post-op visit

Went to see the doctor this morning for my post-op visit. I actually saw the Family Nurse Practioner instead of Dr. Enochs which stuck me as odd since everyone I spoke with in the office had been calling it "your appointment with Dr. Enochs." Fortunately, she's really nice and I feel very confortable with her.

She congratulated me on my 21lb loss (I read 299.8 fully clothed!!) and said that my incisions looked so good she didn't think I would have any scaring. I laughed and told her that these little cuts were nothing compared to my c-section scar. I have a 14cc AP-L band. And that it is primed with 2-3ccs but that it shouldn't cause any restriction yet as the 2-3ccs should just be in the tubing.

The best news is that she told me I could skip the puree stage and go straight to mushies/soft. YEAH - BYE BYE Liquids!! As soon as I left the doc I headed to the grocery store to pick up some things for work. I got grits, applesauce, and my favorite kajun krab dip (ala faux crab). I had the grits for a late breakfast but I made them too runny so they didn't stick around very long. The krab dip mmmmmmmmm is soooooo good. I only had like 2 tablespoons worth but man was it tasty. I even bought some thin crackers to put it on and they went down well. All in all I have had a very yummy day and only up to 330 calories. Looks like I may be having some more dip as a snack! The best way to eat it is on celery but I'll save the stringy stuff until I am a bit further out.


The tech that took my blood pressure and weight recommended that I try these protein shakes made by OhYeah. She swears they are delicious and with low calories, low carbs and 32g of protein definitely worth checking out. Anyone tried them before?

I go back in 2 weeks for my first fill. I won't be seeing Dr. Enochs yet again but instead is PA Brian. Lynn over at The Blubber Blog says that he is really nice so hopefully all will go well then.

The weather is much better today than it has been so I think I will take the little one on a stroll tonight. He loves pointing and jabbering at all the things in the neighborhood. I can't wait until I can actually jog with my jogging stroller. Maybe by the spring?

broccoli n cheese soup for the soul

Thanks for all the encouragement. I think it just hit me this morning when I got on the scale and then after that opened last night's mail to see my pre-insurance billing statement from the hospital for $25,000. My husband asked "Can we give it back"? Fortunately, he was just kidding and is very supportive. He even offered to go on liquids with me but of course I didn't make him do it. Why would I wish this on anyone?

Tonight I am moving on to a new kind of soup - roasted potato and garlic (blended). So far I've had lots of tomato and strained broccoli n cheese. Ohh, it be marvelous to taste something new.

Yesterday, I was plugging my calories into the counter on fitday.com (thanks Brooke) and since I didn't have the package of broccoli n cheese soup here with me at work I Googled the nutrition facts. Now, mind you, I have been devouring it at least once a day since Saturday. My eyes about popped out of my head when I read 170 calories per 1/4 cup. I've been eating a whole cup and that is a whopping 680 calories! I just knew that wasn't right. I wouldn't have purchased something like that. Or did I in my OMG I GET TO BE ON FULL LIQUIDS HIGH purchase something so rich and calorie laden?

I decided that it couldn't be right. I wouldn't have done that. And on my way home stopped by the grocery store to confirm said decision. I quickly turned over the packet and low-n-behold there it was 170 calories per 1/4 cup!!!! But then in little letters beside 1/4 cup it said "(dry)" and near there it also said "1/4 dry makes 1 cup liquid." Ahhh sweet surrender, I had only been eating 1 serving at 170 calories not 4 servings at 680!

Lesson learned, don't trust online nutrition facts that aren't directly from the company's website.

one week

As the Bare Naked Ladies say "Its been one week since you looked at me, Cocked your head to the side and said" you're banded!

What a week. Three days of pain meds, 2 days of tylenol, 1 day at work! - Well maybe 2 days at work if I can make it out of the house today.

I was so excited yesterday when I stepped on the scale and it read 300.0 lbs. Who the heck is excited to see 300.0 - well that would be someone who has been over 300 lbs since about 1/2 way through pregnancy which was in June 2008!! That means that in my one week of clear liquids I have lost 15lbs.

WOOHOO - be gone with you. No more 15lbs of weight dragging me down. Look at all the extra ribs I was carrying around!


Another reason to be happy today?

