Update

I thought I would do an update since I missed it last week. I was up a pound on Thursday. I know it was entirely due to poor food choices. I accept responsibility for that pound. That being said, it will come back off and soon. I have had a wonderful time during the holidays but it is time to get my butt in gear. First order of business is making better food choices. So that is my goal for the January. Depending on how January goes, I will then set a goal for February.

On another note, I am grateful for all my blessings of the year. I look forward to all the challenges coming my way in 2010. I know with my family and friends I will succeed in whatever I put my mind to.

Loree

Playing Catch Up

(I wrote this 4 weeks ago…I will get caught up someday!)
So it has been 2 months since my last fill. I lost 11.6 pounds these last two months! It was a very informative appointment. My total “excess” weight is 95.5 pounds! OUCH, that kind of hurts to put that out there. The goal is to loose 1/3 (31.5 %) of your excess weight by your 6 month anniversary, it is just around the corner. I have lost 32.6%! I am feeling so good lately and I know it is because of my weight loss. To date I have lost 37.1 pounds.

There are several physical changes as well. My wedding ring is too big but I will not get it resized until am at the point where I need to be with my weight. I have gone from a size 24 to a size 16. I really need to purchase some essentials; my bra and panties are looking ridicules on me now! I am trying not to go shopping that much because I know the size I purchase will only be temporary. Todd and Grace are looking forward to me purchasing clothes that actually fit me. Todd asked me not to purchase clothes that look like a potato sack anymore and Grace would love for me to wear fancier clothes. Crossing my legs is an automatic thing for me now. There is something about being able to do it comfortably now.

Short term goals for me right now are to eat for 20 minutes a meal, to take a bite every 60 minutes instead of back to back. Exercise. Loose another 12.9 pounds before the New Year.

Here is the picture of me cleaning out my closet as well as the 9 trash bags of clothes I had to get rid of. To be honest, I probably have another bag of clothes to get rid of too!

{having issues...will add later}

A few experiences that I had while I was in Austin…

Trash Cans

So I experienced for the first time, needing to quickly find somewhere to get sick after lunch. I had gotten sick in the restaurant and made it to the bathroom in plenty of time. So I thought I would be just fine to leave. No need to stick around just to use the bathroom. As we start to walk down the street, I get the feeling! I am looking frantically for a place that I can run into to use their bathroom. Don't forget this is down town Austin and everyone locks their bathrooms around here! Well the next best thing was a nice big, green, stinky trash can. Thank goodness I let everyone walk ahead of me so only a select few strangers had to actually witness it!

3rd person I have seen today...

So this shirt is on my back for the last time! I was walking out of the bathroom and a woman who works on the same floor said "You are the third person I have seen on this floor that is pregnant!" (I can only confirm one since we work in the same office and she is due in 2 months) I just smiled and said, "Yep, it must be in the water". I wonder how far along she thought I looked. I came into the office and I knew Trudy would be honest. I asked her, if looking at me from the side, if I looked pregnant. She said “yeah, that shirt is way too big on you.”

So see you later shirt, you have been good to me but it is time we part ways!

PS, these jeans have to go too! I can not stand them falling off my waist anymore!

Here is a picture of Loree and I at the Pink concert in September



Until next time
Emily

Tea Party

Lorene and I at the 2009 Tea.


Lorene and I at the 2008 Tea.

So this past weekend I went to my Annual Christmas Tea with my favorite ladies and had a wonderful time. I thought it would be interesting to look at a picture from last year next to this year. I can not belive how different I look. I am grateful that this great group of ladies has been so supportive during my journey! I had no problem with the little sandwhiches and chewed very small bites. We had fun with our dirty santa gift exchange.

I lost .8 pounds this week. I can tell things are slowing down but I am also aware it is all up to me to get more exercise to jump start the body again. I also am thankful that I am still losing since I firmly believe every little bit gets me closer to the end goal.

I tend to get emotional this time of year. I definitely had post family visit depression after they all left last week. I look forward to our annual gathering so much that when it is over I get down in the dumps. This year was no exception. I do think I did not get as mopey as usual and part of that was not feeling bad about my weight. Now don't get me wrong, I am still dealing with issues/emotions regarding my weight but at least I did not shy away from the camera. I know for a fact that I had more energy than in past years which came in handy when chasing my nephews around. I can only imagine what next year will be like!!!

Until next time
Loree

Experiencing being too tight

Life has been pretty busy. Since my last post I am happy to report that I reached 50 pounds lost!!!! I am currently 51.9 down which is fantastic.

I got a fill of .4 on November 12th. I fought with it for three weeks before finally deciding that it was too much and I needed some taken out. So last Tuesday on December 1st I had them take .2cc out leaving me with 5.2cc in a 10cc band. It was astonishing how much better I felt after taking that little bit out. Being too tight was not fun and I was having trouble getting enough nutrition. I certainly don't want to compromise my health which is why I went for an unfill. The whole point of the lapband was not just to lose weight but to get healthy!

I also had to clean on my closet again. I gave away summer clothes which were too big. I also got rid of some pants. All in all I am happy to be able to shop in my old clothes.

Until next time
Loree

An Updated Post to Come Soon...

I know I have a lot to catch up on, I just don't want it to be a novel! I hope to post tonight after our Girl Scout meeting.

Good Morning

It certainly is a good morning. I finally remembered to let you know about my latest progress. Since my last post, I have lost 3.6 pounds for a total of 48.4. I am thrilled to be so close to meeting my first big goal. I put on some 18 pants the other day by accident and I could zip them up. I even wore them all day!! They were uncomfortable when I sat but I was not miserable. Amazing to me that in 6 months I have come so far.

I got a fill last Tuesday of .4cc so I am now at 5.4cc in my band. I have been struggling with this fill. Partly due to how tight I feel and partly to me having to adjust. I have been biking this week now that life seems to have calmed down. I know that exercise is the key to reaching my goal weight so I am really trying to get back in the habit. Plus it just makes me feel good.

