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Three weeks ago, this was filled with Hershey Kisses. Yesterday, there were still several a few left. Today, at my request, Shrike took the rest to work, to get them the hell out of my sight. And my mouth. And my hips.
I'm not sure why she left that one, sad little cinnamon disk in there. 
Learn more about Wordless Wednesday.
(Oh, get your mind out of the gutter!)
Shrike: What are you thinking about?
Whozat: I was wondering whether my blog audience is getting tired of hearing about my ass.
Shrike: Who?
Whozat: My blog audience.
Shrike: You mean your mom and LadyKay and Toni?
Whozat: Yeah, them.
As I might have mentioned a time or two, after having had gastric bypass surgery three years ago, losing about 200 lbs in eighteen months and then maintaining my weight at goal for over a year, I've put back on a few pounds in the past few months, and I'm now about 25 lbs above my drop-dead-no-way-I'm-allowed-to-go-over-that weight.
For over a year, I was doing fine following my dietitian's advice to "eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full, and try to make healthy choices most of the time," but I seem to be leaving off that third step quite a bit lately. And, occasionally, the first two steps, as well.
Actually, for that first year, was able to even make some not-so-healthy choices and still maintain, but I was getting a lot more exercise than I am now.
When I was working for the BlueState Democratic Party, I parked about 3/4 mile from work (in the $3/day lot, rather than the nearby $14/day lot), so I was walking 1 1/2 miles each day without even intending to exercise.
Then, while I was out of work, I walked with Shrike and the dogs nearly every day, which counter-balanced any boredom eating I was doing while sitting around the house.
Since I went back to work in late April, I've done much less walking, and then I've been taking various hormones since July and, since August, there's been pretty much unlimited chocolate candy available at work.
A very dangerous combination, evidently.
Of course, it hasn't helped that, as the scale's been inching up, I've been thinking, "Oh, I'll be pregnant in a few weeks anyway, so . . . ."
Recently, I've come to the realization that if I keep this up, by the time I actually am pregnant, I will have already put on more than I'm "allowed" to gain during pregnancy.
Of course, I knew that trying to make any changes during the holidays would be a recipe (so to speak) for failure, but I've been saying for weeks, "Come the first of the year . . . ."
So, now we're here, and it's time to get my shit together.
(Of course, today was all about the ritual food, so the shit-together-getting starts tomorrow.)
Not only to do I need to cut back on my calorie intake in general, I've also gotten very lax about making sure that I'm getting lots of protein, which is very important for those who've had gastric bypass surgery.
I've also gotten pretty lax about some of the other post-op "rules," particularly since I really have no food intolerances (not necessarily a good thing) and can eat lots of things that I really shouldn't.
I've been wracking my brain trying to remember what sorts of things I ate on a regular basis (especially what I took to work) when I was losing weight, and following the rules.
In order to get some guidance - and inspiration - I went back to a website that I found incredibly helpful when I was preparing for my surgery, and when I was in the weight loss and early maintenance phases, ObesityHelp.com.
In the "WLS (weight loss surgery) Grads" forum (for those a year or more post-op), several people were talking about something called the "5 Day Pouch Test."
(This was quite confusing for me at first, because they were abbreviating it "5dpt" which, to me, means "5 days post-(embryo)transfer. But I digress.)
I'm definitely not one for quick-fixes or fad diets or "cleansing" plans, but I'm going to give this a try.
I can't do any major nutritional damage in less than a week, and it might just be the kick in the ass that I need, so I figure it falls into the "can't hurt, might help" category.
The pouch test is a short-term (five day, would ya believe) back-to-basics refresher course, of sorts, for folks who've had weight loss surgery and now find themselves off track. Sort of a boost back up onto the wagon, so to speak.
The purpose is to "rediscover your pouch" (teeny tummy), convincing yourself that it still "works" and, they claim, tightening it back up a bit.
It's also a way to "get back to basics," break some harmful eating patterns and, although they say this isn't the goal, probably jump-start weight loss.
It's basically a speeded-up version of the original post-op diet steps that we went through over the first few months after surgery.
Here's the gist:
Days One & Two: Liquid ProteinMost of these rules are the basics that I should have been following all along.
