marcyinak

Shelbie-I'm here...I get a daily update from LapBandTalk that I read, it just takes forever to get the pages open that I only post once in a while. Mal - Thinking about you and feeling ashamed that you are STILL motivated, yet things are good here and there's zero motivation for me! Linz-ah, to have a lawn! Even when the snow melts we only have gravel! Haha! I'm looking forward to chopping wood though. Oh, so the motivation has vanished, but that's not a terrible thing, I know I'll get it back. I'm just so "blah" about the whole thing and have been for about a month. I'm sure it has A LOT to do with the fact that I haven't lost any weight since my last fill...but I haven't gained either. My son needs to have a little surgery (ear tubes) so we're "going to town" in a couple of weeks and I'm going to get another little fill (make the trip really worth it, especially since insurance is paying for this flight - thanks to my dear son!). I admit that I've been eating crap, but I DO notice that when I actually sit down to eat a meal I can eat a little more than I "should". I really am having a hard time with the head-hunger. I also need to talk to Paula...my diet is very difficult. It's hard to get fresh fruit and veggies and, well, we all know that meat is a whole 'nother ball-game for me (moose, halibut, salmon, crab...all good but I'm still having troube not PBing). It's finally warming up here! It's 28 this morning and it'll only get warmer! I'm going to try to not get too excited...it'll be another couple of weeks before we know for sur that winter is over. Oh, hey, I'm "famous in Nome". My son, Owen, and I are on the front page of our local paper (we've been in the paper a lot actually). Go to nomenugget.net and look at the picture of the egg hunt...that's me in the middle, dark purple coat with white hat and Owen is right in front of me in a grayish coat. It was crazy fun!

Thanks Dee - I hadn't really planned on going on-line for the food logging, but that's really a good idea...then I can actually SEE the calories. I know I don't eat a lot, but those dang Cadburry Eggs are the death of me! I can't wait for Easter to be over!

Hey folks, been a while. So I got filled a few weeks ago (2/25) and usually I lose 4-8 lbs. right away then "bob" for a bit then lose a couple more, but I haven't lost any since this last fill! STRANGE! Granted it was a small fill and I sort of regret not getting a little more while I was in Anchorage, but oh well. I know my eating habits aren't particularly stellar, but I'm not eating THAT much! I think I'm going to start writing down what I put in my mouth to see where I'm going wrong. I haven't been excersizing a whole lot either...it's friggin cold here right now! At least it warmed up for the Iditarod last week! Guess I'm just looking for a little support...Andrew's idea of support is bringing home a candy bar for me!

I'm here, I'm here! I've had some folks wondering where I am. Frankly, I have a daily update for the posts and I just can't find the time to read all the posts so I've given up. I managed to get into a "goal dress" the other day...it was way cuter when I bought it two days after surgery, but I still think it was ok. Weather's getting better in Nome...just in time for the Iditarod finish! I'm halfway to my goal, but my goal isn't that realistic for me...I'd need surgery to get rid of the friggin' pannus! 'Nite all!

Just testing the new ticker...hey, I'm halfway to goal!

So...here's me in the dress I bought at Target right after the surgery (we don't have Target in Alaska yet.) At the time I thought it was totally cute, but after seeing the picture...well, not that cute, but you can tell the difference! Note...the snow on the other side of the deck rails IS that high! We, thank heavens, have a nice snow-plow man that comes by and clears the streets! :tea: Andrew took the picture of the old gold dredge...can you see the dog team? That's Andrew, Connor, and me last month at Connor's baptism. He's just the best kid ever!

Whomever asked about posting pictures...you have to post an actual Reply, not a Quick Reply...there's a paperclip icon that you can click on to add the picture. I'm FINALLY down 40 lbs. now...went to Anchorage and got a teeny-tiny fill so now I'm up to 3.2 cc. I debated about going back the next day and getting more, but I didn't want to be over-zealous and if I have problems then it's a MAJOR problem, if you know what I mean! The weather is finally warming up and we are expecting the Iditarod racers to come through town in a couple of days. For those of you who don't know...the Iditarod race is a dog-sled race to memorialize the serum run that was done years ago for a diptheria outbreak here...it was too cold to fly and the train actually got snowed-in so the serum was brought by relay with sled dogs....you've heard of Balto? Yep, he's a real dog! Anyhoo...big deal around these parts...lots of lame-o tourists taking pictures of our quaint grocery store, telephone poles, and itty-bitty park - occasionally I'm nice and will take a few pictures with them in the shot...can you imagine spending all this money to come here and not having any pictures with you in them? As for mental health...my DH who is a State Trooper will confirm that there's not much that can be done for folks with issues. They can send them to a myriad of places, but they come back with just more meds to take and no one to monitor the taking of said meds. It's a vicious circle! I'm very blessed to not have had to deal with those particular problems in my family...although I DO think my mom is crazy! Miss chattin' but I'm a bit busy here...things have calmed down a bit. My 8 year old son was baptised in our church (we're Mormon) last month and that was just awesome! We do full immersion so we were at the pool (he wasn't too keen on the idea of bustin' out some ice in the ocean for the occasion), singing his favorite song, "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing". It was funny, spiritual, and wonderful! So like him! We're blessed to be his parents! Maybe if I have time (internet is slow) I'll post a picture of him... Anita - you know Andrew is first in line to give me a ticket...it's a hard life being a Trooper Wife with a lead foot! I have to let, er...MAKE, him drive when we're together because he's a terrible back-set-driver! Ease up sister and be safe! Mal - I married a family of wrestlers...the only thing I can say is that it's cheaper than hockey! Good luck! I'm happy to hear that everyone is losing well. I've had to convince myself that even if it's slow, it's still losing! It took me YEARS to get this way and I should at least give myself time to get rid of it! Easier said than done though...I have to admit that I still get jealous when other people are losing faster than I am...like Anita...I'm so happy for you! Now, if I could only get off my butt and RUN away from those damn Cadburry Eggs things would be just fine!

