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

A loss of 1.6 lbs. That's a total of 75.1lbs lost so far.

I am noticing that the weight is coming off slower now than the first 5 months or so. I averaged 10 lbs a month loss before and now it's about 5 lbs loss for April...

Could it be because I am exercising (ZUMBA!) more? or maybe this is just par for the course? very mysterious....

New Bandster Needs Advice!

Hello Everyone,

Please go over and visit "Christine" at Magic Cat Purrs. She is 13 days away from banding surgery and is looking for some support and advice.

PS: tomorrow is my weigh-in day...I'm hoping for a total lost of 75lbs....let's see if it happens.

A shout-out to the Newbies!

I'm back from my surgeons lap banders support group. The group was primarily made up of newbies scheduled for surgery or those thinking about getting the band.

Hearing the newbie's comments about why they're getting the surgery reminded me why I decided to get the surgery and pursue better health for me. It was good to have this reminder! Sometimes when I am being tempted by free samples of chocolate truffles at work or resisting Starbucks Vanilla Frappiccinos, it's good to think about the big picture of why I chose the band.

I gave the newbies my blog address so they may possibly stop in by to comment or visit any of our bandster blogs. This is such a key time for learning all we can tell them about the band.

On a completely separate topic, does anyone else have difficulties with popcorn? I had a few bites of microwave popcorn today and it seemed to irritate my esophagus.....any thoughts?

Tuesday...

Hi Everyone,

Not much going on except...Zumba tonight!

I "friended" my Zumba intstructor on Facebook. She had her bday on her profile....and not only is she older than me, but she can do all the Zumba moves perfectly (umm...I guess that's why she's the instructor). I seriously thought she was 19 years old. So much for my excuse of "she's younger, that's why she can move like that." Sigh...

This last fill was perfection for about 6 days...and now I can't wait to get my fill on May 6. Just 9 days away.

My Splenda bubble has burst...I thought that Splenda had zero calories, so I've been cooking/baking with it. It turns out that 1 Cup of Splenda has almost 90 calories. In comparison, 1 Cup of Sugar has 800+ calories. I just need to count those 90 calories.

That's all for now...

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

A loss of 1 pound.

I Totally Forgot...

That Tuesday was my 6 month bandiversary....being a bandster is now just a "way of life" for me...so the milestones are sort of blending into the background...

I'm heading to Zumba tonight...I need to burn some of these calories...

Tomorrow is weigh-in day...after a long weekend away and eating all kinds of things (starbucks vanilla frappicinnos, BBQ, etc) I am hoping for any loss...

I will end this post with a quote from Winston Churchill "Success is not final, failure in not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

Keep fighting the good fight bandsters!

So Many Things to Catch Up On!

Hello Everyone!

Settle in and get comfy, this is going to be a long post...

I'm back from a long weekend away in Monterey, CA. It was great to have some time off and to catch up with family and friends. Some of these folks hadn't seen me since pre-op, so it was nice to hear the compliments on my weight loss. Even if the comments were a bit wierd....like "You're so pretty now, uh, not like you weren't pretty before" Whatever.

I did some awesome bargain outlet shopping at the Stick Insect Store (AKA Ann Taylor), seriously, look at their models on their website, they need to eat something. Anyways, I am now into size Larges in shirts and 14 petites in pants. I am really enjoying the fact that I have a good selection of clothes to choose from and not having to settle on whatever Lane Bryant is offering that season.

A BIG THANK YOU goes out to Jen at a SOUTHERN GIRL'S JOURNEY for the cute tops/shirts. They are perfect for the warm weather we will be having. I will be sure to pass them along to the sisterhood when I shrink out of them.

I am officially back at my sweet spot at 3.8ccs in my 10cc band. It's nice to be back here...I lost it for awhile due to seasonal allergies starting in early March. Let's hope this sweet spot sticks around.

I just read on a blog that there's a get-together for the bandsters called BOOBS in Chicago. Sounds like sooooooo much fun, I just need to make sure I can get the time off from work and start saving some $$. It would be so fun to meet everyone in person. I will try to make it.

Here are a few weekend NSVs:

1> At my parents place this weekend...they have a HUGE, steep, and long hill at the entrance of their subdivision. Growing up I can remember how I would avoid having to walk up it as I would have to stop a lot to rest and catch my breath. Well, this weekend I walked up it, TWICE, with out stopping.

2> I no longer need to take my Simply Sleep pill at night to help me sleep. I was a terrible sleeper when I was heavier so I always took a pill before bed. Well, my NP mentioned at my last appt that I try to go off of it. Sat night was the first night without it and haven't needed it since.

