Weigh-in Day...and the results are...

Week #2 of Maintenance Complete

Today's Weight:  144.7 lbs

Quote of the Day:

"People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas." – Author Unknown

The Easy Way Out

"The Easy Way Out."  Bandsters just love it when we hear those four little words used as description of what it's like to get healthy and lose weight with the band?  Right? *note sarcasm*

Of course, we all know that the lifestyle with the band (or any weight loss surgery or diet plan for that matter) is not the easy way out.  It's difficult.  It's tough.  It's a lot of WORK.  It takes planning.  It requires making conscious choices every f***ing day.

I have been thinking a little about the phrase "the easy way out" and have determined that for me, the easy way out was being FAT.  It was SOOO EASY to be fat! 

I didn't have to think about what I put in my mouth. EVER.  If it tasted good, I ate it.  I didn't think about how many calories a food had in it or how much protein it contained.  I didn't worry about eating an In-n-Out Double Double Cheeseburger in 4 minutes flat, while guzzling a large sugary Coke.  Taking a trip to Panda Express and eating two servings of Orange Chicken and a huge serving of fried rice...no problem!  Being fat was EASY.

I didn't have to think about how I would get my 30+ minutes of exercise each day.  Exercise?....are you crazy?!?  It was more fun to sit on the couch each night and watch my favorite TV shows.  Being fat was EASY.

I didn't have to think about how much water I had consumed in a day.  I just enjoyed my Mt Dews and Cokes all throughout the day...What fun!  No multiple trips to the ladies room due to massive water consumption for the fat girl.  Being fat was EASY.

Why do I continue to travel down this road of improved health?  I'll tell you why:

• My back doesn't hurt when I wake up in the morning anymore.
• My not-so-sexy cankles are gone.
• My blood pressure is normal..no more meds!
• I need so much less sleep.. I was so tired when I was fat...I missed out on a lot.
• To keep looking hot in my size 6 jeans.

Why do you continue to make healthy food choices and make time for exercise? 

I think that it's important that we find the "why" in this journey so that we never go back to the "easy way out."

New Banded Blogger Alert

Michelle over at Just Getting Started... was banded back in October of this year. 

Please stop by and say "hello"

Thanks!

My Word for 2011

Last year's word for 2010 was CHOICE.


What is this year's word?  


This was a tough decision.  


There are so many great words to choose from.


Are you ready for it?




Prudence.    

\ˈprü-dən(t)s\

Definition:
The ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason.

According to Wikipedia, "Prudence" is characterized by “being careful about one’s choices, not taking undue risks, and not saying or doing things that might later be regretted.”

Individuals with PRUDENCE have the following attributes:

• They take a foresighted stance toward their personal future, thinking and caring about it, planning for it, and holding long-term goals and aspirations.
• They are skilled at resisting self-defeating impulses and at persisting in beneficial activities that lack immediate appeal.
• They show a style of thinking about everyday life choices that is reflective, deliberate, and practical.

I am hoping to have PRUDENCE in the new year.

What's your word for 2011?

 

Mini Bowls!

I received a few more mini bowls for Christmas. :)

They are from the Japan Pavilion at Epcot.  I am going to pretend that the Japanese words on them say "chew, chew, chew!" or "stop eating when you get full!"  They hold only about one cup of food.  Perfect!

I can add them to the mini plate/bowl shelf in the kitchen.

I know that I've been eating sensible small portions for the week when I see the dishwasher full of them.

Merry Christmas & a Photo From LAST Christmas

I hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas day!

I will leave you with a photo from last year's Christmas day meal.  Christmas 2009 and weighing about 216 lbs.  I was 40 lbs down from my highest weight of 256 lbs... about 2+ months post op.

Think about how much you could achieve by next Christmas.

What are your goals for a healthier YOU?

Weigh-in Day...and the results are...

Week #1 of maintenance went well.

Goal Weight: 145 lbs

Today's Weight: 143.4 lbs

Merry Christmas!

The Scars May Have Faded...But I Can Never Forget...

