Monday Check-in

Good Morning Everyone!

I know I have been away for sometime, I  have missed you all so very much. 

Hope you had a restful, restoring and enjoyable weekend!  I spent the weekend just reading, relaxing and watching some recorded tv.  I got in some much needed sleep each night with an average of 9-10 hours.  It was nice to be able to turn my mind off enough to be able to enjoy reading again.  As an avid reader, it has been very disturbing to realize my mind would not turn off enough for me to enjoy even a magazine these last few months.  

In the last few months I have learned a very valuable lesson in life, that is that I need to take care of me first.  I was putting others first and my time never came.  I started listing everything I was doing for me that was helping in my healthy journey through life and realized I was no longer using or implementing these tools.  I was going back to my pre-WLS days and putting others before my needs.  I think at 3 years out I thought I could do it all, but alas I am simply human.

So starting today, this minute, I am going back to the beginning and the BASICS.  I started by coming here for my daily dose of my OH friends.  I can't promise to make it everyday, but for today, I am here.  I have committed to getting at the very least 64 oz of water in EVERYDAY  ( unfortunately it took a very very dark urine for me to realize I was NOT getting in my water),  I will limit my coffee intake to just one very large "cup" to start my day and then cut myself off.
I will eat 6 small meals each day of 200-250 calories each (I have already made sure I have enough food both at home and work to make sure this is possible). 

I hope each of you is doing well today.

Have a FANTASTIC Monday!

 

Carrie!!!!  It's so good to hear from you again... believe it or not, i was just here thinking about you and wondering if you were OK.  I was going to give Barb a call to see if she knew you were all right!!!  I'm so glad you're back... you were missed....  Ok, now that i've caught my breath, let me begin....

Good morning Everyone!
I hope you all are well and had a good weekend.  Mine was pretty quiet. I relaxed and read quite a bit. 

Like Carrie, i've come to the decision i've got to get back to the basics.  I've been eating WAAAAY too much!!!  I'm just amazed at how much i can eat with this little bitty pouch.  I'm not one who has trouble with food.  I can eat absolutely anything and in quantities that amaze me.  Soooo... I do eat quantities that amaze me!!! 

Today is the day I begin again....

Have a great Monday Everyone!!!

Thanks for the warm greeting, Judy. 

I have really missed everyone and all the love I feel here.  I am really going to make a real effort to get here at the start of each day so I can be accountable and will come back to take a peek during the day as much as I can manage.

I know exactly what you mean about how much our little pouches can consume.  Yesterday my pouch was complaining about the limited amounts it received throughout the day.  But on reflection, I don't believe it was my pouch that was complaining but the "head hunger" that was actually giving voice.               

Fortunately, even when I am in the practice of  "mindless eating", I still have the "one bite too many" reaction I got when I received this tool.  I am very grateful for each limitation my surgery has given me.  It has helped to keep me honest. 


Wishing you a FANTASTIC Tuesday....................................Carrie

Carrie,

It's soooo good to see you. You were on my 'to do' list today because I was missing you. I'm sorry that you have been struggling and I really can empathize with putting others ahead of yourself. I think that you are so right about needing to take care of you first so that you can take care of others. I appreciate the reminder. Like you, I've been so stressed that I can't even read a magazine lately because I have so much trouble focusing and concentrating. I'm also having recurring nightmares and it's seriously disturbing my sleep. Last night was a relatively 'good night' and I got about 4.5 to 5 hours of sleep. I've been getting somewhere between 2.5 and 5 hours of sleep for about the last month and the lack of sleep is really taking it's toll. I hope that you are able to settle in and get some rest and take care of you... I'm continuing to work on doing the same for myself. 

I think the fact that at 3 yrs out we are still having to focus on learning to take care of ourselves just proves that this requires a lifelong commitment to making lifestyle changes and it takes time for us to make changes to basic ingrained behaviors... That said, we can and will do it because we are worth the trouble. 

Have a good day!