I will try to carve out some time to comment on your blogs, things are just crazy/buzy right now. Just know that I do read each and every one of your blogs, I just run out of time to comment.

Here's a beach pic from this weekend, See ya!

Mini Goal

I forgot to tell you about my mini-goal...

I would like to be at 174lbs (with clothes on!) by 5/24 when I have a follow up appt with my primary physician.

The reason for the 174lbs is that it would put my BMI at 29. No longer in the "Obese" range but rather in the "overweight" range of 25-29.

I'm currently at 183.5....so that would be a 9.5lb loss in about 5 weeks...I think that's a reasonable mini-goal.

I'm a little hung up on these numbers if you haven't noticed....that's my structured, "A-type" personality rearing its ugly head again....

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

a loss of 2.4lbs. Yay!

That's a total of 72.5lbs lost.

Happy Friday Everyone!

Fill!

I finally got my fill today...1 whole cc which brings me up to 3.8ccs in a 10cc band....still less than I had at surgery. Crazytown. Onwards to 24hrs liquids...

Tomorrow is weigh-in day....!

Fill appt moved up - YAY! (and a few NSVs)

Good news, my fill appt has been moved from the 29th to this thursday the 15th. Yay! I really need this fill. I actually ate bread today (I haven't eaten bread since before the pre-op diet 6+ months ago). I tried one of those egg white/cheese english muffin sandwiches from Subway. They're pretty good and low cal - high protein.

On to the recent NSVs:

1> I bought a size Large shirt at Kohls. Woot! I think the last time I wore a size large was 6th grade.

2> My primary care doctor reduced my blood pressure in half again. This is the last time it will be reduced, the next step will be to go off of them completely!

3> I painted my toesies last night, yes, I can actually reach them now! LOL

4> An average bath towel now wraps all the way around me. Even those skimpy towels at hotels.

Off to Zumba tonight!

I'm not a Sumo wrestler...

My Weight Watchers magazine came in the mail the other day (yay!). I always enjoy reading the articles, tips, and ideas. After all, I've always considered the lap band lifestyle "Weigh Watchers with a little help".

Whether or not you agree with that statement, I found a juicy little nugget of info in this months magazine about night eating (which is something I struggle with).

Here's the excerpt from page 29:

"Japanese Sumo wrestlers maintain their bulk with late-night eating sessions. Got that image in your head? Enough said"

Next time I find myself wandering into the kitchen for some after dinner snacking, I am going to think about that...

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

Down .4 lbs. I was for sure thinking that I was going to have a gain this week. But no complaints here...I'll take it! :)

This also brings me to 70.1lbs lost.

Happy Friday!

Stats for Gen

Here you go Gen...

Tomorrow's weigh in day...I am expecting a GAIN (gasp!)

Restriction Needed!

I'm back from Zumba class tonight. I am always so glad I went...even though I try to think of all kinds of excuses NOT to go (I never give in to those excuses of course).

I am having difficulties with my food choices in the evenings when I get home from work...so I am trying to focus on journaling my food. I never really went through Bandster Hell post-op, so maybe this is finally my turn for BH! hah! The fill is scheduled for the 19th since the NP is completely booked up solid. However I am first on the waiting list should anyone cancel their appt and then I'll get that fill sooner.

Any tips on getting through this phase?

Spring Has Sprung...

First of all...do you like my new layout of spring green colors?

On to the band...with only 2.8ccs in my 10cc band, it is definitely ALL up to me right now...NO RESTRICTION (to be expected)

I am now hungry usually 2 hours after eating (instead of 4 hours). Thoughts that are popping into my head now are "OOH! I bet I could eat bread now" or "I could probably eat Panda Express now" Luckily I am not indulging these thoughts...

My fill is scheduled for April 19th. The Claritin is working well on my allergies, so I am glad to have the next 3 weeks with no restriction to let everything calm down.

I just started reading a new book "Change Your Brain, Change your Body" by Daniel Amen. You may have seen his program on PBS. I have always thought that weightloss is a 75%+ mental thing....food addictions, emotional eating, etc. I will let you know how the book is...

That's all for now...Have a great weekend!

Weigh-in Day

Lost .4 lbs...yeah, pretty much to be expected after the major unfills. But I will take any loss that I can get. Happy Friday!

Does anyone else NOT see the humor in this Carl's Jr commercial?

Us bandsters can totally relate to how these folks are ordering their meals! LOL

Check it out HERE

PS: Tomorrow's weigh-in day!