Shopping Melt-Down

Decided to take myself shopping today.

For one thing, I was in desperate need of a new bra. 

I have come to terms that I no longer need a D cup.

I also thought I would try on some jeans while out.

This. Is. Overwhelming. 

Okay, seriously, there are so many clothing choices when not shopping in the plus size section. I really had no idea. I have been over weight my whole life. This girl has never entered a non-plus size area. 

I still feel awkward there, like I don't belong there yet. Like is anyone looking at me and wondering why I am looking at clothes in this section? 

I felt I was wandering here...wandering there...picking up one thing...then getting distracted, the store was practically spinning....in the dressing room, one size was too big, the other was too small. I ended up leaving with no jeans.

Tried on about 50 different bras. Some left me with boob skin hanging out the top weird, some with skin under my arm pits hanging over the sides...Ugh! 

I did end up finding 2 bras. Hopefully they will work/hold up in the "real world". 

I don't know if shopping now is any easier. I left a little frustrated. Not planning on going back to a store for clothes for awhile. 

Anyone else having these experiences?!? 

Battle Wounds!

I wanted to post scar pictures. This was something that I was really concerned about after surgery.

My scars were red and angry looking right after surgery, then bruised, then red and bright.

This is what they looked like right after surgery before we left the hospital:

I wish I had taken more pictures of the bruising and redness. But I didn't.

I was worried they would forever be noticeable and bright, however, now, you can hardly see them!
I am very happy with how they have disappeared. This is 7 months post op and 80lbs off!

Can you find 5 incisions now????

I used Bio Oil after my scabs fell off for several months, now I lotion my stomach at least once a day with just regular lotion. I think that has made my results what they are!

Personal victory!

I just realized I have been eating 2-3 fruits or green beans (the only veggie I like...and its from a can!) a day for almost 2 weeks! That is amazing! And dare I say feel great!

Is this a NSV? Or just a good habit starting???

On another note I am tight today. Well since a coupe days after my last fill. I mean tight! I have not had this intense tightness before. I have to be very careful. I couldn't even eat my whole hard boiled egg this am. I had that baby stuck. I had to get up and walk for it to jiggle loose. It finally went down. But this is a good thing. I just hope I continue to feel full and in my green pasture.

I was going to get up today at 5AM. Hit the gym early. Yeah...that ended up not happening. So I will have to go tonight. Then I will try again tomorrow morning. I kinda feel like I already failed before even starting my day. Sigh. How can I become a morning person?

Is this really what it's like???? YEP!

I have been having quite a time getting these videos up! I think I have finally succeeded!

These are from mine and my husbands last fill on Thursday.

I am posting both because my husband's is a short clip; to the point and features only the actual fill. 

Mine is longer; shows the lidocaine and the fill. So if you are in a hurry, watch the first one :-) 

 

You will have to excuse the stomach jiggle from laughing....heads up!

I'm certain you will enjoy my husband's video skills on this one. He was pretty impressed with himself :)

...No screaming was involved in making these videos...

NSV ALERT!

Today I went to a place called Creative Spirits. 

They feature an artist with their painting. 

They provide you the paint, canvas, brushes, and apron.

Then they walk a group of us through how to do the painting. And WAHLA! 

It was so much fun! You can bring your beverage of choice, which I was good and brought water! 

My NSV was the apron! I put it on and went to tie it behind my back and it was HUGE on me. So I was able to wrap it around to the front and tie it! Made me feel skinny!

Here is my masterpiece!

Here is the whole group with our paintings!

10 Things Thursday!

HELLO THURSDAY!

1. My half day at work again..LOVE!

2. Went back to the doctor today. Has been 9 days since my last fill, which was a major success. 8lbs down in 9 days is amazing, but left me STARVING! Another 0.75cc in...lets hope it gets me back to my sweet spot!

3. To celebrate the weight loss I ate ice cream on the way home....reminds me I will always be a food addict! Back to the rules that work tomorrow!

4. I didn't exercise today since we had to travel to the doctor. Guess this was my day off for the week. Back to running the treadmill tomorrow!

5. Husband has a cold....he is pretty sure the world is ending. I keep saying "take some tylenol and here are some cough drops" You'll be fine. (eyes rolling) I guess that is what you get when you are married to a nurse. No sympathy here. 

