These are a few of my favorite things {June 2015}

One of my favorite things is to watch girls on YouTube publish monthly videos of their monthly favorites. They always give me a good idea as to products I should try and things that I might like, so I figure, why not do the same thing here? 

We all could use some favorite things in our lives! 

We all could be healtheir!
So I would like to formally intoduce to you the series:

My Favorite Things- Monthly Favorites 

I will try to keep the focus on things that are WLS related, or things that motivate me to keep moving,

but sometimes I might throw in a couple "randoms"

Its my blog, and I'll write what I want to.

So without further ado, June 2015's favorite things:

-Mio Strawberry Pineapple

Because if I'm not drinking Diet Coke (aka. BAE) then I gotta get my caffine somewhere,
 #amiright?
Found at most major grocery stores
-Having a routine

-Dollar tree cups

These little puppies are my go-to all day, every day. 

I still struggle getting my water in everyday, but I've found drinking ice water from a straw 

(usually with the MIO or Crystal Light drops) help keep me sippin'. 

Plus, they are litterally a dollar at Dollar tree, so if you lose one, who even cares? 

Found at Dollar Tree

-Couch to 5k app

I've talked about this app before, but I am honestly LOVING it.
It's seriously the only thing that can get me to get on the treadmill some days.
It's motivating because I honestly feel accomplished seeing myself improve and I don't get overwhelmed in the first few days thinking that I will never be able to finish.
Basically: ITS DO-ABLE
Totally recommended for any "Non-runner" hoping to get into shape.
Feel free to pair with your favorite playlist. Here's mine.
Available for Android and Apple

-"Stinky cheese omlettes"
(As named by my youngest brother, not me)
Picture one: Mix one egg into frying pan and begin cooking "omlette style"
Picture two: add freshly crumbled feta cheese to begin melting on one half

Picture three: Add Salsa (Mine is a very yummy mix I found at the farmers market that includes tomatoes, basil, garlic, and onion- similar to bruchetta found here) add a little more feta cheese to melt.

Picture four: Fold over omlette, flip, and allow cheese to melt.

 *Note: I can rarely finish this entire omlette, but it tastes so good that I can't stop making it.

-Cooked Shrimp with cocktail sauce

 I usually can only eat about 5 with sauce for lunch, but its a great way for me to get some extra protien in, and its super easy-all I have to do is defrost!

-Costa Vida salads without rice, tortilla, or chips + extra meat

 With the extra portion of meat, the "small salad" is a great dinner that usually lasts me about two days. The beans, and meat choice are great to get that extra protien in, and it just tastes so dang good. I'm really lucky that I can tolerate lettuce, because I know that many that have had WLS can't- especially this early on.

-Beef Jerky

A great snack choice when I am needing some extra protien (ok, like every single day) and I can keep it in my purse or bag to carry around with me. Nice to have non-refridgerated options. 

-The Sweaty Betty Instagram page (HUUUGE inspiration)

Ok so there are LOTS of new WLS girls that I have started to follow on Instagram, and I am SO glad I found them. They really just motivate me to become better every single day and they give me the inspiration I need so badly when I feel like giving up. There are multiple girls I could share with you, but I figure I will pick one "favorite" a month. This month is Betty from @thesweatybetty. She posts multiple times a day and always keeps it so real and so motivational. Even if you aren't a WLS patient, but are looking for some healthy (not obsessive) motivation on your Instagram feed, look her up.
This could almost count as a #wcw.


What were some of your favorites from June?
Also, feel free to add me:
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Myfitnesspal
fitbit

Let this curse be broken.

Can we just start with how hard this made me laugh? 

What a good week it's been. 

It's been the first week that I've started feeling more like myself. 

Ok, not 100% (I still get lightheaded and have some back problems)

but I'm up, and about and working out without wanting to kill myself.

So I'm great! 

It was a really great week, 

and now that I think about it, a lot of things happened. 

Because this is my blog,

and I can write about what I want, 

I'm doing to do a weekly recap. 

If you don't want to read it, 

skip forward, 

don't read it,

I probably won't even notice.

Memorial day:

My youngest two siblings and I had the greatest time with some extended family visiting family graves and enjoying each others company. 

