COME SEE MY NEW SITE!!!!!! THIS BLOG HAS MOVED!!!

 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY NEW AND IMPROVED BLOG! 

updates coming!

i did not forget about this blog...i miss updating...but i have a big change coming! i have a whole bigger and better blog with lots more things...im in the progress of it right now....updates are coming PROMISE!



nikki

Trying differnt things (off topic)

Within the next few weeks I hope to have a lot of changes going on with my blog. I am working on getting my own www._____.com address and I want to make this blog more personal...such as a nice header and things like that. Does anyone have any suggestions, or even places they go for blogger designs? I am thinking about switching my whole blog over to wordpress too...but still kind of iffy about doing that, because I like the way blogger does things and I am used to it, but I do want a cleaner look to my blog. Please, suggestions or anything is really needed here.

Thank you all so much! :)

Seriously...does my scale say that?

I have to thank my Protein Shake today. Yes, I am serious. I want to kiss the cup...okay I did kiss the cup, because I had to be lacking protein and that is why I was starting to have a lack of weight loss. I started my new yummy GNC Pro Performance® AMP Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60™ - Chocolate shake on Sunday. I drink one everyday for lunch. Well, I haven't exercised all week (eek) because I have cramps and I am just not in the mood. I stepped on the scale this morning and I lost 3 pounds since Sunday! WHOA. I just can't believe it. I had to double look at the scale. I thought "is that possible?" Well, obviously it is because I did it! I 100% get my treadmill next weekend (if I can find one I like) I honestly can not wait, because I am going to job the fat off my ass for good. I just can not wait.

I never thought of myself as a health freak. I never thought I could be "that person." I have realized that I am that person now. I look at labels before anything goes into my mouth. I do not eat because I am stressed or bored anymore, I eat because I need to. I need that fuel to get through the day, and nothing more. I can not wait to see my surgeon in March because I am probably going to cry when I thank him for changing my life. I am getting teary eyed just typing this. I never imagined myself feeling soo good about myself. I am not even to my goal, I am still in the obese category, but I know that goal of mine is possible as long as I do what I am doing. If I keep this mindset I can do anything! I just hope anyone reading this can read this and say "I can do it too." Seriously, anyone reading this saying "I wish I could be like that" YOU CAN BE! I never thought this would be me...but it is me and I love it. Even if you didn't have surgery, you can be like this. Just take out the sugar in your life...take out the bad carbs...you will feel so much better. 

I promise myself, I will never go back to the old me. I am so happy that I started this blog because I can go back and look and read it if I ever get in one of those moods that I think I can not lose anymore. If there is a will, there is a way...and let me tell you...I have that will! : )

I found MY protein of choice!

I am so excited to finally say that I found a protein powder that works for me! It has only been around 3 months, but I did it. I was beginning to think I would never find something that I could get down. I am starting to get the hairloss part of being a post-op so I thought this might be the time to get in my protein. I went around and found that GNC had little samples of this protein powder so I tried it in Vanilla and I was actually able to get it down, easily! I tried it at my moms, so on the way home I stopped and picked up the same brand but in chocolate. The Vanilla is GOOD...but it tastes like cake batter to me and I knew it was something I would get sick of fast. The chocolate is really good. I have had it everyday for lunch this week. It doesn't get foamy at all, and it is the consistency of say chocolate milk. I will get the vanilla next week, because since I am a fan of EggFace, I can not wait to start copying some of her yummy protein shake recipes. I will us the vanilla on days I put sugar free syrup in there to change the flavor. Another great item I picked up at GNC is the shaker ball cup! I heard from many that is the trick to protein shakes so they do not get foamy. It works, I love it, and I use it everyday. I am actually going to get one or 2 more of those because it works so well. I suggest anyone that uses protein shakes to get one of those cups that way they do not have to get out the blender for just a regular shake...keep that for days that you blend some fresh fruit in there! If I can get out of taking my blender apart to clean it...I will. The cup is just so much easier and you can take it with you and not have to worry about anything! Soo...if anyone is having trouble getting in their shakes, I suggest trying this one. It is really yummy (to me...everyone is different) and remember, they have a little pack of it to try. OH OH OH...the guy told me do not use the 3 scoops it suggests, he says 1 is enough because you will just be wasting the powder, your body can only absorb so much at one time. Sooo...1 scoop is all you need! If you try this, or have tried it...let me know what you thought of it!

