labs

Okay, I said I'd post when I got my labs back.
They were all great.  All the B's, the thyroid, protein, calicum, liver..everything was great.  So I guess my vitamin regeime is working for me, and I'm eating enough protein.  I showed her the protein shots I've been drinking.  She said that I was right, they are NOT optimal, but some protein is better than none on the days that I have trouble eating enough.  But she said the reason wasnt because they werent all whey protein, but that they were so thin and waterey.  She said that protein is absorbed thru the lining of my intestine and if the protein isnt thick enough, it wont stick to the lining long enough for me to absorb all the goodness.  But she followed that up with the statement that if I just could not do the whey protein, that it was better than nothing.
One other thing.  Apparently I was suppose to be taking protonix from day one after the surgery.  I didnt know.  And she thinks that why I vomit so much now.  So I'm to take the protonix once a day and see if that helps, if not, then I have to go see her again and see if its a stricture.
And the best of all news was I CAN EAT SALAD NOW!!  YAY ME!!!

Hi April,

Congrats on the labs...great news!

I saw my surgeon the other day and he told me to make my protein shakes thick like pudding.  He said the same thing that drinking them they are too watery and go thru to fast.  I HATE the protein drinks...I don't know how I'm going to have it thicker. 

I'm jealous you can eat salad now.  I was actually daydreaming about a big ole salad today.  I miss them. 

Linda

Isnt it funny how no one told us just how BAD the protein shakes would be?  LOL!!
Thank God that there will come a time when we can eat enough protein and wont need the extra shake.  I'm almost there, but its because I've given up veggies.  And I really hate that.  But they fill me up too much to eat enough protein, so I limit them right now.  And take vitamins.  The salad was great, but I knew that if I ate a salad for dinner, I'd have to drink protein.  It was worth it tho.  I wont be eating alot of salad, but every once in a while, a change from meat is good..LOL
I'm going to try, once again, to make oatmeal this morning and put some protein powder in it.  I've tried it several times without success, but I'm going to make 2 cups of aotmeal, make it runny, and take a hour to eat it...so we'll see.
Congrats on your weight loss...its an amazing journey huh?  Can I ask you a question? Have you been over weight all your life?  I have.  Theres never been a time, that I can remember, that I havent been the biggest person in the room.  And I just want to connect with other people that have been that way too.
Have a great day
April

Hi April,
Unfortunately, my doc says I have to stay on protein for life.  He doesn't think we can get enough just from food.  I just tried some Chike chocolate and that was the best so far...though still yuck.  They all have that after taste.  I got some soy milk the other day and tried that in the shake instead of water and it was better, but then last night I tried it again and it was nasty.  

I was going to try the oatmeal with the protein powder, but I put the whole 2 1/2 scoops in it and there was more protein than oatmeal, so I dumped that. Didn't even try it. 

This really is a journey isn't it?  I'm still not quite used to all the changes yet.  I really don't have any appetite at all. It's all head hunger that I have.  I bought a small sugar-free smoothie yesterday, strawberry, and I took one sip and it tasted so sweet, it was awful.  My husband and niece tasted it and they said it was good.  I guess my tastes really have changed. 

As far as being overweight all my life... I've always felt the biggest in the room.  I'm 5'6" but I shot up there real fast and then stopped, so in grade school I always felt the biggest in the class and the fattest, but when I look back at pictures, I wasn't.  I was chubby, but I wouldn't say fat now that I look back, but at the time, yeah, felt like the fattest kid in school.  I remember in the third grade playing baseball at recess and I was standing on third base and I remember thinking that I was the fattest kid there.  High school is where I started to gain and then after I got married put on a 100 lbs and then just kept climbing.  My sister was always thin growing up and I compared myself to her all the time.  Now though, she is obese also and I'm almost down to her weight I think.   Anyway, I've rambled here, so to answer you question, I always felt fat, then was chubby, then fat to super obese.  So I can relate. 
Have a good one!
Linda

I put protein in my 1/2 cup of oatmeal, but I only use 1 scoop. Any more and I don't think I could get it down!

