Weighing In

I'm in the Skinny Santa Challenge and the KKKKK Challenge so here are my numbers!!!!

Day of Surgery: 274.6

Weight on December 19th: 245.7

Weight Today 246

I had a gain of .4 lbs

Total weight lost since the challenges started in November:  11.3 lbs

Total weight loss since surgery: 28.5 pounds!!!  



I just knew I would have a gain, it was my own fault.

On a very BRIGHT side of things, I got a treadmill for Christmas! 

-L

Weighing In

I'm in the Skinny Santa Challenge and the KKKKK Challenge so here are my numbers!!!!

Day of Surgery: 274.6

Weight on December 8th: 247

Weight Today 245.7

Total weight lost since the challenges started in November:  11.7 lbs

Total weight loss since surgery: 28.9 pounds!!!  


So I know this isn't a huge loss, I mean it was only 1.3 pounds in 11 days. I'm still happy with the loss. I have been baking, attending parties, shopping, and well eating. So any loss makes me happy. 

-L

Ever lie to the DMV?

So I had to get my License renewed and in the spirit of mankind hating the DMV I quickly agreed to all of the questions. 

I opted to keep the same picture because I looked far better in the photo than the day of, I stated that yes the address is correct although we will be dropping the PO Box soon and going to a mail box, so I screwed that one up. I also gave a big fat lying yes in regards to all the other info.

Oh yeah I also said I would gladly give my organs should I ever no longer be in need of them. Something I actually do strongly believe in. 

I got my new license today which by the way has been changed and is totally ugly… way to go Maine.

Anyway the weight listed on it lets say I don’t know 6 years ago? Was 180 lbs. was I 180 lbs 6 years ago? No I’m pretty sure the last time I was 180 was age 5… no make that birth. 

So I’m currently 247 pounds. 247-180= 67… I know I’m a total math whiz right? 

Anyhow for the first time since I got my license at age six to the teen I didn’t feel guilty about lying because I know that I can will drop the 67 pounds. Hell I think I will drop it before this time next year.

What about you ladies, ever lie to the DMV? I won’t tell Santa. 

-L 

You Really Shouldn't Eat that

How would you feel if someone said to you "You really shouldn't eat that, you are going to kill yourself" ?

I can't remember if I saw this in a magazine or on TV because it has been years since but the topic has stuck with me.

The topic was about how society outcasts smokers often saying "smoking will kill you"The debate was why don't people ever say anything to the obese person for eating to much food when we say negative things to smokers all the time?

I am guilty of telling loved ones that I need them to stop smoking because I want them to live longer... I have never had a loved one tell me that I need to stop eating because they want me to live longer.

Truth be told if someone told me that it would hurt. It would be true but it would hurt. But I get it.

Has anyone ever told you this?

Are you a smoker? Has anyone ever said negative things about your smoking?

Is telling someone why they shouldn't smoke the same as telling another why they shouldn't eat?

What do you think?

Weighing In

I'm in the Skinny Santa Challenge and the KKKKK Challenge so here are my numbers!!!!

Day of Surgery: 274.6

Weight as of November 11th: 253.5 (I had a 3.9 pound loss as recorded here)

Weight on November 30th: 249 (As shown here)

Weight Today 247

Total weight lost since the challenges started in November:  10.4 lbs

Total weight loss since surgery: 27.6 pounds!!!  

I had my 2nd fill yesterday and the Doctor put in another 1 cc. I now have a total of 4. 

-L

BYOC

BYOC Saturday Edition (which is the same as Fridays, I'm just a slacker)

1. Describe the structure you live in. (apartment, condo, house, mansion, cardboard box?)

I live in a 1 story, 3 bedroom, one play room, 2 bathroom house that is almost 2000 sq feet and is red. Sugar Balls and I designed it ourselves and were able to move in almost a month after our first Rascal was born. I knew I wanted babies and therefore we went with the one story. There is also a basement that will one day be finished into a large family/play room.

2. Describe the city you live in. (population, main attractions)

So I have had some good chuckles at some of you when you described your towns as "small". I live in a town of 111 people. We do not have a main street just a state road that drives through town. There is one store in my town and up until October it was owned by my In-laws... The tiny general story also houses the towns Post Office and library aka help yourself book drop off and pick up.

There is no town school, town hall, town playground... there is nothing

The main attraction is our crazy hoarder guy Colby who wears bright pink rain boots, has many a buses and other "goods" all of which he will sell you for 20 bucks.

There are many camps in the area owned by "Out of Staters" and are occupied for bear and deer season and also during the summer as there are some nice lakes in the area. We also have a family camp about 20 minutes from my house that we love to use. The lake is nice and clam for the kids to swim in and my little one loves going there.

I'm also the town treasurer so if you ever read about a small town being bankrupt in Maine it might just be me.... not really, I have a calculator.

3. Why do you live in the town you live in? (job, to get away from a different town, family, schools?)

Maine has two well known cities with lots of shopping, schools, restaurants, etc. Sugar Balls and I use to live in one of those back in our dating days. I had a high paying job with lots of hours and stress and he was teaching at a local school. Before we got married we knew we wanted a house and babies and we know that we couldn't afford to have both where we were. We had made plans to move in with my In-laws (I LOVE my in-laws, so it worked out well) and save for some land and to build a home. On our wedding night my In-Laws surprised us with a receipt for the piece of land next to their house. We had always said how much we loved it and wanted it, but the previous owners and family friends hadn't wanted to sell. We were so excited and spent the next year planning our dream home and baby making.

