Whoa!
"No Way!" A familiar shock and feeling stirred me up this morning. How is it that I went from 252.8 to 254.6 this morning? Yesterday, I had less calories, and was more physically active than the day before. Such is my relationship with the scale, a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, and surprise drops and uplifts.
During my prep for surgery readiness, I opted for additional therapy sessions with the psychologist. I was going through a difficult, emotional season in my life. I wanted advice and tools I could use to handle stress and emotional eating habits. I have seen too many gastric bypass patients regain their weight through this type of eating. On one visit I weighed in and gained not 1, not 3, not 5, not even 10 lbs but gained 14 pounds! I was mortified that one could gain 14 lbs in 1 week. She and I started writing down foods I ate the previous week. There was definite cause for weight gain but not 14 lbs. I left that week dumbfounded and discouraged. However, I did my best to eat less often, and consider healthier options during my stressful days or emotional frenzies. The next week I had lost 9 lbs. In comparing my eating habits like the time of day, amounts of foods, and how often, I saw little change. I had gotten into the habit of a decent breakfast later in the morning, a late large lunch, and a small (because usually full from big lunch) supper or snack in the evening. The difference was the sodium content of foods. The week prior to the 14 lb weight gain I had eaten pizza with pepperoni and sausage, ham, fried chicken, and potatoes with gravy and other high sodium restaurant or processed foods. Granted the calories warranted a weight gain. Though the foods weren't on my nutrition or diabetic plan, I had kept them moderate. Alas, my point. Yesterday, and in fact the past three days, I have had canned cream soups (blended with milk before warming) throughout the day. The portions too large and too frequent.
Prior to starting the liquid diet phase, I had to watch a detailed video on how to prepare foods, what foods to buy, and how much nutritional value the meals and snack liquids were to provide. Specifically, I was taught about the value of high protein, and sufficient amount of carbs. The instructions clearly stated that I was to have 3-4 protein shakes a day. The allowable liquid food options were for snacks and supplementation. I, as stated in previous post, don't care to have sweet or vanilla tasting meals 3xs a day. I was having 1 shake a day and supplementing my appetite with canned regular soups and a high protein yogurt. In the video, it is clear that I was to buy low sodium broths, soups, etc. Did I listened? No! I have learned my lesson and hope that the scale will soon drop again, keeping in mind that nutrition is vital, and the object is to shrink the liver and to lose weight is a beautiful plus.
I met a friend at a restaurant yesterday. I will have to post about friends and gastric bypass on another post. For now, I want to share my success. Prior to going to restaurant, I did my homework. Commercial chain restaurant sites are good to provide the nutritional values of their items on their websites, plus there are other sites that post restaurant nutritional values. I looked up tomato soup at the restaurant, and unsweetened tea. I was able to get the information I needed to stay on plan. The soup was not completely without texture. Small minute flecks of onion were sparingly included. I counted it as all good and enjoyed every spoonful as my sweet friend enjoyed her chicken tender salad, rolls, and butter. The best part was she and I had wonderful conversation and I walked away from table knowing that I can do this. It is about that "click" I posted about on Day 1.
In closing, I report that from 259.8 at start of day 1 to start of today - day 4, I am now 254.6. A solid 5 lbs lost. Again, a beautiful benefit but more so a healthier, smaller liver.
Today's challenge: Our church is having a homecoming service. In the south here, we celebrate a time when families abroad come back to their home church for a visit. How do we fellowship after church? A huge buffet of wonderful, rich, homemade southern dishes and desserts - always my favorite a southern coconut cake. I will be going to service but not staying. I know this will not be the first time I will encounter a feast after all Thanksgiving is coming. I do know that avoidance isn't the answer. The consideration of my hunger scale, my fullness scale, my attentiveness to my new stomach capacity, and more importantly my weight loss and health goals will have to be in priority. No one has ever said the journey would be easy but all have said it was worth it.
During my prep for surgery readiness, I opted for additional therapy sessions with the psychologist. I was going through a difficult, emotional season in my life. I wanted advice and tools I could use to handle stress and emotional eating habits. I have seen too many gastric bypass patients regain their weight through this type of eating. On one visit I weighed in and gained not 1, not 3, not 5, not even 10 lbs but gained 14 pounds! I was mortified that one could gain 14 lbs in 1 week. She and I started writing down foods I ate the previous week. There was definite cause for weight gain but not 14 lbs. I left that week dumbfounded and discouraged. However, I did my best to eat less often, and consider healthier options during my stressful days or emotional frenzies. The next week I had lost 9 lbs. In comparing my eating habits like the time of day, amounts of foods, and how often, I saw little change. I had gotten into the habit of a decent breakfast later in the morning, a late large lunch, and a small (because usually full from big lunch) supper or snack in the evening. The difference was the sodium content of foods. The week prior to the 14 lb weight gain I had eaten pizza with pepperoni and sausage, ham, fried chicken, and potatoes with gravy and other high sodium restaurant or processed foods. Granted the calories warranted a weight gain. Though the foods weren't on my nutrition or diabetic plan, I had kept them moderate. Alas, my point. Yesterday, and in fact the past three days, I have had canned cream soups (blended with milk before warming) throughout the day. The portions too large and too frequent.
Prior to starting the liquid diet phase, I had to watch a detailed video on how to prepare foods, what foods to buy, and how much nutritional value the meals and snack liquids were to provide. Specifically, I was taught about the value of high protein, and sufficient amount of carbs. The instructions clearly stated that I was to have 3-4 protein shakes a day. The allowable liquid food options were for snacks and supplementation. I, as stated in previous post, don't care to have sweet or vanilla tasting meals 3xs a day. I was having 1 shake a day and supplementing my appetite with canned regular soups and a high protein yogurt. In the video, it is clear that I was to buy low sodium broths, soups, etc. Did I listened? No! I have learned my lesson and hope that the scale will soon drop again, keeping in mind that nutrition is vital, and the object is to shrink the liver and to lose weight is a beautiful plus.
I met a friend at a restaurant yesterday. I will have to post about friends and gastric bypass on another post. For now, I want to share my success. Prior to going to restaurant, I did my homework. Commercial chain restaurant sites are good to provide the nutritional values of their items on their websites, plus there are other sites that post restaurant nutritional values. I looked up tomato soup at the restaurant, and unsweetened tea. I was able to get the information I needed to stay on plan. The soup was not completely without texture. Small minute flecks of onion were sparingly included. I counted it as all good and enjoyed every spoonful as my sweet friend enjoyed her chicken tender salad, rolls, and butter. The best part was she and I had wonderful conversation and I walked away from table knowing that I can do this. It is about that "click" I posted about on Day 1.
In closing, I report that from 259.8 at start of day 1 to start of today - day 4, I am now 254.6. A solid 5 lbs lost. Again, a beautiful benefit but more so a healthier, smaller liver.
Today's challenge: Our church is having a homecoming service. In the south here, we celebrate a time when families abroad come back to their home church for a visit. How do we fellowship after church? A huge buffet of wonderful, rich, homemade southern dishes and desserts - always my favorite a southern coconut cake. I will be going to service but not staying. I know this will not be the first time I will encounter a feast after all Thanksgiving is coming. I do know that avoidance isn't the answer. The consideration of my hunger scale, my fullness scale, my attentiveness to my new stomach capacity, and more importantly my weight loss and health goals will have to be in priority. No one has ever said the journey would be easy but all have said it was worth it.
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