Probably. It's 11:04 p.m. and here I sit playing with words. My tummy is empty as empty can be. This was my third day of liquids only...and, so, you say? Well, I've dropped 8.5 pounds. I'm sure mostly fluid..but, it's gone.
How tough is this? Hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life. I figure if I goof around here long enough maybe I'll get so sleepy I can't help myself and be able to fall off to dreamland!
Between juices and Campbell's Healthy Request soups and sugar free puddings and jellos...ain't much goin' in here. I do have various Protein products I use...I am to get 70-90 grams of protein in during a single day. The problem there...aaaarrrggghhhh....the taste! I've found a couple of ok ones, but it's a challenge.
And, so, I do this until the morning of March 12th when I report to St. Luke's Hospital for the surgery. Then, I do it for another week!! I'll be so glad when I can have pureed foods!! I'll put the old record on..."Celebrate, Celebrate!!!"
Anyhow, now ya know what's going on here. Pain, a little frustration, lots of hunger and desire for food, but towing the mark. It's one of the greatest challenges I've faced. So be it. More power to me. I am doing this and doing it well!
Hey, in the morning, go out and have breakfast for me, k?
About Me
- txspatter
- Humble, Texas, United States
- Retired educator, retired freelance photographer, retired life. I loved the classroom, laughter of the students, small successes that made them glow and the feeling of 'family' among faculty. However, job done and on to new things. Life was on 'cruise control' until March, 2004...and then, there was a halting screech, lung and heart issues and physicians galore. But, I beat the odds and HERE I AM...STILL HUFFIN' AND PUFFIN'!!! Let's see where this leads.....
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Quiet Calm
Still, quiet calm. Silent, motionless and serene. That was Vail, Colorado back in the late 80's when I went with five other teachers. They were skiiers...I was a watcher/photographer. Oh, I put skis on for lessons! HA! I took them off as fast I put them on. My happiness was in the people watching, landscapes and snow.
The first night there in the gorgeous, huge condo, I was privy to my own bedroom in the back. It had many windows, frosted from the frigid outside air trying to deal with the warm, fluid condo air. Mountains all around us were blanketed with the brilliant, shiny snow when we arrived...for a country girl from lil 'ol Humble, Texas...it was absolutely breathtaking!
After struggling with luggage upon arrival, having a delicious meal that evening and sharing thoughts about the day, we all headed to bed. For a long time, I lay upon the soft, downy pillow, starring out the windows at the glistening snow as the moonlight danced all round.
Little did I know what was to come through the night! With daylight sifting through the bedroom windows and playing gently upon my face, I finally squirmed, realizing the time was at hand to open my eyes and welcome the first morning. And, what to my wondering eyes did appear? More snow than I had ever hoped to see. It was piled deep and high! A brilliant display of God's handy work...and, all for me!
Everyone dressed and gathered for breakfast. We talked about the 'fanny packs'...I talked about falling on mine and squishing whatever I chose to put inside. They talked about skiing the various trails. I talked about my fanny pack. They spoke of past experiences and how much fun they had experienced over the years. I talked about my fanny pack!! Obviously, I was not on the right page of the script for the particular scene about to play out!
Finally, the door was flung wide and we all stepped across the threshhold and onto the porch! Whoooooshhhhhhhhhh! Cold air, swirling around our nostrils causing us to say 'brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr'!! I loved it...a first time experience! One of the girls stepped off the bottom step to ground and the laughter rolled from our mouths! She stepped and in the blink of an eye, the snow was up to both knees!!! Wow. That was cool!
Everyone trugged through the deep, white splendor to the van and loaded up to go into Vail and to the M O U N T A I N!!! Oh, no. We landed in the ski shop so everyone could get a pair of skis. I was doing fine until he said, 'and, your weight?' My thought, 'none of your business darlin' and what does it matter?' Well, it mattered...something to do with the ski being able to support you as you slid, rolled or tumbled down the drifts! Oh, no. I lied anyway. Then I wondered at what point my skis would shatter beneath my lean, stealth self! lolol
I lasted about 20 minutes in the class. The instructor gave us pointers and then said, now we're going to the Bunny Slope. I asked, "what are you talking about, this is the Bunny Slope, isn't it." "Why, no" he gingerly replied with a big, fat smile on his gorgeous face with glimmering, perfect snow white teeth. "We're going to the top of the mountain and practice there." "Wait, you mean to the top...how many feet in the air is that?" He replied with a huge number. Suddenly, my lungs went into shock!
Quickly, I answered, "uh, I think I'm done. It's hard enough to suck air here, why would I go up the mountain a million feet higher where there is NO AIR?" He was relieved! Fat girl tosses in the towel...whew...he wouldn't have to pick her up!! lolol And, off I went. Ski boots throw your body in an awkward alignment. They are very difficult for a fat beginner to walk in anywhere. But, I staggered, dragged one leg at a time and almost crawled down to the dressing area to unleash those monsters from two precious, size 9 feet!!
Stumbling down to the dressing area was sort of okay...but...coming back up the slight hill to the shop to return those suckers...NOT OKAY! One step, suck in air. Another step, suck more air. All the way to the shop and...be cool. I didn't want anyone to know I was suffering from oxygen deprivation! How silly. BUT I WAS!!!!!!
I finally got those darn things back to the shop and carried my sweet self to the patio of a local cafe. I spent the afternoon people watching! I loved it. I was shocked and freaked out sometimes. The afternoon was warmer and people were coming out of all the jackets and sweaters.
