Good BYE 2016

With only a couple of more days until 2017 I have to say 2016 was not too bad for me and my family.  We have so much to be thankful for.  My husband has his dream job of being a police officer, I have 3 beautiful girls that I love more than they will ever know.  I have a great job that I get to work from home,  I have a beautiful older home, I have food on our table and clothes on our back.  

I lost 61 lbs this year, I have got my health back, I am not a diabetic anymore.  I am doing better with my depression.  ( I think this is something I will struggle with the rest of my life).  I look back a year ago today and was heading down the wrong health path, I was 226 lbs, I was in a size 18-20,  I was always tired, I was taking so much medicine every single day, I was eating out 2 to 3 times a day, I was not ever exercising.  Now I can say I don’t take the medicine like I use to, I am down to 165 lbs.  I am in a size 10-12 I try to work out as much as I can even if it’s just my stationary bike, I get up early in the morning, most the time I get ready first thing in the morning, I am much happier, my marriage is so much better, I am still tired but I guess that is being a full time working mom.  I want to do more in life.  I want to be a better person, better wife, better mom.

Every year I write down all my goals for the new year, I have high hopes to do it all, to accomplish it all, but within the first 2 weeks, I FAIL!!!!!!  This new year I am going to write down all my realistic goals and DO THEM…. I am going to be blogging about everything!!! this blog is for me to be held accountable.  I know if I am held accountable I do so much better.  There is no better time than this new year to make it my year, the year for Shay.  I am going to be sharing all the good, the bad and the ugly,  I will share my mistakes, the things I accomplish, the things that I don’t accomplish.  I am going to do it.  I want to loose another 15 - 20 lbs and get my stomach skin a little tighter since it’s so loose ( I KNOW TMI) but that is what happens when you let your self get as big as I did.  I wanted to get a tummy tuck on 2017, but I have decided since I pay for a gym membership and don’t use it like I am suppose to, that I am going to start going to the Gym and start toning that way instead of instantly going for a straight tummy tuck,  I am going to write down all my measurements, share them with you, So I am held accountable EVERYTHING.

I am going to post all the food i put in my mouth, all the food I cook for my family.  I am going to post it all.  I want all my family and friends to know how much I love each one of you and for all your support and encouraging words you have given me.  I was to say good bye to 2016 and hello to an AWESOME AMAZING 2017. Are you ready to go on this long emotional roller coster with me?
Love you all so much!!!!!

A Couple of New Posts and Monday Weigh In

I promised myself I would Blog everyday and did that happen NOPE, it's hard to do it, but I want to make sure I do it to keep myself on track, here are some post from the past couple of days.

 Friday Post May 20th

I actually woke up early this morning and I have to tell you I feel really good.  I woke up at 6:40 to the puppy needing to go out.  The puppy slept through the night and so did my 2-year-old… I feel like a new woman.  I had to be at the Dr.’s at 8:15 to get my drain taken out, I was not going to shower until after my apt because it is a huge ordeal to take a simple shower with all the gauze under my arm and dealing with the drain that keeps getting in the way, but I decided I needed to look somewhat decent going to the Dr.’s.  I jumped in the shower, got my make up on and did my hair, got Ellie dressed and hair done (With the help of my older girls) and out the door by 8:05 am.  That is a record for me, if you know me I am late to everything, I will even be late for my own funeral.  My mom met me at the Dr’s office to help me with Ellie.  Dr came in and said everything looked great and I was able to get that ugly thing out of me.  I already feel so much better not having that drain attached to me.  I got home and had to start work.

For Breakfast I had a Protein Shake, they are so easy to drink on the way to the Dr’s.  I had half of the shake before I went to the Dr’s and then around 10:30ish when I got home I drank the other half. 

For Lunch I had ¼ cup of Tuna Fish, with 1 TBSP of Mircle Whip and of course you have to have a little bit of pickles in your tuna fish, I can’t do the Real Mayo, I have to cheat a little, I had one slice of Toast, The toast helps dissolves better in my stomach then a regular piece of toast. 

For Dinner we made Fajitas- The thing I love about Fajitas is they are so good without tortillas I don’t need the carbs eating them, I love the cooked Veggies and the yummy Chicken. 

Saturday May 21^st

I had a nail apt at 8:30 in the morning and a meeting after that for my church.  So of course I had my protein shake for breakfast again because I woke up late and did not have time to make me something but I will be honest with you, when I knew it was my nail apt I would make sure I would have plenty of time to get up, get ready and make a special trip to McDonalds and get my breakfast and Large Diet Coke and eat it and drink it on my way to my nail apt.  It feels so good not be tempted to go to the drive through 2 times a day.  After my nail apt I had to go to a Stake Primary Meeting, I am the Primary President in my church/ward.  It really was my first outing with my family there, with all the fresh fruit you can eat and all the Yummy Muffins you can eat.  I have not had any fresh fruit for 8 weeks so I decided maybe I will try a little, I really wanted some pineapple but I was a little worried about that so I stayed with the Watermelon and the Cantaloupe, I did take a mini muffin but only ate half of it before I knew I had to be done.  Everyone kept telling me to go back and get 2^nd but I knew my limit.  It’s hard when people don’t know what you have been through to keep pushing you to keep eating because there is so much food,  I had to nicely decline more food.  At the end of my meeting they handed out some homemade small round chocolate balls and I thought I will just eat one.  I ate it on my way back home and about 15-20 seconds after it hit my stomach I thought I was going to puke and die, Luckily I only lived 3 min from the lady’s house where the meeting was, I came home and had to lay down for about 20 mins, it was so not worth it.