Here's what my belly looked like the day after surgery and now today:

Sometimes I have to remind myself of all that I went through to get to where I am today at a healthy weight, a "normal" BMI, normal blood pressure, etc.

Sure, there has been a lot of calorie counting and exercise, but I am talking about the surgery itself and the week post-op.

There are a few newly banded bloggers out there who recently shared their surgery day stories and it helps me to remember the pain and unpleasant days after surgery. 

Surgery is a big deal...wait, let me say that again, surgery is a big friggin' deal.  Especially a surgery that is elective and I CHOSE it.

A HUGE and drastic step in my opinion.  On that day....there was general anesthesia, there were scalpels, there was blood.  I'm sure they used big scary tools like these:

I'm not just talking a quick eyebrow waxing here... LOL.

I may sound a litte dramatic, but this isn't something that I could just decide to do and then not see it through to it's most optimum outcome.  This isn't Bridalplasty.  Now that's a hot mess. :)

I also still get a little "wierded out" by the thought that there's a foreign object/device inside of me.  People sometimes say, "well lots of people have foreign objects in them...you know...hip replacements, knee replacements..."  I don't agree.  Choosing the band is a different scenario all together.

So the next time I am tempted by a cookie, chips, chocolate, pizza, or whatever food the day brings, I need to remember the choice I made back in 2009 for improved health.

They say hindsight is 20/20.  Well, I can tell you that getting the band was one of the best (and biggest)  decisions I have made for my health....period.

Welcome Back Restriction...!

Hello Restriction,

I wish you were around this weekend when I was tempted with all those sweets and yummy snacks.

Water is slow going down this morning...totally wierd.  Is it stress? Is it allergies?  Who knows.

I may actually have a protein shake today...gasp!  I hardly ever drink those.  My favorite: Unjury Chocolate.

Had a preliminary weigh-in this morning to see where I am in regards to maintaining the goal weight of 145 lbs.  Well, it was 144.9 lbs.  :)  We will see what the weight is on Friday's official weigh-in.

New Bandster Blogger Alert!

There's a new blogger (cadx2mom) out there at http://confessionsofanoverweightmom.blogspot.com/

She's just been approved for surgery.  Please go over and say hello!

PS:  cadx2mom >> I can't comment on your blog.  Adjust your settings so we can all comment.

My Invisibility Cloak...Have You Seen it?

No?

Me either...

Where did it go?

I used to have this 111 lb invisibility cloak.  It kept me invisible.  It was kind of nice to not be noticed.  However, now, it's kind of nice to be noticed (a little unnerving at times though).

I didn't realize it at the time, but this 111 lb cloak made people not look at me or notice me much.  Perhaps their thought processes were, "Heaven forbid don't anyone look at the fat girl and draw attention to her."  WTF.  Who knows..?

Anyways, I thought everyone was "invisible."   I am now realizing that I thought WRONG.

As I mentioned in the previous post back in September called "I'm Getting Skinnier and People are Getting Nicer", I touched a little on this issue as well. 

People talk to me now.  People behind counters at restaurants offer me free food samples...all the damn time.  They never used to offer the fat girl free food samples..hah!

Well, that's my thought of the day.

PS: Here's the monthly tracking spreadsheet update for you since yesterday (12/20) was my 14 month bandiversary:

Non-Scale Victory (NSV)!

I wonder how many more NSVs I will have now that I am in maintenance....?

Anyways, here's a pic of me at tonight's christmas party in size 6 Petite jeans.....!  Yep, 6!

My Plan For Maintenance

First, thank you all for your congratulations messages on yesterday's post.  You guys are the best cheering section ever!

So here I am...moving into maintenance.  A strange thought indeed!

As I have always said, there is no "done" on this journey, just "now".

Maintenance Plan = Keep doing what I've always been doing these past 14 months.

