Down at the Other End of the Aisle

I remember when I used to go clothes shopping when I was a fatty...size 24W...you know...the largest size in some plus size sections of stores.  

Selection was limited and I usually chose the piece of clothing that made me look the least horrible.  It was never very fun....kind of a chore.

Now, when I go shopping, I have a new rule.  I have to LOVE the item before I will buy it.  It has to make me feel FABULOUS and skinny.  No exceptions!

The problem with this plan?  The selection in the size 4s and 6s are just as limited as the plus sizes of my past.  Especially at my usual shopping locations: TJ Maxx, Marshalls, ROSS, etc.

Here is the evidence...if one is a size 10-16, there are TONS of choices. Here's a photo from yesterday's shopping adventure:

Now here's the same aisle, but in my size range.  So many less choices.

Let me clarify, I am not complaining one bit...because I just push my shopping cart over to the Juniors section and there are TONS of choices for a shorty like me over there :)

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

Goal Weight: 145 lbs

Today's Weight: 142.6 lbs

Happy Friday!

You Know You're a Bandster When...

• You have a "date" does not mean you're going out.
• The phrase "I'm a loser" is a good thing.
• All of your silverware says Gerber.
• "Welcome to the other side" doesn't include death.
• You get excited about hand me downs.
• Getting wrinkles is a good thing.
• Hitting the "Century Mark" is actually a good thing.
• When the word lap has nothing to do with a strip club.
• Other women are calling you "bitch" behind your back.
• When you are glared at in the plus size department because you "don't belong there".
• When you really don't have a thing to wear.
• You have to prove you are the person on the driver's license.
• You start being in the pictures not behind the camera.
• You are never far from your bottle of water
• When you order a doggy bag at the same time as your meal.
• You're too small for your britches.
• When you go to the mall a take the first available space instead of circling 20 minutes for one closer to the door.
• You truly are a "cheap date".
• When one drink makes you sloppy drunk
• You flip up your shirt to show complete strangers your scar and ask "wanna feel my port"?
• Vitamins feel like a meal.
• You can cross your legs... both of them
• Instead of a Wonder Bra you need a Wonder Where They Went Bra
• When your treadmill is no longer used for drying your fine washables
• You can wear corduroy pants without igniting a fire
• When you wave and your upper arms wave back
• You cancel your Lane Bryant Credit Card

Does Your Job Make You Fat?

I don't really blog about my job and what I do for a living.  Mainly because this blog is about who I am not what I do.  However, I will make an exception today.

I work HERE.  Therefore, guess what kind of Outlook email meeting invitations I receive on a weekly basis?  I get invited to tastings where we can give our opinions on current and potential products.

Today's Outlook meeting invite is for tastings of THESE and THESE.  Last week it was THIS!  Yeah, and wouldn't you know it, the tastings are "required"...whatever that means.

Don't tell anyone, but I have never EVER shown up to a sensory tasting....shhhh...it's our little secret...promise not to tell?  So far, the tasting police haven't found me out yet.

Guess what I see in the break room/kitchen area daily? CHOCOLATE  I usually try and walk past really fast like if I don't smell or look at it too long, then I won't eat it...this tactic works about 50% of the time.  The other 50% of the time I eat me some chocolate.

So, my question to you, do you find food choices difficult when you are at work? 

Do you sometimes want to bitch slap the coworker who brings donuts/bagels into work? What about those people who bring in cookies/cakes/etc that they baked at home the night before? Don't even get me started on those office potlucks! Sigh.

What are your food challenges at work?

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

Don't you just love Dr. Seuss quotes?

I've been receiving really great Lap Band / healthy lifestyle questions from you guys on the Facebook page and via email.  Speaking of emails, you're so sweet with your emails and comments lately. I especially like it when you say I look like random celebrities...like Ginnifer Goodwin *blush*  All of these compliments are going to go to my head and I'll soon have an ego the size of Oklahoma....but I digress.

I thought that I would put all of the questions in one place - a new tab at the top of the blog so they are all in one easy to find spot.

So, here's your chance.  Ask away in the comments section below! Some recent questions include:

• What is Zumba?
• Was there a time when I hated exercise?
• Do I have any problems with excess skin?
• What is my favorite brand of protein shake?
• What vitamins do I take? Which brands?

Body Shots!

Get your mind out of the bar...I'm not talking about these kind of body shots:

I'm talking about these types of shots: BELLY SHOTS! Photos of my belly from 2 days post-op to today.

I've seen some talk recently on the blogs about fear of scars from the newbies who are just recently banded.  Well, I can tell you that my surgery scars are almost invisible now.  All FIVE scars completely faded.  I was diligent in applying the Bio-Oil twice a day for about three months post-op.  I also keep my belly out of the sun (don't want to blind any innocent bystanders at the pool).  I've heard that sun exposure causes scars not to fade..?  Not sure if there's any truth to that.

I didn't have any stitches on the outside, just that tape.  Beware when they rip that tape off at your post-op appointment....more fun than a Brazilian wax, ladies...good times.

Unfortunately, what does still show are the stretch marks....oh well.

 2 Days Post Op - October 2009

Hit Goal Weight - December 2010

6+ Months at Goal - (Today) June 2011

PS: I just realized that I am wearing the same PJ shirt in today's photo as the 2 days post op photo.  I still love my big girl PJs. It's huge on me and I sometimes feel like I am channeling my inner Jennifer Beals from 'Flashdance' with the way it falls of my shoulder now.

New Banded Blogger Alert & a "Before" photo

Please stop by and say hello to Athena Banded Warrior.  She is approximately 12 weeks post op and will be running in a 8k race next week! :) WOW! She is rocking that exercise.

I'll leave you with a "before" photo.  I was probably 260+ lbs in this photo...I can never forget.  I also like to remind myself that there are no "after" photos in this journey, as I am never done with my journey to improved health:

This is Rattlesnake Country!

Did you know that hiking is really just walking outside (not on pavement)?  Who knew?!?  

When I was a fatty, the idea of hiking kinda scared me.  Perhaps it was because I knew how much my feet, ankles, knees, and back would hurt after hiking in a 256+ lb 5' 4" body....not to mention the sweat and beat red face that would happen too.

Well, the secret is out....this indoor girl is becoming more outdoorsy.  

I heaved myself up another mountain today.  A 2+ hour hike. Here are some of the views at the top:

Imagine my surprise when I saw this 4-5 foot rattlesnake heading my way while we took a break on the trail...YIKES!  It seemed just as scared of me as I was of it:

Here I am at the top!

The Best Investment I Ever Made

As you know, I am a self-pay patient.  I practically burned a whole in my Capital One Visa card paying for my Lap Band surgery.

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you also know that I love personal finance and pinching those pennies.  Suze Orman is my Deity.  She tells it like it is in her no-nonsense style.  I love one of her new sayings for those of us in the dating world..."Fico first, then sex."  Yeah, no putting out until you've seen his FICO scores ladies! 

Anyways, I was so happy to hear about a recent study that shows how quickly gastric banding pays for itself.  Check this out: New Study Finds That Gastric Banding Pays for Itself In Approximately Two Years for Patients With Diabetes and Four Years for Patients Without Diabetes

Wow!  That's AWESOME!

I wonder if the study takes into account all those fabulous tiny outfits that I now spend my money on as a result of the weight loss?  Probably not.

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

Goal Weight: 145 lbs

Today's Weight: 143.2 lbs

Happy Friday!