Going for the 2nd fill....

ok...so I made the appt. to have my 2nd fill on Feb. 5th. While I'd been sorta waffling about having it done, I knew I was reaching the point where I'm beginning to NOT feel full after a meal, however, the biggest influence in deciding to go ahead was caused by my visit to my eye doctor on Monday. Turns out she'd had lapband surgery in March of last year. She's lost 60 lbs. and wants to lose another 40. She's had 3 slippages of the band and is having it replaced in 2 weeks. She said she never exercises and that she sometimes goes all day without eating!! I don't know how she goes without eating! I would be physically ill, I think. Hearing about the bad experience of someone else just makes me more determined to get the weight off.

I'm having to really work on getting more protein in my body because I've started losing hair!! I cannot afford to do this as menopause and/or family genes have not been nice to me. I am currently NOT liking my hair at all!!! I got a cut over the holidays and it's rather shaggy. It looks so good when Gwen fixes it, but I'm too lazy to get up and actually blow dry it (gad....I used to actually fix my hair every day---full makeup every day---pantyhose every day!!) or use a diffuser, so I just use mousse and hope for the best.

More changes...

1. I'm sad....Wal-mart in Bonham is no longer carrying my favorite crunchy, salty snack!! The local grocery doesn't carry them either. :( These things are what really helped me in my first month after surgery.

2. My arms feel closer to my sides---instead of stuck out like a Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloon.

3. For some reason my thighs felt skinnier this week, too. I notice it when I'm walking.

4. I am actually wearing a size smaller pant---I wore my others until they were just ridiculous looking--literally flapping in the breeze! I've bought 2 new pair for school, but I'm still "shopping" out of my closet. I've taken several pieces of clothing to a co-worker at school. She was thrilled with the 2 pr. of dress pants that I took her.

5. It was nice to have several spontaneous compliments from co-workers this week! One told me I was looking younger and my face was looking thinner. Another gave me a hug and told me she is so proud of me for doing this. My principal has been very supportive and seems like she makes a comment at least once a week that she's noticing I'm still losing. I saw Rickey & Vickie just before we started back to school....and they were both complimentary also. I just can't repeat what Rickey said! LOL

6. I'm beginning to not feel as full and satisfied after eating, so that means I need to have another fill. I'll have to call and schedule one. I'm just not sure that I'm mentally ready.

Holiday excitement...

I haven't even thought about checking to see if I've lost 2 more lbs. during the holidays....have had no eating schedule at all what with the travel to Lisa's for Christmas, travel to Hope, AR (to take Warren & Jake to the Crater of Diamonds), and a day-trip to take Warren to Sam Rayburn House and him and Jake to Ft. Washita, OK. I've tried to be careful about what I eat when we were out. Had my first hamburger during that time....too much of a hassle for me to eat one more than a few times a year! The top bun is just too much. Headed to the bathroom, but I felt it finally go down before I got there. Ended up just pinching off the bun as I went. Tried eating a biscuit at Cracker Barrel with breakfast of egg beaters and bacon....barely made it to the bathroom before I threw it up! They are just too soft and squishy! Makes me dread having a 2nd fill! I'll have to make sure I really, really, really chew meat well. Don't have it scheduled...am thinking that end of January/early February might be the time.

