Well, I don’t know that I’m lighter per say because I am a bit swollen from surgery, but I know that I have 2-3 oz less of me…that’s how much a gallbladder weighs…too bad it isn’t more, huh?

Anyway, surgery went fine and, here I am just 48 hours after I was released and I was able to take a shower this morning which involved going up the stairs and back down.  I’m actually very pleasantly surprised that I feel much better than I anticipated I would by now.

I thought for sure I would be down for the count for at least 3 days. 

The Husband has been so fabulous!  He’s been by my side the whole time and has gotten me everything I needed and more.

I’m glad to have him, so very blessed. 

I am SO glad to not have to worry about gallbladder flair-ups.  The surgery soreness is NOTHING compared to the gallbladder pain I was having.  I can get through this.

So, how have you all been?

This week was not the best week.  I’m not sure how bad since I didn’t go to weigh in.  My weigh in is at 6:30 Friday morning; I had the morning off and was going the opposite direction…at 11…I just was not going to get up and go that early if I didn’t have to.

I really should have because I won’t be able to go next week either since I will be recovering from surgery.  The following week, maybe.  It depends on where I’m at in my recovery process.

I did step on the scale at home and saw that I was about a pound down.

So, not the best week, but not the worst either.

I did take another self portrait, mainly because it has been a l  o  n  g  time since the last one.  Nothing much has changed.

How was your week?

That’s what it feels like right now.  I have been so super busy and so much has been going on.  Life is speeding by right now.

I did, however, lose 2.4 pounds at my weigh in this week!  Yeah!  That was my first weigh in since before Christmas so I was really happy about that!

I have been pretty consistent in going for walks every Friday at lunch.  I’m really pleased with myself for that.  It’s just 30 minutes, but it’s 30 minutes more than I had been doing.

After my surgery I’m planning on getting it in at least twice a week.  I have it on my calendar at work so that nothing gets in its way.

Work has been SUPER busy with some major reports due (it is the start of the year) and then fixing some things that my predecessor kind of screwed up, and on top of that, surgery will take me out for at least 1 week, if not more.  So that means that I basically have to play catch-up before I go out so that I don’t come back to a huge pile of things to accomplish.

As for healthy eating during that time?  Well, it might be essential anyway.  I’ve got some things frozen that will be easy to prepare (like turkey stew and tomato sauce I can use for spaghetti or pizzas.  We have english muffins, so an english muffin pizza might be a good choice.

I made some spaghetti squash the other day and, since I’m the only one that eats that, I can easily freeze what’s leftover.  I think before I do I’ll sauté it with some mushroom and onions and then freeze in single serving sizes.

I also have a butternut squash that will probably make a good soup as well.

I have plans to maintain the healthy eating and making it easy for The Husband and, later, myself to prepare.  I’m not sure about breakfasts, but I should be set for lunches and dinners.

How do you prepare for being “down for the count” for a while in making sure everything is taken care of?

Every time I would sit to do a post, nothing would come out to say so I just didn’t.

I do want to make sure to stay on track in 2011 so I am going to post at least once a week. That’s all I’m promising. If I get more posts in, ok, but for those of you following me, be happy with one post a week. It will be a full post, but just one!

So how have you all been?

Okay, so I should be rocking the weigh ins for the next few weeks.

I was diagnosed with gallstones last night.  You can read the story over here for more details.

Until my gallbladder gets removed, I’m on a bland diet with no fatty foods and no red meat.  It should be fairly easy since I don’t each much fatty foods as it is.

Then again, I’m thinking the change in my diet is the reason why it may have taken so long for it to rear it’s ugly head.  See, the gallstones are 1 centimeter!  That’s HUGE!  How have I not felt them before?

Well, I really don’t eat much fatty foods and that seems to be what triggers it.  So, I can totally understand why I haven’t felt them earlier.

Once I had the pain medication in me and I could be my usually witty self, the husband was calling a friend and I joked that the week after my surgery, whenever it is, I’ll be ROCKIN’ the weigh in.  I mean, the gallbladder is an whole organ.  It must weigh something right?  I’m guessing a couple pounds at least!

That’s my grandma…we had her memorial service today and I can’t tell you how much I miss her.  If you want to see the speech I gave, go over here. 

So, by default, I was on the new plan nearly a week before I actually went to the meeting on Friday.  Only by default because I have eTools and that’s how I track everything and so, there I was.

