Update: Operation Swimsuit

It is now 30 days into "Operation Swimsuit" which began on March 1. 

Check out the original post HERE if you missed it.

Here are some updates on my plan:

• Increase the strength training exercises for toned legs, arms, and abs: I have been doing more strength training with an extra Jazzercise class each week. The 20 minutes of weight-lifting is really helping.  I am noticing that my size medium undies are getting the "saggy butt".  Time for size smalls I guess? At least something is getting smaller.
• I have ordered two tankinis from Lands End that arrive next week.  I don't think that I am brave enough to show you pics of me in the suits.  I have never worn a two-piece in my life, so we have to see if they work for my body.
• My body fat percent has reduced from 32% in February to about 28% now...headed in the right direction.  Working towards my goal of 25%.  Pre-Band I was 52% body fat.

PS: Weigh-in Day Tomorrow!

Workout Wednesday!

Post-Jazzercise!

Sports Bras, Allergies, and Stress, Oh My!

I had a fill scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

But I cancelled it.

Why?

• My seasonal allergies have really kicked in lately, and for me, that means increased restriction.
• Things at work are a little stressful right now, and for me, that means increased restriction.
• Lastly, I have major restriction when I wear a sports bra.  Crazy indeed!  I eat dinner before working out so I have to make sure to eat first, then change into the workout gear.

It's a triple whammy right now on the restriction.  I can still eat most foods, just less.

PS: next time I do have a fill, I am going to see if the medical assistant (or a friend) will video the fill so you can all see the "stand up" method of getting a fill.  My fave method.

PSS: Tomorrow is Workout Wednesday!  Post pics of your fabulous glowing selves.

PSSS: Off to Zumba now. :)

Fat Girl Fridays

Something has been happening lately that I need share with you all.

After my Friday weigh-in, I end up eating horribly....ALL DAY. 

I have begun to call this phenomenon, Fat Girl Fridays.  Why?  Because I turn back into a fat girl and all of my old 256 lb-self behaviors creep back in to my environment.  Taco Bell, Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs, Pizza, Cake, I could go on and on and on.

Then, the Fat Girl Fridays sometimes lead to No Exercise Saturdays...it's a slippery slope. Sigh.

Therefore, I am recognizing this behavior for what it is and have made a plan for this Friday:

• I WILL eat sensibly and balanced.
• I WILL workout once during the weekend.

No excuses.

One of the Best Videos...EVER

All I have to say is "Amen, Sista!"

Shoe Shopping!

I bought some cute shoes this week that I thought I would share with you.  

When I weighed 256+ lbs, I wore size 9 or 9.5 wide shoes.  Now I wear 7 or 7.5 regular width.

I notice that it's a lot easier to wear high heels when I don't have to carry around an extra 111 lbs.  Amazing!

Both are 4" heels:

Of course, here's my cat, Pemberley, snoopervising the shoe modeling :)

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

Goal Weight: 145.0 lbs

Today's Weight: 144.0 lbs

Happy Friday!

Are You Alone On Your Island?

Have I told you how fabulous the blog "Refuse To Regain" is?  Please stop by and check it out.

Barbara's post today really hit home for me. 

She talks about how it is key to surround yourself with others who are going through the same issues as you so support/ideas/etc can be shared.

She even has an analogy for us:
Everyone you know is having a great time swimming in the ocean. The only problem is that the ocean is terribly polluted.

Large blobs of chocalatey brown oil are bobbing all over the surface. People are swimming through them, swallowing bits and inhaling the fumes, yet they claim they are enjoying themselves. You see this going on and become increasingly concerned about the danger.

Suddenly, you see a beautiful island. Exhausted from the drag of the oily sea, you pull yourself up onto the shore. Like a pelican in the Gulf, you are coated in oil. You set to work on the laborious task of cleaning it all off. Finally, spent but relieved, you turn to look at the beautiful place where you've found rescue. There's only one problem: you are all alone on the island. 

Almost everyone who tries to accomplish transformation feels like the odd-man out. Eating mindlessly while complaining about health and weight is a cultural norm. We are social beings and living life in another permutation ostracizes us to some degree. It becomes increasingly difficult to avoid the pressure to return to the fold.

Can you relate to this analogy?  I totally can.

In my real day-to-day life (not online), I often feel like that I am the only inhabitant on my "maintenance" island. 

Very rarely do I hear anyone talk about or bring up the topic of exercise or making good food choices.  The usual conversations that I hear are what yummy/decadent food/drink will be consumed that day or at the upcoming weekend.  Where they are going to eat out...etc.   It never changes.