My surgeon ordered bloodwork to be done before the end of the year in order to check that I'm getting enough nutrition. So on the 26th I head to my regular doctor in Denison early (since I had to fast)...they tell me that it is a lot of bloodwork and they can't even do some it (why? aren't they only drawing it out of me??)...so had to go to the plebotomist in the hospital....who also exclaimed over how much bloodwork was ordered. At this point, I'm worried....I know I'm not hydrated enough if Nurse Vampire is commenting on how much blood needs to be drawn. She puts in a "butterfly" in the left arm and proceeds to draw 4 vials. The "well" dries up before she can get a syringe in to pull out more. So she tries to get a good vein on the right....not having any luck. And then it hit me!!! Gad!! Sweating profusely, very weak.....and I told her I felt it coming. It got so bad that another nurse had to come hold me in the chair! Had to start doing the slow, deep breathing. I honestly felt like I could just slither on to the floor into a puddle! I never felt dizzy or saw spots, but I knew if I tried to stand up that I'd probably faint. I just wanted to lay down! Finally, I was able to get up and go lay down on an EKG table nearby. Nurse Vampire took advantage and stuck me on the forearm and drew 4 more vials of blood. I had to call Kari & Warren to come and get me! Nurse V. brought me a small glass of water and some nasty o.j., but I drank it anyway. I hope I don't have to do this on a regular basis....I really meant to make sure I drank enough water before bed the night before and after I got up, but in all the Christmas hustle bustle, I just didn't.

After Kari & Warren head home tomorrow, I'm going to clean out my closets of clothes that are just too big---I'll keep some just to slouch around in at home....and I have to keep at least one pair of pants for comparison purposes later.

I'm headed back to a regular schedule tomorrow when I send home all the extra food stuff with Kari & Warren.

Still losing...

Despite a month of hobbling around with no pretense of any form of exercise, I'm still losing! Dr.Green said he was pleased with my results so far (and I did NOT have to talk to the nutritionist). I do have to go have labs done before the end of the year just to make sure I'm staying nutritionally healthy.

I really wanted to lose a total of 50 lbs. by Christmas, but I'll be happy to lose a total of 50 by early to mid-January. Just losing 3 more pounds means that I'll have less than 100 to lose!! (Doesn't that just seem like an enormous amount of weight to lose??) It will be amazing that I'll end up having lost weight that is equal to the weight of a healthy person.

I'm beginning to really tell a difference. I think my largest lapband scar has slid down about 2 inches! (I won't mention other things that seem to be headed south in a hurry!)

Last week I made a quick low-fat chili recipe that is yummmy!

Kim's Quick and Lean Chili

1 md. sweet onion
1-2 t. minced garlic
1 T. olive oil
1 lb. of 93/7 lean hamburger meat
1 can Ro-tel Chili Fixin's
1 can Ranch pinto beans with jalapenos
fresh cilantro, optional
1 can of water

Caramelize the onions and garlic in the olive oil. Remove and set aside when done. Cook hamburger meat until well browned. Add rest of ingredients and stir well. Let simmer for about 15 minutes.

Serve over low-fat tortilla chips and top with low-fat shredded cheese.

Bit off more than I can chew.....

I attempted to eat a sliced bbq sandwich this week.....and could only manage about half of it. The bun is too soft...which I expected. I just couldn't chew the meat up enough...which became painful in its journey from the small upper stomach pouch through the lapband ring to the lower part of my stomach. I finally gave up....fed the rest to Missy (the Arthur's dog).

Mentally, I'm having to come to grips with giving up some really chewy things (unless I cut them in teeny tiny pieces, which I haven't done yet). It's just so much easier (lazier?) to stick to yogurt, shaved turkey or ham, soups, jello & cottage cheese.

Right now I'm at 39-40 lbs. lost, which is a good thing....and when the next 10 lbs. come off, that will be a real milestone for me in this process.

Put the soup on...

Soups are so much easier for me to eat....even though I get really hungry for some meat to chew on! They tend to be lower calorie, very tasty and filling--which is what I need.

Found this recipe in a recent issue of People Magazine. :

Bus Stop White Chili
(a recipe from Martina McBride)

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 14 ½ oz. cans chicken broth
1 ½ t. white pepper (or use black pepper)
1 t. garlic powder
3 T. olive oil
2 15 oz. cans great northern beans or navy beans
2 4 ½ oz. cans chopped green chilies
1 10 ½ oz. can cream of chicken soup
3 T. (or less) jalapeno pepper juice (this could be optional)
2 T. minced fresh cilantro
1 t. salt

[Notes: Buy the low-sodium, healthy request versions of the broth and soup. This recipe could also be cut in half.]