There were donuts and E.L.Fudge cookies a plenty,

chips and sodas galore, 

and I ate my cheese stick and turkey slices.

I felt really tired this day.

Because we spent some quality time at each grave site,

my aunt gave me a camping chair from her van to sit in. 

I spent most of the time sitting because I just felt too tired to stand for that long. 

Later that night, my family had their own BBQ in the backyard with classic hamburgers.

I convinced myself to try to each just a patty

(Maybe hamburger meat could pass as a soft meat?)

but realized quickly after finishing that it was a mistake,

and spent the rest of the night sick. 

(And also playing to coolest game of Betrayal yet) 

Both Wednesday and Thursday I tried Sugar free, concentrate free smoothies at both Jamba and Roxberry. 

Neither of them were anything to get excited about, so I'm on the verge of giving up,

unless someone out there has a tasty suggestion! 

Thursday was my brothers graduation.

Another exciting family activity with loooots of food. 

But luckily Costco's Basil Pesto Tilapia saved the day.

I also FINALLY got my new gym pass at VASA, which I was excited to put to use. 

On Saturday we got a sweeeeet surprise.

My mom's uncle called us early in the morning to invite us on his private plane 

to a family reunion in Southern Utah.

I thought ahead and packed my snacks!

(Cheese stick, ziploc of turkey, even a protien shake just in case)

Since my surgery, I have been more motion sick than I have my entire life,

so I was worried that this little plane would make me violently ill.

We got all the way to escalate and I hadn't vomited once! 

I was feeling so proud of myself until I had to rush over to some bushes to see if I could cough anything up.

Luckily, there was nothing in my stomach to come up, so after a few moments of... coughing.... 

my body finally felt satisfied that I was going to be okay. 

Then I felt fine!

Again, as people around me munched and mingled, 

I enjoyed my cheese stick and my turkey. 

I stole a couple of my baby cousins squeezey applesauce pouches (yum!)

and by the time it was dinner, I was hungry, and had run out of food!

They were having Taco Salad, or Nachos 

and I thought that my best bet would be the Chili because it had some meat and some beans.

I was still worried because I had gotten so sick on Monday from the hamburger meat.

I took just a little bit, and prayed (literally) that I wouldn't get ill in the middle of the woods,

or worse, IN MID-FREAKING-AIR-WHERE THERE IS NO BATHROOMS on our flight home. 

Well, I am here to testify that God answers prayers, 

because I made it safely home without any Chili-induced mayhem. 

Even with my good choices this week, and my new exercising routines,

I have officially plateaued this week.

So. FRUSTRATING.

I really didn't think I would plateau this early in the journey. 

I realize that this is normal, but I'm still not happy. 

Honestly, as it might be that I'm not eating enough, or drinking enough water, or both.

But let me tell you, 

after a month of losing 5 pounds a week, i

its maddening to not loose anything this entire week.
Please, please, please, Let this curse be broken

#firstworldproblems #plateaussuck

Oh! hey! Remember how I was talking about the food pyramid??? 

Like, the NEXT day, I found this and it was just too perfect:

*Go back to working 8 hour shifts (on my feet) and not pass out

*Blog twice a week

*Get to the Gym 3-4x/ week

*Walk the dog days I don't get to the gym

*Track my protein/water intake every freaking day. Seriously though. 

All Liquid Diet- Day 8

What a good day!

I started off the day excited 

because when I weighed myself I realized that I am down 10 pounds!

Well, I guess it makes all of the frustrating/ hard moments worth it. 

I had my last Dr. appointment with my surgeon
before the big day.
It was supposed to be the "scare you out of surgery" appointment,
so I was totally bracing myself.
But it didn't scare me-not even a little bit.

One thing he mentioned is that my Vitamin-D is low,
so he suggested that I start taking 5000 unit capsules
10/day until surgery
and then a regular dosage after.
I bought this brand from Costco:

Luckily they are small so it shouldn't be as bad as I thought

when he told me that I would need 

10 A DAY!

Talking to my surgeon and chatting with my nurse

got me so excited! 

I can't believe it's so close! 

