I'm Human ok!!!!

I am only human, and humans make mistakes from time to time! I have slipped up a bit and have found myself munching throughout the days when I'm not at work! Now at least it isn't candy or high sugary foods however its chips, pretzels and those kinds of snack foods. I have found myself not really eating normal meals rather then snacking small amounts here and there.

Remember this surgery doesn't fix your mind and everything you used to do. It's a tool that helps your stomach understand when your full and what not. Everyday I am training my brain that my old ways aren't the right ways and I have to remind myself you can't eat that or you shouldn't be eating that. So for those who think the surgery is the easy or lazy way out of losing weight your wrong. It's hard work everyday just like if I was doing it the natural way! The holidays have gotten me! But I'm jumping back into it and stopping the snacking. I am not going to be that percent that ruins this and stretches my stomach out! That's it for now, just had to write a quick post about the difficulties of this kind of addiction.

Baking Day!!!

Hey guys! It's the holidays and you know what that means? Lots and lots of baking and sweets! Today a few friends came over and we baked away!! I am very proud of myself. Normally I would eat the cookie dough and tons of cookies, however today I had a bite of one cookie!!! I'm so shocked at how much I have changed over the last few months since surgery! I am making up cookie baskets to bring to work and give to friends because I don't need these staring me in the face everyday. Lol. The house smells so good right now and I just want to go sit at the table and eat one of each! I'd say today was pretty good on many levels. 1. Had great company.
2. Made amazing cookies
3. Didn't cheat and eat my stomach into a coma, followed the diet and made good choices. :)

If your lucky you might get some of these beauties.
Until next time.

Update! 11/30/18

So I know I just wrote on Thanksgiving but I have an exciting announcement! I am 97 pounds down. That means I am 3 pounds away from my first 100 pounds! I stepped on the scale not expecting to see that much more weight gone and BAM just like that 97 pounds, I found a picture of myself from my cousins wedding in August of 2017 and didn't realize how much difference you can see! A little over a year apart and you can see it in my face and stomach area! I about cried when I saw these 2 pictures in comparison. 1. Because I let myself get so big and so unhealthy. 2. Because I am actually losing weight, becoming healthy and seeing the difference as I go along!

Every time I think I am not moving along as quickly as I should be I see a before and after picture and realize I am going at the pace my body wants me to and I am losing weight and inches! I feel more confident everyday, my energy level has gone up tremendously, I sleep better at night, clothes are fitting differently and in a good way, I have more options on what to wear and I just feel healthier.

Now I still have a ways to go until I hit my goal weight, but I would say these first 97 pounds down feel AMAZING! I am never going back to that old Katie. The one thing they say with the surgery is it isn't a permanent fix, you can re-stretch your stomach, go back to eating the old ways, not stay on top of doing your exercises and you can ruin all the hard work you put into it. Well I will tell you this I am going to give it 110% and everything I have not to ruin this life changing opportunity!

Thanksgiving Time! 11/22/18

What a Bariatric patients plate looks like! 

Thanksgiving is here and I can't believe it! I told my mom I would make Thanksgiving dinner this year so she can enjoy time with Elijah my nephew (obviously her Grandson). She said that was awesome! As I am cooking dinner I don't feel the urge to nibble and munch on the food I am making so that is pretty awesome! I am having a great time, however a little nervous to actually sit down with the family and try to eat this amazing food. I can't have bread, pasta, rice, tortilla's or anything like that because when it hits your stomach it expands, 1. causing you to fill up faster, 2. doing it to often can cause stomach stretching, and 3. Major discomfort. Well lets see stuffing is a bread, potatoes are high carbs, mac and cheese is a pasta... So what did I do? I had a tiny spoonful of each item and maybe only ate 1-2 bites of each item!

My 17 month old Nephew putting away
more then myself lol! 

Let's put it this way my 17 month old nephew ate more then I did! That says something about what the surgery can do for your stomach!  Normally I would stuff myself but obviously wasn't able to. I did stop when my your full symptoms began which would be runny nose and hiccups. lol I was proud of myself for not taking a dinner roll, eating my turkey and mashed potatoes before taking 1 bite of mac and cheese and 1 bite of stuffing. I'd say I did pretty good! Dessert was homemade mini apple pies, pumpkin pies and banana cream pies. I had 1 pumpkin and I was good to go! And I was proud of myself for not drinking during the meal! With this surgery they say you can drink anything 30 min before eating, during eating and 30 minutes after eating because fluids will fill you up and you won't be able to eat anything! I had the hardest time with that in the beginning and I learned my lesson and never did it again!

Black Friday Shopping!

Let's just say later that night I worked off the calories I ate at dinner while I black Friday shopped! :D It was nice being able to order a size smaller in my thanksgiving shirt! Another goal hit, dropping a shirt size as I go along!
Shirt says My Favorite Turkeys call me Auntie!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Now onto another hard Holiday with tons of baked goodies!

