Dear Soda

My Beloved Soda,

You have been my friend for many years now.  You quench my thirst at all hours of the day … you blend so sweetly with our mutual friend Captain Morgan … you pair well with many of my meals.

Unfortunately, with your amazing taste comes not so amazing consequences for over-indulging.

Let’s come clean to each other – we know our relationship should be on a part time basis.
Parties … dinner dates … vacations … these are perfect times that we should be together.

I have let you join in on almost all aspects of my life.  Lunch. Dinner.  Most snacks. Sometimes even breakfast.
Sure, I justified by doing Diet it wasn’t as bad.  But who are we fooling, soda?

It was getting about time to break off our relationship anyway … but now it really must happen.  See, starting tomorrow I begin my pre-operation diet for my life-changing surgery.  Gastric Bypass is no walk in the park, so there can’t be any cheating during this two week diet.  If my liver doesn’t shrink enough, they will have to perform the surgery a much more difficult way.  After two c-sections, I am done with people opening me up!

Even after the procedure, my body will be sensitive and adapting to its new system.  For many months, my diet will be selective and chosen based on nutritional value/comfort on the pouch versus whatever is easiest/tastiest.  I know this is my choice and I am doing this to myself, but I am doing this to SAVE myself.  Soda, you are an enabler to my unhealthy life style …

It is time we see other people.

I am enjoying our last day together.
It’s not you – it’s me.  Well, it is you … and me.
You’re high in sugar and calories.  Your diet blend is addictive (to me, at least) and some days has outright replaced water (which is never good).

I wish you nothing but the best.
I am not writing you off forever.  Yet I know if we should ever cross paths again, it will be a very long time from now - and even if I try you again, you will be so far and few between.

Thank you for being my comfort, but I’m ready to take my life back (even if that means giving up you).

source

Sincerely,

Nichole

"Won't you miss it?"

I have to be careful when I'm talking to people about eating something lately.

My Gastric Bypass surgery is just less than 3 weeks away now!

See - I am in a way, doing all these "farewell" acts of food crimes.

Large Blizzards.
All You Can Eat Pasta Bowls.
Bottomless Fries.

And while no one has said it to me yet - there is a little voice that pops up when I see expressions come across peoples faces when I talk about eating the last few weeks:

"Aren't you going to miss this?"

And the truth is - no.  Not really.
Like with any life style change, you have to make modifications to your daily habits.
More green - less fried.  More fiber - less fat.  And so on.

There is a great article that talks about the Top 10 Myths About Bariatric Surgery (HERE) that goes over common misconceptions of the surgery.  The one I want to highlight tonight is #8:

"Myth #8: After bariatric surgery, you won’t be able to eat anything that tastes good.

Patients who undergo gastric bypass may need to avoid very sweet foods because it can cause side effects like dizziness and nausea. Patients who have a duodenal switch typically need to keep fatty foods to a minimum. However, many patients can and do eat their favorite foods after they recover from surgery. They just eat very small portions. Even if you can’t eat whatever you used to like, you may find that WLS provides you with the ideal opportunity to experiment and find new foods to enjoy."

Watching my parents first hand go through this surgery, I can say without a doubt that while some items are no longer on their menu (my dad is unable to handle rice, for example) they still eat a lot of the same foods they did before. Just in smaller portions. Like someone would who was on a diet, or just trying to live healthier.


See - in my head, I *KNOW* what I need to do. I just haven't had the success I need to get to that goal weight. I have never weighed under 155 lbs since I was 14 years old. I have not seen single digits in clothing in my adult years (even at my lowest weight, I was still a 10/11).


I am being given a tool, and I plan on utilizing it to its fullest potential.
I am being given a new chance to really shine, and I plan on blinding you all.


So when I choose to have that doughnut with my breakfast sandwich in the next few days, it's not because I'm never going to eat a doughnut again (Tim Hortons and I are BFFs when I go to Canada -*Tim Hortons as mini doughnut holes - we are going to be best friends in about 6 months from now!). It's only because I know this will be the last time I can eat so poorly without my tool revolting against me ;-) And I am VERY okay with that.

Thanks for reading,


Nichole

Be The Thermostat - Not The Thermometer

Today is the last day

Yesterday, a group of friends (and some of their spouses) accepted an 8 week biggest loser challenge with me.

Many of us, if not all of us, have struggled with our weight in some way.  Some of us were skinny for the longest time, and just got a little padding around the 6-pack.  There are others who were always bigger, lost weight and are continuing their journey.

Each of our stories is unique.  No matter our paths behind us, for the next 8 weeks we share a path together moving forward.  We all share the same goal: get healthy.  Our reasons vary: weddings, kids, general health.

As each weight came into my inbox, I heard the same sentiment over and over again:
"UGH" "GROSS" "BLECK"
(Mine was a heavy sigh, as I had noted my neglect for the last few weeks had found their way back to the scale).

