Month Seven: How you doin’?

Month Seven: How you doin’?

Aug 05

Ok, Ok, Ok…. I haven’t been the best on keeping up this blog. What can I say? It’s summer and I have a hyper little 16 month to run after and….well….I love to nap. But alas I am seven months into my “sleeve-lifestyle” me and “dirty bitch” have been having a grand old time together I must say.

Let’s see I guess I’m updating you on two months out of my life. School got out and almost immediately hubby, baby and I took off to California-home of everything wonderful. We went for a wedding and some much needed R&R. We spent about a month in California and drove from wine country to San Diego stopping off to see and do everything and anything our hearts desired. Our little guy was a car driving super-star I must say and didn’t complain once about the long drives.

I had my 6 month check-up with Dr. Nicholson where I was told I was doing really well and they would like me to loose an additional 40lbs by December 27th (my surgiversery) They also suggested I go speak with a nutritionalist to oversee things. But I don’t have any childcare over the summer so I haven’t been able to make that appointment work out.

I’ve switch my pre-made premier protein drinks with the powered form and I’ve been experimenting with eggfaces protein drink recipes a bit. I will post about my experiments later on.

I’m having a hard time cooking dinners at home as my husband has now decided that he no longer wants to eat dinner. Strange I know – I’m letting it slide for now.

Total weight loss since surgery: 85lbs I know it could be more but I’ve been stalled

Love love LOVE this website….I think you will as well

Love love LOVE this website….I think you will as well

Jul 24

So I found this site via pinterest (my latest obsession)
Ever wonder exactly what exercises could effect a specific area? Me too! Well now we have it. A website that can help us all out.
Check it out.
Exercise Finder

Gettin’ my harrr did

Gettin’ my harrr did

Jul 13

So as many of you know rapid weight loss has some negatives….such as hair-loss. Lots and lots of hair loss.

I, like the majority of people who underwent weight loss surgery had to contend with this heartless drawback. My doctor said “It’s a sign of success” whatever-Nicholson I’m going freaking bald here. I’m currently taking Biotin which seems to have slowed the process a bit but still I’ve lost a considerable amount of hair SO…I looked up some options. I’m an art teacher with a major need for some drama in my life so here were the options I came up with:

Or

Or (my favorite)

But then I found this image on pinterest (if you haven’t discovered it yet you need to get on that)

I showed it to my hairdresser (who happens to be a very close friend) and we were on our way

New hair=new life. Everyone knows that right? I’m probably going to go even shorter at the end of summer (possibly) I know I have to dye out the violet. My hair is slamming if I do say so myself. I owe it all to Summer Miyatake of the Downtowner Salon

Frenching Strawberry Shortcake: Premier Protein Strawberry Drink Review

Frenching Strawberry Shortcake: Premier Protein Strawberry Drink Review

Jul 11

I was addicted to her. I kept her in my pocket and at off times I would put her up to my nose and squeeze all the strawberry-latex-tainted smell out of her. I speak, of course, to my dear strawberry shortcake. Her puffs of fruit flavor air tainted my nose for life – no one could ever live up to the level of smell sophistication that that little woman gave me so very early on. That was until I got my grubby little hands on some new-fangled strawberry protein drinks. Yumtastic indeed!

I was contacted via twitter to see if I would be willing to do a taste test of premier protein’s strawberry flavor.
Um hells yes.

For my POC (Protein of Choice- for all the “hard-core” protein users out in the world) I drink the premier protein chocolate.
I buy one big crate of it a month at Costco and drink it every morning as I drive in to work. For me, it’s the best I’ve found. So I had high hopes for this little wave of strawberry-ness.

The taste was crisp, sweet, light yet creamy with a slight protein aftertaste. The aftertaste was not overwhelming. Packed with 30g of protein and just a trace of sugar it’s a great way to start the day out right. This drink is akin to the strawberry milk of our collective pasts straight out of the squeeze jar- without that biting sharp sweetness laced so ever-presently in all children’s breakfast items nowadays.
My only issue is with that 1g of saturated fat…what’s up with that?

I give it a go: a happy sleeve, a elated scalpel, a gastric wonder…….I’m working on the details of my rating system as you can see.

