My routine has been really steady. I work out at least once a day, at least 30-45 minutes a day. I also walk about 14 blocks getting to and from work each day from my bus stop. I feel stronger and stronger every day. My incisions are all mostly healed. The scabs have come off as has the adhesive from the surgical tape. My incisions are small and still red, but I imagine as time goes by, they will lighten in color.
I have been eating real food now for around a month. So far it's been by the book, "protein and then produce". For breakfast, it's two eggs and a slice of bacon, or a 1/2 cup of oatmeal and a few clementines. Lunch has been a small salad with a side of chicken or turkey. I also have been marinating frozen chicken tenderloins and baking them frozen (it stays more moist that way) and I take two of those along with a few spoonfuls of greenbeans or some other veggie. Dinner is some roast beef from a roast I make on the weekends or a little chili, or I'll even eat eggs again. I also make sure that I have some dark chocolate on hand if I am feeling munchy after I have eaten my dinner- when I want something sweet. The dark chocolate does a lot less damage calories-wise.
With the holidays upon us, it has been a challenge to steer clear of the sweets and treats and such. I allow myself a few pieces of chocolate or whatever. We recently had a potluck and I did very well taking the smallest bowl and having a little bit of everything I wanted. I didn't feel deprived and I got to participate in the social aspects of it all. I make and decorate special sugar cookies for the holidays each year and I spent two weekends in a row baking and decorating. I feel I did very well. Tried to remember that little saying I see at my surgeon's office "All Bites Count!"
I went in for my very first fill on the 13th of Dec. I was very apprehensive about it. I was worried about the needle, I was worried about it hurting, I was worried about them missing the port, or the port being tilted. It ended up working fine. She had to take two runs at it, but got it in on the 2nd attempt. My fill tech, Audrey mentioned that my port was placed really close to my ribs and she wasn't happy about that- but she said as I lose weight, the port will be easier to get to. Things shrink and shift.
I go in for my next fill on the 2nd of Jan. My parents are in town for the holidays and I decided to postpone it until after they leave. I will then go in again one week later and I should be getting pretty close to my green zone.
Right now, I don't feel too much restriction. Things feel different-and I have to be careful about eating things like cookie dough- it gets stuck pretty easily, but otherwise I am eating pretty close to what I ate after surgery. My portions have increased a little- and I get hungry a little quicker, so I am anxious to see how things change when I am in the sweet spot. I am still losing right now, but it will be nice not to feel hungry as much.
So that's my update and I will try to get a regular report on here as often as I can!