After I felt better we ran to Idaho Falls to get some things, Everyone was starving and we stopped and got Tacos, I got a small Hard Shell Taco and ate most of it, I think there was only a few bites left, it was the first time I had a full Taco in a long time, I usually just eat the meat and the cheese when we make them.

For Dinner I made the Meatball Spaghetti Cast Iron Bake, it was really good, I had a meatball and one small spoon full of Spaghetti. I made sure I had my protein first before I ate the Spaghetti.  Normally I eat a whole plate full of plain spaghetti noodles, I love them and just a small spoon full satisfied me.  I will put the recipe on my blog because it was such a hit for my family.  It’s not the healthiest food but it was sure yummy. 

Sunday May 22^nd 2016

We got up a little late for Church so again I had a protein shake, my kids asked me if I ever get sick of them and the answer is yes but the convenience of them is the best for a buys full time working mom of 3.  I drank a little on our way to church and then during Primary I was able to drink the rest of it throughout the rest of church.

For Lunch we had Grilled Turkey and Cheese Sandwiches, I was able to eat one half of the sandwich and a couple of bites on the other half.  I was so full it made me so tired so I took a long Sunday nap.  I love them, they are the best

We go to dinner almost every Sunday to my parents and my brother and sister and their family come.  We made Hawaiian Hay Stacks.  I ate about 6 bites of dinner and was so full.    I love them because you can fill it up with fresh veggies and some good protein in it.  I only had one small scoop of Rice but was not able to eat it all

Monday May 23^rd 2016

Nothing to exciting happened today, just the normal busy crazy Monday’s.  Work was crazy busy, I forgot to eat breakfast, so I grabbed some cheese and some nuts and ate a snack at 10:30.  That has not happened to me in a long time, I don't know how I forgot breakfast

I finally did my actual weigh in and I am down to 186.4 lbs.  From the start of this Journey I am down 34.4 lbs.  Which I am beyond Excited about

I am embarrassed to even show these before and after pictures but this is where I am as of today. I still have a long way to go but I am very excited for the road I am heading down to have a healthy life

For Lunch Eric brought home a Jr Hamburger from Wendy’s I ate half of the hamburger and gave the rest to the girls when they got home from school.  We had to go grocery shopping I had no food in the house we went down to Winco to get food by the time we were done and I would get home and have dinner ready it was going to be 9:00 so we stopped at Café Rio and I got a Chicken Tostada, the crazy thing is before the surgery I was able to eat a whole big Salad and most of the yummy shell, I was able to eat about 7 bites and I was so full, I told Eric next time I am going to just share with him and have a couple of bites of his.  It was a waste of money and did not taste as good as I remembered, I have noticed since my surgery nothing tastes the same WHICH IS GOOD. There is nothing that I really crave fast food like I did before the surgery.   I don’t think I will be going back to Café Rio anytime soon.  We got home put all the grocery’s away and of course I had to watch the Bachelorette.  I know today I have made some really bad choices in eating out and this goes to show how crazy busy life is and if you don't have anything planned and in your house how easy it is to go right back to where you were.  I have planned Breakfast, lunches and dinners for the next 6 days so there are no excuses.

I want to again thank you all for the love and support you have given me.  I can't wait to see where I am in another 7 weeks.  Love you All!!!!

I am back and READY!!! and AWESOME IPhone and IPad App

I am BACK!!!!!! I know I have been MIA for a while and I have finally decided today that I need to get back on the band wagon and get my big girl pants back on and move forward.

I have had a couple of things happen to me these past couple of week make me question what I was doing was the right thing, I know it’s already too late for the surgery part, but somethings were said to me that made me really question who I am and what I am here for.  I am not perfect I have never been perfect but the one thing I know is I am here for a reason and I have gone through EVERYTHING for a reason.  I have made some bad choices for many years on how I handle stress, how I handle my depression, how I handle every day to day things.  This is me, this is how I thought I should handle things.  What I have learned these past 7 weeks about myself after having surgery is I am a strong, hard headed, but a very determined woman. 

I finally got back on the scales and I am down 33.6 lbs which I am happy with.  I thought the weight was going to fall off me, I thought I was just going to go to sleep and wake up every morning and loose weight.  For the most part that has been the case just not as much as I thought.  For as little as I eat I was surprised that it was not coming off faster. It just goes to show that this is just a Tool, not a fix it all.  

I have had to go through my closet and get rid of 2 big garbage bags of clothes, a lot of my pants won’t stay up on my hips.  I love when I go through my closet put it on and look in the mirror and it looks too big and makes me look frumpy and have to find something else to wear.  

