5-Day Pouch Test - Day 2

Well, Day 2 did not go as well as day one. We were not at home today (we were getting up and around for the day when my mom called and said that my brother really wanted us to come up and go to Chuck E. Cheese's with them- so we went). Apparently, being away from home lets you (or at least me) forget how much fluid you are consuming. I did not drink nearly enough water today. Then we got to Chuck E. Cheese's, which is two hours from our house, and there was not really anything there for me eat. But G and I talked, and decided it would be okay if I just had the salad bar, and be very concious of what I put on my plate. So I ate salad and cottage cheese. But after seeing some of the soup recipes allowed for the first two days- this really did seem like an acceptable alternantive- the cottage cheese was just as "soupy" as somes soups, and lettuce is mostly water anyway... and I was very careful to have lots of protien (like eggs and diced ham) not add toppings, except sunflower seeds- so no croutons or crackers.

We got back to Pueblo and I was wanting something to eat, so we stopped at Quizno's and I got cheddar broccoli soup. It was GOOD! Then we went to church in Pueblo this evening, and then went out to eat with friends, I had a bowl of green chili. So other than the lack of forethought at lunch time, and the slacking on drinking, I tried hard to stick to it. And I resisted the 16 boxes of girl scout cookies in the car trunk all day as well!!! ( yes I know... 16, but I freeze them, and they do last quite a few months...)

Tomorrow the rules change- I can eat, but it has to be all protein, and I can't drink for 30 minutes before or after I eat. Thankfully I am off work tomorrow, and we are staying home, so hopefully I will be able to have a beter handle on things.

5-Day Pouch Test... Day One

I am doing this 5-day pouch test. You can read all the gritty details here, or just let me give you the basics. (This may get long, as I think some background info is needed.) After weight loss surgery (in my case a Rouen-Y gastric bypass on October 12, 2004) patients are to follow a STRICT diet that is mainly protein in its make-up. Right after my surgery, I was only able to consume about 2 tablespoons of food at a time (and only three times a day) so it was very important that those 2 tablespoons were the best sources of protein I could get. I ate lots of eggs, lots of pinto beans (mostly from Taco Bell- and this was encouraged from the Dr.'s) and lots of cheese. But as time went one, under the guidance of the doctors and nutritionist, I was able to add a little volume to my diet, and a year out from Surgery, I was able to eat about 1 cup of food at a meal (still only 3 times a day). This additional volume, while still needing to be high in protein, can also allow for adding in some startches and vegetables as tolerated (some patients can never eat this stuff again, their new stomachs just can't tolerate it). Or there are those, like me, who have no problem eating most anything. But this can also make it easier to slip back to old eating habbits, as it has been for me. While I still can't eat more than a cup at a time, I have found myself consuming more and more meals that have very little or no protein in them at all, as well as snacking inbetween meals, which is a big NO-NO!

That is where this 5-Day Pouch Test comes in. It's kind of like hitting the reset button. It is supposed to help me tighten my pouch and to get back to eating more protein based meals again. The first two days are liquids only and I must drink at least 64 oz of water/no calorie liquids (like crystal light) each day (I can have protein shakes and soups as much as I want- as long as they have no carbs in them - no pasta or potatoes ). I decided to do this over the weekend, where I have more distractions to keep me from wanting to "cheat" and eat something. If I get to feeling snacky- I can get on the computer, I can get up and do laundry, I can watch tv- you see what I'm getting at. The Third day I can start adding soft proteins like eggs, canned tuna or chicken, and beans back to my diet. The fourth day I can add some firmer proteins like hamburger and other ground meats. And the last day is basically any protiens I can tolerate. And by this time I should not be craving carbs anymore. (Hopefully)

So I am about halfway thorugh the first day, however I didn't plan very well (well- I wasn't very sure until this morning that I was even gonna go through with it). So I am waiting for my soup to cook in the crockpot, and have had a Slim-Fast and am looking at my Girl Scout Cookies I got yesterday, thinking to myself that I REALLY WANT ONE!!! So that is why this post is getting so long, I am trying to forget about the cookies.