We didn't want our children to have to play in the paved parking lot of our apartment building, only seeing us for a few hours a night and going to an expensive daycare for the rest of the time, so the move was perfect for us.

Sugar Balls did have to agree to get me a pool that has yet to come but it will!

I still miss my old city but go often to see friends and this really is the best play for my children. 

4. What’s the view like from your backyard?

Our view is very green... lots of trees pines, oaks, maples, furs, you name it. I'm not sure how much land we have but it is a lot and our only neighbors will always be my in-laws. Sugar Balls cousin and her husband live down the road with their little girl and his Aunt and Uncle are close by on the same road as well. I love that when my boys are bigger they will have tons of grass, trees, a pond, vegetable gardens, snow/four wheeler trailers, rives, lakes, streams and what not all within seconds of their home.

I on the other hand am not one with nature... I like being at the beach or the lake. I'm not a woods girl, I hate bugs and well we have lots!

5. Repeat question: How has your week been in blogland and in real life?

Blogland could have been better, I have been reading a lot but not contributing as much as I should or would like to.

In real live I'm still struggling with the loss of my mom. Lack of sleep, and a teething baby. I'm happy to say that not a day passes that I don't have multiple people, moments, and things that I'm very thankful for. 

Holy Sh*t

Do any of you ladies mind a little cussing? I don't want to offend anyone.

So the reason for the Holy Sh*t is that I'm now out of the 250's!

Considering I started Thanksgiving off with a piece of apple pie and maybe some vanilla bean ice cream... okay there was definitely some ice cream too and it happened to be at 11 in the morning add that to all of my other transgressions and I was horrified to get on my scale.


To help get my nerve up I reset my standards yesterday and ate very well. I had a protein shake, lean protein, veggies, and lots of water. I think that must have helped flush some of the crap out of my system because I just got on the scale and had a 4.5 pound weight loss! I yelled for joy and my little Rascal joined in the celebration (not knowing why Mommy was so happy, but clearly happy to take part).

As you know I'm in the Skinny Santa Challenge and the KKKKK (I think that is the right amount of k's) Challenge so here are my numbers!!!!

Day of Surgery: 274.6

Weight as of November 11th: 253.5 (I had a 3.9 pound loss as recorded here)

Weight today: 249

Total weight lost in November:  8.4 lbs

Total weight loss since surgery: 25.6 pounds!!! 

I'm very excited and thankful for the number I got on the scale today. I had rebooted myself yesterday (even passing up ice cream when Sugar Balls and Rascal 1 had some) and seeing the loss today just makes me want to push on even harder.

I plan on doing a Thanksgiving recap later on. I couldn't wait until later to mark my weight loss!

Happy Wednesday Ladies!

-L

Remember this

Forgive me ladies, for I have sinned

UGH!

I have been a bad, bad, Bandster.

I have used my hand surgery as an excuse to eat "bad" things I shouldn't and I feel awful, both physically and mentally.

I have had Wendy's burgers, nuggets, fries.

Chinese food  by the truck load.

Enough pizza to turn me into the Dough Boy.

I can't blame the fact that I have zero restriction for my recent eating habits.  I know the band can't change what I eat it can only help me feel full sooner. I know that once I feel full I can still shove more into my pie hole even with the band. So I am not blaming my lack of restriction on why I have been eating how I have. With that said I really can't wait to feel some restriction. My next fill is on December 7th!!!

I'm taking part in the Skinny Santa Challenge and the KKKKKKKKKKKKK Challenge and have yet to do another weigh in because I have a cast on. My cast comes off on the 28th of November and I plan on doing a weigh in the next day on the 29th (so I can do it at my normal time of day). I'm not counting myself out of the challenge yet, I still think I can reach my 20 pound goal if I get my head back in the game.

I have also been slacking on the exercise. I can't walk until my husband gets home and it is almost dark at the point (no way am I walking where I live in the dark) and it is also FREEZING (Damn Maine weather) I really, really, really with a fat free cheery on top want a treadmill so badly but we don't have the cash on hand and I don't want to put it on a charge card. I also feel bad about making such a big purchase for myself during the holidays... The closest gym is 40 minutes away and it isn't even a real gym with treadmills it is a Curves... UGH. Hopefully in the new year I will be able to get a treadmill. I will use it, I promise, I know I will, I WANT to use it.

Tomorrow is a new day and I plan to make it my day! I'm going to do this.


-L

Surgery Update

Well my wrist/hand hurts like a mother...you know what. thankfully Sugar Balls is better at puttingmy hair up than I gave him credit for. im sadly missing the opening of Breaking Dawn... Thats right I'm a geek and I love it.., Go Team Edward.. i found lots of free and cheap books at the kindle store on amazon since I can"t hold my old school paper backs... Time formore vicodin and bed, night ladies. -L

Surgery Tomorrow

Call me crazy.... go on you can do it.... did you do it? Ok!

