Marvelous Mel wrote me a few questions and I wanted to make sure that you all could share in my responses – I love answering questions (who doesn’t love to talk about themselves)! So feel free to ask away – you all know I’ll always answer honestly.
- It seems that you lived on tuna salad during mushies stage, is that just tuna and mayo
Yes! Just tuna packed in water from the can with a little bit of mayo added to make it not so dry. I also would eat it with chopsticks because it was my way of “classing it up” a bit. 
Also, it made me feel as though I was eating sushi…plus, it forced me to eat slower.
- Now that you have moved beyond mushies and are now at restriction, what does your daily intake look like?
Let’s see….today I had no breakfast…I typically don’t eat breakfast. This is probably not good or recommended but I’m just not a breakfast girl. I am, however, a coffee girl so when I get to work I immediately make a HUGE glass of crystal light and a big cup of coffee with some non-fat vanilla creamer. When lunch came around at noon I had about 5 cooked prawns which I chewed up VERY well. Now that I’m home for dinner we are making spareribs. I’ll most likely have 1 and a half. I always get a craving for sweets at around 9 so I have 1/2 of a slimfast shake (normally chocolate). And there you have it! This is pretty typical except for lunch I may have a chicken drumstick, half of a chicken breast, some leftover fish…and for dinner I normally will make flank steak, chicken stir-fry, salmon, tilapia, etc.
- Lastly, are you exercising??
Helllll no! Ok – I should be so proud of that – but as I wrote before – I just do not enjoy exercising…especially when I’m overweight. But I do have some good news. About 3 months ago when I would walk from my car to the office (about 2 blocks) I would be huffing and puffing…totally out of breath. Now, I don’t even notice it – I’m fine – not out of breath at all. So that is a big thing for me. Since we’ve purchased the bikes I’ve rode it once. I just can’t jump on that exercise train.
There you go! Everyone – please send questions – I’ll save them up and write another post to answer them. Fun!
Try just walking your dog when you get home. I started with just 20 mins 3 days a week and have worked myself up to an hour a day, 5 days a week. It gets easier, but the first 2 weeks you have to force yourself out the door. It helps that your dog gives you the sad eyes and looks depressed if you don’t take her out one day. It is a lot easier than the gym. With the weather being cooler, you don’t get so hot from walking. That and you have no choice but to walk more than you want. You can’t just stop when you start to feel tired. You have to walk yourself back home.
Thanks for posting that! I’ve been curious what ‘a day in the life of’ looks like foodwise. Yeah, I’m not a consistent exerciser, I get workout spells every so often and then I’m done! So that’s something I’m kinda worried about after I get the band. I need fun stuff to motivate me…like new shoes, a new workout album off itunes, or like a workout spreadsheet/calendar that I can track.
I’m gonna try and start rewarding myself with ACTIVITIES instead of food, a walk around greenlake, a new cruiser bike, etc. Hopefully it’ll work…….and start!
So…from a vet…eventually you are going to have to exercise a bit. Not a bunch, just some. Because at first the weight just falls off (nice job, btw!!). But then most folks hit a point where it doesn’t come off easy anymore. And exercise is the factor.
Sorry. I hate exercise too.
What I’m doing these days is riding the train to work. So I walk to the train station, walk to all my meetings at work and walk home. That gets me about 50 mins walking by the end of the day, so it helps.
I have to “sneak up” on exercise. I won’t go to ANY gym. No. I won’t suit up and go out. It has to be fun. Like riding my bike to Starbucks for a non-fat iced latte. Or like I said, walking to the train.
You are doing awesome!!!! Congrats!!
Lisa: I totally should start to walk the beasts…Maybe I’ll start NEXT week! You know how that goes!
The gym…ewwww – don’t even say that evil word!
Em: Somehow a walk around greenlake just isn’t the same as a new pair of shoes…go figure!
Giveyouthemoon: that’s so great that you are a vet! Must be a tough – but very rewarding job! I know that eventually I’ll need to kick myself in the bum and put on my exercise hat – but until then…I’m just loving the loss that comes with the first few months of banding! I’m sure you’ll hear a different side of me when it starts to slow down.
LOL, misunderstanding…when I said vet, I meant a band veteran. Not a veterinarian. I can hardly stand it when my pet is hurting, I couldn’t do it every day.
My bad!!
Giveyouthemoon – ahhhhh – got it! I’m there with you – when my pups even look like they might be hurting I go crazy!
25 lbs – 5 BAGS OF SUGAR – WOW, Yippee, Yahoooooo, You go GIRL!!!!
That was super QUICK – You are doing fantastic and are such an inspiration!
I know you have not heard from me in a while – I know you care – And although I have not attempted any more Forest Gump marathons – I could be doing better. Not sure if I told you or not but am back at being 10 lbs lost from date of surgery. Definintely doing better.
I went to the Dr. Thursday for my 1st post op visit- and I confessed EVERYTHING including the sub.
The Nurse Practicioner said oh was it a 6″ sub – I am like, uh more like an 8″ SUB. She said I hope you learned your lesson and will not do that again. I was expecting this huge lecture but instead was talked to like a human being.
She told me it was very important to follow the nutrition guidelines, that I could stretch my pouch above the band – I am like – oooooo, I don’t want to do that.
But the good side is I told her I was walking 3 miles total (split between 2 walks) 5 times a week. But I was sooo hungry, and it is such a battle.
Well, guess WHAT she told me – 1st of all she said no wonder I was so hungry that my body from the walking is looking to refuel itself and then she dropped the BOMB and said plus you have NO RESTRICTION at this time only the band.
I just started cryng cause I thought this was not going to work for me. Dr. Lucktong does not do any restriction until he knows the body is not going to reject the band and the stomach has had time to heal. They also will not do any fills until 6 weeks has passed. I was so relieved.
She even told me they did not expect me to loose any weight until I have had my first fill. Well, I look at the time between now and then as a BONUS. If I can loose just a pound a week, once I get my fill, I will do even better. So I am trying. Doing pretty good, but would like to do a little better.
I like to know who I am talking to, so I was going to send you a picture of my ugly mug – So you can see who you are talking to. Is that okay with you?
I know you missed me – HA , so I just wanted to say BIG Congrats on the 5 bags of sugar! Before long, you will have a buggy full.
TTYL,
Teresa
Oh well SHIT – I put it in the wrong place – I fell from my horse today and guess I got a little Drain Bamage!
Signed,
Fruitcake
Teresa – I’m soooo happy your doc was supportive and was able to give you such fantastic advice! AND – I’m very glad that you are back on track. And – just think about how wonderful you will feel when you have restriction! It’s all downhill from here, baby! And no more falling off the horse….!!!
I was never much of an exercise person or breakfast person either. Everyday since I hate breakfast or i’m just too tight in the morning, I drink a slim-fast high protein shake. I ride my exercise bike every other day for at least 10 mins, take the dogs walking, etc my dr. told me just stay active and not sit around too much. I also found a pedometer at target for a 1.00 and I weat it everywhere I go to see how much I have gone for the day. I’m 6 months post op now and have lost 63 lbs. It’s great to have this tool called the lap band but you do have to utilize it. Losing weight is not going to happen on it’s own magically. You have to make an effort to change too is what I have realized since getting banded in dec. of 2007. . Now I try to drink 6-8 glasses water a day, take a centrum chewable multi-vitamin, and stay active. I feel great and have so much energy now