My family is coming for Christmas in a couple of weeks. I know it is early but it is the only time we could get the entire family together. My brother keeps telling me he can't wait to see how great I look. I can't wait to show him!! He has been a great cheerleader through this entire process which will make it extra special to show off :)

I am also ready to take some holiday and family pictures where I am comfortable in how I look and not be ashamed of how fat I am. I cherish the pictures of me with my family and friends but have always said I wish I was not so big. Well, now I feel like I can relax and enjoy the moment. How sweet will that be?!?!

Loree

Progress

I never did get around to posting last week. Things have been surprisingly busy. So last week I lost 1.3 and this week I lost 3.3. Now my total is 44.8. I find this to be asolutely amazing. I will say that the only reason I lost the 3.3 this week is I have been battling a horrible cold and I just can't eat much. The drainage is just too much for my little pouch. Life is good otherwise.

Till next week

Loree

Reached another milestone

So this week I lost 1 .2 pounds reaching 40 pounds! I was thrilled to see that number on the scale.

Another milestone happened yesterday while shopping. I needed a couple of sweaters to supplement my winter wardrobe and Avenue was having a sale. I bought sweaters in 18/20 which completely shocked me. I mean I knew I was getting smaller but seeing that size on me seemed surreal. I know that sometimes the head takes a while to catch up to the body. The whole process has been a huge learning experience and I know there is more to learn. I am ready for it!

Tomorrow I turn 36 years young. I feel that this coming year will be another fantastic one made only better with my continued weight loss.

Loree

Time is moving fast

I lost 2 pounds this week!! That puts me 1 pound away from 40 pounds lost. How insane is that? The time just seems to be flying fast. In addition, I have now lost over 30% of my excess body weight. Sometimes it just does not seem real to me. I love it though.

So I realized last night when looking for some warmer pajamas that I don't have any!! I gave them all away in my massive closet purge! So I am heading to Walmart tonight to buy cheap jammies. Of course, the old ones I had would not have fit anyway but sometimes I forget how much I have away :)

So with an individual income tax deadline a week away who knows what this week holds. I am just grateful for today!!

Loree

Picture

I wanted to share a picture I took of Emily and I at Todd's 40th b-day celebration on 9-26.

Loree

Today

So today was a good day on the scale. I lost the little bit I gained last week plus TWO more pounds. I can't complain about that!!

Yes I made Emily clean her closet. However, since she hauled out 9 bags of clothes someone sure needed to lit the fire under her :)

My mom mentioned this website to track food called www.thedailyplate.com. I have been using it this past week and it sure has been helping. I was using my journal thing but I find that the website has lots of foods on there so I think I am being more accurate in my tracking. I also like all the exercises on there. So thanks mom!!

I will admit that the gain last week sure did mess with my head. I am sure it was busy season catching up with me but boy I sure did not like it. Even with this great tool, sometimes the brain just does not cooperate. So I have struggled with not giving myself such a hard time and remembering that it was just one week in my 10+ years of struggling with my weight. Luckily for me, I have people who understand my frustration and will listen to me whine. Thanks guys!

Until next time.....
Loree

Time to Catch Up

Where do I begin? Since my last post so much has happened in my "banded" life. This will be my longest post to date!

I got my last fill on 9/10. My first week (9/17) after that fill I lost 5.3 pounds. I was really able to tell a big difference with this last fill. The next week (9/24) I lost 1.4 pounds. Needless to say I am THRILLED!

I started my new job on 9/28. I am very excited about it. Since I will be traveling to Austin for several weeks I will not be able to do my "normal" weekly weigh in at home. So I thought I would weigh myself the day I leave and then again when I get home.

There have been a few great things that I have experienced since my last post.

• First I had to go shopping for some pants for the new job. When I started my new banded journey I was a size 24. I had to purchase size 18! I was very happy buying the size 20 but the lady in the store made me try on the 18's because she thought the 20's were too big. Much to my surprise they fit!

• Loree helped (made me) clean out my closet, FINALLY! It was a strange experience for me. I guess in my mind I had not completely come to terms that I was never going to be that size again. I mean I never had a problem getting rid of my smaller sized clothes. To be honest, I never thought I would wear those clothes again. I never had that closet of all the different sizes I have been. So 9 trash bags later, I got rid of anything that would not fit me. Either I was able to currently able to wear it or it was too big and had to go.

• Going to see my internist for my flu shot, the standard "weigh in" was in order. I got on the scale and automatically pushed the bottom weight to 250. Within a half a second I moved it quickly back to 200. I said "wait that is not me anymore!" I was smiling from ear to ear. I just had to giggle to myself.

• Loree and I went to see Pink in concert (yes, it was an awesome show!) and for the first time my hips did not touch the arm rests as I went to sit down and I was not out of breath walking up and down the steps or around the arena.

• My first experience on an airplane since being banded. Now this was amazing. I was able to actually fit in the seat just fine. When I buckled myself in the thought of having to ask for an extension never crossed my mind. Now, I had never had to ask for an extension but the last time I was on a plane, in January, I thought I may have had to (I am still not sure how it actually buckled). Not only was I able to buckle the belt, there was enough room for me the actually tighten it! I could not believe it. Once I pulled the belt through I had at least 6 inches of the belt in my hand. It was amazing! I was also able to cross my legs at the knee. In the past I was only able to cross them at my calf. Half of my leg was in the isle. This time it was not the case! The reality of my banded life hit me square in the eyes! I am sure the lady that was sitting next to me wondered why I had tears in my eyes. It was just overwhelming to me.

When I started my new banded life I sat down with Todd and tried to set some goals for my weight loss. My bench mark was Todd's birthday (9/26). My goal was to be down a total of 30 pounds. I came close at 28.9. My second bench mark is Christmas, I hope to be down a total of 50 pounds and my last one I made was to be down a total of 80 pounds at my 1 year anniversary since the surgery.

I hope having to eat out for every meal while I am traveling does not reflect on the scale! The good part is since I am in downtown Austin, I am walking everywhere!