Are those skinny jeans?!

Look at that...50 pounds gone and I am in some SKINNY JEANS! I am just too excited over it. I thought...why not post a picture since I really want to wear them all the darn time. This was the picture I sent out to everyone to show them my excitement...hahaha! I couldn't believe it when I put on a size 16, because just 2 1/2 months ago I was in size 22. I am on my way to the single digits. The day I get into like a 8....I will probably faint. I will be too excited to even blog...but ya'll know I will! haha.

WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE!

Guess what I want for my birthday this year....everyone to get healthy! My surgery has turned me into a freak about health. I wouldn't say I am a freak about weight, but more of the getting healthy part. The weight coming off is just the bonus....the very good bonus! This year the only thing I want for my birthday is to see how much weight all my readers and myself can lose! I want everyone to play! Every week, starting next Monday we will all check in and you will post how much weight you have lost! (Ill post a new post every Monday) We have 43 days until March 8th....my 28th Birthday! Lets see if everyone can lose over 100 pounds together! I challenge everyone to take the next 43 days to get healthy!!!!

FIRST GOAL REACHED!!!!

I did it...I really did it. I am officially down 50 pounds! I can not say how excited I am about this! I got on the scale Sunday morning and when I looked down and saw the number I about died. I called in Andrew (which thought was something wrong) just to see the scale. I used to be embarrassed to show anyone my weight, but now that I am seeing these numbers knowing I am never going to see them again, it just makes me that much more excited. I never thought that I would reach my first goal. It came at the right time too...just when I was getting discouraged I got that number I wanted, and it put me right back on track. Thank goodness. I didn't even cheat once at the Steeler Party my mother inlaw had! How awesome is that? Oh ya, wanna know something else. I got into size 16 skinny jean! 16....from a 22 to a 16! That is just amazing to me. I just keep staring at myself in the mirror when I have those jeans on. Honestly, I was about to sleep in them last night just because I was that excited...but how comfy would that of been? lmao! WHOOT! 

So you know what this means, if I can reach this goal in 2 1/2 months, anyone can reach their goals. I now have 39 pounds to go until I reach my second goal of 199! I am going to do this...sooooo going to do this. I wonder if I can kick out 39 pounds before my birthday? We will see. My birthday is March 8th. Okay, I think that is a big goal but I will have my treadmill by then. Okay, let me make this goal a little more doable.... my new goal is 215-220 by March 8th! I think that is realistic! 

C'mon ladies and gentlemen...post your goals and lets do this together! We can do it! Everyones Birthday gifts to me is to lose at least 10 pounds by my birthday! LETS DO IT! 

checking in.

I am just checking in.....still not at my goal.

2 more pounds to go....im working on it! 

Picture Updates!

I am 4 pounds away from being down 50 pounds. I think these are going to be hard to get off just because I really want to be able to say "I have lost 50 pounds." So....this is what I am going to be working on all week. I think I am going to pull out the Wii fit and do that on top of my kickboxing that I have been doing during the day. My goal is to lost this 4 pounds this week...I just have to do it....Then from there I can start working on my goal to "onederland." I can do this, I really can! Okay...let me show some pictures. I still can not see a huge difference but everyone says that I am crazy for not seeing it. I did go down another pants size...so I guess something is happening! Here are some update pictures! Enjoy!

Tofu Shirataki Noodles Review!

