First fill!

Did I forget about blogging?  A tiny bit.  

Honestly not much has been going on except me eating like a baby hippo.  

Actually that was before last Friday!

My doctor was out of town on the 2 week post-op appointment.  They gave me a choice of seeing someone else or waiting an extra week.  No problem, I'll wait!  At that point I was so sick of being poked and prodded I'd HAPPILY wait longer to go back.  My healing was all going as planned and I felt pretty normal.

Then I couldn't make my appointment at 3 weeks.  Dr's office said it was OK if I wanted to reschedule..so I did 2 weeks later.  Bad bad bad I know!  I guess.. Really, it didn't matter too much. 

My doctor disagreed and openly wondered why in the world he didn't have my post-op records and then why the heck I didn't come back until 5 weeks later??  EH, I'm fine and dandy I told him!  Although, VERY hungry.  Well he said "looks like we should adjust the band" (Yessss!!!!) I wasn't expecting a fill.  The nurse told me a while back he would NOT do fills before 6 weeks.  No exceptions.  Yeah bitches, that's that?  Fill at 5 weeks.  UH-HUH.  No food diary either (I didn't bring it because again, I wasn't expecting a fill)

The fill itself took a whole 3 minutes or less but was a bit uncomfortable.  Doc told me to bring my dang food diary, start REALLY learning to chew my food slower and limit my carbs.  My plan is to be in 220's by the time I see him in a month.  I'm 237 now.. this is reasonable I believe. 

Since Friday I have definitely noticed a difference.  Not a HUGE one, but there's something.  I get that almost stuck feeling when my band is telling me to stop eating.  I've been avoiding all slider foods and having very very little bread in general.  I start roller derby again this week finally (full 6 weeks after surgery) and that is my main form of activity which will hopefully help speed up some loss!  

But yeah, that's what's going on in my banded life at that moment :)

Woah Holidays!

Thanksgiving has come and gone.  Nothing too crazy happening on my end.   Started internet Christmas shopping!  My plan is to avoid most stores/malls until February.  Of course I'll go here and there but I really buy most things online.

I was banded 1 month ago tomorrow!  And boy do I feel it..hunger that is.

Swelling and pain are a distant memory and I'm left with starvation.  Dramatic much?  Oh well.

I have my first follow-up next week and first fill in 2 weeks.  Thank GOSH.  I wish I could be one of those people who never even needed a fill but alas, no way. 

No complications, scars are healing well and I can finally sneeze without cringing at the same time. 

This is all fine and well except the more I forget about having surgery, the more I feel like "going back to normal"..IE:eating out a bunch, drinking coffee, snacking..  I keep telling myself "you had SURGERY, MORON".  Stop acting like you didn't spend 3.5 weeks in pain for nothing.  Ya know??

Drinking water like a boss.  PLUS I can finally go back to skating next week!!  So excited.  Roller skating is my main form of exercise and I have been missing it terribly.   

I did my first 5K the other weekend!  I jogged just a bit here and there..incision where port is really started aching so I had to tone it down a bit (cause I was running so hardcore...not)

Anyway, I made a decision that I will sign up for 1 run a month once they start happening again.  That way when I reach a year and do the 5K again I'll know just how far I've come with my pace/time. 

Here's to a successful week and first official weigh-in next week!!

Permanent things.

Now for something completely different.  

Tribute to French Polynesia

Lovely mermaid (done in Amsterdam)

Left arm.  Started in Osaka, Japan.  Finished in MD.

Done on Bora Bora free-hand. (my only non-color piece!)

My Maryland gypsy girl.

Roller skate (my derby tattoo)

Skeleton Key

Love my fur-babies.

Tea Party (the good kind!)

My love of travel. (done in Paris)

Polka dot hearts & plaid

I made that up. It doesn't have anything to do with this post.  

Almost 2 weeks since surgery.  I have gotten stuck a few times since that one "terrible mistake" night where I attempted to consume a tiny piece of an onion.  

In the past I "joked" I could never be anorexic or bulimic because I don't have enough will power to resist food and I despise throwing up.  I can safely say after getting stuck 5 times so far, I do not fear the regurgitation.  Do I like it?  Hellz no.  However, I am greatly intrigued by the signs my body gives me.  Such as - HICCUPS!  

I get crazy fast hiccups when I am stuck.  Then I speed walk to the nearest toilet and hope for the best.  

My shoulder gets really weird when I get too full too fast.  

I am working on eating WAY slower.  I have to constantly remind myself  -you are not normal.  I don't mean that in a bad way but I HAD SURGERY.  So when I start gobbling tuna salad and I get stuck I think ohhhh shit, that's right.  I know ( I hope) it will get easier and become a way of life (like my vitamins have) but for now I have to be a very mindful eater.  And that might never change.  

Something else is that I am still feeling pain in my port area.  I know a reader said she felt it for weeks which made me less worrisome but I don't know.. it's like my body knows something strange and foreign is inside it and says "no no, you get out you crazy plastic thing".  I am very aware of it.  That is also due to the swelling over the actual port (I think?).