Low-carb protein shakes, broth, clear or cream soups, sugar-free gelatin and pudding
Day 3: Soft Protein
Canned fish (tuna or salmon) eggs, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy)
Day 4: Firm Protein
Ground meat (turkey, beef, chicken, lamb), shellfish, scallops, lobster, fresh salmon or halibut
Day 5: Solid Protein
White meat poultry, beef steak, pork, lamb, wild game
You can eat as much of the above menu as you want during the day to satiate hunger and prevent snacking on other foods.
Measure your portion (1 cup volume or 4-6 ounces weight) and eat only until you feel full, not overfull.
You must drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day. Limit each meal to 15 minutes. No drinking 30 minutes before or after meals and no drinking with your food.
The past six weeks or so have been all about my Christmas joys, but today we observed Shrike's favorite holiday tradition: Taking all this crap down and getting back to normal.
I defestified the dessicated Christmas tree (Ornament attached too tightly? No worries, the branch will just snap off in your hand anyway!) while Shrike put away, well, just about everything else.
I even cleared the last of the gifts off the dining table (onto the kitchen counter, but still) and switched from the green Christmasy table cloth with festive red runners to the default unseasonal (you guessed it) cobalt blue one.
Onto which we promptly dribbled black-eye pea juice.
Everyone knows that there are certain foods that one absolutely must eat on New Years Day, in order to assure good luck for the rest of the year.
They just don't all agree on exactly what those foods are.
Growing up in southeast Texas, the traditional New Years fare included black-eyed peas, ham, cabbage, cornbread and rice.
The peas were for good luck, the cabbage for money, and the rest for tastiness with black-eyed peas.
(Although, one year Anonydaddy told us that cornbread is also for money, because it's "gold." I like that theory.)
At some point, I learned that most of the south refers to black-eyed peas and rice as "hoppin' john," but I'd never heard that term when I lived down there.
I think we generally just called that dish "black-eyed peas," actually, the "and rice" being a given for any kind of bean.
When I was younger, I wasn't particularly found of the black-eyed peas, but would eat a few bites to insure some luck. I'd usually choke down a tiny bit of cabbage, too, but I sure didn't like it.
Over the years, the peas grew on me and I actually kind of enjoyed them - especially the way Anonymama makes them (I believe there's a ham hock involved) and with some rice and ham and crumbled-up cornbread mixed in.
But then I got cocky and in 1991 I skipped them on New Years Day. Within a few weeks, I was diagnosed with a serious and potentially life-threatening kidney disease.
I swore that I'd never go pealess again.
When we moved to BlueState, an area with a strong German influence, I found that the traditional New Years Day meal here is pork and saurkraut (very different, of course, from the ham and cabbage that Anonymama serves) and that I was on my own to find some black-eyed peas.
A couple of years ago, we had some friends over for a party on New Years Day and I actually cooked up a big pot but - all our friends being Yankees and not understanding the importance of the pea - I was about the only one who ate any.
Now, I generally just buy a can and pop them in the microwave. They aren't as tasty as Anonymama's, but I'm hoping they're still effective.
As for the rest of the meal, I'm all about the ham and rice and cornbread, but the cabbage is a tough one for me. I don't like to eat it, and I really don't like to smell it cooking.
But, I've found a work-around. The year that we had the party, I did a bit of reasearch to see what other good-luck foods I could serve, and I stumbled across something saying that you're suppose to eat "greens" for money.
Greens! It turns out that anything green and leafish will do, it doesn't have to be cabbage! I'm saved!
So, we served a spinach dip.
Today, I heated up my can of black-eyed peas, made a pan of cornbread, and served it with rice and a spinach salad. Shrike's not a big ham fan, and it's hard to buy just a little bit, so we skipped that.
Shrike doesn't like the peas, either, but our fates are entwined, so I make her eat a few each year.
She choked down one little bite, but I ate a significant amount (well, significant for my little teeny tummy). She had about three bowls of spinach, though, so she can bring in the big bucks, and I'll handle the luck.
I also set the recently deChristmasified table all fancy-like, and we had some more of last night's "champagne" (sparkling wine). We were a little underdressed, in our sweats and longjohns, but it was very nice.
Oh, and earlier today, I had an eggroll - with cabbage!
Happy New Year!
10 Predictions for 2008
. . . and maybe a bit of wishful thinking
Gender predictions for our already-pregnant blog buddies:
This was a big night in the butt-shot department. The first time we've done two shots (estrogen and progesterone) at once and, being the third progesterone shot, it's the first time we've had to go back to the scene of the crime, and look for a second (and third!) injection site in a cheek that's already got a knot in it.
