3 Month Update

So its been a little over 3 months, and I had not expected that things would go the way they did. Obviously, we can start with the major events- losing my younger brother. Before the surgery I would have definitely eaten my feelings away. Now, it is not only something I wouldn’t do, but physically it is painful to even try. So there is some changes that are very noticeable. This surgery has forced me to actually deal with my feelings in a more productive way.  Although not all of my weight gain came from poor eating, I did have the pituitary tumor as well. I can’t blame it all on the tumor, nor can I blame it all on overeating. I can simply say that I have made many behavioral changes in addition to getting healthier from the tumor removal. So I am still trying to discover my happy medium.

I just recently had my 3 month lab work, and the results were okay. I was worried because after my brother passed away I stayed at my mom’s house for several days, and didn’t have any of my vitamins with me. Definitely glad to find out that they were okay.

Little issues: GUM, STRAWS, NOT DRINKING WITH MEALS. Yikes! So I am not sure why the gum is not allowed…they say because you will get air in your pouch. Well, I am going to tell you that I still chew, I guess I shouldn’t say chew, I stick it between my cheek and gums. I haven’t noticed any air or discomfort from gum. Straws…well this is definitely something that I will not be able to give up. I am mindful when I use them, I usually take a small sip, and let it sit in my mouth as I breathe first then swallow. Drinking while eating. I guess I am just not compliant about things, because I am guilty of this as well. Not too much, but I just use enough liquid to clear my mouth, or cleanse my pallet. I try to be compliant with these things, but even my nutritionist had said, if it doesn’t irritate you, then just don’t tell anyone else that you do it. So I guess it isn’t terrible.

Foods: I have been experimenting with different foods and textures. The verdict is still the same with eggs- no matter how they are cooked, or how they taste, I can’t tolerate them. I have tried different textures and consistencies, and had a good amount of success. I am able to tolerate a bunch of different foods, although with caution. I really like pickles, I don’t know why. I went to Knott’s Berry Farm and was able to try a bite of funnel cake. I only had one bite, and that was enough. I found that no matter how hard I am going to try, I still need to supplement with protein shakes during the day. It doesn’t bother me too much to have to do protein drinks, I find them convenient for my busy day. If you haven’t tried the Isopure, they are okay. They are fruity flavored, so when you get tired of protein that is chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla, this can be a nice alternative. The only thing with the Isopure, it takes me forever to drink one, because they are 20 oz, it takes a pretty long time. Other than that, I am eating many different textures at this point, I am really working hard to create recipes that are both satisfying and actually taste good. I am in the works of posting some of my favorite recipes. I promise you won’t sacrifice taste when you try some of these.

Exercise: I am not at all restricted in what I can do, I have no more pain at all. I have been doing the TRX Trainer, along with running, swimming, cycling, and figure skating. I really enjoy all of these activities, and am very dedicated to my workout routine. I also got a Nike Fuel Band SE. This little thing is pretty cool, being that I am pretty competitive, I find myself trying to beat my goal and previous day’s record. It can be helpful to to give you an idea of how much you move and when you move the most. There are other bands, Fitbit, Jawbone, and others. If you are digital and like that kind of data, then a band might be a good option for you.

Weight: I am currently down to 173 lbs. I hit a plateau and the scale just wouldn’t budge, no matter what amount of exercise I would do. So I just had to patiently wait it out. I would weigh in every morning, and have no changes at all! Then one day, I just started losing again. I still log food every day using Loseit. I thought I liked it, they just did a new update, so it will take some getting used to. I will report back once I get their new layout down.

Calories: I am eating right around 550 calories per day. My nutritionist told me I need to bump it up to at least 600 per day. She told me to add juice to my water to get a few added calories here an there.

Hair Loss: I have not noticed a significant loss of hair yet. I am taking 10,000 MCG Biotin per day, as well as red krill oil. I don’t know that these are even helping, but why not just give it a try because if there is a slight chance- why not?

Freezing: I have noticed that I am freezing way more often than before. Not just because it is ‘winter’, which for us San Diegans, that is in the 70’s usually. I mean, it is 75 outside, and I am cold. My body temperature is having to regulate differently, or work harder now that I don’t have ‘insulation’ as I like to call it. So I do notice this as quite a problem, I am always cold, even when it’s nice outside.

Thanks for reading everyone! If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments, I will give you the best answer that I can, if I don’t know the answer, I will try to find out. Have a great day!