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About this blog

:thumbup:My journey with the band - On my way to the 2nd part of my life!

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Countdown starts

Wt this morning 227.4 - Scale is moving REAL slow.   Yes, today marks 1 month away from my band surgery. Its exactly 31 days until banded date. Yay.   I have to say also, I MADE IT TO THE GYM last night. Thats right, I got off my ASS and exercised.   I did 20 min on the elliptical machine, and then 10 min on the treadmill. I know its only 30 minutes, but I felt good and I will continue doing a minimum of 30 min. of exercise EVERYDAY until banding date. I'm getting my body in shape for surgery.
tonya66

tonya66

4
 

Bummer

Okay, I was doing great on my 84 day challenge, then on day 10, I was exercising, lifting weights and I felt something very wrong in my shoulder.   I went to the doctor and it turn out I tore my rotary cuff - hurts like a dickens. So no weights for the upper body for awhile.....the doctor said it can take 6 mos to a year to heal, and I could have to have surgery, but we are trying physical therapy first.   Anyhow, so I will stick to cardio and lower body workouts.   I will be leaving for vacation Saturday afternoon, I plan on exercising while we are on vacation. We are going to our family cabin in the mountains and I will be in control of what I eat, so I think I can eat pretty healthy too.   I'm looking forward to so R&R. My goal on this vacation is to LOSE WEIGHT, even if its just a pound. My last 5 vacations have been on a cruise, and I always gain! So this is the first vacation in awhile without gourmet food. lol. I will be doing the cooking, and let me tell ya, it won't be gourmet! hehehehe.   Okay, I will post when I get back to my blog - My goal is to be at 158 when I get back home, thats 1 lbs lighter. Hopefully I will be more, but I will be thrilled with 1 lbs lighter!
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

Boy the scale sure does move slow!

The scale sure is moving slow these days! I do feel smaller, I think I must be loseing inches.   I had another great workout last night - I love to sweat!   Menu today   Bfast The inside of a bfast burrito   Lunch salad   Dinner taco salad (no chips)   Wt 179
tonya66

tonya66

2
 

Back to the gym - FINALLY

Well, yesterday was my first trip back to the gym since July! I haven't been able to make it to the gym since my surgery. My physical therapist put me on a bicycle to get my movement back in my knees, so I headed to the gym and did 15 min on the recumbant bike. I did work up a little sweat, but not much.   I could not go that fast, but I'm just happy that I did it. I go to therapy today and they will put me on the bike there, and do leg lifts with ankle weights so I'll get a little exercise today too.   I'm taking baby steps, trying to get back into the exercise game. It's going to be awhile before I can start lifting weights again with my legs, but at this point, I will be happy to be able to get on a treadmill again...   Weight this morning 175.1. The fill is working, I got full after about 4 bites of weight control oatmeal.
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

Another Day in the Lap Band world

Things are smoothing out for me and I am now realizing it is going to be a real struggle to get the last 25 lbs off. So, I've got to focus on what I'm eating....I've been eating whatever the heck I want,but just in small amounts, I've been maintaining, but not losing. My knee is preventing me from serious exercise.   I see the doc today and I'm hoping he releases me to start doing some elliptical training, I need something to make me sweat, I need to burn calories.   My weight this morning was 174.4 - Keep bouncing from 170 to 174! I need to see 169 on the scales, soon! I've got to get below the 170's! I've got to push myself, I've got to stay away from the chocolates, I've got to use some will power, I'm weak, I tell you I'm weak these days. I cave in for anything! Head hunger is getting the best of me, I'm doing the mindless eating thing! I want to see a size 10! My size 12's fit just right, my 14's are way too big. I need to see a size 10!   Now, for a little motivation, we booked our 2008 vacation last week. We're headed to the Eastern Carribean on a 7 day cruise out of Florida. We go to St. Thomas, St. Marteen, Nassau Bahamas. So now I have something to look forward to. I would love to wear a bikini!
tonya66