This means:

• Food: Keep track of my food intake, however increase the calorie count from about 1200 calories to about 1400 calories per day.  My surgeons office has this cool scale/scanner that showed recently I burn about 1300 calories a day to just exist (no exercise/etc).  I will have to play around with this calorie count a bit to see how it works out.
• Exercise: Keep going to Zumba and Zumba Toning classes 3 times a week which is a total of 210 minutes of  "official" exercise per week, therefore, about an average of 30 minutes per day.  Plus the "extras" which include parking far away from stores in parking lots, taking the stairs at work, etc.  Plus the weekend power walks and the Wii.
• Support: This includes:
• Continuing to blog: Weekly Friday weigh-ins and blogging about all kinds of band related stuff
• Supporting and learning from other bloggers (PS: there doesn't seem to be very many of us who talk about maintenance...??)
• Attending my monthly support group for local bandsters

Any other tips for a successful transition to maintenance?

PS: I have also chosen my word for 2011.  But you'll have to wait until my next post to find out what that word is! :)

Weigh-in Day...and the results are...GOAL!!!!

Today I weigh 143.9 lbs.  Can you believe it? I have reached (and passed) my goal of 145 lbs.

Beginning weight: 256 lbs
Total lost: 112.1 lbs

Current BMI: 24.5

Come on...Time to do the happy dance with me!

Thoughts on a Thursday...

Pre-band (AKA at a weight of 256 lbs+) I used to get headaches at least twice a week...you know...those annoying frontal tension-type headaches that are just annoying enough to have to take three or four ibuprofens or tylenol.  That would usually take care of the situation.  That was my life and it seemed "normal."

Well, I got one of those headaches earlier this week...it made me realize that I haven't had a headache since...maybe...July?   Anyways, off I went opening drawers and cabinets all over the house, I had to hunt and search for some tylenol.  I finally found it and I only took 1 1/2 tylenol pills - it took care of it.

This now makes me wonder why did I used to get so many headaches?

• High blood pressure?
• Blood sugar highs/lows?
• Eating poor quality food?
• No exercise?

Not sure...but I'm glad they're gone.

Quote of the Day

"What you eat in private, 

is what you wear in public"

Not sure who said it, but I like it.

ABC's To Successful Weightloss

Acknowledge that you know what to do
Believe that you have the ability to do it
Courage to do what needs to be done
Deciding that today is the day
Enjoying the journey
Forgiving yourself and moving on
Going for your goal Hearing the compliments
Inviting success into your life
Journaling everything that goes in your mouth
Keep going when you feel like quitting
Loving yourself enough to change your lifestyle
Making delicious meals
Not ever giving up on yourself
Offer to share your new knowledge with others
Patience with the journey...the weight did not come on overnight
Quiet time for yourself
Remind yourself all of the reasons you are doing this
Self-talk that is positive and repetitive
Turning to solutions instead of food for "problems"
Using all of your "tools" for success
Visiting with others if you need support
Wanting success with your weight loss more than you want that "treat"
Xerox copies of your favorite recipes  and share them
You alone can do this, but you don't have to do it alone
Zero in on your goals and move toward them one pound at a time

Last Chance to Enter LIVE MY CHOICE Contest!

Happy Monday Everyone!

Here's your friendly reminder that time is running out to enter the  Live My C.H.O.I.C.E. Contest from Allergan.  Allergan is giving away a Lap Band surgery.  WOW.

The folks over at Allergan require that all entries are received by tomorrow,  December 14. 

Check out the contest HERE

How to Enter:
Submit a short essay or video about how your weight has impacted your health and your life, and why you think the LAP-BAND® System may be the tool to help you achieve your weight-loss goal. A family member or close friend may also submit a story on someone’s behalf.

Good Luck!

Zumba Fitness for the Wii - Review!

I've just completed a session with my new video game "Zumba Fitness" for the Wii.  Can't wait to tell you all about it!

Before I provide my opinion on it, I'll first provide some background on my relationship with Zumba in general.  I started Zumba classes with my local county parks/recreation department back in January 2010 when I weighed about 215 lbs.  I have been Zumba'ing two to three times a week ever since.

I have NEVER stuck to any exercise program...EVER...let alone for almost a year.  I like Zumba because it doesn't feel like a boring visit to the gym walking on the treadmill or as I like to call it...the DREADmill.  Yikes, it's like nails on the chalkboard...don't make me!

