A day in the life

I've had people ask me what I eat, what supplements I take, how much I drink, exercise, etc., etc. So here are the fascinating details of a typical day in Cindyland.

I get up at 7:30 and have a glass of water. Since I don't have to be at work till 10:00, I normally like to start eating by at least 8:30. Gastric bypass patients are supposed to wait 30 mins. before and after eating to drink - we want our pouch filled with food (i.e., nutrition) and not water. Most mornings, I have one scrambled egg and a slice of bacon. Sometimes I'll throw in half an English muffin smeared with some sugar-free jam but not often. I have to eat slowly, trying to wait about two minutes between each bite. This is why it takes me about a half hour to eat. But if I'm done by 9, then by 9:30, when I have to leave for work, I can take my liquid calcium and liquid glucosamine before I leave then tote the supplements I take in pill form with me.

When I get to my desk at work, I start drinking water and taking my supplements. A multivitamin, ursodiol, maybe my biotin tablet. All spaced at least five minutes apart to avoid nausea. (I'll explain all these supplements at the end.) These days, I get hungry more often and will sometimes have a handful of nuts around 11 or 11:30 - I keep a small container of them at my desk. I go to lunch at 1 p.m.

Lunch often involves leftovers from the night before. Now, sometimes I eat what I cook for Erich and sometimes I can't (steak or chicken breast doesn't agree with me very well). I'm not going to deprive him of the things I can't eat so I will often make two dinners, one for me and one for him. But things like meatloaf, Hamburger Helper (don't judge), bbq chicken thighs - yes, I'll take those with me. Protein-dense soups like Chunky beef or sirloin also work. I might eat 1/2 cup of that plus a few crackers and a wedge of cheese. A couple times I've hit the drive thru at Wendy's for a jr. cheeseburger - I take the bun off the bottom because too much bread makes me feel heavy and nauseous. It's ok - we don't have to eat like nuns for the rest of our lives. Compared to what I used to eat at Wendy's (a double with bacon & cheese, large fries, maybe a "side" order of chicken nuggets plus a large diet Coke - I did this a few times a week maybe) this is progress. I don't feel guilty. And that single little cheeseburger fills me up for the rest of the day.

After lunch, I wait 30 mins. and start drinking again. At that time, I will take my iron tablet and B-12 (I take B-12 every other day since my levels are quite high). We are told to wait two hours between calcium and iron supplements, so that's why I wait till lunch to take the iron. Lots of clock watching.

When I get home from work, sometimes I'm a little hungry again. Physical hunger is slowly returning to me as the months go by. I understand this is normal and everything but it's a little scary. I think all gastric bypass patients are terrified of hunger, of returning to their old way of eating. But the thing is, even if I'm starving I can't eat very much. My pouch won't let me. I get full and satisfied with very little. My brain tells me I need to eat 3 plates of food, out of habit, but my body will put the brakes on at about 3/4 to one cup. So when I get home I will have a half an apple with a bit of peanut butter or something. Maybe a protein shake if I'm going to the gym. I'm really working on the protein since my hair is in sad, dire shape.

If it's a gym day - Monday, Wednesday, Friday - I go and do 30 mins. on the treadmill and 20 mins. of strength training. I also try to hit the gym at least one weekend day. I skip the strength training then but up the cardio to 45 minutes - typically a mile on the treadmill and 3 on the stationary bike. I've tried the elliptical. Evil. Bad.

Dinner is like I described above. I try to make things we can both eat but sometimes I can't. I'll make him a big steak and myself a fish fillet then a side dish we can both enjoy like mashed potatoes or something. I sneak in a veggie when I can (Erich is not a fan, either). I can eat potatoes in pretty much any form but rice and pasta give me trouble sometimes. When I was in NY last weekend, I ate spaghetti for the first time in a few months. I was a little scared because the last time I tried it, it came back up but ahhhhhhhh......not this time!! And I do love my Italian food. And again, after dinner I wait 30 mins. then start drinking. At that time I will take my 2nd multivitamin, calcium and ursodiol doses of the day.

If I'm having a rough day and things aren't going down well (i.e., I have to throw up) then I drink some Eater's Digest tea and it settles my stomach. When I feel a bit better I go back to my old standby - whole wheat crackers and peanut butter or cheese - just to get some calories/nutrients down. I keep the tea at work and always have some on hand at home. I don't have problems like this as often as I used to, though.

So there you have it! That's what a typical day for me is like. I have to put thought into everything I put in my mouth. It's becoming second nature at this point though, especially all the clock watching. The main thing I still have trouble with is chewing things into oblivion. I have to really pay attention to that or the pouch will get pissed off.

I lost two lbs. last week - 295. One pound away from 150 lbs. total lost. I think I will get a haircut for my reward. Still looking for boots. Sigh. I have a feeling I won't be able to find any until I reach my goal weight.

I'm going to see New Moon in a few hours! EEEEEE!!!! Plus I'm going shopping for a few ingredients I need to try out some Eggface recipes, now that I found some stuff missing in Canada when I was in NY. I intend to try her protein-packed, sugar-free fudge, donuts, pancakes and tortilla pizzas. I'll let you know how it goes.

Information on supplements:
Equate (Walmart brand) Century Plus multivitamin (2/day)
Ursodiol - prescription med meant to calm the gallbladder - stopped 6 mo. post op. (2/day)
Life (Shopper's Drug Mart brand) Liquid Calcium (1000 mg. - 2 doses/day)
Swiss Natural Sources B-12 (1 every other day)
Nature's Bounty Gentle Iron (28 mg. - 1/day)
Bio-Tech Pharmical Vitamin D (50,000IU - 1/week) https://secure.bio-tech-pharm.com/detail.aspx?product_id=20&cat_id=2&subcat_id=0

Stuff I take that's not required:
Swiss Natural Sources Biotin (300 mcg - 1/day)
Jamieson Natural Sources Liquid Glucosamine (1500 mg - 1 dose/day)

Eater's Digest Tea: http://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Medicinals-Eaters-16-Count-Wrapped/dp/B0009F3PIA Canadians, we can find this pretty much anywhere - Zehr's, Shopper's, Walmart. I'm not sure where it's available in the States, though. I'd never heard of it till recently but then I never had a need for it.