6/25 Today I will...

Wow, what a morning waking up and it is already 73 degrees outside!  I have a feeling it is going to be a warm one today.  I am debating whether or not to turn on the AC this year.  Well, here goes. Today I will....get in 100 ounces of water (this is a must to stay hydrated in the heat), go to PNC support group, track all of my foods for the day and post here, go to bed by 10:30 to avoid the late night munchie attacks, and make good food choices.  Yesterday I...drink 100 ounce of water/CL--almost I think I got in around 90 ounces, work out sore muscles (this may just be some light stretching)--I could barely walk and stairs and sitting are still painful but I did walk around the mall for an hour or so window shopping, only 1 snack and that is only if I can not handle the hunger and it is more than 2 hours before my next meal--did good for the first 3/4 of the day then after 11 pm it went downhill I am so frustrated with myself right now, be honest and consistent in food journal--I was honest and hey yesterday was better than Monday night, and get to bed earlier--nope around midnight again, I really need to be in bed by 10:30 to avoid the snacking and get more rest so my body can do it's thing. 

Good morning!!  only 70 here at 9am...  so far so good  :)  Thinking if the weather holds I may grab my daughter and grandson and a couple of pups and head down to the Lakewalk today and walk the shore.  She can have Domi in her stroller and I'll have my furkids in mine  lol

I was able to sleep in a bit and the dogs didn't make a ton of mess so it's a good day  :)  Keep up the good work!!  And I'm sorry if my posts are long  lol  This really is helping me focus though!  Hope it doesn't get annoying! Today I WILL: - vitamins - water - track my food including protein intake        * 20oz coffee with SF/FF creamer
       * 1/4C Egg Salad        * 1 piece flax grain bread (this stuff is just jam packed with grain!!)        * 1t ICBINB lite        * 18 oz water        * 1/2 bowl pasta fagoli at Olive Garden        * 1" of bread stick        * 1C salad        * 2 small pieces mini bread with smoked cheese dip        * 16oz iced tea        * 18oz water        * 8 baby carrots        * 2T ranch dip        * 12oz coffee        * slice of flax bread / 2T peanut butter / 1/2 banana        * 1t ICBINB lite        * half dozen potato chips - walk - check out different spot exercises to work on my arms and sides Yesterday I: - get in my vitamins     YEAH!  did it  :)
- water!     always room for improvement but not as much  :)  Getting better! - track my food - check my protein intake and stay away from buffets!!!     76gr protein.  More than I figured but I did try to concentrate on it.  The eggs helped as did that shake snack.  I wasn't hungry but was craving salt.  I didn't notice my blood pressure flip flopping but that is usually the case when I crave salt.  It was always very very low when I was very heavy... like 80/50 .. and has since become more normal.  Maybe my body is now telling me I need more water... I'll have to try that instead of salt if it kicks in today.  Anyhow!  It's all good - I stepped on the scale this morning and was down to 185!!  that is a 3lb loss since Monday.  :) and I don't feel dehydrated  lol        * 18 oz CL water        * 1/4C egg salad made with lite Miracle Whip (5gr protein)
       * 4 Kashi crackers (3gr protein)        * 16 oz water
       * Protein shake with extra scoop protein (35gr)        *1 oz shrimp with ****tail sauce (11gr)        * 2 crackers and egg salad (4gr)        * 18 oz water        * 2oz BBQ pork chop (15gr)        *1/4C mixed peas/baby corn/ carrots and snow pods (1gr)        *20oz coffee @ creamer        *18oz water        * 2oz mixed nuts as a snack before bed.  (2gr?) Craving salt again - boogie my tush down the road     Yes ma'am I did  :)  Having fun seeing which music is good walking music...  I will Survive has the perfect cadence for me  :) - clean and rearrange the living room     Saving this for a rainy day
- dogs to the vet     sure did and they checked out healthy.  One of the ShihTzus has all broken teeth from chewing on the metal cage bars though.  Poor baby.  The hell they put these dogs through at the mills is just heartbreaking!!

Your posts are never too long!  I really enjoy reading them and I think it is helpful to write out things if it helps keep you on track.  Congrats on 2 days in a row getting your vitamins in!  A walk along Lake Superior...I am so envious!  I am stuck in a cube all day in an office that has the AC on way too cold!  I am hoping to get up the Duluth sometime this summer, but I have no idea when , it might end up being this fall instead depending on family schedules.  I love it up there though it is so pretty!  Keep up the great work you are doing awesome! 

