Sea Salt Flush

Another post with TMI. Enjoy! LOL I still am having difficulties with BM. (Bowel Movement.) Only going about once a week. And then it usually hurts...like bad. Tom was reading on line and came across something that he thought might help. So, I thought that I would give it a try. With this flush, you drink a quart of water with 3tablespoons of sea salt mixed in it. OK, not easy to get down. For some reason, I got it in my head to drink it out of a water bottle that I have. Well, the water bottle has a straw, so I was drinking out of the straw. This process takes WAY too long, and prolongs the misery. YUCK. But I digress. So, I tried it...and nothing. I waited 2 hours, and still nothing. So, I reread the directions. I noticed that it said that the sea salt was supposed to be non-iodized. Well, shoot, the stuff I used was iodized. Dang it. So, I did it again. The second time, it worked. It lasted about an hour...but it did work. It flushed my system. I woke up the next morning and had GAINED 3 pounds. What? I flushed my system and I gained weight. OK, that's not right. Then I got to thinking that I probably wasn't finished going. So I did it again. *sigh* And yet again...nothing. Grrrr, ok...once more. So, this is 4 quarts of salt water in 2 days. But the second time in the second day worked again. Again it lasted about an hour...but it did work. I woke up the next morning and had gained another 3 pounds. OK...enough is enough. What I read on the internet said that the next several days I should continue to have BMs on a regular basis. But not I. Nope...nada. Lasted another week with nothing. *sigh* It's been 2 weeks since I tried this. Nothing seems to work. Nothing seems to make it better. Not only did I try the sea salt flush, but I've tried laxitives, cod fish oil, Milk of Magnesia and nothing works. Tom is convinced that I should be going more than once a week. And to be honest, I believe that he is correct. But I just don't know what to do at this point. On the up-side...I am currently wearing a size 14. I've been able to get a size 12 up and zipped...but it wasn't comfortable. I do continue to more in the correct direction when it comes to my weight. I have ups and downs. And to be honest, last week I gained 8 pounds...and then dropped it in 2 days. So, lots of ups and downs. But I'm still happy that I am moving in the correct direction. And even when my weight is up, my 14s still fit...so happy. LOL I also haven't exercised in 2 weeks. I know, I know...bad Tamara. But with Katie in town for Spring Break, Jodi in town for "quality Tamara time", and work...there just hasn't been time. Well, I haven't made the time. But this week I'm going to do better. I have to do better.

70 pounds down.

OK, this one isn't going to be terribly long. Just had to jump on here and say that I'm down 70 pounds. YAY!!!! See, rededicated myself to truth, justice, and getting thin worked. YAY!!!!

I Fail

OK, I've failed and I have to admit it. I have to face the truth. I read recently that if you tell people your resolutions that you are more likely to stick to it. So here it is. I am going to open up and rededicate myself to my goals. Also, for those of you that think that weight loss surgery is the eay way out, I'm here to tell you...it's not.

So, I've gained weight. Grrrr....No I haven't gained much. But I have gained and I'm having a hard time losing it. And it's all because of me. I kept getting close to my next goal (239) during the week, but then during the weekend I would totally blow it. This went on for a couple of weeks and finally I decided to really look at what I was doing different on the weekend. Well, two things. First, was eating more on the weekends. Second, I was drinking alcohol on the weekends, mainly Sangria. Wow, lots of calories there. So, I've put alcohol away and am really watching how much I eat.

That started last weekend. But this week I didn't lose any weight during the week. Why? Well, Benjamin has decided that he really enjoys cooking cookies. Being the wonderful Mom that I am, we've been baking cookies every couple of days. And then we have chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies. Yum....cookies. Ummm...weight loss fail.

A friend of mine posted on facebook today that she is down to the 100s. I can't even tell you how much I want to be down to the 100s. But I say that and yet I drinkg alcohol and eat cookies. OK, can't want it that much if I am doing those things, and slacking on eversercise on top of it.

And this, my friends, is why I am overweight. But I am over it. It's too much. I have to stop. I have to rededicate myself to my weight loss. I've put it in writing, I really have it on my heart and in my mind, and I'm going to do this. I really am!!!

As a sidenote: I got a call from my doctor's office in regards to my blood work. They told me that I am anemic. DUH?!?!?! They want me to take iron pills and then come back in 4 weeks in order to recheck. I'm taking the iron, but I'm not going back to have the blood work done. In 4 weeks, I will donate blood. Free iron check, and someone will get use out of my blood....instade of paying a couple of hundred dollars and a 3 hour care trip. :)

Follow-up appointment.

First, you'll notice that my weight hasn't changed since 1/3. Well, that's not exactly correct. It has changed. I've gone up and down a lot in the past 10 days. Not really sure what's up with that. For about a week I went up 1/2-1 pound everyday, and then I woke up one morning and had dropped 5 pounds. So really...not sure what is up with that, but I'm ok. I know that things are going to be weird, and as long as it drops down eventually I'm ok.

