This weekend brought an end to the preserving of my spring/summer garden (except for the okra which will produce thru September). It was a good year:
137 pounds of Zucchini (15 plants)
104 pounds of Yellow Squash (15 plants)
30 ½ pounds of Patty Pan Squash (5 plants)
43 ½ pounds of cucumbers (5 plants)
73 pounds of Tomatoes (10 plants)
4 bushels of pears (2 trees)
I spent the summer preserving all this every way I could: pickles, relishes, preserves, marmalades, minced meat, pie fillings, canned tomatoes, canned pears, frozen roasted tomatoes, frozen squash, casseroles, zucchini bread, zucchini cake, zucchini hummus, zucchini cobbler (tastes like apple!)… You name it! It’s been nonstop!!
What does this have to do with the band? You wonder…… EVERYTHING!
Pre band I could not have done a fourth of what I did this summer. I couldn’t cook dinner in the summer without sweating like a pig. I would have a towel around my neck wiping the sweat off my face before it dripped into the pan (for reals!). I would have to sit down every five minutes because my back was hurting. I hated working in the kitchen and doing anything outside forget it.
My husband use to do all the work on the land, I couldn’t physically help him…..
I don’t exercise, I hate the gym and any formal exercise routine. It’s never worked for me….. but I move. I move all the time. I walk and take the stairs as much as I can at work. Every day when I get home I have to feed the chickens, pick produce from the garden, pull weeds, etc. And the weekends are full of chores too, cleaning chicken coops, mowing lawns, pulling more weeds, building goat shelters….
I have so much energy now that all this work is nothing, just life on my farm. Just last night my husband asked me…
“So what is my zucchini mama gonna do next?”…….hummmmm
Remember starting a new school? Having to make new friends? Trying to find your way around? Everything was so different and you hated it….
Remember moving to a new town? Not knowing anyone? Having to leave all your friends behind? Everything was so different and you hated it….
Well here we are, starting a new school…..
Alex has built WLS University (BariatricPal) and within that university are the specialty colleges (Lapband, Sleeve, Bypass). It is all new and SCARY! We don’t know where to go, we don’t know where our friends are…… and we are expressing feelings of dislike.
What if we meet some new friends? Learn about their struggles with their WLS? What if we gave them support? We all know the one similarity we share is that WE have a problem with our weight and WE had to do something about it. That problem didn’t go away when we had surgery. We just started a new journey of healing. A journey that is for life. The same journey for all of us.
Let’s embrace what Alex has provided us, a place to go for support, for help and for education. I know it is scary right now, we are only 2 weeks into the new school. (Don’t know about you but I keep getting lost.)
But, in time this new university will be our old familiar stomping ground. We will be running into all our friends all the time. We will know the layout like the back of our hands…..If only we give it a chance.
Thank you Alex for building us this beautiful WLS University called BariatricPal.
This weekend my husband & I went to Lubbock, Texas for the Wine Chocolate Fantasia at Llano Estacado Winery. This is an annual event and is both a fund raiser for the ACF Texas Panhandle Chefs de Cuisine and the West Texas Parkinsonism Society; as well as a chocolate competition. There are entries from amateurs, professionals and chefs. The evening includes many of Llano Estacado’s wines for sampling.
It was quite enjoyable hanging around barrels of aging wine, sampling some interesting chocolate creations and sipping on my favorite wines.
I consumed about 800 calories this evening; pure sugar and fat calories. My total calories for the day were 1600. I am at goal and that is the only reason I chose to attend this event. I would never recommend anyone still losing to attempt managing an evening like this. I don’t know the actual calorie count for the chocolate I sampled nor do I know their actual weight so I took my best guess.
Why am I telling you about this? Two reasons; it was fun and I want to share my experience managing the maintenance lifestyle. I know that I am going to attend things where the only choice is wasted calories, full of fat. As long as I stay in moderation I will be successful.
I planned for this event I knew I would be eating chocolate and drinking wine. I knew about how much I wanted to have before I arrived and I stuck to that. The evening was an absolute blast.
I try to measure my food all the time. Not a problem when I'm at home, I use my food scale.
But what to do when eating out like at family and friends?
I was given this chart by my nutritionist, I find it very handy and wanted to share it with anyone interested
servingcard7.pdf
So my doctor wants me to change my mindset, think maintenance instead of weight loss…
What does that mean?
I am finally comfortable with my portion sizes and my band. I don’t get stuck or pb, I can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, I can eat any foods, I eat 1200 calories a day and I don’t feel hungry between meals.
