It's official. I am a cheap date. I can't drink beer and the quiche/ salad combo I had at Tango's Coffee Bistro (in beautiful downtown Stratford) lasted three meals. My wife says I am now officially a "cheap date" (but I am NOT easy - not what Ruth says...)
Anyway, the waitress wondered if something was wrong as I delicately nibbled the "smaller half" of the quiche, I assured her all was fine and asked for a take-out box. This was after her ladyship polished off prime rib!
While I may have lost a lot of waistline, the looks I get at restaurants from waitresses indicate I have gained another two heads!
Oh well. The price we pay for looking sooooo good!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
The Big 4-0
No, I am not talking about age - I hit that one over a decade ago. (I know, I look much younger...right?)
The 4-0 to which I am referring is the number of pounds of fat cells that have permanently "left the building".
I thought I would have enough pants purchased "on the way up" to last me until the end of the school year. I am finding that I may need to get a couple as every one of my dress pants are greatly dependent on the belt doing its job.
Not that I am complaining...
The 4-0 to which I am referring is the number of pounds of fat cells that have permanently "left the building".
I thought I would have enough pants purchased "on the way up" to last me until the end of the school year. I am finding that I may need to get a couple as every one of my dress pants are greatly dependent on the belt doing its job.
Not that I am complaining...
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Successful Endoscopy
I am back from the land of Barix where the great wizard corrected my gizzard!
The intestine just past the stoma was down to 2mm (around 1/16th of an inch for you non-metric types). Dr. Schram used a balloon to inflate this area to 1.6 cm (or an inch). Fortunately he did not use a helium balloon so I do not sound like Alvin the Chipmunk.
On the way home I had a Tim Horton's Apple Juice and, a little later, a yogurt cup. They slid down like a fireman on a pole (ladies, try not to get too excited by that image...yes, I have seen those calendars...)
I may need to have a second endoscopy in a month as mine was so severe, but time will tell. In the meantime, I am to start "soft foods" as of 8pm tonight. Not a big deal, right? It is if you never even were successful with puree! By next Tuesday I am to start to introduce full foods. (I take my steak "medium".)
Advice to others having trouble keeping food down: CALL BARIX. This procedure is not a big deal to do, but a big deal in the results department.
I am off in search of real, yet soft, food (part of the "hunting and gathering instinct" from prehistoric times, I suppose...)
David
The intestine just past the stoma was down to 2mm (around 1/16th of an inch for you non-metric types). Dr. Schram used a balloon to inflate this area to 1.6 cm (or an inch). Fortunately he did not use a helium balloon so I do not sound like Alvin the Chipmunk.
On the way home I had a Tim Horton's Apple Juice and, a little later, a yogurt cup. They slid down like a fireman on a pole (ladies, try not to get too excited by that image...yes, I have seen those calendars...)
I may need to have a second endoscopy in a month as mine was so severe, but time will tell. In the meantime, I am to start "soft foods" as of 8pm tonight. Not a big deal, right? It is if you never even were successful with puree! By next Tuesday I am to start to introduce full foods. (I take my steak "medium".)
Advice to others having trouble keeping food down: CALL BARIX. This procedure is not a big deal to do, but a big deal in the results department.
I am off in search of real, yet soft, food (part of the "hunting and gathering instinct" from prehistoric times, I suppose...)
David
Monday, May 11, 2009
I'm Really "Scrambled" (Puns Included. Read at Own Risk)
This morning I returned to work which started at a breakfast meeting with a colleague before a weekly System Leader's Council at the Avon Maitland District School Board in beautiful downtown Seaforth, Ontario. (Population of about 3500 - half way between Stratford and Goderich - never mind...you can't get there from here anyway...) I ordered two scrambled eggs and was "full" after only eating a quarter of the plate - just half a scrambled egg. That's it. I am not "yolking". It was a "shell-of-a" small amount. I made it through the three hour meeting sipping on a half coffee. (The other half was non-identifiable - something close to "church" coffee, I think.) I made it three quarters of the way back to my school in Stratford before I had to pull "over-easy" to the side of a lovely country road and share my protein-rich breakfast with the gravel and weeds.
Yes, I still went to work. I am tired of being off and wanted to be back in the action. It was a good day - as long as I didn't try to eat anything.
Soooooo...I decided I better call Barix as I should be able to handle more food with less violation of the law of gravity. They want me back to Detroit tomorrow morning for an endoscopy - for real this time. (Last time I was too soon out of surgery - this will be exactly five weeks to the day.)
The staff at my school and my School Superintendent have been wonderful. I feel badly about all the uncertainty of my return. (Each time I try to come back, I end up being "off" again.) I am indeed fortunate to have such a great work environment.