What are you eating at night Nicole?  Is it just "food" or are you craving something?  So many times our bodies are trying to tell us something...  Mine is generally salt - like last night.  The nurses thought I was nuts in the hospital after surgery because I could tell them when my blood pressure was bouncing around...  They kept trying to tell me it was my blood sugars... so we tested.  I was right. Maybe your body needs something and is triggering the snack reflex.  Might be something to think about when that time hits.  Have a glass of water and think about it before grabbing whatever is close.  I would also talk to the Nut - might be a vitamin thing. Just my couple of cents thrown into the pot  :) *hugs*

Lori~I am not sure what is triggering it exactly, although I have a theory, which is that my body used to need a snack at night time because I was on a couple of anti-psychotic drugs that littleraly make people eat and after 2 1/2 years on it I think my body is still used to having that.  I stopped the drug in March so I am not sure what is going on. I usually crave salty then sweet or vice versa but in the end it is usually a high carb intake which I know is not good.   I am getting in enough protien so I shouldn't be hungry.  Last night when the cravings first hit I grabbed a big glass of Crystal Light and drank that but then 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour later the craving was back with a vengance.  Something I might try tonight is having a bit of carbs (crackers or potatoes) with my dinner and see if this helps it at all.  I am really getting frustrated that I can't seem to keep myself upright on this path and that I let the snacking get so out of hand at night.  The other day I bought a dvd that teaches you how to knit so I might pop that in tonight and give that a go as well.  If I can learn to knit then I can keep my hands busy while I watch tv at night and maybe that will help as well.  I may also go back to trying a suggestion I got from Tracy a while back which is to brush my teeth after dinner so then I will be less tempted to get them dirty before bed.  All of my labs came back normal so I am not sure if it is a physical issue so much as a habit left over from the pre-op days that has snuck back in and that I need to beat off with a big stick.  Sorry this got kind of long, but it helps to talk through it and to put thoughts down in writing.  Thanks for helping think this through a bit more!

Well, let's keep going then! I understand about the habit vs. need. I wonder if you save a bit of dinner to eat later on in the evening if that would work.  Or have some protein that you can have on a couple of crackers... egg salad (lol) tuna salad or something healthy like that.  Then find a good whole grain SALTY cracker.  If I remember correctly if we mix the protein with the good carb it's better.  Might be something to try though.  Or how about a salty piece of jerky? If you need any help knitting let me know!  I do just about all different crafts and would be honored to give you a hand!!  Dishcloths are wonderful  :)  and I can point you to a site that has more patterns for just about everything than you can shake a pair of needles at! As for my walk - soon enough I'll be back at work.  I figure these last days are my real vacation that my manager took away from me when he fired me so I'm out to enjoy them!!  And I can't think of a better way than to spend time with the people I love most  :)  If you get up this way, we need to get together!  I can always hike down that way too  :)  I'll walk with you but can't run yet... and maybe we could hit a yarn shop  :) *hugs* honey!!  you are doing so well!!  I"m damn proud of you and stand in awe of the inspiration that you are to so many  :)

Thank you Lori!  This is really helpful!  I think I might try your idea about the protien with some crackers.  I tried tuna and eggs back in month 2 and neither really sat that well with me, but I think it is time to give it another go.  I will have to stop and pick up some light mayo, tuna and eggs to have on hand.  I really like the Kashi crackers as well as the Reduced Fat Triscuits.  I will definitely give you a shout the next time I head up north and if I need any help with my knitting.  Walking is fine I actually prefer it when I am with someone.   When do you get to go back to work?  Has everything been resolved?  I am glad you are taking this time as a vacation for yourself and enjoy the great weather!

I still have an aversion to tuna  lol I've never thrown anything up but having tuna stuck to the point of having to lay on a couch was hell...  but I didn't mix it with anything which was stupid...  I NEED mayo or something to help it slide down. I head back to work on the 7th... get the 4th weekend off as a last hurrah  :)  I don't have any other vacation left for the year so it's going to be a long haul.  As far as I know it's been resolved...  I still have to check in with my steward to be doubly sure that the manager actually followed through with what he was supposed to do... dolt had better... I hate liars.. and hate even more that I have to "lie" so that he can save face...  but I just want back to work... Off to get dog food before we have the great chihuahua revolt here!!  lol  Then I guess Brie is bringing Domi up and doing clothes... so may not get that lake walk in today but we will before I go back to work!!! *hugs*

