No longer MIA

My Same Day Fill and Un-fill

Wednesday I went to see the good old Doctor for a needed fill. Now I have been questioning my fill level but still thought I need a little more to make it just right. The Doctor noticed that my weight loss has slowed down a little and after talking with me said he would add 1cc to my band that already had 4cc. 

He did the fill, I drank the water in his office, it went down fine and I was on my way.
Once I got to my vehicle I did my normal routine of drinking lots of water to see how it goes down. Normally I have no issue taking frequent large swallows of water but this was not the case after my fill. I would take one swallow and have to burp I could also feel a bit of a struggle going on inside (sometimes for me it is so hard to describe how something feels internally). I decided to run some errands in the area and drink, drink, drink to kind of test it out. Now I’m not a milkshake or slider food user but I decided to get a milkshake for its thickness and test my band with that. This filled me even quicker than the water with more burps. I let things calm down and did some shopping. 

Once I was done with my errands I tried drinking more water and still experienced the same issue. I called my Doctors and spoke with his Nurse who said it was up to me, that I could wait it out and see how I felt in the morning and that I may need an un-fill. Well I live 3 hours from my Doctor and I could just tell that I had too much in my band so I asked if I could come back in at that moment and get half of my 1 cc fill taken out. 

Once I got back to the office both the Nurse and Doctor told me how good it was that I knew my body and didn’t leave the band tight. According to them it happens all to often were someone gets a little too much in their band and thinks it might be a good thing and help them lose quicker. In reality all that person gets is sick, possibly damagers their band and insides and some according to my Doctor have to go to the ER during the weekend due to tightness. 

So I’m at 4.5cc and it feels perfect, I’m hoping to notice even more restriction as it goes on, but I didn’t want to be in a situation were I couldn’t even drink water without having to burp. Normally when I have over eaten with the band a burp is my signal to stop so I knew it just couldn’t be right to be experiencing this feeling with water. 

I think of my band as a new organ that I need to take care of to ensure my health and well being. Do you? Have you risked you and your bands safety by having it too tight? Be careful!

-L

Weekend Review

We were lucky enough to enjoy a long weekend with SB so I’m just now getting around to a blog update. 

I started the C25K program on Saturday. My motivation came from Dawnya who told us all on Thursday to “remember that healthy living does not have weekends off” and I got even more motivation on Saturday from Camille, who didn’t want to run but ran anyway.   

I really did have both of these ladies in mind during my first attempt at C25K. I got to the mid way point and was ready to stop and just finish walking. My breathing was a little hard and my legs were tired. But I knew I wasn’t at my stopping point, I knew I had more in me. So I thought of those ladies and I kept going. 

I took my littlest one with me on Saturday and did a little grocery shopping while SB and the other Rascal did a little ice skating at the end of our road. We had a friend over Saturday night and watch the NFL Playoffs. I’m not a big football fan but I was out voted. 

I also started playing Words with Friends this weekend with Laura Belle and got to chat a little with her. That was fun but between you and I, I think she might cheat. 

Have I ever mentioned that I don’t like to lose, unless its weight?  

When I woke up on Sunday my legs were a little sore to say the least from my running the day before. It was a good sore and I welcome it. Sunday was a lazy day for us, we did some cleaning, played with the boys and by 1 all 4 of us were napping. It was great. We spent the evening at my In-laws eating turkey breast and catching up. 

We were super excited that SB was off on Monday. I did a complete clean out of our master bath the bleach smell is still in the air. After I was done cleaning SB decided that he too was going to try to C25K and he also completed day 1. By this point I had already showered and was ready to call my cleaning my “exercise” for the day but watching him do it motived me to do day 2. I did day 2 with my ankles and legs yelling at me the entire time. I also watched videos on the computer teaching me to do sit ups with my exercise ball. Once I’m sure that I’m doing them properly I will join Ronnie and Brandi in the 200 sit-up challenge. 

I also became Facebook friends with  Ronnie so that was pretty exciting. Since I’m in the closet about my band I will only friend people who wont talk about Lapband with me on Facebook. I’m way more open about myself in my blog but at least on Facebook you can put a face to me and see my family. So if anyone wants to be Facebook friends please let me know and I’ll e-mail you. Also remember this post about my stage name. 

I'm getting lots of protein but I have noticed that I'm shedding a little more than normal. It may be because I'm also growing my hair out again and when it gets long I do tend to shed. I have some suppliments coming from GNC that will hopefully help the issue. 


I haven’t weighed myself yet this week because it is my TOM and I don’t want it to depress me. As it is I feel depressed when I look down just one of those days. Here are my numbers from the last time I weighed in. 