I am finding myself excited about my surgery tomorrow! For a number of reasons like being able to drive and feed my baby without my hand going numb and aching.... but here is the best part.... are you ready?

I will get some SLEEP! Yup my MIL is gonna have the little ones on Friday so I can sleep all I want.... I will still get to see and play and love my little ones like I love to do... I will just also be able to sleep and rest! I'm not sure how it will work with a cast and holding my littlest one so my husband might be doing some night feedings... it is okay with him and also very okay with me :-)

I could really use the rest and also I have been dealing with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome for a few years now and can't wait to get it fixed. My right hand will be worked on later in the year as long as well goes well with the left.



Have a great weekend ladies, I will be reading!




-L

Need new shoes?

I know this isn't a deal seeking blog community but I can't help share a good deal when I see one... I know many of you exercise often and I got this great deal in my email from Reebok.

Clothes getting too big?

I thought I would post this ad that I received in my e-mail for those of you ladies needing some new SMALLER :-) clothing!!!

Old Navy

Meet Me on Monday

1. Do your family/friends know about your blog?

The only people who know about my band are my Father, Father In Law, Mother in Law, Best Friend, and Sugar Balls (my husband). I have mentioned my blog at one time or another to all of them but only SB reads or even knows the address for my blog.


2. What is your favorite card game?


Oh geee I LOVE playing cards all kinds of games. Phase Ten, Skip-Bo, Spades, Cribbage you name it and I will play it. What I enjoy most if when SB and I get together with our friends and play poker.... we do dealers choice and I love them all. I also have a small gambling problem... good thing we only do a $5 buy in!


3. What do you wear to bed?

Usually a tank top and granny panties. With the weather getting colder I may have to increase coverage of my attire. I can't wait to get out of my granny panty phase!


4. What is your favorite kind of French Fry?


You are asking me to pick my favorite French fry? That is just crazy talk, I have never come across a fry I didn't LOVE, hence the need for the band. I live near Canada and they have this amazing delicacy called Poutine it is A-MA-ZING! It is wonderful French fries covered in gravy with cheese curds melted on top!You either love it or hate it, I love it! I haven't had it in a very long time.

I must stay away!

5. What is your usual bed time?

I go to bed as soon as my little ones are asleep. SB and I call it a crazy night when the kiddos are sleeping and we are still up til 10. We are wild like that, it's how we roll.

Exhausted

All I want for Christmas is 24 hours of nonstop sleep… My poor little baby Rascal is teething i.e. not sleeping, not smiling as much, not laughing as often, crying lots, and chewing endless on his poor little hands or mine. His big brother never had any trouble teething… We didn’t even know he was teething until at 8 months when a shiny white tooth appeared. There was no crying, drooling, chewing, there was nothing. Sugar Balls and I had been spoiled with our first little Rascals teething experience and in no way prepared for the heartbreak, sleep depravation, and floods of drool that teething causes. Poor little Rascal will be 5 months tomorrow and he already has to deal with this pain, it is breaking my heart.
All littlest Rascal wants for Christmas is his two front teeth!

I am very thankful that not only am I able to stay home with my little ones but SB is a wonderful father. When he gets home from work he gives all his attention to our boys and me. He does not have the mind set that there is “mom jobs” and “dad jobs" he just does what needs to be done. No matter how poopy the diaper or sticky the rascal he tackles it all. I am so thankful to have him and I truly hope my boys grow up to be the man that their Daddy is.

As far as weight loss goes I haven’t done another weigh in (I try to only do it once a week). I do find myself making poorer food choices when I’m tired/busy. Do you all do that? I have been working very hard at drinking lots of water…. That sounds crazy that you have to work at drinking water but I really do. I also got an assortment of protein bars to try. I had been eating Cliff bars but they are getting a little old, I need a change.

I notice a lot of you say that you had a PB episode..know what happens when you have one but I can’t for the life of be figure out what PB stands for… what does PB stand for?

I haven’t had one from eating food alone but I have had one when I don’t wait the right amount of time to have a drink. I’m working on it but I still tend to forget and or not care and drink when I’m eating. If I take too big of a drink I get the stuck feeling and sometimes a little slime. It doesn’t feel good in the least and I have had to excuse myself do some burping, chest hitting and what not. Does this happen to any of you?

I am still able to eat large amounts of food and therefore can’t wait to have my second fill that will be coming on December 7th, I wish it were sooner.

I have been reading but not commenting and I’m sorry for that, I will be a better blogger and follower. If only my little one could get his teeth

-L

SKINNY SANTA CHALLENGE WEEK #1

Along with the

Kickin' Kriss Kringle's Kookies in the Kooter Challenge

I have entered the

Skinny Santa Challenge

Hey, I need all the motivation I can get. I want need to make it out of the Holiday season without gaining weight, and these challenges should help me along.

Now for the Skinny Santa Challenge  I have to list 5 places I like to shop... Well Ladies this will be the easiest thing I do this month no make that this year. I love to shop, I can joyfully shop in a gas station. So with that said here is where I spend most of my husbands money...



Target
Amazon
Old Navy
Barnes & Noble
iTunes


But like I mentioned I'm happy to spend money any old place that will take it.



