If there’s one thing I’m missing these days, it’s sex. As ironic as it is, our sex life took a hit after I started this new job of mine. I have a box full of toys and a drawer full of batteries, but between my work schedule and his, it’s been a lot of solo acts for me. *sigh* Of course, him recently getting promoted and having a lot more responsibilities and obligations on his shoulders hasn’t helped matters much. Thank god he’s getting a pretty sweet raise; that takes a bit of the sting out of his increased time spent at work.
So… it’s Monday! I love Mondays! Most people hate Mondays, but I love them because Mondays are always full of opportunities for a freelance blogger/writer/product reviewer such as myself. 
Right now I’m sitting here working on a protein drink. I have been using GNC protein powder. The advantage: convenient to buy (there are like half of a dozen GNCs around here) and cheaper than the online stuff. The disadvantage: I have to use more liquid. The online stuff, which is for bariatric patients specifically, requires only 4-6 oz. worth of milk or water. GNC’s protein powders require 12-16 oz. Ack. I usually wind up just using 10-12 ounces, and even that takes me at least an hour and a half to work down. The decreased amount of liquid also makes the drink more like a milkshake. But it doesn’t taste too bad; in fact it tastes downright delicious if you’re into chocolate milk and chocolate shakes (which I’m not). And there’s one gram of protein in every ounce of milk, so I get the 60 grams worth of protein in the powder, and then another 10 to 12 in the milk. That’s my daily requirement right there.
Speaking of gastric bypass surgery, Danielle has been spending the past few months working through the numerous pre-op requirements, and she is having the surgery next week!!! I am so excited for her, I can’t say it enough. I know she has been struggling to lose weight for years now, like me, and there comes a point when a drastic solution may be the only one to work. I know that she’s nervous, but she’s also excited, and that excitement will carry her through the surgery and the rough recovery period (I say rough not because it was painful (though it was for the first few days afterward, and I was generally achy and tender for about three weeks total), but because it’s such a traumatic and extreme change; it really takes a while before you feel like “you” again!). I’m going up to NJ next Tuesday afternoon to spend the night with them, and then I’ll be with Danielle and Matt in the hospital on Wednesday.
Speaking of feeling like myself, I can honestly say that it took a good four months after surgery to feel like me again. After surgery I was out of it, tired, and run down, and then the first few weeks of re-introducing liquids, then soft foods, then mushy foods, then easy foods, etc., was nervewracking. Learning what works for me and what doesn’t has been trial and error, and also learning that I need to remember to eat and work hard to balance food and water (since I can’t do both at the same time, I’ve had a tendency to go around for a day either lacking nutrition or being dehydrated — not fun!) has been a long road to haul. Physically I was okay, except that I was tired and run down a lot. Of course, getting sick a few weeks before Christmas and then getting pneumonia in February didn’t help things. But I’m sure being malnourished and run down from the surgery really KO’ed my immune system, which probably led to me getting so sick both times. Meh.
In any case, now that I’m six months post-op, I’ve got a pretty good handle on everything. I know when I’m not getting enough food (not because I get hungry, but because I start getting weak and shaky and drowsy), I know when I’m not getting enough to drink, I know when I’m not getting enough protein (all I have to do is look at my hair brush or the bathtub drain!). I know what I can and can’t eat, and how much I can eat (not much; here is an example of a typical dinner!). I know the signs of dumping and the need to vomit, and I know how to handle both. I know I need to take multi-vitamins and calcium supplements, and I have an alarm set to remind me to take both each day (twice a day). I’m pretty good at predicting when I’m going to hit a weight loss stall, and I know to be patient, as aggravating as it is. I know that I shouldn’t care about the numbers and I shouldn’t weight myself every day, but I do care and I continue to do so, because I want to know.
So yes, it’s been a long road and a huge learning experience, but it has been so worth it. I’m 210 lbs. today, which makes me maybe 50 or so pounds from being able to say I no longer need to shop for plus size swimwear! And honestly, I would have the surgery again in a heartbeat!
First off, congrats to Dan on his promotion and secondly, that sucks that you don’t have much time to indulge in each other as you should. Hopefully things start to calm down for him at work and you both get some time to just be together.
In regards to Danielle and her surgery, it’s really sweet of you to go be with her. I’m sure she really appreciates it. I know if I was in her position I would as well.
As far as your journey, I know you’ve been through quite a lot and it’s really good that you’re able to read your body as well as you are now. I’m sure it took awhile to get there but hey you made it!
Well done on Dan and his promotion, I’m sure things will calm down once you two get into the swing of things
Good luck Danelle
I am really happy for you that you have no regrets about your gastric bypass surgery and that it has really helped you lose weight. It is so nice of you to be there for Danielle when she has the surgery. You are a good friend!
Jenn, I can not thank you enough for coming up. You are a great friend and I will NEVER forget what you have done for me :). I can’t wait to see you skinny minny!!!!
Congrats on Dan’s promotion!!!!
Thanks everyone for your support. Without support, I don’t know where I would be!