I’m Getting Skinnier and People Are Getting Nicer

I am experiencing a new phenomenon recently (well, new to me at least) that I just don't understand. 

People are nicer to me now that I'm not so fat.  There...I said it.

An example?  On my recent flights/travels from Chicago back to Oregon, three...yes THREE  separate men (of course) asked me if they could help me with my suitcase...help lift it into the overhead compartment of the plane, carry it down the stairs for me, etc.

I've been flying 4 to 5 times a year with this exact same carry-on suitcase for about 3 years.  In those three years, no one ever offered the fat girl help with her suitcase.  NEVER. 

Is it a subconscious and/or a human nature thing that people automatically are nicer to the less fat folks?  Am I guilty of this in my own way I treat others?  Something I need to start being more aware of...

I think that I'm just going to shut up about it and enjoy this friendlier world emerging before my eyes.

A Fill and Monthly Tracking...

Yep, got a fill today.  Not exactly earth-shattering news...

.6cc fill for a total of 6.4 ccs in my 10 cc band.  I can really feel it. 

The NP did the fill using what I like to call the "stand up" method, she's done it this way once before:

• I lay on the table, she gets the syringe into the port and locks it in, then I stand up with the syringe still in and I drink some water. 
• She puts in .8 ccs (I asked for this amount) but the water wasn't hardly going down, so she took out .2ccs and drank water again, and it went down slowly. 
• So that's how I ended up with .6 ccs.

Do you guys get your fills this way using the "stand up" method? I'm sure there's some official scientific name for this procedure/method.

Anyways, here's my monthly tracking...spreadsheets are my BFFs.  The weightloss has really slowed down as I approach my goal of 145lbs:

I would like to be at my goal weight of 145 lbs by Thanksgiving 11/25.  That's a loss of 1 pound on average per week.  The NP did say I need to be careful to not lose muscle weight, but rather lose fat.  We will see...

Zumba tonight! :)

Chicago Recap!

Hello Everyone!

I am currently on my flight home on this not so sunny Monday morning...thank you Alaska Airlines for the WiFi...and the cookies...sigh.

What an amazing weekend!  It was incredible to meet so many people in person that I have been learning from this past year.  It was like all these avatars came to life and walked out of my laptop screen.  Wow!

I am already thinking about next year's BOOBs get together...this will be an annual event right?  Someone mentioned a cruise for our venue...great idea!

Well, it's back to reality and work tomorrow for me.  I also have a fill scheduled for tomorrow morning...I need a big girl fill too...I am gonna ask for .8cc.  Let's see if I get it...

Chicago Segway!

We took an awesome Segway Tour this morning with City Segway Tours.  Tons of FUN!

BOOBS Dinner Pics!

First of all...here's me in my dress...size Medium...!

Pics of everyone at the fabulous dinner that was so well organized by the BOOBs crew!

First 5k....check!

First Pics from BOOBs!

Havin' fun at the first annual BOOBs (Band Of Outrageous Babes) Bandster Meet-up

See some familiar faces?

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

a loss of 1.3 lbs. 

yay! 

Total lost: 101.4 lbs.

I have also revised my goal weight to 145lbs.  That will put me in the "normal" BMI range.  I can't believe that I am 9.6 lbs from my goal....maintenance is just on the horizon...

PS: my 11 month bandiversary came and went this week...9/20 (monday).  I am working on my 1 year bandiversary post...it will be long...and hopefully informative for those who are just starting their lapband /weightloss journeys.

BOOBS Questionnaire

Here's the questionnaire from the Band of Outrageous Babes (BOOBS) blog.

It's all filled out for your reading pleasure:

1) You’re trapped on a desert island and you can bring only 3 of your favourite foods along. What do you bring?

• Do calories not count on this deserted magical island?  Of course they don't! :)
• In-N-Out Double Double Cheeseburgers
• Mountain Dew
• Ben and Jerry Ice Cream, flavor: "Everything But The.."       
• It's interesting that I haven't had any of these in over a year...and don't really crave them that often. crazy!

