Okay, I joined Fitness Plus today *shriek* Here is the thing, because of my cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure I'm not supposed to get my heart rate up too high, but Fitness Plus is near the hospital down below Rehab. They have a heated pool and a gym with machines. Anyway, my internist sent over orders at my request and so I will be going there. I am starting out VERY SLOW compared to most people after weight-loss surgery, aiming for 3 days a week, and taking the most easy-going water aerobics. As I progress I hope to go more often, backed up by walks in my neighborhood and progressively more active water aerobics, treadmill and maybe even a little VERY LIGHT wrist and ankle weights (like about 3 pounds!) while I'm exercising. I'm excited because I feel sure it will help my sugar AND my weight loss. On Wednesday my sister-in-law, Linda, my good friend, Melvina and a friend of hers, Darlene, were all over there finding out about it. Darlene and Melvina joined right then. Tomorrow is orientation for Linda and me. She has a couple of degenerating disks in her back, but no heart problems. I've been here before doing good (at Fitness Plus, thatis) only to suffer a depression due to my bipolar and backslide on attendance. This time I'm determined to make good.

To celebrate on Wednesday Melvina, Linda and I went out to lunch at Red Lobster! HA! It's okay, though, I ate part of a salad, luncheon half-order of stuffed flounder (stuffed with shrimp) and part of a baked potato. Lots of protein and good carbs. In fact, here is what I've eaten today:

Breakfast: 1/2 cheese (low fat fresh Parmesan), red bell pepper, onion and mushroom (counts as 1 vegetable) cheese omelet (1-1/2 egg) (10 grams protein). I make a really good omelet.

Lunch: Grilled Swordfish (1/2), carrot-squash-broccoli, steamed, salad with tomato and cucumber (22 grams protein) and counts as 2 vegetables

Snack: Soy Protein Chips (7 grams protein)

Supper: low carb, high protein Special K (1/2 cup), whole grain Cheerios (1/4 cup), 1/4 c. blueberries (10 grams protein)

That's a lot of carbs, but they are good carbs and I needed a fruit

Snack: 2 Sugar Free Popsicle Lifesavers popsicles

Later tonight snack: 1/8 c. tuna with celery, red bell pepper, cucumber (more vegetable) & Lite mayo (about 10 grams protein) and 3 protein crisps (another 7 grams)

I really should have gotten in another fruit serving and maybe one more vegetable, and I usually get more protein in, but some days are better than others. It's harder when I run around town on errands to get everything in, especially my fluids, even though I take water and Crystal Light everywhere. As you can see I'm not starving. I must get in a MINIMUM of 60 grams lean protein a day--more is better--and 48 oz. of fluid a day. I have a problem getting in all the fluid most days, but I'm working on it. It's hard because I have to stop drinking 30 minutes before each meal or snack and 30 minutes after the meal or snack. Since I'm SUPPOSED to have 3 meals and 3 snacks a day that adds up to 6 hours I can't drink and another 6 or 7 when I sleep. I can only sip, can't chug-a-lug, so it's tricky. I do much better with the protein when I have one of my peanut-butter banana protein drinks in the morning, that gives me 50 grams of protein right there. Every day I take Stress-Tabs A to Zinc, mega-doses of biotin (my hair has gotten thinner but that's for another post), Calcium Citronate, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Flaxseed Oil, also B-12 complex twice a week.

And tomorrow my orientation appointment is at 11, can't eat right before exercising and I'm scheduled to go out to dinner and movies with friends at 5 pm. So I'll have to get my protein drink in for breakfast somehow and maybe get in a light snack when I get home (which should be about 1:30). I don't want to eat a bigger lunch than that when I'm going to be eating as early as 5 pm.

Everyone said I wouldn't care about eating after surgery, but that's just not true. I just have learned already to love different foods. I love my protein shakes, been eating a LOT of fish, especially salmon, tilapia and tuna, as well as chicken and seafood. (Can't eat beef or pork until next month when it will be 6 months since surgery).

My goal is to have my diabetes bite the dust and to lose 48 more pounds before I see about plastic surgery (a panniculectomy). My final overall weight loss goal will be a total of 150-155 pounds lost).

The photo above was taken 2 days ago. If you want to check out further "how far I've come" on this weight-loss surgery journey, go to http://obesityhelp.com/member/lorelei_1/