Anyways, back to "Zumba Fitness" for the Wii.  After setting up your user name and choosing your workout option, you put on the belt (that is adjustable and attaches with velcro) around your waist.   No worries about whether it will fit...it's pretty big and should fit most.  It's 50 inches. The belt looks like this:

You put the Wii controller in the pouch on the belt and off you go!

It is pretty much the same moves that I have learned in Zumba classes, so I think that if you are a complete newbie to Zumba, there may be a bit of a learning curve for you.  However there are plenty of Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels and routines to chose from.

The goal of the game is to do the moves correctly and therefore earning "energy" bars as shown on the bottom of the screen in a counter.  You know that you're earning "energy" when the instructor turns green.  I was able to move up 5 levels by earning energy during my session.

Overall, it provides an awesome, fun, sweaty, heart-raising workout.  I still prefer the in-real-life Zumba classes in my town, as there's more accountability with an instructor watching.   But this game is perfect when there are no classes available/scheduled or for extra workouts.

Definitely check it out....so FUN!

Because I Can Now...

Reach my toes and paint them that is!

No more struggling, no more big ordeal...

Major NSV!

Friday Weigh-in Day...and the results are...

a loss of 1.5 lbs.  WOO HOO!

Starting weight: 256 lbs
Current Weight: 145.5 lbs
Total Lost: 110.5 lbs

BMI is now officially "normal" at 24.8.

0.5 lbs to go to reach my goal of 145 lbs.

What was your word for the year?

Remember back in January when we all chose our "WORD" for the year?  What word did you choose?

Well, if you look back on my January 3 post HERE, you will see that my word was CHOICE.

I think that I am still living with this word "choice" in my head on a daily basis.

Examples: 

1. Yesterday, I wanted a cookie from the cafeteria..yeah, the chocolate chip cookies were calling my name.  These are the large 5 inch cookies.  YUM.  So I chose to buy a cookie, break it in half, and give the other half to a coworker.  I enjoyed my half and therefore chose to eat less.  All I really needed was the taste of that cookie.
2. On monday when I went to my surgeon's office for the news interview, I chose not to take the elevator and walked up the three flights of stairs to the office.

I am hoping that the more I make these choices, the more they will be automatic lifestyle habits.

PS: Thank you all for your support and kind words on my TV news debut!  Oprah will be calling me for an interview any minute now!  LOL

News Link

Check me out on the local news HERE

I was on the evening news!

My 15 minutes of fame has come and gone.

While I was at work this morning, I got a call from the coordinator at my surgeon's practice.  "Did I want to be interviewed on the channel 12 news today?"

With all the buzz going around about the FDA approval for banding on lower BMI patients....the local news wanted to interview a lap band patient and lap band surgeon.

Stay tuned...I might see if the link is available and post it here for you all.

Sugar Addicts - Here's your proof!

No matter what language you speak or what country you live in....sugar is crack!  LOL

source: http://engrishfunny.failblog.org/2010/11/22/engrish-funny-dried-crack/

Cooking Class!

Just back from a cooking class at THE LAST BITE Cooking School.


Totally fun!  It was the kind of cooking class where you watch the chef cook and then you eat all the foods as they're prepared.


Today's class was "Holiday Appetizers."  I enjoyed a few bites of each these yummy eats:

• Amaretto-Cranberry Kiss Cocktail (I only had a few sips...I'm a total lightweight now)
• Fig and Goat Cheese Savory Cupcakes with Fig Spread
• Coconut Chicken Bites with Gingered Ketchup 
• Crab and Wild Mushroom Cheesecake
• Beef Skewers with Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce (my favorite!)
• Cookie bars with chocolate marscapone cheese topping (OMG...YUM)

I'm so glad that my band kept things in check.   No over-eating and I felt satisfied when I left the class.

YUM!  Can't wait to go to another cooking class.
PS: Did an hour-long Zumba class this morning....  :)

Weigh-in Day...and the results are...

....a gain of 0.3 lbs. Yep....to be expected.  I'm not stressing about it...to be expected this time of year.

