Invictus

Invictus is a new movie about the transition from apartheid in South Africa and . . . rugby. Weird combo, but still worth seeing. Morgan Freeman plays Mandela and Matt Damon plays Francois Pienaar, the captain of the South African rugby team.

One foundational "character" in the film is the 1875 William Ernest Henley poem for which the movie is titled:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

I'd heard this poem before; it's pretty well known. It has more resonance with me now for some reason. I aspire to more closely embody the stoic, determined characteristics that "Invictus" describes.

This poem might be a bit sullied because Timothy McVeigh, of all people, used it as his final statement before his execution. :-/ (Thanks Wiki!) Even so, "Invictus" is a powerful piece of literary art with enduring significance.

What I Ate: 12/12/2009

Today was a fantastic day!! Woo, I LOVE Saturdays! I bought a new coat today finally (size L, and I could fit into the M but wanted to make sure it wasn't too snug) and a size 14 denim skirt. I also bought a ton of GRE prep materials and spent most of the day studying at various Columbia coffee shops. I'm slooooooowly re-teaching myself the middle/high school math. I have the most difficulty with geometry (I've never been very spatially intelligent) and probability (I never took that class in high school - the "advanced" students took calculus and everyone else took probability/stats.) :-/

• Steak and eggs: 1.75 oz. sliced eye of round steak (84 kcals, 14.3g protein, 0g carbs, 2.5g fat), 1/4 cup Publix EggStirs (30 kcals, 6g protein, 1g carb, 0g fat), and 1 slice Kraft fat-free Swiss cheese (25 kcals, 4g protein, 2g carb, 0g fat), with a few spices - Total (139 kcals, 24.3g protein, 3g net carbs, 2.5g fat)
• 10 unsalted roasted pistachios (40 kcals, 1g protein, 1g net carbs, 3g fat)
• 1 Believe Mocha Latte protein "frappucino" (120 kcals, 20g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• Fake sushi DELICIOUSNESS: 9 medium shrimp cooked with garlic and ginger, chopped (60 kcals, 15g protein, 0g carbs, 0g fat) and 1 cup green lettuce, chopped (5 kcals, 0.5g protein, 0.5g net carbs, 0g fat) dressed with a combination of soy sauce, tamarind concentrate, mustard, natural* rice vinegar, and DaVinci sweetening syrup - I didn't eat very much of this and have some left over for tomorrow (10 kcals, 1g net carbs) all wrapped in 1 sheet of nori (10 kcals, 1g protein, 1g net carb, 0g fat). Total (85 kcals, 16.5g protein, 2.5g carbs, 0g fat). The nori was a completely random purchase at Fresh Market. I'd stopped there to get pistachios but realized, once in the store, that I didn't have any cash. I felt strange using a credit card to buy less than $1 worth of merchandise, so I shopped around for something else. I was intrigued by the nori, having recently watched an episode of Chopped where nori was one of the appetizer ingredients. This creation turned out to be magically delicious. It was a little clumsy to eat because I didn't handle the nori exactly right, but even so, the flavors were amazing. This experiment opens up a new world of WLS-friendly dishes!
• Bananas foster shake: 1/2 cup vanilla creme Oh Yeah! and 3 oz. bananas & cream Oh Yeah! (110 kcals, 16g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 4.5g fat), 1/2 scoop Elite Gourmet Vanilla protein (57 kcals, 12g protein, 1g net carb, 0.8g fat) with 1 tbsp. sugar-free/fat-free cheesecake pudding mix for texture (15 kcals, 4g carbs), sugar-free butter rum syrup to taste and topped with 2 tbsp. Free Cool Whip (15 kcals, 3g carbs) - Total (197 kcals, 28g protein, 9.5g net carbs, 5.3g fat)
• 2 Bariatric Advantage calcium lozenges (6 kcals, 1.5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Celebrate orange multivitamins (5 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Celebrate grape iron + c (5 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 pouches of sugar-free drink mix (30 kcals, 7.5g net carbs, 0g fat)

Total:
627 kcals
89.8g protein
57.3% kcals from protein
32g net carbs
20.4% kcals from net carbs
10.8g fat
15.5% kcals from fat

I was out and about today and didn't get in a big workout. However, I did at least do a mini Leslie Sansone workout - Muscle Mile One. It was extremely short and tame and I didn't even sweat, but it burned a few calories.

*"natural" in this context means they didn't add sugar to it. Regular rice vinegar has 20 calories per tbsp. while "natural" rice vinegar has 0.

What I Ate: 12/11/2009

Things are looking up! Today was a good day - mostly because I just decided it was going to be a good day despite yesterday's unexpected exile from what I had perceived to be my primary source of WLS support. The fact that it's Friday doesn't hurt :-) But I was a little crampy today, so I had the nibbles . . .

