I've Been a Bad Blogger

Where do I start?

I have so many updates for you, especially if you don't follow my facebook page (as I seem to overshare over there on the Faceplace)

Anyways, our last catch up was back in January.

Yep. 6 months ago! Shame on me for not blogging.

When I am not checking in with you and blogging, it's never a good thing. Not blogging leads to weight gain.  Sigh, yes, there's more about that at the end of this post. Goodie Gumdrops.

But first, let's talk about what I've been up to since January...

A fun trip to Singapore and a cruise to Thailand and Vietnam. Our one year anniversary trip!

And right after our wonderful cruise and adventures in SE Asia, I ended up accepting a new job in Louisville, Kentucky. 2400 miles away from our home in California. Wha?! True that. Or as they say here in Louisville, "That's Right!" after every damn thing you say. all. the. time. seriously.


In March/April, there were interviews and house hunting trips between California and Louisville. Back and forth we went. And lucky us, we found our new home (a rental)...it lured us in with it's springtime front yard with bunnies and squirrels and cardinals and blue jays. What 1950s vintage charm. "Leave it to Beaver" and "Donna Reed" TV shows had to of been filmed in this house. That's Right!

We packed up the house and cars and road-tripped out to Louisville from California. 7 days on the road. Phew! I am tired still thinking about it.

We had tornados, flash flooding, and 6 hour detours due to freeway closures due to the flooding. But we made it and arrived in Louisville the week of the Kentucky Derby.

We've been Kentuckians for about two months now. What have we learned? This place is full of friendly and welcoming people everywhere. VERY different from what we are used to in California.

And we've learned that this is a FOODIE town. We had no idea. That's Right!

There are at least 6 Food Network and Travel Network shows about all the things you can eat in Louisville. And. It's All. True. AMAZING shrimp and grits, fried chicken and waffles, Hot Brown (a classic!), bourbon pie, Derby pie, bourbon slushies and every type of cocktail with bourbon in it...I could go on and on and on. You've been warned.

Here we are last weekend at a festival that was all about food trucks and craft beer:

We've settled in well here in Louisville and since the husband is job hunting as a "trailing spouse", he's been fantastic at cooking up healthy dinners for me each night when I get home from work. You can see his recipe creations here and here on the Faceplace. What a great husband!

We've been having fun exploring Kentucky and here's a pic from last weekend.  The pic kinda freaked me out. I looked at this pic and realized I was really gaining weight and it needed to stop. I needed to catch this freight train before it was too late.

My back and knees have been hurting lately and I was in super duper denial about it being related to my weight gain. 

I feel "fluffy" and sluggish and frumpy. It doesn't feel good. At. All.

Let's be super clear: my own food choices caused me to gain weight, not my Lap-Band "not working." 

Question: Am I eating because I am hungry and needing food and nutrition? No. I am eating because of wonderful lovely food that is in my environment and I choose to eat it and stuff it in my face. Yum.

I jumped on the scale on Monday, July 3. Took a pic of course. (don't you dig that retro tile in our bathroom?) Here's what I now weigh:

30 lbs above goal.

WTF.

I'm back to doing all those things that I did to lose weight back in the day:

• Tracking my food (calories and proteins) on a post-it note
• Drinking water
• Vitamins
• Exercise
• Accountability

After 3 days of being on plan with my food, guess what?

I am never hungry.

My Lap-Band is still there doing it's job. It's keeping my hunger volume low and mostly non-existent.

Could I go out and eat 3 pieces of pizza right now? Sure. But that's not my band's job to restrict my food, it's there to keep me not hungry. My job is to make good food choices. That's Right!

Weigh-ins will now be on Monday's so that I don't get stupid with my food choices over the weekends and have better accountability.

We also have a few trips coming up and I really don't want to haul this extra 30 lbs around with me up and down stairs, walking around, in/out of airplane seats, etc. Not. For. Me.

I hope you'll be there to cheer me on as I share my weekly weigh-ins and updates on Facebook..

Stay tuned for next Monday's weigh-in. 

That's Right!

Guess What Happened This Past Wednesday?

Before I tell you about Wednesday, I must first tell you about this morning's weigh-in.

'Cuz today is Friday.

That means it's weigh-in day.

Last Friday's weight: 166.2 lbs

Today's weight: 163.8 lbs.

This week's loss: 2.4 lbs.

And I made you a pretty little spreadsheet to show my progress:

How have I achieved this 5.8 lbs loss in two weeks?

• I have not been eating whatever the hell I want. Yep. Good times.
• I have been tracking my food choices and limiting calories to 1200 calories a day. And as much protein as possible. No limit on protein. 
• With my Lap-Band to control my physical hunger, it's a little easier to eat less.