1/14/12 239.7 LBS
Total loss since 9/8/11 35lbs
Total inches lost since 11/3/11 (including neck, waist, and hips) 8.5 inches.

My head is pounding and since by some small miracle I was able to get both boys down for a nap I too am going to join in.
 
-L

Five Things Friday + 1

In an effort to achieve my 2012 goal of blogging at least 2 times a week I’m going to try and mix things up. I mean you can only read PB stories so many times before you stop coming back for more. 

I’m gonna share 5 things that I have enjoyed this week.

#1 I’m loving my new Bath and Body Works Marshmallow Peppermint  candle.  I’m usually a Yankee Candle girl but I just couldn’t pass up the amazing year end sales that BBW was having. I started burning this last night and I could smell it throughout my entire 2000sqft house. It is a 3 wick candle so it burnt evenly no concave indent with wax wasted on the side. The best part about this candle was waking this morning hours after the flames had been blown out and still being able to smell it! I have noticed that it does seem to burn a bit quicker than my Yankee Candles but hey it was significantly cheaper.

#2 Getting tweets and e-mails from EatThisNotThat and WomensHealthMag (for any of you on twitter I wrote the names as they are on twitter so you can follow them too!)

They give you really good advice, facts and information to keep you motivated and informed about your health, body, and food.

#3 Unjury Protein Mixes especially the chocolate flavor. Unjury really helped me last the 3 days of liquids. I have both the chocolate and the strawberry flavors but enjoy the chocolate the most. To me the chocolate tastes pretty darn close to a nice cold chocolate YooHoo. The strawberry is good to but has a very faint hardly there flavor. I mix the strawberry with sugar free lemonade mix and it is yummy!

Here is a quick frozen coffee drink I make in the A.M.

1 scoop Unjury Chocolate

7oz cold coffee

1oz milk

2tsp Splenda

Ice

Blend it all together and it is delish!

 

#4 The Toy Story Movie Series. I really have no choice in this because my little one is obsessed with it. Thankfully SB and I enjoy watching it with him at night as well.

I love Rex “What if Andy gets another dinosaur? A mean one? I just don't think I can take that kind of rejection!”

#5 Storage Wars. SB and I are kinda hooked on this show. I normally would only watch it when my Step Dad or Nana visit but well we watch it now nightly. It might be because of this guy below, Barry. He would be one awesome Grandfather or Sugar Daddy if you are into that kinda thing.

I’m also gonna include a number because well it is my blog and I can do what I want.

#6. I can’t stop playing Words With Friends. SB got me hooked on it and now I have everyone I know playing it just to keep me going. It is like crack baby and I wanna be your dealer. Anyone else play? If you don’t you need to start!

So what have you enjoyed this week?

-L

2012 Goals

I know, I know, I’m a little late on the whole setting goals and resolutions. The thing is I don’t like to do things half assed and therefore have been putting lots of thought into what I want to improve/achieve/spend my time on in 2012. I may have also been busy with two little ones under the age of two and a half. Whatever my reasons, its here now in a pretty list with picture reminders for me to reference all year long. Feel free to hold me to it and call me on any straying you may notice this year.

Number one is the absolute most important to me the rest are in random order…

#1: Date my Husband

That’s right I want to date Sugar Balls. I love SB so much and fondly remember our dates, trips, moments, naps, hugs, kisses that we have shared. Now that we are parents and absolutely positively head over heels in love with  two other people we get less time together. I think it is important that we spend time together as a couple who are smitten, madly in love, can’t keep their hands off of each other, and I think we need to do that alone. So for 2012 I want to spend at least 3 hours of alone time with SB a month. I’m talking totally alone not just the alone time we get if we both manage to stay awake after the boys are asleep. I want to send the boys up the road to their favorite place (the grandparents) and escape with my husband. This can be a board game at home, dinner and a movie, cuddling during a nap.  Anything we want to do at all as long as we do it together and it doesn’t have to do with everyday life such as running errands or cleaning house.

(Our wedding day)

#2: Menu Planning

I’m no June Cleaver but I do get to stay at home with my boys so I think it is important that I put a yummy, warm meal on the table. I would like to plan ahead in efforts to save money and try new recipes.

#3: Try at Least 2 New Recipes a Month

I LOVE to cook and share my food with others. In an effort to eat better and expose my little ones to different tastes and textures I want to try some new things. I have a few websites that I really enjoy, maybe you will too.

www.skinnytaste.com

www.ohsweetbasil.com

fitnessfoodandfaith.blogspot.com

http://weelicious.com/

http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/

I would also like to try freezing some extra food ahead of time. I always skip this step because I think fresh is better but a lot of people do it, so it might work. Right?

