Lesson Day

I learned something yesterday. I need to learn by experience. I don't seem to take anyone's word for anything. I have to prove it to myself the hard way. The nurses at Dr. Rehnke's office told me what to do but I had to learn it for myself.
I didn't bother to take care of myself yesterday. I didn't drink all my water and I didn't start my day with my tried and true routine. I'm getting lazy. Lazy about my food plan not lazy in general but I'll get to that part in a minute.
I volunteered at Braden's school yesterday and drove my parents into Tampa and both of those events allowed me to forget my water jug, didn't eat right all day and at dinner, I ate entirely too much. I ate good food just too much of it. WAY too much. Nothing happened with the band I just knew it was too much of a good thing. Immediately I recognized the connection between the lack of water, the change in the routine and the over eating. I needed calories and water and my body craved it in the only way it knew how. And I was helpless to ignore it. If I had built my resistance to it through the day, the evening would have been no problem as it has been in the past. I've been on an even keel because I've taken care of myself all day long. So, lesson learned. I have lost 2.5 more pounds.
I was reading an article about lap band and gastric bypass surgery and they mentioned the increase in energy and how it actually is a problem at first. You're not sure how to displace it, burn it off and man that is me! Six months ago, I craved sleep and my bed all the time. I couldn't wait to get home, get in jammies and sleep sleep sleep. When I was out anywhere I would panic if I couldn't find a seat and I'd literally fall into it. My hip was excruciating and I was tired. Yesterday at Braden's school I stood up durin the movie when I could have sat down, I walked around and encouraged the kids during coloring and did high fives when the work was completed, and I suggested we go outside and play a game, we searched for the soccer ball, YEAH! I was going to play soccer with them!! we ened up playing Mother May I and I showed them how to dance like fairies and trot like horses and hop and twirl. SO completely not the person I was 6 months ago. When I got home fro Tampa, I cooked dinner, cleaned the kitchen, changed the bird's cage and completed about 75% of a closet cleaning project that was long overdue. I've got 2 lawn and leaf bags full of crappy old clothes that I will NEVER wear again and a 5 foot pile of clothes for the consignment shop; some, even have the tags hanging from them. My closet is admittedly bare but I know that as I work my way down from a 30/32, new, smaller, prettier pieces will soon take up residence. All of those empty hangers will have a purpose again. I was up til 12:30 last night and had to force myself to turn lights out and go to sleep. I laid there snuggled up to Larry for what felt like hours before I finally fell asleep. And this morning? I'm not tired!! Before, I could hardly get myself out of bed. I blamed it on the pain killers I take for the hip but I can see now that it was the weight. I feel great this morning and am going grocery shopping minus the dread of it I used to feel. I feel strong and capable. I even let Braden stay home from school. I used to feel drained by the thought of him being here all day but it doesn't bother me now. I have a feeling this summer is going to be a fun and activity filled one with my new lease on life.
Sometimes the profound gratitude for the surgery overwhelms me. I just didn't know how crappy I felt, how tired I really was. I guess I was in denial. My God, 80 more pounds down and I'll be bouncing off the walls!! There'll be no living with me!! A welcomed inconvenience.