Happy New Years Eve!

I can not believe it is the end of 2012 already! This was a year that brought about many many changes for me! It has been almost a year since I began my journey with my Lap Band. Last January I attended my seminar which started the chain of events that brings me to where I am today! 

Some changes for me in 2012:
1. Scale Victory: Starting weight of 258--Weight today: 184
2. Started size 22W and 3x--Now wearing size 16 and XL in the regular woman's section
3. I can exercise and run without thinking that I may be close to death
4. All the extra energy I have
5. I have learned how to eat differently--including incorporating in foods that I love in a portion my body can handle and continue to lose weight

So happy New Year to everyone out here in the blogging world! 

I can't wait to see what 2013 is going to bring my way! I can only imagine! 

On a side note...one thing I do know 2012 brought to me was this: (For those that can relate...)

6 Month Appointment

I had my 6 month appointment Thursday! It went really well! They are more than happy with my results. I got another 0.5cc in my band. That brings me to 9cc in my 14cc band. I'm feeling really good right now. Not too tight. Not too loose. Dare I say THEE GREEN ZONE?!?!?! I've lost a couple pounds since then. Can't get better than that!

Where have I been???

Well I thought I would check in today. It has been since Halloween since my face has been on my blog. Why you might ask??? Was I just too busy? Didn't care anymore?

Well, no.

I found myself getting too wrapped up in how many followers I had, why I didn't have as many as others. Along with comparing myself to everyone else. Why wasn't I losing as much weight, why wasn't I able to do as much exercise. Etc...etc...

So I just decided to step back for awhile.

I didn't stop exercising, or losing weight, or sticking to my eating plan.

In fact I have lost 71lbs today...I am about a week short of my 6 month post sugery mark.

I have made my rough transition from exercising outside to being in the dreaded gym for the winter season.

I am running again, after stepping away from it because it was not fun for awhile. It has been easier running now that I have additional weight off. I don't want to give up on that.

I am finally feeling very close to my green zone! That has been a long road...took me 5 months to feel ANY kind of "tightness", fullness, dare I even say "stuck". Not to the point of being sick, but yes very uncomfortable and painful. I'm very close to that very fine balance. That is a good feeling. I now have 8.5cc in my 14cc band.

It is amazing to look at the weight I have LEFT to lose. When I started this, I had over 100 lbs to lose. That was a SCARY NUMBER! That is a lot of weight to be staring in the face. I now have 40 left, that number seems so do-able at this point!

Bottom line: I am feeling good....and that is what it is all supposed to be about!

Happy Halloweenie Everyone!

We were excited to hand out candy this year to all the kidos! However, we only had about 15-20 children come to our house trick-or-treating.
 
Which is fine, except now we have a bag of my crack cocaine sitting in the house.....

 

 So I don't know...not a good situation. They will need to be hid or taken somewhere.

It's also my husband's birthday today! He is a spooky baby. I think he's excited to be 33 :-) Especially being 100lbs lighter!

On a different note, I get a haircut tomorrow and I am really excited about this! It is way over due and it's way long for me and driving me crazy that I have to spend more than 2 seconds on it in the morning before work! I'll for sure put up a picture tomorrow, that will give everyone something to sit on the edges of your seats waiting for :-)

Reality Check! Trick or Treat Run! Both are Spooky!

So I have to do pictures right now for reality checks on how I look now, compaired to before. I don't recognize myself in pictures and I feel like I look the same as before. I thought this was crazy before surgery...I thought, I look in the mirror every day, I will be able to tell I am loosing massive amounts of weight...but now, not so much. Pictures are the best way for me to see the progress. Even though I am buying smaller clothes it just doesn't seem real yet.

Me day of surgery:

This is me today: 63 pounds lost--55 left to go

It just doesn't look like me, but it was me....I'll take it! I wonder when it will feel like me??
By the way...both times this was in a hotel, not my home decor (Just thought I needed to clarify that piece of information!)

So we were out of town for my husband to run a Trick or Treat 5K! It was so cold out I can't even explain! Yes I live where it gets cold and snows, I have lived in that environment my whole life, but we are both realizing when I have lost over 60lbs and my husband over 100lbs, we are getting cold ALL THE TIME! It's going to be a rough winter for us I think!

So here are some pictures from the weekend :)

Dan didn't recognize himself running in this pictures either. Same problem!

So for those of you at goal, how long did it take for you to realize you do not look like those before pictures?

Am I a regular girl now????

Today I am completely dressed in an outfit from the regular women's section! Including bra and panties! No plus size clothes on this girl! MAJOR NSV!