Barbara,

It is so good to be back where I feel so very welcome. 

When I was having such a time with my sleeping, I took Tylenol PM on two nights in a row during one weekend.  It really helped me get the much needed sleep I was missing and getting back on track with my sleep. 

I also found that taking my last dose of calcium with magnesium later in my evening helps me sleep better.

Take care of yourself, I really need my Barbara fix each day...............Hugs, Carrie

Hi Carrie,

I have found that I was really missing seeing you, Iris and other 'old timers' too, so I'm glad you are back. 

I'm also glad to hear that the Tylenol PM was able to help you get that much needed sleep. I find that I really have trouble functioning when I miss out on my sleep. 

See you soon, my friend.

Amen!! I agree!! Me too!!! Count me in!!!

The surgery was only on our stomachs. At nearly 2 years - I was starting to feel guilty if I was putting myself first. Your post has helped me refocus (once again). If I'm not healthy then I'll be no help to anyone else.

Timing is everything. I was sitting here with a Protein shake for breakfast (Pure Protein Vanilla Creme - fresh strawberries & vanilla soy milk) thinking that I didn't remember shakes tasting this good.

At this stage of the game I think going back to basics is probably going to look something like the final maintenance phases of South Beach or Atkins with probably a shake thrown in at some point during the day. Duh ----I seem to remember the nutritionist spelling this out for me at my pre-op apppintment.  Now to just get my tail in gear and get back in the swing of exercise. Hopefully I'll soon start the physical therapy that Dr. Barr wants me to do. The hold up right now is finding someone locally that she feels is competent for the pelvic floor muscles.

Hope everyone has a BEAUTIFUL day today....

- Iris

Iris,

Please take care of that cute "little" tail of yours.  No more jumping off of truck beds, please.

I love to start my day with a protein shake.  Sometimes I do a Chocolate/Click shake and sometimes it is a fruit shake, but is always YUMMO!  Nothing like starting your day with a yummy "dessert".  Life is too short, so start your day with dessert, although make sure it is a good for you dessert.  Your imagination is your only limitation.

Yesterday was 1 scoop of Chocolite chocolate protein, 1 scoop of mocha click, 1 TBS SF chocolate pudding mix, 1 c almond milk, blend with ice.  It is like a frappe.

Today I will do a fruit frappe.  2 scoops of Chocolite Vanilla protein, 1 TBS SF vanilla pudding, Frozen Strawberries (in place of ice), splash of SF strawberry syrup, almond milk.

Check out the recipes that CleoNik (RNY forum) has on her link (signature line).  She likes her shakes too sweet for me and I like alot more ice, but the ideas are there for some really good high protein drinks.

Like you, I really need to get back to exercise, but for this week I will concentrate on my food and fluid for the next week or two.  But I will move as much as possible during the day.

Have a FANTASTIC Tuesday! 

 

Good Morning!

I'm glad I'm not the only one not putting myself first!  I am only a few weeks out but I have already had issues with taking care of others needs and not my own.  I tend to "try" to eat what my family wants and it has not been agreeing with me.  This weekend I made chicken salad for this week and bought protein bars so I will not have an excuse to not eat because I do not have a better choice.  I have also made myself "Splenda" tea for me and regular for the family. (they like theirs SWEET!)

I have also been wearing more jewelry. i know this may not mean anything to some but I have a LOT of jewelry that I would only wear on special occasions.  Most of my rings had gotten too small, bracelets did not wear good because of my chuncky wrist and necklaces drew attention to my extra chins!  I have decided every day is a special day and I am a beautiful person and I should spoil myself and wear the jewelry that makes me feel good and look good!

Phyllis

Phyllis, I am so happy to see that you are doing well. 

I have protein bars, protein mix and snacks both at home and work for times when I need something when what is being offered is not in my best interest.

Wear that jewelry!  You are beautiful and deserve to feel pretty EVERYDAY!

Keep up the good work and make sure to take care of Phyllis FIRST.

Have a GREAT Tuesday!