Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Home, but hungry

So, we got back from Germany last night after one of those fun 19-hour traveling experiences. We arrived only about half an hour later than scheduled, in the early evening just in time to see the sun setting over the mountains. We picked up Montana from the kennel, had an ecstatic reunion with her, went home, and went to bed.

Say what you will about how nice and well-intentioned my in-laws are, and for the most part they are, but visiting them is certainly not a low-stress experience, especially for Torsten, who has to hear all the constant little niggling comments. The trip was fun, and necessary, and we had a very nice party in honor of our wedding on Saturday night, but oh, is it nice to be home. I am actually glad to be back, and working, and in our own space.

Also, I started my pre-surgery liquid diet yesterday. I took the advice of several of you and brought bouillon cubes on the plane, and thank god because otherwise I would have had nothing to eat. Not that hot water with bouillon REALLY qualifies as something to eat, but it holds you over a little bit, you know? When we got home I ate four little cups of sugar-free Jell-O and a popsicle. And that's pretty much the extent of what I'm allowed to eat from now until the surgery on Thursday.

I weighed myself last night because I was curious to see how much weight this liquid diet would cause me to lose, and I hadn't lost any at all. Then I started being annoyed, wondering how I could have possibly gained so much weight in Germany that not eating for a day would only bring me back down to my original weight, and feeling like I was going to be that one ridiculous person who didn't lose any weight on the liquid diet. But I was too tired to think about it, and went to bed.

This morning I weighed myself again and I had lost six pounds. So, there we are. I do not think I actually lost six pounds overnight. I think that my weight last night was skewed high because I had just drunk/eaten a ton of water, and I was retaining it because of the sodium in the bouillon and the flying and all that. But, I do feel better about the whole liquid diet thing. And I am curious to see how much more weight I'll lose over the next two days.

Also, I don't know if it's just because it's early morning or what, but while yesterday afternoon I was pretty much ready to eat my own arm (and starting my liquid diet on a day of being awake for 24 hours straight did not help out with that), today I hardly feel hungry. I assume that will change at some point. Also, I'm struggling to get it through my head that I will not be eating later, you know? Like oh I'll just have some broth now but then tonight there will be dinner. Except that dinner will be more broth. But maybe it's self-preservation that makes me keep forgetting that.

Also, I don't think we ever really adjusted to the time difference while we were in Germany. We went to bed at like 9 p.m. yesterday because we were exhausted from traveling, so I figured we'd wake up at 3 a.m., which would be 11 a.m. German time, but actually I didn't wake up (not counting the four times I had to pee--damn liquid diet) until my alarm went off after 7. So, perhaps that means we won't have to deal with jet lag anymore? We can only hope.

All right, I'm off to have a delicious breakfast of Jell-O and Crystal Light. This surgery had better be worth it.

18 comments:

  1. I'm doing a liquid diet for 3 months - I'm about 6 weeks into it and have lost 21 pounds. My first two weeks I lost 8 and 9 pounds! Are you doing Opti-Fast? When I want a "crunch" I freeze diet pop. And lots of gum. Icebreakers is 0 calories.

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  2. Hi! Welcome back! Forgive me for not knowing this, but can you drink protein shakes at all? Or like smoothies or anything? If you can, I found this protein powder, it's called Jay Robb (can get it at WF) and it is actually good. I can't believe it, but it's even tolerable just mixed with water. If you can't have that, I feel for ya sister. That is a hard road to travel. I know you can do it though and I'm excited to see what all of this brings for you!

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  3. I can see how a liquid diet could really make a girl visit the loo a lot. I don't know if I could persevere like you. Go you!

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  4. Welcome back! Chewing ice (albeit bad for your teeth) might help...?

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  5. Oh and P.S. I was thinking a fun way to pass the time while you aren't cooking dinner might be to make jello jigglers in fun shapes.

    Ok you can smack me now.

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  6. I need to remind myself of your liquid diet when Sweets and I start our new eating regimen today. We're going to get way better at portion control, which will surely mean moments of stomach growling ... though, that's can't be nearly as bad as an all-liquid diet. You'll get through this week with flying colors ... I just know it!

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  7. i probably don't even want to know the answer to this (ok, yes, i totally do, even if it's gross) but what would happen if you ate solids before the surgery? i'm guessing something very Not Good..!

    glad you're back at home. i definitely get how germany vacations are neither relaxing nor vacationy.

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  8. Airplanes always make me retain water, especially long flights like you took back from Germany. Sometimes if I take my shoes off on the plane my feet are so swollen when we get to our destination that I can hardly get them on my feet - so I can totally understand how you wouldn't lose any weight from a day of a liquid diet if you're spending that day on a plane.

    I hope your pre-surgery week goes well and hope your surgery goes even better!

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  9. I am glad you are home, somewhere that is stress-free.

    You have so much will-power. I would have hard time with the liquid diet thing. Good luck!

    Er, so we JUST DECIDED to come down on WEDNESDAY for a Rockies game (A.'s cousin plays for the Astros and they are in town). I know it is the night before your surgery and all, but maybe we can meet up? If not, no biggie - I will just plan to see you in a week or two - post-surgery!

    Thinking of you!

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  10. welcome home! i did a liquid cleanse/diet sorta thing a few months ago, and lost a whole 2 lbs. I was so pissed.
    I'm going to try it again next week, and drink more water. Sigh. Why do we do this stuff to ourselves? :)
    I wish you GOOD LUCK Thursday. Am so happy for you!

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  11. So crazy that this is happening so soon!

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  12. welcome back and good luck with the liquid diet!

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  13. Every time I don't get a good sleep at night I tend to eat like crap the next day. I am AMAZED that you are able to stay on your liquid diet- you have got some motivation girl! :-)

    And the surgery WILL be worth it.

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  14. Ah, it's so so soon! Good luck, both with the liquid diet and the surgery! You have a lot of people pulling for you.

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  15. Sticking to a liquid diet sounds really tough! Good luck and welcome home :)

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  16. So today I went with my Mom to see her doctor and nutritionist and she's lost 64 pounds from the same surgery you're having. I remember when she did the liquid diet that we did stuff as a family that didn't revolove around food. We played mini golf and went to movies and tried to keep her busy and distracted. You can do it and I just know this will be worth it. You are definitely worth it.

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  17. I really couldn't read this post without food in front of me. Sorry, I know that doesn't help, but the words "liquid diet" send chills down my spine.

    It will all be worth it for you, I KNOW it!

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