 lbs

Yay for the little things!

Sorry I slacked off a little and missed this week's update. I'm on to soft foods and things are getting a bit better, just as the doctor promised. Last week I had no energy and just felt so weak and would get out of breath so quickly. As I've been able to eat more than liquids my energy is slowly returning. I'm no longer lightheaded (well, no more than normal, lol) and I'm learning the feelings in my stomach. What I mean by that is sometimes it's hard to determine whether you are hungry or if it's just gas. That sounds weird but because my stomach is now the size of a small banana, it can only hold so much and if you tip those scales just a tiny bit, you go from comfortable to very uncomfortable very quickly, as you get severe reflux and no one wants to eat something twice, right? Ugh, sorry for that, but that's what happens. My doctor has prescribed me a stronger heartburn med and that seems to be helping. When they tell you to only eat a quarter cup of food, they mean it.

The weight loss itself seems to be slowing down, I was losing at a rate of 1lb a day, now it's about a half a pound or so every other day, so far I've lost 23lbs and this last week has remained the same weight. Since the weight loss is slowing, I'm guessing it is now time for the exercise to begin. It's obvious this is not my favorite thing or I wouldn't have been 290lbs in the first place. I'm gonna go check out the gym tomorrow and I'll start with the treadmill and work my way up to the machines. Can't wait till summer when I can start swimming again.

Talk soon

Much Love, Jodi

Current weight: 263 lbs
Weight loss so far: 23 lbs
Day 26

Moving Along

Took me pretty much the whole week, this week to get up the energy to write a post. I'm on the soft food portion of the program right now and it's very hard to introduce new foods. 

It seems yogurt, protein drinks are good, but when I eat anything with any texture is when I run into trouble. Scrambled eggs for breakfast, I mush them with a fork and then chew them like they are a piece of steak, lol and it still feels like it's stuck in my throat. It took most of the week to get anything other than liquid down, but I'm finally accepting the eggs and I've even introduced ground up chicken salad for dinner. 

It's so hard to believe that just one little quarter cup of food, sometimes less, completely fill my stomach. I still can't quite wrap my head around it. 

So, I'm gonna continue on with similar foods over the weekend and then next week I'll try to introduce tuna and fish and see where that gets me. 

Much love to all,
Jodi

Current weight: 265lbs
Weight loss so far: 21lbs
Day 17

Steady As I Go

Start of week two and finally feeling a bit better. Getting used to this new stomach is hard. It's hard to decide if the pain you are feeling is just pain from healing or if you are actually hungry, because hunger pains actually hurt when your stomach is the size of a banana.

I ventured out once to the craft store and had Hubby drive me, which ended up being a good thing because in the middle of the store I started to sweat and thought I might pass out. Guess it might have been too soon. I just want to get on with it. Patience is definitely not a strong personality trait of mine.

For the first few days I questioned whether this surgery was a good decision and now 8 days later, I realize everything is gonna be okay. I've gotten more in tune with the sensations in my throat and stomach and getting a little better at deciding whether I'm hungry or just thirsty.

Looking forward to Friday as I start the soft food diet. Actual food, can't wait!

Current Weight: 273 lbs.

Much Love, Jodi