In case anyone is interested in what Nome, Alaska looks like... nomealaska.org has a web cam that is updated every couple of minutes. The picture is of our Visitor's Center (on the street is where the Iditarod ends) and in the background is Norton Sound (which leads into the Bering Sea). G'night!

I'm still around...a little too busy to read the whole thread, but I'm still watching you all...I get a daily update. I'm in Anchorage and got a fill today. Went from 3.0cc to 3.2 cc. I don't feel much so I may go in for more tomorrow...we'll see after breakfast tomorrow. I have a lot to do tomorrow, but the fill was my priority for the trip so we'll see what happens...I only have a few days. Things are good here in Alaska. We've been able to pull a lot of crab from our pots (it's pretty easy after you get your big hold chopped out of the ice...ice was thick this year ~ 4 ft and that made it a bit painstaking). I'm getting sick of winter, but spring is just around the corner. The Iditarod is coming (big sled dog race) and I'm looking forward to that. In case you wonder what Nome, Alaska looks like...there's a web cam that updates every couple of minutes at www.nomealaska.org check it out! The picture is of our Visitor's Center and in the background is the Norton Sound (that leads to the Bering Sea). Cool stuff!

In Anchorage for a fill. He added just .2cc (which is what I wanted so I don't mean to sound like he refused to give me more). I had some soup for a late lunch/dinner and had some birthday cake with the folks I'm staying with...I didn't feel much more restriction. I admit that I wasn't eating all that much, but I just feel like I shouldn't have been comfortable with what I did eat...did that make any sense. I think I'll call tomorrow and see if he can put another cc in just to "be sure". The weight loss is much more noticable on the doc's scales! Last time I had a fill (early Oct.) I was 236 and today I was 219...I have to admit that his scale is VERY nice to me! I still feel like it's a slow loss, but at least it's a loss and not a GAIN! I'm exhausted and need to get some rest. Anita - I hope you're feeling better...I've been reading that you've been ill and that's too bad. I am a firm believer in hot and sour soup (obtained at pretty much any Chinese restaraunt). Good luck! Went to lunch at Red Robin yesterday and thought of you all!

Lap - love the pictures...wish the snow would melt here so we could have some nice beach scenes! I'll have to take a picture of what the ocean really looks like when it's frozen...it's awe inspiring. It's good weather today so maybe I'll do that for ya'll. Viri - glad to hear you are doing well. I went to Health South and actually slept for a few hours...there was no rushing me. In fact, they were surprised when I said that I was ready to get dressed! Heck, they were surprised that I wanted to WALK to the bathroom! I really did recover well! I'm excited for my fill on Monday. I was a little worried when I weighed myself yesterday and was UP 2 lbs. more than usual (I've been bobbing for a while). Then I got my period today so that would explain a lot! I guess I'll just spend the day shoveling snow and try to lose it!

lifesaver - I got a card that said 4cc (which is what it holds), to find out how big it is I had to go to my op report (which Dr. K gave me a copy of - had to send it because it took a week to get it all done). The op report says that it is a 10 cm band (note: centemeters is NOT cc's) So, it's a 10cm band that holds 4cc of liquid. Make sense?