For me, it means nothing changes. I lost my weight with my band more on the loose side than the tight side and therefore my body will settle and I’ll stop loosing (that’s what my doctor says). Probably around the weight of 170-175 lbs.
That’s the physical part, but what about the mental part? How does the head handle maintenance?? What if I can’t keep the weight off? What if I fail and gain weight back? I can’t fail; I've worked too hard to get here. But, what if??? Man, the head is my biggest obstacle.
I have to get a hold of my thoughts. I know I can do this. Per my doctor, nothing has changed. I still have the same fill; I still eat my cup of food, 3-4 ozs protein, ½ cup veggies. I still drink my water. I still exercise. I am at goal and it’s just another number on the scale.
I'm just at the next chapter in my banded lifestyle.
To having a Lapband….
Well there are Dr. O’Brien’s eight golden rules.
1, Eat three or less small meals per day
2. Do not eat anything between meals
3. Eat slowly and stop when no longer hungry
4. Focus on nutritious foods
5. Avoid calorie-containing liquids
6. Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day
7. Be active throughout the day
8. Always keep in contact with your aftercare specialist
And there are the basic band eating rules.
1. Small bites
2. Chew until mushy
3. Eat slow (wait about 1 minute between bites)
After this it starts to get foggy, many doctors with many different opinions and advise.
There is:
1. Don’t drink while eating
2. No carbonated drinks
3. No straws
4. No NSAIDS
5. No alcohol
So what do you do? Who is right?? Every doctor is different. An example is let’s compare my doctor and my good friend CalorinaGirl’s doctor:
Drinking while eating:
My doctor says it’s fine as long as you wait the minute between bites & sips. CG doctor says NO drinking while eating and wait 30 minutes after you eat.
Carbonated drinks:
My doctor says if you want that’s fine but he sees most patients prefer not to because of the discomfort in drinking the carbonation. CG doctor says NO.
Straws
My doctor says if you want and it doesn’t bother you, fine. (I use a straw on occasion). CG doctor says NO.
NSAIDS
My doctor says Yes. CG doctor says NO.
Alcohol
My doctor says count the calories. CG doctor says prefer not, but if so use sparingly.
I would say that both CG & I have been successful with our banded journeys, we both follow our band rules (doctor’s orders) and have seen the results.
So who is right????? YOUR DOCTOR IS RIGHT! That is the person you put your money and life into so why not trust them?
My point is this journey is not cut and dry, black and white. This journey is what you make of it. Trust in your doctor and listen to them. Make your choices based on that.
I was banded one year ago today and boy what a year it has been.
One year ago I weighed 250 pounds.
One year ago I wore a size 22.
One year ago I was pre-diabetic.
One year ago my blood pressure was out of control high ( I was taking 3 different meds trying to stabilize it).
One year ago I couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without gasping for air.
One year ago I hated myself.
Today I weigh 171 pounds. (lost 79 pounds)
Today I wear size 10.
Today my blood sugar is normal.
Today my blood pressure is stable with only 1 mild medication.
Today I walk up the stairs to the eight floor of my office building.
Today I love myself.
I achieved this success by following my doctor’s orders, eating a 1200 calorie diet that is high protein (60-70g), and moving everyday one step at a time. Most important with a great support system; my family, friends, doctor, support group and LBT have all supported me every step of the way. I thank and love each and every one of you.
Happy first birthday yellow rose!
The last few weeks I have seen several threaded where members have gotten heated with topics and each other…
It made me realize that we are a family, a big huge family. We fight just like brothers & sisters, we have those annoying aunts and uncles (you know the ones) but most important is we love each other and support each other to the hill.
We all have one goal and that is to be thin. We are very passionate about our goal; we fight and defend it to all ends. And I for one love that!!!!
I love reading the tough love, slap on the hand, you know better posts. I also love reading the cheering you on, you can do it; I believe in you, you got this posts. I also love being able to post these types of posts to my brothers and sisters.
I thank each and every one of you for your words…every word! I would not be where I am at today if it wasn’t for those words and the support I have received from everyone here.
P.S. If the Sister Sledge song is stuck in your head…..my job is done. lol
I bought myself a new water bottle this weekend. My previous bottles were inexpensive bottles. Never really liked any of them.
I have been looking for a water bottle that had a few features that seem to be hard to find.
1. No straw – a bottle that you pour the water out of (or sip into your mouth).
2. Double lined – I don’t like ice in my water but I like it cold.
3. Cap that doesn’t leak – I want to be able to put the bottle in a bag and not worry if it will tip over and leak over everything.