I found this Tedx talk that I love:

Hardest part of the day:
My brother brought home 2 pizzas for dinner for the family.
......

the aroma was pure torture
but I stayed strong!

All Liquid Diet- Day 2

Weeeee!

Day two is done!

I am amazed at the difference between yesterday and today.

Yesterday I felt crabby, emotional, and overall HANGRY all day.

I felt like my body was constantly sending signals to my brain telling me

"You're hungry, you're hungry you're really really hungry."

It basically consumed my thoughts the entire day.

Today, I woke up feeling GREAT.

I started the day with Xyngular+Crystal Light Pure Mixed Berry

                                                                       

It was a pretty good mixture, but honestly my favorite part 

was that I added some chipped ice from the corner market. 

It made all the difference!

Made the drink colder, smoother,

plus I'm an ice chewer- 

so it felt like I was actually eating something.

So ya, that was a win.  

It keep me going for quite a while.

Actually, I feel like I barely "ate" anything today.

A couple of protein shakes, but not nearly as many as yesterday. 

My body did not feel nearly as hungry as yesterday. 

I felt more in control, and it felt great.

I'm looking for a simple protein counter or "anything" counting widget. 

Anyone have any ideas?

Also, this article made me laugh out loud,

and I love that the Lilly Pulizer Plus sized line at Target was such a success!

All Liquid Diet- Day 1

Today I woke up with the cutest text from my sweet mom:

"Happy first day of the rest of your life!"

I'm seriously so lucky to have such a supportive mom.

Started the day out with 2 scoops of Xyngulars Lean Protein shake in Vanilla Bean in 16 oz. For a first time, I didn't think it tasted too bad. It was smooth and I liked the vanilla flavor. 

Mental hunger set in. Threw in a piece of gum which made it tolerable. 

Later, I had a group meeting on campus, so I packed 2 scoops of the Monavie Core Protein Shake in Vanilla Bean. At my meeting I started really feeling really hunger. Added water to my shake to drink and control my hunger. The Core shake is definitely thicker and more frothy, although the verdict is still out as to which of the two I prefer. 

Everyone in my group was complaining about how hungry they were, pulling out bags of chips, cheese sticks or just mentioning all the food they wanted to eat when we were done. I stayed silent and just keep moving forward. Then, they started mentioning how we should go to dinner at this local Mexican restaurant to celebrate turning in our final project. I normally would be so excited about stuff like that, but I kinda hope they don't do it so I don't have to feel left out. I guess its time to get used to that. 

After my meeting, but before work I decided to run to Costco to get some weight loss shakes that would be easy to grab and go. My physiologist had recommended the Premier Protein because it ensured you got your required proteins each day. 

So far, I don't feel like it will be too hard to get the required proteins (70g) or stay within my calories (1000 calories). Right now I am more concerned about dealing with hunger, "withdraws, and feeling week. 

On my way to Costco I literally felt like I was on the brink of losing it. I know that cheating on this "liquid diet" is not an option, but I was feeling frenzied. On my way to work I called my mom and just talked through my emotions.  I was amazed how much just talking about what I was feeling really helped me. Of coarse, she cheerleader-ed me right back. 

At Costco I decided to pick up the Premier Protein shake in Strawberries n' Cream, as well as the Kirkland Weight loss shake (which is more calories, but I was hoping might suppress my appetite a little more), 

Once I got to work, I was already feeling a little.... emotional. We had some issues that would have normally been stressful, but due to my heightened "on edge-ness" I felt more emotional that I would have, and got a little teary. Luckily I was able to keep it together. 

Throughout the day I just had to keep reminding myself

"The first day is the hardest"

I felt a lot like this:

Around 7:30 I really started feeling sluggish and cranky. I kept thinking to myself

"How the heck am I going to be able to do this for 14 days"

Then my co-worker convinced me to head up the can of Vegetable broth that I had brought. 

I added a little salt and pepper, and I was astounded! 

It wasn't half bad! 

It was warm, it wasn't sweet like the protein shakes,

and I felt satisfied!

HALLELUJAH!

Suddenly it felt possible.

So here's to the first night

and the many to come.