Still looking to get to a goal of 145 lbs....just 2 lbs away! :)

Happy Friday

Thanksgiving Weekend Recap (A.K.A. Confession Time)

And so it began...

I flew down to my parents house on Thursday morning.  We cooked up a storm in the kitchen getting ready for the big turkey day meal.  If you scroll down a little, you will see pics from the amazing spread of tastiness.

As I have said before, my downfall is snacking between meals, not actually hungry, just eating because the food is available.  That is why I usually don't really snack and avoid having any snack foods in the house.

I ended up eating way too many candied pecans...WAY TOO many prior to the big meal.

At said big meal, I had:

• one bite of turkey breast
• two bites of stuffing
• bread roll with lots of butter. YUM

Then, three hours later:

• average sized slice of pecan pie with freshly whipped cream. YUM.
• average sized slice of pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream.  YUM.

The weekend progressed and included:

• more of those bread rolls with butter, lots of butter
• more slices of pecan pie with the whip cream
• caramel sundae with nuts from McDonalds
• Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate from Starbucks
• In-n-Out Burger: half of a Double-Double (incl. bun) and 6-7 french fries
• 2 mini-slices of pizza

Oh yeah, did I mention no exercise...at all...!

I noticed that I was not drinking much water during the weekend (only a bottle a day) and by Sunday afternoon I was soooo thirsty and pretty much felt nauseous.  ICK.  Nice negative feedback :)

Today, I am back on the healthy lifestyle of lots of water and high protein eating.  Current calorie count so far for the day: 380.  Protein: 41 grams.  I feel better already.

Fun with Fat Photo...

Random photo find from 2007...260+ lbs

PS: Can't wait to tell you about all the poor food choices that I have made in the last few days..definitely a gain is expected this week...sigh.

What I ate on Thanksgiving

and I loved every bite!

Weigh-in Day...and the results are...

A loss of 0.5 lbs.

Total lost: 109.3 lbs

Happy Thanksgiving!

The dirty little secret of gastric banding...

constipation. 

Yes, I am going there.

That's what this post is about. 

If this is TMI for you, then move along to the next blog and read about thanksgiving or something more cheerful.

Since bandsters eat small portions of high protein foods, constipation becomes a problem.  It's wierd how no one ever told me about this when I was pre-op.

Well, I gotta hand it to my primary care physician to tell me about Miralax.  It's a stool softener....NOT a laxative.

I mix the packet of powder into my moring 16 oz water bottle/crystal light and drink it on my way to work.

I have been taking the miralax now for 6 days.  OH MY GOODNESS.  What a difference. :)

So this is today's public service announcement:

Give Miralax a try. just be sure to mix it into a beverage that has a strong flavor.  I use grape crystal light...most crystal lights cover the slight taste of the Miralax.

PS: My Zumba game for the Wii came in the mail yesterday...can't wait to tell you all about it.

Early Weigh-In This Week

Thank you all for your comments on previous post. 

Most of you mentioned that you can't eat pizza.  Perhaps I have never been filled enough or I might be a good chewer...but at 13 months post-op, I have never PB'd....never been stuck....don't hate me. 

I'm at 6.9 ccs in my 10 cc band.  I have to take things slow in the morning even drinking water/coffee, but I'm fine after about 11am if I eat slowly and chew, chew, chew.

I kinda wierdly wish that I could experience being stuck/PB just once so I can:
1) know what you all are talking about
2) have some negative reinforcement/feedback on eating bready/doughy foods.

I'm sure my day will come....just a matter of time.

Due to my holiday travel schedule an early weigh in will occur on Thursday morning, not the usual Friday morning.  My fingers are crossed for a loss...!

ZUMBA tonight! :)

This Is Why I Was FAT

Don'tcha love coupons that come into your email inbox?  I love coupons in general...emailed, clipped out of the Sunday newspaper, or coupon codes online.

I notice that I have quite a bit of "unsubscribing" to do on these distribution emails that I get from various companies offering their products and services...especially restaurants.