More Fluid Added

So I went in for an early doctor appointment today. I needed a fill and did not think I could wait another 4 weeks until my next appointment. I was hungery still....like eat my own arm hungery again. I was eating and tummy was talking back to me in like 2 hours. Snacks were not keeping me satisfied for more than an hour if I was lucky. So I got another 1cc added to my band. I now have a total of 7.5cc in my 14cc band. Keeping my fingers crossed that this will get me closer to my green...which is still just a mythical place to me.

Bonus to our trip to the doctor (have I mentioned it is 2 hours from where we live), we did get some great new food ideas and picked them up at the grocery store tonight while there. They were in the organic section of the grocery. I got toaster waffles, sugar free syrup, turkey meatballs, and these wonderful looking muffin tops. Super excited to try them!

It's a pretty big deal!

Today was the first day I have seen this! Amazing! I am officially out of those 200's!!!

And also....this is my half way point! 59lbs lost-59lbs left to lose!

Water, Water, Water..and Hard Boiled Eggs!

I have been in a good place lately with my weight loss...I feel like I am on a roll again and seeing decreases almost daily. 

What has changed?

I contribute it mainly to the fact we got a new refrigerator....and I now have ice and water access right on the door! I have been a year without this and oh how I have missed it. So I think I am getting in my recommended water FINALLY! For the first time since surgery!

On another random note, I think hard boiled eggs play a huge role in my weight loss. I NEVER would have even touched a hard boiled egg before surgery and now it is a daily staple in my diet. It fills me up and has so much protein to keep me full for a long time! I really do love them, like squishy heart love them!

This is all I really have for you all tonight :-) Water and Hard Boiled Eggs :-) But never together because we all know drinking and eating at the same time is BAD! :-)

Bitterness...

Okay, so I have to admit I have been very bitter lately. It's about my non-existant "green zone". It's this wonderful thing I hear banded people talking about but mine is missing...well maybe not missing because if I have never had it then it can't be lost...can it???? Anyway...if anyone finds an extra "green zone"...just go ahead...direct it my way! Turn left at Iowa please!

So I have been staying right around 208-211 for weeks now. Bouncing back and forth and back and forth and back and...you get the idea. So tonight after Zumba I had my hubby take some new pictures of me to put things in perspective for me. Or to make me feel a little better about the weight I have already lost! It has been just short of 4 months since surgery and I have lost on a good day 50 pounds! So that part is good...if only I didn't feel like eating my own arm off most days...

So anyway...here are the results.

This was me the morning of surgery in the hotel before going to the hospital 258 lbs

This was me tonight on a good day at 208 lbs. And that is Zoe, she insisted to have her profile taken too (love her!)

 

So yes, I know there have been positive changes...I just really would like to try the green! I go next Thursday for my 3rd fill....so hoping this is the one!

Fall in Iowa!

It is a beautiful time of year in Iowa!

Todays exercise was a family walk on a wooded trail!

We (My husband, myself, and Zoe) went 1.78 miles.

 

Zoe wouldn't look at me for a picture...we are on a walk and it's all business! Too many things to jump on and smell to be worrying about taking a picture :-)

 

What are you doing to keep active on the weekend???

 

Happy Sunday!

Getting Our Zumba On!!!

My second night of Zumba!
I drug my friend along for the ride!
This is my Angie! 
We laugh...a lot!

 

I think she was tired afterward!
But here is our fat crying=Success!
Does anyone know how many calories a 1 hour Zumba class burns????

Pulling and Tugging at Aquacise

Enough of that I said after tonights class!

Swim suit #1...cute for the beach...Tatas coming out at aquacise! (Not good!)

Swim suit #2...Tatas stayed in the top side, swim suit top creeping up around my neck! (Not good!)

So I took a trip after class to the athletic store for a swim suit made for activity!

Will have to wait to see how the new one holds up next Monday night!

New-Bee

Tonight I was the New-Bee in my Zumba class...was my first Zumba ever!
It was hot and it was sweaty...but most of all I felt completely comfortable there!
Huge Relief! And that means I will be going back! I'm excited to go back!
I found something fun to do this winter when the snow is flying in Iowa!

Here I am before the class....and did I mention today I have officially lost 50 pounds! Eeek!

I just did a SQUATJACK!

Yes I said it:
 
SQUATJACK
 
That was my amusement at my water aerobics class tonight! It was supposed to be my first night of Aqua Zumba...but the instructor was sick. So instead of that we just had regular water aerobics. Which was....just okay..really...a little bit...not what I was looking for.

But I loved the word she used for doing jumping jacks while squatting!
 
I was hoping a Aqua Zumba would at least make me feel like I get a workout, I have never felt like I had a good work out in a water class before and tonight was much of the same.
 
I am still hopeful that my new class will be wonderful on Wednesday night...we'll see...
 