#4: Follow a Family Budget

With me staying home with the boys money is often tight. I know that there are many areas where I can cut back. I also know that I spend more than I should. I want to get better at this and show my husband how much I really do appreciate his hard work. If anyone has suggestions I’d would love the advice. One thing I’m going to start doing is write down the item I want (if it isn’t food/meds/heat) and keep it written down for at least 30 days before I buy it. Hopefully by the time 30 days is up I will no longer want it.

#5: Blog 2 Times a Week

#6: Exercise 4 or More Hours a Week

#7: Take More Pictures

This should be an easy one for me, I have two cameras and I LOVE taking pictures. Yet I the newest little Rascal has a significantly smaller stock pile of pictures than our first Rascal did. I REALLY need to work on this. 

#8: Read a Book a Month

  Again this should be easy as I love to read.

#9: Take Care of Laundry ASAP

So here is what happens every time I do the laundry. I fold as soon as the dryer goes off/ or as quickly as I can in an effort to avoid ironing. I don’t like to iron and I really don’t know how. However after I fold and or put the clothing on the hangers I tend to leave them in the laundry room for way to long. This needs to stop. 

#10: Drink More Water

And add some lemon to it… Why? Because….

#11: Be under 200LBS by 2013

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

And lastly since it is 2012 and I like even numbers better than odd I’m gonna add a twelfth and very important goal for 2012.

#12: Believe in Myself

I may say “I can do this” but I still hear a voice inside that tells me it will never happen. I have now lost 34 pounds which I believe is as much weight as I’ve lost in the past only to go backwards and end up weighing more. I need to believe in myself and in this tool. I. Can. Do. This.

-L

PBing like a Mother you-know-whater

So I have been PBing like it is my job. I did it in the drive thru lane at the bank, in my in-laws bathroom, in my bathroom, on the side of route 6, at an animal reserve, the list goes on and on.  

As we all know one needs to chew, chew, chew when they have the band.

A good bander will take a small bite and chew, chew, chew their food into oblivion. They will not drink as they eat. They will not overeat. They will just chew, chew, chew their small, small, small bites and enjoy their protein first meal. Always.

Here is what I have been doing for oh say 2 months. Because I’m a very slow learner.

I take a normal or slightly large bite of food. Chomp down on the goods. Think to myself yum! Chew. Swallow. Think to myself that I’m a MORON and need to take a small bite and chew, chew, chew. So I take a kinda small bite and chew, chew, swallow. Progress has been made but by this point I’ve already put myself into a bad situation. I now have a lodged piece of food burning a spot in my chest and I’m saying a quick prayer that I don’t choke. Prayer said, hands in the air, nothing is working. I think to myself "oh I know, I’ll take a drink". I take a drink... I'm now thinking to myself "OH SHIT! I shouldn’t have done that". Why? Because there is no place for the liquid to go expect back up. I do this every time. EVERY. TIME. 

So now I have myself in a situation of not knowing if my fill level is where it needs to be or if I just really need to bite and chew the proper way ALL of the time and not just when I’m sitting alone enjoying a meal (which never happens). 

My next fill is scheduled for January 18^th and in preparation for this fill I am going to go back on liquids starting tomorrow. I’m not sure how long I will last but I hope to last 3 days and slowly work my way back. I hope this will help me to get better habits and also determine if I’m at the level that works for me. My current level is 4ccs.

Any advice Ladies? I could use it.

-L

I was Tagged, Did I tag you?

 

I was just feeling a little down that I haven’t had much BOOBS correspondence when I happened upon Dawnya’s Blog  and saw that she had selected me as one of 11 people to do the following. It made me smile, thank you Dawnya!

The Rules:
1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things yourself.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tagging section about ‘you are tagged if you are reading this.’ Blah blah blah, you legiti­mately have to tag 11 peeps!

11 Random things about me:

1. I’m eating junior mints (that should tell you how well I’m doing with the whole weight loss thing)

2. I love me some Reality TV. I’m not picky just put me in front of the train wreck and I’ll watch for hours.

3. I call Dora Whora and like to sing her theme song by replacing the words with my name for her.

4. I can drive a standard.

5. I love to swim and look forward to kiddos being at camp so I have people to play with. Adults are all so boring about the water.

6. The ocean is my happiest place.

7. Sugar Balls purposed to me at the Ocean.

8. I play the lottery.

9. Disney World is my 2nd happiest place.

10. I can’t watch horror movies due to my over active imagination that gives me nightmares for weeks on end. 

11. I’m the only child hence why I have an over active imagination.

 

Dawnya’s questions:

1. What is your favorite color? Pink, Pink, and Pink

2.  Who was your first love? A total waste of space

3.  Do you secretly dislike your bestfriend? I think of her as family. I celebrate her good times and cry for her bad ones. She really is my Best Friend.

