Changes

It really bothers me when I hear people say they know someone who had weight loss surgery and those people are taking the easy way out. Obviously they haven't spent much time with their friend to know it is usually not easy. Losing weight is rarely easy.... I'd say more often we step on the scale surprised to see the number increase rather than decrease.

So, now that I've gotten my little gripe out of the way, I wanted to tell you all the changes I've made:

Every morning, I eat the same thing, pretty much. Regardless of how much restriction I'm feeling, I try to keep this routine. Not only does it make it easy to decide what's for breakfast, it also helps tell me when my band needs an adjustment. Every morning around 8:00, I eat a scrambled egg and a small Greek yogurt. I'm partial to chobani champions Vanilla Chocolate chunk and Yoplait coconut. I like the flavors and they also come in smaller portions than most other Greek yogurts. If my restriction is right, I shouldn't be hungry again until around noon.

I've also started packing my lunch, which is something I never did before. Usually it is some kind of leftover or a bunch of small things thrown together. I don't like to get sick at work, so I often still eat mushy foods in the office. My personal favorite is noodle-less lasagna (meat sauce, cottage cheese, and some parm cheese sprinkled on top).

Dinner is a lot more flexible. I do still go out to eat sometimes, but I'm learning to order off of the kids menu. And at restaurants, it is even more necessary to chew thoroughly. Even still, I have a habit of locating the bathroom upon entering the restaurant.

I've started using MyFitnessPal.com to track my calories and make sure I'm getting enough protein. Usually my calorie intake is 800-1000 calories per day and 60ish grams of protein.

As far as exercise goes, I need to crank it up. I walk my dog for 30 mins in the morning, 45 minutes after work, and an hour before bed. I really need to work on building muscle.

The hardest thing for me has been giving up soda. I loved soda, but even a small sip now gives me a sensation that I can't breath. Giving up carbs, on the other hand, hasn't been as hard as I expected. I hate to vomit and most carbs send me straight to the bathroom to get sick.

And the last thing I'm doing is taking a multivitamin and Skin, Hair, and Nails vitamin. Unfortunately, my hair is still falling out, but I will expand on that more another day.

Ciao!