Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written. I ended up going to the ER on Monday April 21st and I’ve been in the hospital ever since; I was just discharged today. It turns out that I had an abcess on my colon. Dr. Barker performed a surgery Monday evening to view my abdomen and look for any complications and found and drained the abcess. By Thursday, infection had spread and I had an abdominal wall infection near one of my incision sites.
I’m glad to be home, but this has been a very frightening and frustrating setback. I will write more as I have more energy. I just wanted to put something up, just in case there are people that actually read this blog and were wondering where I’ve been…
I have been very satisfied with my weight loss. I have been exercising every day, but I have not been on the elliptical for a while. I have been walking 1 to 2 times per day. When I walk, I go at least a mile and usually carry small hand weights (most recently I started using 3 lbs). This Saturday we walked the dogs to the dog park and had a little picnic. I enjoyed some water and my wife and daughter had sandwiches.
The last 4 or 5 days I have not been feeling very well. I have been very tired and in general, feel sore and worn out. I have had discomfort and occasional dull pain in my abdomen, particularly on the left side, just below my rib cage and just to the left of the sternum. Yesterday I was periodically having a sharp pain in my abdomen above my belly button. It would last from 1 to 3 seconds and then subside. I have been having a feeling of pressure and gas in my lower abdomen. I have been having regular bowel movements, about once per day. I think today I will call my doctor as I am starting to get a little worried.
Have to run off to work, will try to write more later…
I just got on the scale. Current weight:
348.2 lbs.
11 days before my surgery I was weighed in at the doctors office at 408 lbs. That was March 22nd.
This mornings weigh-in:
357.8 lbs.
That’s 50.2 lbs. lost since I began my pre-surgery diet!! Next goal…100 lbs. lost.
Yesterday my wife and I took about a 3 mile walk during lunch…we walked for about an hour. I wore the 1-lb. weights on my wrists. I took a second walk after supper time…just a quick 20 minute walk, probably about a mile.
This morning my weight is 360 lbs. My weight loss has slowed down quite a bit the last few days; it’s been frustrating. I am trying to keep a positive attitude, though. Today, my total pre-surgery weight loss is 33.2 lbs. and my post-surgery weight loss is 14.8 lbs. Total weight loss to date (over approximately 1 months time): 48 lbs. A very good start!
In all honesty, a big factor the last few days in my slowed weight loss has been a decrease in exercise. For more than a week, I was exercising 2 to 4 times a day. The last 3 or 4 days, I’ve exercised only once per day and I even skipped one day all together. I am going to rededicate myself to my exercise regimine.
Today I return to work, but I will be working from home this week. As one would expect after taking 2 weeks off, there is a huge mountain of work waiting for me and I am feeling alot of stress and pressure today. There are at least 5 things that need to be done ASAP, and each one is 1 to 2 days or more of work.
Well I better get back to it. I just wanted to put something up since I haven’t written in a few days.
This morning my weight is:
363.6 lbs.
This morning my weight is 365.8 lbs. I am very happy with that! I have been working extremely hard to achieve that, though. I’ve been exercising 3 to 4 times per day. Yesterday, for example, I took two walks, once with 1-pound weights on my wrists, each walk about 1 mile/20 minutes. I also rode the elliptical twice yesterday, once 2.2 miles in 20 minutes, and then the second time 2.4 miles in 20 minutes. I have been very conscientious to make sure I am getting plenty of protein.
Speaking of protein, I am really starting to dislike the protein supplements I am taking. I have been using the Nectar protein products. At first they weren’t so bad, but I’ve slowly developed a strong distaste for them. Right now I have been using primarily the cappuccino and twisted cherry flavors. Before my surgery I was mixing them with large quantities of water (about 32oz). Post-surgery, I simply cannot take down that much water at once, so I’ve been mixing with 8 to 12 oz of water. It’s sickeningly sweet and leaves a horrible after taste. I have some Lemon Tea flavor that I haven’t been using; I think I will try it today. I may have to consider an alternative product.
I am feeling very motivated and good overall. My body continues to recover very well. This morning I changed the water tank on the water cooler and had absolutely no pain or discomfort at all lifting that much weight. I think my exercise regimine in conjunction with the large amounts of protein I’ve been consuming has really helped to speed my recovery along.
On Monday the 14th I will be returning to work, but I will be working from home the first week. It’s been very easy and convenient to exercise while I’ve been off work, but now I am going to have to start focusing on adhering to a schedule to accomodate my work day. Shouldn’t be a big issue.
That’s about it for now.
This morning’s weigh in:
369.0 lbs
It seems that exercise plus eating small meals throughout the day is getting my metabolism going!! This morning I am going to do at least 20 mins on the elliptical.