Speaking of! My buds had said, layer your clothes...it's cold on the mountain. Dumb me. I did. By the time I got to that cafe I had sweaters, glove liners, my jacket and anything else I could take off, tied around me, swooped over my shoulders or wound around my head!! J/K! I was dying from heat exhaustion. Remember, fat girl learning to ski. I was already insulated!!
The week went well, even though I failed skiing 101. I got some fabulous photos from the area and returned home a happy camper. I was glad to get back to the lowlands, instant sauna in Houston and more. Would I do it again? Certainly. It was a new adventure. It was challenging. It was a learning curve. And, I survived it all!!
Somehow, that plays right into the next several days/weeks/months. All new. Somewhat anxious. Willing to try. But, I will be successful this time! It's not a mountain I face, it's a long, straight highway laid out in front of me. I'll dress accordingly, watch others along the path and wonder what took me so long to make the journey. This time, it's mostly downhill!!
The first night there in the gorgeous, huge condo, I was privy to my own bedroom in the back. It had many windows, frosted from the frigid outside air trying to deal with the warm, fluid condo air. Mountains all around us were blanketed with the brilliant, shiny snow when we arrived...for a country girl from lil 'ol Humble, Texas...it was absolutely breathtaking!
After struggling with luggage upon arrival, having a delicious meal that evening and sharing thoughts about the day, we all headed to bed. For a long time, I lay upon the soft, downy pillow, starring out the windows at the glistening snow as the moonlight danced all round.
Little did I know what was to come through the night! With daylight sifting through the bedroom windows and playing gently upon my face, I finally squirmed, realizing the time was at hand to open my eyes and welcome the first morning. And, what to my wondering eyes did appear? More snow than I had ever hoped to see. It was piled deep and high! A brilliant display of God's handy work...and, all for me!
Everyone dressed and gathered for breakfast. We talked about the 'fanny packs'...I talked about falling on mine and squishing whatever I chose to put inside. They talked about skiing the various trails. I talked about my fanny pack. They spoke of past experiences and how much fun they had experienced over the years. I talked about my fanny pack!! Obviously, I was not on the right page of the script for the particular scene about to play out!
Finally, the door was flung wide and we all stepped across the threshhold and onto the porch! Whoooooshhhhhhhhhh! Cold air, swirling around our nostrils causing us to say 'brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr'!! I loved it...a first time experience! One of the girls stepped off the bottom step to ground and the laughter rolled from our mouths! She stepped and in the blink of an eye, the snow was up to both knees!!! Wow. That was cool!
Everyone trugged through the deep, white splendor to the van and loaded up to go into Vail and to the M O U N T A I N!!! Oh, no. We landed in the ski shop so everyone could get a pair of skis. I was doing fine until he said, 'and, your weight?' My thought, 'none of your business darlin' and what does it matter?' Well, it mattered...something to do with the ski being able to support you as you slid, rolled or tumbled down the drifts! Oh, no. I lied anyway. Then I wondered at what point my skis would shatter beneath my lean, stealth self! lolol
I lasted about 20 minutes in the class. The instructor gave us pointers and then said, now we're going to the Bunny Slope. I asked, "what are you talking about, this is the Bunny Slope, isn't it." "Why, no" he gingerly replied with a big, fat smile on his gorgeous face with glimmering, perfect snow white teeth. "We're going to the top of the mountain and practice there." "Wait, you mean to the top...how many feet in the air is that?" He replied with a huge number. Suddenly, my lungs went into shock!
Quickly, I answered, "uh, I think I'm done. It's hard enough to suck air here, why would I go up the mountain a million feet higher where there is NO AIR?" He was relieved! Fat girl tosses in the towel...whew...he wouldn't have to pick her up!! lolol And, off I went. Ski boots throw your body in an awkward alignment. They are very difficult for a fat beginner to walk in anywhere. But, I staggered, dragged one leg at a time and almost crawled down to the dressing area to unleash those monsters from two precious, size 9 feet!!
Stumbling down to the dressing area was sort of okay...but...coming back up the slight hill to the shop to return those suckers...NOT OKAY! One step, suck in air. Another step, suck more air. All the way to the shop and...be cool. I didn't want anyone to know I was suffering from oxygen deprivation! How silly. BUT I WAS!!!!!!
I finally got those darn things back to the shop and carried my sweet self to the patio of a local cafe. I spent the afternoon people watching! I loved it. I was shocked and freaked out sometimes. The afternoon was warmer and people were coming out of all the jackets and sweaters.
Speaking of! My buds had said, layer your clothes...it's cold on the mountain. Dumb me. I did. By the time I got to that cafe I had sweaters, glove liners, my jacket and anything else I could take off, tied around me, swooped over my shoulders or wound around my head!! J/K! I was dying from heat exhaustion. Remember, fat girl learning to ski. I was already insulated!!
The week went well, even though I failed skiing 101. I got some fabulous photos from the area and returned home a happy camper. I was glad to get back to the lowlands, instant sauna in Houston and more. Would I do it again? Certainly. It was a new adventure. It was challenging. It was a learning curve. And, I survived it all!!
Somehow, that plays right into the next several days/weeks/months. All new. Somewhat anxious. Willing to try. But, I will be successful this time! It's not a mountain I face, it's a long, straight highway laid out in front of me. I'll dress accordingly, watch others along the path and wonder what took me so long to make the journey. This time, it's mostly downhill!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)