Hear Me RoaR

Here we are! Month two post weight loss surgery!
The best month yet! 

August proved to be very challenging! I spent 2 weeks stalling because I was not eating right. (I was not eating enough!) Happy to report the stall is over! My friend, Andrew, reached out to me and encouraged me to give D1 a shot! 

Victories:
Clothing.. Everything except socks and shoes hardly fit!!!  Remember those capri's in this picture (photo taken in late July then today)! They are now loose on me! That shirt is very loose and almost too big feeling (check out the arms)! I also  had to buy workout clothing! 

Energy... Working out (and Physical Therapy) IS changing my life. I am the most uncoordinated person but, I feel great!  Strength and Balance has improved too.. Not too mention I feel more confident. (Thanks Nick for reminding me of that!) 

Another major achievement: My face. (I have no make up in the current photos- actually we just got back from a walk!)  Notice how it is "toned"? When I shared with my friend Leslie that I needed product to help my face remain youthful during the weight loss journey... Picture after picture of weight loss patients have faces that droop and age!  She shared with me actual photos of someone who went through WLS and used Rodan and Fields... I wasn't sure if it would be worth the investment but, I knew I wanted a youthful face.. I can hide sagging arms and belly! Rodan and Fields is keeping its promise!!!  You can learn more about Rodan and Fields by clicking here or ask me about it! I will wear makeup in next month's photos!

You want the details and numbers... Here you go! 

Highest weight 353

Current Weight 293

Total Inches Lost since 6/21/13 (Measuring fat is hard!)
Arms (right) 4.75 
Bust 7 inches
Hips 7 inches (1 1/2 in 30 days)
Thighs 3 inches

According to my phone app that Monitor's my Weight loss.. My BMI value has went down 8 points! 

Where I feel the most difference? arms!

Goals for August! COMPLETED

To be never in the 300's when I weigh-in (praise the Lord-D1 took care of that!)

More exercise!! (major improvement- worked out 4 days this week!)
More Protein! (Much improved!!)

Get medications straightened out!! (also better but, back on reflux meds)

Continue therapy!  (It's going well too!)

In this picture- this is the shirt I bought at The Rack (Nordstorm's) in Seattle in March (did not fit) and here is the difference! This was a proud moment! You can't tell but, in July my arms (and obviously my belly) were bulging out! 

New Goals!

-Continue new ways to find protein

-Drink 100 ounces of water a day

- Workout 5 days a week!

-Jog 4 laps around the d1 track without stopping!!! (When I started I could jog 1/4 of a lap and just the other day I did almost 2 laps)

-Encourage anyone who will listen to make a plan to be healthy. DO something today. 

March 2014 Run a 5k!!!! No desire to run on a regular basis but, my friend Sarah encouraged me think about it and I think WHY NOT????

My friends (and I want to name specifically name my facebook fam, Brent, Angie, Shana, Sarah, My staff at work, Andrew, Sonya, Jessica, Leslie, D1 people, my family, my husband and my blog readers) your encouragement has meant so much me and truly carried me through this month. Thank you. 

The next blog will be about my current food choices and life with no "medical" restrictions.. 

Lots of Love from the Losers Bench!!!

The County Fair at D1

I took a long weekend off from working out. If starting a workout is the hardest thing  then returning after 4 days off is painful and not fun. But, dang it - it feels good to be back!!  

Today was the county fair. The first time I attended D1 it was also county fair- I didn't realize it at the time. To read about my first time click here. Anyways, on top of it being the County Fair aka "kick my butt" workout- I had a new coach. And it was a guy... But, Coach Sam lead us through workout and I made it. The red box- yeah that is box we are suppose to jump up and jump off. I stepped up and stepped off it a few times and pulled my hamstring.. Can't wait to return tomorrow!!!

Physical Therapy at D-1

I am suffering today.. My arms are very sore from PT yesterday..  

Little Rock D-1 offers Physical Therapy through St. Vincent's.. My insurance covers it!! I am working on my balance (it's really off since surgery and weight loss) and learning about exercises that will help make my knees and back problems stronger.  I spent one hour doing a variety of things.. 

Including riding a bike, doing leg lifts, balancing on 1 foot while 

holding a pipe filled with water, working my obliques with the weight machine, using "shackles" on my feet while doing lunges, a big rubber band that I held with my feet and lifted over my head (that killed my arms!!).. We also did some exercises on the yoga ball.
          

