Day 3 of the 5daypouch Test !!!

Day 3 check in.  As I began my daily routine this morning at 2:15 am. to get my husband up and ready for work.  I began to pack his lunch and make coffee. I was thinking "WOW" day 3 already and I'm beginning to feel a difference.  I put on 4 boiled eggs to cook while finishing up with packing our lunches.  Which usually consists of 2 salads (2) half cups of fruit (2) containers of measured salad dressing (2) half cups cottage cheese. However, due to me doing the 5daypouchtest, I'm only packing 1 regular lunch and then what my guide advises me to pack and eat for the day for myself.

I then begin to put together breakfast (oatmeal). The serving size that is on the back side of the oatmeal box, is actually too much oatmeal per meal for us. So I break it down to 1/4 cup which makes 1/2 cup of oatmeal when cooked.  I package up the entire box of oatmeal into the small snack size baggies based on the same amount that comes in the prepackaged boxes.  For a fraction of what the prepackaged boxes cost. I can't help it, Frugal is in my blood. This is usually our standard lunch.

Being day 3, I was looking forward to introducing soft foods back into my pouch and I was so excited about the eggs that I was about to consume at yes (3am) in the morning, after all it was day 3.  I need the protein and based on some of the research that I have read, the yolk has the highest protein count in it.  I don't eat the yellow.  I eat the whites. 

I had my strawberry smoothie for breakfast, sugarfree jello and for lunch I had tuna fish.  Since I'm not much of a fish fan, other than shrimp I doctored the tuna up with a teaspoon of mayo and lots of pepper.  Now let me explain the mayo that was added.  It's not recommended to add mayo to the soft food due to this is called or creates the food to become what is called slider food. Meaning it won't stay in your pouch long it will slide on through and the purpose of eating protein is to let it remain in your pouch so that you will have the feeling of being full.  However, I can't eat tuna plain.  Just can't go there....

For supper I had 3 boneless chicken wings from Wendy's. Oh, I forgot to mention, Congratulations to me.  I managed to get all of my water in.  No I didn't cheat, and I didn't drink 30 minutes before or after eating.  I did good....

Or my friend would quote from John Wayne. " Ya dun good"! 

Tah Tah! for now.
Have a wonderful and blessed evening.

Until tomorrow......

Day 2 of the 5daypouchtest !!

Good evening everyone,

Completed Day 2 successfully. Not as bad as I had anticipated, so far I'm not missing the carbs not even craving them. So that means that this test is beginning to work.   I was going to weigh myself yesterday before starting but something had been sitting on top of my scales. (battery was dead)  Yes I must confess, haven't been on them, due to me knowing that I had gained weight, this is not good. 

Now that I'm beginning to get back on track, I will begin weighing and holding myself accountable,  thats really what most of us need any way.  Accountability..  If you don't have a support system, then I would suggest journaling your every day intakes, exercise, food, water.  Then you should begin to see the progress.

Right after I woke up from having the surgery during recovery, it was amazing how I felt. Wasn't sure whether it was my imagination or this was how I was supposed to feel.  Waking up thinking that I would be thirsty, most patients usually are since being restricted after midnight the night before.  Food or even drinking was not even on my mind,  didn't even cross it for days. In fact, I had to make my self drink the first 2 wks, and force myself to eat once I was able to.  Had no desire.  The hunger feelings weren't there. 

I was shocked to think, Why didn't I want food or even fluid? That is a part of the tool, that was provided, thats the way that the new system would now be working.  With that being said, if you don't try to test the system, such as sugar, chips, or even an extra bite. You will find yourself doing well.  Don't test it. 

Today's liquid intake consisted of strawberry smoothie for breakfast,  jello for break, broth for lunch, and another smoothie for afternoon break, and this evening for super I enjoyed another bowl of tomato basil soup.  All of the above I mixed my protein powder in to make sure that I was receiving enough protein.  And of course, I conquered my water intake. Yeah for Me!!!!!...  I'm looking forward to tomorrow,  I will begin to reintroduce my pouch to soft foods. 

Until tomorrow evening,
Tah Tah for now.

Lisa
:)

Day 1 of the 5DayPouchTest!

