100 Pounds Since Surgery...GONE!

Here we go kids:

Pounds Lost This Week: 2 Pounds
Pounds Lost Since Surgery: 100 Pounds
Pounds Lost Overall: 142 Pounds

Pounds to go until GOAL: 53 Pounds

Yes! A loss! I've read the last 50 or so pounds are the hardest to lose. My body is getting used to the diet, the exercise and the lifestyle change. I'm having to work a little harder to get the weight off. No one said this was going to be easy. Actually, I have had a few "Negative Nancies" that have had the eggs to say "Didn't you have surgery? Don't you feel like you've cheated the system." I know I've said it before, but I'm going to say this again. NOTHING about this has been easy. The 42 pounds I lost before surgery were hard, but the 100 pounds since then have been even harder. Physically, it can be painful. The surgery and recovery was not a walk in the park. I had a real rough time afterward. This week, I'm experiencing a lot of lower hip pain. It's not fun. I'm told that my bones are adjusting to not having to support so much weight, but it's starting to hurt just to walk. This has not been all roses and daisies. Mentally, this has been such an adjustment. I've had to endure church dinners and family dinners where I couldn't eat what everyone else is eating. For Valentine's Day, I had refried beans and no fine chocolates. Do you know that food is present everywhere is almost the focus of all of our gatherings?! I've felt depressed and left out. Not to mention what I've felt about my body. I still feel like I weight 142 pounds more than what I do now. I still hesitate before sitting down in a chair because I might break it. I have to think about it before I squeeze through somewhere. This is NOT easy. Making changes are never easy and shame of you (if you are one and you're reading this) for trying to rain on my parade. I finally have a little confidence in my looks and I need support not your opinions.

So, off my soapbox.....

This week we had nothing big planned. I know, right?! Sometimes, I feel like we are always on the go. It was nice to not have anything to do. I also needed the rest. Let's be honest, the MCATIA took it out of me. I had not been that tired since after the surgery. I honestly don't know how I made it through the week. I was paler this week and honestly had a few moments where I thought I might pass out. I have to remember that life is not a race or a competition. There's no point in rushing and just running my life out. I need to remember that my body has limits and while it's good to sometimes push yourself, it's not okay to know that you're over doing it and keep on trucking. Remember in my earlier blogs, they told me to be selfish: to take care of myself first. Because if I'm weak or sick or in the hospital, I can't help anybody. While, this is hard for me, I think I may start trying to live by this. Do I really feel like.... Am I too tired.... It is okay to say no sometimes, right?

Friday night was movie night at the church. We also got to spend a little time with Ax. Those few hours with that gorgoeous little man just reminded me of God's purpose for me. I know that it is in God's plan for me to be a mother and for Johnathan to be a father. I don't know God's exact plan, but I do know that God has that plan for me. I also know that Johnathan & I are going to be great parents. I can't wait to share our love with a child on God's time and in God's way. I'm ready when he's ready. It's all up to Him.

Saturday, we decided to participate in the annual City Wide Garage Sale here in McAlester. I found some Christmas decorations that I'm pretty pumped about. We also went to treasure trunk which is one of my favorite places to buy clothes because they are cheap and I don't feel so guilty about buying clothes that I may shrink out of in a few weeks. I found two pairs of work pants that I'm pretty pumped to wear because they fit and they fit on my rear which is a hard find nowadays.

Yesterday, I bought new work out pants. The pants I was wearing were a 4X. I bought Large's yesterday. The 4Xs were no longer working for me. It was getting hard to read my Kindle, balance the IPhone, keep tabs on my heart rate all by holding up my pants because the drawstring was at the max. It was time. A 4X to a Large is pretty incredible. I also got some new tennis shoes because we are officially only 52 days away from DisneyWorld and we both needed a good pair of walking shoes that are broke in by then.

Today was picture day. I love picture day and I love sharing my scrapbook with people. If you haven't seen it, ask me about it. It's pretty awesome. I love seeing my progress. It helps me visualize the benefits of all my hard work and dedication.

So, this week we don't have big plans either. I'm honestly just going to keep on trucking on with the diet and exercise. I'm so close to the goal that I don't want to mess this up. I'm also going to work on resting. Like I said DW is just around the corner and that will be an exhausting trip. Anything to help get me ready for this trip, I'm down for. Which means taking it easy on the trips. The only other trip we have planned is to Martha, OK to the Fall Festival at Matt & Kellie's house.

Prayer requests are just for strength and some comfort for this hip pain. I'm giving it another week and then calling one of the doctors for some help. Again, thank you for the prayers and support.

Annnndddd as promised:

Recipe of the Week: Low Carb Stomboli

Ingredients:

Crust:
4 Tbsp Almond Flour
3 Tbsp Coconut Flour
4 Tbsp Butter Melted
1 1/4 C. 2% Mozzarella Cheese, Shredded
1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
1 Egg

Filling:
1/2 C. 2% Mozzarella Cheese, Shredded
Turkey Pepperoni

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Melt butter in the microwave and set aside
3. Combine spices with the shredded cheese and melt in the microwave at 30% power for 2 minutes
4. Add flours, butter, and egg to melted cheese mixture and combine
5. Microwave the dough for 10 seconds
6. Make sure all the ingredients are well combined. It will start to feel like dough
7. Microwave again for 10 seconds
8. Form a rectange on top of parchment paper
9. Place another piece of parchment paper on top of the dough and roll out into a rectangular shape
10. Slice the sides (the longest sides) to get nice straight edges
11. slice the strips on each side evenly
13. Place filing in the center of the dough
14. Fold up the dough on the ends to close stomboli up
15. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes

Enjoy!