I have several pictures I will post, hopefully this weekend.

Until next time...(since I am not sure if it will be weekly right now...)

Emily

Week 18

Well, this week I gained a bit. Not happy about that but just going to refocus my efforts. I did bike 3 times this week so I am happy about that.

Yesterday was a mess. Ashleigh had a VCUG done and my eating schedule got completely out of whack. I had trouble all day and will be doing liquids today since my throat is agitated. It does not help I have sinus drainage going on and that always gives me trouble. So I will just keep plugging along knowing that next week will be better!

Loree

Finally, time to post

Let's get to the nitty gritty. I lost one pound this week so my total is 35 POUNDS!! I also went in on Friday for a fill and lost 5 pounds this month on their scale. The physicians assistant and I decided to forgo a fill this month. I feel that those last couple of weeks of busy season I got out of touch with my stomach. I was eating when I shouldn't and was making bad choices so I want a month to figure out if I really need another one. I am sure I will but we shall see. The good thing is that if I decide I need one, I can call and they will fit me in so it is not like I have to go another month.

On to busy season (yes this will be a looonnngggg post). When I compare this one to my busy seasons in the past, I know I was less stressed. I can tell you when the stress hit I got tighter! I had read that could happen and I know for me it will. I was definitely making poor choices but I was not doing that everyday or else I would not have lost any weight. I feel that overall I did pretty well but there is definitely room for improvement. We were ordering out for lunch and dinner so it was somewhat difficult to eat what I should have been. I was also eating way too long and need to cut that back to 30 minutes.

I did find that this busy season I physically felt better. I did not get that absolute exhausted feeling until the last week. I did have to bump up my caffeine intake but I still did not get anywhere near the levels I would ingest before. For me, I feel that is a big step forward! I quit biking about two weeks before the deadline and I need to start that up again. The doctor wants you to exercise and I know it helps me overall so I plan on getting back to it.

On to clothes, Avenue finally got in their black pants so I was able to buy some that actually fit. I have gone down two sizes since the surgery and was elated to find them. I wear black pants to work pretty much everyday since it has been so long since I felt comfortable in anything else. I am looking forward to being able to buy clothes in a "normal" store. I might just buy something other than black :)

While at the aftercare center, the PA mentioned they have two goals for banded patients. One, to lose 35% of your excess weight in six months. Second, to lose 50% of your excess weight in a year. She mentioned I am on track for both. She said they check on it so that if you are struggling, they can address it and get you back on track. She also gave me a cup that holds 1/2 cup of food and told me this should be my entire meal. Of course, I told her I go by the 4-6 ounces of protein and she admitted that 6 ounces of protein would be more than 1/2 cup. She said it was a guide and a visual cue to help us not overeat. I will certainly start putting my food in there before I put it on my plate. However, I am not going to fret if I eat more than that. My main goal is to get 60 grams of protein a day. I find that if I focus on that, everything else falls into place.

So all in all, it was an interesting last couple of weeks. I can tell you that this is the fifth busy season in the 12 years (24 seasons) I have been doing taxes that I did not gain weight. I know that one day the no weight gain seasons will be larger than the weight gain seasons! All that really matters is that every pound off is adding more minutes, hours and days to my life. I have such a wonderful life I don't want to leave it before I am good and ready!!!

Loree

So Close I Can Taste It (no pun intended)

I weighed myself before I was to go in for my scheduled fill. I had gained .8 this last week. Being at home is more difficult then I realized. I do not have my set schedule for my meals like I did while I was working. I do however have enough work around the house to keep me busy but that does not always stop me from snacking.

I went in on Thursday for my 4th fill. I think I am so close to my sweet spot that I can almost taste it! According to their records I lost 4 pounds for the month. They were very pleased with that. They gave me another .4 fill. My total is 6.3 now. I asked the nurse what the average fill was and she said that in all the time that she had been there that she had not seen anyone go more than 7.0.

She also provided me a new “tool” that they are going to give all patients. It was a measuring cup, a ½ cup to be exact. When we were talking she asked me if that was the amount of food I was eating at one meal…hmmm…NO. I said I was eating like 3 of those easily, if not more to be honest!

My current goal is to start really paying attention to my “time” when I eat. They suggest that you only eat your meal for 20 minutes. That is suppose to give your brain enough time to catch up with what you have eaten and tells yourself that you are full. They also suggest that you eat a bit and then wait for 1 minute before you take another bit.

My next project before I start my new job is to clean out my closet! That is once I am done with all my other “projects”!

Until Thursday…

Emily

Making progress

I lost a pound this week. Working 12+ hours but with post more after 9/15.

Loree

Every Little Bit Helps

This week I lost .1 pounds...being at home has its challenges. While I was working, I drank my breakfast, ate lunch and would never have time to think about a snack or anything. Being at home is a different story. I hope to do better next week. Just another new way of thinking for me.

This past weekend and several times this week I have been working in the yard and much to my surprise I have not had the need/want to stop. Yes, I have a nice farmers tan, but to be honest my arms needed it!

I am scheduled to go in again on Thursday, 9/10. I will be curious to see what my months loss will be according to them. I am not sure if I will need another fill or not.

Until Thursday...

Emily

A good week

This has been a pretty good week. I lost 1.8 pounds. I think my band tightened up a bit due to stress so I never got hungry. I ate because I knew I should. We will see how this week goes leading up to 9/15. I would say more but I need to get back to work :)

Loree

Does this count as a NSV?

I think it will. When I cleaned out my closet all those weeks ago, I put my panties in ziplock bags with the size on them. I figured that way I would not have to dig for a certain size later. So this morning I am thinking, let me try that smaller size and just see. THEY FIT! How cool is that??

I am in desparate need of pants and just saw the store I like best has the fall colors out. Yoohoo! Time to get me a pair of pants that fit. I will just buy a couple pair and most likely a couple pair in the next size down. I don't want to have to wait to find them again.