• 1/3 cup Fage 0% (40 kcals, 6.6g protein, 3g net carbs, 0g fat) with 1 scoop Inspire chocolate peanut butter fudge protein (127 kcals, 26g protein, 3g net carbs, 1g fat) Total - (167 kcals, 32.6g protein, 6g net carbs, 1g fat). Mixed things up - started the day with my Fage. The yogurt is SO filling in the morning!
• 1/2 chocolate Oh Yeah! protein drink (110 kcals, 16g protein, 1.5g carbs, 4.5g fat) and 3 pecan halves (30 kcals, 0.4g protein, 0.2g net carbs, 3g fat)
• 3 slices Hormel Natural deli turkey (50 kcals, 10g protein, 1g net carbs, 1g fat) and 1 hard-boiled egg (70 kcals, 6g protein, 0g carbs, 4.5g fat), 1 bag Kay's Naturals honey almond cereal (100 kcals, 9g protein, 12g net carbs, 1.5g fat), and 4 pecan halves (40 kcals, 0.4g protein, 0.3g net carbs, 4g fat) - Today, you can just call me BOTTOMLESS POUCH. All this food made me hurt a little, but at least it kept me full for several hours :-(
• 3 oz. pork tenderloin with a sweet mustard vinaigrette over a cup of salad greens (160 kcals, 24g protein, 3g net carbs, 4.1g fat)
• 3 Bariatric Advantage calcium lozenges (9 kcals, 2g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 2 Celebrate orange multivitamins (10 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 pouches of sugar-free drink mix (30 kcals, 7.5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Bariatric Advantage chocolate calcium chew (15 kcals, 4g net carbs)

Total:
791 kcals
98.4g protein
49.8% kcals from protein
39.5g net carbs
20.0% kcals from net carbs
23.6g fat
26.9% kcals from fat.

What I Ate: 12/10/2009

It's been a really aggravating day. I'll just say I've learned why combining business and "friendship" or support isn't the best idea. I'm thinking that not being so into online support communities is probably a positive change; maybe I'll be more focused at work.

• Believe Chai Tea protein drink (120 kcals, 20g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 slices Hormel Natural deli turkey (50 kcals, 10g protein, 1g net carbs, 1g fat) and 1 hard-boiled egg (70 kcals, 6g protein, 0g carbs, 4.5g fat)
• 1 serving cheesy cauliflower TVP bake - I had kind of a taste aversion to this because I had my gallbladder attack the evening after I had this, but it's very tasty! (75 kcals, 9.4g protein, 3.8g net carbs, 2g fat)
• 1 scoop Isopure dutch chocolate with iced decaf (the new Starbucks decaf VIA!), SF chocolate and hazelnut syrup, Truvia, and 1 tsp. Hershey's unsweetened cocoa (121 kcals, 25g protein, 6g net carbs, 1g fat)
• 3 oz. eye of round steak (143 kcals, 24.6g protein, 0g carbs, 4.2g fat) seasoned with 2 tbsp. crushed tomatoes (10 kcals, 2g net carbs), 1/4 cup onions (16 kcals, 0.5g protein, 3g net carbs, 0g fat), thyme, a little garlic, sweetening syrup, red wine vinegar - Total - (about 175 kcals, 25.1g protein, 5g net carbs, 4.2g fat)
• 1/3 cup Fage (40 kcals, 6.6g protein, 3g net carbs, 0g fat) with 1 scoop Inspire ice cream sandwich protein powder mixed in (126 kcals, 30g protein, 2g carbs, 0g fat) and various SF syrups (166 kcals, 36.6g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 Bariatric Advantage calcium lozenges (9 kcals, 2g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 2 Celebrate orange multivitamins (10 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Celebrate grape iron + c (5 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 pouches of sugar-free drink mix (30 kcals, 7.5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 2 Bariatric Advantage chocolate calcium chews (30 kcals, 8g net carbs)

Total:
861 kcals
132.1g protein
61.4% kcals from protein
45.3g net carbs
21.0% kcals from net carbs
12.7g fat
13.3% kcals from fat.

Weight Update, or "Welcome to One-derland!"

Just a quick update on my weight! For about a week now, I've been weighing in below 200 (!) This is strange, very strange. The lowest I've gotten is 196.5. If I think optimistically and consider 196.5 my current weight, that's a loss of 141.5 pounds from my highest measured weight of 338 in 2002 and 107.5 from my pre-surgery weight of 304. Not bad for just under eight months, though I know some lose faster.