4.  How many times do you go pee in a day? I have never really counted… I’ll get back to yah

5.  Have you ever been arrested? No, but I have had nightmares in which I had to do time in Jail… I don’t know what I did, but it couldn’t have been good. I prob hit a bitch.

6.  What anti-virus software do you use on your computer/laptop (repeat question from FB)? Windows Security Essentials (Sadly I had to ask SB that question)

7.  Have you ever had a one night stand? Nope, I don’t look down upon those who have but I just don’t think I could do it.

8.  Would you date outside your race? Outside of the Human Race? No.  As far as the any other person the answer is yes. I see us all as one race.

9.  Do you eat pork rinds? *Hangs head in shame* enough said.

10. Do you have artificial nails? I have in the past, now with all the diapers I’m changing, I just don’t see it working out.

11. What did you eat for dinner last night? Homemade beef stew and dumplings.

My questions:

1. How many hours of sleep do you get a night?

2. What is your most embarrassing moment?

3. Beach or Mountain?

4. Can’t miss show?

5. Do you do your own taxes?

6. Best vacation?

7. Flats or heels?

8. Favorite number (mines 8)

9. Life after death?

10. Favorite Magazine?

11. Do you read in the bathroom?

And who I am tagging?

Sarah

Jessica

Gilly

Chubby McGee

 Robyn

Fat in suburbia

Cat

So I know I have stopped at 7 ladies, blame my fussy babies. Sorry.

-L

Skinny Santa Challenge

Does anyone know who lost the most in the Skinny Santa Challenge? I want to make sure and get their gift card in the mail.

Thanks a bunch!


-L

I'm still dazed and sleepy from the holidays, but I'm back!

Although I have been MIA on my own blog, I have tried hard to keep up with all of you lovely ladies by sneaking peeks here and there at yours.

We have been going, going, going at my house. My SIL flew in and I enjoyed a day alone with her shopping and catching up. We had a rough start when I first came into the family but now I can honestly say  that she really is one of my best friends. I just love being with her. I usually laugh so hard and smile so much it is as if I've been enjoying a few cocktails without having to deal with the hangover.

Sadly she is now back in Georgia and I have to wait until our February vacation when we head south to see her again.

This year we had 2 holiday parties and 3 Christmas "mornings" so we were pretty busy. The 1st holiday party was with my family and is normally stressful and fills you with regret for spending 3 hours of your life dealing with such BS on the holidays. This year it went as well as it could for me since I'm still having a hard time with the loss of my mother.It was because of the loss of my mother that everyone was on their best behavior.

The 2nd party as at my In laws and we all had a good time. I thank god for being blessed with the wonderful family that I was lucky enough to marry into. I truly consider my mother in law a very good friend. What, what? you heard it right. My MIL is a very. good. friend. I should have video taped myself trying to teach them how to do a Yankee Swap it was well... interesting, frustrating, maddening, yup that is the one :-)

We traveled back to my family home the night before Christmas Eve and had our 1st Christmas "morning" opening presents there on Christmas Eve. My step father (really my only father) joined has the entire time and I saw some him enjoy some truly happy moments with my children. That was a wonderful Christmas present in its own. The boys had already received way to many toys at this point and Santa hadn't even visited us yet. What is it with Grandparents getting grandchildren toys that they would have NEVER given their on children? As I like to say Grandparents are whats wrong with the world :-)

We returned home on Christmas Eve and spent the rest of the night up the road at my In Laws decorating cookies for Santa and visiting with family. I really loved doing the cookies with my little one and his cousins, Sugar Balls helped too. Once home with the kids asleep we set out to give Santa a hand displaying all the toys he had gotten for the boys. That was really fun, this was the first year that SB and I got to sneak around the house and help Santa. We LOVED playing Elf and will cherish that time forever.

Since the boys are still young we got to sleep in until 7 on Christmas morning. My In laws and SIL came to our house to see the boys find their toys from Santa before we finished the day at my In Laws. Lets just say it was a long but wonderful day that started with stockings at 7:30 and ended with the last present being opened around 12:30... We stopped for breakfast and potty breaks. We also stopped to open and play with many a toys during the process.

Everyone was spoiled way to much as is the case every year because as my MIL says we may not be here next year.

I was blessed with a new treadmill (which I LOVE) as hand me down iPad because SB got the new iPad 2 (that I LOVE and no longer have to steal from SB for hours at a time) A new hot pink pocket cam, many books, Disney World Tickets, Adobe Photoshop Elements, and many more wonderful gifts.  We were very blessed with time, loved ones, and presents.

More to Come

-L