4. Holds a good amount of water – about 20 – 24 ounces preferred.
Well hubby & I were at Academy Sports this weekend and I found this water bottle. It meets all the elements I was looking for. It holds 24 ounces of liquid, double lined, nice mouth piece and the lid snaps closed (no leaks).
Today was the first day of full use and I filled it 7 times (7 x 24 = 168 ounces). Holly Toledo I must be floating. I drank 168 ounces of water today. Ok, I know the newness will wear off and I’ll be back to my 80-100 ounces, but hey I like my new tool (& you know my thoughts on tools).
There have been a few threads recently about water & dehydration that make me want to say I hated water when I got the band almost 18 months ago, never thought I could get in 68 ounces a day. Not possible. And today I drank that twice!
How? By not giving up, by getting a tool that I like (Yea, the Longhorn encourages me!). By mixing up my water with lemons, limes or flavor packages. I go through phases, some days its plain water others I want my water flavored. I’m currently on a fruit punch kick. Really like the Tropical Punch flavor packs by HEB. Could be something totally different tomorrow. Point is when I’m bored with something I change it.
Water can be so darn boring alone, but when you have a great tool like my UT bottle anything is possible.
PS - yes it was over the budget but WTF I’m worth it! I get an awesome bottle and show my UT spirit all in one tool!
I love the movie Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) with Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, it’s a must see so rent it if you've never seen it. This is one of my favorite scenes…… Just wanted to share it with everyone.
I never get mad, Mrs. Threadgoode. Never!
The way I was raised it was bad manners.
Well, I got mad and it felt terrific.
I felt like I could beat the sh*t outta all those punks!
Excuse my language. Just beat 'em to a pulp!
Beat 'em till they begged for mercy.
Towanda, the avenger!
After I wipe out all the punks of this world,
I'll take on the wife beaters, like Frank Bennett,
and machine gun their genitals.
Towanda will go on the rampage.
I'll put tiny bombs in Penthouse and Playboy...
so they'll explode when you open 'em.
I'll ban all fashion models who weigh less than 130 pounds.
I'll give half the military budget to people over 65...
and declare wrinkles sexually desirable.
Towanda, righter of wrongs, queen beyond compare!
How many of them hormones you takin', honey
The band is a tool and will only work if used correctly, we know this and state it daily.
We have another very important tool, our doctor. He (or she) is the one we trusted to cut up our insides. But this tool doesn’t stop there, we pay them for our after care. I’m not talking just for the post op diets. I’m talking months and years of after care, whether it is fills or just checking in or complications we need this tool as much as we need our bands.
So why would we not use this tool? Why are we afraid to call the doctor? Why don’t we want to go back to the doctor? Who loses out when we don’t use this tool? The doctor doesn’t. He’s off helping other patients who are using their tool. We lose! We keep spiraling out of control, gaining weight, feeling like we failed, and hating the band.
I use my tools to the fullest capacity!
I lost 80 pounds in 10 months and have maintained my weight for the last 7 months. And, I still see my doctor once a month. Why? Because I am using my tool. I often don’t get a fill, I weigh in, ask any questions I may have and say hello to everyone. I am there so much that all the staff know me by name. They may get sick of seeing me, but hey I pay for this tool and by golly I’m going to use it.
So, if you are struggling and you haven’t seen your doctor in a while, pick up the phone and make an appointment. Use your tool! If you don’t you are only hurting yourself.
Is my band too tight? How many times do we see this question? A lot so let’s talk about it.
How tight you have your band is a personal preference. No one (including your doctor) can tell you how tight it has to be. This is something you have to decide for yourself. Personally my band is loose. The last time I had an x-ray my doctor commented that I didn’t have very much restriction. Oh well, it is what works for me.
I have had 2 unfills because I felt my band was too tight, but I know now that it wasn’t. So how do I know if my band is too tight? I ask myself these questions:
1. Can I get water/liquids down okay? If YES not too tight
2. Are my bites the size of a nickel or smaller? If NO not too tight
3. Do I chew my food at least 30 times before swallowing? If NO not too tight
4. Do I wait 1 minute between bites? If No not too tight
It appears that my eating habits cause me to think my band is too tight. When I eat correctly I have no problems.
My advice to anyone wondering if their band is too tight is, evaluate your eating by asking yourself my four questions.
I was banded on February 7, 2012, ten months ago. So what has changed?
Ten Months Ago Today
Weight 250lbs Weight 175lbs
BMI 37 BMI 25
Pant size 22 Pant size 10
3 different meds for high blood pressure Don’t take any meds for high blood pressure
Diagnosed pre-diabetic All blood work is NORMAL
Hated myself, depressed Very happy with myself!
