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