Back in action

I was sick all last week and stayed home most of the time.

Can I get a 'Blah!' ?!

I've sat home for as long as I could stand and I am ready to jump back into the real world.

I have a big exam tonight that I haven't done lots of studying for, so I think I'll have to skip the gym today to brush up on my knowledge, then I'll pick my work out schedule back up on Tuesday.

My scale says I've dropped 6 pounds, but I am chalking that up to not feeling well. If it stays for another day or so, I figure it's a keeper!

I gotta take my Vitamins!

Heard back from the Doc/Nurse. I've been instructed to take:

• 2 gummy multi-vitamins, 4 times daily
• 750 mg liquid (blech!) Calcium Magnesium Citrate, 5 times daily
• 2,000 IU Vitamin D, twice daily
• 50,000 IU Vitamin D, 3 times a week
• 2 Chromagen Forte 150 (Iron), twice daily
• 1,000 mg B12 injections, twice weekly
• 30 g protein (in powder form), 3 times daily

I am supposed to do this for two months, have my labs done again and they will determine if I can continue taking at these levels, or if the doses need to be upped.

Is it just me, or does this sounds a little excessive!?! They all have to be spaced just so because some have to be taken with food, some without, some can't be taken at the same time as the others. And, this doesn't even include my normal daily prescriptions (the pill, etc.)!

I am all for being healthy, but this seems a little over the top to me. Are these the levels of supplements that your Doctors are encouraging you to take...or am I just 'lucky'?

No fill for you...err, I mean me.

My fill appointment was a complete and total waste of time...and money!

I was seen by a new (not so nice) nurse. Based on the tightness I have in the morning she wouldn't give me a fill. What!?! Bummer.

The results from my labs that I had taken on Monday hadn't arrived at their office, so I had no reason to even show up. The lab results were faxed over as I was walking out of my appointment, which I was still charged for.

She said she would 'review my labs after she gets back from lunch and then will call in any prescriptions I may need.'

Turns out my levels are super low on just about everything...except protein!

I have got to get my butt in gear and get back on all my supplements on a regular basis.

Dreaded Dr. appt

My fill appointment is tomorrow afternoon and I am super nervous.

I've been putting the visit off for some time because I am not in the shape/at the weight I wanted to be in when my Doc saw me next.

I really don't want to see his face when the number on the scale doesn't read too far from the number it was on my last visit.

I'll have to dress in something really slimming tomorrow. ☺

Hi, I am a major procrasinator

This was SO my workout yesterday!!! I've been working every day in my time between work and school, but yesterday was a school holiday so I kept going back and forth as to whether or not it should constitute a work out day as well.

Slacker, I know!

After putting it off for as long as I could, I finally gave in and went to the gym. It was pretty late and I was quite the tired, so I did only 20 minutes of cardio and spent about the same on weights and then I was out of there.

Yes, it could have been a more intense workout, but I am just concentrating on the fact that I showed up and put in a little effort. Right now, I get points for that...I won't be too hard on myself in the beginning. It's just important that I am developing a schedule for right now...I will concentrate on the details once I have the schedule down.

Take 3 or 4 big gulps...

This morning I had my 1 year post-op (a little late!) labs and upper GI swallow done in preparation for my check up/fill appointment this Friday

Now really, is there anything that tastes worse than that barium gunk they make you drink for the x-ray!?! I was seriously struggling to keep from gagging the stuff back up!

The radiologist said that my stoma was so small he was curious as to how I was able to handle solids. This surprised me! I scheduled a fill because I thought I was too loose.

Now I am unsure of if I want to keep my fill appointment or not. Normally I wouldn't cancel it, but my Doc charges $200 an appointment and I don't want to go if I have no reason to be seen. I'll marinate on it for a day or so before I decide...

So far, so good

I've stuck to working out at the gym all week long! I know that this doesn't sound like that big of a deal, but it kind of is...I typically start strong and then begin to taper off until I quit working out all together. Not anymore though!

I just need to make sure that I keep up the momentum in the weeks to come...and I can't slack on the weekends! Weather permitting we'll probably take our dog on a couple of long walks with plenty of hills involved.

Progress Pics

I am super hesitant to post these pics because I am a big ol' baby that is worried about losing whatever anonymity I have here. But when it all comes down to it...what does it really matter?

• Picture 1 - Two weeks pre-surgery (7/08)
• Picture 2 - One year post surgery (7/09)
• Picture3 - Now (9/09)

I wanted to post some before, before shots...you know, pre weight gain, but I have to dig a little deeper for those.

I get a little bummed when I look at this...so much time has passed, but I am not seeing the results I was hoping for. My Doc says that I am losing at a good, steady pace, so I do have to take some comfort in that.

I still have a LONG way to go!