I have learned the hard way it’s not always the number on the scales it is how you fit in clothes.  I have some pants that I could not even get up over my hips 8 weeks ago and now I can get them on and button them up but they are very very tight and very uncomfortable.  That is a new goal I have set for myself is to be able to wear them comfortably by the end of the first week of June. I know I can do it.

We have been walking so much as a family, I think I have walked more in the last 5 weeks then I have in the last 10 years.  A good friend of ours had a yard sale a couple of weeks ago and scored the best indoor bike.  We got a Marcy Club Revolution Cycle Trainer.  That has become my best friend, I will ride it when I have a few min of down time from work, or before I start work I will ride it 20 min or ride it after my kids go to bed, sometimes I catch myself riding it 2-3 times a day.  One thing I never thought of is my BUTT!!! My butt hurts so bad from riding it.  It has been a great workout for me. I want to get weight band and start doing weight bands while I ride the bike.  I YOU-TUBED a couple of spinning classes, hummmm yeah they kicked my butt, could not do it all, but I will soon.

Starting Tomorrow I am going to start Blogging all my food intake to keep me on track, I cheated today and had 4 vanilla wafer cookies, did they make me feel better?  NOPE, matter in fact my stomach hurt a little more than normal.

Last Thursday I have had a minor setback, just when I was finally feeling better I had to have a lump under my left armpit removed and I have had to be careful with my whole left arm.  I have a drain on my left side hopefully it will come out tomorrow morning. I go see my surgeon tomorrow and praying hard he will take it out.  I feel like I have had to take a couple of steps back on my exercising because of this lovely tube, plus being on pain medicine and feeling like garbage.  Hopefully I get the green light that I am good to go tomorrow morning!

For Mother’s Day my amazing Husband bought me an IPad Pro and I LOVE IT. I am trying to get my life organized, I have learned the more I am organized the easier everything is for me. It all works out. Working 8-10 hours a day with 3 kids, 2 in softball and a crazy busy 2-year-old, husband who works 2 jobs and is never home, a new puppy and yes I said a new Puppy… husband got an early father’s day present.  Was not my first choice getting a new puppy but we feel in love with him as soon as we saw him.  Meet Jax Olsen, 

he is 8 weeks old.  We love him but not at 4:00 am pee breaks. 

 Okay back to my awesome apps I found on my IPad. 

I love to cook, and I love to find new recipes all the time.  I print them off and then put them somewhere and then can never find them again.  This app lets you put in all the recipes you have and also if you find them on line then you can save the online recipes.  You can categorize all your recipes how you want. There is another section that allows you to add the recipes to your menu board and then you can add it all to a grocery list.  All in one app you have your Recipes at your finger tip and neatly organized, you have a weekly menu and you also have your grocery list.  I love that I can have it on my IPhone and on my IPad.  When I go to the grocery store all I need is my IPad or IPhone, no more writing your grocery list on a piece of paper and losing it or forgetting what you wrote down what you were going to have for dinner.  I have a new love.  Paprika App you’re a life saver. 

*** THIS IS THE MAIN SCREEN ON ALL MY RECIPES THAT I HAVE CREATED SO FAR***

*** THIS IS THE MENU SECTION, IT SHOWS WHAT YOU HAVE SELECTED FOR THAT DAY***

*** THIS IS THE GROCERY LIST SECTION***

*** THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN GO ON THE WEB AND FIND RECEIPES, THERE ARE 100'S OF 

WEBSITES ALREADY ON SAVED YOU CAN CHOOSE*** THIS IS NOT THE BEST RECIPE TO HAVE IN MY RECIPE BOX BUT I AM GOING TO TRY TO BAKE IT INSTEAD OF FRYING THE CHICKEN

*** ONCE YOU PULL IT UP FROM THE WEBSITE, YOU HIT CREATE RECIPE***

*** YOU HAVE TO SAVE THE RECIPE ONCE IT PULLS IT UP***

***THIS IS HOW IT LOOKS ONCE IT IS SAVED***

*** ONCE IT HAS BEEN CREATED AND SAVED IT WILL SHOW UP IN YOUR LIST OF RECIPES***

I am so happy to say I am back, I am moving forward, no matter what someone say’s or thinks, is going to put my down, make me question who I am, why I have chosen what I have chosen in my life. I am going to do what I said from the beginning of this blog, is I am going to post my daily life on my struggles, my good days, and my bad days.  I want to thank everyone for all your support you have given me so far on this crazy journey I have felt so loved by so many people. 

Extremely rough week

I don’t even know where to begin this blog post.  This last week has been so much harder than I ever imagined.  I have had some major ups and downs. I think I felt every emotion possible this week, I have been scared, sad, depressed, & pissed off.  I finally have decided to blog about it, I stated earlier this is blog is for the good, bad and the ugly days.This is the everyday struggles of weight loss after the Stomach Sleeve Surgery.