As I promised I went out and found the Shirataki Noodles. I found them at my local grocery store (Market District) by the Tofu stuff....like the meats and whatnot. They are kept cold and in water. I couldn't wait to try them today, so I made lunch early for me and my son. I made him a plate too, because an almost 3 year old will tell the truth! Can you tell how happy I am to finally have some pasta in my life? HA!

I started by reading the bag, I noticed it said something about making sure you rinse the noodles very well before use to get the aroma of them off the noodles. I did the wrong thing by taking a big whiff of the noodles in their packaged water before I rinsed them. I am going to try to describe the smell as nicely as possible....hmmm....sour bootay! Yup, you read it right. My advice, DO NOT SMELL. Put them in the strainer and rinse in cold water...I rinsed for at least 5-10 minutes. I did not want to taste what I smelled. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous after I smelled them. I never thought that smell would go away...but it did. Believe me, it does!

Once I was done rinsing them I dried them off with a paper towel and then put them into a bowl. I remembered that tofu as no flavor at all...and I wanted to 100% make sure I didn't bite into a noodle and have that smell in there. (haha) I added a lot of garlic powder to them and italian seasoning. I figured that would give them a flavor of their own, just in case I got one without sauce...and just to make sure my lunch tasted yummy! If you look at the picture, you would never be able to tell that they are not regular noodles. I was scared they were going to be discolored or even clearish...but they aren't. The only thing I do not like is they only had one size at my store, which is speghetti, and like I mentioned before...I am not too keen on eating this shape at all. I did though!

Once I had all the seasoning on them, I added sauce to them and put them in the microwave for 2 minutes, but I ended up taking them out early. Everything does heat up very fast! I also added a lot of cheese. Hey, if I wasn't having carbs and everything else was pretty healthy, why not add some extra cheese right? HA. Okay, okay, I was really scared of what I was about to bite into! It seriously looked like a good ol'plate of speghetti though! If someone put it in front of me I would not know the difference...! Now onto the tasting....

Yes, that really is my first bite! What do I think about these noodles? SOOO WORTH GOING OUT AND FINDING! After the prepping, which really doesn't take long...you get your taste of pasta without the sugars, carbs, fat, or calories! What more could anyone ask for? Now for us Post Op's...I could not eat more then 2 bites. Remember, it is tofu and it does expand in your tummy. The last thing I want to do is suggest anything that might stretch your pouch, but for a taste of pasta...I would go out and find them. It is not something I would eat/make everyday...but when I am really craving that pasta, I will buy these again and use them. I can honestly say, since I found these...I will never eat a regular noodle again. Why eat a regular noodle when you can eat this and totally not feel guilty? I actually am pretty proud of myself that I found this.

NOW the real test began. I put a plate in front of my son. Oh yes, the little monster that only eats pizza and nuggets on most days. And his verdict is in.....dun dun dun.....

HE LOVES IT!  Sooo...if a almost 3 year old loves it...I know everyone else will to!

If you have any questions feel free to ask! :) 

No Carb Taco's...thanks to my hubby!

My husband came up with this idea, since I have been craving Mexican food...I had to share this simple idea with everyone that might be having a craving too!

Taco's are one of my weaknesses....so here is what my hubby did for me. He made the taco meat with the taco seasoning using very lean ground meat. The taco seasoning made the meat moist and sits well on the pouch that way. I used a little meat, but mixed it with more refried beans (more protein that way). I then added fat free cheese, salsa, and greek yogurt as sour cream. Now you are going to ask....what about a shell...us post op's can not have too many carbs?! WELL....LETTUCE!  It's a taco lettuce wrap! There is still crunch...but no carbs! I LOVE IT!

If you try this, let me know what you think! I promise, if you are a taco lover, you are going to love this!

