I am home!

So the 27th was my surgery date. We got at the hospital at 8 AM. I was a nervous wreck the entire way there afraid we wouldn't make it because the roads were snowy and icy, but we made it. After waiting around a little bit, they send us upstairs. Fred was sent to a waiting area while they got me ready for surgery. They weighed me (340.5 according to their scales, which was down 9.5 since my pre-admission testing just a little more than 2 weeks ago). I got the little surgical booties, hat and gown on. Then they tried to get an IV. Only took them 4 tries and they finally got on in. By that time, Fred was allowed to come back with me. The doc came and talked to us and got permission to do it open if necessary, which thank god it wasn't. I said goodbye to Fred and I remember being wheeled into the OR. The anesthesiologist was talking to me and the staff was joking around with each other. I got up on the table and that is the very last thing I remember. They had already given me Versed and I was exhausted from not sleeping the night before. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in my room in intense pain and with a super dry mouth and throat. It was so dry I could barely talk. My throat is still a little sore from probably the tube. I kept asking where Fred was and they told me they would get him, but it seemed like it was forever before they actually did. Then when I woke up again, he was there. I was really out of it for most of the day and don't remember much. I remember about 4 hours later, I got up and walked the hall with the nurse. Then, every four hours after that. They didn't do a swallow test on me the next morning because I had had a reaction before. So, the doc just moved me to clear liquids and that went well. I never imagined that a little orange Popsicle could taste so good and also a little bit of watered down apple juice. Then, later on the same day, that same orange Popsicle tasted awful. About 5 pm, the doc came in again and I asked if I could go home now and he let me! I was really ready for a full night's sleep. I had been doing respiratory therapy every 2 hours and walking every 2 hours, so literally every hour I was up doing something. I am starting to think maybe I should have stayed another day. The hour and half drive him was AWFUL! Every little bump hurt so very much and of course we had to pick the boys up on the way home because I couldn't just let Fred go back out and get them. DUH! lol And the roads to my dad's house were really bad, covered in snow and ice. They had only been plowed and not salted. Ouch! We finally got home. I had 1/2 of a jello cup, my pain killer liquid (which tastes like ass) and went to bed. Sleeping flat was horrible and tonight I will be sleeping the recliner. If I could have moved my cpap machine myself last night, I would have moved then. I am getting up every 2 hours and walking around the house a bit and because I am a little bit congested, I am still doing the respiratory therapy. Oh, the nurse weighed me after surgery I was 3.9 heavier than before. Not too bad. I am already just a pound heavier than I was presurgery right now.

Tomorrow is the day!

I am beyond excited and a little bit nervous too. Today has been an incredibly long day. One top of the usual holiday stuff and just being worn out from that, today was surgery prep. It hasn't been fun, but I know it will be so worth it in the end. My day was clear liquids and dulcolax. Needless to say I am hungry,tired and ready for tomorrow already! I will update when I can. Wish me luck!!

Eggnog Protein Shake

Eggnog Protein Shake

Cook time: 1 minutes
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients

• 1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
• 2-3 drops Butter Rum Flavor Oil
• dash Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 4-5 Ice Cubes

Cooking Directions

1. Combine in blender and blend until smooth. Garnish with more pumpkin spice if you like.

I get my flavoring oils here: LorAnn Hard Candy Flavoring Oils 10 Pack
Flavoring oils are gluten free, sugar free and do not contain vegetable oil. They are 3-4 times more potent than extract, so just a drop or two will do.

Banana and Cream Protein Shake

Banana and Cream Protein Shake

Cook time: 1 minutes

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 4-5 1-inch pieces of frozen or fresh banana
• 1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
• 4-5 Ice Cubes

Cooking Directions

1. Combine in blender and blend until smooth. Frozen bananas will produce a thicker shake.

Frozen Strawberry Banana Protein Shake

Frozen Strawberry Banana Protein Shake

Prep time: 1 minute

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 1 cup Skim Milk
• 1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
• 3-4 Frozen or fresh strawberries
• 3-4 1-inch frozen or fresh banana pieces
• 4-5 Ice Cubes

Cooking Directions

1. Combine ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Using frozen fruit will produce a thicker shake than fresh. See my tips and tricks for freezing bananas.