I am confident that this will put an end to these downs and up-chucks.
(I did put a disclaimer about the humour in the subject line...you were warned...)
Yes, I still went to work. I am tired of being off and wanted to be back in the action. It was a good day - as long as I didn't try to eat anything.
Soooooo...I decided I better call Barix as I should be able to handle more food with less violation of the law of gravity. They want me back to Detroit tomorrow morning for an endoscopy - for real this time. (Last time I was too soon out of surgery - this will be exactly five weeks to the day.)
The staff at my school and my School Superintendent have been wonderful. I feel badly about all the uncertainty of my return. (Each time I try to come back, I end up being "off" again.) I am indeed fortunate to have such a great work environment.
I am confident that this will put an end to these downs and up-chucks.
(I did put a disclaimer about the humour in the subject line...you were warned...)
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mothers' Day
We just had most of my side of the "clan" down today. Most ate Chinese Food; I had a tiny bit of rice and a bit of pork (after researching nutrition labels on the web). Everything went down - a tad uncomfortable for a while, but tolerable. I am breaking new ground with "real" food now.
It is getting to be challenging doing my measurements. The middle and hip measurements are hard to find as my body shape is changing. I seem to be losing inches around the chest and neck - as well as the thighs. I am getting some slightly larger measurements around the middle, and the same at the hips. It is as though the remaining fat is gathering in one place for a farewell party.
Yet the real measurement has been yesterday's discovery that I can now fit comfortably into pants TWO sizes down. I have had to recall my smaller belt into active service and retire the belt from the evil "Big and Tall" store. (It did up, but just hung down at the front - looking rather deflated from no longer having purpose.)
I also have a number of new shirts from Christmas that just fit now. It is like Christmas in May as I discover new "dimensions".
After last week's hiccup (an unwelcome virus that deprived me of ny voice snd affected my abiity to keep my food down I am ready and raring to head back to school tomorrow. All systems are go.
It is getting to be challenging doing my measurements. The middle and hip measurements are hard to find as my body shape is changing. I seem to be losing inches around the chest and neck - as well as the thighs. I am getting some slightly larger measurements around the middle, and the same at the hips. It is as though the remaining fat is gathering in one place for a farewell party.
Yet the real measurement has been yesterday's discovery that I can now fit comfortably into pants TWO sizes down. I have had to recall my smaller belt into active service and retire the belt from the evil "Big and Tall" store. (It did up, but just hung down at the front - looking rather deflated from no longer having purpose.)
I also have a number of new shirts from Christmas that just fit now. It is like Christmas in May as I discover new "dimensions".
After last week's hiccup (an unwelcome virus that deprived me of ny voice snd affected my abiity to keep my food down I am ready and raring to head back to school tomorrow. All systems are go.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Week Three - Ruth and Her Measuring Tape
Ruth must have squeezed the measuring tape a little tighter - it took 2.75 fewer inches this week - once again the chest and abdomen, with an assist from the neck (now 16") I have lost 13" of circumference.
Ruth wants to see if something else is getting bigger (...biceps...clean your minds!).
Ruth wants to see if something else is getting bigger (...biceps...clean your minds!).
No Longer Violating the Law of Gravity...
After a couple of days of having food do a U-Turn and go back from whence it came, I am finally keeping fluids down. After a lovely 3 1/2 hour "cruise" down to Ypsilanti for a 30-minute appointment I am back and feeling much better.
It turns out I just have some temporary inflammation. (I would like to make some "inflammatory" remarks about the 7 hour drive vs the 30-minute appointment, but that would be whining, and "whine" isn't on my list of things I can have yet.)
I had to have nothing from midnight on in case they had to an endoscopy - to open up the intestine just after the "pouch". Getting fluids and protein back into my dissipating diaphragm has given me new energy.
Still, I am glad I went as I felt much more assured and was able to pick up some high protein supplements that are clear and not milk-based. You do need to dilute with water or you will grow hair where it has never grown before. Just trust me on that...
Now, where is my razor?
It turns out I just have some temporary inflammation. (I would like to make some "inflammatory" remarks about the 7 hour drive vs the 30-minute appointment, but that would be whining, and "whine" isn't on my list of things I can have yet.)
I had to have nothing from midnight on in case they had to an endoscopy - to open up the intestine just after the "pouch". Getting fluids and protein back into my dissipating diaphragm has given me new energy.
Still, I am glad I went as I felt much more assured and was able to pick up some high protein supplements that are clear and not milk-based. You do need to dilute with water or you will grow hair where it has never grown before. Just trust me on that...
Now, where is my razor?
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