McOatmeal

I tried McDonald's new Fruit & Maple Oatmeal this morning and it was...wait for it...DELISH!

I had seen the commercials, and posters on the store windows for it, but since I'm not the hugest oatmeal fan (ate too much of the stuff during lapband and Weight Watchers and got burned out) I wasn't sure about it. I'm also not a huge fan of apples so that was another drawback for me, but I was starving this morning, had nothing at the house, and wanted to be healthier than Egg McMuffins and burritos so I opted for the oatmeal.

It gets an A in my book! The combo of oates, raisins, apples, and cranberries, along with brown sugar was just right. Oh, and it's also available without brown sugar if that's not something you want. As the website says, "The tasty bowl has two servings of whole grains, about a half cup of fruit and is rich in vitamin C." I loved that the nutritional info was right on the side of the cup too. The serving size is 9.2 oz and has 290 calories, 4.5 g of fat, 5 g of protein, and 32 g of sugar. The sugar is high, depending on the eating/lifestyle change you have adopted (diet is a dirty word!). However if you aren't into fruit and just want some healthy oatmeal on your way to work you could cut out 15 g of sugar by cutting the cranberry raisin blend. I personally think it makes the dish, but to each their own.

Definitely check it out. It was a yummy, healthy option for breakfast on the go.

And no, McDonald's isn't paying me to endorse them...dang it!

Exciting NSVs

I love when the scale shows a smaller number, but I also love those Non-Scale Victories. They mean just as much to me and are oh so exciting. Here are a few that I thought I'd share with you.
I took this pic awhile back when I was able to fit into this shirt again. It was SO exciting for me. I had bought it back in 2008 and hadn't worn it in ages because it didn't fit. And these pants are actually huge now and I was just excited they were fitting here! Love this NSV!

Weird pic, huh? lol. For me this is huge. Back in October, Deborah decorated my desk with some cutesy rings and these bracelets for my birthday. Shockingly I was able to put these bracelets on. They fit over my hands. That's HUGE! I've always had to buy jewelry at the plus size stores, or not wear it at all, when it came to many rings and bracelets.

I took this pic back in September before Keelie & I did the Hills & Heels 5K. These capri pants were falling off of me, which was an incredible victory considering I couldn't wear them before surgery in June.

This side view was taken the next day before we headed to the 5K. Shirt size...2X. Incredible. AND, the pants were starting to get baggy! It's truly amazing.

This picture was taken on Easter Sunday, April 2010. As you can tell this shirt is looking a bit tight.

I had it on again here, in May 2010, at a Komen meeting. Sadly, this is the day the local news crew came and filmed us for a special that aired the week of the Race. Notice the shirt sticking nicely to the busting out roll. Yeah.

But excitingly, here I am today, in the same shirt. It's big & baggy and the neck is so loose now that my bra kept showing all day.

And today was the last day for me to wear these size 26 pants. Pants which I couldn't fit into before surgery. I probably should have stopped wearing these awhile back, considering my 24's are already big, but hey, my wardrobe is limited right now so I continued to wear them. Yes, the wardrobe is limited now, but for a completely different reason than before surgery. Yay!

These Non-Scale Victories thrill me! Yes the decreasing number on the scale is wonderful, but these victories make me over the moon! :-) I look forward to the ones yet to come!

Tightening the Reigns

It's a new year and it's time to get back on track!

I've REALLY slacked off during the holidays without even realizing it at first. A little junk here, a little junk there, and pretty soon I was eating junky stuff exclusively. Even if I'm not gaining the weight I've still begun to feel very sluggish, blah, and nauseated after eating said junk. That's ridiculous and it's time to stop. First off, I must stop the sweet tea, AGAIN. After surgery I really couldn't drink it because it would upset my stomach. Of course 6 months later I've healed a lot and am able to tolerate the evil sugar drink much better, which is why during the holidays it's been a staple for me. It's time to stop it. I do NOT need this sugar which makes me feel tired and yuck all day. Sweet tea, I'm breaking up with you.

Carbs, your next. I've really loosened the reigns on carbs all throughout the holidays. I started eating breads, pastas, rice, and WAY too many potatoes. It's time to stop! These too are making be feel blah and gross. It's time to go back to the basic...protein and veggies. I did so well for months after surgery. That was all I was eating and I was feeling better because of it. Goodbye carbs! Yes, I love you. I'm not saying we'll never be together again. I'm just saying you must not come around every meal. I'm over you!

And then there is chocolate. Chocolate and I have had a long relationship. About 31 years. Chocolate knows I can't resist him so he jumps in my shopping cart when I'm at the store and finds his way home with me. Well chocolate, when I grocery shop today you are not coming with. And when I get home all those kisses you've left lying around are going into the trash and out to the dumpster. I can't control myself around you. I can't have just a little. Pretty soon it's handfuls until I feel ill. I must remove you all together. I know I have no self-control and must plan accordingly.

You see, even if you've had a procedure that makes you malabsorptive there are things you should still not do, which I'm learning. Yes, I can kind of get away with doing them, but then I feel like crap as I do today. No more. I'm tightening the reigns and getting back on track.

Goodbye sluggishness, hello feeling good and having more energy!