I am happy with how my weight loss has been going. I just love my band!

Loree

Catching Up

Last week I had something come up that distracted me a little so I was not able to post. Last week I lost .9 pounds. This week I lost 1.8. I am really thrilled with this last fill. I think this may be my sweet spot. I have noticed that after each fill I have to "re-train" myself to eat (slower, smaller bites).

I had to purchase some smaller shirts this week. I got to spend some time with my sister last week and she mentioned that my shirt was too big. I have never worn my "actual" size so for me to go out and purchase something that actually fits me is different. It is a good different!

Until next Thursday...
Emily

Newsweek Article

I thought this was interesting. Loree


America’s War on the Overweight

Anti-fat rhetoric is getting nastier than ever. Why our overweight nation hates overweight people.

By Kate Dailey and Abby Ellin Newsweek Web Exclusive
Aug 26, 2009 Updated: 8:08 a.m. ET Aug 26, 2009

Practically the minute President Obama announced Regina M. Benjamin, a zaftig doctor who also has an M.B.A. and is the recipient of a MacArthur "genius grant," as a nominee for the post of Surgeon General, the criticism started.

The attacks were vicious—Michael Karolchyk, owner of a Denver "anti-gym," told Fox News' Neil Cavuto, "Obesity is the No. 1 issue facing our country in terms of the health and wellness, and she has shown not that she was born this way, not that she woke up one day and was obese. She has shown through being lazy, and making poor food choices, that she's obese."
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"This is totally disgusting to have some one so big to be advocating health," wrote one YouTube commenter.

The anger about Benjamin wasn't the only example of vitriol hurled at the overweight. Cintra Wilson, style columnist for The New York Times, recently wrote a column so disdainful of JCPenney's plus-size mannequins that the Times' ombsbudman later wrote that he could read "a virtual sneer" coming through her prose. A NEWSWEEK post about Glamour’s recent plus-size model(in fact, a normal-sized woman with a bit of a belly roll) had several commenters lashing out at the positive reaction the model was receiving. "This model issue is being used as a smoke screen to justify self-destructive lifestyle that cost me more money in health care costs," one wrote. Heath guru MeMe Roth has made a career out of bashing fat—she called size 12 American Idol Jordan Sparks a "bad role model" on national television, and derided size 2 Jennifer Love Hewitt for having cellulite. (That Roth is considered something of an extremist doesn't stop the media attention.) Virtually any news article about weight that is posted online garners a slew of comments from readers expressing disgust that people let their weight get so out of control. The specific target may change, but the words stay the same: Self-destructive. Disgusting. Disgraceful. Shameful. While the debate rages on about obesity and the best ways to deal with it, the attitudes Americans have toward those with extra pounds are only getting nastier. Just why do Americans hate fat people so much?

Fat bias is nothing new. "Public outrage at other people's obesity has a lot to do with America from the turn of the 20th century to about World War I," says Deborah Levine, assistant professor of health policy and management at Providence College. The rise of fat hatred is often seen as connected to the changing American workplace; in the early 20th century, companies began to offer snacks to employees, white-collar jobs became more prominent, and fewer people exercised. As thinness became rarer, says Peter N. Stearns, author of Fat History: Bodies and Beauty in the Modern West and professor of history at George Mason University, it was more prized, and conversely, fatness was more maligned.

At the same time, people also paid a lot of attention to President Taft's girth; while Taft was large, he wasn't all that much heavier than earlier presidents. Newspapers questioned how his weight would affect diplomacy and solicited the funniest "fat Taft" joke. "This [period] is also when you get ready-to-wear clothing," says Levine. "For the first time, [people were] buying clothes in a certain size, and that encourages a comparison amongst other people." Actuarial tables began to connect weight and shorter lifespan, and cookbooks published around World War I targeted the overweight. "There was that idea that people who were overweight were hoarding resources needed for the war effort," Levine says. She adds that early concerns were that overweight American men would not be able to compete globally, participate in international business, or win wars.

Fatness has always been seen as a slight on the American character. Ours is a nation that values hard work and discipline, and it's hard for us to accept that weight could be not just a struggle of will, even when the bulk of the research—and often our own personal experience—shows that the factors leading to weight gain are much more than just simple gluttony. "There's this general perception that weight can be controlled if you have enough willpower, that it's just about calories in and calories out," says Dr. Glen Gaesser, professor of exercise and wellness at Arizona State University and author of BigFat Lies: The Truth About Your Weight and Your Health, and that perception leads the nonfat to believe that the overweight are not just unhealthy, but weak and lazy. Even though research suggests that there is a genetic propensity for obesity, and even though some obese people are technically healthier than their skinnier counterparts, the perception remains "[that] it's a failure to control ourselves. It violates everything we have learned about self control from a very young age," says Gaesser.

In a country that still prides itself on its Puritanical ideals, the fat self is the "bad self," the epitome of greed, gluttony, and sloth. "There's a widespread belief that fat is controllable," says Linda Bacon, author of Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight. "So then it's unlike a disability where you can have compassion; now you can blame the individual and attribute all kinds of mean qualities to them. Then consider the thinner people that are always watching what they eat carefully—fat people are symbols of what they can become if they weren't so virtuous."

But considering that the U.S. has already become a size XL nation—66 percent of adults over 20 are considered overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control—why does the stigma, and the anger, remain?

Call it a case of self-loathing. "A lot of people struggle themselves with their weight, and the same people that tend to get very angry at themselves for not being able to manage their weight are more likely to be biased against the obese," says Marlene Schwartz, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University. "I think that some of this is that anger is confusion between the anger that we have at ourselves and projecting that out onto other people." Her research indicates that younger women, who are under the most pressure to be thin and who are also the most likely to be self-critical, are the most likely to feel negatively toward fat people. .