Sucess for day1, almost...I did extremely well today, I started off this morning with my protein drink, of the isopure whey with strawberries and 1/2 c plain yogurt.  Then every 2 hours I was drinking water, until I managed to get 40 oz in before I left work this afternoon.  Bottles are lined up on my counter to remind me to finish up this evening.

For break this morning I began to feel hungry, contemplating whether it was head hunger or tummy hunger, I proceeded to pull out a package of chicken broth, prepared it and drank it.  Upon finishing it, I decided it was just head hunger.

Lunch came, I punched out, walked across the street to CVS to scan my little red card to see what kind of coupons were present today. What kind of coupon do you think I received?  $.99 cents off a bag of Brach's candy corn.  Huh!!!! Why is it when you are trying to get back on track you have all of these damaging products flashed before you?  (refined sugar) is a no no....Too much sugar, for me to consume, So I was lucky they were out and that coupon will just have to be wasted.  Upon exiting my wonderful drug store I walked over to the Chinese restaurant and picked up a container of broth from the hot and sour soup for lunch. Remember I'm on a liquid diet for 2 days.

For supper, I'm going to enjoy the tomato basil soup, that came in my 5daypouchtest kit from http://www.5daypouchtest.com/.

Friends, I'm on a mission,  1 Day down, 4 to go... and I will succeed. It will be worth the sacrifice to be back on track. Making the decision to have the surgery has been well worth what I have endured. Before surgery I was taking 12 different medications.  Today, I take 1 prescription medication on a monthly basis that is my B12 shots that I give myself and I have 1 medication that is PRN (only as needed) and I only need that if my feet and legs are swelling due to excess of sodium.  Which is rare, as long as I'm drinking the water.  Then there are the other over the counters that I will need to take the rest of my life,  Multi-vitamins, B12 sublingual, and calcium citrate. 

Thank you for coming back this evening, I'll report back in tomorrow evening.

Tah Tah for now.....
Lisa

Stepping back to The basics!!!

Just recently in the past 2 weeks, I ran across a website that talks about getting back on track with our pouches.  In case you aren't up to date on the term "pouches"  this is a new term for after surgery patients or "post op".  The term comes from having the gastric bypass, lapband, r&y, etc. The doctors tell us up front at the beginning of our 1st sessions, they are going to provide us a tool.  It is our responsibility to use it to the advantages that it provides.

I'm going to jump ahead of my previous posts for a little bit.  Over the last 2 years I've had quite a bit of stress.  And have found myself to be "grazing" as another term for us because of the size of our pouches we can't eat large quanities, so we eat small bites, continuously.  Until we start finding ourselves, gaining. I am so blessed to have ran across this website.

It provides us another tool, by letting us step back to the basics of the beginning of our journey's.  The first 2 wks post op, we could only drink fluids.  http://www.5daypouchtest.com/ has a lot of valuable information on it.  I ordered my kit last week and had scheduled myself to start it today, but I ran off and left my kit at home. So my goal is to begin tomorrow. I did however, start the fluid intakes today such as the water.  I recently found the aquapod waters on sale at foodlion and was able to stock up.  I have 2 cases under my desk at work and several at home.  I'm ready.....  I look forward to getting back to the basics.

http://www.livingafterwls.com is the website that I ran across that introduced me to the 5daypouchtest.  They offer soups and even recipes that will help you while you prepare your menu for the test.  This test is there to help you find out if your pouch is still working like it should. Once you get throught the test.  You will have the full feelings that you had when you first had the surgery. Giving you the fullness will help you to start loosing the weight again.  It will help to cut the carb cravings out. 

The lady that runs this website is Kay Bailey. And I have enjoyed reading her blogs and posts, I've even invited her as a friend on facebook and she has been posting some very informational videos.  If you get a chance hop on over to her websites and you will see what I'm so excited about.  I'll come back tomorrow evening once I get through the day and update you as to my progress. 

By the way, When I started researching for my surgery, It took me 3 years to get approved,  All I can say is when you start your mission to get approved. It is "Extremely Important" that you  Document, document, document..... names, dates, even the times that you call insurance companies or doctors.  Every time you go to the doctor have the doctor document that you spoke to him/her regarding what you are interested in.  When the time comes he will be more than happy to write you a letter of recommendation to your insurance company.  He will have all the documentation for your health issues. 

