Ever wondered what your band looks like inside you?

I went in for the unfill today and we checked out the band under flouro, including a barium swallow test.

I was relieved to learn that the band is exactly where it is supposed to be (no slips/etc). Here's a pic...you can even see my bra clasps...LOL. The Barium is the dark stuff.

I also got 2 whole ccs taken out, so now I am at 2.8ccs in my 10cc band. That is less than I had on the day of surgery (4ccs)...crazy thought indeed! We will see how I do...I can definitely eat more tonight than last night....and not a mushie either! yay. So why the unfill issues? We are thinking perhaps seasonal allergies, so I started on Claratin today to see if that works...

Here are some fun/cheesy pics we took today at my appt (me and the NP):

Random Updates

So let's see, here are some updates in no particular order...

-Band: The band is still a bit tight after the TWO unfills last week. My symptoms other than tightness is minor irritation in my throat/esophagus and my usual "full signal" of a twinge on my mid back area... Tomorrow I go for another unfill under flouro with the surgeon (who I haven't seen since my 1 week post op appt, I usually see the NP). I am trying not to think the worst about what could be the cause of the tightness. I'm thinking positive thoughts :)

-Food Choices: Due to the tightness I've been doing mostly full liquids and mushies. My food choices have been OK, I haven't been counting/tracking my intake...some ice cream (Ben & Jerry's of course) and apple juice (yum! high cal...sigh) made it into the house.

-Exercise: I am now doing Zumba twice a week. Yeah!

That's all for now....

Thank you Captain Obvious

Did we really need CNN to point this out? Like we don't know this already. Seriously.

Not a news flash...

Who is that girl? NSV

First of all....who is that girl? I certainly know who she is because I still see her in the mirror everyday....still. When will my brain catch up with my body?

Second, on to the NSV... a coworker (that sees me everyday) told me today that when she was walking by my office, she had to do a double-take and she thought "Who is that?" Then she looked again and realized it was me...

Weigh-in Day

Down 2.2lbs this week for a total loss of 69.3.

So close to 70lbs lost total.....

Another UNfill...

A whole 1CC.....that's a reduction of 1.3cc for the week...

sigh...

What I just walked by (and didn't eat) in the breakroom...

Chocolate Truffles....

Seriously?

WTF

Thinking of doing a VLOG....

Ok, so I've been watching everyone's awesome vlogs lately and was wondering if I should do one too? Kinda a scary thought...I think that I am a bit shy...

I always enjoy watching others vlogs, so maybe I should suck it up and just do it...

By the way...any tips on a sucessful vlog (uploading tips, etc)?

The Unfill

I went for my unfill yesterday and the NP took out .3ccs which brings me down to 5.8ccs in my 10cc band.

I definitely feel better...I am doing full liquids for a few days. She also prescribed Prevacid twice a day (before breakfast and then again before dinner) for 10 days. I don't think I have heartburn, however I will do as I'm told...maybe heartburn feels different when banded?

I was weighed/scanned at my unfill appointment. Turns out I have lost a total of 12 lbs since my last appt about 6 weeks ago (All the pounds lost were FAT, and I actually gained .5 of a pound of MUSCLE) Go ZUMBA!

I also went for my blood draw early this morning at 7am for my "6 month post-op labs." We will see how those turn out...

That's all folks...Zumba tonight! :)

Need some INSPIRATION?

Here's a bandster who's lost 100 pounds! Make sure to watch until the end for the before/after photos!

Turn up that volume

100!

100 Followers! My 100th follower is Jacquie at Can't wait to lose it with the Band!

I just wanted to thank all my followers for their continued support and comments on my blog. You guys are a huge help on this journey.

The old me on vacation...a photo montage!

A little photo montage from May 2008 for you. Showing the "old me" eating behaviors...sometimes I need these reminders.

Here goes:

The Old Me + Chicken Slouvaki Gyro + Athens, Greece =

Weigh in & 5 Month Bandiversary!

Today is my 5 month bandiversary! Time has flown by since my surgery day of October 20.

I just weighed in this morning and the weight was..........188.9. WOW! My weight starts with a "18"!

That's a 4 pound loss this week. Probably due to the extra exercise I did and being on mostly full liquids.

Total lost: 67.1 lbs.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Happy Friday!

It's Friday night and here I am....stuck at LAX waiting for my flight home....

I just enjoyed about a half a cup of delicious tomato basil creamy soup from the airport sandwich deli place...I am trying to not think about the sodium and cream content of what I just ate...no nutrition facts available

I'm looking forward to a nice sleeping in morning tomorrow!

Too Tight

My last fill (.1cc...a baby fill!) was on February 5. Yep, that's 6 weeks ago. I had perfect restriction from that fill up until about a week ago....when BAM....major restriction. No PB'ing or anything, just a general inflammation/stuck type feeling from my band up all the way up to the back of my throat.

I can still eat (less than before), but it just hurts a bit when I do, so I have an appointment for an unfill on Monday morning.

I've been trying to do full liquids as instructed by the NP until Monday, however it's a bit difficult while traveling for business. I've been enjoying my share of Starbucks Vivanno protein smoothies and chocolate Muscle Milk.

I'm currently at 6.1cc in my 10cc band.....I will probably ask for .1cc or .2cc to be removed...sounds about right?

PS: This weeks weigh-in will be postponed from tomorrow to Saturday due to traveling...

Giving 'em out like free samples at Costco?