As many women's magazines' cover lines note, losing the last five pounds can be a challenge. So why don't we have more compassion for people struggling to lose the first 50, 60, or 100? Some of it has to do with the psychological phenomenon known as the fundamental attribution error, a basic belief that whatever problems befall us personally are the result of difficult circumstances, while the same problems in other people are the result of their bad choices. Miss a goal at work? It's because the vendor was unreliable, and because your manager isn't giving you enough support, and because the power outage last week cut into premium sales time. That jerk next to you? He blew his quota because he's a bad planner, and because he spent too much time taking personal calls.

The same can be true of weight: "From working with so many people struggling with their weight, I've seen it many times," says Andrew Geier, a postdoctoral fellow in the psychology department at Yale University. "They believe they're overweight due to a myriad of circumstances: as soon as my son goes to college, I'll have time to cook healthier meals; when my husband's shifts change at work, I can get to the gym sooner.…" But other people? They're overweight because they don't have the discipline to do the hard work and take off the weight, and that lack of discipline is an affront to our own hard work. (Never mind that weight loss is incredibly difficult to attain: Geier notes that even the most rigorous behavioral programs result in at most about a 12.5 percent decrease in weight, which would take a 350-pound man to a slimmer, but not svelte, 306 pounds).

But why do the rest of us care so much? What is it about fat people that makes us so mad? As it turns out, we kind of like it. "People actually enjoy feeling angry," says Ryan Martin, associate professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, who cites studies done on people's emotions. "It makes them feel powerful, it makes them feel greater control, and they appreciate it for that reason." And with fat people designated as acceptable targets of rage—and with the prevalence of fat people in our lives, both in the malls and on the news—it's easy to find a target for some soul-clearing, ego-boosting ranting.

And it may be, that like those World War I-era cookbook writers, we feel that obese people are robbing us of resources, whether it's space in a row of airline seats or our hard-earned tax dollars. Think of health care: when president Obama made reforming health care a priority, it led to an increased focus on obesity as a contributor to health-care costs. A recent article in Health Affairs, a public-policy journal, reported that obesity costs $147 billion a year, mainly in insurance premiums and taxes. At the same time, obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes have spiked, and, while diabetes can be treated, treatment is expensive. So the overweight, some people argue, are costing all of us money while refusing to alter the behavior that has put them in their predicament in the first place (i.e., overeating and not exercising).

The reality is much more complicated. It's a fallacy to conflate the unhealthy action—overeating and not exercising—with the unhealthy appearance, says Schwartz: some overweight people run marathons; eat only organic, vegetarian fare; and have clean bills of health. Even so, yelling at the overweight to put down the doughnut is far from productive. "People are less likely to seek out healthy behaviors when they're criticized by friends, family, doctors, and others," says Schwartz. "If people tell you that you're disgusting or a slob enough times, you soon start to believe it." In fact, fat outrage might actually make health-care costs higher. In a study published in the 2005 issue of the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, Abigail Saguy and Brian Riley found that many overweight people decide not to get help for medical conditions that are more treatable and more risky than obesity because they don't want to deal with their doctor's harassment about their weight. (For instance, a study from the University of North Carolina found that obese women are less likely to receive cervical exams than their thinner counterparts, in part because they worry about being embarrassed or belittled by the doctor because of their weight.)

The bubbling rage against fat people in America has put researchers like Levine in a difficult position. On the one hand, she says, she wants to ensure that obesity is taken seriously as a medical problem, and pointing out the costs associated with obesity-related illnesses helps illustrate the severity of the situation. On the other hand, she says, doing so could increase the animosity people have toward the overweight, many of whom may already live healthy lives or may be working hard to make heathier choices.

"The idea is to fight obesity and not obese people," she says, and then pauses. "But it's very hard for many people to disentangle the two."

Weigh Day

I lost 1.2 pounds this week!!! I am very happy about that since they want us to lose 1-2 a week. I am doing pretty good not stress eating. This band does not allow me to get too far down that road for which I am SO thankful. I have been more consistent on biking and am finding my knee is not acting up as much. I am sure once this business return deadline of 9/15 has come and gone I can take the exercise up a notch. So all in all I am doing good.

Loree

Three Months

Wow, it has been three months since surgery. I lost .5 this week for a total of 30 pounds!! Over the 13 weeks I have have averaged 2.31 pounds a week which is not bad at all. I will keep plugging away and see if maybe next week I can lose a pound. I am not going to fret about it though knowing the weight will come off when it is good and ready :)

Loree

3rd Fill

So today I go in for my third fill. The nurse calls me up to the desk. "Mrs Ogg, you fill appointment was for yesterday." Yep, I forgot my fill appointment. I guess I did not really forget it since I thought yesterday was the 16th all day and I knew my appointment was on the 17th. Anyway, they were able to work me in at 8am so it worked out.

I lost 6.8 this past month. Good progress. The nurse was not going to give me anything but I reassured her that I am definitely not at my sweet spot just yet. I told her I was starting to hunt for food since my meals were not lasting me 4-5 hours. She gave me .2cc for a total in my band of 5cc. I was totally cool with that.

I also had a nice NSV this weekend. The last time I got my hair cut was in April before I had surgery. So I went this past Saturday and lo and behold my hips were not crammed into the chair. Seriously, did you know that hairstylist chairs had arms? Well, it has been awhile since I have been able to use them for my arms. I was glad to be more comfortable and while I sat there I looked in the mirror at myself since there is not much else to do. Guess who I saw....ME! It has also been a long time since I have looked in that mirror and have seen me and not the fat.

So, I am hopeful that I will lose some weight this week. I would like to lose enough to hit that 30 pound mark. Since Thursday is our 3 month anniversary from surgery I will take another picture.


Until then.
Loree

Getting Closer

I lost .9 this week. I have finally hit the 20 pound mark (20.2 to be exact)! I went in today for my monthly appointment to get my fill. According to their records, I have lost 6 pounds this month.

I got another fill, .4, for a total of 5.9.

I am looking forward to the changes this month will bring with this fill. I am hoping I find my "sweet spot" soon!

Until next Thursday...

