Life around California

Hey Everyone!

Sorry for the late post and mild gap. I went to Colorado for a quick visit to come back and learn I needed Iron Infusions. When the doctor tells you that you are pale white and you have a saturation of 4% when it should be 50% it means business.  With every pregnancy, every surgery comes all the year later journeys and experiences. This was a first for me. During my pregnancy with A. I never required infusions, however with B it seems my body is just giving up at times when I need it to stay strong. So I experienced 3 weeks of iron infusions and boy was that fun. Here is how they go for anyone curious about an Iron infusion during pregnancy or after Gastric Bypass. 

You arrive, they verify your info. Take you to a room, you get comfy and then they medicate you. I got tylenol and benadryl. The benadryl is suppose to help with any reaction you may have. You get told there is a medication similar to an epi-pen in the med room should you have a reaction, which is extremely extremely rare. Then the fun begins, you get an IV. then you get temps, vitals etc taken every 15 minutes for the 2-4 hours your infusion goes. Expect lots of beeping and no alone time, haha. After all this is done, they start the infusion, it takes a 15 minute monitoring constantly to ensure proper flow, no reactions etc. All I can say from this journey is ask for an extra blanket because you will get chilly and prepare to be sleepy and dose between vital checks from the benadryl! But it is pain free, and actually I have been free from eating ice for several weeks, I noticed a change within 1 week and got my energy back. I was however recently told by my OB not to consider any further children without infusions prior to pregnancy and during. But that is okay with us as we are done with children! 

Life has been hetic in our household otherwise, A is attempting to potty train, learning new words and getting into all the trouble in the world. This child has attitude like crazy. I always wonder why she has such a huge meltdown but I think it has to do with her limited words and becoming frustrated that Mommy just doesnt understand. I am busy in school working hard on finishing Chemistry and A&P 2 so I can apply to RN programs finally. And of course the hubby is busy with Army work. 

Holidays are upon us and that also means B's arrival. My last check up indicated no contractions, no issues, and we did a blood draw for my CBC to see if my iron has improved since the infusions. I am only up 18lbs from my pre pregnancy weight and I go back next week for a membrane stripping and 38 week check up! I am eager to see what my newest little bundle of joy will look like and what personality she will have, but I am also dreading leaving A and childbirth and homework as my semester doesn't end till after she's here! Anyways, Thought I would take a moment of my night and share my infusion update news, and maybe help someone else who may be curious. Have a great week!

Xo

Krista

Post Pregnancy/Breast Feeding Plan

I wanted to take a moment and share my before and after baby diet. I tend to eat too many carbs during pregnancy to even want to admit it. So Here is what my typical diet will look like after the baby is born and I get back into my Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Roots!

Water: 64oz minimum! This is a must breastfeeding especially! Dehydration is one of the most common causes of loss in supply!

Breakfast: 
Oatmeal I add in butter (Ireland Grass fed) with a 1/4tsp of honey and cinnamon.
or a protein shake or smoothie with spinach
or Spinach, cheese omelet

Snack:
Almonds (Raw or Salted) and String Cheese

Lunch:
Veggie with hummus or plain
Cucumber sliced with cream cheese and lunch meat
or A Cheese and meat roll up and cottage cheese
or a mixed green Salad with hard boiled eggs and shredded cheese

Snack:
Protein Shake or Smoothie whatever extras I have from breakfast, If I didnt make one for breakfast, I will make whatever sounds good.

Dinner:
Chicken Baked or Grilled
Carb- Small amount for me of brown rice or quinoa
Spinach or mixed green salad
1/2 Avocado

Snack:
String cheese and Almonds
or Cottage cheese

If i want something sweet we do enjoy dark chocolate occasionally or dried cranberries :)


If we go out I often will order a chicken sandwich or if we go to a BBQ place I will get pulled pork and just not eat the bread. I use to love Texas Roadhouse Steak Salad with a Raspberry Vinaigrette but that is no where to be found out here yet :(.

I do follow this diet for my snacks currently but have been avoiding protein shakes and instead trying to eat my proteins. As well as I currently consume carbs like crazy.

If you have any questions feel free to ask! :)

Protein is your focus!!

Krista XO

26 Weeks and Counting! Pregnant WITH WLS

What a fun couple of weeks its been, with appointments for catching up for prenatal care that we needed done, to preparing for a trip to Colorado, to getting Jeremy taken care of for work. I sometimes feel as if I am busier as a stay at home mom and wife than as an employee to a large company. Don't get me wrong I am in no means complaining, but some days I feel as if I never stop!