Wow. This surgery is a whirlwind. I think the last time I weighed below 200 pounds, I was in 5th or 6th grade! I've been celebrating by shopping without buying much. Fortunately, I don't feel ashamed trying lots of stuff on and putting it all back. However, I did buy a very cute shirt at Ann Taylor LOFT (!) this weekend that I'm going to wear in my upcoming "One-derland" professional photos. It's a size Medium. Again - insanity!!!!! (I'm still in plus sizes on the bottom. Don't let my disproportionately small top half fool you.)

I've decided that my final weight goal will be 154, the weight at which I would have a normal body mass index ("BMI"). I may stall out higher than that; I may shoot for lower than that once I get there, but that's my goal for now.

My next mini-goal on the scale is 188, the weight at which my BMI will move from "obese" to "overweight." May not seem like anything exciting to you, but we formerly morbidly obese people relish these minor thrills. :-)

What I Ate: 12/9/2009

• Believe Mocha Latte protein drink (120 kcals, 20g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 container Rachel's Cottage Cheese, red pepper flavor. Very yummy, but I was really hungry 2 hours later (120 kcals, 14g protein, 6g net carbs, 2g fat)
• 3 slices Hormel Natural deli turkey (50 kcals, 10g protein, 1g net carbs, 1g fat) and 1 hard-boiled egg (70 kcals, 6g protein, 0g carbs, 4.5g fat)
• 5 pecans (49 kcals, 0.6g protein, 0.3g net carbs, 5.1g fat)
• 1 scoop Isopure dutch chocolate protein powder in a Starbucks tall iced decaf americano (115 kcals, 25g protein, 2g carbs, 0.5g fat)
• 2.3 oz. curry-crusted and garlic stuffed eye of round steak (130 kcals, 18.8g protein, 2g net carbs, 3.2g fat) with 1/3 cup brussel sprouts (20 kcals, 1g protein, 1.8g net carbs, 0g fat) cooked with 2 tbsp. chopped onion (10 kcals, 0.2g protein, 1.4g net carbs, 0g fat), 1 strip Jennie-O lean turkey bacon (20 kcals, 3g protein, 0g carbs, 0.5g fat), and various seasonings including garlic, apple cider vinegar, thyme, DaVinci sweetening syrup, and Worcestershire sauce (adding about 10 kcals and 2 net carbs for that stuff) - I overate argh!!!! Total - (190 kcals, 23g protein, 7.2g net carbs, 3.7g fat)
• My LAST Calcet calcium citrate lemon creamy bite (40 kcals, 6g net carbs, 1.5g fat) - I guess I need to make an irate call to BE tomorrow to find out where my order is. I already called two days ago and they said the order would be shipped that day, but I still haven't received an email to that effect. I placed the order on December 1! I'm running low on all of my calcium and have 3 more Believe protein drinks left . . . :-( I usually get my orders quickly so this time is disappointing.
• 3 Bariatric Advantage calcium lozenges (12 kcals, 3g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 2 Celebrate orange multivitamins (10 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Celebrate grape iron + c (5 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 pouches of sugar-free drink mix (30 kcals, 7.5g net carbs, 0g fat)

Total:
811 kcals
98.6g protein
48.6% kcals from protein
40g net carbs
19.7% kcals from net carbs
18.3g fat
20.3% kcals from fat

I finally got myself to the gym again - woot! About 55 minutes on the elliptical. I had a crummy day, but it started off well with the workout.

What I Ate: 12/8/2009

I was in a weird state of mind today where all I wanted to do was eat. I think it was out of boredom. I need to get myself together, big time!

• "English muffin" sandwich: I took my leftover slice of flaxseed muffin from Sunday's French toast, sliced it in half again (55 kcals, 4g protein, 0.5g net carb, 3g fat) and made a sandwich that had 2 slices of Hormel Natural deli turkey (34 kcals, 6.6g protein, 1g net carbs, 0.5g fat) and 1 slice Kraft fat-free Swiss cheese (25 kcals, 4g protein, 2g net carbs, 0g fat). Total - (114 kcals, 14.6g protein, 3.5g net carbs, 3.5g fat)
• 1 bag of Kay's Natural Honey Almond protein cereal (100 kcals, 9g protein, 12g net carbs, 1.5g fat)
• 1 mini Babybel Light cheese round (50 kcals, 6g protein, 0g carbs, 3g fat)
• Believe Chai Tea (120 kcals, 20g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 6 toasted pecan halves - couldn't resist eating them, but of course they made my pouch freak out. No more, no more. I have a hard time resisting nuts because they should be okay, you know? But I guess not really, since so many of their calories are from fat. Hope I don't wind up having another gallbladder attack tonight . . . (59 kcals, 0.8g protein, 0.4g net carbs, 6g fat)
• 3 oz. pork tenderloin with a couple pieces of onion that had cooked with the pork (155 kcals, 24g protein, 3g net carbs, 4.1g fat)
• 1/3 cup Fage (40 kcals, 6.6g protein, 3g net carbs, 0g fat) with 1 scoop Inspire peanut butter cookie protein powder mixed in (132 kcals, 25g protein, 1g carbs, 1g fat) and SF butter rum syrup. (172 kcals, 31.6g protein, 4g net carbs, 1g fat)
• 1 Calcet calcium citrate lemon creamy bite (40 kcals, 6g net carbs, 1.5g fat)
• 2 Bariatric Advantage calcium lozenges (8 kcals, 3g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 2 Celebrate orange multivitamins (10 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Celebrate grape iron + c (5 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 pouches of sugar-free drink mix (30 kcals, 7.5g net carbs, 0g fat)

