Wednesday, March 23, 2011

1 Year Bandanniversary!!! 100lbs GONE...

Well, it's here! A whole year and exactly 100lbs lighter. I kinda gave up making any sort of weight loss goals for the last month. I figured I would get where I got and that was good enough.

I weighed myself this morning and what do you know... 213.4 lbs.

I couldn't have imagined this kind of success a year ago. In fact, before my surgery, my husband and I were talking about my weight loss goals. I told him that I would be very pleased with 80lbs lost in 1 year... but I wasn't counting on it.

: )

A year later I can look back and say... THANK GOODNESS for my band. This has been a life changer. I am curious what the next few years will bring...

I am 33lbs from my initial goal of 180 lbs... I am 75% of way to that goal.

I am feeling truly blessed and grateful this day!!! Happy Bandanniversary to me!!!


Stay tuned: for updated 100lbs lost pictures!

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Monday, March 21, 2011

UNDERgrown.... Lane Bryant?

I was looking for some longer sleeved undershirts that I could wear this summer under my short sleeve work clothes... figured I'd swing my Lane Bryant because they have always been good to me. (not the price! lol. but they have always fit!)

I asked the gal who worked there for some help, she lead me to the shirts and grabbed a size... she then held it up and apologetically said "the lowest we go is a size 14-16". I automatically said " no problem" thanks. It wasn't until I was in the dressing room that I wondered why she said it that way... I tried the shirt on and what do you know... that shirt was too BIG! Yep, I have under grown Lane Bryant.

Surprisingly, I wasn't very happy about this news.

I was kinda of in shock... like, GREAT... where do I go now? I guess you could say I was in mourning. I know, I know... weird huh? I should have been jumping for joy! I think because I wasn't prepared for the moment to happen.. it took me by surprise.

Of course, after digesting the info... I can now say that I am ecstatic to be moving on. I called a girlfriend of mine (who has lost over 100 lbs) and we figured out a few possible locations to find what I am looking for. So, there you have it. A NSV!

PS!! Just 2 days until my 1 year Bandiversary (Sp?)... CRAZY!!! I'll be posting more on that day.


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Sunday, March 20, 2011

The ugly...

Here is my belated ugly posted...

Right after my fill I wondered if I was to tight. I had only gotten... .25 cc (not much) and I was doing fine during meals but for two nights in a row I... how do I say it... I burped food/stomach stuff while sleeping. Talk about freaking out... I have tried to be such a good bandster and when that happen twice in 2 nights... I was thinking that I was going to have to go in for an unfill. I held back because I was eating perfect bandster meals during the day and not feeling over tight. Tight, yes, but not OVER tight. What I finally figured out was that with my new fill I can no longer go to bed within 1 hour of eating. That adjustment seems to have fixed the whole scary night burping thing and I seem to be on the right track.

Now for the really ugly part...


So, right before the funeral I came down with a very bad cold. (and I am positive that there is a relation between a cold/mucus that causes my band to swell.) I was so tight on our way down to Texas, that I was drinking warm liquids before every meal just so I could get any amount of food down during a meal. (warm liquids before a meal tend to help open my band up) Anyways... I was being extremely careful because I had never felt such restriction... (my fill had been 2 weeks earlier and I HAD been fine) I was nervous taking a trip while being so tight but funerals don't wait.

I did pretty well until the day of the funeral. I was at the family luncheon we had before the funeral. I wasn't able to get a hot drink prior to eating and I took some food including a small piece of homemade fried chicken. I think it was the chicken that did it. I felt that feeling of... "you better stop cause things aren't moving, better wait till it passes" feeling. So I took a break and sat there... the feeling got worse and worse. Finally about 5 min later I told my husband that I was going to excuse myself because I was having some band issues. I ended up in the bathroom with a serious stuck feeling... I felt the burn telling me that I need to throw up but I held on figuring it would pass (like normal) but it just got worse and worse. I started the drooling part and finally figured screw it... I was going to have to let give in and "toss it up" into the porcelain. What shot out was pure slimy clearness... no food at all. I felt some relief but still felt like crap. Then within 5 min it was starting all over again... I was like... "what the crap" this has never happen before. The bathroom started to fill up with extended family and I moved my agony out to an empty part of the church... and I ended up throwing up into a church trash can and STILL no food. Just clear slimy stuff... (my apologies to the church staff)

Finally, something like 45 mins later I was able to rejoin the family. Just in time too... my insides felt torn up and sore. I was so scared that I had just caused serious damage to my self and all while out of town. It was horrible.

I ended up staying on liquids for OVER 24 hours and I DID recover. But I was sore inside all that night. It was truly my UGLEST banding moment.

UPDATE AS OF TODAY: I truly am tight but I don't think overly tight. I can eat just about anything (very little to none... rice, pasta bread) but my meals are about 3/4 a cup to 1 cup. I always go to bed at least 1 hour after eating. And I pretty much feel like I am at my sweet spot. My weight has been consistently coming off and I am feeling great. If I get a cold I will be sure to watch how my band is doing. This truly is a different way of life but as I reach my almost 100 lbs gone mark I am SO grateful for this little tool of mine and I'd do it all again. I am learning to respect the band and work with it. I am willing to put off my desires for the "rules" of the band.






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Thursday, March 10, 2011

The Bad...

Along with the good, there have been a few bad moments... so here are my confessions and random thoughts...

I haven't worked out, in like 4 weeks!!!! I actually made it to Kickboxing class today and I am hoping that I won't be horribly sore tomorrow. (I hate it when I can't sit on the toilet with out crying because my thighs hurt so bad - dang, stupid, squats!!)

I can totally feel the difference in my ability to workout after being away for so long. blah... no fun. Hoping I'll be feeling tough and strong again in a few weeks.
(I feel so wimpy using 3 lb weights but well, if that's all you can do than that's all you can do.. ) : )

MY EXCUSES: The reason I haven't worked out is because my husband's grandmother passed away and we had to make an emergency funeral trip down to Texas (which is a decent excuse) but the rest of the time I had sick kids, sick me and of course I can blame alot on my new job and my lack of planning.

So yep... some bad moments. I am too tired right now to post any more tonight but stay tuned for the "Ugly... post" I am going to write next... I have had some real lessons in banding this last month.


(My oldest son and I at the funeral.. what a little stud)


(my hottie husband and me at the funeral.... and yes that is a Christopher and Banks jacket... lol)




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The Good...

Life is crazy, good. : )

Actually, it's been REALLY, REALLY crazy. (sorry for the lack of posts)

The biggest "crazy" factor is that I took on a part time job. I am now an Asst. Manager for Christopher and Banks. It's darn perfect timing considering that I need a whole new wardrobe. he, he, he... it's been a fun challenge but going from a stay at home mom to a part time working mom is an adjustment.

Things on the weight loss front have been great as well. My sister has asked me a few times if I am peeing out my weight. lol. I am only a few lbs shy of being at 100 lbs down, since surgery. I had a fill about 1 1/2 months ago (I can't remember exactly) and HOLY SWEET SPOT. I am there baby... small meals and very little hunger in between meals. IT IS FREAKIN AMAZING!!!! All I could hope for and more... I feel great and I feel so much lighter ,healthier & happier. I really truly feel that I have been given a gift.

So, yep, life is good.

But to keep it real.. I'll mention a few other sides of life in my next few posts that aren't so perfect but are part of my journey.

Hope life is being good to you too...


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