My new favorite lunch

Since being post-op I have had this obsession with wanting to eat things that are crunchy. I think because the first month of being post-op I was on liquids and soft foods and couldn't really have anything with that crunch to them. I am a texture person. Sometimes I do not crave a flavor, I just crave crunching. Call me weird, but hey...I am the girl that was obsessed with the taste of wooden popsycle sticks when I was prego. (I'll leave that for another post)

Well, I have come up with a healthy way to satisfy that CRUNCH. I thought of carrots and all that stuff, but sometimes raw veggies sit weird, and w/out making a high protein dip for them...they really are not worth any space in my pouch right now. That is when I came up with....Cottage Cheese wrapped in lettuce. There is something about the freshness of the lettuce and the taste of cottage cheese that just goes soo good together. I can not explain it, but I love it. YUMMY! I just can't help but to love it. LOVE IT! hahaha.

Anyone else crave the crunch?

So freaking excited....PASTA!

Okay, Okay, I haven't had Pasta yet, but I am pretty darn excited on my new discovery. I have been craving Pasta since surgery....sad huh....but I am and always will be a food addict. Sometimes my cravings get so bad I just want to cheat, but I will not do that to myself. Especially right now where I have only lost a few lbs in a few weeks. I had to google tonight and try to come up with a pasta idea, or something close to it to satisfy my craving. I FOUND SOMETHING!

Tofo Shirataki Noodles!!! I plan on going out and looking for these tomorrow evening, that way I can try them ASAP and review them on here for everyone to know how they are. I would hate everyone going out and getting them and they are awful. Anyway, there is NO SUGAR, 3 CARBS, 20 CALORIES, NO FAT! The tufo ones take on the taste (supposedly) to anything you mix it with. Ohhh...pasta I need you! The other good thing, they come in different sizes. I can not eat anything that looks like a worm (especially because I have a feeling the consistency of these are going to be hard for me to get used to) sooo I am going to look for shapes...or at least linguine style noodles...those I can handle. I will let everyone know how these are and if they are worth running to your local Asian Market to pick them up! Or...if anyone has tried these...post and let me know how they are. No matter what, I will try them. I am willing to try just about anything right now that I can stick some sauce on with some fat free cheese. I think I will even make a meatball with them for an extra kick of protein...sounds like a plan to me!

I have a few food ideas that I have made up that I will post for everyone soon. I have a new favorite lunch/dinner. Actually 2, so I will post about those tomorrow.

Until then, I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe New Years. I hope the pounds fall off in eleven! :)

Not making my Christmas goal!

There is no way I am going to make my Christmas weight goal, and I am a little upset over it. I have been at a weight stall for about 2 weeks now...I've maybe lost one pound in that time period. Everyone says I will have stalls but I didn't think it would be that early out. I never told anyone my Christmas weight goal, and it was to be at 230. It looked like it might happen 2 weeks ago...then that is when I got into this stall. I am not doing anything different, eating the same and doing the same exercises. I have this fear that this is all the weight that is going to come off...like I did the surgery for nothing. I really hope that isn't the case. I mean, I only eat protein, 3 meals a day....little meals. I do not eat carbs or sugar...you would think that the weight would just be melting off right now. Well, I am at 244. Do not get me wrong, I am happy about it, that means I have lost 45lbs so far. 45 pounds in 7 weeks is AMAZING and I am grateful...I just want the weight loss to pick up again.

The best way I can describe it, like when you start losing weight so fast it is like a drug...you want more and more to come off so you will do anything to get it off...then when you stall...it gets depressing. I am used to eating, dieting, and exercising all my life and nothing come off....(reason I got the surgery).... then after the surgery nothing come off and you are trying so hard...it makes you worry. I wanted to maybe "cheat" during Christmas. Not really cheat, but try some not so good things just to see how they do. I told my husband I refuse to put anything in my mouth that is not healthy unless I can get 4lbs off by Christmas Eve. I do not think that is going to happen...but we will see.

C'mon Santa...bring me a lower number on the scale!

Egg Face...the best blog ever!