Total:
863 kcals
106g protein
49.1% kcals from protein
46.4g net carbs
21.5% kcals from net carbs
20.6g fat
21.5% kcals from fat

Today's activity was another morning of Leslie Sansone and pilates stretches.

What I Ate: 12/7/2009

• Believe Mocha Latte protein "frappucino" (120 kcals, 20g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• I had unexpected lunch plans at work, a goodbye lunch for the intern. It would have been nice for them to warn me, but we went to Miyo's so I did well anyway. I had about 9 small steamed shrimp (63 kcals, 12g protein, 0.5g carbs, 1g fat) and about 1.5 ounces of steamed chicken (60 kcals, 12g protein, 0.5g carbs, 1g fat). After I ate the protein, I had 3 broccoli florets, a couple snowpeas, 1 sliver of carrot, and 3-4 mushroom pieces (altogether I'm estimating 35 kcals, 2g protein, 3g net carbs, 0g fat). Total - (158 kcals, 26g protein, 4g net carbs, 2g fat)
• 1 bag Revival Soy barbecue protein chips (105 kcals, 7g protein, 13g net carbs, 3g fat) - last bag, hooray! I love these but think I'll hold off on buying more till I'm closer to goal. Very carby.
• 3 oz. pork tenderloin that I roasted last night (140 kcals, 24g protein, 1g net carbs, 4.1g fat) over a green leafy salad and a few pieces of onion (about 20 kcals, 0g protein, 3g net carbs, 0g fat). Total (160 kcals, 24g protein, 4g net carbs, 4.1g fat). This was SO good! The pork was juicy, flavorful, and tender.
• 1/3 cup Fage (40 kcals, 6.6g protein, 3g net carbs, 0g fat) with 1 scoop Inspire ice cream sandwich protein powder mixed in (126 kcals, 30g protein, 2g carbs, 0g fat) and SF Irish cream syrup. Last night I had the butter rum; that was good, but this is better! (166 kcals, 36.6g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 more ounce of pork (47 kcals, 8g protein, 1g net carbs, 1.4g fat)
• 1 Calcet calcium citrate lemon creamy bite (40 kcals, 6g net carbs, 1.5g fat)
• 3 Bariatric Advantage calcium lozenges (8 kcals, 3g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 2 Celebrate orange multivitamins (10 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Celebrate grape iron + c (5 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 pouches of sugar-free drink mix (30 kcals, 7.5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Bariatric Advantage chocolate calcium chew (15 kcals, 4g net carbs)

Total:
864 kcals
121.6g protein
56.3% kcals from protein
54.5g net carbs
25.2% kcals from net carbs
12g fat
12.5% kcals from fat

I did the Leslie Sansone 30-minute walk dvd this morning and also did some pilates moves to loosen my back, mostly.