Emily

Week 12

I lost .5 pounds this week. I am finding that stress at work (tax deadline coming up) is messing up my better choices. However, I know I will get through this since I don't really have much choice. I will just re-focus and contintue to work on it. Being .5 pounds from losing 30 pounds does suck a bit but I only have myself to blame. So next week will definitely be better :)

Loree

Happy Birthday Scott

Yesterday was my friend Ariane son Scott's birthday. She had his party at the pool and we had fun with the kids. An interesting thing I noticed is that I ate cake but no icing. Now knowing that the cake was made by Emily's cake lady you need to know that the ENTIRE cake icing and all is fabulous. However, all I really wanted was the cake. The icing was almost too sweet. I never thought icing would be too sweet. So I ate the cake and let Scott have my icing. I was satisfied with the cake and being able to eat it!!

Loree

All Over the Place

This week I am down 3.9 pounds from last week. I am happy about that but I still feel like I am all over the place. I would like to be slow and steady to be honest.

I think I am almost at my "sweet spot". I go in next week for my monthly weigh in and I may need a small fill. Hopefully this may get me where I need/want to be.

Until Thursday...

Emily

Week 11

I lost 2 pounds this week for a total of 29. Yippee! Amazing to be able to accomplish so much with the help of the band!

Loree

Lessons learned

I would like to think I am learning my lesson but then again I do have a thick head! Since my fill two weeks ago I have had some "aha" moments.

1. I definitely have what they call "First Bite Syndrome". The first one to two bites are always too big and I start to PB (productive burp). I am working on taking it smaller and slower but I imagine that will be a battle for a long time.

2. If I thought I chewed enough before this fill I was nuts. Now I find that I have to count to 50 while chewing or I will pay.

3. I am learning to really listen to my tummy. When I start to notice the excess saliva in my mouth I know it is time to quit. That is my trigger for I am full.

4. Coffee is okay if you put enough splenda in it. Through all my years in public accounting working crazy hours, living through a newborn and just generally running myself to exhaustion I NEVER would drink coffee. These days I have a cup in the morning. It helps to wake up and warm up my tummy for my water. I think when I mentioned this to mom she almost fell out of her chair :)

5. Ice water is not in the cards for me anymore in the morning. I have always enjoyed my water ice cold. Now I just can't before lunch and only put 2 or 3 cubes in there so it does not get hot. I never thought that would happen.

So those are the lessons I have learned since fill No 2. Till tomorrow!

Loree

The circus

Emily and I went to the circus with our good friend Ariane. We also brought along all our girls. We had so much fun watching our kids LOVE the show and catching glimpses of the show. Below is a picture of all three of us being goofy which is the norm. Ariane is very supportive of Emily and I and we hope to be as skinny as her one day!!

Loree

Week 10

This has been a tough week for me. I have been really tight since my fill and found it hard to eat certain things. On the flip side, I have not been as hungry between meals and sometimes forgot to eat. The only problem with that is once I realize I am hungry I eat too fast and have problems. Darn if I do, darn if I don't. I am sure working more hours has not helped in that I am getting home later. Since I do taxes for a living this is something I will have to figure out. There will always be deadlines and overtime until I win the lottery. So this week has been one of learning.

With that being said, I did lose 1 pound for a total of 27. I have retired several shirts since they were just too big and looked ridiculous. I got to shop in my closet this week which was nice. My pants look awful and are way to big but I have not found the kind I like yet. I figure once fall clothes start being put out I should be able to find them. David noticed that my old hourglass shape is coming back which is cool. I know I will always have my birthing hips :) but am glad I don't look so much like a woman having twins!

This week has also been plagued by a non stop sinus headache. I need to figure what I can take and knock it out. I did hear back on my blood work my internist did. My cholesterol is down and other than being Vitamin D deficient everything looks good. She said that with continued weight loss, good eating habits and exercise I should be able to get it into more normal levels.
Gosh, I sound like an old person relating all my health problems!

I think that is enough rambling on my part.

Loree

Seriously...

Why does that time of the month for me land on my weekly weigh in day? It is very frustrating! I weighted myself on Tuesday and I was down 1 pound. Two days later, I am up 1.7 pounds.

So just for the next couple of days I will be frustrated and grumpy.

Until next Thursday...

Emily

Holy Macaroni

I lost 3 pounds this week for a total of 26 pounds. It still amazes me how this weight has been coming off. I never thought I would see the day when I weighed what I did this morning.

I managed to exercise twice this week. I still find it difficult on my knee even riding the bike. I just think that my knee is still having issues. I will continue to do what I can and not beat myself up about it. At some point, my knee will figure out that it really is okay to work as nature intended.

I have found that as the days pass my tightness has gotten better. I am still able to eat the portions I should so I am not worried about being too tight anymore. I would say that at this moment I am definitely in the green zone. They say as we lose weight the fat around our stomachs shrinks and that is the reason we go in for additional fills. It will be interesting to see how hungry I am when my next fill comes up.

Loree

What a Difference a Fill Makes

Finally, I am in the GREEN ZONE! Since my fill last week I have had to make a few changes to my eating habbits. I can not drink any water while I eat and I have to remember to eat slowly. Before this last fill eating slowly was not as big of an issue but since last week I had to learn the hard way that eating slow is critical. I lost 4.1 pounds this week for a total of 17.5.

Emily

Second Fill

Yesterday morning I went in for my second fill. She went aggressive and put 1cc in the band so I now have 5cc. Once again, just a little pinch and she was done. I did notice with this one that I feel tighter. I was able to get the cup of water down but struggled the rest of the day to slow down when drinking. On Sunday I could guzzle my water and with this fill I am back to sipping. I did worry we might have put too much in since I got sick twice yesterday but this morning I think it is just me not doing what I am supposed to. I figure it will get better once any swelling goes down.

The pros say you are too tight after a fill if you can't get any fluids down, you have heartburn, gastric reflux or cough when you lay down at night. With that in mind I figure I am okay. We will see once I start eating mushy food tomorrow. My online support group has lots of stories of people tying to ride out the tightness and eventually having to get a large unfill. I am not going to suffer that long and figure once I start solid food again if it is still giving me problems I will have them take a little out. I don't want to go backwards!

