broccoli carbs

Imagine my disappointment to learn that, according to the app I'm using to keep a food log, my one cup of steamed broccoli has almost 10 grams of carbohydrates.  Go on, imagine it.  I'll wait.


My second day of presurgery, low carb eating and I'm....I don't want to say miserable or uncomfortable, but it's easy to see that I was more addicted to them than I imagined.  I'm selecting from a food list provided by my doctor, so I don't have many concerns on that score but I'd really love some cheese dip and tortilla chips about now.  One of my friends on Facebook mentioned having a craving for margaritas and now that's been a recurring thought ALL. DAY. LONG.  The salt, the tequila...I can almost taste them in the air.  Oh well, there's low fat string cheese and natural almonds in my lunch box for a snack on the way home after work.  I shouldn't really be eating this late at night, but if I don't snack there'll be consequences.  And I'll have to take full responsibility for them.

Who knows how Labor Day will go.  I've had several requests for outings, but if I still feel as wishy-washy, willpower and craving-wise, as I do right now I really believe the smartest thing for me to do would be to stay home.  It could be that I'll get over the hump of this by week's end and feel stronger and more confident over the weekend but from where I'm sitting now, it seems unlikely.  Especially knowing I have those two clear liquid days coming up next Wednesday and Thursday.  I haven't been exercising because I don't want to be any hungrier that I am just sitting on my ass.

On the bright side, I learned about a protein powder today in the flavor of Peanut Butter Cookie.  Unfortunately, I also learned they were out of stock.  Trust me, when they get back in stock, I'll do my part to buy them out again.  I can imagine a Frosty Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cookie protein concoction inventing itself in my Ninja as we speak.

I've had several people ask me if I'm scared or nervous and I can't really say that I am.  I've been reading about, preparing and stocking for, and thinking about this since April.  I've got lists and motivational books and charts.  My friend KT has backed me up on a point with which I feel comfortable: I have my shit together.

I told her about some of the YouTube videos I'd briefly looked at.  There was a lot of discussion of contant nausea, not being able to eat, not knowing what to eat, and just general confusion.  But I know what to eat, was informed about the common causes of nausea after this surgery, and have no underlying health issues other than arthritic knees.

I can do this.

here we go

So, I have my surgery date...it's September 7th.  I'll be getting the sleeve. 

My no/low carb diet before surgery starts next week on August 29th and my clear liquid diet starts on September 5th.  I'll be on the clear liquid diet for 2-3 days after surgery, then full liquids, then creamy liquids, then soft foods.  I should be able to work back up to regular foods (as tolerated) in around 6-8 weeks, if I'm remembering correctly. 

I'm nervous and excited but most of all, I'm simply READY to start this new adventure.  If everything goes as planned, I could be down to where I'm supposed to be within the year.  Here's hoping!

the tall, tall, wagon

So, I've been working pretty hard (for me, anyway) on getting back on the exercise wagon.  After my knees went to crap, I fell off of it hard enough to know me out.  It is SO hard to get back in the habit but my knees, while they will never be "good as new," are 95% pain free.  There is no reason I can't climb, gently, back in the saddle and every possibility that once I do they will feel even better.  Intellectually, I know this to be true.  Trying to get out of bed early enough to make it happen is another story in a different language.

I'm here to tell you first hand that the downhill slide from active to sedentary is a steep one.  I'm struggling with a fairly large knot of shame for the level of health I let slip through my fingers.  I'm a big girl, but I used to have boundless energy and decent stamina for general daily tasks.  Not I struggle home exhausted each night.  No exercise or fitness of any kind will be taking place in the evenings unless a miracle occurs.  If it doesn't happen in the morning while I'm fresh and lively, I just don't see it happening.  I'll have to work up to it, that much is obvious.

I believe all these things are linked.  If I can just climb back in to the tall, tall wagon, better things are on the horizon for sure.  Four straight days of getting activity in, and counting!

who's ready for fall?

Um, that'd be me.  I'm so ready for some cooler temps, I could just spit.  We've had a couple of cooler days here and it just whets the appetite for a crisp fall day when I can put a box fan in the window and call it a day.  I really enjoy that time of year (spring and fall) when I have a month or two of power bills down in the double digits since I don't have to run the air/heat.

Anyway, I still haven't received a surgery date and I seem to be on the acid blockers indefinitely.  It's the only way I can tolerate the vitamins.  My knee scope has healed fantastically!  I won't be walking for fitness anytime soon, but I take short walks from time to time.  I'm getting most of my exercise from a recumbent bike, plus I'm pretty active at work.  My plantarfaciitis AND carpal tunnel have both decided to flare up recently so I've really been feeling like an old lady.  Joints popping, limping, stiff and sore.  Plus I hate sleeping in my wrist braces because I always have dreams that I'm tied up and in danger.  It's distressing.

Other than being in a holding pattern, waiting for a surgery date, nothing's going on.  I sleep, drive, work, drive, and sleep again.  I'm usually too tired for anything else.  Being down with the knee, and only for a few weeks, really seemed to mow me over.  I was exercising so hard this time last year before all that began.  I felt good and I WAS good, then it all went to shit so quickly.

Here's hoping I can get back that feeling of well-being and fun by the end of the year!