November Already 11/9/18

Man is time flying. This month will be harder then the others. My birthday (which means birthday cake), Thanksgiving and all that fun stuff!!! I am nervous about thanksgiving but know I have the support and can do it!

November 6th. My Birthday: Okay so today has been a great day, went and got my eyebrows done as a birthday treat to myself and my mom bought a small birthday cake. I was good and had one SMALL slice. It filled that sweet tooth and I was surprised I wasn't wanting more after that! Baby steps people!

November 7th. Starting a new job: I got a new job working at McDonald's with my friend Samantha! I am super nervous because I have been working from home this past year and haven't had to be on my feet for long periods. Luckily they are willing to work with me to ease me back into the full blown on my feet thing. Today was my first day and I did 6 hours, normally I would be sore, needing to sit, in lots of pain and sweaty... However none of that happened today and I could have gone for another few more hours! Shhh don't tell Sam that ;) Felt great to be back on my feet working and not in pain!

Day 2 of work and I am ready to get going, day 2 went great and so did day 3! The first week is complete and I feel amazing. However my legs and feet are sore but that's to expect! But when I say sore it's not a sore that's going to keep me from getting up this weekend and doing stuff around the house! I am taking all Halloween down and putting up the fall/Thanksgiving like decorations.
So far I am liking the Job and being out and about doing things. I will check back in a few days!

3 month check up! 10/29/18

It's the morning of my 3 month check up and I am nervous. I feel like I am progressing really good but I see others on my support pages on FB progressing faster. So when I go in I will talk to my nutritionist about it. So 75 pounds ago I had to get rides to and from the doctor because I couldn't walk much and to get to and from the U of MN where this doctor is I have to take a bus, light rail and walk 7 blocks. It's so embarrassing but it happened. Well today I said I am doing better and going to do the walking. I put my headphones in and walked to the bus, then to the light rail and the 7 blocks to the doctors office! OMG I felt amazing, I wasn't sore, sweaty or anything that had happened in the past. I even did it all to go home as well! I would say that's a positive to this whole journey!

Okay so my doctors appointment. I am down 85 pounds! Yay me! My labs are all normal except my protein level which was to be expected since I am not getting my protein in. They said I am losing weight at a great pace and am doing everything right. Now the stomach cramping problem, the doctor didn't seem concerned and said some people recover at different paces and maybe my stomach needs a little extra time. Not to force myself to eat so much solid foods and it's okay to add a liquid/pureed food in there here and there. I said good to know. My nutritionist wants me to write down in a food diary everything that's making my stomach cramp and causing me to vomit and maybe that will help find those triggers. She said to continue to try getting my protein in as good as I can. I am going to buy the protein shakes, water flavoring, soup mixes and a couple of other things from here and hopefully those will help! The protein shake mix is flavorless so I can put it on oatmeal, or anything else I can tolerate. My doctor said if it continues or gets worse to come in. So fingers crossed it gets better rather then worse.

Side note! Halloween is in 2 days and my mom brought out the Halloween candy!!!
I want some so bad, one piece isn't going to hurt correct??? Okay so I caved and had a kit kat! Bad Katie BAD BAD KATIE!!! Let's just say I was miserable and didn't think to do it again. See having the surgery isn't the fix to everything, I still have those cravings and still have to work just as hard as those who lost weight naturally to just say no!
Happy Halloween everyone! Until next time :)

It has been 3 months! 10/24/18

JEANS!!!!

It's 10/24/18 and as I write this I am 3 months post op and couldn't feel better. I am officially 75 pounds down and I feel AMAZING! 

I just went shopping for some new underwear. I know that's weird but to me it's nice to see the sizes of my clothing go down! I am currently down 3 pant sizes, 2 shirt sizes and a bra size lol. You can start to see a difference in my face and stomach! I can't see much in my thighs which can be discouraging but I know I have lost inches there and I will lose weight in different areas at different times. My arms are getting a little excess skin and I am hating it, I am doing all I can workout wise to keep them from getting extreme so fingers crossed it helps. I pulled out all my old jeans the other day and they all fit super comfortably. My mom said they are kind of big in the leg area which was a great feeling. If you know me I love my leggings and that's all I would wear so to be able to put jeans on and feel comfortable is a big deal!

75 Pounds down and NOT going back!

I have to go to my doctor today to get my 3 month labs done and will get the results when I go in for my 3 month follow up. I have been taking my vitamins everyday and trying my hardest to watch my levels on everything. I have had problems getting the amount of protein I need in because I still have some stomach cramping after I eat and when I eat high protein foods I get nauseous and I vomit. It's the worst feeling, I will be chatting with my nutritionist and doctor when I go in for my 3 months follow up on the 29th. I hope it isn't something I have done wrong, this makes me regret the surgery. But then I look in the mirror and see a Katie that is losing weight, gaining energy, less aches and pains and can actually get on the floor and play with her nephew more so I say that's a win!

  That's all for today! I will write with my lab results on the 29th!