Put chicken in glass baking dish, pour in 1 can chicken broth, cover with tinfoil and bake at 350 for an hour. Remove chicken and reserve broth. Cut chicken into small pieces and season with pepper and garlic.

Saute chicken in oil in pot for 2-3 min. Add reserved broth and remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 min.

To serve, cut 6-8 corn tortillas into ¼ in. strips. Place in serving bowls. Ladle chili on top. Garnish with sour cream and grated mozzarella cheese if desired.

[Another note: the tortillas can be cut in strips and put in the soup pot while it simmers. This serves as a good thickener.]

Eating out...

While living without a fridge this week, I was pleased to discover how much my mind-set has changed. Some people wouldn't have complained about eating out for a week, but I dreaded the thought of having to deal with finding good choices. Mostly, I ended up skipping some meals. The bread on buns of sandwiches has become more difficult to get down since it is not toasted. It tends to ball up and stick a bit inside the upper part of my stomach. A new fridge was delivered yesterday and I promptly went and bought good things to eat---fruit, veggies, cottage cheese, lean sandwich meats. These are things that aren't fried, are low in calories, low in fat, low in sugar, and healthy.

On the subject of eating out, I ran across the list of the 20 worst foods in America:

[Keep in mind that an average person just maintaining his/her weight shouldn't have more than , 1,000-1,500 calories, 35 g fat, 300 g of carbs a day, and less than 2,300 mg sodium a day.]

20. McDonald's Chicken Select 5 pc. chicken strips--830 calories, 55 g fat, 48 g carbs (if you have lg. fries and pop, it is 1750 calories)
19. Jamba Juice Chocolate Moo'd Powered Smoothie--900 calories, 10 g fat, 183 g carbs
18. Pepperidge Farm Roasted Chicken Pot Pie--1,020 calories, 64 g fat, 86 g carb
17. Ruby Tuesday Bella Turkey Burger--1,145 calories, 71 g fat, 56 g carb
16. Chipotle Mexican Grill Chicken Burrito--1,179 calories, 47 g fat, 125 g carb, 2,656 mg sodium
15. Macaroni Grill Double Mac and Cheese-- 1,210 calories, 62 g fat, 3,450 mg sodium
14. Quiznos Classic Italian--1,528 calories, 92 g fat, 110 g carbs, 4,604 mg sodium
13. On the Border Grande Taco Salad With Taco Beef--1,450 calories, 102 g fat, 78 g carb, 2,410 mg sodium
12. Carl's Jr. Double Six Dollar Burger--1,520 calories, 111 g fat
11. Lonestar 20 oz. T-bone--1,540 calories, 124 g fat (add the baked potato and lettuce wedge, it is 2,700 calories)
10. Bob Evans Caramel Banana Pecan Creme Stacked and Stuff Hotcakes--1,540 calories, 77 g fat, 198 g carbs
9. Chili's Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie With Vanilla Ice Cream--1,600 calories, 78 g fat, 215 g carbs
8. P. F. Chang's Pork Lo Mein--1,820 calories, 127 g fat, 95 g carbs
7. Chili's Honey Chipotle Crispers With Chipotle Sauce--2,040 calories, 99 g fat, 240 g carbs
6. On The Border Dos XX Fish Tacos with Rice and Beans--2,100 calories, 130 g fat, 169 g carbs, 4,750 mg sodium
5. Uno Chicago Grill Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza--2,310 calories, 162 g fat, 123 g carbs, 4,470 mg sodium
4. Macaroni Grill Spaghetti and Meat Sauce--2,430 calories, 128 g fat, 207 g carbs, 5,290 mg sodium
3. On the Border Stacked Border Nachos--2,740 calories, 166 g fat, 191 g carbs, 5,280 mg sodium
2. Chili's Awesome Blossom--2,710 calories, 203 g fat, 194 g carbs, 6,360 mg sodium
1. Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries With Ranch Dressing--2,900 calories, 182 g fat, 240 g carbs

Kinda scary, huh, when you start looking at all the numbers.