I am now feeling good about everything and some people at work are asking if I would do it all again. The answer to that is a definate YES!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Unfill is going well
I mentioned that I went to my Dr. last week for a big unfill. I had 3cc taken out leaving me with 3.5 in my band. I have to say after this weekend, I can't be happier! I had been having a lot of trouble getting in enough calories for maintenance and had resorted to eating crap with no nutritional value just to get the calories. I really wanted good food! I have been able to eat well and it is great. The nurse said that my weight may waver a bit this week, but it hasn't at all. I think I am getting the same caloric amount, but now more nutrition. I feel that I probably was too tight for too long, but wonder if I could have lost the weight without being so tight. I would want to eat so bad, but just give up because it was too much trouble. I also wasn't getting in enough water or liquids as it would be close to 1.5 hours before anything would go down after eating. I didn't have time to constantly be drinking if I wasn't trying to eat so I just didn't drink or would forget. I am loving that I can drink again whenever I want!
I am now feeling good about everything and some people at work are asking if I would do it all again. The answer to that is a definate YES!
I am now feeling good about everything and some people at work are asking if I would do it all again. The answer to that is a definate YES!
Friday, July 8, 2011
I can't believe it has almost been a month...
Hi everyone! I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted, but I have been reading although my commenting has left much to be desired. Sorry to everyone. When I last left you, we were starting to work on the kitchen remodel. Boy, that was a job. My husband and I don't hire things out, so we do all of the work ourselves. We have a system of who does what and it seems to work pretty well most of the time. The kitchen is the last room in the house that needed a makeover so I am glad to have that accomplished! Now on to the pictures... You all are seeing this before my children, as they have been visiting my parents in California since we started and now finished! I hope they will be surprised!
The Befores: (these are when I was buying the house. I had made small changes like appliances and a good cleaning, but you get the picture...)
And the afters!!!!
I can't believe that we dealt with that nasty ugly dysfunctional kitchen for that long! We are in love with the results! My husband actually cut all of the granite himself too. Always an excuse for some new tools!
In band news, I went yesterday for a major unfill. I had resorted to eating crapola to get my calories up in order not to lose more weight. I so wanted to eat good food. I had 6.5cc in my 10cc band. I had 3 removed yesterday. I am going to work maintenance with a lower fill level and see how that goes. The nurse told me that I was too tight anyway. When she put the needle in my port it started pushing saline in the syringe without her doing anything! Wish me luck!
The Befores: (these are when I was buying the house. I had made small changes like appliances and a good cleaning, but you get the picture...)
And the afters!!!!
In band news, I went yesterday for a major unfill. I had resorted to eating crapola to get my calories up in order not to lose more weight. I so wanted to eat good food. I had 6.5cc in my 10cc band. I had 3 removed yesterday. I am going to work maintenance with a lower fill level and see how that goes. The nurse told me that I was too tight anyway. When she put the needle in my port it started pushing saline in the syringe without her doing anything! Wish me luck!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Let's show some BOOBs love
I found this morning that a new blogger Kristina is following me and she just started her 21 DAY pre-op diet on Tuesday. Let's show her a Boobs welcome! http://lapband-complete180.blogspot.com/
Saturday, June 11, 2011
1 year has came and went, and I have to say... If I can do this, ANYONE CAN!
So my one year banded date has past (June 9) and I am finally getting around to posting my pictures. Sorry I didn't post them on the day, but since my brother passed away on my 6 month band day, I was having a bad day with the fact that he had been gone 6 months. I also spent the weekend with my mother in St. Louis. She has flown in from San Diego for the weekend and then she is leaving on Tuesday and taking my sons (15 & 11) with her for 5 weeks before my father brings them back in July. They love traveling with my parents in the summertime. They have been doing this for the past 4 summers.
While in St. Louis, we took my 2 year old to the zoo. We had a wonderful time and it was awesome to be able to walk around and keep up with her without a problem.
So on to the pictures... The befores were taken the night before my surgery. I had lost some weight already and thought I was looking good. How our perception is warped sometimes...
I know that many of you ask, "What do you eat?" They glory of this whole process, is I eat ANYTHING I want! Now mind you, I like to keep pretty well track of what I am eating, but if I want to eat cheese puffs and ice cream that day, I DO! This band has allowed me to take control of my eating and my life. I am loving every minute of this new life. I myself am the first to be amazed by this transformation. I know that if I can do this, ANYONE can!
While in St. Louis, we took my 2 year old to the zoo. We had a wonderful time and it was awesome to be able to walk around and keep up with her without a problem.
So on to the pictures... The befores were taken the night before my surgery. I had lost some weight already and thought I was looking good. How our perception is warped sometimes...
Monday, June 6, 2011
1 year measurements
Since I have had my band for one year this week, I decided that it was time to take my measurements again. I recommend taking measurements to anyone who is researching the band or newly banded. It really helps to see some changes when the scale doesn't seem to be cooperating. Anyway, on to the measurements... but before that I have a picture that gives a bit of a visual.
That brings us to a grand total of 77 inches! That also comes to nearly an inch a pound. How amazing is that!?? Oh and on a second thought, how did I walk around with an extra 8.5 inches on each thigh??
Then Now Change
Neck 16 11 -5
Bicep 15 11 -4 (x2)
Forearm 10 8.5 -1.5 (x2)
Chest 42.5 34 -8.5
Waist 41 28.5 -12.5
Hips 51 34 -17
Thigh 28 19.5 -8.5 (x2)
Calf 16 13 -3 (x2)
Saturday, June 4, 2011
So today is a day to think about the past and the future...
It is totally my BIRTHDAY! I know there are a couple of other band"stars" out there who share this day with me and to you I wish a wonderful day to you also!