I am struggling with the water part. So we'll see how it goes. I'm lucky to get 48 oz of fluid a day, and that's mostly diet soda- but after waking up this morning feeling like I might be getting another UTI- I figured I might as well go for it- it will only lead to me getting in more fluids, and since I'll be drinking more anyway- I'd be halfway through the thing anyway. I am trying not to be very negative about this (which is hard when all you want to do is eat something!), it is something I am choosing to do. I need to do something to get myself back on track with my weight loss tool that I fought so hard for four years ago. I have back-slid quite a bit, especially this last few months. And it scares me at times. I am also dealing with hypoglycemia issues, which I think I could control better if I were following closer to the program again. So here it goes!

Thanks to Laura for making me think about getting myself on track again- and check out the folks who are taking the NO SUGAR PLUNGE with her!

Frugal Friday... Sorta

I thought I'd share my Frugal Valentines' gifts now that hubby has received them all... and it is Friday now, so it works! (I spread them out over the whole day, he got some in the morning, and some at dinner, and some at bedtime.)

In the morning, I put some candies in the pockets of his coat. I found these printable wrappers to put around the candy. I also put one on the dash in his car.

Here's how I set the table for our dinner. ( I ran home on my lunch break to get it set up- it was a surprise.)One more candy, and a set of checks (twelve in) all with cute little things he can "redeem" like a massage, movie night, his choice of dinner out...etc.

We had shrimp alfredo with fresh spinach, multi-grain garlic cheese toast and sprakling grape juice for dinner. It was very delicious!

Here's what the red hots I couldn't find were for... I'm glad I finally found them, and they were heart shaped too!(I made this myself, got the pill bottle from my mom, and since the website did such a good job with the label, I just printed it right off their website! I can't believe someone would spend that much on something soooo simple to make!) I put the bottle in his drawer with the rest of his meds, and he found it at bedtime when he took his regular meds. G probably won't eat the red hots, so I'll probably make applesauce with them (which I know he will eat...)

Check out BiblicalWomanhood for more great Frugal ideas!

I can't wait!!!

Check this out! :-)


I can't wait to see it!!!

The Greatest Example...

For God so loVed the world,
that He gAve
his onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whosoever
Believeth In Him
Should Not perish,
But have Everlasting life." John 3:16

My week...

Jayme says I must blog. So here's what I've had on my mind this past week.

- I can not find Red Hot candies ANYWHERE in southeastern Colorado (nice job Kim, pick a homemade Valentine that you can't possibly finish...)

- I made G's Valentine (tried at least- couldn't find red hots :-) Am not sure about the outcome now...

- I've been struggling greatly with the feelings of isolation this week. I am about to go stir crazy! I just don't know what to do to get myself out of the slump.

- I am enjoying reading for the 888 challenge- it's funny though, because I can't read just one book at a time- I get too distracted. I'll read a chapter or two here, and then put that book down and pick up another. So even though it looks like I'm finishing nothing, I'll finish a whole bunch at once! (However, I am really getting into my study book right now-"If I really believe, why do I have these doubts?" and have been going back to that one more than the others.)

- I am looking forward to having Monday off next week- one plus of a government job- you get all the government holidays off! (Not looking forward to Tuesday though- possible jury duty (and a whole other post about the fun of jury summons to come later...sneak-peek: I got TWO different summons in two weeks' time!!!)

- I am considering my own version of Laura's No sugar plunge. I have more issues to consider than just sugar, because of having gastric bypass surgery 3 1/2 years ago. I have gotten way off track and have been considering doing this 5-day pouch test. Not sure I'm brave enough to give up my comfort foods right now- but know I MUST do something differently, and soon.

-I am not looking forward to going shopping for jeans. The ones I have are from JC Penny, and are ripping at the pockets, and I've only had them two months.

- I cut about four inches off my hair last night, and think I may go back to get a little more cut off the back.

- I am missing family right now...

You gotta love Colorado!!!

This is what a 10% chance of snow looks like... (the snow on the ground was courtesy of yesterday's storm)

You just gotta love Colorado... :-)