On Thursday April 21^st I was able to start my Phase 2 of Solid Foods.  I was so scared but so excited to start eating someone what normal food again.  Protein Shakes and Broth was just not cutting it for me anymore.  For Breakfast I still had a Protein Shake, in the morning it is crazy trying to get my two older girls off to school, and dealing with a crazy 2 year old and also getting ready for work- which half the time I am still in my PJ when I start work at 8:30 am.  That is one nice thing about working from home.  For Lunch I had /4 cup of Tuna Fish with 1 TBSP Mayo and some pickle juice to help it not be so sticky, I also had 1 piece of toast which tasted like Heaven!!!!!  My stomach for the most part did very well with the food, I only had a couple of pains but once it settled my stomach handled it.  I was excited to know that I could eat something without having too many issues.  For dinner my husband and I went on a date to the Grocery Store, we had to get all the food for my daughter 2^nd birthday Party, we went to a New Restaurant Black Bear Dinner and I got a small Ham and Cheese Omelet, I was only able to eat about 5 bites and I was done, it tasted to good but it is crazy the small amount of food I was able to eat.  Good thing is I can get at least 2 – 3 meals out of it.

On Friday we had to go to Utah and get our taxes done, My husband and I just had a Protein Shake for breakfast, which was strange because normally I am the one saying stop at McDonald's and let’s get Breakfast, it was so nice not to stop and eat that kind of food, it does not even tempt me anymore, I will be honest I would stop at McDonald's 3-4 times a week for Breakfast, I have not had McDonald's in over 4 weeks now. I don’t miss it at all.  We stopped at a Gas Station and normally I go for the junk food, or treats, this time I went and found a cheese slice and filled my water jug full of water,  Pop does not tempt me either anymore, which has been a huge thing to overcome for me.

On Saturday I woke up thinking I have not weighed in a couple of days so I got on the scales to see where I am at and it said I GAINED 3.5 lbs!!!!!!! how in the heck (that is not the words I choose to say) is that even possible, I don’t eat that much, I follow my diet to the “T” I have never cheated, I have not had junk food, Pop, Fast Food, Sugar.  I flipped out, I instantly went right back to the negative Shay, already said to myself, I failed I can’t even loose weight with Stomach Surgery, I was so mad and myself, I was scared, I was depressed.  Thankfully I have such an amazing Nurse at the Nicholson Clinic, she is only one email away.  I emailed her and told her what was going on and she told me to take DEEP BREATHS!!!!! This is normal, Stalls will happen as your body adjusts.  This can last anywhere from one week to three weeks.  Something I did not realize that she brought to my attention, is maybe the scales will Stall but you will notice measurements changing.  She said don’t use just the Scales as the only measure of progress use measurements also, write them down and do your measurements.   I finally took a deep breath and told my self your not going to fail, this is normal.  YOU CAN DO THIS…. I WILL NOT QUIT. A friend of mine on Facebook posted this yesterday and I needed to see this at that moment.

I decided on Monday I was not going to do a weigh in until I feel like I am ready, I don’t want to be discouraged anymore, I just need to stay focused on doing what I am supposed to be doing and following my Dr Directions and when I am ready I will get back on the Scales.  I think the worst thing I ever did was getting on them every day, but seeing them go down so fast it was such an amazing feeling.  I have to remember I am only into this 4 weeks and what I have already accomplished in 4 weeks is pretty amazing. 

On Tuesday I went to the Dr for a checkup since I had my surgery in Texas I could not go back to see the Dr. so I made an apt with my Family Dr here and I was explaining to him that I have not been on my diabetes medicine for 3.5 weeks, I can’t take my Metformin cause it eats my stomach alive.  Normally I have to take 2 500mg Metformin Twice a Day and 0.6 mg of Victozia injections once a day.  He looked at my weight loss and also my daily tests on my One Touch and he said we will just take you off your Metformin Meds.  I almost feel out of my chair.  I can’t believe I am this close of getting off all my diabetes meds.  I can handle one small injection a day right now. I forgot to test yesterday morning so I tested today and GUESS WHAT!!!!!!!  I am at 99!!!!!

That is pretty awesome, before my weight loss and taking 4 500 mg a day of Metformin I would wake up anywhere between 180-200.  I am so happy I screamed for joy!!! My daughter Ellie looked at me like what the heck mom.  I love this saying, “Today is a good day for a good day” and today will be a good day, I have changed my attitude and know that I am going to keep having rough days/weeks but I can do it and you will NEVER SEE ME QUIT.

-Shay L. Olsen-

Weekly Weigh In

This week has been a little tough for me knowing I am only down to less then a week and then I can transition into the soft foods.  I won't lie I am kind of scared.  I don't know how my stomach will feel, I don't know what I can and can't eat, some people stomach is not the same after surgery, the foods I could eat I may not be able to eat.  I am nervous that I will just go right back to my old self again, I am worried I am going to fail once I can start eating again.  I have had some ups and downs but I am keeping positive.  I have such great support from so many Friends and Family.