I quickly learned that, while there are some considered major changes, at the core, it’s really the same.  You have a set number of points to eat in one day and a set number of points you are allowed to use for the week.  You calculate the number of points for each item you eat and deduct that amount of points from your total.

It has been fairly easy for me to adjust to; although I do have to make sure to be conscious of what I’m eating and tracking just to make sure that I am eating the right amounts and getting my points in every day.

It make sense to calculate using the proteins and carbohydrates as well as the fat and fiber. 

I totally get everyone who is upset that they just bought a whole bunch of stuff on sale and now it’s useless.  I think they should have said, “Well, this stuff is on sale because the plan, as usual, will be changing in December and these items may or may not be useable then.”  Then at least people could make an informed decision.  I’m betting some people would still have bought the items.

I’m glad I have eTools on my phone so that I don’t have to buy everything.  I did break down and buy a new scale; but that’s because I didn’t really have a good old one anyway and it was on sale and, even if they change the program again, I can still weigh things on it!  I’ve been debating about buying a scale for a while now.

I also bought a calculator, but that’s only because it was the cheaper $5 for the first one and since I know my mom would probably not be able to get there to get hers, I bought her one. 

So, what do you think of the new plan?

Isn’t that the picture of a typical deli?  Fresh veggies waiting to be piled onto sandwiches made from homemade bread  and meat sliced right there at the counter?  Oh I love delis!

We have an awesome deli right down the street from our house.  The sandwiches are great!  The salads are fabulous!  The service?  Eh, not so great.  I really only go there for the food.

On most trips, I walk there so not only do I get fresh, healthy, food, I get a bit of activity as well.  If only they could get the customer service part right.  They are usually slow…too slow…and not quick with the friendly smile…and often talking to everyone BUT the customer…like their friends hanging around the cash register taking up space and getting in customers way…can’t be good for business.

However, for some reason, I always end up going there.  Maybe because it’s the healthiest place around for a quick bite.

Do you have a deli?  How’s the service there?

I decided to make it a bit more than a leisurely walk.  I put some effort into it and got myself a pretty good sweat going…okay, not a huge sweat in the morning because, seriously?  I have to be there the rest of the day.

However, on the way back in the afternoon I made sure to get a good workout going.  Even made it a bit longer.  I am determined to get more activity into my days.

How determines?  I have scheduled two repeating appointments on my calendar at work every week to walk for 30 minutes.  It’s only 30 minutes, but the fact that I am consciously making an effort to get walking, I am proud of that. 

One of those days, I walk with one of the other girls at work.  I even sent a calendar request so that it’s on both of our calendars.  I’ll still go if she doesn’t; but it does hold me more accountable.

This week I actually fit in an additional day into my calendar as well; which is saying a lot considering everything that is going on at work.

I have been trying, for a while, to figure out how to get more activity in…this seems to be working out very well.  If it continues to work, I may even see if I can get a “noon walking group” going as well.  Should be fun!

Pumpkin Mousse…in all it’s 2 points per 1 cup serving glory!  Yes!  I made my own pumpkin puree this year, bought a container of cool whip and a box of instant vanilla pudding, grabbed the milk from the refrigerator, and made Heaven in a Bowl!

I carefully plotted the perfect day to make this concoction this year…a day that I’d be home to enjoy it, a day that would be at the start of the week so I wouldn’t be tempted to eat the whole thing over the course of the day, rather as a dessert for the next 8 days, a day that I could truly enjoy it!

Oh, but this is to be enjoyed all the time!  I don’t think there is a moment in time that you wouldn’t enjoy this!

And so simple to make…are you ready:

1 package of instant vanilla pudding prepared (you need 2 cups of milk to prepare it)

1 container of cool whip (just the regular size container)

1 can (15 oz) of pumpkin (I used fresh pumpkin this year and used 2 cups

Mix those together, like to whisk you used to mix it, serve yourself a FULL CUP of this awesome dessert, and savor it…no, seriously, this stuff is so light, fluffy and so good.

I can seriously not think of ANYTHING better than this. 

Are there any other things I enjoy to eat?  By all means.  But let me tell you how good this stuff is:

It’s so good that I actually forget how good it is when it’s been a while since I have made it, I take that first bite and…OH…EMM…GEE!  It all comes flooding back.

Have I sold you on it yet?  Seriously!  It tastes so much better than it sounds and it already sounds delish!

What are you waiting for?  Go!  Make it!  And don’t forget to thank me for this bit of heaven in your refrigerator…and send me some…I can never have enough!