And to each of them, I said the same thing:
"This is the last day you will see that number."
I told myself, and my weight watchers leader, the same thing: "This is the last time I will be this heavy.  Ever."

This morning, after brushing my teeth quietly and throwing on my obnoxiously loud-orange sweatshirt, I repeated it again:
"Nichole.  This is the last time you'll be this heavy.  This is the last time you'll look in the mirror and think, what in the world happened.

This is the last time you'll be this young.  You need to take advantage of every minute of this day - there are some not as lucky as you to have this time.  It is precious and needs to be treated with care.

This is the last time you'll beat yourself up.  Your double chin will fade, but the wrinkles are still coming.  Be thankful those gray hairs have not made their appreance.

This is the last time you'll have a beautiful baby girl who is 955 days old and a handsome baby boy who is 372 days.  Tomorrow they will be 956 days and 373 days old.  They are only going to get older.  Enjoy these days.

This is the last time."


I would be lying if I said "this is the last time I would be negative" or "this is the last time I'll feel this tired" ... I am an emotional woman with two very young children (ha, ha, ha).

What I want to take from this, and what I hope you take from this, is that whatever worry you may have today.  Whatever frustration that made you want to pull your hair out (a few things definitely pushed me over the edge today).  Whatever mess up you may have endured (eating that extra slice of pizza versus more veggies).  Whoever stole you thunder and put you in a sour mood (shame on them).

Today is the last day you'll do that.  Today is the last day that person will poison your thoughts (okay, this may take a few days - but you should try your best to rid yourself of that negative influence).

I'm not trying to preach YOLO (more like YO-BARF).  But seriously guys - Carpe Diem.  Seize This Day.  Embrace your flaws and celebrate your strengths.  If you want to change something, do it now.  Tomorrow is never going to come ... as tomorrow always becomes today.

Today is the last day.

Thanks for reading.

Nichole
~Be The Thermostat, Not The Thermometer~

Nikki In Progress 2.0 Experiment: Update

I hope everyone is doing well!

Last week I posted my goals in what I had hoped to accomplish with my weight loss journey.  As promised, I wanted to give you an update on how I did on my daily goals.  My weekly goal update will be next week ...

I had set three daily goals to hit.
The first, was to drink my weight in water daily.
I'll be frank - this one sucked (lol).

While I felt very hydrated, and made frequent trips to the bathroom - after my 4th bottle (each bottle is 4 glasses), I felt put off.  I understand if you were less weight (i.e. 120 lbs) how this might be more obtainable.  I did hit my goal twice in the last 7 days.  What I am taking from this, is that drinking water is important ... but it's baloney to drink in such excess.  I will stick to my 8-12 glasses a day!

The second goal was to eat like a King for breakfast, a Queen for lunch, and a Pauper for dinner.
I did okay for the first few days.  Then I derailed.  I am actually going to adopt this goal again for the next week, because I found the days I adapted to this, I felt 100 times better.  My body likes to be fueled in the morning.

Finally, my third goal was to have one cup of green tea a day.
Perhaps because of my excessive water consumption, I was not hitting this goal.  I loved the taste of my green tea though, when I did drink it.


Conclusion: Try again (ha, ha, ha).  Seriously though - the water goal was obnoxious.  In theory it seems good, but by day 3 I was over it.

For this upcoming week - I plan on just doing two goals.  The goals are the same as I tried to hit last week, but I'm hoping to do better:

1) King / Queen / Pauper
2) Green Tea

We are also starting a biggest loser competition this week ... I'm hoping between that and my goals that I stay on track.

Thanks for reading!

Nichole
~Be The Thermostat, Not The Thermometer~

The Nikki Fu Expriment: Goals

Hello my awesome readers!

Tomorrow I begin ... again!  I am pushing the reset button (1 week before a biggest loser competition begins).  Since I am making this apart of a blog series, I wanted to list out the first series of "goals" I have for myself. 

It's all apart of the experiment!

I hope to take popular tips, etc. and apply them to my program.  I'll report back on what's working and not working.  Hopefully I'll learn some new things, and help show to others what can work (and what doesn't!)

I am breaking it down by daily, weekly and monthly.
Just a couple under each bracket.  The daily I'll keep for a week, weekly I'll keep for two weeks and then the monthly I'll review on a monthly basis.

I look forward to seeing what works for me, what may work for you, and what doesn't work (for any of us!)

Here is the first set:

Daily

1)  Drink my weight in water.  (I already aim to drink 8 glasses of day ... but I have seen a tip that whatever you weigh, you should drink that amount in ounces.  I know there is a risk for drinking too much water - but that's if you hold it, never pee, drink all at once, etc.  So I plan on drinking it over the course of the entire day.  And peeing often!)

2)  Eat in this order: King, Queen, Pauper.  (The idea behind this, is that you eat your biggest meal for Breakfast, a moderate meal for Lunch, and a smallish meal for Dinner.  I can understand the logic behind this, because you burn more calories when you're awake.  It may prove to be difficult with my family, but I am hoping to stick it out a week to see how it goes!)