So, I went to the doctor for a follow-up visit. I didn't actually meet with the doctor but a physicans assistant (PA.) OK, the first thing about that is the fact that she was overweight. Now, I'm not being judgemental. I mean obviously weight is an issue for me. But it just seemed weird having someone that is overweight working in an office like that.

She said that I am doing great. Said that my weight loss is right on track, which is nice. And my BMI is down to 35.82. Which is also happy. Prior to my surgery I was >40, which wasn't even on their scale. And now it's one the other end of their scale. After I get below 35, I will be off the scale that they use. Yippeee!!!

They drew blood at this visit to check for vitamin deficiencies. That in itself was a nightmare. She stuck my twice and had to dig around. Yuck. I really really hate that. Especially when I warn them. But my veins "feel" good so they assume that I don't know what I am talking about. *sigh*

I should get the results back in about a week. If they are good, I don't think I'm going back to see that doctor. Well, unless a problem should arise. Why? Well, I met with the PA for about 5 minutes, I had lab work drawn and my total bill for this visit alone was $503. And considering that I have a $3000 deductible that is all out of pocket. Just doesn't seem worth it to me.

That's it for me. Things are going well. I am still really happy that I had my surgery. Oh, and I have signed up to be a part of their "angel" program, which means that if someone is having the type of surgery I have volunteered to be a sort of mentor for them. I figured that the more that I can help other's go through this process the better.

Weight loss isn't all it's cracked up to be....

I'm really loving losing weight, don't get me wrong. And I wouldn't go back for anything. But I gotta admit, there are some downsides to it.

#1 Hair loss. I am losing a ton of hair. Now don't get me wrong, I do not have thinning spots and no one can probably tell that I'm losing hair...because I had SO MUCH to begin with. The problem I have with it is keeping up with it. Hair is everywhere. When I take a shower is the worst hair loss, but hair is all over. The biggest problem is when I go to vacuum. All the hair gets caught up in the rollers. After I vacuum I have to unclog the rollers. *sigh*

#2 Excessive Skin. I have extra skin, and this skin hangs. Which means that I get raw spots. Luckily I have found a new product that helps well. First, I had tried using deodorant but that didn't seem to help much. But I went to a merchant location that's a pharmacy and they sell this project named "Anti Monkey Butt." I know...weird name. That's actually what originally made me look at it. But this product works wonders.

#3 Hunger pains. When I used to get hungry, I was hungry. Pretty normal pain. Stomach or growl, get an empty feeling, and some pain. But now when I get hungry, and no just a little hungry but like OMG I haven't eaten in so long the pain is so bad. Like, sometimes hard to get up and walk kind of pain. Feels like I'm being stabbed. But, my stomach doesn't growl. So yes, I do my best to make sure that I am never that hungry.

#4 COLD. This is the worst by far!!! I am so cold. I mean cold, cold, cold, and umm cold. My husband and son run around our apartment in shorts and t-shirts. And me, I have on socks, pj pants, sweatpants, a t-shirt, and a sweashirt. All of that, and I sit under a huge warm blanket. I have pulled out my gloves on some evenings. I can't believe how cold I am. It's painful!!!

OK, all of that aside, I am down 60 pounds. The weight is coming off slower, but it is still coming off. And I'm seriously loving the compliments. :)

My brain....

I have mental issues. Lots and lots of mental issues. I haven't written in a while. Just have been busy and never seem to have enough hours in the day. I've been really disappointed in my weight loss. And that may have been why I haven't written more. I gain a pound I lose a pound. I try this and that and everything. And then I log on today to write, and I can see in the past month I have lost 12 pounds. Ok really?!?! 12 pounds. That's really not bad. I mean it wasn't as fast as it had been coming off, but that's to be expected. Especially since I had Halloween in there and yes, I ate candy. :P

I have started working out. We got out our Total Gym and having fun with that. And I am still walking 3 times a week. So, that helps. My muscles stay sore but I think that's a good thing. I actually enjoy having sore muscles. Keeps me thinking.

My Mom is really ill this past weekend so I drove back to Indiana to see her. I had brunch on Sunday with a few friends that I haven't seen since June. My friend, Charles, asked where the rest of me was. HA! Loved that.

While I was in Indiana my sister gave me some clothes that she could no longer wear, and they are a size 18. Tee hee. I started as a size 24, so an 18 is very happy. Ohhhh and I have started seeing the outlines of my clavicle. Love that so much!!!!!

Diet as of this week consist of a protein shake for breakfast, 2 oz of tuna fish for lunch, and 1/2 cup f food for dinner. And ya know what, I am happy. I'm not hungry. I am statisfied. 2 1/2 months after my surgery, and I am still thinking that it was the perfect choice for me. :)

Almost 8 weeks post-op