tonya66

4
 

Anniversary Weigh In - Not that great

Highest weight - November - 2007 248 Banded 1/18/07 1 mo post op (Feb 18)- 206.8 2 mo post op (March 18) - 198 3 mo post op (April 18th)- 193 4 mo post op (May 18th)- 184.2 5 mo post op (June 18th(- 178 6 mo post op (July 18th)– 174 7 mo post op (Aug 18th)- 178 - went on vacation and ate big (7 day cruise) 8 mo post op (Sept 18th)- 174 9 mo post op (Oct 18th)- 170 10 mo post op (Nov 18th) - 167 11 mo post op (Dec 18th) - 170 - haven’t even been trying 12 mo post op (Jan 18th 2008)- 174 - again, not trying. But finally refocused - exactly where I was at 6 mos post op – so basically no weight loss in the past 6 mos 13 mo post op (Feb 18th) - 183 - Ouch! started taking steroids and made my weight go up, along with not eating right and no exercise! 14 mo post op (March 18th)- 185 - grrrrr 15 mo post op (April 18th)- 180 - weight is finally going down, but inches are actually coming off faster since I've been exercising a lot. 16 mo post op (May 18th)- 178 17 mo post op (June 18th)- 175 18 mo post op (July 18th)- 179- still not focussed:sad: 19 mo post op -(Aug 18th) - 178 - focussed again - This time I am committed to getting to goal and will not stray! I do not ever want to see the 180's again!  
tonya66

tonya66

4
 

Anniversary Weigh In - 20 months

1 mo post op (Feb 18)- 206.8 2 mo post op (March 18) - 198 3 mo post op (April 18th)- 193 4 mo post op (May 18th)- 184.2 5 mo post op (June 18th(- 178 6 mo post op (July 18th)– 174 7 mo post op (Aug 18th)- 178 - went on vacation and ate big (7 day cruise) 8 mo post op (Sept 18th)- 174 9 mo post op (Oct 18th)- 170 10 mo post op (Nov 18th) - 167 11 mo post op (Dec 18th) - 170 - haven’t even been trying 12 mo post op (Jan 18th 2008)- 174 - again, not trying. But finally refocused - exactly where I was at 6 mos post op – so basically no weight loss in the past 6 mos 13 mo post op (Feb 18th) - 183 - Ouch! started taking steroids and made my weight go up, along with not eating right and no exercise! 14 mo post op (March 18th)- 185 - grrrrr 15 mo post op (April 18th)- 180 - weight is finally going down, but inches are actually coming off faster since I've been exercising a lot. 16 mo post op (May 18th)- 178 17 mo post op (June 18th)- 175 18 mo post op (July 18th)- 179- still not focussed:sad: 19 mo post op -(Aug 18th) - 178 - focussed again - This time I am committed to getting to goal and will not stray! I do not ever want to see the 180's again! 20 mo post op (Sept. 18) - 171 - :rolleyes2:  
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

A poem I wrote

My new life begins with a lap band placed within I am nervous and anxious and not sure when When will I be at goal, when will I be thin? I tried and tried all my life to please the scales Yes tried to please them, ate nothing at all but to no avail My family thinks I’m crazy, some might think I’m lazy Just diet they say, and you’ll look amazing. No one understands the pain and anguish of being this way No one understands the strain it takes to breathe every day I am thankful for my family and friends you see, But this choice I’ve chosen is mine and for me. So be there for me and cheer me on to the finish line I promise you all I will get there this time!
tonya66

tonya66

8
 

A poem I wanted to remember, got it off of a thread here.

The Woman in the Mirror Walking past the mirrored glass, I take a timid peak. I see a woman staring back, I am to choked up to speak. The puffiness, at last is gone, the skin pink and glowing. The many pounds that melted off, Finally, now is showing. Hard to believe until recently, the same woman was dying. Stuffing the food to ease the pain, Heartbroken and crying. Life revolved around each snack,She lived for every meal. Anything to numb the hurt, She did not want to feel. When did she get so pretty? When did God remove this grief? How did this miricle happen? Who provided this relief? What a gift!! A second chance!! I thank god everyday. For his grace in showing me, there is a better way. I walk, I dance, I make love too, my heart is filled with gladness. I am out of bondage, I am out of pain, there is no more room for sadness. This woman in the mirror, Smiles softly back at me. She has good cause to be pleased, She has finally been set free!!!
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

99 days until my 1 year anniversary

I'm on a countdown to get as close, if not hit my goal by my 1 year anniversary!   Exercise - 15 min recumbant bike, leg lifts with ankle weights, calf raises   Wt this morning 175.2
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

95 days until 1 year band anniversary!

wt this morning 172.2   I felt like I could still eat too much this weekend, however, the scales show differently.   I still can eat regular bites of food, but I do have to slow down. I'm wondering if I need just a tiny bit more of a fill?   I was ordered off my knee for the weekend because it was really swollen on Friday. They also ordered me back to 2 crutches instead of the one. So, no exercise for me over the weekend.   I have 95 days until 1/18, my 1 year Band Anniversary. I still would like to lose 24.2 pounds to reach my goal by my 1 year, which means, I will need to lose 1.78 lbs per week in order to lose it.   I am aiming to reach 145 by 1/18, however, if I reach the 150's, I will be happy.   Menu this weekend has been a bit spuratic - I've eaten cereal for breakfast, that usually holds me over until almost dinner.   I had some roast last night for dinner and rice, about 1/2 cup of each, maybe? I was full really fast it seemed.
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