One of these restaurants is Pizza Hut.  Yummy, greasy, plastic cheese Pizza Hut.  I can smell the tastiness of it all in my head if I try real hard.  I remember how I used to order online and then pick up a pizza on my way home from work.  Then it would be just me...and the pizza....and a night of sitting in front of the TV....a bad combination!

Well, guess what I got in my inbox today?  Yes, let's all give thanks for poppable cheesy bites...shall we?














The nutrition facts for this pizza is unavailable on the pizzahut website....hmmm....I wonder why? (note: sarcasm).

This emailed coupon reminds me of the website:  THIS IS WHY YOU'RE FAT.  Check it out.  Beware: Food Porn Alert!

13 Month Bandiversary - Monthly Tracking

You all know how much I love a good spreadsheet...well, here's the monthly tracking for ya!

Weigh-in day...and the results are...

a gain of 0.2 lbs....yep, pretty much maintaining...

Start Weight: 256 lbs

Current Weight: 147.2 lbs

Total Lost: 108.8 lbs
 
HAPPY FRIDAY!

1 Year Labs & a BIG girl fill

I got my 1 year post op labs back this week.  Comparing with my 6 month post op labs (April 2010):

The Good:

• Triglycerides are down from 235 to 166
• A1C is at 5.1 (down from 5.8)
• All vitamin levels are in the normal range, except...

The Not So Good:

• Vitamin B1 is very low at a "2".  Normal is 8+.  This is a common deficiency with those who do Atkins (high protein/low carb)....I don't really do low carb eating...i think?

So I ordered some B1 sublingual from vitalady.com.  No way am I going to attempt to choke down these huge pills I bought yesterday from the hippie skippie healthy vitamins store....not sure what I was thinking.

I also got a BIG girl fill today....I went in to the fill appt with the thought that I needed .2 or .3 cc at the most.  Well, the water went down so well, that I ended up getting .5 ccs.  We will see how it goes.  Maybe this is what I need to kick those last few pounds to the curb.

Weigh in day tomorrow!

PS: thanks for posting what you eat on your blogs and commenting in the post below.  Lots of great ideas for bandster meals!

What Do YOU Eat?

OK, now it's your turn! 

I challenge you to post a list of what you usually eat so we can all gets some good ideas and freshen up our food/meal ideas. I know I could use some new ideas.

Post your list on your blog.  I can't wait to see your lists! :)

What I Eat

I've been getting a lot of requests from you guys for a listing of what I usually eat everyday.  So here goes...keep in mind I only count protein and calories. And yes, I know that I need to eat more veggies/fruit.

Click on the chart to make BIG. :)

The Band....

...is not about restriction...it's about appetite suppression and staying fuller longer.

That is all.

Moving My Body Through Space

Ha ha ha...no, i'm not talking about going up in the space shuttle and landing on the moon.

I'm talking about EXERCISE. 

My lap band support group leader (Hi Mark!) says the phrase "Moving My Body Through Space" at least once during every monthly support group meeting.  What he means is get your body moving any which way you can.  Example: take extra trips to/from the car when unloading groceries to the house.  Got 10 bags of groceries? Then take 10 trips and lift those bags up and down while you're at it.  Find ways to be inefficient yet active.

Anyways, I have found a new way of "Moving My Body Through Space." 

Yep, I've been walk/running.  I noticed that I haven't been able to get my heart rate up or sweat enough (ewww) with just walking.  So, now I have been trying to run a block, then walk a block.  It is WAY EASIER to run with less weight to carry around (duh).  If someone had said to me a year ago that I would be running, I would have laughed at them and said "what are you smoking?"

Normal!

Yep, after 11 months of using the Wii Fit, it finally told me that my BMI is "normal"!

Weighing in on the Wii Fit board has always been a little depressing, it would always  go "wah-wah" (a rather sad noise) and then announce "that's obese" or "that's overweight."  Now it makes a little melody and my Mii claps and jumps up and down :)

I love my Wii - I still use it once or twice a week.

I have pre-ordered Zumba for the Wii on Amazon which is coming out this week, can't wait!  It should be delivered to my house in about a week.