Good luck to all the ladies in the challenges as long as we all come out weighing less we will all win this season!

Now for my stats (I'm going to do a little copy and paste trick here from my post yesterday).



I weighed in today at 253.5 making it a loss of 3.9 pounds thus far for the month of November. I'm guesstimating that because I forgot to weigh in on November 1st and instead had weighed in on October 26th at which point I was 259.

I figured it out like so... weight on Oct 26th 259- 253.5 from today / 14 (number of days since last weigh in) = .39 pounds lost a day x 10 (# of days in November so far) = 3.9 pounds lost of the month of November. Yes I'm being neurotic :-)

Kickin' Kriss Kringle's Kookies in the Kooter Challenge!!!

I weighed in today at 253.5 making it a loss of 3.9 pounds thus far for the month of November. I'm guesstimating that because I forgot to weigh in on November 1st and instead had weighed in on October 26th at which point I was 259.

I figured it out like so... weight on Oct 26th 259- 253.5 from today / 14 (number of days since last weigh in) = .39 pounds lost a day x 10 (# of days in November so far) = 3.9 pounds lost of the month of November. Yes I'm being neurotic :-)

It is YOUR duty!

Time

Good morning my lovelies!

Believe it or not I’ve been trying to blog for 4 days now and haven’t been able to put fingers to keys long enough to get it done. My little ones are pretty busy and I think the smallest of the Rascals is most definitely teething. He has been enjoying lots of cuddle time with Mommy (I think I’ve been enjoying it even more).

The time change also but a little hitch in our giddy up yesterday with both boys kinda fussy and pretty tired. Sugar Balls and the biggest Rascal were able to decorate our front porch with Christmas lights yesterday and it looks beautiful. I know this seems a bit early but the weather was a still chilly but beautiful sunny 50 degree day and we won’t have many more of those. We are going to a Christmas Tree farm on Sunday with the little ones and in In-Laws to cut down our trees. I know this also seems early but since we are cutting them down ourselves they will be nice and fresh and should be able to last nicely until after the holidays. I will be having surgery on the 17th for my carpel tunnel and that will require me to be in a cast for 11 days plus a brace for more days after that… I really want to do as much decorating as I can before that time. I will have the same surgery on my right hand later next year.

I’m so happy that I have my little ones and such a wonderful husband to really help me get into the spirit of things. After losing my Mother in September I didn’t know if I would be able to enjoy the holiday season but I’m finding myself excited as we teach our oldest about Santa and Christmas. I really want to do my best to make this a special time for my Mother's Husband as well, he is after all the only father I ever knew and such a wonderful man. I know presents can’t replace my Mom or necessarily make the day any easier but I’m happy that we have lots of stuff for him and that the boys will for sure bring him joy. He plans on visiting us this week so I know Rascal 1 will enjoy showing him the lights.

I’ve also started walking. When I set up my goals the first one I set  was that I would purchase a treadmill after completing at least 500 minutes of exercise within 5 months. I didn’t realize at the time that I would be able to easily do that. I never exercise, I don’t enjoy sweating, and I hate manual labor so I thought that it would be nearly impossible for me to do this. I’m happy to say that as of yesterday I have already logged 140 minutes and I just started on the 2nd. I bring my IPod and listen to podcasts and or music but I find myself mostly lost in thought. It was so beautiful and so sunny yesterday. I live in the middle of nowhere Maine woods (we recently moved here in 2009 to be closer to the In-Laws and I’m not really the outdoor type unless it is at the beach, lake or ocean but I have to admit it is beautiful here).
Usually when I’m walking I keep my eye out for animals as I have already seen 2 black bear cubs on my road along and numerous, raccoons, foxes, rabbits, skunks,  deer and moose. I think I’m most scared of running to a skunk, luckily they seem to only come out at night.

Yesterday as I was looking into the woods and the water beyond with the sun shining in my face I couldn’t help but think of my mother and her life and how short it was. My mother was only 17 when she had me and 44 when she died. I can’t imagine not being here in 17 years, not seeing my children as adults, not seeing Sugar Balls hair gray (although judging by his bother and father it will happen sooner than later. Sorry honey but we both know it is true… and I think you will look sexy not that your father or brother look sexy because that is gross and they don’t..yuck…double yuck ).

My husband and I have sadly endured many great loses during our short 7 years together. When you lose loved ones especially young loved ones you really gain a new respect for life. You quickly learn to say I love you multiple times daily, to value family dinners, to really immerse ourselves into the lives of those we love, to hug tightly and just a second or two longer than normal. Sugar Balls and I truly value our life, our boys, our parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, pets, our food, heat, water, EVERYTHING. Yes we sometimes get into modes where we find ourselves wanting things, superficial things, but doesn’t everyone? What I’m getting it and what I realized yesterday on my walk is that I have and do value every day of my life and those around me, every moment that I have, and every morning that I wake; but, I have not valued my health… Which is just crazy because I LOVE my life and I want it to be a very long one.