9/8/09

uggggh, work today.....feeling a little sore from yesterdays workout. Actually feeling more than a little sore, hurting all over is more like it.   Planned my meal out today:   Bfast 1/2 cup ff plain yogurt handfull of frozen blueberries couple of tsp of granola   Meal 2 carrots dipped in spicey hummus (yum)   M3 Turkey and fruit salad   M4 Apple with almond butter (like peanut butter but made with almonds)   M5 3 oz chicken breast green beans   Exercise - 60 min at gym done in two 30 min increments (30 min done at work - 3:00 pm) - 30 min done in the evening at my gym. Elliptical machine only today.
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

9/7/09 - making goals

Okay, I was reading a magazine yesterday - since it was "me time" and I found an interesting article. It focussed on hitting 350 minutes a week of exercise, you can do it all in one day - ahhh, not me - or you can devide it up into 6 days a week, or 5 or even 3 - but the key is you have to do 350 minutes a week.   I opted for 6 days a week, which averages to be about 60 min a day. I know, 6 days a week is a lot, but I have found that I have to give it my all in the beginning or I just quit. Some people have to start off slow, but for me, if I start off slow, I never get going.   Anyhow, I decided to set some goals this week and push myself to do them. I hit the gym this morning, I did a circuit training, where I did 15 min on the elliptical - got my heart rate up - then jumped on the weights (worked my upper body -biceps, triceps, shoulders, back - and thru in the abs). After doing a set of weights, I jumped back on the elliptical for another 15 min, it was at this time my stomach started turning. I pushed anyhow, and did another set of weights. Jumped back on the elliptical machine (I was planning on doing another 10 to 15 min), but I realized my stomache was not settling down. I started dry heaving, which I HATE to do. I don't know about anyone else, but since I've been banding, I cannot throw up. I can PB, or spit up something thats in my pouch, but as far as something that has made it to my stomache, It is not coming back up, no matter what!   Anyhow, I had drank some water, and I think that was sitting in my pouch still, and I knew it was about to come up. So I had to cut the elliptical machine short, so I grabbed my towel and headed to the door. I almost made it, but hear it comes, I covered my mouth and out came the water, I knew several saw me. I left in a hurry, so embarrasing. Sorry if this is TMI. Anyhow, I did get in 60 min, despite it all.   I'm not sure what made me feel so sick, but I feel better now. I'm about to head to the kitchen and make me a colorful plate of food. Turkey breast, salad greens and some diced apple salad. yum.   I'm going to take my measurements later and see where I am too so I can also keep track of them.   Goals for the week: 1. Eat Clean 2. Exercise 350 min 3. Get some sleep   So far 350 min minus todays 60 min = 290 min to go!   Wt - 165.8 - grrrrrrr
tonya66

tonya66

4
 

9/30/09

Well, i'm back at work today and recovering from my sickness. Busy busy busy.....   Still, did not make it to they gym! Nor did I get up this morning, will try and make it tonight! I have to do some grocery shopping and a big purchase at Sams tonight for a wedding I'm catering on Saturday, so working out is on my list, but not sure I will get to it. I know, I know, I need to make it a priority.   On a good note, this fill sure is feeling good! Eating a lot less, and getting full a lot quicker. I am having to slow down while eating, which is a good thing for me. So far, I think this might be the sweet spot I've been trying for over 2 years to get to. I think I might have finally found it! I sure hope it doesn't leave me. I think this could get me to goal if it stays this tight.   Menu today:   Bfast protein shake made with soy milk   lunch WW meal - ate about 1/2 of it, and threw the rest out. Couldn't finish it all   snack string cheese   dinner: grilled chicken tender spinach salad
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

9/29/09 - You've come a long way Baby!

