New Year, New Girl, 2K16

Oh! Hey! 

(well this is embarrassing.....)

HOW ARE YOU? I feel like it's been forEVER since I last saw you! 

And really, I have no one to blame but myself. 

I tend to do this with blogs/journals/any sort of documenting my life experiences,

but I have had so many people ask me about my blog that I realized that it was time to get back on the bandwagon. 

SO much has happened since I last hit my 50 pound mark and blogged about it.

I almost feel like a whole new girl. 

I started a new semester, 

with all new goals,

new job,

new internships opportunities (x2),

a whole new world of dating,

working out with my trainer,
new hair style,

and SO much more. 

(if you're nosy enough to ask me about any of the above I'd be happy to fill you in on my life) 

I can't believe that I am almost 8 months post-op!

Where has the time gone? 

My body is still changing so so much, but it sometimes it can be hard to see it in yourself,

even if the scale is telling you that it's true. 

It wasn't until today when I was going through my camera roll,

and decided to take some "update pictures" did I feel like I could see a difference. 

Total time: 8 months post-op 

Total weight loss- 85 pounds

(These pictures were taken only this last August, so about the last time I posted on the blog. I was about 50 pounds down in these before pictures) 

(this one is backwards, but you get the idea)

For those of you wondering, I am back to as normal of a diet as I think I ever will be.

I can eat a lot of things again, but with MUCH moderation.

If I get too much sugar, I get sick.

If I eat too fast, I get sick.

If I eat more than a palm sized amount of food at a time, I get sick.

But 8 months in, I've basically figured out what works and what doesn't,

and its become fairly easy to stay away from the things that don't go ever well. 

Since school started this fall, I've STRUGGLED getting to the gym. 

Over the summer I was doing so well, and getting so strong, 

but it was hard to keep up the routine when school started.

I've made adjustments to my school schedule, 

and I have moved back home so it is easier to attend "my gym" 

and I think both of these things, as well as some new found determination will make a difference.

I've started running again and I can already tell a difference between starting a cardio routine 80 pounds ago, and today.  

I am not perfect.

My diet is not perfect.

as I just mentioned above, 

my workout routine is not perfect,

but I'm improving,

I'm changing,

I'm transitioning.

I'm doing so well.

I am so blessed.

I am so thankful for my amazing parents 

who made this life change so possible and their love and support 

through the physical and mental pain of it all. 

They are my rock. I would not be able to do without them. 

If you have young children (especially girls) who struggle with their weight,

I beg you to read this article. 

As someone who came from a home that kept most of these rules, 

I can say that it made the world of difference. 

New years resolution 2k16- UPDATE THIS BLOG MORE FREQUENTLY.

(but seriously, feel free to hold me accountable and ask when I'll update again)

Current phone wallpapers:

Soft Foods and Long Walks.

First let me say,

I am surprised how many of you are reading this blog!

I am amazed at how many people in life are so interested in this journey. 

Seriously, unexpected. 

Welcome-but unexpected. 

This week went by too fast and before I know it, people are asking me

"Why haven't you blogged???" 

and I'm like...

"Oh ya! Its been over a week....I'm on it!"

This week was the my first week that I have entered what we call 

"Phase 3" of the post-op diet. 

This means I can eat soft solids.

(This includes deli meats, cottage cheese, low fat cheese etc...) 

I am supposed to focus on protein foods,

so I have been eating a lot of deli meats and cheese.

Ooooooh was I excited to eat deli meats.

That last leg of the liquid diet had me DYING.

I was CRAVING protein.

For some reason my thumb sized tummy would hurt every time I tried to drink protein shakes,

and my surgeon let me off the hook and said "if it hurts, don't force yourself to drink it".

I feel like after being on an "all liquid diet" for an entire month, 

its easy to stick to any other type of diet. 

This week I have been eating a lot of:

eggs

light cheese sticks

deli meats

cottage cheese

yogurt

and my calcium chews (from Costco and taste like candy) 

I told my best friend Emmalee about my diet,

and she started to laugh, 

because it is basically the opposite of what she eats.

(shes a vegan)

Lots of meat and cheese.

It's been my on-going joke that diet is almost exact opposite of the food pyramid they taught me in elementary school:

They taught us:

LOTS OF GRAINS!

FRUITS AND VEGGIES! 

A BIT OF DAIRY 

HAVE SOME PROTEIN!

After gastric bypass your diet is more:

LOTS OF PROTEIN!

 (60 g a day! Exhausting for this thumb sized tummy!)

EAT THAT CHEESE!

LIMIT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGGIES!

NO CARBS ALLOWED!

Weird, right? 

It feels backwards, but it makes sense.

I can get nutrients that you need from fruits and veggies from multi-vitamins,

but you can't "fake" protein. 

So with the limited space I have,

gotta focus on 'dat protein. 

Truth me told,

I'm still malnourished,

and dehydrated. 

I get lightheaded any time I stand up too quickly.

Its hard to eat and drink all that I am supposed to!

I would essentially have to be consuming something 24/7

and that's just not easy. 

I had been feeling really good. 

I had been walking the dog and it seemed to be going well.

So a few days ago, while I was walking, 

and feeling good,

I decided to keep walking.

I ended up walking 2 miles.

At first this felt like a victory,

until I came home and essentially crashed for the rest of the day

and it wiped me clean for at least the next two days.

geeeeez.

2 steps forward, one step back.

I've also started feeling sick this week.

I eat try something new,

I eat something a little too fast,

and I puke. 

Not fun. 

On the plus side,

I've already dropped a LOT of weight.

30 pounds in one month.

Can't complain,

but don't you dare think it came easy.

It came with a lot of sacrifices 

and a lot of tears. 

This is definitely not the easy way,

but it's proving to be effective.

I love feeling like the worst is behind me.

I will slowly learn what I can handle and what I can't,

which will lead to less sickness. 

I get less and less sore every day.

I can do more and more every day,

and so the transition continues.

#awkwardbathroomselfies 

All Liquid Diet-Day 9

Day 9 and we are hitting the home stretch.
It was a BEAUTIFUL spring day today.
This morning almost right when I woke up I need to take something to the mail,
because our community mailbox is just a bit down the road,
I decided to put on my tennis shoes and take my dog for a little walk around the neighborhood.
It was so nice out, and we were enjoying ourselves so much,
that we ended up walking for 2 miles
just enjoying the sunshine and the breeze.
Could there be a better way to start off your morning?

My dog Lucy- never ever willing to look at the camera. 

Stinker. 

I also came across this HYSTERICAL quarter life poem:

Picked up some more vitamins at Costco today
I'm a child and buy the gummy's
and also a new box of the Premier Protein.
Decided to try the vanilla
"jus' fo' fun".
(if you didn't read that in Nacho's accent you are doing it wrong)
It's good! I like it.
I still feel like chocolate is my favorite flavor of protein shakes.

Hardest part of the day:
Pizza and work today smelled SO good.
What the heck is the deal? Since when am I surrounded by pizza
ALL THE TIME.
I swear I wasn't around it this much before now.
Schmmmurg.
It's gotta be challenging though, right?

You know what I'm really missing right now?
Some quality meat.
Like turkey, steak, or chicken.
Anything that I can chew and just feel the protein.
But it's going to be a while until.
And until I can actually have meat,
I'll just keep on swiggin' these protein shakes and soup broth.

Fitbit stats:
Steps: 9.421
Water Intake: 66.3
Calorie Intake: 839