It was so nice to go friend’s house on Saturday and they are all saying how good I am looking, that they can tell that I have lost weight, I still look in the Mirror and think I am still so fat and so ugly.  I love my Friends and Family, they give me so much Support to get through this hard time. 

Today I got on the scales and I am down to 190.9 LBS.  Since Last Monday I have lost 5.1 LBS.  Since I started this crazy Journey I am down Exactly 30 lbs. It feel so good to lose 30 lbs but I keep getting down thinking it should come off faster, that is not a good mind set to have, as long as each day I do what I am supposed to do I know I will be successful. 

This is something you guys may not think it's that big of a deal but it is to me.  I am a short person I am 5'5" so I have to push my seat in the car way up so my short feet can reach the peddles.  Before my weight loss my stomach would almost hit the steering wheel,  I hated my stomach always touching the wheel, it would make me so sad cause even driving a car would remind me how fat I was.  I went to Church yesterday and I got in the car and I pushed my seat where I needed it and still had plenty of room to drive.  I was so happy to see my stomach does not hit the wheel anymore. 

-Shay L. Olsen-

The best Indoor Grill and Dropped 2 pants sizes

If you know me, you know I don’t like to cook that much, which is why I am where I am today. Okay, I guess I love to cook but I hate to clean up the mess.  To me it’s easier to run and get something and either leave the mess at the restaurant or just go through a drive through and get something to eat there and then throw away the wrappers.  BUT……. With this new tool, I am having to train my mind that it’s not the attitude I can have anymore.  Since I have been home from Texas I have made dinner every night. Most of it has been the things that I don’t like to eat but my husband and kids love it.  I am not a soup person but the chicken noodle soup I made was great, well I guess I should say the Broth was great.  I made Shepherd’s Pie (which I don’t like at all) I have made Free Lo’ Tealas ( I have no idea on how to spell it)  we ate once at a neighbor’s house growing up when my mom was  in the hospital really sick and ever since then my family loved it and then I made it for my husband when we were first married and he loved it and wanted it all the time.  I just sick of them and never really wanted to make them so this week we made them and my husband and kids thought they were so good and keep saying why don’t you make these more often.  I guess I can change a couple of things to make it fit our new life style in eating.

A friend of mine said she bought T-fal GC702 OptiGrill Stainless Steel, so I did my research and loved what I saw, sometimes I want to Grill but don’t want to fire up the grill or the smoker.  I got mine in the mail yesterday and thought I would try it out.  I had some frozen hamburgers from a while ago, I defrosted them just a little to be able to separate them put them on the grill frozen, Still trying to figure out the buttons, and how to work it but I got it to finally start cooking.  I was shocked on the amount of blood, fat that came out of the hamburgers.  It almost made me sick.  My family said they were some of the best hamburgers except some got over done OOPS!!!!!  It’s so nice to sit around the dinner table with my beautiful girls and my husband talk about their day, ask them how they are doing.  I asked the girls do you love that we are home eating now.  My oldest daughter said mom my stomach does not hurt any more like it use to when we would eat out all the time.  That made me sick to think I was putting my kids in pain because I was Lazy.  We decided after dinner if we all pitch in and help in the kitchen it just does not leave it on mom to do it.  We can get the kitchen cleaned in 10-15 min with Team Work.

I had to run to Walmart to get a couple of things and I walked past the smaller size clothes section Which I normally just walk past that section and always had to go to the Plus Size section, I decided to see stop and look at the shirts, NOTHING ever on that side would fit me but I looked and thought I would buy a couple of the shirts and take them home and try them on.  They were just t shirts.  GUESS WHAT!!!!! They fit….. I am so happy.  I also tried on a couple of pair of pants that I held on for about 5 years and I fit in them and could actually sit in them, I did not even have to lay down on my bed and push my stomach down to zip them up.  I have dropped two pants sizes already.  I am finally feeling this surgery was worth it.  We have been walking almost every night as a family.  I love my new life style, I am so beyond grateful for the second chance to get my life back in order and be the Mom, Wife and Friend that I am supposed to be.  I thank my Heavenly Father every day for the blessing he has given me, the strength to get through this and the will power.  I know because of him I am able to get through this hard trial I am going through.  

-Shay L. Olsen

 

Crazy Mind Games and Monday Weigh In

I did my Monday weigh in and DRUM ROLL PLEASE 196 lbs.  I am so happy.  It has not been easy but I know it’s all going to be worth it!!!!!

