McNuggets and Me

I started my new job on June 4th, and that's been pretty all-consuming so I haven't written in a while, and this is going to be a quick one too. I really like my new gig, but I'm in major learning mode so I'm a bit humbled right now. Which is probably good for me. :)

I'm feeling really good. It might be all the vitamins or calcium or it might be the exercise or it might be the fact that I weigh so much less. It's probably a combination of all three, but I feel great. Rudy and I went to Philly for his birthday weekend and we had SUCH a good time, and I was able to walk around the city for so much longer and farther than I ever would have been able to before. I move more quickly, too. I still have the short legs and the flat feet, so I'm never going to be a speed walker, but I'm not afraid to say, hey, let's walk from here. Because I know I can do it.

I have to say that U.S. Bariatric really has this stuff down. Everything they've said would or might happen has, and everything they've said would be fine has been. I'm following their instructions almost to the letter. But there's a little fudging (mmm...I remember fudge...) here and there.

Here's a good example.

So I don't remember if I've written this before, but for some reason I can't digest chicken. At all. In any forms. And I only like white meat chicken, and that's the worst of all. I think it's because it's drier, and kinda stringy. Anyway, it's the texture with some foods that make patients post-surgery have trouble with them. Some people have a lot of trouble with beef. With me, it's chicken. And I really like chicken. Chicken wings. Grilled chicken on a big salad. Chicken parmigiana. Fried chicken. Chicken tenders. Sesame chicken from our local chinese take-out. Look at the typical menu in a restaurant and take out all the chicken items and you'd be amazed how your options are narrowed down.

So I've been jonesing for chicken. And one day I was going through the McDonald's drive-thru for my daily large unsweetened ice tea (which has replaced my daily Diet Coke), and I saw a sign for Chicken McNuggets.

Now everybody knows that Chicken McNuggets are processed chicken, and they blend white and dark meat, so the meat is softer and moister. Probably not THE most healthy option. But I wanted chicken, dammit. So I tried them one day. The smallest size they sell is a 6-piece. And you know that any of you reading this could scarf down a 6-piece McNugget even if you weren't hungry. Don't try and deny it. :)

So I got the ranch dressing to dip and tried one. I chewed and chewed and it felt good. And it went down well. And then I ate the next one. Yummy.

And then I was freakin' stuffed.

Two McNuggets and I was full! What kind of magic is this???? Anyway, that one 6-piece pack lasted me 2 meals, then my husband ate the last 2. Isn't that crazy?!

I know, I know, McNuggets are fried. It was an experiment. How many calories could possibly be in 2 McNuggets?? And it's definitely the all-important protein, so I don't feel bad at all.

Okay, the latest update:

Original pounds to lose: 140
Pounds lost to date: 52
Pounds left to lose: 88

AND - Down 5 sizes, from a 26 to an 18.

And let's not forget that I had lost that 15 lbs. before the surgery, so 67 lbs. all together.

I sold a huge bunch of my clothes on CraigsList. I got SO many responses, so I've kept some of the contacts who wore 18 or 20's, and I told them I'd have some for them soon as that size got too big for me. And meanwhile I'm re-populating my closet with cute (albeit cheap) new clothes. Clothes that I don't get too attached to because they'll be too big for me in a few weeks.

This is freakin' awesome. :)