Brrrrr…it’s was sooooo cold in Seattle. First light snow, then hail. Crazy weather here – but I love it! Erik & I drove into Bellevue from Seattle (about a 20 minute drive across Lake Washington). When we entered Bellevue (home of Bill Gates) it started to hail like crazy!
If you click on the picture, you can see the hail on the hood of the car and the street – looked like little dip n’ dots!
Erik took a photo of me driving and I do believe the double-chin is shrinking a bit! Amazing!!!
However, with all good things, a negative comes along. Erik had to stop at the grocery store to pick up some birthday cards and I took a self-portrait…and I do believe I’m getting wrinkles around my eyes! I guess that is what comes with turning 31! (you have to login to flickr and view the photo in “all sizes” to see this…but I promise, the wrinkles are sprouting)!
At Maggianos Erik & I ordered together as the meals are HUGE. We ordered a half chop salad and the chicken I wrote about yesterday. I ate about a half-cup of the salad and then one piece of the chicken…if that. It was really good.
When I got home I took one more bite of the chicken and then felt the “golfball” in my throat but did not kack, thankfully. I am learning my portions and when to say “stop”. This can be hard because the food tastes so good and you “want” to eat more of it. But – the band is doing what it is supposed to do which is make you only eat smaller portions. This is a good thing.
Hooray for restriction!
I just turned 31 and swear I see lines sprouting up everywhere. I have been been exfoliating like a fiend bc I am determined to beat wrinkles and the sagging skin from losing weight! BTW, I don’t see any wrinkles around your eyes!!!
Thinspiration: ha – you must not have enlarged the photo – i swear – they are there – loud and….wrinkly!
check it out:
http://lisetheloser.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/wrinkles.jpg
Hey Lise, Your website is killing me. Chicken never looked so good. How long am I supposed to be on clear liquids post op? I think I made my 1st mistake already. I made a can of chicken noodle soup from Campbell’s. Thinking I would just drink the broth from it, I also ate some of the noodles and chewed up the tiny pieces of chicken that came in it. About an hour later I went back to sleep. That nasal Stadol (pain killer) really knocks me out quick. This morning I felt this lump in my chest. Belching like crazy but nothing close to coming up. Which is good. I am just drinking a bunch of hot tea and hopefully it will break down over the course of the day. Did you ever cheat post op? I coughed yesterday and thought my sutures blew out. Owwwwwwwieeeeeeee. No they are still intact, but damn. I think of your will and drive and that is what keeps me motivated. Can’t wait to get where you are. I read that you ate salad. Is that easy to do after a fill?
Lise,
the food looked amazing, I too am learning the truth about portion sizes, it’s hard sometimes since what your eating can be so tasty you just want one more bite but I realize that I may not really like the consequence if I do take that last bite that looked so good a second ago. Loving your posts, some of them really crack me up!!
Alice: The chicken WAS delicious!!! I think you are fine w/ the chicken soup but just be sure to get back on liquids (all liquids) right away!
I actually didn’t cheat at all post op – but I was allowed slimfast shakes during my mushy stage which were a life saver. Whenever I got hungry, I just made another shake and was fine after that. Salad – very easy to eat and actually even with a fill does not do much as far as restriction (I can eat a lot of salad and not feel full) which is why I try to eat the protein first.
Tara: Thank you! We are all learning – that is for sure – one PB at a time!
Lise,
To hell with the chicken and the wrinkles, Look at YOUR CHIN!! (or Lack there of) Holy Crap, you go GIRL, I can tell one heck of a difference!!! Whoopeeee, Hipppp, Hipppp, Horrrrray! You are doing it! So Proud for you!! Inspiration for me. I have done crappy – I have not followed the rules and get so mad at myself. I go to the Doctor thursday. I guess I will tell all, but hate to hear the lectures.
You keep up the good work and that will keep me inspired!!
Teresa
Teresa – wow – I just compared the current chin picture with this one (day of surgery) and you are so right – I definitely see the difference!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2313248626_8684512213_o.jpg
Now what is going on with you? Why are you doing crappy and why are you not following the rules? If the doctor doesn’t lecture you, then I most definitely will! Come on – we are doing this together – so throw away all of the crappy food and bulk up on the good stuff! You can do this – we can do this!
Lise,
Let me just tell you what has happened. I don’t know what is going on.
Sit back and get ready!
Rule #1 – First 2 weeks post op – clear liquid diet.
Me – Day 6 – Have lost 10 lbs, From 218 day of surgery to 208 – Ahhh but wait – I go to a wedding, and then the reception – Bad Idea! Although I have only bites of Strawberry, cheese, salmon, and potato – My mind said – see you can eat – nothing happens right – I’m like heheheheh – I cheated, and I am not sick. The start of it All!