More on that later... I do apologize for jumping around, my organization skills are something that I need to work on. 

Halloween Shopping Savings

Good morning on this beautiful cool fall morning.

I've been up sometime, scoping out my deals this morning and thought I would share one that is really a "Hot" one.  Discovered it while surfing the many blogs that are posted for couponers, such as my self.
(obsessive I may add)

Do you have a CVS card? You know the little red card that you carry on your keychain?  If you don't use it, you really should begin.  Scan it when you enter CVS, They have a coupon machine, inside our local store that I visit, they even have $ signs on the floor marking a path to the machine.  How cool is that?  They really want you to use their coupons. You'll be surprised what coupon you will receive. Starting last sunday, CVS was sharing a generous coupon with us.  $5.00 Halloween costumes, accessories or decor.

I'm loving this, Freebies galore....  Of course, I make my rounds by the store about every morning on my way to work, since I do have to pass it.  Yes I am a coupon addict!!!!.  But Love to share with others so I usually pay my findings forward. Especially on thursdays if I pick up candy, cookies, popcorn, you get the picture, thursdays are a day of comfort food for us while we work.

Here are some of the deals that I picked up and didn't even pay tax on.

Halloween Socks -2/$5
small battery flickering pumpkins/skulls-2/$5
Buckets of popcorn-$4.99

and here are other deals that you could also use your coupons on, I just didn't really have a need for any.

Pumpkin Sippy Cups – 2/$4
Small Pumkin sippy cups $.99
Makeup Sets
Window Decals
Orange or Purple String Lights – $3.99
Flickering Battery operated Tea Lights $4.99
Blacklight Lightbulbs – $1
Wigs – for dress up!
SoftSoap Dispenser with Pumpkin Print forgot the price on this
Candles -$1 and up
Fake finger nails-$4.99
Masks -$1.99 and up
Trick or Treat Bags/Pumpkins
Trick or Treat Candy Bowls/baskets
cobb webb $2.99
Tarantulas $1.99
Bags of small erasers/pencils, these would make a great goodie to give to your teachers, They are small so it would need to be for older children.

Well I'm off to use my coupon that I had left over yesterday, thought I would adventure to a different CVS, I would like to get one of the bigger pumpkins that I've seen, to use on my front porch, Instead of a real one. 

Have fun with this, let me know if you enjoy me posting little shopping savings,  I'll also start posting a few recipes soon.

Tah Tah for now.

:)

Life changing decision 04

People that find they making the decision to have Bariatric surgery are due to them being overweight most or all of their lives.  Myself, I've had a different journey,  I never really struggled with weight like most of my family, my mother, older sister and even My dear Grandmother were overweight.
My weight struggle began after I had my children.

I always watched as they struggled, the obstacles that they endured with everyday life, especially in public, people can really be mean...

During my 1st pregnancy is where I began to struggle with weight issues, I gained over 70 lbs, taking me nearly 2 yrs afterward to loose most of it, not all.  Six and a half years later I became pregnant again, with this pregnancy I had a few complications, during which I gained around the same amount of weight. I also had Stress and it was an enemy. After delivery I weighed in at 235lbs, only loosing the 8 1/2 that I delivered. I had also decided that was all the children that I wanted.

Health issues along with family stress continued.  I felt like I had to eat to keep my strength up due to the female problems that were persistent.  All while taking care of 2 little boys, working, cooking, normal every day chores. It was good that I had a loving and supporting husband.  Health issues lingered on over 4 years, continuing to put weight on.  There was no time for me. Everyone else always came 1st.  My mother had always told me, "You need to take care of yourself, be good to yourself".  Did I ever listen?  No, I knew it all, so I thought. You know most of us think we are invincible.  My boys till this day think they know it all.  "SHHHHH don't tell them I said that!!!.. And they are 27 and 21.

After struggling and trying to loose weight, you know the routine, Diet pills, La weight loss, Dr's etc.  I would loose and then gain back that and then some.  Realizing what some of the trials that my family had experienced. I would exercise some.


