Melting Mama

Looking for love, 650-pound virgin loses 410 pounds. O-o

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It's just a number, it's just a number. Wednesday, July somethingorother.

Weight - is just a number, it's just a number. 

When your clothes don't fit, however.

I'm close to going out naked.  I am slowly digging through what little clothing I have and tossing out what I have not worn in forever and what won't ever fit.  This makes for a very small wardrobe.  I need clothes in a bad way -- but I swore I would not buy anything new in bigger sizes because this regain was supposedly a transient thing.  So, I find myself putting on 14's that fall off, and lubricating rolls to fit in my "regular" clothes, neither of which is at ALL attractive.

Either I CHANGE or GET NEW CLOTHES.  You would think it's an easy decision?  HAHAHAHAHAHA.  Buying bigger sizes is like admitting defeat.

I am not there yet.

*shoves self into size 10's and goes on with the day*

• Breakfast - ISS Oh Yeah RTD in Vanilla Creme (deciding I could probably live on these, alone.  I guess they're good.  But, I have a huge list of bariatric appropriate foods to get moving on.)  220 calories
• Lunch - most of a Grilled Chicken breast a la Funky Fried Chicken.  (Them is good, BTW, tastes like a homemade roasted chicken breast, I don't know HOW, but it does, and less greasy.) 120 calories
• Snacks, etc- Pure Protein Bar (half, twice), lowfat colby jack cheese (280 + 32 grams protein for the bar, 100 calories in the cheese) More cheese, cheese... 160.
  
• Drinks - Propel, Soy milk (200 over the day in coffee)
• Cookie - (100?)
  

New secrets published.

At Weighty Secrets - check them out now, maybe one is yours.

Bariatric Re-Boot Camp.

Something that anyone that has been through weight loss surgery knows?  It is hard to change bad habits, or even not-so-bad habits.  It's hard to change! 

I put a dollar in one of those change machines.  Nothing changed.  ~George Carlin

Early as a post-op, you are sort of forced into changing your way of life, you physically cannot take in the quantity or kind of foods that helped maintain your obesity.  That, CHANGES.  After the so-called bariatric "honeymoon," gastric bypassed patients typically find it harder to take in such small amounts and maintain massive weight loss.  It differs for everyone -- but it seems like after 18-24 months -- it CHANGES.  After that, all bets seem to be OFF.  Some bypassers regain, or "bounce," some regain a whole bunch of weight, some gain it all back, some maintain, and a few, keep losing. 

But, there comes a time where a lot of us find ourselves needing to CHANGE.

(I promise -- I won't get all deep here.)

I am in a place now.  Change has to happen, or I will find myself in a place that is more difficult to dig out of, a large amount of regain is NOT the change I want right now.  I want to get healthier -- fitter -- with a side effect of some weight loss, and it's going to take serious change to make it happen.

     If you want to truly understand something, try to change it.  ~Kurt Lewin

I have been stalling at change -- making excuses -- and in the words of Dr. Phil, "How's that workin' for ya?"

It's not.   Time to re-boot.   I feel that I need more accountability -- and especially more people who want to change -- to hop on and kick ass with me.  What can we do?  Anyone needing CHANGE?

Hyporant.

Luckily I am so forgetful -- I failed to notice that my Medtronic sensor gadgets never arrived that I ordered weeks ago.  They were on a UPS 3rd day ship.  Doh. 

It's not that I WANT to shove a needle in my abdomen, but I think I need to again.

Last night I found myself crashing onto the couch, glucose meter in hand, attempting to stick myself and finding that my blood sugar was already at 42. (This is my pattern, I hit the couch or floor when I hit the 40's.  Anything higher, I am functioning at half-speed and confused.)

I could not get the energy to STAND BACK UP and go get sugar.  I was just floppy.  (Please, no more speeches about "OMG! WHAT IF?!  Why didn't you have glucose stashed in the cushions of your COUCH?!  IN your PANTS even?!")  Uh, I don't.  It's in my pocketbook, on my desk, in the kitchen and my bedroom.  I. could. not. get. it.  To make matters sound more stupid, I crashed onto Mr., who apparently did not see the meter or that I was OMGDYING.  He just figured I was chilling.  Zzzzz. 

I don't typically EVER just lay down.  It means two things -- sick or comatose.

"Beth, what did you eat?!"

You know, it just. doesn't. matter. sometimes.  It's a pattern that causes this.  It's not usually ONE item, unless I am idiotic enough to eat ONE food, like a whole potato.  Potato = crash.  But, more often it's a pattern.  I ate protein in the morning, noon and then I had a carb followed by a carb over many hours..... CRASH.

It's just easier to not eat anything, if I weren't hungry enough to chew wallpaper all the time.

I have started writing a draft of a letter to the insurance company regarding coverage of a cork, rubber band and paperclip contraption at the out hole of my pouch.  I'm drawing up the plans, it'll be my invention!

