Vanishing Velez

So I know that I literally just posted week 2, but I’m going to try to finish week 3 today, because tomorrow I go back to work

Week 3 was probably the toughest week yet. Not because I was in pain or anything, but because the hives were killing me. I was taking Zyrtec every day, and then benadryl (both liquid and topical gel) as necessary on top of that.

I also found myself getting more lazy this week. I know I need to walk a ton, but I am still very tired, and when I don’t really have a reason to walk, I’m just not. I fully expect it to get better when I go back to work because I will have to do more walking. I also am going to make sure I walk during my lunch break.

I also have found water to continue to be difficult. I have predominantly switched over to gatorade zero, and sugar free fruit punch to help me drink more. I thing the thing that is getting me is the no straw thing. I 100% drink more when I have a cold beverage with a straw. I will ask at my appointment when I can start using a straw again, because I know it helps me.

On Thursday night, I sent a message to my PA because my hives were getting worse. She called me Friday, and told me that it would be OK for me to start purees since it was only a few days. If that didn’t work, we could try changing my multivitamin. So I started purees. I think that it definitely helped, but it also brought new challenges-specifically how the hell do I get enough protein. I am not eating enough to get enough protein in, so I am having to supplement with protein shakes. I switched to the Fairlife nutrition plan shakes, and definitely like those better. I think that they just sit better in my stomach too. I wish they weren’t so expensive, but I can buy a 12 pack at BJ’s. I also wish there were more flavors. I mean, I like the premier protein shakes still, and like that there are a variety of flavors, but they are SO expensive. I have a feeling that when I can eat more solid foods, I’m going to switch over to powdered protein and start mixing protein powder into my food.

I am still drinking protein shakes. I find that it is easier to have at least one meal be a protein shake, so that I know that I’m getting at least 30 grams of guaranteed protein. When I calculate my protein, it’s hard because I have no idea how much I am going to be actually eating. I hope that over time, I will be able to get all of my protein from food sources.

Lastly, my weight loss. As of Sunday, 7/14, I weighed 226.8 lbs. If we go by my pre-operative appointment weight, I have lost 22 lbs. If we go by the weight that I took on my scale the night before surgery, I have lost 26.6 lbs. Either way, this is a good number. I definitely am finding myself comparing myself to other people in the bariatric groups that I am a part of. I have to remind myself that Jenn starting at 250 lbs. is going to lose less weight than Brenda at 400 lbs. in the same amount of time. I also have to remind myself that my body fat went from 58.9% to 51.6%, and my BMI went from 44.9 to 40.2. Those are great numbers.

Anyways, I’m going back to work on the 17th (tomorrow based on when this was written), so I will probably be doing monthly updates on the 24th of every month. As I have time, or see other things that I think would be helpful (especially recipes), I will do my best to post them.

I am also posting weekly weight loss updates every Monday, so follow my Instagram to see that!