Down 31.2!!!

I have lost 31.2 pounds now!!! This past week has been a struggle with the scale. I think because of my cycle this week, I lost .2, gained .4, lost .6, etc. It was really frustrating, since I was used to losing a pound a day. But, I think I have hit a plateau. However, I did experience a loss in inches this week. Several of the smaller clothes I bought right after the surgery which didn't fit yet, fit this week!! So, I am doing okay, even though my emotions have been a little out of whack.

It's been a while since I blogged, since this week was filled with report cards at school. I know everyone has been telling me that I need to update my blog, so it's nice to know how many people read it! :)

I have stepped up my exercise this week, and I went walking three times. I want to eventually work up to 5 days a week, but I feel good that I at least went those days. I think that the exercise is what's helping me lose weight more steadily again.

Food-wise, I did okay this week. I had a realization on Wednesday, that I was adding too many carbs into my diet that I didn't need to be eating. I had been having cream cheese which was light and I thought was okay because it was cheese. I checked my foods to eat list, and realized then that cream cheese was actually on the foods to avoid list. I had tolerated it really well, so I thought it was okay to continue eating it. But, I realized that it doesn't have a lot of protein, so basically the nutritional value isn't worth it. I had also bought some pita chips, which I had been having as a little crunch with some of my meals, but those probably aren't the best either, since they have more carbs. That has been the struggle I've had this week, and of course since I'm a worrier and a perfectionist, I started thinking that those things were the cause of me not losing as much weight. It may have been the cause, but I'll never really know, since I had other factors interfering too.

Since my meal at Ruby Tuesday last week, I have had Wendy's chili, and chicken and broccoli and shrimp and broccoli. With all three foods, I had many servings of each since I'm only eating a 1/4 cup at a time. Some of the times I ate the food it went down well, and other times I think I didn't chew well enough or ate too fast. I really am just looking for some variety in my foods, but I think I'm introducing some newer foods before I'm ready for them. My plan going forward is to rethink the foods I'm having this week, and go for foods that have less carbs and more protein. I'm going to try to stay away from "out to eat" foods, since I don't know exactly how they're prepared, and I can just try to make foods that I'm craving here at home, so I have more control of what's going into them. I have conferences this week, but I need to make time to cook food at home, even if I'm tired. The main problem I've been having is that since I feel "normal" again, and I'm not having any pain, I'm finding myself back in food situations that I had before surgery. Except then I realize, hello, my stomach holds 1/4 cup and I can't eat like I did before or I'll have problems.

I saw my endocrinologist at Duke this week, and it was a great visit! I love when you go to the doctor and they tell you they're proud of everything you're doing. I am now going completely off my blood pressure medicine. I had reduced my pills to only one a day post surgery, and since my blood pressure was 119/69 at the office, she decided to take me off it overall. I took my blood pressure last night and it was 106/59!!! That's the lowest it's been in a long time, and without the medicine, that makes it even better.

Well, after our busy weekend last week, today we're going to catch up on shows, I'll work on some orders, and just have a lazy Saturday. Have a great weekend, everyone!