And guess what happens when I watch my food choices and portions?

Here's the Captain Obvious moment...wait for it... I lose weight! Shocking. Indeed.

I am aiming for 145 lbs.

I am trying for a loss of 1-2 lbs per week.

I'll get there.

One week at a time.

Now we can talk about Wednesday.

I went to see my bariatric surgeon for an adjustment to my Lap-Band.

I asked for a baby teeny tiny fill of 0.1 ccs.

He wanted to put more 0.2 ccs, but I told him no thanks.

I like to slowly creep up on that proper fill level. There's no rush.

For me, even that 0.1 cc fill has reduced my hunger levels a bit more. It's amazing that a tiny little fill can do the trick.

Until next week my friends.

Onwards.

What Have I Been Up To?

Yep. It's been a hot minute since I last blogged.

So let's catch up, shall we?

It was end of August when I last checked in with you and here's the whirlwind that has happened in the last four months:

A fun romantic getaway to Sedona, AZ in September. We are still newlyweds after all!

A business trip Down Under to land of the koala bears: Sunrise in Sydney

A visit to the pumpkin patch here in gorgeous Northern California:

Halloween was a blast: Jackie O. ~ Vote for Kennedy!

 Thanksgiving in London: bike riding over the Thames

Christmas day hike:

What also happened during these past four months?

A 16+ pound gain.

Indeed.

I could show you how super tight my jeans are but instead, here's an end of the year weigh-in evidence:

 

How did I get here?

• I have not been doing weekly weigh-ins
• I've been eating pretty much whatever I want to (my Lap-Band does not stop me)

That's it.

My food choices and lack of accountability have led me to today. All the workouts that I do each day are not enough to undo all my poor eating choices.

Moving forward: what am I doing about this?

Getting back to doing weekly weigh-ins and not eating whatever the hell I want.

It's not rocket science.

Easier said than done, of course.

I've been tracking my food.

I've been eating all the foods that got me to goal in the first place.


One week later, here's today's Friday weigh-in: a loss of 3.4 lbs

I am still learning that the lifestyle of someone with obesity is that I can never just let it go on automatic pilot.

It's an every day kind of thing.

It's a life of daily/weekly small corrections and refocusing, because if I ignore it, it will snowball into 20+, 30+ pounds or more.  That's scary for me.

Until next week my friends.

Onwards.

PS: if you'd like to see all the details of what I eat (recipes, videos) and other daily updates, please check out my facebook page.

Q & A with Lap Band Gal Video!

It's That Day Already?!

These Friday weigh-ins help me stay on track, so a BIG thank you to you all for checking-in on me and encouraging me along the way.

Last week's weight: 154.8 lbs

This week's weight: 153.8 lbs

That's a loss of -1.0 lbs.

Sweet.

Until next week's weigh-in, I will see you over on my Facebook page.

Friday Weigh-In Day & Some Love

Last week's weight: 155.2 lbs

Today's weight: 154.8 lbs

This week's weight loss: -0.4 lbs

Captain Obvious Alert! I am learning that I can be more successful if I plan ahead of what I will eat before it becomes time to actually eat. This is especially crucial for eating out at restaurants and at events. Looking at online menus before I get to the restaurant is a habit I need to get into. Otherwise, I go on "fat girl automatic pilot" and make not-so-great food choices when that menu is handed to me by the waitress. Pasta? Biscuits with honey butter? Sure, why not!  Sigh.

I've been keeping up with my workouts of High-Intensity Interval Training (H.I.I.T.). This is usually 30 mins of cardio mixed with push-ups, planks, jumping jacks, squats, lifting weights. It's usually one of Jillian's Free Videos or Jeff & Stu's Free Videos.

I keep track of my workouts on my wall calendar at my desk at work. I put an X if I workout that day. I may be slightly obsessed with those little pink X's

Before I run, here's a quick photo from Wednesday night. The Husband and I at a local winery event.

Until next week... I will see you over on my Facebook page.

Friday Weigh-In Day Results?

I've been super duper focused on my food choices, portion sizes (weighing food on my food scale), and of course tracking (writing down my calories and proteins) since August 1.

I began on August 1 at: 158.2 lbs
Friday weigh-in on August 5: 157.0 lbs
Friday weigh-in (today) on August 12: 155.2 lbs

That's a loss of 1.8 lbs this past week. Yay!

I am also updating my tracker at the top of this page as more accountability for myself.

That's all for now. Until next time, I'll see you all over on the facebook page.

Friday Weigh-in and Why Don't I Just Go Get a Lap-Band Adjustment?

Let's recap, shall we?

So, the sh*t got real and I weighed in this past Monday, Aug 1: 158.2 lbs.

Today, I weighed-in at 157.0 lbs.