2) If you could meet any 3 people, living or dead, who would they be and why?

• Eva Peron: a strong woman for her time...a revolutionary!
• Jane Austen: again, a woman who was ahead of her time and who wrote some pretty great books.
• My great-grandma Alice.  My Aunts and Dad say I am just like her in many ways...still not sure why.  Here's a pic of her from the 1950's on the farm in Iowa  She was born in 1903:

3) What is your stripper name? (take the name of your first pet and the name of the street you grew up on)

• Dusty Sea Horse  (?)

4) What is your LEAST favourite part of your bod since losing weight? Your MOST favourite since losing weight?

• Least Favorite: Inner Thighs...too much skin...elephant skin...sigh
• Most Favorite: collar bones.

5) Do you believe in ghosts or evil spirits? Would you be willing to spend a night alone in a house that is supposedly haunted?

•  ABSOLUTELY!  YES!  I love that TV show "Ghost Hunters" Sign me up.  I also totally believe that those small white orbs that occasionally show up in photos are spirits (not specks of dust on your camera lens).

6) What is your natural hair colour? If you dye it something completely different from what your momma gave ya, how come?

• Auburn....yes, I get it highlighted with light brown/blond

7) Bikinis or granny panties?

• I used to be totally granny panties (to cover the hugeness that was my ass), but now I have discovered the huge amount of choices of undies in the regular sizes...who knew!  I'm trying out kind of styles to see what I like best...stay tuned.

8) If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? (Trilogies do not count as one movie, cheaterpantses!)

• It's a tie..."Notting Hill" and "Love Actually".  Yep, cheesy chick flicks!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE London and anything having to do with it...lived there for a few months during college. 

9) What is your guilty pleasure (feel free to go straight to the gutter with this one if the spirit moves you!)

• Reality TV...anyone watching The Real Housewives of DC?  It's getting good!  Amazing Race starts Sunday.

10) How many pounds gone forever are you celebrating?? :)

• About 100 (so far)!

My First Vlog!

Click here: Adventures With Pemberley

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

A GAIN of  1 lb. 

Total lost:  100.1 lbs

How did this GAIN happen?

Well, let's see here, there were many factors at play:

• With out-of-town family visiting, absolutely no exercise happened.  That's what happens when you're too busy having fun :o)
• Lots of eating out and snacking.
• I really need a fill

How I have gotten back on my healthy habits routine:

• Exercise plan:


• Zumba: last night (thurs), Saturday AM, Tues PM, and Thursday PM
• Walking: Sunday


• Eating plan:


• Yesterday, I threw away all remaining snacks, chips, cookies, bread, cereal,and other goodies leftover in the house from the family visit.  These are all trigger foods for me so out they go!
• Went grocery shopping for my usual healthy stuff: greek yogurt, cottage cheese, skim milk, veggies, chicken breasts...

PS: after seeing recent photos of myself, I am re-evaluating my goal weight.  All of my health goals have been achieved (no more blood pressure meds, etc), so perhaps 145 is more reasonable?  I think that will put me at a solid size 8 in most brands of clothes... I am still thinking about this...stay tuned.

An Award!

A few lovely ladies have nominated me for an award!  Here are the rules:

1.  Answer the question: If you had one chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?  I try to live with no regrets and therefore every thing that happens in my life is a learning experience, good or bad.


2.  Pick 6 people and give them this award. You then have to inform the person that they have been selected for the award.  It's too difficult to choose just 6.  Everyone's blogs are so instrumental to my weight-loss journey.  If you are reading this, you are nominated! :)


3. You have to thank the person (people) who gave you the award.
A BIG Thank You goes out to The Banded Lady & Bonnie of Banded & Proud of It

Another FUN weekend!

My Sister (Kat) and Brother-in-law (Jon) came for a visit and we've been having fun!  Two days off from work!