I never thought how hard it was going to be mentally.  I did not realize the mind games I was going to go through every second of every day I think about food, and it’s just not fast food, or foods that are not good for you.  I would love a nice cold bowl of Cottage Cheese with fresh slices of Tomatoes, I would love to have a nice garden salad, I would love a thing of string cheese.  I want food, I want to chew something.  Right now the Surgeon said I can’t chew gum because it can add air into my stomach.  I only can chew enough ice before it freezes my mouth.  It really is a big struggle for me.  I have when I cook dinner for my family and I can’t eat it with them.  I have been making food my husband and kids like but I don’t so it has not been that hard.  But at this point I would eat that too.  I told my sister and husband the other day I am ready to cut my toe nails and eat them (okay not really).  I have such an amazing nurse that is the best support and I emailed her yesterday telling her how I am feeling, and wondering if there is anything I could do different, well to come to find out I am not getting enough protein in.  I have to have at least 60 grams of Protein a day.  I am lucky to get 30 in a day.  Drinking Protein shakes are hard for me, I would rather just have water.  Since I have been trying to get more Protein I am doing better today, still not as good as I was hoping but I am doing better.  The only advice I can give you is listen to your doctor, listen to your body.  EAT ALL YOUR PROTEIN!!!! She suggested me to mark my calendar, I only have 10 days left, I can start eating soft foods on the 11th day :)  I have decided I am going to make me a chain that I can rip off a piece of paper each day. So I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  

I have been thinking how excited I am to start cooking for myself and family, I have several different cook books that I use but it’s always hard to remember which recipe is on what cook book, so I decided I was going to go through all my cook books and write down all the good recipes that I want to cook, there will be a lot of changes to them. HUGE mistake doing it when you can’t eat, but I am really excited to get all my recipes on binder.

I saw this quote that I needed to hear today.  “A bad attitude is like a flat tire, you won’t go anywhere until you change it.”  This struck hard for me.  It’s true I have had a bad attitude with working out, dieting, changing my life style, when you get comfortable one way, even though I knew it was the wrong way, I was not going anywhere, other in one foot in my grave.  I have finally change it and I am going somewhere now.  Not only for me, for my career and most importantly my FAMILY.  I want my husband and my girls to be proud of me, I want to be proud of myself.  I am ready to look in the mirror and say “Your beautiful, your worth it, you are a daughter of god who loves you”

I want to have my energy back, I want to be the mom I am supposed to be and most importantly I want to be the wife my husband deserves.  I am so excited to see what next week brings, I get so excited to think of my future.  I am getting happy, I am dealing with my depression better, I am dealing with everything better that is thrown my way.

-Shay L. Olsen

   

Less then 200 pounds BABY!!!!!

I never thought I would see what I saw on the scales today.  I am officially under 200lbs. Today I weigh 199.7 lbs.  When I saw the numbers on the scales I started crying, it has been years since I have been under 200 lbs.  Since March 12^th I am down 21 lbs.  Today I finally am thankful I did this surgery and that I am seeing results.  I am so grateful for such a loving caring husband who loves me no matter what but supports me in everything I do.  I am so grateful for my girl, they encourage me every day, they ask me all the time who I am doing, and they want to make sure I am doing well.  I am one very blessed women.

-Shay L. Olsen

1 Week After my Surgery and some amazing NEW things I bought

It’s been a little over a week since my Stomach Sleeve Surgery and I have to say it has been hard, really hard.  Something that I did not really realize is how bad it was going to affect my emotions. I am already an emotional person any ways then add on top of that having major surgery, not eating like you use to, and realizing there is no turning back.  In the past it the diet was too hard for me I would just give up.  This time, I have not choice, I have to press forward. 

Monday I decided I was going to by a running stroller, I am not a runner but someday I would hope to be one, but if I have a good fast walking stroller and was able to put my two year old in it I would have no excuses.  I make a lot of excuses why I don’t go to the gym.  I am to tired, I don’t have enough time, I work 8-10 hours a day at home, and then I have to clean the house (not all the time) and take care of my other girls.  Life gets in the way,  But if I had a good running/walking Stroller and if I had 15 min or more of free time with work, I can just put the baby in the stroller and go around the block.  So far since we got the Running Stroller we have walked every day!!! It’s been so nice to just put on my shoes and go walking in the neighborhood. We ended up getting a BOB sport Utility Stroller, it seriously is the best stroller, it is well built, amazing to walk with, not pushing so hard to get it to move.  I love it.  I have to say having such great stroller has made it so much easier to go out and walk and not have to push so hard on a stroller.

Tuesday was a little hard for me, reality set in.  My husband said we were going to go to a BBQ on Saturday and hang out with some friends.  Let’s just say I blew up.  I though how dare you agree to going to a BBQ, that is like putting a glass of beer in front of an alcoholic.  I was so upset at my husband who was only thinking I need to get Shay out of the house and we can hang out with friends.  After I explained myself to him on how unfair it would be while everyone else was going to eat the COMFORT food and the food I loved, I was going to sip on my broth or Protein Shake.  I told him we were not going and hung up.  Yes I was not a nice wife at that moment, but I was sore, sick, tired, and my head was messing with me and it was messing with my really bad.  Luckily I was able to overcome the War with Demons’ and ended the night on a positive note.