Please forgive the photo on this one :)

Freezing Bananas

Did you know that you can freeze bananas for your protein shakes?  I take a bunch of bananas, peel them and cut them into 1-inch pieces.  Then I layer them evenly on a couple large plates or a sheet pan (which ever will fit in your freezer) and leave them in the freezer for several hours.  Then once frozen, I put them in a freezer bag and use 2-3 frozen bananas for my shakes.  If you skip freezing them before bagging them, they will all stick together.

Got my arrival time for surgery

I got the call this morning giving me my arrival time for surgery, 8 AM.  Hopefully that means I am first!  I was really worried about having a late arrival time.  Just something about a surgeon cutting you open when he has done 4-5 before you, you know?

Mocha Latte

Mocha Latte

Rich and creamy mocha latte taste with a full serving of protein hidden inside!

Cook time: 3 minutes
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients

• 1 scoop Chocolate Protein Powder
• 1 cup Skim Milk or water
• 1/2 tsp Instant Coffee (or decaf) to taste
• 1 tbsp Nonfat Dry Milk Powder (optional)

Cooking Directions

1. Heat milk or water in microwave or stove top.  In your mug, mix the protein powder with enough cold milk or water to form a runny pudding consistency.  Be sure to get all lumps out of the mixture.  Next, slowly pour milk/water into mug while stirring to incorporate protein thoroughly.  Then, stir in the instant coffee and dry milk powder (optional) until dissolved.  The top will be frothy.  You can skim it off if you like.  

Apple Pie A'la Mode Protein Shake

Apple Pie A'la Mode Protein Shake

Prep time: 1 minute
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients

• 1 packet Sugar-free apple cider mix
• 1 scoop Vanilla protein powder
• 1 dash Cinnamon
• 4-5 Ice Cubes

Cooking Directions

1. Combine in blender and blend until smooth. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.

9 Days to Go!

Waiting is driving me insane.  I am so ready to get this done and get started I could scream.  I am not a patient person....at all.  Also not happy with the scale this morning.  I went up the 2 pounds I lost yesterday.  Grrr.  I am hoping it is salt because I had peas yesterday twice.

Orange Julius Protein Shake

Orange Julius Protein Shake

Ingredients

• 1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
• 1 cup Skim Milk
• 2+ pinches Orange Sugar-free Gelatin Powder
• 4-5 Ice Cubes

Cooking Directions

1. Combine ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!

10 Days to Go!

Ten more days!   Ten more days!  Weighed in this morning and down 3 pounds from preadmission testing appointment.  Yay!  Finally moving.  Now let's just hope it stays gone.  No extra sodium for me.  It would be great if I could get another 7 pounds off in the next 10 days.

Frustration

Today is day 3 of my liquid diet.  Yesterday I went down a pound, today it is back.  I am beyond frustrated as I have been dealing with this for a couple of weeks now.  I have got to lose before surgery and I am very worried this is not going to happen.  And then I think, if it is like this now, what makes me think it will change after surgery?

Liquid Diet

My doctor does not require the initial 2-week liquid diet, but I am really struggling to lose any more weight than I already have.  I have been stuck at this same weight for a couple of months now and really need something to jump start my loss so I will actually show a loss when I go in for surgery.  Plus, I am really worried about it ending up being open.  So, I decided to go ahead and put myself on the liquid diet for the next 2 weeks prior to surgery with the exception of eating a low-carb dinner.  Weight today was 345.5.  I will check in again tomorrow.  On a side note, how in the hell can 2 weeks seems so close and yet so far away at the same time?!  Thirteen days to go!

Hello!

So, I decided that I needed a place to blog my weight loss surgery journey and this is it!  You can read about me here.  My surgery is set for December 27 (just 2 weeks) at Barix in Ypsilanti, MI and I am going crazy waiting for it to get here.  Man, is the time dragging!  This week I had my preadmission testing on the 11th.  I was really nervous for the appointment, but it turned out just fine.  They drew some blood, did a urine test, took chest x-rays and did an ultrasound to check my gallbladder.  I got the all clear!  Yay!  I will be using this blog to document my journey, share recipes and talk about all things WLS-related.  Thanks for visiting my page!