Weigh-in Day...and the results are...

a loss of 1.7 lbs! yay!

Start Weight: 256 lbs
Current Weight: 147 lbs
Total Lost:  109 lbs

Less than two weeks to go to Thanksgiving (and ultimate) goal of 145lbs.  2 pounds to go.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

NOT Drinking with Meals

This has been something I had always struggled with since surgery. 

As most of you know, bandsters aren't supposed to drink with our meals...key phrase in that sentence is "supposed to".  There are a lot of "supposed to's" in my new lifestyle.  Like, "supposed to" exercise or "supposed to" take my vitamins...or my favorite: I'm "supposed to" stop eating when I feel full (that could be a whole other post in itself).

Anyways, I think I have finally made it a "way of life" for me and don't realize it much anymore.

Example: yesterday I was at a potluck and we were all sitting down to eat.  A friend said to me, "aren't you going to have something to drink, they're over there on the table."  I hadn't even looked for the drinks prior to sitting down, it is just second nature now not to seek out a drink when eating.  FINALLY!  Only took over a year to get to this point...!

PS: Weigh-in day is tomorrow.

Fun With Fat Photos...

From the last 10+ years...

Well, I Guess It's Official Now

Over the past few months, I have been getting interesting looks and comments from various retail people and especially the TSA at the airports....when I would show them my drivers license when paying with a credit card or going through security...

So, last week when I was having an especially good hair day, I decided it was time to get a replacement ID photo.

Here's the comparison for you.  Current ID on the top and old ID (from June 2007) on the bottom. 

Looks like I lied about my weight back then too.  More accurate would have been 260lbs.  I also had them put my goal weight on the new one....3 lbs to go!

PS: I was amazed at how congratulatory and happy the DMV folks were about this ID renewal.  I guess they really do know how to smile.

Cheering You All On!

I see the Holiday Challenge begins today for many of you.

Congrats on setting some great and attainable goals...I know you can do it!

I'll be here with my pom poms cheering you all on :)

Rant

Long, long ago...way before surgery I made a decision that I was never going to be the "food police" to anyone else.

What people eat is their business, their choice, etc.  I don't care what goes in your mouth.  I have never said "you shouldn't eat that" or "are you really going to eat that?"  or any other version of that....I do this mainly because I know I hate it when anyone plays "food police" with me.

I try to set a good example in my food choices and portions, but that's all that I do.

What I don't understand, is now when I go out to eat with people, sometimes they insist on making excuses of why they are ordering a certain menu item.  Recent examples include, "I haven't eaten much today, I'm going to get the cheeseburger, terrible I know." or  "I am so bad, but I'm getting that pie for dessert."

People never used to do this when I was heavy.

I want to shake them and say "I DO NOT CARE.  Eat what you want."

OK, my rant is over.

But wait, now I'm wondering, when I weighed 250+ lbs, did I used to say things like that to justify my food choices?

100lbs down - Reward

I am a big believer in rewarding one's self at large milestones in a weight loss journey.

It's important to realize all that hard work to achieving those goals.

I hit the 100 lbs lost mark a few weeks ago and have been debating whether I would do another spa day as I talked about in THIS POST.  But then I thought, why not something I can wear?

Well, my UGG boots (from 1997!) have always been a winter basic for me, especially since moving to the wilderness of Oregon.  I put them on the other day for the first time since February...and guess what - they were too big!  Size 9s...looked like floppy clown shoes on my feet.  So I passed them along to a coworker who will enjoy them.

So today I went to my local (and only) UGG seller.  I picked myself up a new pair in size 7!

Weigh-in Day...and the results are...

a loss of .6 lbs. 

Starting Weight: 256 lbs
Current Weight: 148.7 lbs
Total Lost: 107.3 lbs

3.7 lbs until GOAL!

Not contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic...

and not contributing to my calorie count for the day...trick-or-treaters can choose either eyeball bouncy balls or vampire teeth.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Weigh-in Day...and the Results are...

A loss of  2.1 lbs.  I am so glad that that crazy plateau is busted!