Thursday was a good day for me, but still it was tough but with a positive mind and know you are doing this for you it sure helps.  I decided since I bought such an amazing stroller I needed better shoes, I am the type of person that likes to buy cheap, never really had a good pair of running shoes,  My husband and I decided we were going to go to Idaho Falls to go to the running store.  We go to Idaho Falls all the time, something we always do when we go there is we eat out.  I was talking to my husband and I said why don’t we have dinner before we go to Idaho Falls and then we are not eating out and plus while I am having broth or a shake you guys are eating fast food.  It was amazing I had dinner ready and my family ate and then we ran to Idaho Falls.  Tetons Running has you run a tread mill and watch your feet and tells you what kind of shoes you need.  I was a little nervous running but luckily it was only for 10 seconds and I was able to run for a second and not have it hurt.  I ended up getting the Adidas Energy Boost shoes, oh my word….. Where have they been my whole life.  They feel like you are not wearing any shoes.  I love them and the best part is they were last year’s model so I got them 40% off.  They were normally 160.00 and I got them for $ 96.00.  This is a MUST if you are planning on walking/running for your exercise. 

While we were in Texas I got an Apple Watch, this also has been my best friend, I know how many steps I am taking I can keep track of my daily routine.  This morning we decided to go for a walk so I put it in the exercise mode and it asked how many calories I want to burn, it tracked my heart rate, how many min it took and how many miles. I know you’ll look at it and say wow she is a slow walker, but if you notice the time. I am usually still in bed, the fact I was up at 7:30 in the morning and wanting to walk at 8:00 is unbelievable for me.  Something I have noticed since my surgery I can’t sleep in any more, and I have no clue why but when I was not eating healthy or walking or drinking so much Soda I would have the hardest time waking up in the morning.  Once we were done with our walk we started working on our front yard, my husband pulled out a huge bush that we did not want any more and we are going to plant new flowers and give the front of my house a makeover,  It feels so nice to want to go and do things.  All I wanted to do for years is sleep in, watch TV and eat. 

I forgot all about last night, So a good friend of ours came over last night to help Eric pull out that big bush and we started talking and time went fast, When I realized it was 6:30 and I had not even started dinner, I said to my husband I will just run into town and get you guys something to eat.  Our Friend said just come over the BBQ.  My heart sunk for a min and I decided I can’t hide from this anymore and I can do hard things, there will be many many more times that I have to overcome challenges. I gave in and we went to our friends BBQ.  As everyone was eating Hamburgers, Hot dogs, Chip and a salad, I was sipping on my Protein Shake and my Sugar Free Popsicle.  To be honest with you it was just great to get out of the house and be with some great friends, we laughed so hard, I had a great time.  This is when I finally knew Dieting is a battle and it’s going to be a battle I win, Food is not going to win, I am going to win.  I smelt the Food and for just one min I was mad, angry, pissed off and sad but then I realized this is just the begging of my new life.  I was so happy that I went and overcome some of my fights……  I know I got this I know I can do this and I will do this!!!!

-Shay L. Olsen

About Shay Olsen

My name is Shay Olsen I would like to share with you my long journey on how I have become the person I am today.  At my largest I was 229lbs and a size 20, I always felt I was the fattest person in the room, I gave up several time, I have tried it all, Weight Watchers, calorie counting, diet pills, you name it I have tried it.

I love food and I love eating, But I don’t love dieting. I am completely embarrassed, ashamed, very disappointed in myself.  The person I looked in the mirror every day for the past 14 years is not the real me.  When I met the love of my life, I was a size 8-10, but I weighed 173 lbs. I would look in the mirror and love myself, I would feel pretty, I felt like my husband would look at me and be proud of me. I was proud to be his wife.  

3 months after we were married we found out we were expecting our first child.  This came to us as a complete shock as I suffer from PCOS.  Dr said it could take a year or longer to get pregnant.  

We decided we were going to prevent having a child for a while so we can learn to live with each other, to get our career's figured out.  We just bought our first home together. We wanted to enjoy life with each other for a while before we brought children into our family. Well God had another plan for us and 1 year 4 days after we were married we welcomed our First Beautiful baby girl. The Dr said I was border line of Gestational Diabetes.  Our First Baby Girl came out a whopping 8lbs 14 oz. and 21.5 inches long.  The dr said I may have been wrong I think you did have the Gestational Diabetes even though the test was border line. 

 I unfortunately gained 37 lbs with her and retained SOOOO much water with her my belly looked like I was have Triplets.  Unfortunately after having her I had to go back to work, started having Horrible eating habits, never made myself a priority, I had a hard time losing my baby weight plus added a few more pounds ok maybe more like 20 more pounds.  I hit my highest I have ever been.  I felt ugly, I hated myself, all I wanted to do was eat and sit on the couch.   

  When our first daughter was 3 we decided to try for another baby, I still was on the heavy side but had lost a few pounds.  It took us about 4 months to get pregnant with our second daughter.  Dr instantly put me on Glucophage and made me meet with a dietitian, I even had to keep a food diary.  I lost 14 lbs the first trimester and gained 13 lbs the rest of my pregnancy. I delivered 1 pound lighter with my 2^nd daughter.

 I thought I was going to keep all the weight off and start living my life for my two daughters and husband.  But NOPE life gets in the way, we went right back to our old eating habits, our old ways and then again all the weight. I even would go get Chilies take out and yes not the healthy choices and go home and watch The Biggest Looser wishing I was them as I was stuffing my face. 