We went for a jet boat ride down the Rogue River (which included brunch) - here are some pics:

Jon & Kat on the boat:

Kat & I     brrrrr!    it was a chilly morning!

A random photo of me from this weekend...I still don't feel that I am this size...my mind hasn't caught up with my changed body:

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

First of all, thanks for all your awesome reply comments on yesterday's post...there are definitely ups and downs on this journey...and have to keep reminding myself that it is always a learning experience.

Onwards to the weigh-in...I had a loss of 1.6. 

This means that I have lost:  101.1 lbs !!!!!

If you remember MY POST from December, I've now lost the equivalent of a 2 month old horse.

I did a half our of Zumba toning and then the regular 1 hour of Zumba yesterday...lots of sweat and calories burned.

I am also reevaluating my final goal of 140 lbs.  This was a number that I chose a year ago that sounded "good".  It seemed so far away and unattainable when I chose it.  However I am getting closer to it everyday.

I'm feeling good in my size 10 (and sometimes 8) clothes and am not sure how much more I should lose.  I'm thinking that a solid size 8 in clothes will be my non-scale goal.  Maybe that will be in another 10 lbs? 

Happy Friday!

I wish there was an "undo" button...

Last weekend's food choices and volume of food was TERRIBLE.

All those nibbles and tastes really added up.

My morning weigh-ins this week have been shocking...way too high.  I wish I could find the "undo" button for last weekend's food choices... 

My next fill is 9/28.  The earliest available appointment.  Sigh...

So, as a result I have been trying to get back to basics. 

I have been doing the full liquid diet (gasp! crazy, I know)...on Tues, Wed, and today.  I haven't had my protein shakes in many, many months...I forgot about how many options there are in soup aisle at the grocery store.  I usually like to get my nutrition from real solid foods...so it's been challenging.

I have been keeping up with my walking and Zumba classes (yay!)

We will have to wait and see what tomorrow's weigh-in will look like.

Weekend of FUN (with Pics!)

First of all, thanks for your kind comments on my size 8 skirt NSV post.  You guys are great!

OK, now on to the fun and busy weekend!

My good friend Amy who lives 5+ hours away came to visit.  I haven't seen her since February, so we had lots to catch up on.

We went to a local town here in Oregon called Jacksonville, which is a "wild west" old cowboy town with cute shops and restaurants:

We had a tasty lunch at a outdoor patio bistro in Jacksonville HERE.  I had the crab cakes...YUM!

On Sunday, we went to a food/wine event where there were lots of tastings of EVERYTHING...way too much.  But tasty!  Here we are at the event:

We also managed to squeeze in a Zumba class and a 2.5 mile fast walk (40 mins) around the neighborhood. Hopefully I burned off all those calories, or at least some of them. :)

FUN WEEKEND!

NSV!

Non-Scale Victory Alert!!!!

Back from shopping at the GAP with my good friend Amy.

I tried on a size 8 skirt...and it fit!  woo-hoo!

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

a loss of .9 lbs.  Total lost: 99.5 lbs.

Happy Friday!

Are you a Zumba Newbie?

Well, I was in your shoes in January of this year. 

I was pretty scared that I wouldn't be able to do the moves correctly or would look like a crazy fool.  However, I sucked it up and went. 

Now, I can't believe that I have stuck with Zumba for almost 9 months!  I have never done anything healthy for my body for a straight 9 months...dieting, exercise....anything. 

I think the reason I have stuck with it is that it's fun and never boring.  The other day I got on my treadmill (AKA The DREADmill) and could barely get through 20 minutes of walking before I was bored out of my mind.  By the way, the treadmill is set up right in front of a TV - but still boring.

Anyways, my Zumba instructor Annie has a WEB PAGE that has all kinds of info for newbies and her current Zumba attendees.  Dance steps, music recommendations, etc.  If you are brave enough, click on the the photos at the bottom of that page...and there you will see me (ack!) in Zumba class.

PS: I had a fill on Monday (+.4ccs) so I am back in the game with some restriction. yay!