Internet Down...

My internet is down at home - so I won't be posting much until it gets fixed.

Trying to stay focused with my eating...there is a bowl of chocolate mint truffles nearby my office....must resist!

Quick post...

I am trying to decide what to do for exercise today...step class at the gym or a 2.5 mile walk around the neighborhood....hmmmm.....

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

a loss of 1.3 lbs.  Total lost: 88.7 lbs

Happy Friday!

Support Group Tonight

My surgeon's practice support group is in about an hour....

I am hoping that there will be more bandsters who are 1+ yrs out from surgery there tonight.  It seems that there are mainly new bandsters at my support group, which is good, so I can share tips and ideas, however I sometimes would like to hear from folks who are farther in their journey than me.

Do you attend a support group for bandsters near you?  Do you find it useful in your weightloss journey?

8 month bandiversary *edited*

8 months ago today, I had lap band surgery...

It's been an amazing ride of ups and downs, but overall I am glad I made the decision to get healthy and lose weight.

I still have about 28 lbs left to lose to get to my goal weight of 140lbs (116 lbs lost).  I know I can do it!

Here are some photos from day of surgery (10/20/09). I stayed overnight in the hospital.

I can't believe that I have never shared these pics with you guys!  Hopefully this doesn't scare any soon-to-be bandsters out there :)

Immediately post-op:

High as a kite on pain meds:

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

a loss of 2 lbs.   87.4 lbs lost total.

Happy Friday everyone!

Hypno Band

Interesting article for you about hypno banding  http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/features/people/cumbria-woman-loses-weight-with-new-hypno-band-1.712140?referrerPath=home

Anybody out there have the "hypno band" procedure?

What do you all think?

150!

Followers, that is....

Thank you all for checking in on me, reading my ramblings, and random thoughts.  Your support is appreciated more than you know.

I am wishin' and hopin' that my weight will be in the 160s on weigh in on friday...I am focusing on eating well and excercising so that will be a reality.  I'm in serious uncharted territory at this weight...I was maybe 11 yrs old last time I weighed this little...

Hope you all have a great Wednesday.

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

A loss of 4.5 lbs!  wow!  Total loss: 85.4lbs.

This past week I have been going "back to basics" as my weight loss had slowed down over the past few months...

I had my Unjury protein shakes (which I haven't had since November).  I usually had one for breakfast and ate things that qualified under the "full liquid" diet....yogurt, etc.  However I did make it to Wendys and Taco Bell this week too...

Full liquids is not something I could do over a long period of time, but this week's "kick start" has got the ball rolling again...

What's on your shopping list?

I made a quick stop at the grocery store today to pick up a few items. I didn't have time to check out the produce, but I usually pick up spinach, arugula, other greens.

How different my shopping list is these days (compared with 8+ months ago).

I've learned to bring home only healthy stuff, so I am not tempted. If I really want something that is a trigger food for me (Cold Stone Ice Cream for example) I go out and eat it and be done with it, not bringing it into the house for further temptation...

From Left to Right:

• Flour Fajita-Size Tortillas (i put one in the oven to make crispy, then top/spread with stuff)
• Evaporated milk to make one of my usuals: custard - See this POST for a tasty recipe
• Cottage Cheese (must be Knudsen, I'm a cottage cheese freak)
• Chobani Vanilla Greek yogurt (16g of protein!)
• Eggs
• Skim Milk
• Genisoy Soy crisps, sea salted, kinda like mini rice cakes (yum, seriously)
• Hummus

PS: today's confession: I ate TWO chocolate truffles at work...each are 170 calories....sigh.

Size 12!

Went to Target...I tried on and fit into size 12 shorts! Woo hoo!

Flexible Spending Account - Are Fills Covered?

Quick question for you financial experts out there...I am thinking of signing up for my company's Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for this upcoming year.

For those of you who have a FSA through work, do you know if lap band fills are considered a valid medical expense? I have reviewed this document....and I'm still confused.

My surgeon's practice charges $125 per fill appt....so it's worth looking into...

Thanks!

Fun with Fat Photos...

All photos: 255 lbs+

Bahamas, 2006

Disney World, 2005

Gingerbread House Building, 2007

Quick NSV (non-scale victory)

I was over at a friends house today and we went into the garage to look at a car they are working on restoring...

Well, their car was parked pretty close to the wall and I thought to myself, "there's no way I'm gonna fit through there..."

My friend even pointed out by saying something like "you can fit through there, see?" and sure enough, I fit past the car with no problems...NSV!

My "fat" brain sometimes needs these reminders of how much my size has changed in the past 8 months...

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

a loss of 1.1 lb....BMI 29.9

I am officially no longer Obese. I am overweight now! yay!

80 lbs gone!

So if you remember this post from December, I have lost the equivelant of the worlds largest ball of tape.

I worked damn hard for that 1.1 lbs this week...two Zumba classes and two 2.5 mile walks (hills around the neighborhood).

Happy Friday Everyone!

Cards!

I know that some of you bandsters are very private about your lap band journey...it's a chance for you to share some serious feelings, what's going on in your life, and your weight (which is a sensitive subject, banded or not). I totally get that and understand how blogging is like a private journal or diary that you only share with certain people.

In contrast, I'm rather an "open book" with my journey. I share my blog address with anyone who asks or shows an interest. I especially like to share my blog link with those fellow bandsters at my surgeon's support group. I noticed at support groups that I was writing my blog link on backs of receipts, slips of paper, etc. So for about $8 (incl shipping) I designed my own business cards (250!) to hand out when someone asks for it.

I blurred out my real name, which appears at the bottom of the card (for internet security purposes). I wish that I had used all white lettering...oh well, still gets the job done.

I made the cards at vistaprint.com (I have no affiliation with this company, I just noticed they were the cheapest)