Winter Blues.....

It's cold....

Philadelphia winters can be freezing cold...Cons!

1) Too cold to go out walking....
2) Black ice sucks...
3) You get wet all the time.... and not in a good way.
4) Alot of Water ice and ice cream places shut down for the winter...
5) Slush is... yucky!
6) I hate showering since your freeze your caboose off...
7) Not flip flop weather....
8) Bulky clothes make you look fatter...
9) Snow and ice may be pretty to look at but it sucks to drive, walk, or shovel....
10) Being cooped up makes you stir crazy....

Cold Weather ....Pros.

1)I love hats...
2) Boots are awesome too....
3)More sex....
4) Hot drinks are amazing...
5) Accessorizing rocks....
6) Fireplaces are so warm and cozy, and sexy.
7) White Christmas...
8) I love sweater dresses with leggings
9) Cuddling....
10) You appreciate beautiful sunny weather more.... 

Memories like this make it totally worth it.....

Bariatric Foodie: The Bariatric Foodie Season of Giving - Week TWO!

Bariatric Foodie: The Bariatric Foodie Season of Giving - Week TWO!: Firstly, congrats to the winners of week one! They are: Lori Follett Laura Sampieri Shepherd Annemarie Wilt I've sent you emails ...

Demanded by my STS.... an Update from beyond the Sleeve.

Bullets... I guess.

• I have been taking this long recovery one day at a time.... I try not to worry about the weight loss or lack off, but it is difficult to go through all of this and not hope for a silver lining.
• I am making an appt to see a Pulmonary specialist since my lung is not back to normal, It feels like it's bruised when I take a big breath, and I get short of breath even gasping for air.
• I have lost around 73 pounds since my surgery, which is a great start... but I know I could do better. 
• I love how much time I get to spend with my George.... We see a lot of movie screenings, and concerts, and are planning a cruise for our next anniversary.
• I love Jen... My Sleeve Twin Sister. She has been incredibly supportive during this tough time, and so inspirational.
• My brother is mad at me and is keeping my little angels from me, I am starting to get mad at him too.
• My Mom got remarried on October 17th to a man she meet around 50 years ago, before she met and married my Dad. I am happy for her, when we lost my Dad 10 years ago.... She was damaged, and it felt like 1/2 of her died with him, but now with Charlie who has spent the last 5 decades loving her and filled with regret... She is content and loved. She has a companion and some pretty great sex... I should have warned you, she's a over sharer....lol. It is kinda cool that He was the first person she had sex with and may end up the last person she has sex with...lol
• My eating as been good but not great... I could do better... Since I am not really able to workout except for swimming, which is difficult to force in this cold, even if it is indoors. But I am working on it.
• I am still on the blood thinners and I am finally therapeutic... which means I only need blood tests once a month instead of once a week... Yippee!
• I feel pretty good about myself these days... I take a lot of extra vitamins to help strengthen my immunity since the missing spleen weakens it...like Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, Vitamin A... but the Vitamin A seems to make me break out like a teenager, which I didn't even do when I was a teenager...lol

Bullets... from the lost Blogger.

Well, I fell off the Earth.... or at least my blogging did.

1. I am still on the Blood Thinners... But so far, I haven't been at a therapeutic level since I left the hospital the last time. In order for the blood thinners to work, I have to be between 2-3 on my weekly blood tests, but I stay around 1.3
2. I still struggle with my breathing when I exert myself... and it is different from the normal Morbidly Obese I'm out of breath breathing, It feels like my lung is still not working right. 
3. I don't know how much weight I have lost recently... but I feel like my clothes fit better and I love my sleeve. 
4. I am going to DisneyWorld this month with my brother and his family.... My sweet angels first trip to Disney. I am over the moon excited! 
5. Since I am on the blood thinners, I am not allowed to eat most green vegetables and anything else high in Vitamin K. It truly sucks... no salad, no broccoli and no soybeans, which are several of my staples.
6. I love the Quest protein bars... They are amazing! 
7. I have been going to the movies... with my quest bar, and it has been great. I loved alot of the summer movies. Most of them even. 
8. I found white bean chips that I loved.... and now can't find them anywhere. I crave salty snacks these days. I also love the Dannon Oikos Dips. Delicious! I eat them with raw carrots and celery or snap pea crisps....I can't wait to try the Lentil crisps.
9. I am amazed at how little I eat before being satisfied, but I get hungry after 2-3 hours.
10. I am very excited about Disney!!! Seeing it through the eyes of my niece and nephews.

Frustration.... and acceptance.

Well, these unending complications are frustrating...I am still on the blood thinners(Warfarin) and should be for the next 6 months. I have to get blood tests done once a week and I just got a list from my PCP that should have come from the Surgeon's office when he prescribed the blood thinners.... The list is all types of food high in Vitamin K that I need to stay away from eating since they cause the blood thinners to not work as well.... Maybe this is why she can't get me therapeutic( INR between 2-3) and I am still so at risk for more blood clots. It is hard not to get FED UP. But I love the feeling that the sleeve gives me, I feel Normal, for lack of a better word. I feel like I am not a food addict, but I can eat what I want... just small amounts. I don't carve sugar anymore... which is way weird for me to get used to. I hope it continues... and I hope I keep losing weight and feeling healthier... each day. Fingers Crossed!

New Product... that I love.

Well, as I mentioned before I am not loving sweet anymore...so I don't really want my greek yogurts as much. I found and tried these Greek yogurt dips and I love them. I eat them with carrots or celery, or with Special K Cracker chips as a treat. The protein level is high and the calories are low. Most of the protein products are sweet, my shakes, my Greek yogurts, etc. It is nice to find something savory for a change. The dip is available in French Onion, Vegetable and Herb, Cucumber Dill, and Roasted Red Pepper. 

50 pound loss reward!

This is my 50 pound loss reward....it's a sterling silver charm bracelet with photos of my nieces and nephews to remind me of why I'm working to get healthy and active.