Then later on, I put another scoop in my decaf chai tea (mixed with some milk to cool it down some). So I get my 30 g of protein, but spread out some.

There's usually a RTD protein drink once a day as well.

April, Congrats on the labs!  You haven't been able to add protein powder to yogurt or pudding?  I don't know how you can eat those protein shots!!!  I looked at them in Wal-Mart and they look ucky.  I am happily just about pain free for the last 3 days since surgery and I got advanced to stage 4 moist and pureed protein on Monday.  Loving my tiny 93% burger with FF ricotta cheese on top and the Perdue shortcuts (about $5 bucks but 1 package was 4 meals!).  I use protein powders in things but have only had 2 protein shakes since my surgery on days that I was severely lacking in protein and needed a boost.  I have a decaf coffee every day and sometimes put in the latte cappachino in it (usually about 1/2 a scoop for an extra 15 of easy protein).  Hopefully now that you are eating more regular foods you can get enough protein.  Also, I wanted to mention, I am not eating veggies and fruit yet, but when I do I used to like a salad where you throw in some chopped boiled egg or some perdue short cuts chicken or something like that. 

Isn't it so weird, now that I am eating really healthy and can't have veggies and fruit right now, I really want some veggies.  For some reason, I have been thinking broccoli and winter squash!  YUM!

OT --- Just wanted to mention.  I was so crushed about Maine repealing the gay marriage law.  My sister had her own wedding last year but they were planning on making it official as soon as they could.  I am upset for everyone like my loving sister who dont have equal rights.  The states should be ashamed of themselves for not upholding the constitution!  They should be overturned by the Federal government as a constitutional issue!!!! 

Thank you so much for the kind words about equal marriage.  Maine did just what California did.  I have faith that it will happen.  Change is scary to folks, and comes slowly.  It doesn't make me any less married to my wonderful spouse.

And no, I cant tolerate the whey in protein powder.  It makes me ill.  Although I do still try it off and on, because I know that maybe that will change.  Just like milk, I'm hoping to be able to drink it sometime.  The shots are bad, but small.  I can get one down in about 3 drinks...I hold my breath..LOL.

I miss veggies.  I'm thinking that I'm going to start snacking on them, ya know, between the regular meal.  Think that's a good idea?  It's gotta be better than the other things I could snack on, I"m just not sure about getting into the habit of snacking again.  I can eat green beans right out of the can..LOL.

Congrats on your progress, and being able to eat.  Wasn't that first bite glorious??, but scary?  I kept thinking "please don't make me sick".

BTW, I don't think I told anyone on here, but I got a job!!  After 2 years of searching, I finally got hired at the place I was volunteering.  It's part time and temporary, but I"m hoping that it turns into something more.  I truly believe that my size was the reason I couldn't get hired anywhere before.  Sad, but true, statement about how that kind of discrimination is tolerated in todays society.

Excellent about the job!  You are so right about the size issue.  It just plain SUCKS!  I need a part time job but stopped looking last year after awhile.  Not many jobs out there and no one wants to hire a 400+ pound woman!!  My plan is to start looking again when I get down around 300ish.  I have a full time job but it pays crap, so I really need another 15ish or so hours to supplement. 

I think snacking on veggies is a good idea.  Over time, we will all be able to eat more and that is perfect I think because wanting to snack is inevitable I think.  Honestly, I have to eat so often right now just to be able to get my protein in I feel like I am always eating and I am only getting in about 600 cals on average right now.  I am not used to eating 5 or 6 mini meals,  but I kind of like it.  Also, to get in all my supplements on schedule I have to coordinate them with food or else they make me nauseous.  Lately I been doing a yogurt for breakfast, a poached egg for lunch and the chicken or a hamburger for dinner and in between I will usually have something like a light Sargento cheese stick for 3 protein and 50 cals.  As long as we stick to this kind of snacking, I think we will be A-OK!   The diet Swiss Miss Cocoa is also a fav of mine for 2 protein and 25 cals; not that sweet I think.  Also, the only milk I ever drink is what goes in a coffee (these days decaf!).  Never liked a glass of milk.