If you want to order some here is a link: Premier Protein
If you want to see the manufactures website: Premier Protein Website
If you need to relive your strawberry shortcake years: Strawberry Shortcake 24-7

So how you doin’?: Month Three

So how you doin’?: Month Three

Mar 31

Well it came and past with just a moment of “oh hey, it’s been three months” So here I am a bit late but here’s my update. First and foremost it’s spring. SPRING!

Texas is brilliant right now…for the next two weeks we will soak up all the outdoor joy possible for soon the blow of summer will come our way. Anyways. I’ve been doing really good. I feel like I’m eating better, trying still to maintain hydration, starting a workout program (more on that later) and just in general getting to know my little “dirty bitch” sleeve.

New things unrelated to weight loss:
My husband and I packed up the baby, his cousin and my mom and took a quick little trip down to San Antonio
I’ve ever so lovely “Super Moon” made all of my students legally insane
My co-teacher up and had her baby early leaving me to do a prom for 800 on my own
Like everyone I know I have been tremendously moved by the disaster in Japan

New things related to weight loss:
I have a very VERY large pile of clothing to take to the consignment shop this week. What do you guys do with your outsized clothing?
I’m currently down to an XL shirt size and 18/20 size in jeans- however I’m not buying lots of clothes as I feel I will quickly be in smaller sizes in just a bit.
As a personal challenge to myself I’ve started the couch to 5K program. I started this because I’ve always hated running. I would like to see if I can change that mentality and also I was up for a challenge as I am far out from surgery and feeling really good about my improved lifestyle.

Couch to 5K you ask?
Yes, that’s what I said. I’m running.
Running?? Really?
Well, ok you got me….cussing out loud while moving my feet fast

Couch to 5K is a program designed to get you up and running. Even if you are a sluggish starter like me. First day involves quick 20 second bursts of running. I was so close to stopping – it was pathetic. I couldn’t believe how hard it was. 20 frickin seconds and I thought my heart was going to explode. BUT I made it. I didn’t die and I returned the next night for more pain and suffering and well….it was easier. So what can I say? I’m giving it a very honest try. I will keep you updated
Couch to 5K program

I use this app with my iphone to help me. It was $2.99 and then .99 for the GPS link.

Inches lost:
0 nada. I just measured myself all over. I look different. I feel different but nothing is reflected in the numbers. I have no idea

Total inches lost in three months: 29 (same as last month-strange)
Total weight loss this month: 8lbs (58lb total)

So how you doin’? : Month Two

So how you doin’? : Month Two

Feb 27

Well if you can believe it I’m two months out of gastric sleeve surgery as of today. I’m still feeling wonderful. I know it’s the best decision I could have made for myself by far and I am completely happy with my progress (more to follow).

So what have I been doing?
- I’ve started aquareobics at the gym we joined -overall I need to workout more I know this. I need to make time in my day to get my ass to the gym. No excuses. The instructor is possibly legally insane but her body is carved out of marble it’s crazy-her fingers have muscles.

- Food/meal planning is something I’ve been working on quite a bit. It’s gotten better but I don’t have it down to a science yet.

-I’ve hit my first long term (were talking 2 1/2 weeks now) stall. It’s frustrating but not impossible. It’s annoying but I know I’m doing right. I put away my scale. I’m reading and again, I know I need to hit the gym. I know they will happen. I just didn’t expect one this soon. Here’s an article that helped me How to break a plateau

- I’ve started loosing my hair-in great quantity. I’ve talked with Dr.Nicholson about this and he said “it’s a sign of success” I am vigilant about getting in my vitamins and my protein count.

- I’m very very quickly finding myself out of clothing. I’m in a size 22 jean right now – I started at a 24/26 so feeling great about that.

Not weight loss related:
- Got a new car and it’s damn sexy Audi Q7
- My son is about to turn 1 year old on March 10th. I can’t believe it.
- I’m worried about my teaching job for next year and the state of lack of money in education in Texas
- Spring break plans so far involve a trip to San Antonio

Inches lost:
Neck 0 (1.5 total)
Bust 1 (6 total)
Torso 4 (6 total)
Hips 1 (6 total)
Thighs .5 (1 1/2 total)

Total inches lost overall since surgery in two months= 29
Total weight lost this month= 4 lbs (50lbs total)