So why have I waited so long to get healthy, to get better? Well I also LOVE food and I have already associated food with celebration and happiness. I need to start loving myself more. I can’t let the lives of those we have loved and lost be in vain, I can't think back at the pain and sorrow and the sadness in their life ending and not grasp onto mine and get control of what I put into my body and how I treat my body. I will eat better, I will also still enjoy chocolate and pizza just not nearly as much. I will exercise because I can, walking is free, it is easy, and my surroundings although I’m not outdoorsy are beautiful. Yesterday as I put one foot in front of the other I thought of my Mom of my life and loves and it gave me the extra boost to walk a little quicker to push a little harder.

When I told my father about my WLS he had said my mother had always wished that I could get a grasp of my weight, that I could do something to get healthier. He told me she would be happy with my choice. I refuse to let my mom watch me from above and be disappointed with me, with what I am doing with this wonderful gift I have been given, with my band, with my boys, with SB, and with my time.

-L

A not so Sunny Sunday

Well what the F!!! Come on Maine I know we get a lot of snow but it is still October. My husband or as I like to call him Sugar Balls was more excited about this snow than my Rascal #1. It was cute to wake up and show Rascal #1 (he is 27 months) the snow and have him look at it for awhile point and say “snow” however that special moment has long since gone and I want my green grass back. Why wasn’t I born in the south? I love me some sweet tea and Chick Fil-A. BLAH!

So SB and both of my Rascals are asleep so I’m enjoying some 90’s country (no judging) and catching my on everyone’s blogs. I find myself going to sleep at night thinking of things I want… no NEED to write… So when I woke up to the internet coming and going because of the lovely weather I was not to impressed. Any who!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE
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Versatile: ver-sa-tile [vur-suh-tl] or, especially British, [vur-suh-tahyl]: capable of, or adapted for, turning easily from one to another various tasks, fields of endeavor, etc.: a versatile writer.
Word information source: www.dictionary.com
Here is how the award works:
1. You thank the person who presented you with the award.
2. You tell 7 things about yourself.
3. You award 15 other newly discovered bloggers.

I Have two very lovely ladies to thank for this award Cat and Sarah you both give me strength from your words and your journey I continue to enjoy getting to know you and I gain inspiration from both of you daily.

7 things about me....

1. I talk in my sleep and Rascal #1 has started to talk in his as well. Sugar Balls will often try to keep me talking if he catches me sleep talking. He can only keep it going for so long before I start to wake up and yell at him for waking me up. I mean really I’m a Mom of a 27 month old and a 4 month old, let a girl sleep when she can.
   
2. I’m allergic to cats but LOVE them.
   
3. My very best cat Two Eye (yes her name was Two eye, simple reason really you see my In laws have a cat with One Eye who is named One Eye. It only made sense) She passed in January she enjoyed 17 years and was very loved.
   
4. We recently took in a very, very, incredibly LARGE cat named Jug Head, we have no idea how old he is, but we like him and he seems to tolerate us. You know how cats can be with the superiority complex and all.
   
5. I don’t just love but I LOVE the color pink. I have this wonderfully amazing pink jumpsuit that SB calls a pink nightmare (taken from a Christmas Story… You know the movie “you’ll shoot your eye out”)
    
6. Up until I turned 23 I never, ever wanted children. I thought the idea of a little person growing inside of me would be something straight out of a science fiction movie… I still kinda do… With that said I love being a mom. I love seeing these little people that SB and I created and seeing how they grow and learn and see things. It really is like seeing and doing everything for a second time only this time it is even better than when I first experienced it.
   
7. I plan on having one more baby once I’m at a healthier weight, I would love, love, love to have a girl. I will also love another little boy, he will just have to learn to love to pink  and dress because I need to be able to buy some tutus and I just don’t think they would look right me.

So I really could easily give this award to 30+ ladies or inspire me daily but is is 5 and all my boys are starting to wake from their naps… so here goes with my Fab 3!

 Amy makes me laugh and I find myself excited to see when she blogs, so please if you haven’t already you need to check her out.

Lap Band Gal is a huge inspiration and provides really good advice and insight. She was the very 1st blog I found and her blog helped me make up my mind about having Lap-Band

Ronnie there is just something about Ronnie that makes me want to be her friend. It may be the beautiful profile picture that makes her look like such an easy going person or how she doesn’t hold back her feelings/thoughts when she posts. I can tell that Ronnie is determined and I just feel like I know her…. not in a creepy stalker kinda way

Thrilling First Fill

So I just had my very 1st fill. It was magical. Magical. I felt zero pain and am filled with this new hope and energy... I've never been high but I'm gonna go ahead and say that I'm on a Lap Band high, filled with excitement and hope. I did end up gaining back one of my lost pounds and was at 259 today for a total loss of 16 pounds. I'm very happy with the loss and so was my Nurse. I was so excited to discover that blogger had an app for my Ipad because I had to blog this news before getting home. I hope everyone is having a great hump day.

Jug Head

We recently adopted this little guy. We lovingly call him Jug Head. He is very intrigued with Lap Band and wonders when a Vet will figure out how to help cats like him.

Stage Name

Good Saturday Afternoon Ladies!

I'm so happy to report that I've started to make some blogger friends.