Days 7-9 – Still eating and have gained 2 lbs, and am starving Weight now at 210
Day 10 – Remember I am supposed to be on CLEAR LIQUIDS – All day I have done well trying to get back on track and am eating sugar free jello and the likes. WELL, come 6:30 I know my husband is going to stay down at the cabin – so what do I do you may ask? I ordered an 8″ ham and cheese sub WITH FRIES – I am thinking “Awww, you can have a couple of bites get full and throw the rest away – nobody will ever know” Well by the time I ate some fries and half of the sub, I was not full. By then It was like a challenge to see just how much I could eat cause I knew this damn thing in my stomach was not working. Well, I can’t believe I ATE THE WHOLE THANG!!! – I said something is not right, I should have not been able to do that. And then It started. My stomach was swelling – ready for delivery. It kept pooching out. I called mom, asked for no lectures, only support – I walked for 45 minutes with the most miserable feeling in my stomach – I kept walking – trying to find relief – finally a grumble grumble. So I go poop but not enough mind you – walk again, ( I am walking circles inside my house – around the kitchen into the great room through the dining room back to the kitchen) You can now see a path. Still feeling miserable, I keep on walking – 1 1/2 hours continuously – Now here comes the hot saliva – yep its coming up – so I hurled honked and retched my guts out. The way I felt, I figured the port and all was coming up. I finally felt relief, but when I tried to go to bed. I could not lay down I hurt soooo bad – Never again – Never again
Day 11 – oooooo, I am gonna do good today – I am gonna do clear liquids – Right – Wrong
So Day 12 – 14 – Here I am, So mad – have eat the whole time every day – I am afraid I have gained every bit of weight back and will not get on the scales to see.
Rule #2 – 2 weeks mushies
So I say – But wait – Lise lost her chin – I can loose my chin – and although I can now officially eat mushies I am going to give my stomach a break (I have had the squirty turdies – everyday) and Do the clear liquids through Thursday (that is when I go back to the doc.) and then start mushies for 2 weeks – so we will see – I am going to try my best to behave and do what I am supposed to do.
To Be Continued. . . .
Teresa – Ok – I must admit that you had me chuckling at squirty turdies!
But you know – I’m sure you aren’t the only one who has done the exact same thing. I mean – the whole reason you got the band in the first place is because of a problem with overeating – and you have no restriction yet – so everything until restriction will require 100% willpower – which is not easy. I know. I’ve been there! The only thing that kept me from eating everything that crossed by path was my stubbornness and knowledge that I had no more money to put down if something went wrong with the band since I’m self-pay. But – today is a new day. And I know you can make this work. Be sure and be honest with your doc. Perhaps he/she can do a more aggressive schedule with the fills since you are having a rough time with saying no to the off-limit foods. By the way – I’m going to email you my number – and next time you get the urge to eat something that you KNOW is going to put you into forest gump like walking mania – call me. Anytime. 
Teresa:
Hang in there! We know you can do it!
We diden’t get overweight in a couple of weeks,
Take one hour at a time if you must. At least you know you really do have the band!
Lise:
What a great inspration to all of us. You give excellent advice… Like I said, need to write that book!
I weighted this morning, and have lost 15lbs! I suppose mostly fluid, but haven’t seen 225 in a long time.
The pain is getting better in my shoulders yea!!
Robbie
Lise,
Hate to use your blog for a shout out but I wanted to thank Ms. Robbie for her support. I can use all the support I can get right now. But I must tell you – so far today – has been GOOD – I have had water, protein water, and a sugar free jello – Yeah – Go Me.
Robbie – also congrats on the weigh in – that’s 3 bags of sugar where I come from – Keep up the good work.
Lise – got your number – thanks for that – I am sure I will be using it, if not to just say “You Quack Me Up” – I appreciate your support as well and hope to continue the liquid phase at least through Thursday until after my Dr.’s appt. And then I will do the 2 weeks mushies – Sure I will need help then.
TTYL My New Friend,
Teresa
Ms Robbie: my great advice must be passed on to me from my mother who is a therapist!
15 lbs – that’s amazing! I’m sure you will pass me up in no time at this rate! Glad to hear the pain is subsiding. 
Teresa – please do use my blog to shout out to anyone! And Ms Robbie is a rock star.
And I’m so happy that today has been a success. Yeahhh for today! Go you go you go you! And I can’t wait to hear from you – quacking on the other end of the line! I’m here for you every step of the way.