I GET TO START FULL LIQUIDS!!!

I was so ecstatic this morning that I made tomato soup for breakfast. Talk about tastey. So flavorful, so creamy  and it's just plain old Campbell's Tomato Soup. It really was mmm mmm good. Took me about 30 mins to finish this one little mug of soup. What a difference a week makes!!

I think I will take a can to work so I can have it for lunch as well. That is, if I actually get my rear in gear and head to work.

Have a great Friday everybody!

back to work and then some

Today will be my first day back to work since having surgery last Friday. I initially intended to go back yesterday but my larger incision site was really painful. Going to go for 1/2 a day today with the possibility of staying all day. Just depends on how I feel.

Side note: my younger stepson has the word "feel" as one of his spelling words this week - poor little southern kid can't say "feel" he always says "fill." We have worked so hard on E's and I's but just think how hard it must be when you here everyone around you saying "GIT" instead of "GET." The whole thing just makes me laugh when people talk about feeling their fill.

I added the Wal-mart brand slim-fast to my diet yesterday. It felt so good to taste something other than water, chicken broth, and popsicles. Doc suggests adding a clear protein during week 1 but I had the slim-fast so I threw caution to the wind and added it instead. Everything seems to be going smoothly. I am down almost 20 lbs since my last visit with my surgeon and 15lbs since surgery. One little LB is keeping me from being in the 2s. I am ready to be done with the 3s FOREVER!

I thought this morning, as I was in the potty, about Amy's "fart, fart, not a fart" situation. Guess it is true if you only put liquids in you are only going to get liquids out! I was ecstatic, though, because I hadn't pooped since the day before my surgery - going on 6 days! Isn't it funny how we all commiserate in our poop problems?

And on that note ... Hello to my new followers and I hope everyone has a lovely Wednesday.

how long on liquids

I know each doctor is different so I thought I would pose the question to all you lovely ladies. How long were you on clear liquids and full liquids post-surgery?

It's only been 4 days and I am just about over clear liquids. Bring on the creamy soup!

tomorrow, it's only a day away

Actually, it is less than 11 hours from my surgery. I will check in at 5:15am and hope to be in surgery around 7:30. I've done a really good job on my liquid only diet today. My husband let me lick his reese's peanut butter pumpkin but I didn't take a bite.

Thanks for all the encouragement up to this point, my dear blog buddies. See you on the other side!

one day to go

Today is my required 24hrs of clear liquids prior to surgery. I took the day off from work so that I could get the house in order before going to the hospital tomorrow. My parents will be here to help my husband with the  children and to make sure I am resting like I should. Of course them coming makes me feel the extra need to straighten up today.

I also have to FINALLY go get supplies for my clear and full liquids weeks. Last night I had a good southern girl last meal - Bojangles chicken-n-biscuits. It was tastey. I had planned to have a piece of apple pie before going to bed but I was so stuffed that I didn't even try it. Guess that's a step in the right direction.

Speaking of meals - how have those of you with children, husbands, significant others handled cooking dinner while you were on liquids? Did you get the other adult to cook for a few weeks or did you muster through?

liquid courage

I know you have them, in fact you probably have them right there on that computer. I'm talking about those soup recipes that helped you through multiple weeks of clear and creamy liquids.

I've never made soup before unless you count - open can, add water, stir. But I am ready to chop, boil, and puree, I just need to your recipes. I thought about just using recipes off the web but I don't want to spend all that time in preparation to only be disappointed in the end.

I'm trusting you my blog buddies - send me in the right direction!

liquid preparation

Lately, every time my husband and I got to Wal-Mart I look through the protein/meal replacement/breakfast shakes they have spread throughout the pharmacy section. Yet, instead of purchasing some to try out before surgery, I leave empty handed. Billy keeps telling me - you need to try something now so we can stock up before hand. But I just can't seem to spend the money on them when I'm not even sure I will like them.

I drank chocolate Slim-fast a lonnnnnnnnnng time ago when it was in the little metal can and it was ok. But there are so many different brands and flavors now. Where do I even begin? What types of shakes/drinks to you ladies enjoy and where do you get them? Do I need to purchase them from GNC or my doctor - or will Wal-mart suffice?

Help!