6. Saturday I'm going to a painting class, really excited! Will show off my masterpiece this weekend!

7. I love being at home in my pajamas! 

8. I cleaned out my closet again and took out all the clothes that were too big. Packed them away for consignment. I can finally see all the clothes that are acceptable to choose from now! 

9. I really wish it would warm up so I can do some activity outside. We are in a cold snap and it doesn't warm up past 10 degrees during the day.

10. Tomorrow is FRIDAY! AMEN!

Fruity

Me and my 2nd fruit for the day--apple! My scale is moving by leaps and bounds! Is a good day! Happy Friday everyone!

TTT

Hello Everyone! Happy TTT!

1. I have never done Ten Things Thursday! Ever! 

2. Today our sewer backed up in the basement due to tree roots and kitchen sink clogged due to Hard boiled egg shells being put in the disposal. $250 later, we are all fixed up.  YUCK! 

3. Today was my half day of work, which I love!

4. I ran 2.2 miles today outside. Was beautiful out! 

5. My scale is FINALLY MOVING! After 2 months of not much movement, that makes me feel good!

6. My new goal is to make sure I am getting at least 2-3 fruits in my diet a day. I am really really.....really bad about eating fruits and veggies. I hate veggies so I am going to try to get the fruit in my diet first. I need some strong reminders and support for this one! I do think this is playing a huge role in my scale finally going in the down direction though.

7. My dog Zoe has been really interested in cuddling since getting her fur trimmed this week. I love this!

8. I have decided to start taking college classes again. I am going to work toward my bachelors. Classes start in May and I want to make sure I can balance everything in my life so that makes me nervous. 

9. I'm really thirsty for chocolate milk right now, but it hasn't been an hour since I ate...sigh...

10. I hoping to watch at least 1 episode of Dexter tonight! YAY! 

Another Appointment With Those Whom Have Changed My Life!

I had my 7 month appointment today. 
Same weight as last month.
Extremely hungry.
Loosing control.
Equals another fill.
I now have 10cc in my 14cc band. 
Let's role onward and see how this feels.
It has got to be getting close....sigh....

Speaking of those whom have changed my life...lets spotlight them today! 
I want you all to meet them and see how wonderful they are, really! 
Life as I know it now would not have been possible without them!

http://www.surgicalinstitute.com/index.php

This is my surgeon Dr. Bradley Thaemert

Bradley C. Thaemert, MD, FACS is Board Certified in General Surgery. He is a member of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons and the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons.  Dr. Thaemert serves as the South Dakota Chairman of the Committee on Trauma for the American College of Surgeons.  He has also served as the past Chairman of the Department of Surgery as well as a member of the Board of Trustees at Avera McKennan Hospital. 

This is Darcie Schmidt my Nurse Practitioner

Darcie L. Schmidt, FNP-BC, CBN is Board Certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She is also Certified by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery as a Bariatric Nurse.  She is a member of the South Dakota Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. 

Darcie is awesome and the one who I meet with every month that gives me advice, support, education, and listens to me and all my craziness. And of course gives me all my fills! 

These people are truly amazing at what they do! I really do puffy heart love them!

I'm so happy to finally share them with all of you! 

Random Sunday

A. We just got back from a walk around the neighborhood. We took Zoe out for a walk. Even though it's cold she still thinks she is needing to be walked to sniff and kick around. Dan promised her yesterday she could go on one today...so out we went!


B. We also have been out shopping for a small humidifier for the bedroom. It gets so dry in the house in the winter. I keep waking up at night with a dry throat and coughing. So I got a cute little pink humidifier. We'll see how it works tonight!

C. Now we are just relaxing...watching Dexter! Do any of my fellow banders love this show??? Someone got us hooked on the first season, so now we are in the obsessive midst of catching up on all the seasons. 

D. I like chapstick, I always have to have one close by.

E. I find this motivating, people are watching and being inspired:

Like I said...RANDOM!

The Runner's High...

Tonight was a running night again. I am just loving running in the winter. Who knew?!? It's almost exciting! 

So the conditions tonight were:
Temp: 24 degrees
Wind Chill: 10 degrees Blowing at 18 mph

                                                            My Running Stats Tonight:

Me AFTER the Run!

