Doesn't taste quite right...

I read about the taste buds changing after surgery and I would have to agree.  Some things just don't taste right or the way I remember them to be.  One huge difference is my all-time favorite drink.

I could drink Gold Peak Diet Tea by the gallon before surgery.  I thought it was so refreshing and delicious.  Now, well, it just doesn't taste the same.  It is just too sweet, I think.  Our water doesn't taste the same, either.  I am going to have to buy bottled water or just add flavors to it, because on its own it kind of yucky.  It makes me sad that my tea doesn't taste right.  I am looking for a substitute, so I can stay hydrated during these hot summer months.  I am sure I will find something just as good, but I am still looking!

Meet and Greet!

Sooo dang excited!!  Who knew that Shelly (THE infamous "eggface") lived so close to me??!  I guess I really should pay attention to these things.  When she announced her So Cal Meet and Greet yesterday, I about fainted when the location was within 15 minutes of where I live.  I use her recipes every day and read through her blog for inspiration.  I am looking forward to meeting other local WLS peeps and, of course, the freebies and samples, lol!  But mostly, I look forward to meeting Shelly and becoming bff's with her (what?  It can happen...:)

Almost forgot!

Just weighed myself this morning!  I am down 60 lbs!!

I started my pre-op diet on May 3rd at 282 lbs.  Surgery was on May 16th and I was at 262 lbs.  I am now at 222 lbs. !!!  It seems unreal.  It hasn't even been six weeks since surgery.  I am still in the healing stages and getting used to eating regular food.  I am learning to love my sleeve more, even though I still throw up most days...like all over the parking lot at McD's yesterday.  I only had 1-2 ounces of a fruit and yogurt parfait (way more carbs than I usually eat, but after a long day at softball, that is where the family wanted to eat on the way home).  I then had a few sips of an iced latte (sugar free vanilla), and I guess I had too many sips.  It was very good, but when I got to the car, out it came, unexpectedly.  Weird. I am glad it happened there and not in the restaurant.  Eek!

OK, onward and downward :)  This is an exciting journey!!

Adorable Blog Award

Apparently, I was nominated for the Adorable Blog Award by Sheila at This One Body.  Thank you so much, Sheila!!

So the rules of the award are as follows:

• Thank the person who gave you this award, and link back to them in your post.
• Tell us 10 things about yourself.
• Nominate your blogger's
• Contact these blogger's and let them know they received this award.

EEK!  Not sure I like this award, lol!, but here it goes!

10 things you may not know about Sandy:

1. I don't like to blog.  There, I said it.  I am not a very good communicator nor do I like writing.  I blog because I don't want to talk about my weight loss issues with my "real life" friends.  I am sure they would get tired of hearing about how many pounds I have lost or what I could or couldn't eat that day. I need to get all this info off of my chest and get it out there, and this is the only way I could do it (except maybe journaling).  I have found, however, I really crave the feedback and the support that bloggers give and that is invaluable.
2. I am a social worker.  I received my Masters of Social Work before I got married and had kids and only worked for a short time.  Once my first daughter was born, I stayed home to raise her and became a stay-at-home mom for 12 years.  I just recently went back to work last year.  I am a social worker for foster children and work for a small non-profit agency, placing kids with Christian families.  I LOVE my job and the people I work with.
3. My husband and I have 3 daughters (THREE!).  They are 13, 11, and 8 1/2.  They are a joy and make me smile every day, even as they are entering puberty and the teen years.  God has blessed us tremendously.
4. I will try any food...once.  I like most foods, even though I have some that I like more than others.  My favorite food, though, is sushi.
5. I really dislike showers...that is either bridal or baby (not the daily water kind, lol!).  I really dislike the games and the giggly ladies.  Not my thing.
6. Another thing I dislike?  Christmas card newsletters.  Ick.  Frankly, they really are just brag-fests.  "My kid won this and that this year" or "we went on these vacations this year".  Occasionally,you get the one creative one that is funny, but usually I want to gag after reading them.
7. Even though we live out in the country (i.e. "middle of nowhere") in Southern California, and there are cowboys and redneck trucks at every turn, I truly dislike country music.  I never have and never will.  My whole family loves it and most of my friends do, too.  I just find it grating and it makes my head hurt.
8. I watch entirely too much television.  Thank God for dvr's.  I hardly ever watch live tv anymore, but my dvr is full and I can watch what I want when I want to.
9. My husband has muscular dystrophy (that was a mood killer, huh?).  He started showing signs right after we got married and was tested.  When we met he was athletic and fit.  He is still adorable, but the disease has progressed in the last 13 years and he has trouble walking and falls a lot.  Since he is not active, he has gained a lot of weight.  He also is getting VSG and is scheduled for surgery on July 26th!  Yay!
10. I have wonderful parents!  They retired a few years ago and moved closer to be near me and my family.  They are the most dedicated grandparents to my kids and my girls adore them.  I cannot thank them enough for their support and love.  My mom is my greatest encourager and supporter.  I feel very blessed.

Now to nominate my bloggers...well, I only have 12 followers.  I am sure that is mostly due to the fact that I don't put myself out there much in the way of commenting or posting in forums.  I am not sure where some of you guys find the time, lol!  I think most of my bloggers have already been nominated for this award before, with the possible exception of PenPen at Slice of Healthy, Please.  She had her surgery just this past Wednesday.  She is continuously joyful and upbeat and I look forward to reading her posts.