Am I not looking hard enough for more inhabitants on my  "Maintenance" Island?  Perhaps.  I know that they are out there.

I am so happy that I do have all of the online support from fellow bandsters and weight watchers.  I appreciate all your comments and positivity!

PS: Weigh-in day tomorrow.

Workout Wednesday! **pic added**

I see that there are already some new posts out in the interwebs for Workout Wednesday this morning.

Here are a few of my favorites so far today:

• Plush Belle is rocking the kettebell workout HERE
• Dawnya is sporting her workout glow HERE

Here I am sporting my post-Jazzercise "glow."

What are you doing today for activity and exercise?

Maybe park farther away from the store when you go shopping today? 

Maybe take a 15 minute walk around the neighborhood? 

Every little bit helps and adds up to a healthier YOU.

The Mind Games That I Play!

As I've said over and over, the journey with the lap band is 50%+ mental. 

I know how lazy and easily tempted I can be at times, so here are some random things I do to keep myself on track:

• Pucker Up!: I will sometimes purposefully put on lip gloss or lipstick (especially when I am out and about).  For some reason, in my wacky brain, I know that if I eat or drink anything, it will rub off and be "wasted".  Totally weird, but it works for me.
• Empty Pockets: When I go to refill my water bottle in my company's cafeteria or when I go for a walk around my neighborhood, I do not have any money on me.  So when I walk past the case of cookies in the cafeteria or the donut shop that is two blocks away from my house, I can't buy anything.
• Get in Gear: I usually have about an hour of time to kill in between arriving home and when I leave to go to workout.  When I get home, I immediately put on my workout gear so that I am ready to run out the door with no excuses.  Let me tell you, I can come up with lots of GREAT excuses not to work out. (the weather/tired/stressed/hungry/etc)
• Spread The Word: For those of you who I am friends with of Facebook, you've seen me do this time and time again.  I announce what exercise (usually Zumba or Jazzercise) that I am going to be doing that day/evening.  I've even heard of people who "tweet" their exercise goal of the day.  I feel that once I say it and put it out there for everyone to see, that I must go accomplish that goal.  A form of accountability, I guess.

What is your favorite tip that helps you in your healthy lifestyle?  Please share :)

4

This post is brought to you by the number "4."

Do you know why the number "4" is so important today?

Well, let me tell you...

I tried on and fit into size 4 shorts today at Kohls.  Yep, they weren't stretchy and they did not cut off my circulation.  No tourniquet in sight!

Operation Swimsuit seems to be working.

I didn't buy them because the length was all wrong for me, but still...major NSV!

I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself

One of my favorite Al Roker quotes:

“In this country, if you have an alcohol problem or a drug problem, you can get treatment, if you have a weight problem, it’s lack of willpower: Just push away from the table, tubby, and you’d lose that weight. But you can stop drinking; you can stop sticking a needle in your arm. You cannot not eat.”

I wish all celebrities would be so open about their weight loss surgery as Al is about his surgery.  They have the opportunity to educate and share their experiences with their fans.

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

Goal Weight: 145 lbs

Today's Weight: 144.5 lbs

Happy Friday!

Three Month GOALiversary!

Yep, I know that you grammar freaks just love that word....  GOALiversary!  hah!

You do know that there's a Facebook page that you can join called "I correct your bad grammar in my head while you're speaking".  Just saying...

Well, today is exactly 3 months since I reached my goal weight of 145 lbs.  Since then I have maintained my goal weight.

In regards to food choices, I am pretty much doing exactly what I have been doing all along in my weight loss phase with the addition of about 200 calories per day...that's it.

Therefore, I highly recommend that you choose a lifestyle of food choices that you can live with for the rest of your life...yeah, that means F.O.R.E.V.E.R.  That's why I very rarely use protein shakes/bars/meal replacements.  Because for me, that's not a lifestyle I personally can stick with.  Sure they come in handy when I'm really busy or travelling, but not my preferred way of eating.

I eat real food, just smaller portions (using a food scale, measuring cups, etc)

By real food, I mean: lean meats, dairy, veggies, and fruits.

Good food choices of real food exists exists pretty much most places (notice I didn't say ALL places).

For example, the other day, I met up with friends for lunch at a local pizza place.  Everyone else ordered subs, calzones, and pizzas.  I had a half a Chicken Caesar Salad with the dressing on the side.  Good food choices exist, we just have to look past the poor choices.  If we had ordered a few pizzas to share, I would have eaten one piece and mainly only the toppings.

I always have a choice.

