New Banded Bloggers Alert!

There are two new soon-to-be banded bloggers out there!

• Melissa over at Honey Bee Banded.  She has met my weight maintenance hero: Subway's Jared.  Check out the pic on her blog. I'm totally jealous.
• Morgan over at Maximizing My Minimizing.  She's having her Lap Band surgery on MONDAY!

They're both going through the lovely and oh-so-fun pre-op diet.  They need lots o' love and support, so head on over and tell 'em I sent ya.

Weigh-in Day & Cookies The Size of My Butt

Goal Weight:  145 lbs

Today's Weight:  141.6 lbs

These Friday weigh-ins are gettin' pretty unexciting.

Like watchin' paint dry.

Just sayin'.

So let's talk about cookies, shall we?

I've told you before where I work.

There are some serious cookies and snacks ALL up in here.  Yum.  Delish!  Place some orders online and keep me employed.  Mmmmkkay?

But did you know that there are PHOTOS of cookies and snacks ALL over the place too?

Indeed.

I've walked pass this lovely cookie banner every single day, multiple times a day...for five years now.


It's like an alcoholic working in a bar. 

And let me tell ya...it doesn't blend into the background after awhile.  I look at it each..and...every...time. Do you know what I think as I pass by?  "I really want a cookie."

A Penny Wise and A Dollar Stupid

There's another analogy that's been floating around in my head for awhile now.

Or maybe it is a simile.

Who knows?  I barely passed those reedonkulous SAT's back in high school.

I can tell that you're excited to hear this analogy.

Are you bursting with fruit flavor?  I am.

Here you go:

Saving money is a lot like weight loss.

I think that this is one of the main reasons that I have been successful with my weight loss and maintenance. 

I am a personal finance freak. 

To prove this fact, I admit that I subscribe to Kiplinger and Forbes magazines.  Gasp!

This is one of my favorite non-fiction books:

I also admit to having seen finance queen Suze Orman in person three times: one book signing and twice when she was on stage at speaking events.

In case you didn't know, Suze's kinda scary in real life.  Kinda like Tabatha.  And...Suze makes people cry.  A lot. Even the men.  Every single person who asked her questions at these events seemed to end up in tears.  But wait, I digress.

How many times have I uttered that convincing phrase "I deserve it" when looking at a adorable top or pair of spicy tight jeans that I know that I can't afford?  Lots of times.  But I usually put the clothes back on the rack when I know that I can't afford it.

How many times have I stood in front of a plate of brownies or cookies telling myself "I deserve it"?  Too many times to count.  But I'm getting better at passing up these calorie death-traps.

I've always known that the road to wealth is paved with goals.

Coincidentally, I'm finally learning that the road to health is paved with goals too.

Goals have been key for me to be successful with the band.

I remember when I originally decided to have Lap Band surgery back in the summer of 2009, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would get to my goal weight of 145lbs. 

There were no thoughts of "will I fail?"   I didn't give myself the option to even think like that.

When I was struggling a few weeks ago with my food choices, I realized some pretty clear warning signs that I'd lost my focus of my goal and I was making excuses (I'm a professional excuse maker):

• I'll eat better tomorrow...
• If only...
• I deserve it...

So the next time I feel like going through the drive-thru at Taco Bell or my local donut shop (yes, they have an oh-so convenient drive-thru), I think that I will say to myself in my bestest scary Suze voice, "DENIED!"

I Enjoy Sharing Sweaty Shoes With Strangers

I went bowling this past weekend.  Here are two photos for comparison:

February 2011 (142 lbs)  Size 8 Jeans                     March 2012 (141 lbs)  Size 6 Jeans

I don't wear those size 8 jeans anymore.  They're too big.

Do you see a difference?  Perhaps the extra toning and weight lifting has changed my shape a little?

This is a good reminder for me that it's not all about the number on that scale.

Ruffles With Love - Winner!

Are you ready to hear who the winner is of the Ruffles With Love Giveaway?










Scroll down to find out...














Can you feel the anticipation in the air?  Scroll down some more...












Almost there...

















Drum roll please....

The winner* is: Rusti at Texas Girl Gettin' Fit.  Congrats Rusti!

Rusti, please watch for an email that will soon be sent to the email address that you left in your comment so you can claim your prize.

A BIG Thank You goes out to Ruffles With Love for participating in this giveaway.  What amazing and fun workout tops!

***************

*Comments (entries) were numbered in order that they were received 1 through 37 and a completely random number was drawn using random.org:

How Do I Know When I Need An Adjustment To My Lap Band?

TWO blog posts in ONE day?!?  You're welcome.

*********

Sometimes when I hear that comment "the Lap Band is just a tool", the voice of the teacher from Charlie Brown pops into my head.  Wha, wha, wha...  I start to space out and think about lovely things like kittens and unicorns. To say that I have a short attention span is an severe understatement.