We were able to get our anatomy scan done and A behaved so well alone with me since Jeremy was at work. It is in fact a second baby girl! We are excited and nervous all at the same time! And I am in my 2 weeks of doing my blood sugar finger pricks for my gestational diabetes, OH Boy!

As a gastric  bypass patient we are advocates for our own care. I have done enough research and know how I respond to increased amount of sugars in 1 sitting in a short period of time I would end up hospitalized. So rather than having to do the glucose orange drink I am doing 2 weeks of 4 finger pricks a day. Or another alternative some doctors chose to use is to pull your a1c1 every 3 months from the start of your pregnancy. Let's just say I hate needles and this process and its stressing me out. I am terrified of the results, I am worried for of course B's health as well as she could end up with Diabetes later in life I have them during pregnancy and a week before all this we finally agreed to revamp our diets and get onto a clean eating for after she comes making shopping quicker, and easier for either parent to do!

My 26 week appointment to learn gestational diabetes involved a nutrition course and sadly all that was recommended to me to eat and how much was recommended to eat would never and could never fit in my tummy. And the scale climbed to 190lbs. I often have this mental mind game and battle because of the scale climbing. So at 27 weeks I am 190lbs and that puts me at a total weight gain for the pregnancy so far as 11lbs. I am hoping to stay under 25lbs as I did with A but we will see. Two nights ago I began doing 10 squats a night, 10 pelvic tilts and now I've added in 30 minutes of walking a night tonight, well it actually ended up being 15 minutes because it was 102 degrees. But I went .69 miles.

What the next week entails in our home for us is preparing for Aspen and I to fly to Colorado to visit some friends, attend a memorial service for my best friends mom and to enjoy some time away from the house. By time I return I'll be 30 weeks. So between gathering plane toys for Aspen, planning meals and shopping trips for September, and making sure all is done around the house it has been crazy. I am ready for the break, but sadly I do start my last 2 pre-reqs for nursing school on August 31st so my break will still involve being a Mommy and doing homework for Chemistry and A&P 2. But I know all of this chaos is worth it in the end!

See you again soon!
Krista xo

Welcome!

Welcome to my Blog. Today is a day I have chosen to begin a blog to not only be accountable but to encourage and support others in their own journeys to weight loss. So I want to begin with a little about me so we can all relate and share and be on this journey together.

I am a 26 year old momma to a beautiful almost 1 year old girl. I have always battled with my weight loss and struggled to even conceive my daughter after weight loss.

Details of where I have came from:

In 2007 I hit 280 lbs and continued to grow till in 2010 when I was 302 lbs. In 2010 I decided it was time to take control of my life and I chose to go through many monitored diets and programs. All were failed attempts and I continued to grow. In February of 2011. I was approved for Gastric Bypass Surgery with a Surgery date of 4-11-11.
On the morning of my Surgery I was engaged to a man that told me I would die during the surgery and not improve my life, that I would always be fat. That morning I weighed in at 284 lbs.

Day of Surgery

I made it through my surgery, and survived the next several months of loosing the much needed weight. I found confidence in myself, and found out who I really was.

302 lbs to 284 lbs to 176 lbs

 I ended up going through a divorce. Partying way too much, Falling in love again and ending up pregnant with my daughter after months of fertility drugs. The fertility drugs caused me to gain weight and of course any prior fat girl then begins to battle the mentality of being fat again. 

40 Weeks Pregnant (25 lbs Gained) 210 lbs

Thankfully after the birth of my daughter I lost my weight quickly. I was up to 194 lbs on her date of pregnancy confirmation, got down to 180 lbs, went back up to 210 lbs on date of delivery, but to 194 lbs 2 weeks post delivery. I went through another failed relationship and ended engagement and knew it was time to make a change. I then began to work out, eat right and believe in myself again to where I am currently back to 178 lbs. 

178 lbs size 10

The purpose I have for this blog is that I want to become even more fit. I am not happy with my results thus far. I have a beautiful daughter, have went through 1 divorce, 1 failed engagement and I am currently preparing for a wedding to the man of my dreams. I want to be that fit momma that can chase her daughter, encourage eating habits that are healthy and most of all feel great and confident about myself. 

Disclosure: I am not compensated in any way for  any products you will find within my blogs.  I am writing of my own personal experience, opinions and reviews.