That is when I finally realized wow I have a food addiction.  Did I do anything about it other then Wish?  NOPE I did not.  I made every excuse in the book why I could not cook at home, why I wanted to eat out all the time.  I thought it would be easier for us to just go and get something then I don’t have to clean my kitchen, was the dishes, we ate and left the mess at the restaurant.  The only positive thing I could say is I really never gained much more weight maybe 5 lbs – 7 lbs and then I would lose it, gain it back and then loose it.

 I tried EVERYTHING from diet pills, weight watchers, walked with friends, joined several gyms and would go a couple of times but pay for it for 24 months cause of the silly contracts.  For some reason I could never get to the point that enough is enough and want to change.  I did a lot a talk but never wanted to do anything. I keep saying to myself I will do it tomorrow and then that day would come and something would come up and nothing would happen.  Fast Forward 3 years.  I was not feeling normal, I always was so tired, I always had a stomach ache, was VERY DEPRESSED, still was heavy.

 At this point I weighed 227lbs. I went to the doctor and I got the dreaded news.  I had type 2 Diabetes.  I thought my whole world came crashing down.  I was feeling all the emotions all over again. I hated myself for what I did to my body, I was embarrassed, I was angry, I thought my husband did not love me anymore, that he did not find me sexually attracted. We were trying to have our third baby and we tried for a couple of years.

 I became very angry, I was sad and depressed all the time, because I could not give my husband another child.  Luckily I had such a great Dr and he put me on the right medicine and he even put me on depression medication, YES I swallowed my pride and started on depression medication.

 Still after 4.5 years of trying to have another baby it was just not happening.  We decided to keep trying but also try to get me better.  I reconnected with one of my good friends from elementary school through High School Brother who was a creator of an amazing vitamins and supplements.  I decided I would give this a try. It worked it was amazing weight was falling off of me, I was eating healthy I was making good choices, I worked out 3 times a week with him, he was my personal trainer if I remember correctly I lost 34 or 37 lbs and a lot inches. I got down to 193 lbs I was able to go off my diabetes medicine.

 I was finally for the first time PROUD OF MY SELF.  I was happy, I loved how my husband looked at me, I was a good mom, a good person. My husband and I decided we were going to move to Idaho to live by family.  I knew it was going to be hard to do it without my personal trainer but I thought to myself I have this, I can do it.

 We moved to Idaho and I was able to keep the weight off for about 3 weeks, then I ended up right back to my old self again, back to my old routine, back to not making good healthy choices, and started gaining the weight back.  I ended back up to 220lbs again.  Back on my diabetes meds, back on the depression medicine.  Back to old fat self again. 

Let’s fast forward 5 years.  We were able to finally have our third princess.  I did pretty well with my weight only gaining 18 lbs.  Our baby girl decided she could not wait to come to our family and was born 7 weeks early.  We were over joyed she did so good that we were very blessed to bring her home 11 days after she was born.  She was so tiny we brought her home at 4lbs 4 oz.  For the first time I was able to breast feed her and for some reason my body loved it and I lost close to 20 lbs. 

After bringing her home and working full time and taking care of my other girls after 4 weeks I had to give up on Breast feeding her and go to bottle.  I tried changing my life style for the better and of course I fell right back to my old self again, eating garbage, drinking so much soda, not exercising.  I ended up gaining ALL my weight back AGAIN!!!!

 In November of 2015 is when I decided I need to do something about my weight I am back up to 220lbs. I have a few amazing people in my life that have had this surgery done and was such an inspiration to me and I decided I am going to bite the bullet and find a TOOL that will help me get my life back.  We knew our insurance did not cover any weight loss surgery so we started looking at going to Mexico for the Sleeve Surgery after doing more research and talking to other people we found an amazing Dr in Dallas Texas that was able to help me with what I need. 

On March 31^st 2016, My life changed forever. I had the Gastric Stomach Sleeve.  I can’t thank The Nicholson Clinic and Dr Carlton for saving my life.  I am so grateful they gave me a tool that will help me live a long healthy life as long as I do my part.  This is not a quick fix, this will not fix it all by itself.  This is why I have decided I am not going to hide any more about my weight, and just sit on my butt and Wish I was beautiful and Skinny.

 I have decided I am going to share my personal experience, and the everyday life of a person who has a FOOD Addiction.  The one thing I learned is Food is a drug of choice, it’s no different than anyone has a drug addiction, pornography addiction, or alcoholic addiction.  I admitted it, I am at war with my weight, and I am fighting all the food demons right now and I am going to WIN!!! 

I am only on clear liquids for right the next 2 weeks, I am going to start blogging my food journal, the daily life I have, the mistakes I have made and the exercise I have done for that day.  This is going to hold me accountable in EVERYTHING I do every day.

I want to thank my husband who is my world, my rock, my everything.  I could not have done this without him, my beautiful three children Thank you for letting me be your mom. I love you all with all my heart!

These are pretty much all my before pictures, I hated getting my pictures taken, so there is not many.  These are my ugly fat pictures

-Shay L. Olsen