changes

Since the day I sent in my packet to the surgical center, I've been trying to make changes I know I'll have to make anyway.

I'm exercising again.  First I was just doing the elliptical.  But that got boring real quick.  So I renewed my gym membership and I've been swimming again.  I do a mile every morning.  I used to be able to swim a mile no problem, now it's really hard.  In fact, I'm not even actually swimming.  I just take the kickboard and kick laps.  Sometimes I put the floaty thing between my knees and just do strokes.  It's so much harder than it used to be.  I'm so uncoordinated and all over the place.  What I cannot do is kick and stroke at the same time.  You know, actual swimming.  But I'll get there, eventually.

I also plan on practicing yoga again.  I need to, because I used to love it so much.  And also, I think it will really help my back.

The thing with me is I was always okay with the exercise, until I just gave up a couple years ago.  But I could and would walk for miles, or hike.  When I lived in Los Angeles, I would walk Runyon Canyon daily, run the stairs and hills by my apartment.  But it was still a fight to stay just below 185.

Food.  I'm trying.  I'm working on reducing the soda and drinking more and more water.  I've spent a lot of time googling "lap-band food" "gastric sleeve food" and just copying their menus.

A new, awesome market opened up near my house and they have a good salad bar, and an amazing prepared foods section.  I'm kind of in a routine, which I've never had before, where I can eat regular meals.  I've been eating a salmon sushi roll every day for lunch.  Hopefully I will never have to give up sushi.  I can eat it without the rice if I have to.  Also! They have the most excellent cream of chicken soup.  If I have to eat only liquids for a time, I can see myself living on that.