3)  Have one cup of green tea a day.  (The green tea is supposed to help boost my metabolism.  I'm hoping by having a cup a day, aka the afternoon pick up, it will help me wean off of soda as well!).

Weekly

1)  Do 30 minutes of cardio, 5 times a week PLUS 2 days of weight lifting/resistance training.  (This shouldn't be super terrible - but I'm slacking as of late.  So this may be the kick in the butt I need to get moving again!)

2)  Have a meatless dinner once a week.  (My husband is NOT thrilled with this one.  He loves meat ... steak, chicken, whatever.  Yet I have read so many tips and posts about going meatless one day is not only good for your body - but good for the environment!  So I am hoping to win him over with some bean dishes, or quinoa!)

3)  Read from a non-school related book 3x a week.  (This falls under the "make me" category.  I am going to be swimming hard with school, Relay, work, and life in general.  This does not mean I should stay up until midnight reading books, and sacrificing sleep.  But it means that maybe I call it quits early one night from school, and spend that last hour reading more smut from E L James!)

Monthly

1)  Get to the doctors for a wellness check up.  (This one may be more difficult if we run into hiccups under Josh's medical.  Yet from what we've gathered, we're all good.  So the goal is to see a doctor for a general wellness check up, along with a dentist *which I know won't be good report, ha ha* and a dermatologist *having my best friend as a melanoma survivor, this is UBER important that I get checked*  I know that while I'm trying to improve my body on my own, I need to have a doctor check me out too.)

 2)  Get a date night in.  (Being healthy is more than just a "me" thing.  It's more than getting physical exercise ... or seeing a doctor ... or drinking a crap ton of water.  It's about having healthy relationships.  My marriage needs to be healthy, especially during these crazy times.  I must remember that us time is just as important as me time.  One date night per month, per some advice read, is perfect to help keep sanity in the marriage.)

So there it is!

My goals for the next month.  I look forward reporting back a week from today on how the daily ones went, and how I'm doing on my other ones.

Do you have any tips that you've heard?  Leave them in the comments below!  Maybe I'll add them in my next round.



Thanks for reading, and keep your eyes peeled for updates!

Nichole
Be The Thermostat - Not The Thermometer

The Nikki Fu Experiment - A Preview!

I left before vacation talking about a preview of September.  Part of it was going into a little more detail about my first blog series!

Well, I'd like to give you a preview regarding a series of blogs over the next few weeks.

I call it ...

The Nikki Fu Experiment!

Yes, that is me.  Halloween 2008.  One of the best (and worst) pictures of me.  Ever.

Let me be honest for a moment.

I am over weight.  I'm not "a little chubby" or "needing to lost a few pounds".  No, I could qualify to be on the biggest loser.  I am a classic case of a yo-yo dieter.  I would do something, lose a bunch of weight, gain weight back.  The cycle is vicious.  I have been within 30 pounds of my "ultimate goal weight" and well above my heaviest (where I'm teetering at now).  I give myself a little more grace now, because of having two babies within two years.

JJ, however, turns 1 next week.  Rachel is now 2 and 1/2.  The execuses and grace period is coming to an end.  Now is the time to act, before my metabolism gets any worse (and science shows, the older I get ... the worse it's only going to get).

My experiment, is to explore healthy living, diet and exercise tips.   Set goals to incorporate these ideas into my routine (daily / weekly / monthly) and see how I succeed.  The ones that work, stay.  The ones that flop, go.

It sounds sad - but this is not my first rodeo going on this adventure.  I just hate being unhealthy like this.  Sure I'm active and running, but even then that has taken the back seat over the last month.   I have a 5K this Saturday that I am not fully prepared for (thankfully it's a fun run, and it's not meant to be taken too seriously).

I'm ready for a full on, life style overhaul.  I tried to challenge myself this summer.  I joined Weight Watchers again.  I did an Insanity Challenge.  It helped, and I lost weight.  Over these last few weeks though, it's like I'm letting myself slip.

Tonight I say: No More.

Tomorrow I say: Bring It.

While my experiment won't kick off until next week, I wanted to share with you what you'll be expecting in the next few months!  I will share with you my progress ... my slip ups ... and all my victories.  I'll be tracking my numbers, and will share them with you as my journey moves forward.

Before Monday you'll see a post regarding what my first goals will be (Daily / Weekly / Monthly goals), plus my plan.  I do plan on reconnecting with My Fitness Pal account (find me here).  I also plan on going back to WW (it's a great system/plan.  I want to follow through on it).  Plus an array of other things, that I will detail out better later on.

Many of my family and friends either have, or currently are, struggling with their weight.  Some are struggling with being fit and active.  And others are just struggling to be healthy.  My hope is that this series will show what tips are realistic and can work ... and what silly ideas should be just left alone.  I'm also hoping I can inspire others in taking steps to be healthier for themselves.  Stay tuned in the next few days for more!

Thanks for reading.