It being my birthday and less than a week until Bandiversary, I have really spent a lot of time thinking about this past year. On my birthday last year we were on a mini vacation and I was on my pre-op diet. That wasn't a fun trip, but was it worth it??? HELL YES! I would have never thought that I would have been as successful as I have been this year. If you could have told me on my last birthday that next year I would have dropped from a size 20 to a 4, I would have thought you were on crack. I didn't believe that it could happen to me.
It DID happen to me, because I MADE it happen and I am so glad that I did. I feel amazing. I look amazing.
What could be better?
I have realized as I have poked through pictures that I spent too much time fat. I wasted so many of my years making excuses for myself when I should have just taken control. I feel 10 years younger now. It is amazing.
This year also met me with the hardest challenge I have yet to face in my life... the loss of my dear brother. I have been adjusting to life as an only child, but I miss him terribly. His passing has changed more about me than the weight loss. I live life to the fullest everyday now. I do not wait until it is a better situation to do things I want to do. Waiting is not in the cards for me anymore. Life is too short to wait until you have more money, or lose 10 lbs, or the sky is bluer.
The next year will be an adventure for me. We are living life and moving on. The kitchen remodel is going well. We are still waiting on a few cabinets that are ordered to come in before we can move on further. It is looking AWESOME! Maybe, just maybe, I might just want to cook now. I realized that this kitchen was so dysfunctional, that I just didn't want to spend any time in there. I used to love to cook.
Well I have rambled enough now. I am working on my one year post with all kinds of pictures and such. I will get that posted next week!
It being my birthday and less than a week until Bandiversary, I have really spent a lot of time thinking about this past year. On my birthday last year we were on a mini vacation and I was on my pre-op diet. That wasn't a fun trip, but was it worth it??? HELL YES! I would have never thought that I would have been as successful as I have been this year. If you could have told me on my last birthday that next year I would have dropped from a size 20 to a 4, I would have thought you were on crack. I didn't believe that it could happen to me.
It DID happen to me, because I MADE it happen and I am so glad that I did. I feel amazing. I look amazing.
What could be better?
I have realized as I have poked through pictures that I spent too much time fat. I wasted so many of my years making excuses for myself when I should have just taken control. I feel 10 years younger now. It is amazing.
This year also met me with the hardest challenge I have yet to face in my life... the loss of my dear brother. I have been adjusting to life as an only child, but I miss him terribly. His passing has changed more about me than the weight loss. I live life to the fullest everyday now. I do not wait until it is a better situation to do things I want to do. Waiting is not in the cards for me anymore. Life is too short to wait until you have more money, or lose 10 lbs, or the sky is bluer.
The next year will be an adventure for me. We are living life and moving on. The kitchen remodel is going well. We are still waiting on a few cabinets that are ordered to come in before we can move on further. It is looking AWESOME! Maybe, just maybe, I might just want to cook now. I realized that this kitchen was so dysfunctional, that I just didn't want to spend any time in there. I used to love to cook.
Well I have rambled enough now. I am working on my one year post with all kinds of pictures and such. I will get that posted next week!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
200 followers!
What a wonderful morning to wake up and find that the world didn't end, and I have 200 followers! When I started this journey, I didn't figure anyone would care about what I had to say.
I was thinking yesterday as I was posting to Facebook about my husband and my anniversary that I can't believe that I spent so many years big. I posted a picture from our wedding with it. I couldn't help but think how much fun it would have been to search for a dress at this smaller size. Oh well, I won't be doing that again as this was our 4th anniversary after getting remarried after being divorced for 3 years and married for 10 before that. OK that was a mouthful, but if you follow me... I am married to my ex-husband LOL. That "break" as we call it was the best thing ever for us. We never were totally happy in the first 10 years. We can say now that we are totally happy in every way. This is what it was supposed to be. I met my husband when I was 17 years old. We got married the first time when I was 19.
I had a good cry going through the photos to find one to post on Facebook with my status. I really miss my brother. Tell me, does it get any better? The other day I broke down to a full on crying jag in the middle of meeting with a client at WORK! These people must think I am nuts! Let alone this was my first meeting with these clients.
Back to the wedding photo. I am so glad that I don't look like that anymore. Our anniversary yesterday was supposed to consist of working on the kitchen cabinets and such. Unfortunately, we got a call at 7am that one of our boys was sick at Scout Camp and we needed to come and get him. Camp was 3 hours away. We spent our whole day in the car. Oh well, we worked on the cabinets when we got home and I have to say the part that we have finished didn't have cabinets before and I LOVE it. I have room for everything! I will post photos when we get this all finished. I can't wait. I hope that the cabinet maker finishes the few cabinets that we are short before we can work on the island and the other wall soon!
Everyone have a wonderful Sunday. I am going to get off of here and work on some laundry!
I had a good cry going through the photos to find one to post on Facebook with my status. I really miss my brother. Tell me, does it get any better? The other day I broke down to a full on crying jag in the middle of meeting with a client at WORK! These people must think I am nuts! Let alone this was my first meeting with these clients.
Back to the wedding photo. I am so glad that I don't look like that anymore. Our anniversary yesterday was supposed to consist of working on the kitchen cabinets and such. Unfortunately, we got a call at 7am that one of our boys was sick at Scout Camp and we needed to come and get him. Camp was 3 hours away. We spent our whole day in the car. Oh well, we worked on the cabinets when we got home and I have to say the part that we have finished didn't have cabinets before and I LOVE it. I have room for everything! I will post photos when we get this all finished. I can't wait. I hope that the cabinet maker finishes the few cabinets that we are short before we can work on the island and the other wall soon!
Everyone have a wonderful Sunday. I am going to get off of here and work on some laundry!