What I Ate: 12/6/2009

• 1 slice Hormel Natural deli turkey with 1 slice Mt. Olive no-sugar-added sweet pickle (20 kcals, 3.3g protein, 1g carb, 0g fat)
• "French toast" and eggs! This was the perfect Sunday brunch item. I made another pumpkin flaxseed "muffin," sliced it into thirds, but served only two-thirds of it because my stomach capacity isn't large enough for the entire muffin plus the egg. (110 kcals, 8.5g protein, 1g net carb, 6g fat). I then griddled the two muffin pieces in a little nonstick spray. Instead of a whole egg, I griddled 1/4 cup of egg substitute. (30 kcals, 6g protein, 1g net carb, 0g fat). I served this with 2 tbsp. sugar-free Mrs. Butterworth's pancake syrup (10 kcals, 2g net carbs). This meal was terrific because it gave me the feeling of a decadent brunch while being very WLS-friendly. The flaxseed muffin alone means that this meal contains almost as much fat than I usually consume in an entire day, but it's all flax oil, which is rich in Omega-3 and other essential fatty acids. People even take flax oil supplements, so I'm cool with my fat grams being a touch higher for eating the real thing. Total - (150 kcals, 14.5g protein, 4g net carb, 6g fat)
• 1 Believe Italian Cappucino protein "frappucino" (120 kcals, 20g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 scoop Isopure dutch chocolate protein powder in a Starbucks grande iced decaf Americano with 1 tsp. Hershey's unsweetened cocoa and SF vanilla syrup (121 kcals, 25g protein, 6g net carbs, 1g fat)
• 2.5 oz. pork chop (137 kcals, 22g protein, 0g carbs, 4.8g fat) with 1/4 cup brussel sprouts (17 kcals, 1.4g protein, 1.6g net carbs, 0.2g fat) cooked with the juice of one lemon wedge and 1 tsp. minced garlic (5 kcals, 1g net carb), 1 strip Jennie-O extra lean turkey bacon (20 kcals, 3g protein, 0g carbs, 0.5g fat), and thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and DaVinci sweetening syrup. Total - (179 kcals, 26.4g protein, 2.6g net carbs, 5.5g fat). I nixed the onions today but added the lemon and garlic.
• 7 almonds. Unfortunately I found these in the bottom of my bag, left over from the last time I bought almonds. I wound up throwing about 7/8 of the bag away after they became really tempting, but when I saw these I thought, "Oh, it's just a few!" and then I ate them and, as usual, my tummy didn't enjoy them. This blog is all about accountability . . . (49 kcals, 2.1g protein, 1.4g net carbs, 4.2g fat)
• 1/3 cup Fage (40 kcals, 6.6g protein, 3g net carbs, 0g fat) with 1 scoop Inspire ice cream sandwich protein powder mixed in (126 kcals, 30g protein, 2g carbs, 0g fat) and various SF syrups (166 kcals, 36.6g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 4 Bariatric Advantage calcium lozenges (12 kcals, 3g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 2 Celebrate orange multivitamins (10 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Celebrate grape iron + c (5 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 pouches of sugar-free drink mix (30 kcals, 7.5g net carbs, 0g fat)

Total:
862 kcals
127.9g protein
59.4% kcals from protein
37.5g net carbs
17.4% kcals from net carbs
16.2g fat
16.9% kcals from fat

More fat than I probably should have had given my likely gallbladder issues, but oh well. As long as I don't have an attack tonight, I'm cool with this.

Anyway, I FINALLY did my 5-mile walk again today! I attempted the walk twice yesterday but was deterred by the icy cold wind. The sun was gorgeous this morning, so I went anyway despite the chilly wind. Unfortunately I was freezing with numb fingers and a runny nose by the time the walk was over, so I need to think of another weekend workout that will feel like a treat. Maybe I'll try a trainer?

What I Ate: 12/5/2009

• 1 medium granny smith apple. It's not good to eat fruit without protein post-WLS, especially in the losing phase, but I made this mistake and have to be accountable for it. (80 kcals, 0g protein, 17g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1/2 pumpkin shake that I made with a different protein this time: Lean Dessert fresh cinnamon roll. I hate this protein when it's just mixed with water, but I liked it when I tasted it pre-op. I think what bothers me about it is the thick, slimy consistency. I've heard that your tastes change frequently after surgery, so figured I'd give this protein another go. Apparently, my tastes are exactly the same as they were seven months ago. I liked the effect of the Lean Dessert on the thickness of the pumpkin shake; it was thick enough to eat with a spoon without having the slimy consistency. However, it still made me feel gross, so I only had about half of it. 1/2 Oh Yeah! vanilla creme (110 kcals, 16g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 1.5g fat), with 2 tbsp. canned pumpkin (10 kcals, 0.5g protein, 1g net carbs, 0g fat) and 1/2 scoop Lean Dessert fresh cinnamon roll (65 kcals, 20g protein, 6g net carbs, 1.5g fat). Total for what I drank - (93 kcals, 13.2g protein, 4.3g net carbs, 1.5g fat)
• I still needed more protein, so I made up for the Lean Dessert mistake by eating some deli slices - 3 slices Hormel Natural deli turkey (50 kcals, 10g protein, 1g carb, 1g fat)
• 1 Chik-Fil-A chargrilled chicken filet (110 kcals, 21g protein, 1g carbs, 1g fat)
• 1 Chai Tea Believe protein drink (120 kcals, 20g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 2.5 oz. pork chop (137 kcals, 22g protein, 0g carbs, 4.8g fat) with 1/4 cup brussel sprouts (17 kcals, 1.4g protein, 1.6g net carbs, 0.2g fat) cooked with 1/4 cup diced onions (16 kcals, 0.5g protein, 3g net carbs, 0g fat), 1 strip Jennie-O extra lean turkey bacon (20 kcals, 3g protein, 0g carbs, 0.5g fat), about 1/2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar (5 kcals, 1g net carb), and thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and DaVinci sweetening syrup. Total - (195 kcals, 26.9g protein, 5.6g net carbs, 5.5g fat)
• 1/3 cup Fage (40 kcals, 6.6g protein, 3g net carbs, 0g fat) with 1 scoop Inspire ice cream sandwich protein powder mixed in (126 kcals, 30g protein, 2g carbs, 0g fat) and various SF syrups (166 kcals, 36.6g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 4 Bariatric Advantage calcium lozenges (12 kcals, 3g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 2 Celebrate orange multivitamins (10 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Celebrate grape iron + c (5 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 pouches of sugar-free drink mix (30 kcals, 7.5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Bariatric Advantage chocolate calcium chew (15 kcals, 4g net carbs)

