Soul Food

Today I made beans and cornbread with squash, collard greens and pork chops. My son the Chef was here and he and Jim ate until they were miserable. I on the other hand had some beans and some squash that I put in the blender. It was so good. I can't tell you how good. Really. I wanted a pork chop so bad so I took a bit, chewed it a little and threw it away. I know that sounds so gross but it tasted so good for the few seconds.

I am losing about a pound a day making 15 pounds so far. I really thought I would lose more eating nothing but I know it is going to be slow and that is really a good thing. I told Jim that I wanted a new treadmill for Valentine's Day. He made a frowny face. The rule is that I have to wear out a piece of exercise equipment before I can have a new one, but this treadmill is at least 12 years old. It has worn itself out just sitting in the other room all this time. LOL No, actually it has been used more than the rest of the stuff I have. It won't stay level, you are always walking uphill. It kills me to do very little. I think I need a new one. Especially since I am supposed to be walking an hour a day 6 days a week. I went to the New Balance store and got fitted for walking shoes, now I need a new treadmill.

So that's my progress. (I'll let you know when I get my new treadmill.)

The Coast

Jim and I went to the Coast this past weekend. We did nothing but relax. I scrapped a layout that was due for a challenge on Tallyscrappers. We read (I finally finished the dumb Twight series), watched movies (wore out the Redbox) and basically did nothing. It was very nice. Since I am on liquids, we went to breakfast both mornings at Jim's favorite Mexican restaurant in Rockport. He ate biscuits with sausage gravy and 2 eggs for 4 bucks. I watched. He, like most men, always sits where he can see the door putting me with my back to everything. He decided that he needed to change that as all I had to do was sit and watch him eat. lol So far, it hasn't bothered me at all to see other people eat. I am doing great on my diet. Everything I am supposed to do. I am losing about 1 pound a day. I go to the doctor on Thursday for my 2 week checkup. Hopefully he will tell me that I can take a bath! Showers everyday are killing me. I like to take a bath and relax.
We did go visit Adaline on Sunday before we left. Jim went to the bathroom and she picked up his keyes, walked over to her Mom and said, "Big Daddy's gonna beat your ass", just as plain as day. Do you have any idea how hard that was to keep from laughing? Oh my gosh! Then Jim comes back in the room and Jodi tells him what she said. He said "what did you say?" and she stuck her little behind out at him. OMG! It was so hilarious! He would have killed his kids for that (so would I) but when you are a great grandparent, its funny. By the way, she would only hear that from her grandmother, Jodi. Her parents do not talk to her that way. You would have to know Jodi.
I get to eat baby food in 3 days! Yay!

My 1st test.

Today is Alice's birthday, a girl I work with here in the office. She is doing WeightWatchers so we tried to make her a point friendly lunch. She asked to have corn beef and cabbage because her Mom always made that for her when she was young. I cooked the corn beef in my crock pot yesterday and chopped cabbage, onion, potato and carrots last night. They cooked all morning in the crock pot in my office. It smelled so good! When everyone sat down for lunch they had spinach and strawberry pecan salad, corned beef and cabbage and a sugar free pudding type dessert. I one the other hand had beef broth and a popsicle. It was so yummy. Everyone was jealous and wanted my lunch. hahahahahaha NOT!
It didn't bother me at all. I was perfectly happy. I took a slice of corned beef and a little bit of cabbage. I am going to vaccum seal them in my food saver and freeze until St. Patrick's Day. By then I will be able eat real food.
I just had to say I am very proud of myself and I am doing great! Besides Saturday I get to have a protien shake and milk. Life is good.

Surgery Done

I had my lap band surgery Friday, January 15, 2010. I am doing well. Most of the time is spent eating crushed ice. I had a Jello today and had to eat it in 2 different settings. K2O is protein water and I am trying to drink a couple of those each day because your body needs protein. I haven't been hungry at all. Tried to drink broth last night and got a little nauseated. It is going to be one step at a time. I am walking around inside the house like I am supposed to and doing my breathing exercises. Haven't been able to give myself a shot yet. Jim is doing that for me every eight hours. My friend Alice, will probably be giving me the 2 o'clock shot at work. She says she can so I am taking her up on it.
I never realized that I had so many friends. When I woke up yesterday, there was already a post on the message board at Tallyscrappers wondering how I was doing. Friends and relatives have called many times to check on me. I am not ignoring the phone calls, Jim is answering most of them. I just don't feel much like talking right now. I do appreciate everyone's concern. I did talk to my grandson Kaden this morning. He made me feel a lot better. He told his Mom, "Her feels better, a little bit." How could you not feel good with that little guy pulling for you?
I have been truly blessed and I am sure that I will be able to follow this through. I will keep you all posted. Thanks for caring.

Bad News/Good News

All of the grandchildren except Brady and Kaden. Photo taken 12/20/09.

My lapband surgery was orginally scheduled for 1/15/10. They called me on the 5th after my pre-op doctor's appointments and said they bumped it up to the 8th. At first, I was scared, then I got all excited. They called on the 6th and said the doctor had a family emergency and the surgery would have to be changed back to the 15th. So now I am disappointed and having "buyer's remorse." My insurance doesn't pay for any of this. It is costing me $11000. A girl at work made a good point. "Would you spend the money for Jim to be healthy?" I know we have already spent way more than that for Jim to be healthy with his 11 stints. So I am getting excited again.
The good news is that I am really sticking to my diet. ( They put you on a high protein diet 2 weeks before surgery.) At first I thought, okay an opportunity to eat and drink whatever I like this weekend. But I didn't! I haven't had any wine since last Sunday. I haven't even thought about wanting any, even when Jim drinks a glass. Yesterday while out shopping, I mentioned several restaurants to go to. When Jim asked if I really wanted to go, I said No. I came home and fixed barbeque pizza (which I know isn't diet food but it was my last hoo-ra) ate one piece and tracked my points. I am still putting my points into Weight Watchers Online because I personally think that people on high protein diets sometimes eat too many calories.
I am also trying to teach myself to eat things such as cottage cheese, cream cheese, etc. If you know me well, you know I can not stand the texture of mushy, creamy, gooey stuff. But post-op requires 1 week clear liquids, 2nd week solid liquids, 3rd week mush with no lumps, 4th week mush with lumps and the 5th week I can start trying other foods.
I am excited! I can't wait for next Friday to get here! Now I must go help Jim with the busted water pipe, since the back of the house is flooded. It is COLD in South Texas!