Michelle - it's awful late there...go to bed! Haha!

sms-you'll be just fine with Dr. K. I didn't have headhunger for a while, but we're all different and we all use this surgery/tool differently. I have been able to eat sushi and was totally excited when I realized it...and bummed that I hadn't tried sooner! :Dancing_wub: I, however, am able to eat some thing others can't like soda, popcorn, even some white bread! But, I have a difficult time with meat...I can get fish down ok most of the time. You have to remember that everyone is different and you'll just have to try a bunch of things to see what works for you...fortunately, I don't crave the things I can't eat...but since cookies and chips go down pretty easily for me I crave those when I'm bored (which is when I eat). Just stay close to a group (live or on the internet) that can help you when you're getting dismayed!:Dancing_chief: Weight loss - ok, so I'm at a plateau and sitting at 222-226 (it's different every hour it seems - not that I'm weighing myself that much). I'm looking forward to finally getting another fill in a couple of weeks, but I have so much to do before then!:coolgleamA: I'm trying to remember that the "average weight loss for the band" is 3-6 lbs. a month...and I'm there, just seems so slow. I've just got to keep in the mindset that I'm not GAINING and that really is why I had the surgery! Weather is suckin' here in Nome lately. Usually when it's beautiful outside it's colder than sh@@**t! :welldone2:(Note, I don't swear often!) But when it's crappy looking it's usually warmer...well, non of that lately, you just can't tell by looking out the door! And the weather "channels" on the internet are all screwed up! I'm totally looking forward to spring!:wink2: On the up side is that I'm totally happy right now and totally in love with my husband! This is odd for me since this is the time of year where people in Alaska go loco!:biggrin: Well, that's it for me. I need to go lotion up...went swimming with the kids and I'm all dried up! Viri - good luck to you, I'm sure everything will go smoothly!

Lap - I have decided that not only do you have fast internet, but that you have WAAAYYYYY TOO much time on your hands!

Oh, I'm FINALLY going to Anchorage for another fill at the end of the month...I'm hoping to get cinched up good so I can dump another 20 lbs. this spring...that would be nice. However, strange things are happening here...ate WAY TOO much last night (big slice of greek pizza and then a LARGE slice of cheesecake) and woke up a pound LIGHTER! That phenomenon totally screws with my psyche!! It's probably because my muscles are diminishing already and my fat is lighter! Haha! I'm good with it though...that cheesecake actually made me feel gross for HOURS last night...won't be doing that again!

Anita - if it weren't for your strikingly blonde hair I wouldn't have found you! You're disappearing! I still think you need a good form-fitting blouse, but since the weather was "bad" (whatever you people like to refer to as bad anyway...you have NO idea!) I'll give you a break on the long-sleeved sweater looking thing! :-) Michelle - you look awesome! Really, you look at least 7-10 years younger than when I met you last summer! (Not that I thought you looked like an old lady then either!) I'm jealous that you all get to meet every once in a while...I could use a little support group, but I'm busy doing other things and can't put one together right now. I think I'm going to "drop out" of my other thread...it's getting a little too much for me. I appreciate the support I'm getting here though. I hope you all don't think I'm some sort of weird stalker or anything. I was going to a strength and tone class and enjoying it, but after being sick most of the week I decided it was time to go back yesterday. The skinny little twit who teaches (not that there's really any teaching, she just counts to three a lot) was complaining about my little Stormy coming to class and that the other people didn't like it...first of all...there's only something like 3 other people who go and Stormy actually works out with us (it's very cute) and stays out of the way - she's a very behaved little girl! The other women always comment on how well behaved she is and that she's a "delight" to have in the class....so now, after being tired and not that motivated I've become a little too judgemental to listen to 'ol Jenny count to three for 45 minutes. See how easy it is to get me to not work out?!! I'm a little pissed off about it, but I'm sure I'll get over it and kick her skinny little arse some day!

I'm sick - still...a friend stopped by the other day and mentioned that mono was "going around"...not that I kiss on a bunch of people, but in a small community like this when something "goes around" it really does. Please God, don't let me have mono! I'm hoping it's just a silly cold that has landed me so sapped of energy and motivation that I'll just drink some more water and be good tomorrow...but it's been a few days and I'm not getting any better! CRAP! WARNING: Late night rant ahead, proceed with caution - So...all this talk about Oprah's show the other day on WLS and obesity...the "easy" way out. I have to say, I think I'm a WLS Snob! What I mean is...this is a tool, not some easy way out, if it were I'd be skinny by now and not gaining a couple of pounds! But, I don't think it should be a first resort...it should be a LAST resort. I watched some show the other day where there was a 13 year old girl who was FAT (and, yes, I mean FAT, not overweight) who found some idiot doctor to ok liposuction for her! I couldn't believe it! Finally, she's asked to take some vitamins and iron (she was anemic) and her labs still didn't look good enough for the surgery so she was turned away. I was so glad, because the cameras followed her everywhere and she'd laugh off not taking her iron, vitamins, and eating CRAP! LOTS of CRAP! (We're talking Las Vegas buffet crap here.) So I don't think she DESERVED WLS (which I don't think lipo is WLS, but still...) Call me snobby, but I think when kids are in that much trouble, it's the entire FAMILY that needs to make a change or two before surgery is looked into! For cryin' out loud! This goes for adults too! I really DO think that people should HAVE to have followed a diet or two (and had success, even if short-lived) to be able to get WLS! Heck, the band just helps me KEEP the weight off, it hasn't really helped me LOSE it! I did that part myself! Ok, rant over, thanks for listening...I'm going to drink some water and go to bed.