Since this band is just a tool, I like the fact that we get to use our bands HOW WE WANT.  The beauty of the Lap Band: It's ADJUSTABLE.

I know that there are some bandsters who determine whether they need an adjustment or not based on what foods they can or cannot eat.  That's cool.  That's how they roll. Whatevs. To each their own.

But, that's not how I determine if I need a fill or adjustment to my band.

For example, today's breakfast was an English muffin with peanut butter and jelly and some milk. 

At 8:30am in the morning.  It took me about 25 minutes to eat.  Delish.

I think that the last time I had this bready type of food (and drank with a meal) was Christmas vacation?  Those were good times.

Oops, forgot to take the pic before I ate BOTH halves. Yum.

Anyways, just because I can eat bread in the morning, does not mean that I need an adjustment to my band.

Now, let's say that I ate 3-4 oz. of lean protein (chicken, fish, pork, etc) with veggies/salad and was hungry two hours later, then I would start to wonder.  If the hunger trend happened repeatedly for a few weeks.  Then, I would make an appointment for an adjustment to my band.

It's all about the hunger control for me.

I have never wanted my band to restrict my food choices.  Those choices are up to me. 'Cuz I'm a control freak (with the attention span of a mosquito).

PS: Just in case you are curious, I have 7.4 ccs in my 10 cc Lap Band.

Weigh-in Day...

Goal Weight: 145 lbs

Today's Weight: 141.5 lbs

Happy Friday!

A Hugemongous Shout Out To...

Awhile ago I received a lovely email from Miss Lorie over at I Just Ate My Willpower.

We ended up emailing back and forth about that oh so fascinating topic of....wait...I can't tell you that, because what happens in the emails, stays in the emails.

But she did ask nicely for a shout out because she is looking for more banded blogging support in her journey to drop those pounds.  Did you know that Miss Lorie ran THREE miles yesterday AND did an hour of Zumba? Yep. 'Cuz that's how she rolls.  She's lost 98 lbs! Please stop by her blog and say "hi".

By the way, have you seen what we've been up to over on Facebook?

• We've been chattin' about the newest celebrity bandster.
• How I was rockin' some glitter tattoos at Jazzercise last night.
• We've been sharin' ideas on our favorite water flavorings.

Lastly, time is running out to enter the workout top giveaway, Fantabulous Ruffles With Love. Go throw your name in the hat. Seriously. Free stuff people. A no brainer. Go. Now.

A Day Without Laughter is a Day Wasted

Here's something that I can't seem to wrap my crazy mind around...

In addition to that lovely question that I've been asked a few times lately, "Are you going to get that Lap Band taken out now that you're skinny?" there's another statement that makes me smile and laugh...

Are you ready for it? I heard this yesterday and last week:

"You weren't really THAT fat."

Seriously?  What comparison is being made here?

This statement is coming from people who definitely knew me in the fatty days, oh wait, if I was attempting to be P.C., I would say the "Pre-Band" days.  But I'm not feelin' the P.C. undertones today, so what part of this doesn't say "fatty"?

~260 lbs

Are people forgetting?

Fantabulous Ruffles With Love Giveaway!

Did you know that having the right workout outfit can occasionally convince me to actually get up off of my butt and go workout?  Yes, it's true. 


Ruffles With Love has the most adorable tops!

Now you know what I look like when I first wake up. 

You're welcome.

There's that adorbs bow!
Pemberley is such an attention whore.

Here are some of the other FAB tops that are over at Ruffles With Love:

How can you get your hands on one of these tops?

There are FOUR (yes, 4!) ways to enter this giveaway:

ENTRY #1- Go visit Ruffles With Love and come back here and leave me a comment telling me which shirt you'd choose. (include a first name and an email address)

ENTRY #2- Become a fan of Lap Band Gal on Facebook and then come back here and LEAVE A COMMENT (include a first name and an email address)

ENTRY#3- Post about the giveaway to your buddies on Facebook or some other social networking or support forum you frequent or pin this. Then come back here and LEAVE A COMMENT (include a first name and an email address)

ENTRY#4- Blog about this giveaway and include the link to the contest (send me the url so I can enjoy your post!)

VERY OFFICIAL RULES:

• PRIZE: A $25 credit to the Ruffles With Love. That way YOU can decide what style of top that YOU want. 
• Contest periods ends: Sunday, March 25th, 11:59PM (Pacific time)
• On Monday, March 26th I'll draw a name using a random number generator and announce the winner here on the blog.
• I will also email the winner at the address posted. 
• Giveaway is open to anyone in the United States (48 contiguous, Alaska & Hawaii.)

Good Luck!