Things are business as usual around here. Today was a fun day, with a big realization mixed into it. I was a volunteer today at my daughter's daycare. They had a little carnival with several bouncy inflatables, games, and a picnic. It was hot, this is South GA. I got a little uncomfortable from the heat, as did everyone, but it was nothing like how I would have been a year ago. A year ago I would have been sweating like a pig and panting like crazy and would have probably had to take several sit-down breaks. Today, I walked around the whole time, never sat down, and sweated minimally.
I know I have mentioned this several times but its so true, I never realized how much my weight had affected my life until recently. I'm not embarrassed being out in public anymore, I can move, and quickly, I can do things I never dreamed of doing again, and, I feel normal, probably the most important aspect to me.
I'm gradually increasing my protein intake per meal like I am supposed to, its working well and I feel more satisfied after a meal. Me and Loraine went to Applebee's today for lunch so that is another restaurant I know I can find food that is acceptable for my lifestyle. I got the grilled chicken fajitas with no tortillas. I ate slow so I could feel the full feeling and ended up eating about what I would have eaten at home.
I am so excited about Joel coming home for midtour in 2 more weeks. We have a few things planned, nothing big by normal people's standards but we are dorks/nerds so we have fun doing simple things in life. We are going to go shooting, bowling, nice dinners out, going on a ghost tour in historic Savannah, and renting an inflatable bouncy for a day and watching our girls have a great time on it. I can't wait to see the look on his face at the airport when he first sees me, he left roughly about 4 weeks after my surgery, so it will be a shock. In all the time we have been together he has never seen me this small, not that I'm small, but small compared to how big I used to be.
I'm Jillian,this is my journey from a morbidly obese woman to endurance athlete
Friday, April 30, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
A Great Time was Had by All
Had a wonderful weekend, the Meet and Greet was great and a huge success. Friday night was a seafood dinner to kick off the event. I shared a meal with Maquita, a new friend I made at the event. We all stayed long after we were done eating, just to talk and share experiences. For the first time since we have moved here, I felt like I was somewhere I belonged. It has been so hard for me to make friends since we moved here, and within a matter of hours I had a room full of new friends. Too bad they live all over the US.
I arrived home late that night, I had an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. It was my first time eating beef sausage since my surgery, so I think I had a negative reaction to it. I went to bed late that night, I had the halfway event for the Walk/Run to Iraq the next morning.
At 4 a.m. Saturday morning I awake in a haze as my phone was ringing. I picked it up just in time before it would have went to voice mail. It was my wonderful hubby Joel. He told me he took an earlier slot for midtour leave and he would be home with us for his 2-week midtour leave in a few weeks. This was quite a coincidence, about a week ago me and Joel were talking, and he was telling me how hard of a time he was having, and how much he just really needs a break. His 2-week break was scheduled for August, but I told him if by the rare chance that an earlier slot comes up he should take it, since he is in desperate need of a break right now. He agreed, but said that its highly unlikely and earlier slot would come up. Well, low and behold, an earlier slot came up. I am so excited, I can't wait for him to see me, he has been my biggest supporter through my whole WLS journey.
It was hard for me to fall back asleep after my phone call from Joel. The excitement that he is coming home soon, along with my stomach pain, made it rough. I woke up at 7 am, the event started at 9:30. Of course, it was raining outside. It had been dry all week while I was indoors, but the one day I had something to do outside it had to rain. Loraine put the girls in her car, since the wagon would only fit in my car, we wanted to pull the girls around in the wagon. When we got to the event it started raining harder. I was already wet so at that point I didn't care. I didn't want the girls to get too wet so Laci had her Dora umbrella and we kept an umbrella over Miley. I found a friend their, another wife from my FRG. I told her I was planning on running it, and after asking if Loraine could watch the boys for her, she decided to run it with me. So the 2 of us ran the whole course, in the rain. It was nice not having to run it alone. We were among the first finishers, we were totally soaked. Even though I got totally soaks and my kids have a chance of getting sick, I am so glad I attended this event.
