Saw the Nutritionist Today

Well, I'm down 4 lbs. since I last saw the nutritionist! Go me!...still just 3 lbs. till I fall off into "onederland", but I'm getting there!!! I explained to her that as prepared as I was for what was to come after my bypass, I still struggle with making right choices.....I still want to fill my plate too full at pot lucks, I still LOVE to eat sweets, etc.... Sometimes I still eat out of boredom or emotion....it's all still there! I know there are some people who go into this and are just thinking about "getting skinny again", but I will say that as happy as I am with my results, I am thankful that I truly feel I was as prepared as I could have been for what was to come. That being said though, I think I didn't fully grasp the reality that this is still a "lifetime" process. Now that I am 16 months post-op......I can eat very well and my desire to eat....well, let's just say it is still in tact! I think I may have been fooled by those people who when I would ask them about sweets, etc., and they said "oh, I have no desire for them"; while I do believe that's a possiblity, I think it's more realistic to say that those people have NEVER allowed themselves to eat those things again.....when you're like me (and I do allow those things), however, I AM GOING TO EAT THEM again, so I need to realize that I will have to accept the responsibility that comes with that decision....so....there you go!

She did share a website with me, it's http://www.waldenfarms.com/, and they have all kinds of condiments, syrups, peanut spread, etc. that are all sugar free and calorie free! Woo Hoo!!! I did a store locator and it looks like they sell their products at Good Foods on Southland Drive and at Meijer. I'll be checking it out and let ya'll know.

CBH Weight Loss Website

I've been meaning to post here the CBH weight loss website, I am featured in the home page at
http://cbhweightloss.com/default. This is pretty cool for me. I also forgot in my last post to mention that I had my 6 month check up with my primary care doctor and I am officially off all but two of my medications....both of which are not for weight related problems, my glaucoma eye medication and restless leg medication. I am OFF my blood pressure medication, all my asthma medications, and both my antidepressants. My PCP was very pleased and reminded me (when I mentioned that I still need to lose about 40 more pounds) that I have already reached my goal for having weight loss surgery. He reminded me that a year and a half ago I was over 320 lbs, my blood pressure was like 160/90 something, my asthma was barely controlled, and I could barely walk because of my knee and joint pain. Therefore, IF I never lose another pound, I have definitely accomplished what I set out to achieve by having weight loss surgery and I should be happy with my results, which I am. I am definitely blessed!!!

So Close and Yet So Far!

Still just a few pounds away from Onederland......although I have to admit that I might have gotten there this week if I had just been a little more focused.....oh heck...who am I kidding....more like if I had been "a lot" more focused! Yes, it's been a very challenging week and I have to admit that I've been an "emotional" eater this week. Keith has hurt his back at work again and is off, so I've been worried about finances; and last weekend I didn't get much sleep and was very busy, so I've been extremely tired this week. Therefore, the old habits/ideas of food making me feel better (even though it doesn't), have been running rampid this week. I find when I'm tired I get extremely sloppy with my eating. Gotta work harder and smarter next week!

THREE POUNDS TILL "ONEDERLAND"

So excited...I'm starting to go down finally! I am now at 202....yes....just three pounds till I get into "onederland"! I suppose counting calories works...imagine that, what a concept! I am taking a meal to a family tonight and making brownies, so of course I feel like I should make them for my own family too, however I am very nervous that I will end up eating some myself. Everything in moderation...right??? Be listening for the day I hit 199...I guarantee you will all hear the scream where ever you are!

Working on Cutting the Calories Back

Well, it's been a week since I saw the nutritionist and I have finally gotten back to within one pound of where I was in May at my lowest weight. I am still struggeling to stay under 1,200 calories a day......I almost always hit 1,300 or a little over. Obviously some days are better than others. Hard for me to get the protein in and stay under 1,300. Last Friday was a bad day for me, in fact I didn't even try to count the calories.....couldn't count that high! Keith and I took some time away for the day to celebrate our 29th anniversary (which was in June), and we went to New Albany, Indiana and ate lunch at the Paula Deen restaurant there......a buffet with sooo much food, including desserts! Loads of butter.....and boy was it awesome! With every bite I took I said "Oh my God", and Keith laughed so hard at me. They had a coconut cake, and of course I "had" to try it out.....Oh my God!!!! Within a half hour after finishing lunch I started foaming at the mouth and had to make a mad dash for the bathroom. Luckily though, I never threw up, but I stayed in the bathroom for a half hour just to be on the safe side. Was it worth it???? Well, yes, just once for the experience, but to do it again???? No, I don't think so!

Then we went back to Louisville to St. Matthew's Mall and I tried on about 20 dresses for an upcoming wedding in August; and no, I didn't buy one yet, but I will say this....I LOVE to shop now!!! THEN.......we went to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner and split a philly steak sandwich, and yes, we got cheesecake! We did bring it home for later though, and yes, I did get sick on it again. It was awesome going down though! However, I think next time I "have to have" Cheesecake Factory, I'll stick with plain low carb w/ fruit on it though.....I won't be having the macadamia nut or the Reeses! Oh well, sometimes you just gotta splurge and for sure I did!!!

Met With the Nutritionist Yesterday

Yesterday was my meeting with the nutritionist and I found it to be very helpful and enlightening. She had asked me to journal my food and I discovered I was having on average about 1,600 calories a day. She told me that is fine, and it's really good because it shows that 1,600 calories is my maintenance calories, which will help in the end when I get to maintenance. In the meantime however, I need to cut my caloric intake down to around 1,200. It's probably going to take me a few days to get that down. She also "buzzed" me on weighing too often. I weigh every night, in the middle of the night when I get up to go to the bathroom, and every morning......yes, that's right....3 times a day! I told her that at first I didn't think I was obsessed over it, however I have come to the realization that apparently I am obssessed with it.

So, my goals for the next four weeks are to 1) Cut my calories down to 1,200 a day; 2) Weigh only once a day; 3) Walk at least 40 minutes a day; and 4) No "mindless" eating. In four weeks I will go visit her again and hopefuly have started my loss back again.....goal is to lose 1 lb a week. Still learning so much about myself!!!

July 8th, 2011 Got My Game Going On

Yes, I got my game going on, but that's not necessarily a good thing....cause it's in my head! I discovered yesterday that I can visit the nutrionist at the doctor's office for free, so I decided to call her and get an appointment. When I called she asked that I keep a log of my food till my visit with her, next Wednesday. So....in writing down my intake from yesterday this morning I realized that I am clearly sabbotaging myself with those little BLT's.....bites, licks and tastes (a term from my Weight Watcher days). Okay, so did you realize that one of those big jaw breakers from Cracker Barrel has about 100 calories in it????? I never dreamed it would have that many! Seven Cheetos is approximately 80 calories....yea, great question "why am I having cheetos and jawbreakers to start with", right???? I've also been very laxed about eating popcorn, chips, etc....you get the picture....."how much can a little bit hurt?". Brings me back to what I have been saying all along, they fixed my stomach, but not my head! Which leads me to my next point.....so I have been sabotaging myself......what next??? Forget the past and move forward I say! With my stomach being able to hold so much more, it is very difficult to keep myself in check, but if I am honest with myself I do tend to eat out of boredom....a very difficult habit to break. I will post next week after meeting with the nutritionist and keep everyone posted. I am trying to update more now, but I am finally realizing that I haven't been keeping myself in check like I should have been, which is most likely the cause of my LONG plateau!!!