It was when I went to get groceries at the store one day, thinking all of my female problems, had subdued, since I hadn't experienced anything in a week and a half.  I had my grocery buggy full and was headed to the check out.  A very strange feeling came over me I felt my bodies fluids began to flow.  It was like a faucet had been turned on.  Since I knew the store manager personally, I managed to get over to him with out any embarrassing incidents and asked him to hold my groceries for about an hour, I had an emergency that I would be back.  This was on a Friday evening, such as today.

I went back picked up the groceries, and continued my routine.   I called my husband in and advised him, I had, had enough I couldn't go on anymore.  So Monday I made an appt. My Dr. scheduled a hysterectomy.  And the next chapter would soon begin......I was now up to 250 lbs.

I'll give you a break now, this has given me a little inspiration to get up off my batooty and get moving.... Think I'll go for a walk.  I'll blog a little more in a day or so, keep visiting; I have a lot to post.

Tah Tah for now...  Have a great evening....

The Importance of Water

Good evening Everyone,

Hope everyone has had a wonderful week, especially with Fall in the air... Just wanted to take a few minutes and talk about a very important part of a days routine.  I'm world's worst at it, However, it doesn't take me long to discover the importance after I haven't drank the amounts of water that is needed.

When I first began my journey 4 years ago, I was advised of 1 of many important steps of my new found journey.  One being Water! Water! Water!

With the change of chemistry that goes along with the gastric bypass, you have certain guidelines that you need to follow for the importance of staying on track with your new found "pouch".  One being, you don't want to drink liquids 30 minutes before you eat.  So that when you eat you retain the nutrients especially protein that your body needs.  Then during your meal you don't want to drink, as this causes a slip slide effect for your food.  You want your food to stay as long as possible in your pouch so that you feel more full.  It is very important that you wait at least 30 minutes after you eat to drink. And believe me you don't want to eat and drink at the same time.  (It just doesn't work with me at all) The food/water doesn't stay down.

Now should you get a little choked or food seems dry you can sip enough to get the food on through.
sometimes I forget the importance that the water provides, until I fail to drink it.  Take for instance, Dehydration can creep up on you really quickly.  Sometimes when you think you are hungry, its actually your body telling you that its thirsty. Thursdays are usually a big day of stress for me. Sometimes I find myself not even eating/drinking at all.  I'm just not hungry or don't think about it.

About 5a.m. this morning I woke up with an extremely raging headache,  I then began to recall what could have caused this,  since most patients have limited over the counter pain medication that you can take, you have to watch what you take.  Aspirin I was told at the beginning wasn't a option to take. It can cause complications  in our pouches.  So I stick to tylenol. It usually works. However, when I visualized thursday it didn't take me long to realize I had, had NO water at all. Just 1 cup of decaffeniated coffee that morning. 

Since I hadn't finished my work from yesterday I didn't have an option of calling in sick, so I toughed it out.  You know what I mean! I'm sure most people can relate to that. As the day went on, Lunch time came and I left went home laid down for 20 minutes, proceeded to return to work.  I made a u-turn to the nearest drug store. Mind you now, I don't like purchasing ANYTHING that I don't have a coupon for.  Today was an exception.  I had to have some relief.  I spoke with the pharmacist and advised him that I needed something stronger. 

Since he knew my history I asked him about excedrin, so it was decided on that I could probably tolerate a 1/2 a tablet, as I don't do caffeine. Once I returned to work I immediately scoped out a bottle of water from the 3 cases that are under my desk. (yes you read right) They are there to remind me to drink them.... Image that.  By 3 P.m. this afternoon I began to get relief.  By the time I left work my headache was diminished.  I don't know whether it was the excedrin that I taken or the fact that it was Friday (WHOO HOOOO!!).  So with that being said,  I finished up the bottle of water I used to take the relief medication and I'm working on another bottle.  So just because you haven't had a gastric (bariatric procedure) doesn't mean you don't need water.  Drink! Drink! Drink!.... You body will love you for it. 

Tah Tah for now.  Have a great evening,  I'll post again soon

:)