After a nice hot shower and washing my hair, and flat ironing it of course, I was on my way back out to Savannah to continue the Meet and Greet festivities. A few people were there who weren't there the night before. I got a chance to travel around the conference room and talk to everyone and learn a little about them. After a potluck dinner and a few guest speakers it was time to say goodnight, and for me, time to say goodbye. I look forward to more Meet and Greets, and hope that going to more all across the US will be do-able for us financially. WLS peeps are a group of people I fit in well with.
I arrived home late that night, I had an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. It was my first time eating beef sausage since my surgery, so I think I had a negative reaction to it. I went to bed late that night, I had the halfway event for the Walk/Run to Iraq the next morning.
At 4 a.m. Saturday morning I awake in a haze as my phone was ringing. I picked it up just in time before it would have went to voice mail. It was my wonderful hubby Joel. He told me he took an earlier slot for midtour leave and he would be home with us for his 2-week midtour leave in a few weeks. This was quite a coincidence, about a week ago me and Joel were talking, and he was telling me how hard of a time he was having, and how much he just really needs a break. His 2-week break was scheduled for August, but I told him if by the rare chance that an earlier slot comes up he should take it, since he is in desperate need of a break right now. He agreed, but said that its highly unlikely and earlier slot would come up. Well, low and behold, an earlier slot came up. I am so excited, I can't wait for him to see me, he has been my biggest supporter through my whole WLS journey.
It was hard for me to fall back asleep after my phone call from Joel. The excitement that he is coming home soon, along with my stomach pain, made it rough. I woke up at 7 am, the event started at 9:30. Of course, it was raining outside. It had been dry all week while I was indoors, but the one day I had something to do outside it had to rain. Loraine put the girls in her car, since the wagon would only fit in my car, we wanted to pull the girls around in the wagon. When we got to the event it started raining harder. I was already wet so at that point I didn't care. I didn't want the girls to get too wet so Laci had her Dora umbrella and we kept an umbrella over Miley. I found a friend their, another wife from my FRG. I told her I was planning on running it, and after asking if Loraine could watch the boys for her, she decided to run it with me. So the 2 of us ran the whole course, in the rain. It was nice not having to run it alone. We were among the first finishers, we were totally soaked. Even though I got totally soaks and my kids have a chance of getting sick, I am so glad I attended this event.
After a nice hot shower and washing my hair, and flat ironing it of course, I was on my way back out to Savannah to continue the Meet and Greet festivities. A few people were there who weren't there the night before. I got a chance to travel around the conference room and talk to everyone and learn a little about them. After a potluck dinner and a few guest speakers it was time to say goodnight, and for me, time to say goodbye. I look forward to more Meet and Greets, and hope that going to more all across the US will be do-able for us financially. WLS peeps are a group of people I fit in well with.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
100 Pounds
I forgot to mention, as of Monday, I have officially lost 100 pounds. Its a wonderful feeling, one that I truly can't describe. I feel like it hasn't truly sunk in yet. It happened so fast. Just 5 months ago I looked down at the scale and it read 286. When I stepped on the scale on Monday it read 186. Even though I have been working so hard and I know it, it still feels like a dream. It was hard not to shed a tear seeing that number on the scale. 100 pounds is a big deal, its a big percentage of the extra weight I have been carrying around for years. This means I am 46 pounds away from my goal of 140.
I am able to run 2 miles now, I found out on Saturday, which was my first day back running after my doctor ordered 2 week break. Because of this, I decided to sign up for a 5k run on May 22nd. I have a month to build up doing that 3rd mile without stopping. I used to be a runner, and now that I have lost so much weight, all the nice running feelings are coming back to me. I am starting to enjoy it again. For my lifelong success post weight loss surgery I will always do running races and hopefully triathlons, I know I can stay on track if I am always training for that next race.
Finally, my progress pictures for 5 months out. As always, here is my before picture, taken the day before the 2 week post op liquid diet, I was 286 pounds in this pic:
Here is my 5 month post op picture, taken on Monday, 4-19-10, I am 186 pounds in this pic:
I am able to run 2 miles now, I found out on Saturday, which was my first day back running after my doctor ordered 2 week break. Because of this, I decided to sign up for a 5k run on May 22nd. I have a month to build up doing that 3rd mile without stopping. I used to be a runner, and now that I have lost so much weight, all the nice running feelings are coming back to me. I am starting to enjoy it again. For my lifelong success post weight loss surgery I will always do running races and hopefully triathlons, I know I can stay on track if I am always training for that next race.