This is what I feel we looked like tonight...yes I would be the ones wearing the flower cap if I had one :-) hehe

 

So onward to land Zumba tomorrow night!

SINGLES

No I'm not talking about a relationship status on Facebook!

I'm talking about this great new pan I found this weekend. Check it out!

The brand is Singles and it is for making small portions!

A.K.A. Specially made for us Lap Banders!

They had this skillet, a smaller pot with higher sides, and something to make a sandwhich with. I thought I would get the most use out of this one to make a scrambled egg in the morning and such.

For those in the midwest area of the country I bought this at Shopko on sale for $10!

Turkey Day!

So today I thought I would share with you a success of my husband. I think I have mention in previous blogs that he is also banded. He was banded November 2011 and is down about 85 pounds. He has spent most of his free time running since surgery and has spent the summer running in various 5Ks. His goal by the end of summer was to run a 10K, and today was the day!

 His Bib Number

 

 

 Before the Run

 

 

So just for fun I'll throw in a before picture....this one was taken shortly after surgery. It's a profile picture but I think you can see the difference!

 

 

Thanks to the Lap Band this transformation was possible!

 

 

 

 

 

ZuMbA Here I Come!! Ready or not!

So after my disappointment of not being able to start Zumba last week. I have now found 2 new leads that start next week that I am super duper excited about! I'll give you 2 hints:

Tuesday and Thursday! (Free at a local church!~~I love free!)

Monday and Wednesday!! (Free with my YMCA membership!)

I'm am really hoping this is the spice my workouts need to keep me heading to my goal!

My Exercise Plan--Revamped???

Okay, so I finally got myself completely convinced to go to my first zumba class! Yay! I was EXCITED! I even told someone at work I was going to go. (Just to make myself more accountable) I came home from work....slapped on my workout clothes, so I called ahead to make sure there was a class tonight like the website said...

DISAPPOINTMENT

They said the class in my town was on Wednesday night...REALLY?? One night a week? What good will that do?

So now I am back to square one trying to find a class to attend for winter. I live in small town Iowa, and when winter hits; going outside will be out of the question. I belong to our Y, but I can't see myself walking on a treadmill all winter, YUCK! They offer classes, but not at times I can get to before or after work.

Soooo....I'm really considering Zumba on Wii?? Who uses this out there? What do you think?
I also used to do videos called Leslie Sanson "Walk at Home" and used to enjoy them and work up a sweat. That is where my plan is heading. (I think)

I don't like not having a deffinate plan...it makes it too easy to fall out of the habit.

Who has fun unique ways they get their workout ON???

To Tell or NOT...

So I have been reading a lot lately on forums people who are banded and their choice to tell others about their band or not....

I guess this is something very personal, and based on your own individual personality.

I have chose to not tell people....well most of the time anyway. There are only a hand-ful of peeps that know! And I feel very comfortable with that. Outside of immediate family and a close friend, and a select few co-workers who had to know why I was gone from work a couple days.

My reasons for not telling are simple...
1. I don't want to have to EXPLAIN myself and my reasons and the surgery over and over and over.
2. I don't want to have to deal with any negativity. It's hard enough every day to do what I need to do without having someone else to make me feel bad about myself and my choice.
3. It's just comfortable and I like that.
4. I don't want to be a topic of discussion.

Now I can see why others do tell, I can see they might have more support from people. And at some point I might change my mind and tell others.

But for now, I am fine, just the way it is! I get inspiration and support from my husband (who has also been banded), family, and the huge online community of others who are walking in my shoes and understand who are blogging and on forums!

Happy Anniversary!

So...what one women may feel is an offensive anniversary gift...others....may not!

We were shopping at Best Buy yesterday and I found something that I didn't even know I wanted!

So yes..my husband bought it for me for our anniversary that is Wednesday!

It is the most awesomist SCALE!! Has anyone heard of or using a "fitbit" Scale??? This amazing tool measuers weight, and BMI. It's WiFi so it sends it directly to your account and you can access your information on your phone app as well! Even better it links to "My Fitness Pal" which I use to track all my food intake and exercise. Pulls all that information right into fitbit automatcally. It really is an amazing tool that I think will be very useful as I journey to my goal weight. I am loving it so far!

Here is the beauty~~~

 

Check out the website!

http://www.fitbit.com

 

 

 

Before and After...Nearly 40 pounds!

Today I thought I would post some pictures of me before surgery and me now.
I'm down nearly 40 pounds and thought this would be appropriate to see the changes that have taken place.

This was me waiting for surgery 6/7/12....

                                                                           And this was me yesterday 8/18/12.......

