Got on the scale this morning and was thrilled when it read 195! I have not weighed this amount since my niece's graduation 7 years ago! It's funny, because I remember weighing myself the day we left to go see her and I cried when I saw I weighed 195...I was so embarrassed and didn't want anyone to see me. Today I am looking forward to seeing everyone, I feel better than I have in many, many years. I think the difference between now and then is; back then the scale kept going up, now it is going the right way. I celebrated my new "low" with a great workout and healthy breakfast. Life is good, thank you God!
Yeah! Got through the first week with only pain in my left side, so intense when I moved that I had to stop my daily walks. I thought it was from the port, but found out it's a stubborn gas bubble! Back to walking for me...only way to get those nasty bubbles out!
I caught myself today reverting back to an old habit. I made 2 packages of sugar free jello in a big bowl and sat down to have some. I was watching TV and didn't realize how much I ate until I was way past the normal serving size. I was very careless. Now had this been anything else, I could have gotten sick. So, note to self - portion out what I am going to eat and no eating in front of the TV. It's so easy to fall into the mindless grazing for me, so I must be very diligent.
On a good note, I am down 20lbs from the start of the pre-op diet (7/13), my clothes are lose and even my face is getting smaller! Now that I can do protien shakes, my energy level is much higher and I am getting a lot more done!
Hi fellow bloggers! It has been a while since I made an entry, but I check in all the time to see how everyone is doing. I thought I would put a positive note out there on how the holidays haven't been ruined for me because I am no longer able to eat 2nds!
I started my journey 75+ pounds ago. Last year I was down about 50 when the holidays hit and I was amazed at how I was able to have an incredible time without all the food that had been associated with the "fun" of the holidays. What I did discover, and continue to discover, is that it's all about the people we spend time with...not the food. We had half my daughter's basketball team for Thanksgiving this year and I was so busy I almost forgot to eat...WHAT? Me? I don't even taste the food to make sure it's good anymore, I just somehow know now! Again, what? 50 years of battling the holidays and I finally figure it out? So how did I get there?
Well, lots of trial & error, but what it finally boiled down to was I saw my sweet Bandolina as the boss of me, and not my magic cure all. Bandolina doesn't like chips...I can sneak some past her, but too many meant my tummy was turned upside down. Bandolina was happy when I ate in moderation and made good choices, which meant the rest of my body was happy and cooperative. Bandolina didn't say a thing when I "drank" my dinner one time, she just let all my other organs know it was time to rebel. Bandolina and I have had some head butting, but in the end, she's there to help guide me through all of the difficult choices, remind me when I make bad ones and all & all, be there for me to help make me successful! It is truly a team effort. I have had some serious health issues this past month that i KNOW I would not have gotten through had I been where I was 3
years ago, Bandolina helped me help my body to get where I am. We are in it for the long run & are in it together! I hope all of you get there too!
I can't believe it has been 7 months already! It feels like an entire life time ago that I went under the knife and got the band. I had a rough patch from November to mid February...I only lost 10 pounds. So here is what the old me would have done - give up, knowing that I will never get to my "goal" and decide that I look OK at that weight...then eventually gain everything back. Here's what the new me did - got tired of the scale eaking slowly down, changed my menu (I had been eating a lot of the same stuff every day, not bad stuff, just all the same) got back to the gym with a workout buddy (I had been blowing off my workouts, she makes me accountable!) and BAM...5 pounds gone in 2 weeks! It feels great to be back on track!
My kids never said anything about my weight to me, even as I am loosing. They do say things like "Before you had surgery, you never did anything with us" and my favorite from my son "Why do you always look so nice?". I do do more things with my kids because I love to be out and alive, not hidden in my house. I can move; simple acts like getting in and out of the car are no longer an issue for me! And I do dress nice every day! No more huge t-shirts and whatever ugly pair of Capris fit me best and flip flops. Clothes fit me and look good on me for the first time in years, even shoes fit me better. I let my hair stylist update my very 80's hair cut; I now have short hair! Something I would never have done 7 months ago. My husband says he loves having his hot wife back.
I can't begin to describe all of the changes I have been through. I still have issues to work through, but they are not nearly as overwhelming as they were 7 months ago. I have slowly chipped away at my bad habits and have replaced them with good ones. I am close to my original goal and may lower it when I get there, and that doesn't freak me out..
Life is good!