Total:
886 kcals
127.7g protein
57.7% kcals from protein
55.4g net carbs
25.0% kcals from net carbs
9g fat
9.1% kcals from fat

Lately, I've been really struggling to motivate myself to exercise. Today, I eventually got a little workout in with Leslie Sansone's "Walk Strong" 30-minute aerobics dvd.

What I Ate: 12/4/2009

• 3 slices Hormel Natural turkey (50 kcals, 10g protein, 1g carbs, 1g fat) with 1/4 cup Kraft fat-free shredded mozzarella to which I added black pepper, dried thyme, and dried oregano (45 kcals, 9g protein, 2g carbs, 0g fat) and 1/5 no-sugar-added sweet pickle slices (5 kcals, 0g protein, 1g net carbs, 0g fat) Total - (100 kcals, 19g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat)
• 1 bag Revival Soy jalapeno cheddar chips (110 kcals, 7g protein, 13g net carbs, 3g fat)
• 1 scoop Isopure dutch chocolate with iced decaf, SF vanilla and hazelnut syrup, Sweet & Low, and 1 tsp. Hershey's unsweetened cocoa (121 kcals, 25g protein, 6g net carbs, 1g fat)
• Believe Chai Tea Latte protein drink (120 kcals, 20g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• Fake Veal Parmesan: 2 oz. veal cutlet (80 kcals, 12.7g protein, 0g carbs, 2.8g fat) covered with 2 tbsp. makeshift tomato sauce made with low-sodium canned crushed tomatoes, 1/2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar, DaVinci sweetening syrup, and a pinch of cayenne (15 kcals, 0.5g protein, 3g net carbs, 0g fat) and 1/4 cup Kraft fat-free shredded mozzarella mixed with dried thyme, oregano, and black pepper (45 kcals, 9g protein, 2g carbs, 0g fat) total - (140 kcals, 22.2g protein, 5g carbs, 2.8g fat)
• 1/3 cup Fage (40 kcals, 6.6g protein, 3g net carbs, 0g fat) with 1 scoop Inspire ice cream sandwich protein powder mixed in (126 kcals, 30g protein, 2g carbs, 0g fat) and various SF syrups for flavor and texture (166 kcals, 36.6g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Calcet calcium citrate lemon creamy bite (40 kcals, 6g net carbs, 1.5g fat)
• 2 Bariatric Advantage calcium lozenges (8 kcals, 2g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 2 Celebrate orange multivitamins (10 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Celebrate grape iron + c (5 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 pouches of sugar-free drink mix (30 kcals, 7.5g net carbs, 0g fat)

Total:
850 kcals
129.8g protein
61.1% kcals from protein
53.5g net carbs
25.2% kcals from net carbs
9.3g fat
9.8% kcals from fat