Well, eating has been going good, my restriction level seems to be good. I do have to slow down a bit, and I just don't eat as much.   I've trying to make good choices on my eating, making sure I eat my protein first and that does make a big difference. I grilled some chicken last night on my george Foreman grill, and I had 1 1/2 tenders and I was done! That was about 2 oz of meat, I had a sliver of cantelope with it as well.   My acid reflux is gone, no more waking up in the middle of the night coughing, so things seem to be good with this fill. I don't get too excited because this has happened to me before, then all of a sudden the restriction leaves, but we'll see how this one goes.   Exercise - well I need to be more consistant. I have been sick all weekend, but feeling a little better today. I'm going to go to the gym today and get some cardio in! For me, its all or nothing, and lately if I can't do it all, I do nothing. I'm trying to change my mindset, one of the suggestions that Dr. Vuong's book made was to take some baby steps, just incorporate some type of exercise in each day, whether its taking the stairs, or parking further away at the store. I am going to have that attitude instead of "I blew it today, didn't make it to gym".   Weight - I go thru spurts, most of the time I'm a total scale whore, I have to weigh every day, every evening, and sometimes in between. I'm going thru a phase where I just don't want to see the number. I am just not interested in that damn scale controlling my mood today, so I've stayed off it. I am just focussing on eating right and hoping when I do weigh, I will be pleasantly surprised and happy.   I did wear a size 8 dress this weekend to my assembly and did I get a lot compliments, made me feel good. The dress was a little tight, but it wasn't too tight that I couldn't wear it.   So maybe the scales are bouncing up and down, or maybe I haven't made it to the gym on a consistant basis lately - but what I can say is my size 8 dress is long way from my size 18 dress I used to wear. I've made a lot of changes in my life since getting the band, and a lot has changed on the inside of me. I still feel like a fat cow, and have a hard time thinking "I'm skinny", but then sometimes when I slip into a dress that I can look at and think "there is no way I'm fitting into that", and I do, wow.....it makes me realize how far I've come.   I seem to focus on that ending number, that goal weight but today I'm going to pat myself on the back and say, Good Job Tonya, you've come a long way baby! No negative talk today....
tonya66

tonya66

4
 

9/29/08

Well, I'm mad at myself. I blew it at the fair, I blew it Friday night (just a little), I blew it Saturday and I blew it Sunday!   My weight showed it too!   I've got to stay focussed all week and have ZERO cheat days!   Wt - 173.3 - this is up 1 1/2 pounds!   I did get up and exercise this morning! Yay!
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

9/24/09

My band has settled down quite a bit now. I stayed on liquids/mushy foods all day yesterday, didn't eat past 6pm and exercised last night, I had NO ACID REFLUX. I got to sleep a full 7 hours!!!! I woke up feeling great!   I still am a bit tight, but not too tight at all, this might be perfect.....we'll see if it continues to get looser.   Now, I just need to keep my exercising up - not to get side tracked - and continue watching my portion sizes.
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

9/24/08

I'm going strong with my 5:00 am exercise routine.   Oh how I wanted to NOT get up this morning, matter of fact, I told myself when the alarm went off that I would go ahead and take today "off". I was trying to talk myself out of getting up. As I lay there, trying to go back to sleep, I realized, I was awake and could not go back to sleep.   I drug myself out of bed, jumped into my exercise clothes and headed to the gym. I did 35 min on the elliptical machine. The only bad thing is my knee is burning burning burning. I can feel it grind with each downstroke on the elliptical, not good. I may be over doing it a bit. I've been hitting the gym both 5 am and 8 pm.   I did not weight this morning, I'm trying to hold of until either Friday or Monday. I am hoping the next time I weigh I am in the 160's.   I was soooo hungry this morning too, so I call IHOP and ordered an egg white omlet, I picked it up on my way to work, it was good, but I could only eat about 1/3 of it. Saving the rest for bfast tomorrow.   I'm off to work...........
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

9/23/09

Okay, this last fill I've had is really playing some tricks on me. First I was perfect, then I was too lose, and now I'm extremely tight.   grrrrr.............   I am staying on liquids for a few days and see if that can calm my irritation down. I couldn't eat anything last night and went to bed and was up all night with acid reflux. My throat is so sore from caughing.   I am going to give it a few days because I've had this happen before, it sometimes takes a few weeks for my band fill to really settle in. But if it doesn't loosen up a bit, I might have to go in for an unfill. I can't live on liquids alone. Sucks because the fill was great - perfect, then got a little too lose. I'm so frustrated with trying to get to the sweet spot.   Another thing I might have to do is finally start taking small bites. You know, I've never had to do that, I've always eaten regular. Maybe I need to actually learn how to eat "The Bandster" way. I'm going to pull out my little rules and make sure I'm following them before I get an unfill. I think I might be taking too big of bites.   I bought two new books that I can't wait to read, one is from Khaliah Ali - she talks about her wonderful experience with the band.   I also bought Dr. Duc C Vuong book, he's on this forum alot and I thing his book is more for people who have already had the band vs the people who are trying to get it. Which I like that, seems like most of the books on the market focus on explaining what the band is and how it works. I want to read a book that talks about the long term success with the band etc.   One thing I have really never thought about is the PROTEIN FIRST rule. Well, I always try and eat it first, but if we go to a restraunt and my salad comes, I eat it first, Dr. Vuong says you have to for go that, I need to work on that.   Anyhow, life is a struggle right now, my alergies are causing all kinds of drainage, which could be the reason my band is so tight, who knows. I will just play it out for a few days and see what happens.
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

