My first plateau, so frustrating

So, it finally happened my first plateau!  It's not a great feeling, but at the same time I know it's to be expected.  I have now just started to really introduce working out to my schedule, so I am hoping that'll change it up to where I can start seeing the scale drop more.  However, on the plus side in a good way, my clothes keep getting bigger, so I am convinced even though one doesn't lose weight all the time, the inches continue to go away.

I feel a lot better than nearly 50lbs ago.  When I walked the treadmill yesterday for a total of 40 mins, I did not feel any pain whatsoever on my knees or fatigue at all.  If I had walked that before, I'd feel and my body would have hated me.  So much more energy and that overall feeling of tiredness and fatigue does not occur like it did before.

So, as I write this I am planning to go to the gym a total of 4 times per week, 1hr. per day.  I am starting out slowly to work up my stamina and strength.  Eventually I would like to be able to have the stamina and strength to enjoy day long hikes here for next summer.  Alaska has so many wonderful hiking trails, but sadly I have to really explore them since my arrival over two years ago.  Being too heavy prevented me from feeling like I could be any fun to explore with.  So, my vow is by next summer, I will conquer and hike like I've never done before!

This is a short entry today, because the frustration of this latest plateau has really diminished my excitement.  The emotional roller coaster of diets in general is not my favorite issue and in years past this is usually where I'd give up and say the heck with it.  However, I have to tell myself I have never lost 49lbs all at once before and this is to be expected.  I am not "cheating" and that is why I still get frustrated.  I am getting in about 50-60grams of protein per day and my liquids are still a struggle.  I am lucky if I get 30-40oz of fluids per day.

I am still having bouts of eating something one day, it agrees with me, and then the very next day I eat it again and boom, doesn't agree with me.  It's also frustrating.  Don't ever go buy a lot of what you think will agree with you, because it doesn't always mean it will.

When I started this blog, my intention was to state all the positives and negatives so others could see the possible journey they could have.  If you're like me, knowing a lot of the ups and downs to a process can help you better prepare for what lies ahead.  I still feel there is nothing like experiencing it though.  The psychological aspect is more than I thought it would be.  I feel great, my clothes are all getting too big for me and I am complimented daily on how much I've changed.  However, that stupid scale still doesn't have the numbers I want yet and that has always been a battle for me.

At least it's not that number I saw three months ago!  That's all the matters right now.  I am not on blood pressure meds anymore and the worst of the surgery is behind me.  Moving ahead, will get through this!

Yay, down 49lbs from my Heaviest!

Hi Everyone!

This has been a great day for me.  I woke up and weighed myself this morning and was absolutely astounded to see the number on the scale reflect a 49lbs loss total from my heaviest weight (this was last January).  The further I get away from that number the happier I will be!!!

Tonight, after work I went swimming with a co-worker of mine.  It felt great even though we only swam for 30 minutes.  I pushed myself a bit and felt great at the time, a big difference from six months ago.  Then I could only swim a length at a time.  Tonight I was doing two at a time and actually probably could have done more had I not been waiting up on my friend.  I didn't want to get too ahead of her.  It was probably just as well, i am feeling it now as I write this.

My stamina is back, my mind isn't as sharp as it was pre-surgery though.  I get frustrated at work as I tend to not think as cohesively as I did pre-surgery.  Is suspect the lack of food and energy sources may be the culprit.  I know I shouldn't drink caffeine, but perhaps it would help a bit more in my mind area.

The difference in the way I move is amazing.  That extra nearly 50lbs was just dreadful.  I can' t believe I allowed myself to get that big?!  Now that I've gotten it off, I can see I am so much better off.  I have not weighed this latest number since about 2006.  My goal is by the time I go home for Christmas this year, to be down a total of 75lbs!  That would be super awesome.

I have quit playing facebook games and now have spent more of my free time planning my new regimen for the healthier me.  It's a lot of work to plan meals and figure out what exercise one can do to "change it up" and keep it interesting.

This is a quick post, but I will post some more pictures here in the upcoming weeks.  I think it has been becoming even more noticeable in the past ten pounds.

I feel so darn good, it is so nice to have lost more weight at one time than ever before.  I have hit a monumental milestone for myself today and I feel great!

Here's a great quote:
"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

Will Rogers

6 weeks nearly and down 40lbs!

Well here we are, six weeks from surgery and now I am really starting to see and feel a difference.  I am going to include some pictures in this one as the progression of my change is beginning to become apparent.  This morning I had to toss three pairs of dress pants aside because they were just too big to wear at all now. Before surgery, they were so tight I really didn't want to go the next size up.  What a great feeling! I think the pictures will speak for themselves.

2 weeks after surgery-27lbs down

about 5 weeks after surgery-36lbs down

At my heaviest ever!

As a write this now and see the differences here I am astounded of the difference already.  Look how puffy I was in the picture on the left.  I was eating anything I wanted, and it showed.  I never want to go back to that again!  I could hardly move, to go up and down stairs to tie my shoes, all of it was too hard.  I never thought that would happen to me.  But it did.  Deciding to do the surgery probably saved my life, or even prolonged it for many more years.  I know I still have a lot of the journey to complete, but I have started and now am in the "mode".  I can no longer eat what I want, my body cannot tolerate most foods just yet.  And even when it does, I won't be able to eat more than a half cup to a full cup in one meal.  Fine by me!

I have now progressed to both semi and hard foods.  I am just so thankful not to be eating that crappy pureed stuff.  The re-fried beans, apple sauce, and instant mashed potatoes were getting very old!  Today I ate my first protein chip and it was awesome!  That "crunch" felt great, it had been over a month and a half since I've had that sensation.  I only could eat about 5 of them, but just savoring each bite was enough for me!

I look forward to the upcoming weeks of integrating my exercise program and learning how to work it all together.  I still have a ways to go, but I feel confident that I can get there!

Until next time!  

Daphne