Isolated myself, no friends Love all my new friends (especially the Banded Bs)
Couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without being out of breath Walk up 8 floors of stairs to my office every morning
When I started this journey I knew I would have to change a lot of things (food I ate, volume I ate, exercise, etc…), I knew it would be a long hard journey and I hoped I would have the strength to be successful.
Now here I am ten months later, at goal and starting the next chapter of my journey (maintaining).
I make it sound easy, but I have to say IT’S NOT! I struggled many times. I got frustrated and wished I didn’t have to follow the rules. I had weight gains and plateaus.
BUT, I didn’t give up. I kept plugging along and it worked. Here I am happier than I have been in 30 years.
Now, I am focused on maintaining my weight and hopefully saving enough money for a tummy tuck next year. Lol
To all the newly banded or about to be banded, success is a wonderful thing. It takes hard work, dedication and wantpower (CG I love your term).
I love my band!!!!
Do you admit when you are struggling?
Or eat wrong?
Or over eat?
Or do you just hide it??
I feel like I have been successful at my weight loss, I’ve lost 75 pounds in 10 months and I’m at goal. But, was I an A student the whole time? NO!
I slipped more than once during my journey. I had nights where I munched on peanuts and chocolate chips, didn’t measure them out so I have no idea how much I truly ate. I also had times when I ate more carbohydrates than protein and times when I ate so fast that I was PBing my food back up.
What I did do was be honest with myself. I tried to log everything in my food journal (I had to estimate some things). And I got back on the saddle as soon as possible.
Perfection is not required for success; my doctor told me if I could give 80% I would see results. And I did see results.
So to all of you struggling know that for every success story you read there are behind the scenes struggles, too.
Today at work I had to give a presentation to over 100 staff members, the majority being managers & directors.
Before I was banded I would get so nervous fearing all they would see was this talking whale….
Today, I felt confident in myself. I knew the subject matter, I was dressed professionally and I was ready. The presentation went off without any hicks and after it was over my coworker said to me, “Wow, you were so confident up there. How do you do that?”
It made me think. I am confident, I am in control, I like myself…. No I love myself. I stand tall!
All because in February 2012 I decided to put myself first, to change my lifestyle, to eat right & exercise. I got a tool to help me accomplish this, my band, and together we have done incredible stuff.
I have changed and improved myself and today I do stand tall.
I thank the band for that!
At work today I overheard two coworkers talking. They were talking about ME and my weight loss. Now these two ladies are quite overweight themselves. Just saying so you get the picture…
“I can’t believe her” “She is always bragging about it to everyone who walks by”
I casually walk over to them.
“Ladies I couldn't help but hear you talking about my weight loss. I have lost a lot of weight over the last 9 months and people notice that. Often people will ask me what’s your secrete? or How did you do it? When they ask I tell them my story, and if telling my story is bragging then guilty as charged!”
I then turned and walked away with my head held high and a big huge smile on my face.
Now I happened to be wearing my new fuchsia pink skinny pants and my grey high heal boots that hubby said made me look sexy! (Fashion note)
I though should I be pissed? Nah, I’m happy!!!
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap clap)
My name is AJ and I’m a scale-a-holic.
I have lied to my LBT friends, it wasn’t intentional… I don’t know how it got so out of control.
You see in the beginning I only weigh myself once a week, but back then I was seeing my doctor every week or two. Now I go every 4-6 weeks and that will get stretched out more. When I weigh in at my doctor’s office, that is my ‘official’ weight, I update my profile based on that. So when I weigh at home it doesn’t officially count….
Like I said I started weighting once a week, I even had a set day (Sunday morning). Then I started ‘just checking’ on Wednesdays, then Fridays too and before I knew it I was weighting every day. Then it was twice a day, once in the morning & once in the evening (just to see if there was a difference). It wasn’t my ‘official weight’ so what harm is there…..
Well my scale died last night. Yep after ten plus years it went kaput. My beloved scale was no more. Panic set in, how am I going to weigh myself in the morning? Where can I get a new scale and fast….
Boy was I in a panic! I searched on line all evening, need to find a good scale and fast. Thankfully, I go to the doctors tomorrow and will get an ‘official’ weight.
But in the mean time I realize that I have an addiction that I need to manage. The first step in the detoxing is cold turkey. I found the scale I want on Amazon, ordered it & selected Super Saving Shipping (It wound get here till next week). Next, if I have to I’ll have my husband lock it up….hopefully that won’t be necessary. lol
“November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.
With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.
