Day 1 of 14 pre surgery/post surgery diet

I started my pre surgery/post surgery diet this morning.  So far today I have had 2/3 cup of 2 percent milk, blended with an apple and carrot, as well as a small tub of yogurt (zero fat) and a scoop of protein powder.  For a snack mid morning (breakfast was at five AM), I had 2 cups of chicken broth made near Christmas and frozen.  For lunch  I had some more soup and  a small tub of yogurt.  For my mid afternoon snack II had some Carnation Breakfast essentials, and for supper some more broth and 2/3 cup of milk, carrot, yogurt and protein powder, tonight I had another 2 cups of chicken broth.

Not a lot of variety but I think I met my protein requirements that are set out for the diet.  I am craving popcorn but will not cave.  

I did NOT have any caffeine today and have had 3 litres of fluid, which is another requirement.  I don’t mind drinking water, as long as it is ice cold.

Hopefully tomorrow my blood sugars will be close to normal so that I don’t feel so icky.  I am doing this for ME.  I am making the changes in my lifestyle so that I can around for when my nieces grow up, have families of their own.  I love being an auntie, it is the one thing I am great at.

Looking forward to Tuesday when I can honestly say that I am NOT an active smoker.  Until next time, if you have any good ideas I can blog about during my journey, I gladly accept them.

 

E

WLS and soul searching

I have had to do a lot of research, a lot of soul searching and decision  making to get to the point in my life that I am now.  I have had seven years to decide if weight loss surgery is really the way to go for me, or should I **diet** until I am considered just “over weight” rather than morbidly obese.  It was not a decision that I made lightly, it was not something that I decided overnight or even in a few days, like so many other decisions we are faced with.

I finally decided that weight loss surgery was for me because it is a lifestyle change that I have implemented. I have changed my eating habits, I have worked hard at giving up caffeine, working on giving up nicotine, I no longer smoke pot for pain relief and I never drank enough alcohol for it to be an issue giving up.

Giving up nicotine has been my hardest battle, but it is a war I will win. I am determined, and know that only good and great things will come with abolishing the slavery to nicotine that I face each day.

My biggest fear in giving up cigarettes is the weight gain, irritability and the shakes. The emotional roller coaster is the worst part of becoming a non smoker. I can go from being your best friend in the world to a bitch in a nano second. I do not look forward to that.

This coming Sunday I start my two week liquid food intake only. The guidelines that are given to each of the candidates for WLS must be able to begin and maintain the pre surgery diet, as it is what the first few days after surgery that we will be getting for food. Anything that pours like yogurt or thinner is what our food consistency must be.

If you are ever interested in about seventy five pages of light reading about the surgery, how it is done, how it works, the five stages of diet, etc, here is the link to the WLS Binder.

I hope to begin updating every day but some times life gets bogged down with so many other things, such as packing to move and appointments, but nevertheless, I shall update as much as possible. This is simply a way for all of my friends and family members to follow my progress through my journey to a healthier me.

In The Beginning

There comes a point in life where a person needs to take charge, make changes and learn to live a different life style than the one that is being lived.  My time has arrived.

In August 2013, I was hospitalized because my white blood cell count was more than double the normal count.  The day following my hospitalization, the doctor who was following me, had a CT Scan ordered because there was a patch of pneumonia on my chest xray and they wanted to determine if I had a hairline fracture of  my sternum.  To everyone’s surprise and dismay, the CT Scan revealed a much more worrisome and deadly diagnoses.  The CT Scan revealed several pulmonary emboli (blood clots in the lungs).  This was the kick in the ass that I needed.

It was at that point that I needed to change my life style and only I can do it… I need to do it for myself, not you, not my family, not my friends, just me.  I have at this point managed to decrease my caffeine intake to 2 cups or less of tea and only coffee on special occasions.  This coming Sunday, February 2nd, will be my official quit smoking date.  I will succeed because I am making the changes for me and no one else.

In September 2013, I went for an appointment at the QE II in Halifax… It was an information session on weight loss surgery. I have been on the list for 7 years to see the weight loss surgery specialist. The information session made me only all the more determined to make the changes and work towards my goal of being a healthier me.

At the information session we were told that we would receive a letter in the mail, with a one on one appointment with the weight loss surgery team and within weeks of that appointment we would be booked for surgery. I received my letter yesterday stating my all important, one on one appointment is March 13th. So, it looks like weight loss surgery will be my birthday gift to myself.

I hope that you all find encouragement through my posts, when it comes to making the changes in your life to be a healthier and happier person. Until next time, take that first all important step, decrease your caffeine intake by a 1/4 cup or add five minutes work out to your daily routine. You will be surprised just how much better you will feel.

E