I am not one to post contests and such on my blog, but I have to start advertising for The World According to Eggface! This blog is the best blog for anyone that has had Gastric Bypass. Her food ideas are amazing and I have tried several of them. I swear, I go to her site at least once a day when I have time to write down more ideas for food. I would suggest anyone and everyone to check it out. The good thing is, her food is not just for the ones that had surgery, this food is soo good I promise the whole family will like it. My son LOVES her pancake recipes. Now if I 2 year old eats it, you know it is AWESOME!

On with it, she is having a contest that I really really want to win. HAHA. I am going to purchase this either way, because it is perfect if and when I go out to put lunch or dinner in when I am not going to be home. Even if you are a stay at home mom (like me) that is going to go shopping with the little ones or anywhere you know you might not be able to have a healthy food choice. Just bring your own and it will keep!

THE BENTO BOX!

How cool is this thing? I saw it on her BLOG the first time I was on it and it has been on my list to purchase for awhile....well after the holidays because right now it is all about my son. I would love to be able to get it as a Christmas Gift though ;) haha. :)

Everyone check out her blog...I promise you will love it...! Post and tell me and her how much you love it! Also...enter this contest....if I can't win I would love to see one of my readers win it! ENTER ENTER ENTER! :)

Puke, Poop, and Sleep!

Ya, I knew that title would get everyone's attention! HA! Let me start out by saying I will no longer call my pouch "pouch." His name is now "Ralph" because that is what he likes to make me do. I seriously have come good at it too. I don't even puke up puke, it is just food that I ate like 10 minutes before. No smell, just food. I know, that is gross...but that is what happens. I have no warning that I am full until it is too late. I get this hurt feeling in my chest and I just know when something isn't sitting right. Reasoning it might not sit right...too dry (that is a big one), too "sticky", or just too much in there. Let me tell you, when it hurts, it hurts. I hate that feeling. I will sit here on the couch and just pray it is going to go down. Sometimes I get lucky and can feel it going down. *Yes, I really can feel food leaving Ralph* It is soo odd. Oh ya, the noises it makes. It is soo loud sometimes digesting or whatever it is doing in there. My hubby heard it the other night...from across the room....and was like "what the hell was that." Pretty funny. I have no shame.

Along with having no shame, lets talk Poop. Yes, you read right. I went twelve days without pooping...last week when I finally went it was better then sex. LMAO. Seriously never felt that good to poop in my life. I started to get scared. The first couple weeks I used a laxative if I didn't go w/in a week. The last time I was like "I am going to get addicted to these." So I stopped and refused to use them...I was going to Poop on my own. T.W.E.L.V.E. days later I did. Now I am not having a problem. I guess since I am eating sooo less...I only poop once a week. Of course I am going to talk to my doctor about this in January...but I am doing good. I know I can take stuff to help me, but if I don't have to take anything, I won't. Going once a week is fine with me. I always hated pooping anyway.

Sleep! I hear everyone saying they have soo much energy when they are losing weight. Well, I am not one of them. I do not know if it is the lack of calories I am getting in...which I am sure has a lot to do with it....but I am tired. I can do one thing, like vacuum the living room and I am ready for a nap. I know that is bad, but I can't help it. I am trying so hard to get in my protein so I can take in some other stuff but like I said...nothing is staying down. I just want to curl up and sleep all the time. I try to do as much as I can during the day. I still have yet to get a treadmill, but as soon as we get income tax, that is what we are getting. I know that will help a lot, not only with my energy but losing weight. It is just impossible to go out and walk in Pittsburgh in the winter. The sidewalks are icy and I am not breaking a leg. And please do not tell me that is an excuse, but you try getting a toddler bundled up to go walk on an icy sidewalk during the day....then if there is snow on the ground all he wants to do is play in it. Ya right, I know that will lead to me not getting any walking done. Treadmill is needed....ASAP! :)

Well, as I sit here I just finished a piece of imitation crab meat (one of the only thing I am keeping down this week) and I feel it sitting in Ralph. Ralph better digest it because I am in no mood to see this food again. I have cleaned up toddler puke all week, the last thing I wanna do is hear myself puke.