Pounds to lose to get to goal: 4.3

Total lost: 106.7 lbs

Happy Friday!

Confession Time

I went to a lunch meeting yesterday at a Chinese restaurant in town. 

Our hosts were so kind to make it a Halloween themed meeting for us.  (note: hint of sarcasm).  Therefore, "Fun Size" Reeses PB cups, KitKats, M&Ms, Twix, etc were spread down the middle of all the banquet tables. 

I bet you can guess what happened next...

While waiting for the food to arrive, I enjoyed:

• 1 KitKat
• 2 M&M Peanut packages
• 1 Reeses PB cup (the reg size, not minis)

Then I ate:  Mar Far Chicken...not sure why people think this is Chinese.  Anyways, it is chicken pieces breaded and deep fried. with lots of sweet/sour sauce.  Yum. 

A lunch of poor food choices.

That is all.

PS: Weigh-in tomorrow.

Want to Know What Makes Me ANGRY!?!!?

Are you ready to get angry too?  Well check out this article on Marie Clare.  

THIS BLOG by a bariatric doctor did an excellent post on this article today.  Love that response comment he posted by Jezebel.

What do you think?

PS: I love, love, love that "Mike & Molly" Show.  Just watched it on the DVR last night.  :)

Fat No More

My surgeon's practice put on a special seminar last night that featured a 2 hour presentation/talk from Gail Engebretson who is 7+ years out from gastric bypass surgery.  She has maintained her weight loss of 170lbs and has written this  BOOK called "Fat No More; Long-Term Success Following Weight-Loss Surgery".  I will be reading the book over the next few weeks and will post a review.

The main theme of the evening was fear on gaining the weight back.  This was perfect for me as this has been something that I have been thinking about lately.

During the break, I did get a chance to speak with Gail briefly.  My question..."Do you still count calories?"  The round about answer she gave me was ...yes, sort of, I keep an eye on what I eat daily.  Hmmm....I'm still thinking about that...

Once I am done reading the book and review, I will pass the book along to the blogosphere with a giveaway of some sort.  It's a signed copy too!

How I make it happen...at work

Here's how I make my healthy eating/lifestyle happen while I am at work.

This is all routine for me now, but it took awhile for it to become second-nature. 

Here's a pic from my desk today:

From Left to Right:

• Pink Post-It Note: I start a new note each day and keep track of protein and calories.  I take it home with me at the end of the day to keep tracking my intake.
• Vitamins.  I take my B12 and Calcium/D chews in the morning at work.
• Water    I use a 16.9 oz bottle so I have to get up every few hours to refill it in the cafeteria. Keeps me moving up and down the hallway.  I know that I am on track if I have drank at least 4 bottles before I leave for the day.
• Mini-Fridge: I know that not all of us have this option, but there is usually a communal fridge in most offices.  If you open my mini-fridge right now you will find: 4 x Fage 2% yogurts, Skim Milk, and String Cheese.  If you ask my male coworkers what they think is in the mini-fridge, they'll say beer.  :)

Here's a pic of my desk drawer:

From Left to Right:

• Sugar Free Oatmeal: 100 calories and great in a pinch for a quick snack
• Hot Cocoa mix: 25 calories
• Soup (at the top): 70 calories
• Crystal Light drink mixes (Target flavors are the best in my opinion)
• Calcium/Vit D bites

What do you do to be successful with your healthy lifestyle while you're away from home?

Playing "Jared"

Yep, I guess it's about time for me to show some "Playing Jared" photos...You know Jared, from Subway?  I eat Subway a few times a week. :)  Usually a english muffin size Sunrise sandwich with no bacon and with egg white. For lunch.  yum.

Anyways, back to Jared, here he is:

Now it's my turn!  I saved two pieces of clothing from my "before" days.  A pair of shorts and a pair of work pants.  They were TIGHT before I began my journey, I remember the waist bands used to rub on my belly and leave red marks by the end of the day.

please ignore my fabulous workout hair....

Size 22W Jean Shorts:

Size 22 Petite Lane Bryant work pants: