I wanted to wait until I went to my first Doctors appt. since surgery to update and I did that on the 19th of this month. Everything went very well with my Doc; he told me that I was doing excellent . I have now lost a total of 57lbs and which 34lbs was before surgery and 23lbs after. My incisions are healing up better than expected. My doctor told me pressing and rubbing the incisions is better than putting scar medicine on them. I have already started using Mederma and they are really starting to blend into the color of my skin. 

Over the last month everything has been going really well for me. So far happiness has taken over. That is not to say that I have not had trying times but I guess that is just to be expected. As the days go on transforming into my new lifestyle has become effortless. Some of the challenging aspects have been getting all of my vitamins in on the daily basis. I have gotten better with it especially now that I can take pills instead of chewable vitamins. My walking routine had taken the back seat; I was only getting about 3-4 walking sessions in a week and I knew that was not good. When I went to my Dr. he suggested only doing 30 minutes every day because it is better than doing 45 minutes to an hour only 4 days a week. I was told if I do not walk everyday that my metabolism will slow down slower than normal now that I have the surgery and by walking every single day I will keep it up and running and lose more weight.

About a couple of weeks ago I stopped using my 1/4 cups to measure my food even though I was told do not get in the habit of eye balling portions. I just was not satisfied after eating that amount of food and found myself being satisfied after eating probably just a little more than I should have. I don’t actually want to be full but I don’t want to think about food when I can’t eat and that is exactly what I would do because I was not satisfied. I expressed my concerns about still being unsatisfied after eating to my doctor and he said that some people never have that feeling. When my monthly visitor arrived I really wanted to eat and snack and that caused me to really have to focus on the right things to do. I am a vegetarian and I felt like my choices of foods were not as dense as actual meat; I felt that contributed to me being unsatisfied and my doctor agreed. The doc said sometimes people won’t feel satisfied or even vomit if they eat too much so the pouch does not always let you know when you have had enough and not to let that be an indicator. I went and bought a few things that were higher in protein to help me with my portions. Thanks to my WLS buddy I have tried some new soy meats that I really like and my portions are back to where they are suppose to be. Dr.Baggs said whatever you do stick to the plan because I will regret it later and with that being said I am back to using my little black cups.

I was told not to eat out and I have slipped up there. I have gone to Wendy’s and gotten a baked potato with shredded cheese when I have not made it home in time to eat dinner. I also had shrimp and vegetables from a Chinese food place. I just ate the shrimp and a few mushrooms and zucchini out of it over three meals. I think my main slip up is when I went to Boston Market after being out all day and very hungry at almost 10 pm. I had some creamed spinach, zucchini casserole, and red potatoes. I came home and ate more than I should have even though I put it on a small plate. I did not regret one moment because it was sooo goood and also the first day of my monthly visitor so it was all her fault . Before surgery I would drink more than 64 oz of water a day and now I am lucky to get down three bottles of water. I fortunately do not have a problem with taking bigger sips of water so I think with some time I will be back to getting in 64oz. I am not a coffee drinker but one day I had the urge to get a decaf latte from Starbucks. I added the surger free carmel syrup and a few sprinkles of vanilla and it was really good and filling. On some of those really hot days we had here in Cali, I went to 7 eleven and enjoyed the crystal light slurpees they have now.  I have had three different flavors and they all were great.

As for clothes I am wearing a 16W and can fit 1xl and XL shirts. Fortunately I have a lot of clothes that I had when I lost weight before. I have fun pulling things out that I could not get past my thighs and now they just will not button and that means I should be able to fit them soon. The other day I went over to my parents’ house and when I walked into the room where my Mom was and continued into the kitchen. Before I could sit down she said come back in here I can’t believe how small you have gotten. Just today my neighbor told me my face has gotten smaller. I love hearing those comments.