With that said I need to come clean. Lucy Luck is my stage name. Yes I know it is hard to believe that someone wasn't born with the name Lucy Luck, I mean it sounds so natural and all. I'm not as original as Drazil over at Drazil and Sheniqua I simply frozen when it came time to name my blog and myself and therefore copied from my Old Navy Tee titled "Lucky Lucy's Lemonade".

You see I'm from Maine and if you look at a map you will see that the state of Maine is small, well it is even smaller when you live here. I'm still in the closet so to speak about my Lab Band so have avoided pictures and well my real name from being put on this blog.

However I do use My Fitness Pal and other social media sites under my legal name so for those of you that want to become friends on MFP or what not please let me know and please don't be surprised by the name change.

I can't wait to continue learning from and growing with the help of you ladies... and by growing I mean mental growth not the physical kind :-)

My Surgery To Do List… Better late than never

It seems I haven’t been a very informative blogger for those who may be doing research. I gained lots of info from others blogs and still do so I want to make sure I give back to the Lap Band community. Below I will list the steps I had to take in order to  have Lap Band Surgery. Let me tell you I have lost 17 pounds to date and would do it all over, and over again.

1. Attend a seminar. The seminar was hosted by one of the surgeons from my doctors office and information about Lap Band, Gastric Bypass, and a new practice the gastric bypass sleeve. My husband who was very nervous about the entire thing went with me for support and also so he too would be informed. I was not only person with a loved one there for support and I highly recommend bringing someone with you. There was a group of 3 friends there together all wanting to improve their life, I thought that was neat.
2. I had to obtain a referral from my PCP, this was quick and easy.
3. Next came my surgery consultation with my surgeon and his nurse. My BMI was given to me than and they did say I qualified for Lap Band.
4. My Surgeon’s office had a list of assignments for me to complete
1. Meet with their Dietitian 3 times
2. Attend 3 support group meetings
3. Have a psych evaluation (I had visions of  ink blots shaped like burgers and sundaes, it was nothing like they that)
4. Meet with their trainer 2 times before surgery and once after
5. No smoking (I do not smoke so this was easy, but they did do test to check on those that do smoke and make sure they hadn’t)
6. Could not gain more than 5 pounds from initial visit until surgery
5. I was lucky and my insurance Anthem BC/BS did not require a 6 month monitored diet… they based approval on my weight, medical history, and PCP/Surgeons recommendation.
6. A week prior to the surgery blood work was taken and checked
7. I did not have to do a pre-op diet, I only had to eat light the day before surgery.

My 1st Attempt at BYOC

1. What’s your most favorite noise and your least favorite noise?

Most fave> the sound of my little ones sucking on their pacifier and or hands and fingers as they sleep. Also the sounds of the ocean

Least fave > Teeth scrapping a fork

2. If you were a character in the movie Grease – who would you be?

I took a quiz it sad I was Frenchy… As a girl I always wanted to be Sandy

3. What was the name of your best friend in elementary school? Are you still friends?

Michael we no longer keep in touch

4. Who is your current celebrity crush?

Deborah Ann Woll who plays Jessica on True Blood is my girl crush I would love to look like her, she rocks beautiful red hair and is consider a curvier girl by Hollywood standards

5. Repeat question: How was your week in real life and in blog land?
In blog land I was been slacking. With weight loss I didn’t lose and I didn’t gain… not sure how I feel about that.
I had a wonderful week with my husband and boys but am still struggling with the loss of my Mother. It still all feels very raw and hard for me. I have had a dream every night this week with her in it and in all of them I know she is sick and have to experience losing her all over again just in different ways. I really do hope time heals all.

A little about ME

I took this from some of the other ladies, feel free to take it from me!


A. Age - 27

B. Bed size – King…but my 2 year old makes it feel a lot smaller

C. Chore you dislike –Washing the floors

D. Dogs – Love them but waiting until the boys are bigger before we get one

E. Essential start to your day - Pee

F. Favorite color – Pink

G. Gold or silver – Silver, gold looks awful on me

H. Height - 5'3’’

I. Instruments you play(ed) – Trumpet for a week in 6th grade

J. Job title – Domestic Engineer… I believe that is the new PC term for stay at home mom

K. Kids – Two wonderful boys 27 months and 4 months

L. Live - Maine

M. Mom's name -Shawna

N. Nicknames – Princess (I gave it to myself, my husband doesn’t call me it nearly enough but I’m training my 2 year old)

O. Overnight hospital stays – C-section with both sons and Lap Band due to my driving distance

P. Pet peeves – People who need to come to a dead stop to make a turn, People who smack their food while eating, people who stay in the passing lane at a slow speed, people who talk on their cell phone and don’t pay attention to lights… so basically bad drivers

Q.Quote from a movie – My husband would get a kick out of this because I always, always mess up quotes when I try to say them… So I’m not even gonna try.

R. Righty or Lefty - Righty

S. Siblings – Sadly I have no biological siblings but I do have an uncle who I consider and look up to as a brother. I also have a sister in law who I really do consider a sister. When my sister in law and I are out together people always think we really are sisters. I guess our husbands have the same taste in ladies… chunky, busty, blondes.

T. Time you wake up – last night I was up at 12, 3, and 5. On a really good night my little one will sleep until 5 or 6ish.