Finally, my progress pictures for 5 months out. As always, here is my before picture, taken the day before the 2 week post op liquid diet, I was 286 pounds in this pic:
Here is my 5 month post op picture, taken on Monday, 4-19-10, I am 186 pounds in this pic:
Friday, April 16, 2010
152 Days Out
Today was a pretty good day. I had no school today, so any day with no school is a good day. I got my monthly haircut, I have a stacked bob and I have to have it trimmed monthly to maintain the shape. After my haircut me and Loraine went out to lunch. I wanted to try to eat without the use of a food scale. I ordered a steamed shrimp salad with balsamic dressing. I ate slow, and sure enough, I felt full after eating the amount of food I usually eat at home. This reassures me that my tool is working. After that we went bowling, which is always fun, I hit a few strikes.
I got a call from Kay Jewelers telling me my wedding set was done being re-sized, and since I wanted my ring back so bad and I hate being without it, I took the hour long drive to Savannah. Its so nice to have it back, and whats even nicer is its not falling off my finger anymore. It was a size 8, its now a 6 1/2, its perfect.
Today was the last day of my doctor ordered 2 weeks of no running. I'm going to get on my treadmill tomorrow morning and see how it feels. I'll let you know how it goes.
I got a call from Kay Jewelers telling me my wedding set was done being re-sized, and since I wanted my ring back so bad and I hate being without it, I took the hour long drive to Savannah. Its so nice to have it back, and whats even nicer is its not falling off my finger anymore. It was a size 8, its now a 6 1/2, its perfect.
Today was the last day of my doctor ordered 2 weeks of no running. I'm going to get on my treadmill tomorrow morning and see how it feels. I'll let you know how it goes.
Monday, April 12, 2010
148 Days Out
School, blah, I hate it, can't wait until its over. My life would be so much more wonderful if I could just skip school and go straight to working. Over the past few days I did some more soul searching and realized I really don't want to be a nurse, right now I am enrolled in the nursing program at school, but I have decided to change. When I first started school, I wanted to go into the EMT program. Unfortunately, I was close to 300 pounds at the time and I was out of shape. I doubted I would fit well in an ambulance or helicopter, let alone be able to handle to rough physical work. My journey has changed everything, I am 97 pounds lighter as of today and in shape. Now I have no doubt I could fit in that ambulance or helicopter. I know now I have to ability to move quickly and lift patients if I need to. I am going to finish out this semester and make the switch next semester. EMT is a job I am actually excited about, I couldn't say the same thing about nursing. Anything is possible for me now.
Like I just said, I have lost 97 pounds as of today. I can't believe I am so close to 100 pounds lost. Before, that seems absolutely impossible. I feel incredible, unstoppable. I have been making a big effort to up my protein to accommodate my tougher workouts. My hip is feeling much better, Friday will end my doctor ordered 2 weeks no running, so Saturday I will try to run again.
Like I just said, I have lost 97 pounds as of today. I can't believe I am so close to 100 pounds lost. Before, that seems absolutely impossible. I feel incredible, unstoppable. I have been making a big effort to up my protein to accommodate my tougher workouts. My hip is feeling much better, Friday will end my doctor ordered 2 weeks no running, so Saturday I will try to run again.
Friday, April 9, 2010
145 Days Out
A few things have happened over the past few days, nothing big to normal standards, but since I am a dork they were big to me.
Me and Loraine went to the mall, I was actually able to buy shirts at Old Navy,and they were a size Large. I can wear normal people clothes, its big to me. Then, I was able to buy panties at Victoria's Secret, regular size panties for regular sized people, something I haven't been in a long time. I also bought a new, regular sized belt at Hot Topic, I have always loved studded belts, but obviously haven't been able to wear one of those in a long time. I bought a white one with metal studs,I thought it would match everything since I pretty much wear the same type of outfit everyday with white DC's.