Then & Now

As I look back over 2010 I have a lot to be thankful for. I truly believe my decision to have the Duodenal Switch procedure has, and will continue to, change my life. I'm losing weight, feeling better, eating healthier (most of the time), and able to see a light at the end of this tunnel!

This picture was taken 12-30-09. Just at a year ago. Sadly, it was not my heaviest. I continued to gain around 30 lbs before my actual surgery date. I was in one of those "eat everything because it'll be my last chance to do so" modes. How dumb that was.

05-30-10 - My heaviest...ever. I went to my DS pre-op two days after this picture was taken and they weighed me. It was awful to see the number on the scale. The biggest I had EVER been. Thank God I had my surgery a month later. Oh, and as you can see I have this shirt on in BOTH photos. Yes, I wore this shirt ALL the time. It was baggyish (not so much now that I look back at these photos) but it fit over the fat. I had a VERY small wardrobe at the time. Not much fit so I wore the same few items ALL the time. My friend Deb has wanted to cut this shirt up for a long time now. She threatened to cut it up right after surgery but I told her I still needed it as the wardrobe was still small. I think it's time Deb! Let's cut this sucker into pieces! ;)

12-31-10 - This is me last night ringing in 2011 and 123 lbs smaller. Praise God! I found myself looking at my pictures from last night and still being disappointed at my size. I kept comparing myself to other people and was a little bummed. Then I pulled out the two other photos and realized how far I've come and I know what I am capable of. I can do this. I have done this and will continue to. Thank you God for your reminders in my life!

May 2011 be the best year yet!!!!

6 Months Post-Op

Today marks 6 months since I had the Duodenal Switch Procedure. I stepped up on the dreaded scale this morning and was pleasantly surprised at the number staring back at me. In 6 months I have lost 123 lbs!!! It's like I lost a whole person! I had been carrying the extra weight of a person on my back, literally. But now I'm down 123 lbs!!!!! Hip hip hooray & Bless God!

I was nervous, as usual, to step onto the scales this morning. I was especially nervous since this past weekend was Christmas and I did quite a bit of celebrating in the form of food. :- I ate more chocolate than I thought was humanly possibly. There were M&M's from my stocking, cookies from an exchange earlier in the week, cake balls, chocolate covered pretzels, and chocolate covered popcorn, just to name a few. I felt the need to sample these treats every time I walked passed them, hungry or not. My stomach would even start to hurt and grumble but I would continue to eat the sweets. Really? Thank God for a surgery that works, even when I do not work the way I should.


6 Months Post-Op photos!

The best part about taking these pictures this evening is that I had to keep pulling my pants up. They are falling off of me! Yay! The shirt is even getting a bit baggyish too. Hooray!

I Can Relate

I received a forward today from a friend with these weight related quotes. I thought they were hilarious and I could absolutely relate!

"I have metal fillings in my teeth. My refrigerator magnets keep pulling me into the kitchen. That's why I can't lose weight!"

"What fits your busy schedule better, exercising on hour a day or being dead 24 hours a day?"

I'm going to order a broiled skinless chicken breast, but I want you to bring me lasagna and garlic bread by mistake."

"If you put a crouton on your sundae instead of a cherry, it counts as a salad."

"The handle on your recliner does not qualify as an exercise machine."

"I was going to wake up early to go jogging but my toes voted against me 10 to 1."

"My doctor told me to start my exercise program very gradually. Today I drove past a store that sells sweat pants."

"The healthiest part of a donut is the hole. Unfortunately, you have to eat through the rest of the donut to get there!"

Target Clothes

Okay, get this...I bought a pair of jeans from Target! Yes, me! No, for real! Can you believe it?! TARGET CLOTHES!!! Me! I know you are thinking, "That's common and everyone does it." Not this big girl...not until now!

I was floating on air two weeks ago when I purchased my first pair of jeans from Target. I've never been able to wear clothes from there before. Yes, they were still plus size, but I could shop at a regular store just like anybody else. I've needed new jeans for awhile now. When others start to notice your pants are too baggy it's a bit embarrassing. I attempted to buy some at Wal-Mart a few weeks back, but after trying them on they were too short, tight, and looked cheap. Of course I don't want to spend much money on clothes as I shrink through the sizes, but still, I want them to look alright. I really didn't think the Target jeans would work either, but I figured why not check them out. I was nervous putting them on and zipping them in the dressing room. I nearly teared up when was able to get them on! I was on a natural high when I left the store that evening.

I was completely bummed out when I wore them the next day and the zipper wouldn't stay up. I figured it was because I was too big for them and was making them bust at the seams. That night when I got home I inspected them and the bottom of the zipper was missing the little clasp thing that holds it together. Yay, it wasn't me! I returned them to the store and sadly, they didn't have any others in that size and color. After going to two more Targets, I found the size and color I wanted and was thrilled once again. So much so that I got brave a tried on a few shirts, which fit also. How cool is that? I did the smart thing and only bought one. ;) You can't imagine the feeling of being able to shop for clothes at Target if you'd never been really overweight. I normally just shop at Lane Bryant & The Avenue and have to pay their expensive prices because that's what fits. Not any longer! Yippee!!!! I've even asked for a Target gift card for Christmas so I can do a little more damage in the clothing department. I can't wait! ;-)