This past weekend I went to a wedding in North Carolina.  Food/drinks were plentiful but I believe I did OK.  Not much alcohol at all and combined with the stuck episodes, I'm not even sure how much food actually stayed down..  This morning I weighed in at 232.  I think the last time I was weighed at the dr's I was 245..This is without any working out and mainly feeding my body to heal.  I hope to start working out really soon.. RN said not to use my elliptical machine "in case I fall off".  Honestly I am more likely to fall off a treadmill than my elliptical which I have used for 3 years (off and on.........) Ya know?

I shall leave you with one of my favorite views on this earth.  French Polynesia.  I took this picture when we were on the island of Bora Bora.  Le sigh. 

Oh hey it's Tuesday!

Feeling pretty great.  Each day has been easier.  I cannot (CANNOT) believe it's been a week already tomorrow.  Funny how taking off work can make the week just fly by!  

1 week ago I was wondering what was in store for me.  I can safely say I was a bit mistaken on a few things.  But no worries.  I love soup so that hasn't been too difficult.  Working in an Italian restaurant?  Now that was a bit difficult today.  There were definite moments I wanted to go grab a slice of pizza.  The moments passed.  But there will be many more.  

Now on to a bit of pain.  I believe it's where my port was put.  But after a few minutes of sitting down it starts to ache a bit.  I am currently standing and typing at a tall table.  I assume this is normal but one never does know.  My appointment with doctor A isn't until Monday November 21.  The incisions look pretty normal.  I haven't taken the tape off some of them..Not sure if I should?  HMMM....

I have been drinking water like a BOSS.  Made a protein shake yesterday!
Unflavored protein powder
Carnation instant breakfast (chocolate)
PB2
1% milk
Ice

It was actually pretty good!!  I blended the shit out of it to try and erase all trace of protein powder taste. Then I let it sit for a bit. 

Seems like a lot of bloggers participate in a Monday questionnaire of sorts from this lovely blogger.  I picked some random questions from sometime ago.  Just for fun ;)

1.  What is your favorite food?

Crabcakes!
2.  What color scheme is your bedroom?

Neat blue color with brown.
3.  Do you carry a donor card?

My license says I am a donor..not sure what a donor card is..
4.  In your opinion, is the glass half empty or half full?

My glass just is. 
5.  Vanilla or Chocolate?

Depends!  Damn, now I'm thinking of sweet stuff.  Argh.

Protein blech.

Maybe protein powder wouldn't be so expensivo if they didn't ALL come with plastic scoops??

Just throwing that out there...

I went to GNC today again.  The guy that works there..I told him just about everything EXCEPT "I just had surgery" but basically did more hinting than I thought necessary.  He has recommended every single weight loss, appetite suppressant, herbal supplement possible.  I tell him "no thank you, just picking up a different protein powder".  Well then he feels the need to show me the meal replacements with 4 grams of protein.  

Which I get more of from my beloved Carnation Instant Breakfasts thankyouverymuch. 

I'm just not sure this liquid protein business is for me.  I have been tempted to eat it by the spoonful so I don't have to put it in anything else.  The vanilla isn't actually that bad.  In powder form. 

Currently, I am eating 98% fat-free cream of chicken with a plastic scoop and a half of unflavored protein powder.  It's not disgusting.  That's all I can say.  

I came out of the band closet to my parents.  Now, technically I told them a month ago I was doing this.  Response I got? "no".  Ha...they said NO!  No, you are not getting weight-loss surgery.  They watch The Biggest Loser too much.  Have only been told the negatives, possible bad side effects and such.  They were very concerned for my health but told me if I go on the treadmill it will better.  As most of us know, that isn't the case.  They came around and I informed them about the lesser evasive surgery and they are very supportive.  So far besides the interwebz and medical staff the following people know: Husband, brothers, parents & nail technician.  <-she's cool like that.

By Thanksgiving I'll officially be on solids but really when I listed in my mind the things I'll eat, most of it is pretty mushy/easy food.  I'm not too worried about Thanksgiving anyway..never been a huge T-dinner type person. 

Now, apple crumble pie?  I'll take that with a big spoon please. 

Things with protein I enjoy?  TUNA!  I love tuna.  I cannot wait until I "can" have it. 

Om nom nom. Eggs are cool as well.  I can do scrambled like it's my job.

Biscuit & me. 

Roasted Vegetable Soup

This is a collaboration between the Husband and myself!

Cauliflower

Baby Carrots

Onion

Olive Oil

Seasoning to taste

Vegetable Broth

Cut up all the veggies and roast them in the oven for about 20 minutes.  Let cool, then process the begeejus out of em'.  Add vegetable broth.  Use hand mixer or smoothie maker and pulse to make sure everything is pureed to perfection.  Put in fridge and heat/eat whenever.  Like right now.

That's about as fancy as I get, kids.  

Use whatever veggies you like.  We kept it fairly simple to test this time.   

Next time we may include-asparagus, broccoli, zucchini, tomatoes..you get the idea.  This could work for almost any veggie.  I love roasting the vegetables first to get them nice and soft but also the flavor it adds to a really basic soup.

Don't get cute and attempt to eat a TINY piece of an onion.  You may or may not experience your first "stuck" episode, intense hiccups and a general crappy feeling for about an hour.  Dang.