While I was on this mall adventure with Loraine, I decided to finally turn in my wedding set to get re-sized. I wear both my engagement ring and wedding band, they are soldered together. My ring was literally falling off if I would relax my hand too much, and I don't like wearing those plastic ring tighteners, so as much as I hate being without my ring, but it needed to be done. The turnaround here is 2 weeks, that's a long time to me. I feel naked without my ring, I have rarely taken it off in the almost 5 years we have been married, its a symbol of our love and commitment which means so much to me, we have been through so much together. By the way, my ring was a size 8, its getting sized down to a 6 1/2.
Playing with Laci, my oldest daughter, when we run and play she gets tired now before I do. It used to be, I would be worn out and she would still want to play. This is pretty cool.
I bought a pocket sized portable scale from amazon for when I go out to restaurants, its really cool to have, I got to use it twice this week. At restaurants I can measure my food so I don't find out the hard way I ate too much. Up to this point in my journey,I have had the full feeling, but I have not yet been sick from eating too much, knock on wood. I'm sure its not a pleasant experience.
I haven't quite reach 100 pounds lost yet, as of today I have lost 93 pounds, but I got something in the mail already to commemorate the achievement. My husband ordered and sent me a $100 gift card to bath and body works, the little note inside said "$1 for every pound you have lost. I am so proud of you. I love you with all of my Heart." It almost brought me to tears, that was so sweet of him. Time to get some new body washes.
One week down, one week to go of no running. I jogged for a few seconds on the treadmill and it didn't hurt, so next weekend I think I will be all set to start running again. I'm happy about it, I miss running, its makes me feel so free, and when I run, I feel like I have escaped obesity.
Me and Loraine went to the mall, I was actually able to buy shirts at Old Navy,and they were a size Large. I can wear normal people clothes, its big to me. Then, I was able to buy panties at Victoria's Secret, regular size panties for regular sized people, something I haven't been in a long time. I also bought a new, regular sized belt at Hot Topic, I have always loved studded belts, but obviously haven't been able to wear one of those in a long time. I bought a white one with metal studs,I thought it would match everything since I pretty much wear the same type of outfit everyday with white DC's.
While I was on this mall adventure with Loraine, I decided to finally turn in my wedding set to get re-sized. I wear both my engagement ring and wedding band, they are soldered together. My ring was literally falling off if I would relax my hand too much, and I don't like wearing those plastic ring tighteners, so as much as I hate being without my ring, but it needed to be done. The turnaround here is 2 weeks, that's a long time to me. I feel naked without my ring, I have rarely taken it off in the almost 5 years we have been married, its a symbol of our love and commitment which means so much to me, we have been through so much together. By the way, my ring was a size 8, its getting sized down to a 6 1/2.
Playing with Laci, my oldest daughter, when we run and play she gets tired now before I do. It used to be, I would be worn out and she would still want to play. This is pretty cool.
I bought a pocket sized portable scale from amazon for when I go out to restaurants, its really cool to have, I got to use it twice this week. At restaurants I can measure my food so I don't find out the hard way I ate too much. Up to this point in my journey,I have had the full feeling, but I have not yet been sick from eating too much, knock on wood. I'm sure its not a pleasant experience.
I haven't quite reach 100 pounds lost yet, as of today I have lost 93 pounds, but I got something in the mail already to commemorate the achievement. My husband ordered and sent me a $100 gift card to bath and body works, the little note inside said "$1 for every pound you have lost. I am so proud of you. I love you with all of my Heart." It almost brought me to tears, that was so sweet of him. Time to get some new body washes.
