Well. Last week I attended my very first psychologist session.....to determine if I'm mentally fit enough to undergo a major lifestyle change and to make sure that I don't have any deep-seated issues that would keep me from being able to follow the very strict post-op instructions for my Gastric Surgery. I'm not sure how I did. The first hour was spent being asked a gazillion opened ended questions about myself and my habits and my preferences and my past. He didn't run from the room screaming with his ears on fire....nor did I dissolve into a puddle of snotty tears.....so I suppose it went okay. The second half of the visit was a 3 hour battery of testing. BOY, did they think of EVERYTHING and then some!! I took the MMPI and then there were these other tests to determine my suicide risk (low), my cognitive abilities (the jury is still out), my risk for an eating disorder (worried about this one), and then lastly....an IQ test to make sure I understand all the instructions and the nutrition plan. Wonder what my IQ is now? I was tested many, many moons ago when I was in high school.....and was placed in the gifted program, supposedly with an IQ of 152. But, that was before I had kids.....since I've had 2 children, my brain has turned to muddy mush with the occasional rock and marble thrown in for good measure....so I'm not sure how I scored on that one. Anyway.....he said that if there were any "problems" with any of my results, I'd be contacted within the next 2 weeks. So....now we wait to see if I'm crazy! Hahaha! Some things are self-evident and don't require a battery of testing, right??
After my extensive psychological testing, I attended an hour long nutrition class with a way-too-perky-27-year-old skinny-as-a-rail nutritionist. The information was valuable, but I had a hard time with her credibility. She kept saying, "I know how you feel about....." when indeed, I really don't think she had a CLUE how I felt about any of it. Anyway.....aside from her over-the-top-way-too happy delivery, it was a good session. I was given my "prep diet" and was informed that I had to lose approximately 31 pounds before I could proceed with my surgery. I was given a shopping list and a menu that goes something like this: Breakfast: Protein Shake mixed with protein powder/skim milk/berries/flax oil. Lunch: 4 ounces chicken or fish, vegetables, 1 whole-grain starch. Dinner: 4 ounces chicken or fish, vegetables, 1 whole grain starch. And....bonus! I can have all the sugar-free jello and sugar free popsicles I want. I can also have 1 glass of V-8 juice per day. I can't have carbonated or caffeinated beverages or juice. I am to drink nothing for 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after eating and certainly nothing to drink WITH my meal.....but I have to drink at least 84 ounces of water per day. You'll probably hear me sloshing before you see me coming.
So, I began this "prep diet" on Friday. And you know what, it isn't all THAT bad....so far. The worst thing about the first 2 days was caffeine withdrawals. Yesterday the headache was constant and unrelenting despite Advil and prayer......but I made it and didn't give in!!! I'm only on day 3, of course. Long-term - this could be crazy difficult to maintain. Yesterday, I was terrified because it's the weekend...and that means facing eating-out. I did okay though. We ate at Wendy's on Saturday after walking for 3 1/2 hours at the zoo....so I was ravenous. I got a large salad with vinaigrette (the only salad dressing I'm allowed to have) and I wasn't even able to finish my salad. The hardest part was waiting 30 minutes after eating to have my unsweetened iced tea. That was the longest 30 minutes EVER. I hope that part gets easier. I've always been a "heavy-drinker" with my meals. I managed okay and for dinner I made Steve a pizza (his request) and I had a bowl of salad with tuna and some vinaigrette and was satisfied! I had a small cup of sugar free jello and a sugar-free popsicle while we watched a movie late last night....although I was coveting Steve's Triscuits that he kept crunching. I felt proud that I was able to stick to my guns and get through an entire Saturday that was rife with temptation!
Today was a bit more difficult. I wasn't able to have my protein shake this morning....I didn't have any milk at all. So I scrambled some Egg-Beaters (which can be substituted for 4 ounces of chicken or fish) and topped that with some spicy salsa (also a free-food) and had a piece of whole-wheat toast. I will just have the protein shake for dinner tonight and swap out the meals, since the nutritionist said that you didn't have to eat the 3 meals in any order. For lunch today, we went to Red Lobster....and again, it worked out GREAT!! I had a salad with vinaigrette, broiled flounder (I don't like fish- so I had to put some vinaigrette on the fish too, to kill the fishy-taste/smell), and the steamed broccoli. I was satisfied and even too full to finish the last bites of broccoli and fish. Again, the hardest part for me was waiting 30 minutes after eating to drink my water with lemon. I did wait though...I just asked the waitress to put my water in a "to-go" cup and toughed it out for 30 minutes. We went to shop in Kohls...so it was more like 50 minutes before I got to drink my water...but when I did...I gulped that water down in one swallow!! hahaha! We then went to Walmart, where I got another 24 ounce bottle of water and that too was gone in mere seconds. Maybe it won't be so difficult to drink 84 ounces of water......because after having to wait.....the water was the best I'd ever tasted! haha! Mind games! :)
The whole thing about not drinking with my meals is because they want food to sit in my stomach for a longer period of time for satiety....and not wash it on through with liquids. Ms. Perky-Nutritionist did a cool demonstration with a funnel and baby food. She poured the baby food into the funnel....and a little bit dripped out the bottom of the funnel, but not much. Then she poured 3 ounces of water into the funnel on top of the baby food and it all shot out the bottom of the funnel very quickly. She said that when we drink with a meal, we pretty much do the same thing....wash the food right out of our bellies before we feel full. Makes sense when I think about it. It's just a totally different paradigm for me.
Also, it's only day 3 today....but my scales are making me VERY happy!! I was down 7 pounds yesterday and another 2 pounds today!! I know it's water weight....but it's still quite delightful (and encouraging) to FINALLY see the numbers going down, instead of up-up-UP!!! I can DO this!!! I even feel a little skinnier! Hahahaha!!! I know that sounds crazy, but I really DO feel smaller! Reality bit hard in the dressing room at Kohls when I tried on a few blouses.....but I think that eating healthier and drinking water makes you FEEL better anyway. Maybe it's just my imagination......or maybe it's simply God's merciful grace to get me through these first few days of what I was thinking would be total depravation. I am now 9 pounds and 3 days closer to my goal!!! And that , my dear friends feels AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to continue to pray for that grace to wash over me every time my mind wanders and loses it's self thinking about french-fries and nachos....for the french fries and nachos are fickle friends......tasting good....but robbing me of my joy. Ain't gonna let 'em!!! AIN'T GONNA LET 'EM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can do ALL things thru Christ who strengthens me!!! I can DO this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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