That's a loss of -1.2 lbs. 

Sweet! I'll take it.

How did I make this weight loss happen?

• I wrote down my calories and proteins on a post-it note. Old school style. I stayed at about 1200 calories and 70+ proteins each day.
• I am using my food scale. I'm back in the habit of measuring my food more often.
• I am continuing to do all my usuals: Five HIIT workouts this week, taking my vitamins, drinking buckets of water, etc.

I will weigh-in next Friday and report back here. Friday weigh-ins are back!

Now let's talk about a question that I received from one of you on the Facebook page:

"If you've gained weight, why don't you just go get a fill?"

I dig this question.

A lot.

My answer:

My weight gain has nothing to do with my Lap-Band.

That weight gain was ME.

Me eating too much of the high calorie foods.

So, no fill for me. (Lap-Band adjustment).

My Lap-Band is not here to restrict my eating.

My Lap-Band is not here to say what I can or cannot eat.

What does my Lap-Band do: reduces the volume on my physical hunger signals.

Let's take a look at my physical hunger levels these past five days while eating 1200 calories each day:

Was I hungry? No.

I'm pretty much never hungry.

I eat about 2-3 oz protein and small portion of veggies at a meal AND I AM NOT HUNGRY for about 5 hours.

This lack of hunger helps me choose better food options and portion sizes.

From my own very subjective research of hearing lots of band patient stories and talking with Bariatric surgeons, the quickest way to lose my band would to have my Lap-Band too tight.

That freaks me out.

I paid $16,500 for my Lap-Band.

I am keeping this Lap-Band as long as possible.

I usually think long and hard about getting a fill.

Also, the first little touch of heartburn or discomfort with my Lap-Band, I am quick to get an UNfill appointment scheduled.

For me: The Lap-Band is not about restriction.


That's more than enough on that topic.

Lastly, you guys have been asking me lately for a video, so I will do a little Q&A video soon. You've been posting great questions for me on the Facebook page  Stay tuned...and Molly will probably want to say "hi" too. She's sassy like that:

Let's Get Really Clear Here For One Hot Minute

I've been kind of quiet here on the blog and using my facebook page for updates and shares.

Have you gone to Facebook to "like" my page yet? You'd see this pic there:

Fourth of July Weekend - Vegas!

I've been rockin' my intense workouts.

I've been taking my vitamins every day.

I've been drinking my buckets of water.

I've been going to support group meetings.

But what I have I not been doing?

Since about Christmas time, I have not been consistent with my weekly weigh-ins.

My weekly weigh-ins are my most helpful tool of how I lost weight and how I continue to maintain my weight loss.

Weekly weigh-ins are my accountability.

Somehow my brain got ridiculous.

I started thinking that I could track my success with how I felt and the scale wasn't as important as I had always made it out to be. Indeed. Ridiculous.

So I stopped weighing in every week.

I also have not been tracking my food choices and portions.

I've noticed that my pants and shirts are getting a little tight.

I've realized that my lower back is hurting a little bit.

My daily workouts are just a tad more difficult.

Why?

'Cuz I am carrying around EXTRA weight.


So I stepped on the scale this morning. I am officially 13lbs above my goal weight.

Here's proof (and accountability):

Sure, 13 lbs.  Big Whoop-dee-doo-da, right?  No biggie, right?

Do I still fit into my size 6/8 pants? Yeah, just barely.

But.

No.

IT. IS. A. BIG. DEAL.

This 13 lbs gain can turn into 15 lbs gain, that can then turn into 25 lbs gain, and then 35lbs gain, and then, and then. 

Yikes.

I am turning this freight train around.

This train is headed for 145lbs goal weight station.

I've been there before and I will be there again.

Not doing my weekly weigh-ins was my BIG MISTAKE and my biggest learning lesson so far in my journey.

I have been eating off plan.

Portions are too big.

Food choices are not healthy.

I am owning these choices I have made these 6+ months.

No matter how hard and often I workout, it will never make up for too many calories in my diet.

Sure, I could make all kinds of lovely excuses of why this happened, like: I have no money, no time, too much work stress, blah, blah, blah.

But no way Jose.  No excuses for me.

I made all of those food choices.

I am back to weekly weigh-ins and also tracking my food on old school post-it notes.

I'll be back on Friday for my weekly weigh-in.

 

Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner

Friday Weigh-in Day.

Last friday's weight: 148.8 lbs

Today's weight: 148.2 lbs

It's a loss. -0.6 lbs....and I'll take it! Onwards.

PS: for Christmas, the Husband gave me tickets to "Dirty Dancing The Musical" in San Francisco.
So this past weekend, the day had finally arrived of the big show.  OMG. I think I had way too much fun in front of that photo wall.