Getting Into a Rhythm

50 Days Post-Surgery
Mood: Optimistic
Weight Loss Status: 36 lbs

It's been a while since I've had the chance to write an update. My life has certainly changed in the past 50 days, but I've gotten into a good swing of things. While I'm still very conscious of every thing I put into my body, it's become much easier. Michael and I eat in almost every night, which gives me the security of knowing exactly what my food is cooked with and how healthy it is. With the help of the many cookbooks I've ordered, I've been able to get really creative with cooking, and am eating foods that are both high in protein and deliciously diverse. In fact, here are some meals that we have planned for next week:

• Greek Souzoukaklia with Toasted Pita Chips and Greek Tzatziki Dip
• Slow Cooker Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin with Sugar Snap Peas
• Grilled Italian Chicken with Red and Green Peppers
• Lemon Rosemary Salmon with Quinoa and Black Beans
• Creamy Chicken Lasagna
• Catfish Tuscany with Pesto Spaghetti Squash
• Turkey Burgers with Homemade Sweet Potato Chips
• Desserts: Sugar-Free Baked Donuts and Sugar-Free Baklava

Does that mean everything I'm eating is 100% healthy? Absolutely not. For Easter I had a Reese's chocolate peanut-butter egg: certainly not the best thing to put into my body! I'm finding that every once in a while, it's ok to eat something that isn't totally chock-full of protein. Moderation and planning is key.

Below is a product that has changed my life since surgery:




I'm not always able to eat something with 20g of protein for a meal, and since I need to be getting approximately 60g of protein per day, these Protein To Go shots have made my life SO much easier. They pack in 28g of fat in a shot-glass sized container, with very few calories. This allows me to have fruit for lunch or something that is healthy but not necessarily full of protein. They're expensive, sold between $2.50 to $3.00 per bottle, but there are deals online that allow me to stock up. I drink one of these a day to give me more flexibility in my diet.

This week has also been a new chapter in my Bariatric life, as I started working out on Monday. I've been using a DVD called Walk Away the Pounds, which uses aerobics and light weights to get the heart rate up in 1, 2, 3, or 4-mile exercises. I started on Monday and have done the video every day this week, and even though I'm only doing the 18-minute, 1-mile exercise, I can already tell a difference. My energy has increased, and I can't wait to start seeing more muscle tone and those numbers go down more on the scale!

Overall, it's a very exciting time in my journey, and as I hit the 2-month mark, there are no regrets in my decision!