One week down, one week to go of no running. I jogged for a few seconds on the treadmill and it didn't hurt, so next weekend I think I will be all set to start running again. I'm happy about it, I miss running, its makes me feel so free, and when I run, I feel like I have escaped obesity.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
140 Days Out
As I was saying a few days ago, my hip hurts really bad, and it hasn't gone away. I sucked it up and went to the doctor on Friday, I just had to know what was wrong, I have never had a running injury. She did the exam and found nothing serious, but told me to take 2 weeks off running. I was disappointed about this, but she told me I could do elliptical or bike instead. So I had been doing different programs on the elliptical machine at the gym to switch it up a bit since I can't run. I hope I will be better in time for the Walk/Run to Iraq event on April 24th, I was really wanting to run at this event. The doctor said it is possible, it just depends on how I feel after these next 2 weeks. I have to come back if it still hurts to run after 2 weeks.
I have noticed over the past few days that soupy stuff doesn't keep me full anymore. I ate some chili a few days ago,and after an hour I was really hungry again, but fortunately I have strong willpower and was able to wait until my next meal. The same thing happened after eating fat free re-fried beans yesterday, and my willpower helped me to my next meal. The same thing happened today after eating some chicken and salsa soup. Once again I was able to use my willpower to wait until my next meal. This tells me I need to look for more dense proteins at all my meal. When I stop to think about it, when I eat dense meals I stay satisfied for hours. Also, I am finding myself more hungry at meal times. My surgeon's instructions tell me to gradually increase the amount of protein at meal not to exceed 5 ounces. I usually measure out 2-2 1/8 ounces of protein per meal, for my dinner this evening I measured out 2 1/4 ounces and it did feel more satisfying. Our meals always have to have 1 once of fruit or vegetable on the side. I have been making a bigger effort to make that side item a vegetable, even though a vegetable may not taste as good as a fruit, it is much more filling.
School is back in full swing and its making me miserable. My classes are really hard this semester. As always I will try my best. Tomorrow is my day off from working out, but as always when I have days off from working out, my day will be busy. I have to waste 2 hours of my life sitting in a classroom, then run around town getting stuff to send to my husband in Iraq. I just bought a high-speed wireless does everything printer, and my husband wants me to send him our old one. I am going to do it, as I will do anything for him, but its going to take some careful packing. I have a huge piece of cushy foam in the garage so I will be wrapping it up in that. All this will be worth it, having his own printer in Iraq will make my husband's life a lot easier and I am happy to do anything to help make it easier. He is having a rough deployment, I wish I could do so much more for him but I can't. I have been deployed twice, and my second time was much like what he is going through now, so I know a lot of what he is feeling. I just keep loving him and supporting him, and I am so proud.
I have noticed over the past few days that soupy stuff doesn't keep me full anymore. I ate some chili a few days ago,and after an hour I was really hungry again, but fortunately I have strong willpower and was able to wait until my next meal. The same thing happened after eating fat free re-fried beans yesterday, and my willpower helped me to my next meal. The same thing happened today after eating some chicken and salsa soup. Once again I was able to use my willpower to wait until my next meal. This tells me I need to look for more dense proteins at all my meal. When I stop to think about it, when I eat dense meals I stay satisfied for hours. Also, I am finding myself more hungry at meal times. My surgeon's instructions tell me to gradually increase the amount of protein at meal not to exceed 5 ounces. I usually measure out 2-2 1/8 ounces of protein per meal, for my dinner this evening I measured out 2 1/4 ounces and it did feel more satisfying. Our meals always have to have 1 once of fruit or vegetable on the side. I have been making a bigger effort to make that side item a vegetable, even though a vegetable may not taste as good as a fruit, it is much more filling.
School is back in full swing and its making me miserable. My classes are really hard this semester. As always I will try my best. Tomorrow is my day off from working out, but as always when I have days off from working out, my day will be busy. I have to waste 2 hours of my life sitting in a classroom, then run around town getting stuff to send to my husband in Iraq. I just bought a high-speed wireless does everything printer, and my husband wants me to send him our old one. I am going to do it, as I will do anything for him, but its going to take some careful packing. I have a huge piece of cushy foam in the garage so I will be wrapping it up in that. All this will be worth it, having his own printer in Iraq will make my husband's life a lot easier and I am happy to do anything to help make it easier. He is having a rough deployment, I wish I could do so much more for him but I can't. I have been deployed twice, and my second time was much like what he is going through now, so I know a lot of what he is feeling. I just keep loving him and supporting him, and I am so proud.
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