The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.”
Clyde Watson
Get your ass moving AJ! You have been slacking on this. The Fitbit doesn't lie. It shows that your daily steps are way down, no where near the 10,000 step per day goal. And what happened to taking the stairs at work???? Slacking there too!
Vacation is over! First tine tomorrow you will get moving. Tomorrow, hell, what is wrong with right now?
Stop typing and get moving! NOW!!!!
Will do, just as soon as this video is over. OK, as long as you dance during the video!!!
Cause I kicked it all out!
I went to my PCP today for a follow up on my high blood pressure. When I was banded I was on 3 different medicines to control it. About 3 months ago my PCP took me off the last one and said we will monitor your pressure and see how you do.
I was so proud of myself, for the last three months I have posted how I went from 3 meds to no meds…
Well, today my doctor put me back on one of the meds at half the dosage. I was so disappointed in myself. I felt like I had failed, that NSV pulled right out from under me. I wanted to cry. I pouted all the way home.
I know this is something that is not in my control. Everyone in my family has high blood pressure (the skinny ones too) and I know this could be genetic. But, dang it feels like I went backwards.
To make myself feel better I went shopping for new pajamas. Mine where too big and the pants would fall off me as I slept (hubby didn’t mine this). Anyway, I got me some cute new PJs. See!
Now time to put all my sand back in my sandbox. Thanks for listening.
Tonight’s dinner did not come from a grocery store. I made a venison roast from a deer that was shot on my uncles ranch and roasted veggies (butternut squash, turnips, yellow was beans & snap peas) that where grown on our land.
My husband pointed out that nothing on our plate came from the grocery store. This made me think, ok the seasonings I put on the roast and the corn starch to thicken the drippings for gravy are the only items from the grocery store.
That is pretty cool! (Just had to brag)
Oh and by the way, it was delicious!!!!
I have a 13 year old step daughter, I’ve been her step mom for 4 years now and to say our relationship is strained is putting it mildly. Basically her mother wanted her to hate her step mom and she got her wish.
Tonight I watched her eat a dinner plate worth of food in less than ten minutes. She shoveled the food into her mouth; barely chew as she reloaded her fork. All I could do was watch and cry inside. Her father & I have tried to get her to eat slower, smaller bites, etc… but it goes on deaf ears. The only thing we can do is only have health choices in our house. I am thankful that what she wolfed down tonight was baked salmon, brown rice, boiled carrots and for dessert a frozen Greek yogurt bar.
I know that if she continues these eating habits she will be fat as an adult and will face all the things I faced as an obese adult. That makes me cry.
I know that all I can do is what I already do, offer healthy choices and advise if she wants to listen.
So I'm a little slow......just figured out how to create a blog. That's what I get when I only access LBT from my phone & tablet. There are a lot of features that you don't see on the mobile app. Alex we need to be able to update our status, reply to other statuses and access blogs on the mobile app. (Don't think he heard me.)
I don't do Facebook or twitter so I'm not sure how stuff like this works, oh well I'll wing it.
I am amazed at how far I have come this year. January I was in the biggest depression, I hated my job, I hated myself, honestly I disliked my stepdaughter greatly. The only thing I liked/loved was my dear husband. I went to the doctor for my annual physical and got a huge slap in the face. I was on 3 different high blood pressure meds and my blood pressure was still high and on top of that I was diagnosed pre diabetic. I was so upset after that appointment that I stopped at Starbucks for a large Java chip Frappuccino. That solves everything.
The next morning driving to work I heard a radio commercial for True Results and the Lap Band, I started doing some internet research as to what the Lap Band was. Talked with my parents about it (my dad is a retired MD so his advice is gold when it comes to medical stuff). My dad researched some and gave me his blessing on doing the Band. My initial appointment with True Results was the second week in January, my surgery was February 7, 2012. Basically three weeks and it was done. I had no time to reconsider. (That’s the difference between self-pay and insurance)
It’s funny I didn’t know about LBT or that different doctors had different diets all I knew was what my doctor had me doing, so I did it. I followed the doctor’s orders; I was losing weight and really knew nothing about the band lifestyle. Then in June I found LBT and started reading. Wow there was so much I didn’t know. I read every post I could find, quickly got Jean’s book and read it. Within the month I felt I had a much better understanding of what I had and how it would work for me.
Now here it is October, 9 months later, and I’ve lost 65 pounds. Wow I can’t believe I have done so well. I look in the mirror and often don’t recognize myself. I have no regrets at all, even if the future brings complications with the Band. I love this little tool, my Yellow Rose of Texas.