Had the most fun potluck tonight. The theme was "game meat". Now, don't get me wrong here, I usually don't like game meat all that much...I've learned to prepare moose well enough that you really can't tell...anyhoo....you all know that I've had some issues eating meat (it easily gets stuck) so I was a little leary of the fair so I brought some spaghetti with moose-meat sauce because I know I can eat THAT. Here is what else was offered - and went down well! Sweet and sour Musk Ox (that meat really was GOOD!) Baked salmon (now, you KNOW that was good) Moose meat balls Seal meat on rice (quite "gamy", but the texture was fantastic) Sauted goose meat with onions Dried salmon strips (my kids love these) Lots of moose salami-type stuff Tundra berries with sweetened condensed milk (blueberries, cranberries, salmonberries, etc.) My FAVORITE is a moose-sausage stuffed with olives and jalapenos - I usually hate jalapenos, but this is sooooo good! It was fun to try all these new things (and there were SEVERAL more dishes that I didn't mention - these people really know how to do a pot luck I tell ya!) Iditarod is coming...time to visit folks! NSV: I wrapped a REGULAR towel around myself today...not a bath sheet!

I first took care of making sure I had aftercare "close by". I knew that there are docs here in Nome who could take care of some basic issues, but I interviewed a doc in Anchorage who does fills and made sure he was cool with being a back-up problems solver for the Nome docs if an issue occurred. THAT WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING - GET A DOC NEAR YOU WHO IS ON-BOARD WITH YOU! :cool2:Now, I didn't have any real issues - my incisions were great, I was able to get around fine, didn't need a lot of pain meds, and progressed onto mushies and regular food well. As mentioned before, I DID have a little pain near my port - sharp pain - which I called Dr. K about. He returned my call within the hour and we talked for a bit about it...we determined that it was nerve pain and it DID go away within a few weeks (which he said was normal). Dr. K's office is ALWAYS available, but I haven't had any issues to really bring up with him/them. I email Marilyn with an update every once in a while, but not much really....I was VERY comfortable with traveling so far and coming back home - even considering the limited health care options we have here. Tied2bfit - WAHOO!!!! Here you go!:frown:

Janet - Sorry I'm late....time difference here ya know! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Yes, I'm here at the party! Brought all sorts of things (leftovers from a potluck that we had tonight - the theme was "game meat"). So we have: Sweet and Sour Musk Ox (was WAY good!) Moose meat spaghetti (that was me) Dried fish strips (my kid loves 'em) Seal meat chunks over rice (not the favorite, but gotta try it once) Sauted goose meat with onions (pretty good) Moose steaks Baked salmon Tundra berries (blueberries, salmonberries, cranberries with sweetened condensed milk - YUM!) Blueberry pie And my favorite: moose sausage stuffed with olives and jalapenos!!! Funny...meat usually gets stuck on me and I didn't have trouble with anything tonight! YUMMY food (even for game meat!) NSV: I wrapped a REGULAR towel around myself after a shower today! I usually use a "bath sheet"...and Andrew was holding me close tonight at the potluck and said that I was getting smaller. Nice completment...AND he kissed me in front of everyone (this is big...he thinks that since he's the Sergeant he shouldn't do those things in front of his peers and underlings). Anyway, hope you had a great day Janet!!!

OK, so I'm not on all that much...been busy here. Things are slowing down, but not the weather! We've had TWO blizzards in less than a week! Looks like another is on its way in! We've had record snowfall too! Ahhh, gotta love Nome Sweet Nome! I skipped working out a couple of times last week due to being WAY TOO busy with getting a fundraiser together, but that's all done now and I can work on my next project. I noticed my muscles were popping out this weekend. I showed my boys (flexed and unflexed) and they were pretty impressed! I'm actually LOOKING FORWARD to having the swinging arm skin! I feel good, just would like the wind to give it a rest! Makes me want to just stay at home and watch TV!

Now, you KNOW I like the shirt!!:tt1:

Good luck Dee! Remember, it's all about RECOVERY after the surgery so take your pain meds, walk a little, drink a lot, and enjoy the down time!

I had a similar problem for a few months...felt like a sharp pain right near my port. Dr. K explained that it was probably a nerve trying to grow back together...there are a bunch of them in that area I guess. He said that as long as it wasn't red, swollen, or oozing, then this was probably the issue. I noticed that the pain was worse when I was "doing too much", but I haven't had it in a LOONNNNGGGG time...:tt1: