Can my band hear me?

As soon as I started blogging it's as if my band went and said: nah-nah-na-nah-na .... tight, tight, tight!  My challenge when this happens is to not eat the foods I know I can eat and will stay down ... you know, Pringles and chocolate :(   So far, so good.     

I'm considering the pouch test next week.

Three days down at the pool ... drinking water and generally feeling better :)  Can I get an 'amen'.  :)

Some things never change ... surgeon's office

Not a bad first day if I do say so myself ... it helps that my boss is on vacation, the weather is less than 100 degrees and I had a ton of compliments on the new dress I wore today (two people said: wow, are you loosing weight? ... lol).

I called the surgeon's office and I see that crabby office manager, Claudia, is still employed and completely not useful.  I inquired about Saturday appointments for a fill (they do this every other Saturday) since I have ZERO time off that isn't accounted for and she doesn't know what's going on for the next few weeks and that maybe 8/25 would be the first Saturday available.  Yep. She's still not helpful.  I'm going to call back next week to see if she has firmed up the Saturday situation.  ::: shakes her head in disbelief :::  <-- this should be worth a few calories expended.


Speaking of which, I wore my BodyMedia FIT today but I cannot for the life of me find the display piece which means I need to download to either my pc or my phone to see where I am as far as calorie 'burn'.  I think that's the phrase they use :)  The display lets you sync in real time at any time. I'll look around some more but I'm pretty organized ... the last time I saw it was when I first started this job and was showing someone the band and display ... grrr.  Like I said - I'm very organized but my fear is typically it falling out of a tote bag or purse ... hmmm ... $69 + shipping, yes or no ... <--- thinking about this should be worth a few calories expended :)


So, that's it's ladies ... thanks for the welcome back.  Thanks for the encouragement.  


Some things never change ... Coco with one of her little pals, Fishy ....

Starting over ... need help

I wonder if anyone even remembers me?  You know, the cheeze-it-aholic who is in love with her fur-child, Coco and The Professor?  I feel like I fell off the wagon back in the beginning of the year and have struggled every since. Well, that about sums it up ... that's me :(


It's been almost a year since surgery and while I've lost weight (in the beginning)... it's not nearly enough.  The exercise stopped and so did the weight loss ... 


I know I need to get to the doctor for a fill because there are times (many) that I can eat a lot of food.  I still know the band is there, however, because I do have 'issues'.  


Has anyone ever had to start over (or know someone who has)?  Honestly, I don't know where to begin ... 


I'm not all doom and gloom.  The Professor bought a boat ... and I love that too. :)

Band-A-Thon - Day 8 - Splurge Stratigically

Uh, no. This is not for me.  I have a hard enough time getting good food in me without resorting to slider foods.  


Well, I've got a plan for the week.  Breakfasts (such as they are), lunches and four dinners are made. I'm starting to carpool again tomorrow which will hopefully give me more energy (the drive home is a killer).  We' re meeting up just a few miles from my gym so I'm planning on getting in some good gym time.  Shoes and sports bra are right next to the bed for tomorrow morning's walk ... 


No place to go but down :)

Band-A-Thon - Day 7 - count the calories that really count

Okay, well for me, I guess that would be count the protein that really counts.  Still LOVE the Premier Nutrition High Protein Shake at 30 grams each. Just like making my bed - if nothing else happens each day - at least I've done those two things.  Boy, is my list light ...


Still walking in the morning, working like a crazed person and crashing ... changed birth control so I'm having some a-hem ... 'issues' ... nothing like mother nature making an unscheduled appearance.  Lovely. Not making it to the pool for the foreseeable.


Wow. I don't mind being boring but this is ridiculous. :)  

Band-A-Thon - Day 6 - water

This has always been a relatively easy one for me (until it comes to the weekend).  In fact, since I started walking in the morning (shameless plug for myself) - I was adding an extra 16 oz before I even had my coffee.


Then I had coffee and wouldn't allow myself anymore (if I felt I needed it) until I drank another 35 oz (which is what the two water bottles at work hold).  And, typically, no more coffee was needed because without a doubt - no caffeine for this baby after 1030am.  It really affects me and I need my beauty sleep.


Crazy week ahead so I'm just hoping to stay on track:  walk in the morning, track food, drink water, get some type of exercise in during the day.  Sounds so easy ... :)

Band-A-Thon - Day 5 - exerise

Someone at work emailed me this week (scandalous as our work email is monitored): Someone, right now, more busy, more stressed and more tired that you, is working out.


That, for some reason, resonated with me.  I know. I know.  I keep crying about my carpy schedule, commute, stressful job, blahblahblah ... but, I also know (in my heart) that someone more busy, more stressed and more tired than me can do it (workout) - well then, so can I.


And, I have - for the past 5 days (it stinks to start over again) worked out.  Amen :)

Band-A-Thon - Day 4 - Tweak Your Diet

Last night, at about 940pm, when I was laying in bed I thought - OMG, I didn't blog ... get up - do it ! Uh-no. Not going to get out of this toasty heaven, pad to the kitchen, turn on the computer and waitwaitwait for it to get started.  Oh, if thinking were blogging ...


Day Four is to Tweak Your Diet - you know, come up with simple ways to flat out cut calories.  For the banded, my plan is to just get back to recording food and eating protein.  This was going just fine until I went to lunch today and was asked to go to lunch with a department - to a Chinese Buffet.  Well, that was a big fat waste of $12.  Couldn't really eat anything, didn't like anything so I basically spent $12 for two pieces of apple pie.  Yes. apple pie at a Chinese Buffet.  deep sigh. 


Off to load my load my food in myfitness pal ... 


Oh wait, I'm still getting up a bit early and walking (I'm so proud)  :)

Band-A-Thon - Day 3 - take off the judges robe, put on a lab coat

Whoo-hoo.  Yes, I did get up and went for a little walk - just a mile but it was better than staying in bed.  So, workout-wild-Wednesday - this was def something different for me (thanks, Cat).


Today's Band-A-Thon topic was to get you to stop judging yourself and take a more clinical look at yourself, your habits and come up with a planful *scientific* way to improve yourself and be better to yourself.  In other words, OBSERVE yourself (like a scientist) - THINK about what you're doing.  And, stop judging.


I have trouble getting away from rewarding myself at the end of each (hard) day.  And, while I want to keep thinking on this topic - I've been up since 414am and got home at 8pm ... another long (hard) day.  Need to think more (and eat less sliderish food) ... 

30 Day Band-A-Thon - day 1

Day 1 Mission was Motivation ... you know that list that we all prepare about why we want to be banded.  I found mine and while I can cross off some of them ~ there is still a long, long list.  But, I have to admit - today was good:


Food: prepared and logged 
Water: 105 oz
Exercise: 30 minutes treading water


It's not much but I'm happy with it.  Off to bed.

30 Day Band-A-Thon

I subscribe to something on FB (an organizing site) but for the month of April, the writer is having/posting a Weigthloss-A-Thon.  That got me to thinking ... I have simply GOT to get back to the basics (not just post about them but DO them) so for the next 30 days, I will be hosting my own Band-A-Thon ...


Tomorrow, day 1.  Food is all prepared and will be logged into MyFitnessPal (I used to use that thing religiously!!).  Better yet - I've just logged it in :)


Off to watch: Once Upon A Time ...


See you tomorrow :)

Why can't I keep up?

Deep sigh.  I used to blog almost daily !  Even if it was nothing but blah-blah ... what happened?


1.  I still don't think I have anything to say.


2.  My band (and I don't like this) is no longer the center of my day.  Seriously, I liked it better when it was.


3.  I'm still eating junk (sliders) and I don't like that either.  


4.  I'm making a pot of chili for lunches this week (now, this is the organized C that I remember and like).


5.  The job is finally (dare I say this) starting to settle down.  Can I get an amen?


6.  I'm back to reading (another sign of 'me').


7.  I'm refi-ing my condo today (rec'd offer from back) so while I'll keep the same payment - it would be a big piece of financial relief to know that I could have lower payment if needed.


8.  When I'm done here - I'm off to the library and the gym (again, the me I like).


9.  Can't wait to see Professor tonight.


10. Coco is still adorable.

Workout Wed, 10 Things Thr, Draz, etc

Well, going to bed last night at 9pm was 30 minutes later than the previous Friday where I was in bed at 830pm !!


Wed - that is my new gym day.  Where I would like to have MANY gym days during the week - I am committing to going on Wed.  As in: Oh, gotta go (leave work) - I have an appt on Wed nights.  I found this in Facebook this week and loved it:  http://lifehacker.com/5897637/go-the-fk-home  


Yes, that's 'Go the F*ck Home' :)  Although Professor made me feel better this week by working until 1130pm some evening this past week ... it's all a blur. 


Thr -


1.  I love (well, except for this year) March Madness.  Just wasn't in to it. 


2.  I've been in the same pool since 1992 (run by the same guy, lots of old familiar names, etc).  There's anywhere from 35 to 50 people in in (this year 55).


3.  Three years ago, my Mom and I won the whole thing (it's cool because you pick each bracket so you really can be in the pool for longer).


4.  Cannot wait to see Professor tonight.


5.  Will def be taking a nap this afternoon.


6.  My health insurance starts tomorrow (amen).


7.  I'll be off to the library and the gym after I'm done here.


8.  Not sure yet what I'm doing at the gym (but the pool will be involved).


9.  Because it's cold again at night - Coco is sleeping with me.  She's so sweet.


10. I haven't slept thru the night since I started this job.

11. 3 of the 10 of my 'things' are sleep related !




Draz - poof ! I can't get back to anyone's posting to see all of her Q's but she always has the: how was your week ...


Week was ok ... parents had some health concerns which are resolving. (Thank God - and yes, I believe in a God).  Work may be getting a tish better. Geez, I can barely remember anything about this week :(

Make a List Monday 3/26

Thanks, Robyn (over at Robyn's Nest) for the prompt to blog :)  Robyn asked us to list the first 10 things we'd do if we cashed in a winning lottery ticket ....


1.  Fly my parents to Europe to see their grandchildren.
2.  Buy a condo on the ocean.  Like Robyn - I love the beach. 
3.  Make a huge donation to a cat rescue organization.  I can't believe how much I love my cat.  She truly is my child with fur.
4.  Go to the South Pacific.  Don't have a particular place I need to visit (Bora Boar, Tahiti, Fiji) - just need to get there before I die.  I'm in the pre-infancy stages of planning this now.
5.  Buy Professor a 50ft Jenneau sailboat.
6.  Hire a full-time cook and personal trainer.  
7.  Drive thru Alaska (in supreme comfort).
8.  Make a huge donation for diabetes research.  This is starting to touch more and more people in my life. 
9.  Buy a flat in London.  Back when I had a really great paying job, I thought I could do this and spend a few months a year there.  It was a fun possible reality there for awhile.
10. Assist some friends who have recently started their own businesses (it's all about cash).


Thanks, Robyn .. that was fun!






List the first ten things you would do if you cashed in a winning lottery ticket for $200,000,000.00 (after taxes).

Ten Things Thursday

Thanks, Laurabelle ....


1.  I did my treading water yesterday and then decided to 'walk'.  Ha, I thought - this is a breeze ... until I got out - my thighs were killing me !  :)  And I only walked .25 of a mile!


2.  Watching Michigan State Basketball ... I love MSU (always have) !


3.  The license plate on my care is MSU87.


4.  My plate was cool way back when - now it just shows my age :)


5.  I don't care - I won't give it up.


6.  I also have a green mustang convertible that I sometimes drive.  I don't renew that plate every year (probably will this year).


7.  That plate (if still available) is:  MSMSU


8.  I wonder if I can get thru all 10 things without mentioning that I worked 11 hours today.


9.  Guess not.


10.  Go Spartans !

Two for Tuesday

Workouts that is :)  Got up and walked two miles (channeling my inner Bandster Mama, Brenda) and then spent approx 90 minutes in the pool.  Okay, that wasn't such a great workout but I just love the water. See how easy I can fit in workouts without working (I go back at the end of the week).


And this is why I think I stopped blogging ... I've run out of things to say.  Really. I've got nothing :(

I don't even know where to start

Interviewing? Holidays? Interviewing some more? Problems with Blogger? Definitely, problems with Blogger. Problems with Gmail (or maybe that was just me).  Not having anything to say. Say versus complain, that is.  But, as I like to say - the past is past so I'm starting up again.

No problem if you forgot about me.  I've always just blogged for me (a way to keep myself accountable).  Thankfully, I have not gained any weight and I've lost a few more pounds since the beginning of the year but I have GOT to get it pulled back together ! You know - go back to the two bandster basics (i.e not eating slider foods and working out).  

Sounds easy enough. I'll you know ;)

So, I was on the gulf side of FL last week for my nephew's wedding.  I have a super small family and you'd think it would be easy to get together but sadly it's not.  My sister and her family from Germany were in and I also got to see my older brother and sister (<--- it was her son that got married) who live in FL so that was totally awesome.

My parents are having a few health problems which is just a reminder how important it is for me to be as healthy as possible.  Isn't that why I got this band ??  Yes.  That much I remember.  I did it for me and my health.

Well, that's enough for now.  Just want to get back to blogging.  Another piece to the health pie (why, oh why does everything have to relate to food??), right?  

I'm finally seeing some light

Hi Lovlies ... I hope to be back :)


Wow, what a crazy couple of weeks ... new job, internet issues, exhaustion and did I mention the new job?


I am hoping that starting today (okay, yesterday) that I can get back to some normalcy.  Yesterday, I finally got back to my regular Saturday running around (to finally include the gym), got my hair done and had a great evening with Professor.  Ahhh ... some normalcy.


New job has been great but it has been A LOT !! Daily, I leave between 630-645am and get home after 7pm.  No, there was no gym stop during that time ... all work but I do love it.  I finally made it to the gym on Thr for a swim and it was bliss.  If I can get to the gym 2x during the week and once (if not twice) on the weekend - I will consider gym-time a success.


The band has been tight these past three weeks and I'm not proud to say that I've been living on protein shakes (good), chili or salad (good) and then pringles and chocolate (very, very, very bad).  Tomorrow, I step on scale because I had even given that up. Today, I had eggs for bfast so I think that's a good sign that I can return to good band eating and not carp eating.


I've missed so many of you and have said to myself: I wonder how (insert your name here - if you are still looking for me) is doing.  Fab, I hope. 


So, for now, I'm planning on going to the gym today, stepping on the scale tomorrow and figuring out a way to keep up with those with whom I work ... wish me luck :)

I got a new job !

The stress of interviewing (four times for this particular job) and stress of waiting, and waiting and waiting is OVER !!  I got a new job :)


Oh, and it was bliss last week giving notice :)

Sorry, I haven't been around and when I've tried to get on blogger - no dice. 


Job Deets:  no, not closer to home (in fact, five miles and five mins - all expressway farther).  More money - YES !  Time off - much less (but that was to be expected).  I can still take off 8 days to go to my nephews wedding in FL in March.  All good - all very, very good. 


Food choices: meh.
Working out: not bad, not great ~ just okay.
Mental health: ditto above.


I'm back, baby ! (courtesy of George Costanza - my life is a Seinfeld episode)

Catch up post

First off - what brand shoes do you wear to workout? Mine are dead (I'm proud to say) and I am looking for recommendations.


I continue to have 'faith' (my January word) that everything will work out but I am struggling at work, with depression and am not making the best food choices. I log the food, work out and have faith.


Met friends for dinner tonight.  It's nice not to freak out with the clothes issue ~ I have clothes that fit :)


Wow, this isn't much of a catch up post ... missing my blog-pals ...

Darn chips !

I have been struggling lately (in more than a few areas) and making some not great food choices (Pringles, fries).  


The remarkable change is that I am eating these foods with some purpose. Not just mindless eating (i.e. NOT a  supersize fry or NOT the entire can of Pringles) - a small fry (logged) and 3 servings of Pringles (logged). And, I actually tasted the food.  I know.  Seems like I'm rationalizing. But I'm not - just posting that these are some baby steps that I'm taking.


Happy to be headed to the gym. 


                                                        

Workout Wednesday - compliments of Cat 1/4/12

Thanks, fantabulous Cat ... I did it: 30 mins on the elliptical.  I think it was 2.25 miles.  Note, I didn't do anything else (no walking or treading water) except for survive another day.


And, for that I am thankful ... oh wait: thankful was November.  January is faith ... I had faith that even if I died, the gym had enough people where I wouldn't die alone.
                                         

New Followers ! Please raise your hand :)

OMG ... how did I get 104 followers?  If I am not following you ~ please let me know who you are so I can return the favor.  (thank you)
                                                          
Well, official weigh in for 2012 is back UP to 241.6 which is exactly a 50 lb loss since I started this goat rodeo in July.  While I'm happy with the loss ... of the love of all that is holy - I have been at this weight (this EXACT) weight for quite some time.  A little bouncing around but seriously - at THIS weight.  Okay, I think I've beaten this topic to death.  Moving on.


I have a carpy commute (note, the ladylike spelling of cr@p) so I carpool as much as possible.  The schedule of my carpool gal-pal changes each month and January is our 'late' month. Not good.  I'm more of a get up and get out of here before I go back to bed gal not a wait around, try to do a few things (ha !) gal.  In an ideal world I would get up and go work out and maybe I will next week when it's not my turn to drive.  This week looks like loooong (and cold) days so I guess I'll try to get in some walking during the day.


Tried to make Sarah's protein coffee this morning (http://onmyweightohappiness.blogspot.com/).  A bit of a disaster as I don't think you're suppose to magic bullet warm liquids.  Live and learn.  Thanks, Sarah !  


Updated measurements from when I joined my gym:


Bust - no change
Under bust - down 1"
Waist - down 1"
Hips - down 1"
Arm, thigh, calf - no change


                                                           

Need to sharpen my cocktail waitressing skills

The gym was packed !  There were no elliptical machines available when I got there so I went to the treadmill.  I'm going to have to sharpen my bar waitress skills and move quicker when a machine opens up (I used to be able to spot an open table from across a bar and zoom over to it in no time flat).  Twice I got off the treadmill to get a wipe-y thing to wipe down my machine but someone had gotten to the open elliptical before me.  One gal - just walked over to it *forgetting* to wipe down her machine.  I almost told on her !


Ran into an old co-worker in the pool who hasn't lost her touch in making people feel like carp (I'm trying to curse less in 2012).  I treaded water while we talked - she just stood there. She's too busy to get to the gym after work and will only be using it on the weekend.  Good to know. 


I see that I'm not giving up pettiness in 2012. 

January word

I laughed at myself (more of a smile - not really a laugh) when I decided that I could only commit to having a word for the month of January and not the whole year.  Maybe commitment-phobe could be my word. :)


My January word is really a carry over from 2011 and it's 'faith'. I have faith that if I keep working out and doing what I'm suppose to do with this band that I will be more healthy by January 31.   


That's all I've got for now.  I'm struggling. 

First January 1st ever

Where I haven't been totally overwhelmed with the weight I needed to loose.  What a good feeling.  


I started thinking about WLS in January 2011 so lately I've been thinking about what I've gone though in the past 11 months.  It feels good to come this far but oh yeah I have a long way to go.  And, for the first time I am not overwhelmed with the 'long way to go'.


I was bummed that the pool closed 30 mins early yesterday so I was only able to tread 20 mins.  That was after the elliptical for 26 mins (just under 2 miles) - yippee.  


And while I was able to snack last night for dinner at the NYE party we went attended (a no-no, I understand), I did not (was not able to) overindulge.  Another good feeling.


Still haven't finalized a word for 2012 ... love reading all of yours.  


I hope you and your family have a blessed, healthy and prosperous 2012.