It actually went pretty well, all things considered, but I figure I'll be even more sore tomorrow, with a larger expanse of tender area on the left side.
We're starting to get the hang of it though, and have a routine down.
What's quite helpful:
Each New Years Eve, or there abouts, Shrike and I write down our goals for the upcoming year, and review our goals from the previous year. In fact, a couple of years ago, I bought a little notebook just for this purpose.
We usually write out some personal goals, as well as some joint ones, both serious "self-improvement" sorts of things, and things we'd like to do for fun, or around the house and, occassionally, a few silly things thrown in for good measure.
Let's see how we did in '07:
Shrike's Goals for 2007
√ Have really cute dogs
√ Not kill wife
· Knock up the wife
· Be more assertive
· Get organized
· Train BigGaloot
Whozat's Goals for 2007
· Get knocked up
√ Get a job
· Get organized
Our Financial Goals for 2007
√ Whozat - get a job and health insurance
√ Keep up with bank stuff
√ Pay off Shrike's car
√ Save for baby-making expenses
Our Organizational / Home Goals for 2007
· Buy Christmas gifts all year round
· Nursery (Pandas)
· Decorate the sunroom (beach / shore theme)
· Build shelves in kitchen for Whozat's cobalt collection
Our Friends / Family Goals for 2007
√ Mardi Gras Party
√ Whozat's Parents' 50th Anniversary
√ Easter Party
√ Beach with Shrike's Family
Shrike's Goals for 2008Now it's time to get out the champagne, toast the new year, let Shrike stab me in the ass a couple of times a call it a night.
· Get Whozat pregnant
· Lose a few pounds and be in good shape
Whozat's Goals for 2008
· Get pregnant
· Lose some weight before getting pregnant
· Eat more healthily
· Don't spend so much money
· Track spending more closely
· Use coupons
· Find a way to make more money
· Be 40. Oh shit.
Our Home Goals for 2008
· Plant a wildflower garden in the backyard
· Nursery (check with Shrike's sister about what furniture she can loan us)
· Decorate the sunroom (beach / shore theme)
· Build shelves in kitchen for Whozat's cobalt collection
· Organize the basement
· Organize the office
Our Fun / Friends / Family Goals for 2008
· Easter Party
· Birthday Party (Shrike's 39th and my 40th. Holy crap.)
· Halloween Party
· Christmas Party
This morning, as I was rolling out of bed, my weight shifted onto my left butt cheek, where we put last night's injection.
Oh. Yeah, um maybe it does hurt after all.
There's no visible bruising, but it's definitely sore, and if I poke around, I can feel a small knot. When I sit on it, the knot seems much bigger - like I'm sitting on a superball.
But, it doesn't hurt unless I poke on it or put my weight on it, and the injection area isn't the same part of the butt that I actually sit on, so it's not too bad.
We'll see how I feel about it with seven more.
Or, eventually (knock wood), ten weeks worth!
We just did the first progesterone in oil injection, which I have really been dreading, but it wasn't bad at all.
It's done with a larger syringe than the estrogen and there's also a larger needle for drawing it up, so that part is much easier, even though it's five times as much, and thicker.
The actual injection is done with the same size needle, though, so the "stick" part itself is no different, it just takes longer to get the medicine out of the needle and into my ass.
That's the part that I've heard is pretty painful and burny, but it wasn't bad.
Before we started, I sat on a heating pad and she rolled the vial around in her hands, to warm up both the muscle and the oil, so it would flow and absorb more easily.
For the shot itself, Shrike narrated, per my request, "I'm about to stab you in the ass. I just stabbed you in the ass. I'm pulling back to check for blood. Now I'm squirting it in your ass, still squirting it in, still squirting . . . and I'm taking it out," and I sang "Jingle Bells" to distract myself and drown out the narration.
Yeah, I know that doesn't make sense, but I both wanted to know what she was doing, and didn't want to think about what she was doing.
I sat on the heating pad for a while afterward, and I'm hoping that gave it a chance to dissipate some.
I guess we'll find out how well that all really worked tomorrow, when we see whether I have a bruise or a knot or a sore ass.
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Peeper and I have been breastfeeding for...
Six Weeks
Three Months
Six Months
Nine Months
Twelve Months
Eighteen Months
Two Years
Three Years
Four Years Four-and-a-half years and counting! | |
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