U. Underwear – Cotton, I hope to sexy up my underwear when I lose weight

V. Vegetables you don't like - mushrooms

W. What makes you run late – getting the boys ready and when I say boys that includes my husband

X. X-rays you've had – Teeth… I look at sugar and get a cavity.

Y. Yummy food you make – I’m a pretty good cook and baker hence my weight problem… I make lots of yummy stuff… I’m not a vegetarian but I have a wonderful recipe for vegetarian meatless balls

Z. Zoo animal favorites- Elephants, giraffes, monkeys… I love all animals

Shocked

I'm happy to report that I lost 2.9 lbs this week.
I really didn't think this would happen and I really don't think that I earned it.

I have been slipping back to my old ways and since I have yet to have a fill I'm finding myself hungry more and eating more.

I can’t help but wonder how much better I could have done. I can't wait until my first fill.

I’m going on a girl’s weekend leaving today and headed to NH with my Best girlfriend. I always get so excited about girl trips and then get really sick to my stomach and homesick before leaving my husband and babies. The weather should be beautiful here in Maine and in NH so I’m hoping that my husband as well as I will each have good weekends. I also hope to get lots of tax free goodies for Christmas!
Since September 8th I have lost 16.7 lbs and I'm VERY happy with that.



-Lucy

Just a quickie! Real update later

Wii I lost more weight!

So at the start of all of this I had told myself I wouldn't weigh myself every week. I wouldn't be a slave to the scale but I find that weighing myself so far has motivated me to keep on keeping on. So you can imagine how excited I was last night when I pulled out the old Wii Fit and weighed myself to discover that in 6 days I had lost another 2.2 pounds! I'm so excited to report that since September 8, 2011 I have lost a total of 13.8 pounds.

My husband and mother in law have been saying for over a week that they can see the difference and I'm just not starting to believe them. It is a small difference but it is still a difference.

Would I have this surgery again? In a second! I would even find a way to pay for it out of pocket if I had to.


Happy Thursday Everyone!

-Lucy

O-R-E.....oh :-(

So it has been 15 days since I had my surgery and today was the first day that I had a snack attack. Not just a snack attack but it was the first day that I felt like I could have eaten all day and didn't feel full it all, it was just like old times.

I started off good having my chocolate Unjury protein shake mixed with warm skim milk (so yummy. I moved on to a Chobani pomegranate yogurt. Yesterday I probably wouldn't have been able to finish all 6oz of the yogurt without feeling full but today it did nothing for me.

Shortly after that like say 2 hours later I had 1-2 oz of deli chicken (I can now have cold cuts and canned tuna yay me!) a couple pieces of smoked Gouda and 3 crackers. Still not full!!! Even wit the crackers I wasn't full.

Have I mentioned that I'm a stay at home Mom so when I have a craving or am hungry it is even harder to redirect myself as I'm always in the kitchen/living area. One of my babies is still on the bottle and his soy formula doesn't look appealing at all but my 2 year old eats frequently and any food at this point looks good to me... well today it looked REALLY good I almost licked his face clean instead of using a washcloth ... I know sick, right?

So here is here the day gets bad.... Both boys go down for their afternoon nap and I'm also really tired so I figure I'll take a nap with them... but my stomach was telling my head that it was hungry and not only was it hungry but it wanted some of those yummy Oreo cookies my husband and little one have. Not only are the yummy but they have the orange filling for Halloween to make them seem even healthier!

I'm not proud but I ended up having 2 which is way better than the 6 I normally would have had and is also a serving size. I ate them LOVED them and regretfully logged it into my food journal. I didn't feel good about eating the Oreo cookies but I also understand that this lapband thing just isn't some other diet it is a way of life and I know that there is no way I could happily live life never having another Oreo so with that I'm very proud that I did only have the serving size.

I'm enjoying another protein shake right but while feeling sooooooo HUNGRY!

My first fill isn't until 10/26 so I'm hoping that today is just a fluke and that I'll be happy once again with the 1/2 of food per meal.

On the bright side I have lost 3 pounds since last weighing myself on 9/14 putting me at 263. I can't wait to be out of the 60's.

Has anyone else had a food break down?

-Lucy

Not SO hungry

Well I'm happy to say at 10 days out and on soft foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, and what not I'm not nearly as hungry as I was 5 days ago. I went to see my surgeon on Wednesday and got weighed I was so very excited to have lost 8 pounds and I was ECSTATIC to be out of the 270s and into the 260s. That is my new mini goal to just go 10 pounds at a time. My second goal is to get to 199 and from there I would LOVE to be at 140/150. My next appointment will be on October 26th and I will get my first fill, I'm very excited. I have been following my doctors guidelines and drinking an Unjury drink 3 times a day (I try to drink them before meal times as it helps fill me up). I'm also eating between 1/2 to 1 cup of food at each meal mostly my meals have been on the lower end towards a 1/2 cup.

I think starting out with soft food really is a good idea I found that sometimes I don't even get 2 chews in before I'm ready to swallow and I know that could cause me some pain with other foods.

I have been using the lapband website to log my food, weight, and activities (so far I've only logged 1 walk but I am still healing). I really like the tools on the site it reminds me a lot of the weight watchers online site that I really liked to use. Speaking of Weight Watchers I just dug out an old WW cookbook that I'm excited to cook from once I can eat all types of foods again.