What I Ate: 12/3/2009

• Believe Chai Tea Latte protein drink (120 kcals, 20g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 bag Revival Soy jalapeno cheddar protein chips (110 kcals, 7g protein, 13g net carbs, 3g fat)
• 1 Chik-Fil-A chargrilled chicken patty (110 kcals, 21g protein, 1g carbs, 1g fat)
• 1 scoop Isopure dutch chocolate with iced decaf, SF vanilla and hazelnut syrup, Truvia, and 1 tsp. Hershey's unsweetened cocoa (121 kcals, 25g protein, 6g net carbs, 1g fat)
• 3 oz. veal cutlet (95 kcals, 16.5g protein, 0g net carbs, 2.5g fat) stuffed and rolled with 2 tsp. mustard, 1 tbsp. fresh chopped parsley, and 2 tbsp. fat-free shredded mozzarella cheese (35 kcals, 4.5g protein, 2g carbs, 0g fat) and wrapped in 1 slice Jennie-O extra lean turkey bacon (20 kcals, 3g protein, 0g carbs, 0.5g fat). Total - (150 kcals, 24g protein, 2g net carbs, 3g fat). Even with all of that tasty manipulation, I didn't love the veal. It's really expensive to be so flavorless. I will give it one more try, probably tomorrow night, but then I'm going back to more standard meats. I suppose I'm getting what I deserve for eating VEAL!
• 1/4 cup Fage 0% (30 kcals, 5g protein, 2.3g net carbs, 0g fat) with 1 scoop Inspire chocolate peanut butter fudge protein (127 kcals, 26g protein, 3g net carbs, 1g fat) with 1 tbsp. Free Cool Whip (10 kcals, 0g protein, 2g carbs, 0g fat). Total - (167 kcals, 31g protein, 7.3g net carbs, 1g fat). As Rach would say, "Yumm-o!"
• 1 Calcet calcium citrate lemon creamy bite (40 kcals, 6g net carbs, 1.5g fat)
• 4 Bariatric Advantage calcium lozenges (12 kcals, 3g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 2 Celebrate orange multivitamins (10 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Celebrate grape iron + c (5 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 pouches of sugar-free drink mix (30 kcals, 7.5g net carbs, 0g fat)

Total:
875 kcals
128g protein
58.5% kcals from protein
52.8g net carbs
24.1% kcals from net carbs
10.5g fat
10.8% kcals from fat

What I Ate: 12/2/2009

• Believe Mocha Latte protein drink (120 kcals, 20g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• Turkey-pickle roll-ups: 3 slices Hormel Natural deli turkey (50 kcals, 10g protein, 1g net carbs, 1g fat) with 1.5 Mt. Olive no-sugar-added "bread and butter" pickle slices (about 5 kcals, 0g protein, 1g net carbs, 0g fat) and 1 slice Kraft fat-free Swiss cheese (25 kcals, 4g protein, 2g net carbs, 0g fat). Total - (80 kcals, 14g protein, 4g net carbs, 1g fat).
• 1 bag Revival Soy jalapeno cheddar protein chips (110 kcals, 7g protein, 13g net carbs, 3g fat)
• 1 scoop Isopure dutch chocolate with iced decaf, SF vanilla and hazelnut syrup, Sweet & Low, and 1 tsp. Hershey's unsweetened cocoa (121 kcals, 25g protein, 6g net carbs, 1g fat)
• 3 oz. veal cutlet with 1/8 oz. smoked sundried tomatoes, fresh parsley, garlic powder, pepper and cayenne, and a little soy sauce, oregano, and balsamic vinaigrette. This was pretty good, but I overcooked the thin cutlets unfortunately. (135 kcals, 19g protein, 3g net carbs, 4g fat)
• Tried something a little different with today's Fage. I want to cut out the stuff like whipped cream and pudding mix, at least when I'm not treating myself. I'd prefer my standard fare to have fewer empty calories/carbs. So my new mix for tonight was - 1/4 cup Fage 0% (30 kcals, 5g protein, 2.3g net carbs, 0g fat) and 1 scoop Inspire peanut butter cookie protein (132 kcals, 25g protein, 1g net carbs, 1g fat) with a little of various sugar-free syrups. Total - (162 kcals, 30g protein, 3.3g net carbs, 1g fat). My old mix was 1/2 cup Fage, 1/2 scoop protein powder, and 1 tbsp. sugar-free/fat-free pudding mix plus the sugar-free syrups. The main benefit is cutting out a lot of the lactose in the yogurt. The new mix is slightly smaller volume, but not oppressively so. I was satisfied with the portion size.
• 1 Calcet calcium citrate lemon creamy bite (40 kcals, 6g net carbs, 1.5g fat)
• 4 Bariatric Advantage calcium lozenges (12 kcals, 3g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 2 Celebrate orange multivitamins (10 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Celebrate grape iron + c (5 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 pouches of sugar-free drink mix (30 kcals, 7.5g net carbs, 0g fat)

Total:
825 kcals
115g protein
55.8% kcals from protein
52.8g net carbs
25.6% kcals from net carbs
11.5g fat
12.5% kcals from fat

I finally, after three days of not working out at all, went back to the gym today. However, I didn't go in the morning like I was supposed to. I forced myself to go for a little 35-minute elliptical ride after work at about 6:45 PM. Hopefully I will get myself together for tomorrow morning - I don't like working out at night! I just want to go home!