Thanks again, Sheila, for the nomination!  I feel connected to you, too, and will be forever grateful that you emailed me all those months ago!  It has changed my life :)

Milestones!

What a crazy and busy week.  I meant to post a few times this week, but didn't have a chance to.  Life got in the way, life meaning a busy work week and kids, lol!  First milestone:  50 LBS lost!!  Woo hoo!

I think it is amazing to have lost so much in such a short time (20 lbs. two week pre-op and 30 lbs. since surgery).

I also meant to post on my one month surgiversary three days ago :)  I just now had my daughter take some pictures.  They aren't the best quality, but what do I expect from a 10 year old.  Here are the comparisons:

I also took my measurements, to compare.  I really do feel smaller and it shows by the numbers:

Even with all the positive numbers to show, I still cannot say I "love" my sleeve.  I really wish I did.  I am miserable a lot of the time.  Nothing tastes good to me and I haven't been able to get all my protein in at all, not one day.  I am dry heaving or throwing up every day, feeling nauseous a good deal of the time.  I am really hoping it changes soon and I am praying I will be able to tolerate something.  I am trying new things all the time, just to see what works.  Fruit seems to go down the best, but that doesn't give me the protein I need.  I start lots of things, but can never seem to finish them.  I am going to try new recipes for protein shakes this week and hopefully they will work.  I am staying hydrated , with G2/low calorie Gatorade working best. Water make me sick.  Weird, huh?  I will let you all know if something works.  I know it has only been one month, but I don't think this is normal.  I am hoping maybe I am still recovering and that my sleeve will eventually calm down and make me happy :)  In the meantime, I am still losing and haven't really stalled at all, but then again, I haven't really eaten that much in almost 5 weeks.

On to solids!

Met with the surgeon for my one month appointment.  Actually I met with his nurse, because they were running two hours behind schedule due to delayed surgeries in the morning and he was busy with new consults.  I already waited over an hour to be seen and it would be even longer to see him.   I love his nurse and she said seeing him wasn't really necessary, so I just talked to her.  She gave me the list for one month operative diet and I almost cried in her arms.

I can now eat fresh fruit.  FRESH FRUIT!  Mmmm, summer fruit.  I can now have vegetables.  ANY vegetable.  She said I can have salad with light dressing.  I can have chicken, turkey, shrimp, crab meat, any kind of fish.  I still cannot have red meat, pork, bread, rice, pasta or tortillas.  I love that my food choices have really expanded.  I was so sick of cheese and yogurt.  I am so looking forward to salad and fruit these summer months.  I realize I can still only eat about 2 ounces at a time, but just the thought of fresh food is joyous.

I also had a HUGE NSV yesterday!  I was in a staff meeting at work and I looked down.  I was crossing my legs.  CROSSING MY LEGS :)  I cannot remember the last time I was able to do that.  It was a nice feeling.

Here we go again!

Another weekend, another couple of days away, in a hotel for a softball tournament for my oldest daughter.  I will be strong!  Hee hee.  I promise not to cry in the bathroom stall this time, even though a team BBQ is planned for tomorrow night.  I am getting used to having all this food around, but it still is not easy.  What is making it easier is that I am fitting into smaller clothes.  Woo hoo!  I am wearing pants and shorts that I didn't think I would be wearing until the end of summer.  I am getting comments all the time from people that didn't know I had surgery.  I cannot believe I am already in the 230's.  Seriously!  I started out at 282 lbs. before my two week pre-op diet and it hasn't even been 4 weeks since surgery.  This sleeve is a powerful tool.

I have realized, though, that I am not much of a tracker.  I have not tracked my food or water or protein at all.  I know I am not getting enough of anything.  I have tried all the websites mentioned on forums that I read, I just forget to do it.  I start off really well and plan my day, but then I begin to eat or drink something and I never finish it.  Like this morning.  I pour myself a protein shake and have all intentions of drinking it during my 1+ hour commute to work.  I think I maybe finished 1/4 of it.  I am drinking water right now at my desk, but I have probably only finished 10 oz. of it.  I get full really fast.  That is a goal for mine next week, to start logging all that I put in my mouth.  I probably will be amazed at how little I am actually eating.

I have my one month appointment next week when I am expected to move to solid foods.  I am so excited!!  I miss my favorite foods.  Also, my husband's tests and information are all turned into insurance.  So all is left for him is approval and scheduling!  I am thrilled he is going to be on this journey with me soon!

Complete surprise!

Today's going to be a good day :)  I have been having a hard time finding clothes that fit.  The clothes I have been wearing are falling off of me, but I still can't fit into a lower size...or so I thought!  I have these capris that I have never really worn because they have been too small.  I tried them on last week and they were nowhere near fitting me yet.  I just tried them on again and they fit!  Amazing!  In just a short week.  I doubt I will be taking them off any time soon, lol!  I am going to find all my size 20's (because I have a whole range of clothing in my closet, from 24 down to 16) and try them on.  I didn't think they were going to fit for a while, but maybe I was wrong.  And, when I stepped on the scale this morning, 40 lbs lost!!

This includes the 20 lbs. lost during the two week pre-op diet which I started one month ago today.  So in one month...40 lbs. lost.  WOW!!  I am thrilled.

I also finally figured out one way to choke down some protein.  This morning I poured my RTD protein drink in a glass with some decaf coffee (cold) and some sf Torani Vanilla syrup and some ice.  It isn't half bad.  I doubt I can drink it all, but at least it doesn't make me gag.