Loree

Pictures

So I am uploading a picture taken at David's graduation which was 5 days before surgery. The others are from today. Now, I know I look frightful but I had just gotten off the bike!!

Now, I have lost 23 pounds between these two pictures. To you, it may not look like a big difference but I can tell. I feel it in every step. I have a LOT to go but am really proud of what the band has helped me do so far. As you can probably guess, I have over a 100 pounds to lose. Seeing myself today in pictures has helped remind me that I need to stay the course. I need to keep working at it and one day I will look like the skinny person that resides in my head!

Loree

This Time Smooth Sailing

Today was my second fill. It went a lot smoother then last time. I still wonder if I should get a “dot” tattoo though. I was down, over 5 pounds for the month. For me that is good. This past month I have been all over the place. The nurse kept telling me that she was pleased, “we like to see a loss of 4-8 pounds a month, so you are doing really well”. To be honest I would have liked to have been down more.

I got another 1.00 cc this time so my total is 5.50cc now. My band is filled just over half! It only holds a total of 10 ccs. I am hoping that I will be able to feel the restriction. I am on liquids for today and tomorrow and then on to the “mushy” phase for the next two days, then back to my new normal.

Unlike, Loree, I did not go see Dr. B. I knew my incisions had healed fine and to be honest I did not have the time away from work to go. This is the same for my carpal tunnel surgery last week. Why waste time to have my doctor remove my stitches when I was capable?

Yesterday I had a first! I had my lunch and did not get a drink until I was leaving! That was HUGE for me, not drinking before, during or right after a meal.

My plan for pictures is to take one every eight weeks in the same clothes I was wearing on the morning of surgery and in the same poses. I will be taking my pictures today so I can see my “transformation”. I want to post my pictures that I took on the day of surgery so you can see where I really started. I am not sure if I am really ready to post those yet. You see I was wearing shorts and a sports bra and I took a front, side, back and side view… enough said.

My next fill appointment is August 7th. I will be curious what my weight loss will be three weeks and 1 day from today.

Emily

Week 8

So I am now 8 weeks post op. This past week has been busy with doctor appointments. I got the stitches out of my hand, saw my lapband surgeon and saw my internist for my physical.

I am pleased to report I lost 2 pounds this week. My lapband surgeon was very happy with how well my incisions have healed up. He said come back in a year unless you have any issues or problems. It was great to be down 23 pounds on his scale. His nurses were so excited and supportive. I hope to be able to go back in a year and wow them again!

My internist was thrilled I had lost some weight. She added a few tests to my bloodwork to check that I am getting enough B12 and some other things. I will admit I was worried about her reaction since I had heard she was not a big supporter of WLS (weight loss surgery). I have read on my online support group that we bandsters have changed lots of primary care physicans minds about WLS with our success. I hate that there is a stigma with it. But that is another post.

I exercised twice this past week. I know that I have got to get my butt in gear and make that a priority. It is important for all sorts of reasons beyond just losing weight. I will keep you posted on my progress on that front.

I am going to get my DH (darling husband) to take a picture of me tonight when I get home. I promise to post it tomorrow with a pre-surgery picture. Speaking of my DH, he has been so great in helping make sure I have the right foods. Thanks baby!

Monday I will be going for my second fill. I am ready for it since the hunger monster is rearing his ugly head. I have noticed I can eat more at one time and am having to make myself not indulge. I am so thankful for everyone's support and love.

Loree

Weekly Update

I have been on vacation in Louisiana for the past week and was pleased to see I lost a pound. My mom cooked every night so I ate fairly well (Thanks mom - you are the best). I did have some chocolate at the movie theater when we went to The Proposal. Oh and I had cake too. I must have done okay to lose a pound but know I need to get to exercising.

One thing I did discover is that french fries are NO good. No matter how crispy, no good. I will not do those again.

I had a NSV at the movie theater. When I sat down in the seat I did not have to squeeze my hips down the arm rests. That was pretty cool. I have not been comfortable in a movie theater seat in a long time. That made my night!!

Loree

Still Happy, I Think

So I got on the scale and did not gain or loose this week. I am still wearing those pants though!

Emily

Happy Girl this Morning

I thought I better get caught up on my updates since last week I did not post anything. I was too cranky to post. It was that time of the month for me and I was UP 2.3 pounds. I did not like that at all.

This morning I got on the scale and I was very pleased with what I saw. I "officially" weigh in on Thursdays so I won't count today, but I was happy.

As many of you know I was doing weight watchers last year from March until September. I lost +/- 30 pounds (I would have to find my chart to be exact). Well anyway, I remember where I was on the scale when I started to wear a smaller size. You see my dear friend, Kristina, kept telling me that my pants were too baggy. So I finally went and bought a smaller size. I remember the moment I was standing in the dressing room, hoping they would fit without me doing the zipper dance or having my top belly roll falling over (I have two belly rolls, one that is above my belly button and another below it). Much to my surprise they fit perfectly!

Fast forward to this morning. I got on the scale, very please with what I saw, and remembered this was the weight I was, when I bought the smaller size. The walk from my bathroom to my closet seemed to be a long one this morning. Do I dare try them on and see if I can squeeze into them, what if they are too tight, what if my top belly roll hangs over, and will I perform the zipper dance? All these questions went through my head in that short walk. Much to my surprise they fit perfectly again!

Hopefully this will be the last time I have to wear these pants, and this size again.

I am looking forward to my next fill on July 16th. I can tell you that the one thing that is definitely different after my first fill, is that I do get sick more. I still feel like my stomach is a bottomless pit. I do not feel much restriction. Hopefully the 2nd fill will help with that.

Until Thursday…

Emily

Birthday Cake

We had Ashleigh's birthday celebration at my mom's house yesterday. I had a few bites of Ashleigh's b-day cake. Then I decided to just have the part I really wanted which was the ice cream middle. The ice cream was good and gave me the taste I wanted.

