What Happens at a Zumba Class?

We stand in rows.

We chant.

Then we pray to the Zumba God.

Just kidding.

None of that stuff happens.

But it does seem cult-like at times.

What I do know is it's ALWAYS fun.

Because I shake my butt, roll my hips, and booty drop down to the floor.

Here's a pic from this weekend's Zumba class:

I discovered Zumba about three years ago.

I've Zumba'd in a lot of different places...Florida, Chicago, Oregon, etc.

I never know what to expect when I try out a new Zumba class.

What I have discovered recently is that one of thee best Zumba instructors pretty much EVER is teaching classes near me...here in the Wine Country of California.  This chick can jump too:

Here's my buddy, Gina, and I after Zumba class...completely sweaty and enjoying our post-Zumba glow!  

If you want to find a Zumba class near you, go HERE.  You won't be sorry.

Weigh-in Day...

Goal weight: 145 lbs

Today's weight: 139.8 lbs

Another week in the land of maintenance...

Happy Friday!

New Banded Blogger Alert!

Please go say "HI" to a very new blogger, "Weapon of Fat Destruction".

She could use all of your support and encouragement.

Tell her I sent ya!

PS: Weigh-in day tomorrow.  A post-Halloween weigh-in is always fun. Not.  Stay tuned...

Happy Halloween!

Both of those belts are size small!  Non-scale victory!

That All Important Question...

There is one, single question that you guys ask me via email and messages on Facebook pretty much each and every day.

What could this one question be?  Here you go:

"Do you have loose skin?"

Which I would like to respond with the smart-ass response of: is the Pope Catholic?

Yes, I have loose skin.

Yes, it is unsightly.

For me, it is mainly an issue for me in the belly/abdomen area.  But really, it's all over my body. Extra wobbly bits (as I lovingly refer to my extra skin) are everywhere.

It's like bread dough.  

It's squishy.

It's evidence of where I've been on my weight loss journey.

It's weird.

But all the toning and lifting weights really helps with the loose skin.

And let me tell ya, I would rather be healthy with loose skin than a fatty again at 260 lbs...

SERIOUSLY.

Please don't let the loose skin issue not cause you to get healthy and lose weight.

I put this video on YouTube in June 2011. I think it shows off the wobbly bits quite nicely.

PS: Spanx are a girl's best friend.

What's In My Fridge?

Here's a quick shot of what's currently in my fridge (I just went grocery shopping!):

Top shelf (L to R): 2% cottage cheese, spinach/herb salad mix, arugula,  Starbucks drink left over from the last house guest, lemon (?) soda drink also left over from house guests...they've been sitting there a few weeks now.

Middle shelf (L to R): 2% shredded Mexican cheese, String cheese, 2% Fage yogurts, eggs, goat cheese, 1% milk.

Bottom shelf (L to R): Rotisserie chicken in 3 oz. portions, wine.

Door: Girards Light Champagne dressing, soy sauce.

Onwards to the freezer:

Top shelf (L to R): Trader Joe's Asian Marinated Chicken breasts, Fudgesicles, Chipotle Chicken Kebabs, Amy's Kitchen Cheese Pizza, Chicken Kiev

Bottom shelf (Top-ish, L to R): Open Nature Cheese Pizza, two types of Trader Joe's turkey burgers, chicken won ton thingys.

Door: Top: Frozen chopped onions, Bottom: new fudge bars that I found at Safeway (haven't tried them yet)

If you're reading this, you've now been tagged! Tagged in the "What's in my Fridge?" blog game.

Your mission: go take pics of what's in your fridge and put 'em up on your blog!

Let's share ideas of what we all eat. Ready, set, GO!

Weigh-in & Flashback Friday!

Goal weight: 145 lbs

Today's weight: 139.6 lbs (exact same weight as last week's weigh-in)

And now let's step back in time.  Back to May 2009:

We went to see "Wicked" in San Francisco! 
Have you seen it?

The idea to have weight loss surgery had not even crossed my mind at this point.  

Who knew that just five months later I would have Lap-Band surgery?

Why Didn't I Think of This Recipe Sooner?

"Full-Liquid" recipe alert!

Why wasn't this recipe idea in my head three years ago when I was suffering through the TWO weeks of full liquids post-op?

Remember how I was recently  complaining  letting you know about my band being non-existant? I think that my band reads my blog.

With the change in weather (rainy) combined with some really awesome sinus allergies, my band has been feeling a little snugger that I would like.  

Therefore, I've been enjoying a majority of liquids/mushies.

Ok, onwards to the recipe!

• 1/3 Cup milk (I used 1%)
• 1/2 Cup Safeway Chicken and Dumplings soup
• 3 oz shredded/cubed cooked chicken breast (I had leftover rotisserie chicken)
• 1/2 oz of crumbled goat cheese

1> Put it all in the blender and blend it up.

2> Pour it into a bowl and microwave it until it's hot

3> Sprinkle goat cheese on top.

So complicated.  

I know.

The all-important details:

• Milk:  35 cals, 3 proteins
• Soup: 125 cals, 7 proteins
• Chicken: 140 cals, 26 proteins
• Goat cheese: 35 cals, 2 proteins.

TOTAL: 335 cals, 38 proteins

YUM!!!!

The Big Puffy Thing

No.

I'm not talking about Pemberley.

I'm talking about this:

Open wide! YUM!

I got to visit one of my all time favorite Indian restaurants this weekend.

As you can see, we enjoyed the big puffy thing.  It's real name is "Cholle Bhature."  

How it works is: you rip off a piece of the doughy fried puffy goodness and dip it/scoop it in the curry bean mixture that's in the bottom right of the tray, and then stuff it in your mouth.  OMG.

This is more evidence that for me, eating in maintenance is very different than how I ate when I was losing.

My method to maintenance:

• 80% of the time I'm on track with my high protein, low calorie, approx 1200 calories a day.
• 20% of the time I'm choosing foods that are not always the best for me.

Either way, I'm still exercising 4-5 times a week for about hour each time and sweating buckets.

You would think that at 22+ months of maintaining my weight loss that I would have this all figured out by now.

But I'm still learning.

It's a never ending process I suppose.

Three Years Ago Today...

...was October 20, 2009.

It was a Tuesday.

I remember that I had to report to the hospital at 6am sharp for my Lap-Band surgery.

It was still dark outside.

But I was showered, prepped, and swabbed head to toe with that awful 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate antiseptic solution that they made me apply at home before leaving for the hospital.  It made for a pretty sticky situation under my size 3XL sweat pants and hoodie sweatshirt.

Yeah, surgery was and still is a big deal for me.

Let me say that again: A HUGE FREAKIN' DEAL.

I didn't take the decision to have surgery lightly.

My Lap-Band is still my one and only (and hopefully ever) surgery that I've ever had in my entire life.

I still think that it's an extremely crazy concept that I had to put a silicone device inside my body to help me lose weight and get healthy.  Talk about a "First World Problem."

If you want, you can read my 1st bandiversary post here.

Then on my 2nd bandiversary post, I wrote my former fatty self a letter.

And here we are...now at my 3rd bandiversary blog post.

Looking back on the past three years, you may be wondering....

Would I do it all over again?

Would I still have Lap-Band surgery?

Would I still exercise each and every day?

Would I still try to make good food choices each and every day?

Would I still keep myself accountable with weekly weigh-ins?

Would I still do all the work that it takes to lose and maintain a 120 lbs weight loss?

ABSOLUTELY.

It is A LOT of work.

But it's all worth it.