9/23/08

I am feeling good! I got up yesterday morning at 5:00 am - worked out, then last night went back to the gym and did some circuit training while working my upper body.   I went to bed early last night, took an ambien so I would go to sleep. The alarm goes off at 5 am and I'm a little druggy from the ambien, but I forced myself to get up and I hit the gym again. I will also try and go tonight around 8:30 and do 30 min on the elliptical.   I did not weigh this morning and trying to stay off the scale until Friday. I really want to be in the 160's and I'm getting close!   The only "bad thing" I did, was I made this roasted chicken with a mushroom gravy and homemade mashed potatoes. I had a small bowl of the potatoes with the chicken and gravy poured over it, it was soooooo good, I had to have another scoop of it. So I ended up eating two helpings. I'm sure it was loaded with calories.
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

9/22/08

Went to Nashville this weekend, I had a great time. Ate too much and drank a little too much, but we had fun.   This morning woke up at 5am and hit the gym. I'm trying to get my groove back. I am also going to go tonight to work with weights.   Here us new plan:   Mon - 5:00 am - cardio 30 min 8:00 pm - weights and 15 min on elliptical   Tuesday - 5:00 am - cardio 35 min 9:00 pm - cardio 30 min   Wednesday - 5:00 am - cardio 40 min   Thursday - 5:00 am - cardio 30 min 8:00 pm - weights   Friday - 5:00 am - cardio - 45 min   Saturday - 3:00 pm - weights and 30 min on cardio machine   Sunday - OFF   wt - 171.9
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

9/2/09

Day 2 of my new fill, so far it is the best fill I have ever have. I always thought I had restriction, but I feel this one more than any other fill. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping this is the one, this is the fill that I've been searching for, could this be the "sweet spot"?   Yesterday, had a WW smart one meal, chose speghetti since it is soft. Well, I had to work to eat it and only ate 1/2 of my meal, then I finished the rest for dinner.   I drank water last night before bed, and I had a hard getting it down before I went to sleep. It was iced cold water and that usually makes me a bit tighter. I don't think I will be doing that again before bedtime. lol.   I'm actually having to chew my food these days, thats a good thing.   Weight this morning 168.7 - so its going down......It better keep going down if that scale knows whats good for him!   Now on another note, NOTE TO MYSELF - GET OFF THE COUCH, PUT THE REMOTE DOWN, STEP AWAY FROM THE "COMFORT" AREA AND GET YOUR BUTT TO THE GYM!!!!
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

9/17/08

Well, just got back from FILL #12. I know I said I wasn't going to go, but I lost that restriction. I finally figured out, (DUMB ME) WHY all of a sudden I got good restriction after 1 month of my last fill.   I PB'd, and that made me swollen, therefore giving me good restriction. duh. That lasted 1 week, then it went away. I freaked! I started thinking back and realized it was the PB that gave me restriction. What an idiot I am.   So, I go in for fill #12, I know that just a little might do the trick, so he gave me 1/10th of a cc. I had to eat some peaches before I left, and I think this might be the fill. (I know - i've said that with every fill - lol) I guess its my hope!   I believe I'm at right around 3.9cc's. Not sure because he didn't take any out of me this time, just gave me a little and that was it.   Well, I'm off to Nashville tonight -   Wt - 175.6 - yuck - I'm up again after losing that good restriction!
tonya66

tonya66

1
 

9/16/09

I missed my goal last week, had a death in the family, had to travel out of town, blah blah blah, ate too much of the wrong stuff, haven't stepped on the scale, but I can tell I've gained. My feet are swollen, holding a lot of water. I usually do when I travel. Anyhow, I've used the death in the family as an excuse, time to get back on track.   Will weigh in the morning to get a true picture of where I am, I know its not going to be pretty, but time to face the music!   Need to up my water, and get back to the gym, consistantly! No more excuses!
tonya66

tonya66

1

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