What I Ate: 12/1/2009

Since I probably have a gallbladder issue in which I need to be even more careful about fat intake, I'm going to try tracking fat grams in addition to calories, protein, and net carbs for the next few weeks. Tracking fat is probably unnecessary because my fat intake is generally low, but I see no harm in trying it for a while. If it gets overwhelming, I'll stop.

• Believe Italian Cappucino protein drink (120 kcals, 20g protein, 5g net carbs, 0g fat)
• Turkey-pickle "tacos": 3 slices Hormel Natural deli turkey (50 kcals, 10g protein, 1g net carbs, 1g fat) with 3 Mt. Olive no-sugar-added "bread and butter" pickle slices (about 10 kcals, 0g protein, 1g net carbs, 0g fat) and 1 slice Kraft fat-free Swiss cheese (25 kcals, 4g protein, 2g net carbs, 0g fat). Total - (85 kcals, 14g protein, 4g net carbs, 1g fat). The three slices of turkey made 3 "turkey tacos." I almost certainly should have only had two of these. I was really full after eating all three of them. I had the slight feeling of fullness that's supposed to be a signal to stop after two. I wanted to eat the whole serving for the protein. Next time I may adjust the stuffing so I'll get all the protein I want through two "tacos." (By the way, I call them "tacos" because I fold the meat in half and fill it with the cheese and pickle. They don't roll closed, so I call them "tacos" instead of "roll-ups." It's all head games.)
• 1 bag Revival Soy barbecue protein chips (105 kcals, 7g protein, 13g net carbs, 3g fat)
• 1 scoop Isopure dutch chocolate with iced decaf, SF vanilla and hazelnut syrup, Truvia, Sweet & Low, and 1 tsp. Hershey's unsweetened cocoa (121 kcals, 25g protein, 6g net carbs, 1g fat)
• Pumpkin pie shake - 1/2 vanilla creme Oh Yeah! protein drink (110 kcals, 16g protein, 1.5g net carbs, 1.5g fat), 2 tbsp. pumpkin puree (10 kcals, 0.5g protein, 1g net carbs, 0g fat), 1/2 scoop Elite Gourmet Vanilla protein (57 kcals, 12g protein, 1g net carbs, 0.8g fat), cinnamon, maple extract, and just a drop of sugar-free vanilla syrup (177 kcals, 28.5g protein, 3.5g net carbs, 2.3g fat). I spilled some of this! It was horrible! I think I lost about 1/6 of the shake, so (148 kcals, 23.7g protein, 3g net carbs, 2g fat)
• 2.5 oz. pork tenderloin with a sweet mustard glaze (147 kcals, 22.1g protein, 1g net carbs, 4.8g fat) and 1 slice Kraft fat-free Swiss cheese (25 kcals, 4g protein, 2g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Calcet calcium citrate lemon creamy bite (40 kcals, 6g net carbs, 1.5g fat)
• 2 Bariatric Advantage calcium lozenges (4 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 2 Celebrate orange multivitamins (10 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 1 Celebrate grape iron + c (5 kcals, 1g net carbs, 0g fat)
• 3 pouches of sugar-free drink mix (30 kcals, 7.5g net carbs, 0g fat)

Total:
840 kcals
115.8g protein
55.1% kcals from protein
50.5g net carbs
24.0% kcals from net carbs
13.3g fat
14.3% kcals from fat

I got new sneakers tonight after work, so back to the gym tomorrow morning! I seem to have permanently misplaced one of my old shoes. :-(

Weight Update: On the Cusp of Greatness

The title is perhaps an overstatement. I mean, I am on the cusp of greatness, but not for any reason related to my weight ;-) Anyway . . .

I've continued my general pattern of losing lots of weight for a few weeks, then stalling or losing very slowly for a few weeks. Yet, even though I'm in one of my slow-loss cycles, I'm still making progress. This morning, the scale said 200.1. That means I am just two-tenths of a pound away from "Onederland" (aka being under 200 pounds.)

Me being under 200 pounds will be nothing short of a miracle. Me??!!! I used to be 338, and probably was even more than that at my highest weight. I'm wearing shirts in sizes Medium and Large, and skirts in anything ranging from 14-20 (wide range due to flabby belly. Not that you needed to know about that, but hey, I'm keeping it real. Future plastic surgery is likely.)

This whole speedy weight loss thing is insane in the most positive way.

When I make it below 200, I'm getting professional photos made by a colleague from one of the WLS message boards. I obviously will need to get more photos made when I reach "goal," whatever that is, but getting under 200 will be such a milestone that I want to commemorate it.