The More I Learn, The Less I Know . . .

I have said this statement more than any other in my life.
And, can I just say, that sometimes TOO MUCH INFORMATION does more damage than good.
There are so many "eating lifestyles" around now, how can a person tell what they should or should not be eating?
This is a topic I've revisited again, and again.
And I've come to a realization.
Since my surgery, I cannot look at food as a non-surgery person looks at food anymore.
I should have had this figured out a year ago, but I didn't.
You see, a year ago, I was still in the mindset that, after healing, I could go back to eating whatever I wanted, only in smaller amounts.
This is a lie that I was telling myself.
Actually, this is a lie that MY ADDICTION was telling me.

Yes. I am an addict.
I am a FOOD ADDICT.
I have talked about this before - several times, I'm sure. But it doesn't sting any less for me to say that out loud.
I am a FOOD ADDICT.
Yep, I had to say it again.

So, here's what I'm learning:

Eating for sleevers is NOT the same as "dieting".
We can no longer be on diets, actually.
We have to eat a certain amount of certain things daily for us to even be able to FUNCTION.
One thing I learned that is NOT a fad diet thing is that the human body requires a certain amount of protein, water, vitamins, and minerals a day in order to function. Without these primary building blocks, our bodies shut down. We become listless, have less energy, and become sick.
Some of what we need:
Protein: 60 g
Water:  64 oz
Calcium: 1000-1200 mg
Iron: 8-18 mg.

There's more, but these are the ones that I found to be the most important to a sleever specifically.
So, what does this mean?
This means we have to eat differently than everyone else on the planet.
Remember when the doctor told you "protein first"?
Yeah. He wasn't joking.
Where are the BEST sources of protein?
Well, here's something else I've learned of the last few days:

The leaner the protein source, the higher the protein count.
REALLY?!
Yes. Really.

For example:

1 whole egg contains 6 g of protein.
1 egg white ALSO contains 6 g of protein.
I can eat a whole egg.
I can also eat TWO egg whites.
So, if I chose the egg whites over the egg, that's 12 g protein vs. 6!!

Here's another example:

1 oz of chicken breast contains 9 g of protein
1 oz of thigh meat contains a mere 4 g!
So, I can eat 3 oz of meat (usually) in a setting, so if I chose the breast over the thigh, I can get in about 27 g of protein - almost HALF of what I need!!

But what about fiber? Vitamins? Minerals??

All-natural gurus won't like this much, but:

SUPPLEMENTS ARE A WLS PATIENT'S BEST FRIEND!

Take your vitamins - DAILY.
If you need it, add a fiber supplement to your diet.
Yes, these vitamins and minerals are VERY IMPORTANT so PLEASE don't pooh-pooh them off!!

SO, now that this blog post has gone on for MUCH longer than I anticipated . . .
I think it's safe to say that I have learned a LOT over the past year.
And I have figured out that it's time that I start over - again.

Remember, kids:

Protein, water, vitamins.
Repeat.
God bless you all,

Back in the Saddle

It seems like years have gone by since I last sat at this computer and blogged. I was so diligant for so long, and then . . . nothing. That is very much like my weight-loss journey. I'll be gung-ho for days, weeks, even months at a time, then . . . nothing. Why is that? Why do we allow ourselves to fall into the trap of mundane apathy? I made a vow at the start of this year that I was going to finish what I start - that includes everything, even my blogs.

I've begun to keep a journal. In it I write what I eat, my calorie count, weather I exercised or not and for how long. But I changed something - I began to add my thoughts and feelings of the day. This is helping me realize when I eat what I eat and why. It appears that I eat more in the afternoon and evenings because I'm bored. Why is that? I need to find a way to change it. Find something to do to keep me occupied during these hours.

My journal experience has also opened my eyes to something. With all my knowledge about diet and nutrition, I still obviously have a lot to learn. Saturday, for example, I couldn't decide between blueberry oatmeal or a bagel with cream cheese. So, I had a half a serving of both, thinking that I was doing myself a service. Then, I added up my calories for that meal, and it was over 550!! I would have been better off eating a whole serving of one or the other! In fact, the bagel would have been 320 and the oatmeal would have been 280! I was in shock. Then I added up my morning coffee. That hot chocolate packet I add to my coffee cup every morning brought the count up by 120 calories! I was in shock. SO, I realized that I need to CAREFULLY read my labels beforehand to avoid future mishaps like this.

My goal for this week: 2 lbs

exercise 2 days

drink 2 bottles of water daily

follow my meal plan - measuring everything

read my labels!

Labor Day Weekend

Ugh, didn't do so well this weekend. Didn't do so BAD, but didn't do so well.

We had my cousin's birthday party Sunday - had about 30 points that night.
Monday, we were late coming back from the store, and had to stop at Whataburger - there's 20 points.
Last night we cooked out. Another 20.

So . . . today is all about getting back on track. I do have to say, though, we DID get our exercise in. So I guess that's a plus. But still, I felt sluggish the whole weekend and had no clue if it was the eating habits or the fact that I started my new BCP (that's a post for the OTHER blog) that was causing it. I vote eating habits.

Joined Weight Watchers . . .

For anyone watching my other blog, The Supermom Blues, you will remember my signing up for weight watchers today. I have decided to blog about my failures, frustrations and successes. I think it will 1) be therapeutic 2) help me to track my progress that much better 3) help anyone else on the road to weight loss and 4) enable me to have some support.

My starting weight is (today) *gulp* ( I can't believe I'm revealing this . . . ) : 298 lbs. Some of you may recall my once saying that if I ever reached a specific weight to just shoot me? Yup. I am two pounds shy of that. When I saw that scale, I wanted to cry. I didn't even tell Ronnie what my weight was. It was, and is, embarrassing. I just can't believed I allowed this to happen to me.

So, I am going to fix it. I am praying for strength, I am turning to God through all of it. With his help and with the love and support of all my friends and family, I know I can do this.

So, my goal? Well, right now it's 220. I think if I can get there, I'll be healthy. Well, healthy-ER, anyway.

I bought an exercise bike and some resistance bands (to use with my Yoga ball) today. When the fall semester begins, I will be able to use the campus fitness center free of charge. I am going to try to get Ronnie to go with me and the kids to walk the track at least once a week. I need to make this happen. I HAVE to make it happen.

It's time I started losing it.