I am far from perfect.  Sometimes the poor food choices creep into my life (recent example: Girl Scout cookies!).   But I am conscious of it and not on automatic pilot.

Workout Wednesday!

Did you know that I follow exactly 383 blogs?  Whew!  That's a lot of reading.  Most of these blogs are by bandsters...but there are few in there that are weight watchers and some that are just random...Like my brother-in-law's blog which you can check out HERE.

I try to comment on your blog posts when I have time or when I see an awesome NSV post or exercise post (love to see people getting their exercise in!)  There are just so many awesome bloggers out there.  Please know that I am reading your blogs, but I don't always have the time to comment.

Jazzercise tonight for me.  What are you doing for exercise today?  Post a photo on your blog of you pre/during/post exercise.  I want to see your "Workout Wednesday" glow.

Motivational Monday!

Tried on and fit into a size SMALL BCBG dress.  Of course I had to buy it!  Good thing I was at Ross and it was cheap.  Bonus!

Get Your Sweat On!

I did!

Jazzercise this morning :)

See?

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

Goal Weight: 145 lbs

Today's Weight: 144.2 lbs

Happy Friday!

Do You Know What Astronauts Eat?

Launch Meat! 


I hope you're rolling your eyes at me...!


A few random things for today:

• Have you checked out my new tab at the top that has my before photos?
• Have you read my fancy yet boring disclaimer that I have at the bottom of the blog?
• Weigh-in day tomorrow.
• Zumba toning and Zumba tonight...a full 90 minutes of Zumba sweat.

Two Non-Scale Victories to Report

NSV #1:
Yesterday at Jazzercise we were all standing around waiting for the class to start. 

The instructor was chatting with the woman who usually stands in front of me and they were talking about how difficult it can be to find proper fitting workout clothes. 

I wasn't really listening until the instructor said to me, "Hey, you're pretty small, can you recommend a place to find good workout tops?  She's having trouble finding workout clothes that fit her small frame."  I literally turned around and looked around for this "small" person.  I thought the instructor was talking to someone else behind me.

I guess one day my brain will catch up with body...one day.

NSV #2:
Last weekend I stopped by Target for some retail therapy and was checking out the workout clothes and I now fit into size SMALL of these capri pants.  Yes, size SMALL.  A crazy thought indeed!  I was a 2X/3X about 15 months ago.

It Doesn't Make Sense

I weigh-in every morning like a lot of you.

After a weekend of eating out, tasting every kind of chocolate at the local chocolate festival, and eating an entire box of peanut butter cookies from Trader Joes, the scale showed an all time low this morning of 143.3 lbs.  I even got off and on again to make sure it was correct.

I know I shouldn't be complaining, but usually after a crazy eating weekend, it is usually up near 149+.  At least I did about 45 minutes of Just Dance 2 yesterday and kept my water intake high.

Here is the exercise plan for the week:

• Monday: Jazzercise (60 mins)
• Tuesday: Zumba (60 mins)
• Wednesday: Jazzercise (60 mins)
• Thursday: Zumba toning (90 mins!)
• Saturday: Zumba (60 mins)

By the way, I have added my new favorite quote at the top of the blog:

"Just because I got the monkey off my back doesn't mean the circus has left town."

Nor Cal/Oregon (and Washington!) Bandster Meet-up!

I had a great time catching up with the ladies today!

From Left to Right: Me (duh), Frito Bandito, Tina, and Jen

Please stop by and say hello to Frito Bandito.  She is a newbie bandster and could use our support and BOOBs love.

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

Goal Weight: 145 lbs

Today's Weight: 144.1 lbs

Happy Friday!

I am looking forward to tomorrow's Bandster NorCal/Oregon meet up in Eugene! :)

"Operation Swimsuit" Has Begun

I haven't worn a swimsuit since my trip to Las Vegas in July when I was a size 12/14. That swimsuit was given away long, long ago.

I have NO swimsuit for this new yet unfortunately saggy-skinned body of mine to wear on a cruise in April to the Caribbean.

Therefore, I have initialized "Operation Swimsuit".

There are many essential tactical and strategic maneuvers in achieving a successful outcome to "Operation Swimsuit".  The four-step process includes:

• Increase the strength training exercises for toned legs, arms, and abs.
• Add in one additional Zumba or Jazzercise class each week.
• Locate a one-piece swimsuit that can contain and disguise previously mentioned saggy skin.
• Get a spray tan (don't want to blind anyone with my pasty whiteness)

6 weeks and counting to complete "Operation Swimsuit"!