I don't know how long I laid there half-asleep, but at some point I sat up and re-poked -- saw a rising number -- 52 and went to the kitchen, inhaled three glucose tabs and a cheese sandwich.  Healin' Powers, a few moments later I am completely cured!  The Healing Powers Of The Cheese Sandwich!  Cured. 

I then gave a speech to my girls who came in to the kitchen -- IF YOU EVER SEE ME LAY DOWN -- please ask me to check my blood sugar and if I can't get to the sugar - get it to me.  The kids are more likely to catch a low if they're here -- he's not here during the day.  But obviously it's not always helpful other people can't tell what is going on in your bloodstream and brain.  Yes, after the event, I asked him why didn't he shove my ass to the kitchen, and he said that I was talking to him so he thought I was "fine."  (Please, don't.) 

I am hyper-aware of other people's blood sugar levels now -- because of this -- so the moment I see him acting slightly out of order, I ask "HOW IS YOUR SUGAR?!"  A few times I have found him in a low -- and I'm preemptively making him fix it.  Usually if it means he's driving us anywhere -- "There will be NO eating, Mr, I don't want to die on the highway today."  (Remembering Jennifer in CA with me, pacing and confused while we were out shopping, I shoved her into a store to get something to eat.... we're all like this!)

It's sad, but... true, considering both of us never had diabetes.

Celebrate ENS Multivitamin & Calcium Drink Mix

Gastric Bypass / Sleeve Gastrectomy / Adjustable Gastric Band / Duodenal Switch

Created for surgical weight loss patients, our Celebrate ENS (Essential Nutrient System) provides a full compliment of vitamins and minerals, plus 500 mg of calcium in each stick pack.  Our integrated formula provides maximum solubility and ensures that the vitamins and minerals are readily bioavailable.  This is the best option for patients immediately following surgery.

 * The vitamin and mineral content of each pack is equal to taking one chewable multivitamin plus 500 mg of calcium.

* The calcium that we have chosen is calcium lactate-gluconate, which is a highly absorbable form of calcium with excellent solubility properties.

* Due to the nature of the formulation, this product is appropriate for any surgical weight loss procedure.  As with any of our other delivery systems, you may need additional supplementation based on surgery type.

* It is recommended to be blended with 8-16 oz of water, shaken, and consumed.

* Each pack also contains 4 g of soluble fiber, added electrolytes and a 500 mg antioxidant blend made with natural berries including acai berry, raspberry, blueberry, goji berry, strawberry and cranberry.

* Like our other products, taste is important and this has a smooth grape flavor.

Who would benefit from this product?

1. Early post-operative patients - Since this may be diluted to taste, there are virtually no issues with taste aversion.  If you prefer a stronger flavor, use less water or if you prefer a lighter flavor, use more water.
2. Athletes - If you are a surgery patient turned athlete, this can help to flavor that boring water that you need to drink.  Water is critical and taking your vitamins and calcium while hydrating makes it easier.
3.  Anyone looking for a convenient alternative to pills or chewable tablets.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Simple enough - you rip open a stick pack - much like a "Crystal Light" packet and dump it into your water.  Celebrate suggests 8 to 16 ounces of water, according to your taste.  Obviously using a cold bottle of spring water is the way to go - but I am usually a re-usable bottle girl.  I used a 16 ounce glass of cold water to mix into.  Here goes:

   

I stirred the powder in - it turns a deep purple - and all of the powder mixes entirely for a nearly clear drink.  There was ZERO powder or grit left.  It smells a bit like Grape Kool-Aid or Grape flavored Crystal Light-type product. 

I mixed it with 16 ounces of water - and I got a smooth light grape Kool-Aid not strong taste.  Next time I will use 8 ounces of water for a more intense flavor.  You could probably mix this product into another flavored water if you wanted a really potent taste - I suppose - but it's really good on it's own.

I waited for a vitamin-y taste - seeing as the ENS contains 50% of your daily allotment of vitamins and minerals - but there was none.  I also waited for a vitamin after taste - to my surprise there was none.  Although I have to say, none of the Celebrate Bariatric Supplement line HAS an aftertaste.  Awesome.

I'm impressed - and I bet this product is followed very soon with more varieties of drinkable vite and mineral supplementation.

The deets:

• Product - Celebrate ENS Multivitamin & Calcium Drink Mix
• Price - $49.95 a month
• Via - www.celebratevitamins.com
• Pros - Drinkable vitamin supplementation, super easy to take, no vile taste, no aftertaste, no grit, all-in-one.
• Cons - Although it's super for early post ops, still 8 ounces is a big drink for a baby gastric bypass, may take a while to get down at FIRST.  At later stages - down the hatch - chug.
• Rating - Pouchworthy, ^MM.

More Celebrate reviews:

• Celebrate Bariatric Supplements B-12 Sublingual Dietary Supplement
• Celebrate Bariatric Supplements Chewable Calcium Citrate
• Celebrate Bariatric Supplements Iron + C 18 mg Chewables
• Celebrate Bariatric Supplements Multivitamin Chewable Mandarin Orange