As a proud card carrying couch potato I'm also very excited up the new fall TV shows!

-Lucy

4 days out

So I'm on day 4 of being banded and also being on a liquid diet, ugh... I'm a little worried that I might start eating a finger or something in my sleep. Even my 2 year old's leftover food is looking appearing :-)... I know I can do this... I'm enjoying some wonderful chicken broth as we speak... I can't wait until week 3 when I can have eggs and mushies and be able to chew again. Anyone have any food suggestions that helped you along the way?

Thanks! Lucy

Banded!

So I did it! On Thursday I was banded and I'm now home healing up. I have to say that I am still very sore but surprisingly I'm not hungry at all. I have been doing my Unjury protein shakes (so tasty it feels like a treat) and also I have been eating a half a cup of food three times a day (pudding, soup, jello and the such). I'm trying my best to drink my water but I'm also sleeping a lot so it is making it hard to get all of my fluids. Pictures will be posted soon, I'm very happy I did this.

Weight the day of surgery: 274.6

I am my Mother's Daughter

OK I have written and deleted this first sentence 20 times over so here goes. Yesterday on September 3rd my Mom passed away with me by her side. My mother had always seemed so healthy to me she was always thin, tan ,and beautiful and just seemed invincible. Unfortunately my mother was diagnosed with Peripheral Vascular Disease 2 years ago this November. Her disease lead to Kidney failure,2 heart attacks and finally one of the main vessels leading into her bowels became blocked and was not able to deliver the blood needed to stay alive. I spent the last 5 days at the hospital making decisions my Mother had tried to help prepare me for and quickly realized there was no way to prepare for such a loss. I did my best to make my Mom proud and help my Step Father by doing all the things he just couldn't handle doing. My Mom was only 44 years old and I'm completely heartbroken. I never told my Mother about my choice to have Lap Band or the upcoming surgery as she would have had a hard time keeping the secret. I take comfort in knowing that my Mother will be with me on this journey. Now more than ever, I will take her strength and use the pain I felt these past days to help me succeed. I want to do anything and everything I can to be healthy, I do not want my children to have to feel the loss and make the decision that I have had to do. Thankfully my children will only know fun times with my Mom they aren't old enough to realize she was sick or see her pain. I won't have to explain why she isn't around and see their hearts break, but when they are older I will have pictures and wonderful stories to share with them about how much she loved them.

My Step Father is staying with us as he just can't face going back to their house and town where everyone knows and will want to share with sorrow with him. He is here where my Mom wanted him to be with moments of happy distractions from his Grandchild. I just talked to him about my surgery that is coming up in 4 short days. He said my Mom would have been proud of my choice and supported me but he too agrees that she would have had a hard time keeping the information to herself :-) He is happy to support me and help with the aftermath. I'm so lucky to have him.

I just want to say how thankful I am to have you ladies who are more or less strangers to share my feelings and hardships with. I'm so thankful I have a place to speak freely and openly and relieve some of my pain. Typing is my easier than talking.

My Surgery is Thursday 9/8 and I'm ready for the life change.

Ready, Set, Go!

For the past year-plus I have been researching and taking the steps needed to have Lap Band Surgery. With my surgery date set I've decided to come out of the shadows and create my own blog. There have been so many people who have inspired me via their own blogs that I feel I too should try to aid those in the pursue of a healthier lifestyle a-la Lap Band. I'm also hopeful that I can use blogger as a tool to keep me on my toes by tracking my journey, logging my daily food intake, and sharing both laughs and I'm sure tears along the way.

With that said....

My name is Lucy I'm a 27 year old college educated stay at home Mom of two beautiful boys one 2 and one really, really new :-) I'm also a wife to the most supportive, loving, empathetic,dorky :-), handsome husband in the world.

I have ALWAYS been overweight in fact I'm pretty positive that when born I was weighed on the adult scale and not the baby scale. I have lost and gained back weight my entire life. I've never been able to say I was at a healthy weight. With the birth of my beautiful boys and the love of my wonderful husband I came to realize that I need to change my life and my weight for good. I have too much to miss out on and refuse to continue killing myself with food. I honestly believe that I am slowly killing myself in my current state.I will not have my children see their mother deal with heart issues, diabetes and other health issues because I can't get a grip on my weight.

As of today I am 275 pounds making me the heaviest I've ever been (aside from when I was pregnant with my most recent son. I weighed 304 pounds before delivery).

Please don't think I'm ashamed of Lap Band by blurring out my face in pictures. I am absolutely proud of the tool I'm about to put into my body. I'm blurring my pictures because I do not want the added stress of non-supportive people in my day to day life judging me. I do have the support of my Best Friend, Mother In Law, and my amazing Husband. I don't believe that I will always keep this between me and my support group but for now I need to focus on me and my weight loss, something that I know will be challenge enough for now...

With that said I would love to have the support of any and all who want to join me on here.


Up Coming Events

Pre-OP 8/29/11

Surgery 9/8/11

Post-OP 9/14/11

Post-OP Dietary Appointment 10/27/11