I had to get on & off the scale a bunch of times today...can that be right? I have not seen that number on the scale in about 10 years....and that time it was like a fluke and only lasted a few months! I have been up and down for the past few months...too much wine during the week, not always making good choices, skipping the gym. Well, spring is the time for new beginnings and also a time to start wearing white capris (GASP!). Got back in the gym on a consistent basis, started my training for the bike leg of a triathlon on May 30th and back to the old food log. I haven't weighed myself for about 3 weeks, but got suspicious when every singe pair of size 12's I tried on yesterday fit with ease! (Size 12 may sound big to some of you, but I am 5' 8" and have a big frame, so 12 is awesome to me!). I am thinking I may even get to a size 10 when I am at goal! How is that possible? I am still amazed every time I see myself in a mirror. I was so obese for so long, sometimes I don't realize its me! Now every single part of me is smaller, including my fingers and feet! A very dear friend just had her surgery last week. I am so excited for her and for all of you starting this amazing journey. It truly has been life changing for me.
Thank you to God!
This has been a busy & fun week so far! I said in my last blog that I was going to announce to my bunco group that I had done the LAP-BAND®®, but decided instead to keep it to myself. I'm just not ready to "go public". Plus, I know if they are curious, they will ask! I cooked all 16 women a great, healthy dinner and some desserts that were a bit indulgent, and that did not bother me at all! I kept myself busy talking with everyone and really enjoyed myself, the night was a success!
Today was my 2 week post op appt and I am down 24 & 1/2 pounds! I feel like a new woman already! Everything checked out perfect & I was released to the "mushy" food stage...oh boy! The one thing I cannot wait for is my 4 week mark, when I can get back to the gym. I have been walking almost every day, and my body really feels like it needs more. Plus, it will help tighten up skin as I continue to lose. I am excited to go to the gym after how many years?? I am embracing every step of this journey and am loving my new life!
Thank you God for my continued strength!
I had an epiphany a few days ago...My typical Friday night consisted of the family & friends going to our local Tex Max place for dinner. I would gorge myself on chips & salsa and one of those HUGE margaritas while we looked at the menu. I would order a full dinner, finish it along with maybe a small margarita if I wasn't driving. I would leave feeling stuffed, not sleep well and wake up feeling bloated and gross the next day.
This past Friday I had a cup of broth, stopped when I started to feel full. I went to bed at a decent hour, slept well and woke up and went for a walk.
I am being honest with myself so I had to ask myself "OK, do you feel like you're missing out, how do you feel about this". I can honestly say that I still feel like I have made the right and best choice for myself. I am working on finding other things that make me happy that don't involve food or alcohol. "Been there, done that, doesn't work for me", is what I will keep telling myself when faced with challenges as they come.....which I know they will! I am still in the infant stage of this whole journey, so the words and actions are a lot easier to come up with. I will continue to pray to God for strength and love every single day!
OK, I remember vividly last year's Triathlon; my son's first and a chance for my husband, daughter & myself to volunteer for cancer victims. I can remember how completely out of place I felt, even with all the volunteers....the fattest person waddling amongst thousands of athletes. I had my camera & took shots of everyone being active & participating, while my body ached from all the effort. I felt so disconnected, so out of place. I hated that day, first time ever to admit it. I was so envious of all the regular people who took a huge leap and committed themselves to something way outside their comfort zone! I wanted to be out there with them...but I could barely walk. As I said, I will never forget that day. And now a year later, that day is coming again. This year, I am not just 65 pounds lighter, but I am leg 2 of the triathlon on a team raising money for a 4 year old boy who has cancer! Same team my son raced for last year! I have had to walk away from this blog several times because I keep crying! I am so happy to be where I am health wise and so happy to be able to contribute! This has absolutely been a life changing experience for me. I am so thankful. What a difference a year makes!
Well, technically still my first since I freaked out the first time. But, I need it for sure! The past few weeks have been not so good. I lost focus, ate larger portions, drank wine, ate when I wasn't hungry, etc. The scale shows it, too. Funny how that happens and how surgically altering my body still hasn't made that fact stick in my brain yet!
OK, all that is in the past. New start, new focus and a fill. I also picked up a copy of Jackie Warner's book "This is why you're fat". I learned a lot about sugar and its addictive hold. I went through my pantry and was shocked at how much sugar is added into "good" food! My favorite Kashi cereal has 13 grams per serving and I eat it with skim milk which has another 13 grams of sugar! Good grief! I'm going to follow her nutrition & exercise advice and see how it goes. I am ready for Onederland for sure! My goal is to be there before the start of basketball season, November 1st. I'll keep posting, that has a way of making me accountable!