One more thing...haven't lost any weight this week...I think a lot of it has to do with me taking care of Xavier and me not making sure I am getting the right protein in. Cleaning up puke from a child...especially puke on a carpet does not make one very motivated to eat. Me getting to my little tiny first goal before/on Christmas seems highly unlikely right now. We shall see!

Down 3 pants sizes....yes I am! :)

I was so excited when I went to Old Navy 2 nights ago. I knew that my jeans were getting big but I didn't realize how big they actually were. I went from a size 22 pants to a size 18! I was never so excited in my life. I just feel soo good about myself. It was like that little boost that I needed to see some progress. Once I saw it I felt like I really am doing something good for my life. I just feel wonderful. Of course I had to wear my new outfit on Saturday. I had a baby shower to go to, and after that my son had a birthday party at Chuckie Cheese. Well, from the updated pix you will see half the outfit, I had a cute vest to go over it. Anyway...here are the pictures. Too excited because I really see the difference starting to happen!

Progress Photos 1

I really do not want to post these because I see no change, and it looks to me like my second set of pictures make me look fatter than my first! Oh well, I am going to do it because this is my progress blog and I want everyone to see my progress and hopefully help some people out! Here it goes.

My photos go from left to right. The right was 5 days post op, the middle was 1 week 5 days post op, and the third was 3 weeks 3 days post op.

 

250 lbs...is that really you?!

I stepped on the scale last night....and I looked down and couldn't believe my eyes. It said 250lbs! Seriously?! I never thought I would ever see that number again. That means I am down 39 lbs! I just can't believe it. When I look in the mirror I am starting to see a change, a good change, and I love it. It makes me want to keep going. It is like I start getting tired and annoyed, and then the scale brings me right back to where I need to be mentally to really continue on this journey with the right attitude. I haven't went down a pants size yet, well things are lose so I am sure I did, but nothing that I have noticed yet. The legs on my pants are wider, so I know that the weight is coming off all over my body.

This past weekend I was having "pouch" trouble. Nothing would stay down and I thought it was the pouch but yesterday that all left and everything is back to normal. I honestly think I had a stomach bug. Actually I know that is what it had to be, because for it to clear up so fast, I know it was not my pouch. Thank goodness. I was really getting worried. I hate puking, but when I was pregnant with Xavier I had morning sickness for 18 weeks. LONG WEEKS! haha. Anyone, I got so used to puking it just doesn't even phase me. My husband hates it cause I puke loud (even though I think the loudness calmed down with the pouch) but he doesn't agree. I feel bad, but sometimes you just gotta do it. Don't let me scare anyone that hasn't had surgery....not everyone pukes. You will puke though if you eat too fast, too much, or just simply something too dry and it gets stuck. As soon as it comes up though you are fine. I am sure everyone will do it at least once and you will learn. Sometimes more than once, but hey...you live and learn. I look at it this way, never try something new when you are out...always try a new food at your house. Eat it very slow and little bites. You should know within a few bites how it is going to sit with your pouch. :)

I am to the point now I can really try anything I want. (that is healthy) I am just taking it slow. I still can not get in any shakes. I have tried them several different ways and I still want to vomit them back up after one sip. Soooo...I am only eating protein for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. SOO...that means I haven't really got to try anything new yet. I am going to keep trying the protein shakes though...different ones and hopefully I will find something. I keep thinking, if I can get a shake in for breakfast, the less protein I actually have to eat during the day and I can start some healthy carbs. Well, until I can get a shake in...I will be eating all my protein...and that is hard.

Okay...I am babbling. I will write more. My goal is to be 230 by Christmas...Let me see if I can do it! :)