I just counted 6, yes SIX, lap band billboard signs on the drive from LAX to my hotel in Anaheim...in just 45 minutes, wow. Is everyone getting' the band here in LA? LOL. I live in a small town in Oregon and I only know 4 people who have the band (most of which I met at my lap band support group).

I have just learned that this company who advertises on the billboards in LA are in a bit of trouble. Click HERE

Business Travel & Taxes

Two topics for today:

1> I am traveling for a work conference for the next few days and I'm already thinking/planning how I will make wise food choices. Do you have any tips for me on sucessful eating while traveling? What about excercising?

2> With tax time here, I just wanted to remind any American self-pay bandsters (like me) out there: The US government recognizes weightloss surgery as a medical expense. So be sure to take that deduction!

PS: NSV, I found some awesome work slacks/pants in size 14 that fit!! And on the Clearance rack! YAY!

PSS: Lap Band Support Group tonight :)

Book Review - "Half Assed"

I'm finally done reading the awesome book, Half Assed by Jennette Fulda

This book is a very honest account a woman's story of what it's like to grow up obese and how she overcame her obesity in her 20's through old fashioned diet and exercise. Her humor and personal stories will have that inner fatty inside you remarking "oh yeah, I hear ya sista!" So funny!

She does talk about how she started her weightloss blog and how she tried to "hide" behind it with her confessions. An interesting read!

A very straight-forward, honest, genuine book on a woman's struggle to lose weight.

The first person to respond to this post with the name/link of Jennette's blog will win the book! I will mail the book to you. (USA address only, sorry).

The scars do fade!

I see that there are a few recent-ops or soon to be bandsters out there and therefore, I thought I would share how much my scars have faded since my surgery on Oct 20.

Left photo is from day of surgery and the right photo is from today.

You can see that all five scars are smaller and lighter.

Now, only if they could figure out a miracle cream that would get rid of those stretch marks. LOL

Weigh in Friday!

Down 1.2 lbs today. That's 63.1 lbs total since I began the pre-op diet in early October.

It was a bit lower in the week, but it only counts on Friday! I am happy for a loss, especially after the cruise eating shenanigans.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Sudden Restriction and Continued Confusion

Ok, my band continues to confuse me...last week on the cruise I was able to shove way too much food in my pie-hole. On Monday, I was even thinking of calling for a fill appointment.

Fast forward to yesterday and BAM....restriction has arrived! I can feel my band (not pain, just feel it) all day long...which is kinda weird. I can still eat all the usual foods, like today I had my favorites from Taco Bell.

Anyone have this issue?

At first, I was thinking, oh yeah, stress from work is probably the culprit or maybe it's due to the weather which has been colder lately... who knows.

Any advice?

Nowadays...

I came across a great thread on the ObesityHelp.com message boards today. Bandsters were sharing how their lives are different "nowadays".

Here's my "Nowadays" list:

• I eat off of very small plates.
• I go in the pool without a big cover up.
• I can meet old friends without being embarrassed by my weight.
• I feel more healthy and am no longer winded when I get up and move.
• I don't mind climbing the stairs at work
• I don't feel like I am dieting just because I am eating less
• I'm looking forward to summer
• I can sit with my legs crossed
• Sleep quality at night is better than ever...and no more naps during the day.
• I walk towards the scale, not away from it.
• I enjoy shopping for clothes, I don't dread it.
• I walk past the candy dish at work.
• I stay hydrated with actual WATER.
• I park in the furthest parking space instead of driving around 5 times looking for the closest spot.
• I do not dread formal events, but can't wait to dress up
• Sitting too long is literally painful
• I shop in the regular sized clothes section

What's on your "Nowadays" List?

Spreadin' The Sunshine!

A big THANK YOU to Julie and Dawn for nominating me for the Sunshine Award!

The sunshine award "is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogging world."

Once you receive one, then you:
1. Post the logo on your blog.
2. Pass the award on to 12 fellow bloggers.
3. Link the nominees
4. Let nominees know they have won this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person you received this award from.

I nominate all my followers who read and support me on my journey each day! Thank you for your support!

Cruise Pics!

Here are the promised cruise pics.

First, here's a pic from the plane ride....NSV...look at that extra bit of seatbelt!

So many choices to order for dinner.....

Warning....FOOD PORN alert! Desserts were my downfall/weakness on this cruise. Sigh.

Can't wait to see what the scale shows on Friday's weigh-in....

Lastly, Horseback riding in Cabo:

I'm BACK! (sort of)

Happy Friday to all you lovely bandsters out there!

I'm currently floating in the middle of the Pacific ocean on the beautiful Sapphire Princess cruise ship. I've had a great week of cruising to Mexico and back. Tomorrow we get off in LA and then it's back to reality! No more room steward to clean up after me and no more 24 hour buffet (kinda a good thing actually).

On the band-news department....I have successfully had a week of lots of challenging food choices. While I did enjoy myself and had a few "no-no's", I didn't PB, slime, or any of those scary/painful things (yet) that you guys sometimes blog about. Chew, chew, chew! I knew I was eating proper sized portions when the waiter would ask "didn't you like your food? I can bring you something else?"

I can't wait to post photos from the cruise on here.... lots of formal night pics too!

I will catch up on all of your blogs this weekend, I promise.

PS: major non-scale victory: I went horseback riding on the beach in Cabo. The weight limit was 240lbs. Pre-band I would have been too heavy. yay!