I never thought of Physical Therapy as a work out. Not to worry-- I now give Josh (D1 PT) complete respect. It's no walk in the park or "day off from working out"..

A Place to Belong

I made a decision on my way to workout today- If I don't finish- I will stay for the whole workout. D-1 is a supportive team environment-and I am a part of this team.  

So, I walked back into D-1 today and felt at home.  I am just going to say what I shouldn't say- Yes, yes I am a 290  something pound obese working mother who drives 40 minutes to work out with a group of people in the middle of the day! Yes, the workouts have to mostly be modified for me. But, that's okay. I

showed up and gave it my all. That's what counts, right?  Today, I kept seeing the words perseverance, dedication, integrity, focus and finally pain is weakness leaving the body..  Todays warms up were like last time (Click here to read about my first time at D-1).. But the majority of the workout was very different.. It involved a weight bar lifting, disc weights, sprints and some fancy footwork. I am dead serious when I say" I had to modify it all. I actually made it 45 minutes (maybe 50 minutes) without my body screaming stoooop. You know what's really cool is that your teammates want you to succeed- everyone is very encouraging! It also feels really fun. There are all sorts of athletic levels at my workout.. 

So, if I can do (modified and all)  this YOU can too..  Stop making excuses and start taking care of yourself!!!  The decision to be healthy- is never easy. Working out is part of the decision. It's not easy.. Nothing about being overweight is easy. I believe in you! 

We all have excuses of why we don't work out. But, my friend Andrew says I am going to get the workout bug or fitness training bug and then I will be unstoppable... I can't wait. 

FEAR (just a 4 letter F word)

We fear the thing(s) we want the most. Why is that?  Have you ever been so afraid of failing at something that you decided not to try it at all? Or has a fear of failure meant that, subconsciously, you undermined your own efforts to avoid the possibility of a larger failure?  I mean I am sure most of my readers have experienced this at one time or another. The fear of failing can be immobilizing – it can cause us to do nothing, and therefore resist moving forward. 

But when we allow fear to stop our forward progress in life, we're likely to miss some great opportunities along the way.

A few weeks ago- one my former co-workers asked me if I wanted to work out at D-1. For those of you like me-allow me to explain--- D-1 Sports Training (A Place For THE ATHLETE) is an athletic training complex that does like NFL combines  and they are generally owned by athletes like Peyton Manning, Michael Oher, Tim Tebow and the one in Little Rock is co-owned by Jermain Taylor. I am not an athlete. No one uses that word to describe me. 

And then the stories begin in my head.. I don't have the clothes to work out. What if I am the fattest girl ever to work out at D-1? What if the people there think I took the "easy way" out?  What if I collapse after 3 minutes? What if...... Wait- what am I scared of? Failure? Failure would be not trying. It's mind over matter.  I need to become...

Andrew (who was a UCA soccer player and works at D-1) has faith that this is good for me. He believes in me. Actually, everyone I tell that I am considering this-says that's awesome and I can do it.  When I tell Andrew my fears.. he says just the words I needed to hear:  "Don't. Worry. About. It. Seriously. People come in all sorts of different fitness levels and strengths. As long as you can beat your embarrassment you'll fit in perfectly".  Deep breathes.. tomorrow at 11:00 I have a date at legit gym.. with a real person and a whole lotta work out....

We all know my end goal is to be healthy. Not to be perfect.  One step- one day- pound by pound- the transformation will continue... 

and so As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Mama said there'll be days like this...

Today was rough... Not sure if I can say why but, it was.. 

7:30 am..  Knocking on the door.. Is the babysitter early? Another solicitor? I put on my robe and a young

mans says "A man drove by and his tire came off and went through your fence." I look at him and I am like "what?" So, I go out in the back yard and find this. Call the police for a report...  Thank the Lord there was no in the way of the tire!!!

Then it was time.. Time to the doctor for follow up from you know that weight loss surgery I had three weeks ago.. He said "You are making great progress... 22 pounds since surgery is awesome..." We also discussed my problems with my adderall. Apparently, we need to adjust it because my body is not "processing" the XR component. So, I am not crazy.  I was diagnosed with ADHD a while back. You can read that blog here. My life is so much better with meds. I also can start working out for real in a few weeks!

Then lunch with my sister was a delight.  She is all grown up and studying Nuclear Medicine Technology.

And it's Wednesday. Therapy day. I enjoy therapy time.. Several things are going on with our family.. Please pray for us that timing of things will work out...  As for now- I will be thankful for the 22 lbs gone! 

Today is the last day of July... Tomorrow means game on for me... Summer break is almost over... 

Intolerance to foods

They say with weight loss surgery lots of people become intolerant to certain foods. I prayed mine would be bread. It still might be because I have not had any bread!!!  But, we know one of my intolerances.. Sunday I thought if I don't figure this out I will end up severely dehydrated. The bathroom and I were spending a lot of time together. 

Oh yes, 2 ounces of it and time it.. oh 90 seconds...  I am in severe pain and in the bathroom. I call it my Al Rooker fear... Basically, I get really weak, nauseated, cramping and I have to go sit on the potty pronto. So, called the doctor and we limited it to 3 things.. Whey, dairy or sugar alcohol.. And with trial and error we found it.. We believe it's the sugar alcohol aspartame. It's found in most sugar free items, protein shakes and lots of diet food. You can't be serious???  So, now I am eating soft foods only. I have to make my own shakes right now. I have been on a break from them but, should restart today.   

The scale hasn't "moved" very much. My WLS friends says to stop weighing myself. My friend A only weights on Fridays and my friend Bre only weights at the doctor. I weight 3 times a day.  Need to move it out of my sight.

After much research- I think I see the problem. I am not eating enough. I need to eat probably 1,000 calories a day. I have to be more deliberate and eat even when I am not hungry  I also need to drink more water!! Calculate how much your water intake here.

Daily walking and Water Aerobics begin next week. 

Happy Friday Friends!

The skinny on the pre opt diet

So, I wrote my bariatric nurse today and said:

Do you know the internet can be a scary place!!!  I am reading so much crap out there. 
Shakes-Calories (does it matter)-Carbs (lots of shakes are high)-Protien (I need 60+ a day/correct?)-Oatmeal (lower calorie?)-Fruit in shakes blended is a no?-Pudding mix to flavor shakes?-No diet sodas (this is not a biggie- I am off of them)

 She responded:

Yes the internet is VERY SCARY!  It’s not too complicated but it is easy to make it harder than it has to be. On the pre-op diet keep the total calories somewhere between 1000-1200/day. Most shakes are ~200 cal (or less) & you need at least 3/day so that is about ½ of your calories. You can add an extra shake if you like but 3 is the minimum 60gm of protein is a good goal. Mix & match other liquids off the list with your shakes but you cannot add additional foods (fruit) to the list. The diet is a sugar free diet – so that means no pre-packaged flavored oatmeal's they ALL have a TON of sugar. Use regular oatmeal & add Splenda or equal etc to sweeten. You could add pudding mix (sugar free instant) to a shake if you want or a fat free flavored yogurt (try Kroger Carbmaster yogurt). You could have a diet soda if you like but its best to go ahead & break the habit – those are no-no’s after surgery. 

I feel empowered by the challenged before me. Last night we measured ourselves.. I think it makes sense to post (before and after) photos as I meet goals. 

I have three short term goals. (Other than survive pre-opt and surgery)

• Lose 10% of my weight. 

• Wear a shirt I bought at Nordstorm's Rack on clearance over spring break.

•  I also have a pair of capri's I want to wear too!

• Implement a exercise plan that includes 30 minutes of exercise a day.  (After day 21 consider it successful)

Time to be honest.. I am still in the last meal saga. I can tell you about every bite of food I have had since getting the news. I think my therapist will have lots to say about that. It's okay though! I am grieving part of my life.. I get a whole new life on July 8th. I am sharing my day with another weight loss surgery survivor (whose anniversary is that day)! I am excited to meet up with my friend A and learn from her.  Every single person who has had weight loss surgery- can rattle off their date. It's a big deal. There you go folks-have a great weekend! 

Personal Trainers

Time to get my friends together- I am going to need support! Any day now we get the plan for my upcoming weight loss surgery.. I am ready! 

I am currently looking for a personal trainer - hopefully someone between Cabot and North Little Rock. Part of being successful with weight loss surgery is working with the "window". When you get released to work out- you have six months to make the most of this surgery and weight loss. I need to find my person to help me- I will continue to lose weight after six months but, the most success happens then.

Friends, share your ideas..