Weigh-In

Today I am 39 pounds down since 6/7/12--Exactly 10 weeks since surgery today.
Sometimes when I feel like I am not losing weight fast enough I think--
How else would I have lost this much weight in this short of time without my band???
There is no way possible!
This also means I am wearing a size 1X compared to a 3X 10 weeks ago!
Seeing the progress is motivating!

THANK YOU LAP BAND!

I also have been telling myself this frequently when I feel like I just do not have time for myself...

That keeps me motivated to keep going and make at least time for 1 mile.
Ta Ta Till Next Time!

All the things I LOVE!

I wasn't planning on doing any blogging tonight...mainly because I'm tired and want to go to sleep. However, I started thinking about all the things I love and it got me thinking. So I'm just going to do a random list tonight....of LOVES:
Husband
Family
My furry baby Zoe
Friends
Riding motorcycle
Vacations
The lake
Pool days
Cookies, bars, icecream (oh no! Yes I do love them)
Garage sales
Camping
Flea markets
Antiques/Vintage "stuff"
Shopping
Florida
Palm Trees
Ocean
My LAP BAND!

Oh yes....that lap band I love....however that leaves me thinking there are some things that I can't add to my LOVES list at this time. I am at exactly 8 weeks post op. I do not love exercising, I do not love eating healthy. But am I doing it anyway...YES! Do I hate it, no...but I still don't love it. It's somewhere in between floating in space. I wonder tonight if some day I will be able to make this list again and be able to add both of those to my existing list.

The List of Work

So in the time that I have been away since surgery I have been working on one...well okay many things in my life!
1. Running--Yes I have accomplished running...and I would even go as far as calling myself "A RUNNER". This is still something I am trying to wrap my head around "a runner". For a long time I asked myself what that meant and how you knew you were one. I figured since I can now run a 5K, I will call myself one. Oh it didn't come easy...I was even mad about running at times, and still am when it doesn't come easy. Oh but the reward makes it worth it! I love how it makes my body feel fit! I can run without being so out of breath I can't function, it deffinately is helping to melt the fat away, and it's something my husband and I do together which is another bonus! I do actually have great pictures of my husband and I in our running stuff...but I can't get them to here from my iPhone (see #4 for explaination!) Okay...I think I got my pictures off my phone about an hour later!

2. Food mysteries--yes that maybe is strange to say but food has always been a mystery. I have food issues obviously otherwise I wouldn't be here talking about my weight loss journey. Even though I have the lap band, it is not "fixing" my food issues for me. What do I mean by "issues", texture and taste issues mainly...I can say I have acomplished eating more fruits....do I still cringe at a peach...yes, but can I eat it...yes...progress...have I made it through my issues NO! But small progresses...I'm sticking to that today!

3. Weight loss--Check! Today I am down 30 pounds in 7.5 weeks. Compliments to my wonderful lap band! (oh, and that thing called sweating, every day!) That is amazing to me, to be able to see and feel the changes is keeping me motivated.

4. Blogging--Okay I know this is not weight loss related, totally, but I want it to be for me. I really wanted to be able to share my journey with others and be able to vent and share. Like how I am inspired every day by Lap Band Gal! However, the blogging is a challenge to me right now! Any tips...throw them to me! Like losing weight, this is not easy either! I feel like I creep around other people's sites secretly, without anything to contribute back!

So whoever gets to read this....hope you enjoyed! Stop by again for my battles with weight loss, food, running, and blogging!

Reflection Tyme!

It's been a few days since I have posted, and I really do feel bad about this! Pain is nearly gone as I approach the one week mark tomorrow. I do still have gas pain in my shoulder occasionally. Went back to work Monday hoping to work a whole day but only made it half a day. I have been working full days since and have been feeling good! Go back to the Dr. tomorrow for my 1 week check up! Excited to see how much weight I have lost! I will be back tomorrow to share!

GAS PAINS...YES....HELLOOOOO

Okay....so this morning I know I posted mild gas pain...oh no...it has acclerated into horrible. Yes unbearable. WALK WALK WALK I have been. This is way more miserable than the day of surgery...I'm hoping this only lasts for one day! Whew!

Post Op-Day One!

Here I am-Post op day one after having my lab band surgery! Feeling really well. Surgery went great, the acutal procedure lasted about an hour, recovery for about an hour, then in my post op room for about an hour. Have mild gas pains and mild general pain today. Overall getting around well. I've been drinking fluids one ouce at a time and that seems to be going down very smoothly!

The morning before surgery

Me after Surgery

5 Incisions

New to this thing called "blogging"...

Okay well, I'm new to this thing called blogging. My deal is...I am being banded this week June 7th 2012 to be specific and was inspired by some of the blogs I have been reading and thought this would be a wonderful outlet for me to share my journey. So if you are here...welcome!