The Last 27 Pounds :)

How weird is that?!?! I can say the last 27 pounds like it is just a drop in the bucket. I have been plateaued at 172 pounds which is a loss of 111 pounds since I started the whole process last year. I tried the 5-Day pouch test twice now and something has thrown a kink in it both times. I really need to go back to the basis and drop the carbs out of my diet. I am a carb junkie and I'm losing the battle with the Carb MONSTER. I need to buckle down and get my butt in gear.

I'm going to try go bump up my protein intake from a shake 2-3 times a day plus high protein meat, poultry & fish and try to eliminate carbs for the most part. I also need to work out 5 out of 7 days per week since I've been sitting on my rear end all winter long. Since I didn't obtain my revised goal of reaching 169 pounds by Valentine's Day I will try to reach or surpass it by Easter. I'd really still like to loose all 27 pounds by my birthday. That would mean I would have 6 months after reaching my goal weight to stabilize prior to thinking about starting a family.

I'm going to start saving my pennies for a shopping spree after the next 27 pounds leave my body!!!

I am only 3 pounds from my doctor's goal of 169. I'd like to weigh 145 pounds when all is said and done. Even though my surgeon's idea weight for me is 130 pounds, I'm not sure I would look healthy at that weight. I'm already getting a hard time from my mother who thinks I have lost enough weight, she who might weigh 110 pounds soaking wet is telling me that I am skinny :)

My goal is to post every day what I have eaten so that I can be held accountable for my actions and food choices :) Wish me luck!!

Best Laid Plans

Well I really wanted to start the 5-day pouch test again, but silly me ran out of protein powder.... Oh, well. I'll stock up and try again in a few weeks. I am still at a total weight loss of 111 pounds and I have decided that I need to get my but in gear and work out!!! Here I come treadmill, elliptical and pilates. I'll give it a shot and see what happens.

I went shopping yesterday to get a few things in springy colors as everything I have is fall/winter. I got a pair of kakhi's and a peach sweater and a coral blouse plus a long black skirt and a cordoroy jacket that were on clearence for wardrobe staples. I have to say it is pretty cool to be a solid size 12 and a large top. I can't wait for summer, I might actually wear shorts for the first time in years and years.

Day3, Day 3 Again.... Oh No!!!

Day three was great!! I had egg salad made with a bit of cottage cheese for moisture and successfully managed to make it though the day. I ended up not getting home undil really late on Day 2 and had to do another Day 3 since I didn't manage to get ground beef cooked for the next day. I was going semi-strong on Day 3 again until the afternoon and I was in a meeting and ready to eat my arm off, so I grabbed a snack that was so not on the approved list of foods for the day. I was ready to start Day 4 until the phone rang at 5:30am.... Unfortunately it wasn't good news. My husband's grandmother passed away during the night. That really shot Day 4 and Day 5 for my diet. I did get on the scale on Wednesday and had managed to lose 4 pounds prior to stopping the diet mid-stream.

We managed to get through a very emotionally draining weekend but now I have to start over again. I am starting my 5 Day Pouch Test again starting again tomorrow. I'll definately keep you posted during this trip.

Day 2...

Well I successfully completed day 1 (yesterday) of the 5 day pouch test with 100g of protein and 100+ oz. of water. Today I managed to get through, although it was tough. I had 80g of protein from shakes and protein pudding and 100+ oz. of water, I also had some SF Jello Knox Blocks that my dear husband made for me. It definately did help with making me feel like I was eating something.

I resisted the urge to get on the scale this morning and had my husband hide the scale so that I wouldn't be tempted to see if I had lost weight as this is about beating the CARB MONSTER, not about weight loss. Granted on Thursday, Day 6, I will weigh myself first thing to see if there was any weight loss associated with me cutting my carbs dramatically.

Day 3 adds in soft proteins like eggs and tuna. I am very happy to say I have egg salad made with a touch of cottage cheese for moisture and mini-cans of tuna ready to go for work tomorrow.

I'm hoping that my new med continues to work as I have had some serious ups and downs over the past couple of weeks. I don't like it, but unfortunately there isn't anything I can do other than weather the storm. Once the new med gets into my system I should be good to go for a while, I hope.

Trying something new

After feeling like a failure a few days this week I did some research online. I visited the site Living After Weight Loss Surgery (www.livingafterwls.com) and viewed many of the posts out there about others feelings and the ever looming question "Did I break my pouch?" I'm not the only one that has the questions, feelings or fears that I am experiencing and I found out it isn't just because they are changing my anxiety medication.

After reading this I decided that it couldn't hurt to try what they call the 5-Day pouch test. http://www.5daypouchtest.com/ After all I have been as stringent with my eating and exercise habits as I should be. The 5-Day plan takes you back to the basics and lets you get away from the dreaded "Carb Monster" that many of us Carb Junkies fall victim to.

I've had 2 protein shakes today and 64+ oz. of water. I am suffering from a dull headache due to the lack of carbs but it isnt' anything I can't handle. I'm actually thinking that I should get on the treadmill tonight and walk for at least 30 minutes. It will probably do me good!!

I'll keep everyone posted on my progression over the next 5 days. Although this plan isn't about loosing weight, it does happen as a result so I'll have to see what happens!!

A Really Long Year....

but a really successful one. I started this whole process on January 26, 2007. That is the day that I went to my PCP and informed him that I wanted to have gastric bypass surgery and I haven't looked back since!! I have lost a total of 107 pounds since that day I went to the doctors and physically feel great.

At this point in time I am suffering with the transition of my anxiety medication that stopped working to a new one. I'll get through it, but I have to say it seriously stinks!!! Due to this Dr. Jekyll/Ms. Hyde stage of the medication transition I am really just happy that I haven't put any weight on. I actually lost 5 pounds last week when my weight loss picked up, but I've now plateaued again. I've been stuck at 176 pounds this week and sometimes I feel like a failure, but I shouldn't feel that way, I should be proud of what I've accomplished.

I'm looking foward to another slimming year ahead!!!