                                                     
                                                        Sweaty Hair from under the cap!

So I love running in the winter, but I'm still waiting to feel this "runner's high" that everyone who runs talks about. I'm just tired and sore when I get home....wonder when this feeling will happen....

All That Glitters!

Just found out I can have a word for 2013 after readings Miss Lorie's blog! 
Mine will be Glitter! 
I love crafting and I love glitter, I want to glitter! So I thought it was fitting!

glitter |ˈglitər|verb [ no obj. ]shine with a bright, shimmering, reflected light: trees and grass glittered with dew.• shine as a result of strong feeling: her eyes were glittering with excitement.noun [ in sing. ]1 bright, shimmering, reflected light: the blue glitter of the sea.• a glint in a person's eye indicating a particular emotion: the scathing glitter in his eyes.2 tiny pieces of sparkling material used for decoration: sneakers trimmed with sequins and glitter.3 an attractive and exciting but superficial quality: he avoids the glitter of show business.

Then-During-Now-

Tonight's Special is: Photo Shoot!

Love to see the changes! Keeps me motivated to keep going toward my goal!

New Years Activity!

So I am unsure if I am breaking any blogging "rules" but I am going to blog 2x in one day!?!

I already feel I need to adjust one of my new years goals. My goal of running a 5K without walking...CHECK! I just did it today, it surprised me and my husband. So lets adjust that goal to a organized 5K run that I have to enter and pay money for. Okay? K! 

Anyway, I wanted to also post about running in Iowa and what that means in January!

Okay, it is a balmy 16 degrees outside today. With a wind chill of 5 degrees. We have snow and ice on the ground. Sounds like it might make running outside impossible this time of year. But no, not for us dedicated exercisers. 

So this is what one would wear if you are running in these conditions. 2 pairs of pants, tank top, UnderAmour shirt with fleece on the inside, running mittens, neck warmer that can be pulled up over mouth and nose, and running hat. Keeps you at a nice temperature to sweat while running and keep warm. (Oh and this was right after coming in the door from running, not too shabby for just finishing 3.8 miles!)

These are the last necessary item to SAFELY run on ice and snow. YAKTRAX Pro. Those little metal thingy dos dig into the ice and snow and prevent falling and injury! 
You can learn more here: www.yaktrax.com

So now the details of the run. It was amazing, it felt great, and I think I have determined I am a "winter runner" I have just been in the gym running for about 3-5 minutes bursts. So it amazes me that my body let me run this run today and really be comfortable with it! 

Distance 3.8 miles
Time 44:31
Pace 11 min 42 sec per mile

AMAZING! 

It makes me think back to what I was doing this time last year. I was probably sitting on the couch...probably eating something...no thoughts of running 3.8 miles...NOT ANYMORE! I'm out running in it! 

Goal Setting for 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Now that 2013 is officially here, I think it's time to set some goals for the new year. This will be a work in progress but I think it's important to put them down in writing. 

1. To meet my goal weight by the end of the year. I'm actually shooting for June-August to meet this goal. But for sure by the end of the year. My goal has always been 140. Now, since I have never been at this weight...I need to see what will "feel" right when I get closer. So lets say 135-150 to be safe. I plan on getting here by staying on track with eating and continuing to exercise 5-6 times a week. 

2. My husband and I are planning a trip to the Black Hills in the spring. We went there in 2011 and there were so many things there I wanted to do, but just couldn't--due to A. Weight and B. I had surgery on the tendons in my left leg and at that point post op I couldn't do a lot of walking or climbing. So my goals for this trip will be to be able to go into the caves and walk and climb through them. I also want to hike to the highest point in the Black Hills this time: Harney Peak. See below!!!!

3. This is a shallow goal---but at any rate, still a goal. I would like to be wearing a bikini this summer to the lake. Now...this goal, is solely dependent on how much loose skin I am left with at my goal weight. So we will see how far this goal gets this summer.

4. Run a 5K and actually RUN the whole thing! I attempted a couple last summer, but ended up walking more than I wanted to. 

5. As of yesterday I started knitting. I would like to become a KNITTER! Learn new stitches and work on some great projects.

So I think that is a good start to my list--just to get me started for 2013!! 
Can't wait to see what I get to add to my list that I never thought possible before LAP BAND!