The Further Adventures of Deluzy: Happpy birthday to me :)

Health and Wellness

The Google 15
An excellent weight-tracking tool that keeps track of your moving weight average over time so that no single weigh-in is a cause for ecstacy or despair.
Understanding Your Tests
A good preliminary resource for understanding your lab work (though of course it's no substitution for discussing results with your doctor)
FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal
An essential tool for me during my first 6 post-op months -- and a good reality check for anyone keeping track of daily food intake (e.g., calories, fats, carbohydrates, etc.) and activity levels
Gmaps Pedometer
A wonderful tool that allows one to map exercise routes and calculate miles covered and calories burned

Products I Like

Spanx
A line of comfortable foundation garments (and even easy-to-pack clothing) that comes in handy post-op to corrale that wayward, formerly obese flesh and make you feel comfortable. Available online, at Lane Bryant in larger sizes, at Nordstrom in smaller sizes, and sometimes at outlets for less.
Pure Protein RTD shakes
At an average of 35 grams of protein, 3 grams of carbs, and 160 calories, these ready-to-drink shakes work for me because I can chill them, grab them, pack them, and go. Available from a variety of online sources or at GNC stores.
Perfectly Sweet
Expensive but excellent source for sugar-free and no-sugar-added bakery and candy items.
Low Carb Corner
As near as I can tell, this site sells nothing but two kinds of breakfast cereal -- but as one who's avoided cereal since my DS surgery because it contains virtually no protein and far too many carbs, Protein Crunch is a wonderful option (i.e., 27 grams protein, 2 net grams carbs). It's horrifyingly expensive but for WLS cereal lovers, it's worth the occasional splurge.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Happpy birthday to me :)

It's mid-morning here and it's been a lovely, quiet birthday so far.

I slept in. (That right there makes it fabulous.)

And when I came downstairs, our kitties greeted me. Before I could do anything else, I had to give the little orange tabby brothers their morning treat of fish (how the hell did that little custom get started? Oh yeah -- I'm using food to bribe them into loving me).

And then I had to pet the other two and make much of them so that they woudn't feel neglected.

Then my husband made me coffee and presented me with a veritable bag o' gifts. I don't know what got into him this year -- we usually have modest, sensible birthdays -- but the man went all out.

Flowers (he knows they're mandatory on my birthday, Valentine's Day, and our anniversary)
One of my favorite perfumes
A film reference book I'd been wanting
A DVD of one of my favorite films that I don't yet own
A ring from Tiffany (no, not a rock, folks -- just a simple, braided silver band that looks nice with my wedding rings)
And last but not least, a gorgeous 22" LCD Samsung desktop monitor for the computer in my study (that's the gift I knew I was getting, and so I was stunned that he'd trotted out other items as well)

The monitor is beautiful, I have to say, and man, does it make life easier on my middle-aged eyes. I spend so much time at my computer working that this is really going to help -- and I daresay part of it is tax-deductible for that reason.

Cards, calls, and emails have already appeared, and later this afternoon, my husband and I will go out for a low-key meal. Then it's a few hours of work for me to prepare for the coming week.

But given my new monitor, they'll be a pleasure! ;)

Posted at 10:30 AM | Permalink