Happy Wednesday morning!  It's going to be a scorcher today and I *hate* heat and humidity.  Maybe when I don't weigh so dang much it will be better, but it sucks for now.  Lori, that walk around the lakeshore sounds heavenly.  DH and I went to Duluth and the north shore for the first time last fall and I really loved the beauty there, but couldn't get around as much as I would have liked.  One of my goals is that next fall I can go up there again and bike around some of the gorgeous trails.  I also like reading both of your posts, they are never too long for me, I learn a lot from them and it's also good to know that I'm not the only one with struggles.  Nicole, I didn't know you were getting your BA in psychology - that's what my BA is in and then I also have a certificate in alcohol and drug counseling.  I run a halfway house in Minneapolis for chemically dependent men.  I have one more semester left before I finish my MBA though and then I'm making a *big* career change to the business world...so in a few months I'll be taking that over-cold cube that you're in Nicole.  Being in the helping field is rewarding, but it's hard work (like you said Lori).  I may want to continue to do it part-time, but for me, and my own recovery, I really chose to go into this field because of my own struggles with depression (not addiction) and the further along I go in my recovery the less that I identify with the need to help people that are struggling.  It sounds selfish the way that I say it, but I guess it's deeper than I can put into words.  Anyway, on to the topic of the thread... Today I will... 1) Already did this - had my dental cleaning at 7am. 2) Already did this too - had my post-op appointment with my surgeon.  He said that I am doing fantastically and that the hunger I am feeling is normal.  He said that the amount of food that would satisfy my pouch would depend on how dense the food is.  He suggested that I move into next week's food additions whi*****lude chicken, turkey, and fish.  He feels that these will satisfy my hunger better than softer foods.  He said that I should have no worries that I am doing great and that the amount of food that I am eating (and the occasional hunger that I feel) is completely within normal expectations for what he's seen.  I can't tell you HOW relieved I feel to hear that.  It will help being able to include the denser proteins as well.  My daily protein intake has been between 20-30g because cheese and peanut butter are much more limited in their protein than chicken and fish so I should be able to move into the 60-80g protein range now which will help me feel more satiated and more energetic. 3) Drink at least 80oz. of water. 4) Do some type of exercise today. 5) I think that I am going to try chicken tonight to see if it agrees with me. Yesterday I... 1) Drink at least 80oz. of water. - nope, going home early messed up my schedule and I did crappy on my water consumption. 2) Use my coping skills to maintain emotional stability and trust that the answers I need will come in time.  I cannot force this process and I *do* have the strength I need to work through it. - Another tough day passed.  I was pretty melancholy throughout the day, but I really talked it through with everyone that would listen (and some that didn't want to) and by the time I woke up this morning I felt good again.  Hearing what the Dr. said will help me keep focused and I know my therapist will strengthen my reserves tomorrow as well.  3) Leave work a bit early and go home and get some additional rest. - yes, I left work and took a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. 4) Go for a short walk with DH this evening. - he was late coming home and I thought that maybe he was playing tennis and would be too tired when he got home.  I did an exercise tape on lower body flexibility yesterday.  It was meant for seniors, but man, I did get a workout.  I can't wait until my physical abilities improve. 5) Print out my food journal so that I have it for the appointments I have on Wednesday and Thursday. - I don't like the information that dailyplate exports.  It turned out to be a 9 page document for less than a week's worth of journaling.  I'm going to have to tweak this a little more before I am able to start printing it.

ok, first things, first... I need a name!  lol  Can we get your first name?  I really like addressing folks properly... if not, that's cool too...  lol It's warming up here as well.  we do have a slight breeze though so that will feel good if I get out on the road  :)  I don't think the lake walk is in the cards for today though.  Brie is finding out just how many clothes a baby can go through!  lol The shore has so many beautiful areas!!  Even though I've lived around this area for almost 50 years I'm still finding new places and sites to explore! I don't think you sounds selfish.  If you are having trouble relating to those you are helping, it makes it doubly hard... and the empathy isn't there and I know folks can feel that.  I think I understand what you are saying. Great news from your doc!  nice to hear you are normal, huh?  lol  ok as normal as any of us can get!  hehe  Don't be surprised when you feel full after only a couple of bites of the dense foods!  I was in shock when I first had chicken!  I ate like 4 bites and started to burp!  (my "full" trigger)  It was amazing!  I'm still trying to figure out when I get the other foods if I eat my protein first??  I get full fast still and it sticks around for a good amount of time.  I have taken to eating fruit/vegys on my snacks. Make sure that any meat you eat is very moist!!! this is a MUST!!  Getting stuff stuck SUCKS! ok I need to haul butt off this box and get off my duff  :)  The dogs are staging a revolt in the basement and I'm NOT sharing my egg salad with them!  ewwww egg dog farts!!  lol *hugs*