I am finding that traveling and eating is not as difficult as I first thought. Eating out is not a problem and I don't feel bad about eating less than everyone else. I did want a taste of the rolls at the restaurant last night and so I had one bite. That was all I needed to get the taste. It will be interesting to see how my eating goes during the rest of the trip.

Loree

Six weeks since surgery update

I was completely surprised to see that I lost 2 pounds this week. Seriously, I am not kidding. I have been really hungry this week and not making the best choices so I expected maybe one pound. I am so excited about the two pounds because that brings my total to 20 pounds. That's right baby, 20 pounds in 6 weeks. Reaching this first milestone makes me so happy I had the surgery. Those first couple of weeks I was not sure if I had done the right thing but now I know that this was right for me!!

Loree

Oh man!

So I had that experience where my food comes back up from eating too fast and not chewing enough. I have to say I will do everything I can to NOT have that happen again.

One benefit of not being able to use my right hand is that I am forced to eat with my left hand. Since my left hand does not work as good as my right, I find that eating with the left hand does slow my eating down.....most of the time or else we would not have had that episode.

As always, I am learning how to use my band to achieve my weight loss goals. It is a journey and I believe there will always be more to learn. I am just so glad that I have such good support for the journey.

Loree

What a Differance a Week Makes

Having my fill on Thursday was what I was waiting for...right? That is what I kept telling myself. Everything was going a little easier then I thought. People say that sometimes it may take up to a week to really get the full effects of a fill. For the first several days I thought those "people" were crazy, then came Monday! Those people also say that once you get sick (by the way it is not at all like you think) you will know what that little feeling feels like before you are about to get sick. Once again those "people" are right! No need to gross you out will all the details, but I now know when to stop, slow down and chew really well!

This week I am down 6.6 pounds! I am really happy with that since I gained last week. I have lost a total of 14.5 pounds.

I think this weekend I will be getting ride of this size that I am currently wearing and move down one size...

Emily

Rough week

This has been a rough week for me. I had surgery Tuesday on my right hand so this post will be short. Even with the surgery messing up my schedule I managed to lose 1.5 pounds for a total to date of 18 pounds. I am thrilled and know this slow and steady is best!!

Loree (the left handed typer)

3rd Time is a Charm!

I had the first fill this afternoon. It was OK, she had a hard time finding the port, then she thought she did, but once she got the needle in she realized it was NOT the port. I made sure to ask if they ever used a sonogram type machine to help, since I could tell she was having a hard time. You know having someone push on all your organs is not always the most comforatable feeling. She took me into the room to get the x-ray, found it, NO WHERE NEAR what we thought. She put the needle in but could not reach the port. So she changed to a long needle, tried again, with the help of the x-ray machine and FOUND IT. Stuck me for the 3rd time and injected 1.5cc of fluid!

So I am at a 4.5cc's.

I go back July 16th for my next fill.

Hopefully it will go a little smoother next time.

Emily

Weekly update and fill experience

I had a good week even with retreat. I find that writing my food daily helps me stay in my calorie range and get enough protein. I lost 3 pounds this week for a total of 16.5 over 5 weeks. I am so pleased with this and it is encouraging me to continue with the process. I have biked twice this week and will continue to make it a priority.

I had my first fill this morning. The staff at the aftercare center were so nice. They explained everything since it was my first one. The PA asked me if I wanted a numbing shot but I passed. I hardly felt her put the needle in me. I more felt her putting pressure on my tummy to find the port. She pulled all the fluid out and put it back in with another 1cc so I have 4cc total. The actual fill part took maybe two minutes. Nuts! They say it can take a week to really feel the affects of the fill so it will be interesting to see what I feel like next week!

Loree

Not a Good Week...

So this week was not a good one for me. I was up on the scale. To be honest I am not giving it much thought right now because I know what I did and did not do. I have other things on my mind.

I go this afternoon to get my first fill. I am ready, excited and nervous too. Right now I feel like I can eat anything (and I think the scale showed that). My concerns are have I already stretched out my "new" stomach? Am I going to take small enough bites, will I chew my food long enough, will I really be able NOT drink anything with my meals. When I get sick, which I know I will, will I have enough time to make it to the bathroom.

I am not worried about any pain, if there is any. I have a high tolerance for pain so no worries there.

I do not want to fail! I am tired of failing!

Emily

Random thoughts

First - I don't know if anyone has noticed the inspirations on the right hand side but I added one today. I saw this and TOTALLY related. DON'T give up on what you want MOST for what you want NOW. I mean for anyone who has ever "dieted" could that be anymore true. Even with the band I can make bad choices and eat foods that are not good for me. I am sure I will have good days and bad but I will do the best I can.

Second - so I am seeing even more NSV. What I am truly amazed by is how with this small weight loss I already feel more confident. I find I am walking down the hall at work with a little more pep in my stride. I know I am a beautiful person inside and out but being obese wears your self confidence away. I am glad to see some of it come back.

Third - I am very very very nervous about my fill tomorrow. I am not worried so much about pain or anything but just how it will go. The procedure of it all.

Fourth - A friend and co-worker is home sick this week. She has MS and it is flaring up on her. She works so hard to stay healthy that sometimes I almost forget she has this horrible disease. Now while I realize being fat does not cause MS, it does make me pause and chide myself for abusing my body all these years. I can not make up for past actions but I can strive to follow Linda's example of taking care of myself. Life is short so I encourage you to do the same.

Well, I think that is all the soul bearing I can handle tonight. For all those struggling with any and all problems, keep the faith. Tomorrow is a new day!

What is a Lap Band Fill?

The Lap-Band System is a silicone ring designed to create a new smaller stomach pouch that can hold less food while maintaining a sense of fullness. The band controls the stoma (stomach outlet) between the new upper pouch and the lower part of the stomach, regulating the flow of the food. The surgeon can change the stoma size by adding or subtracting saline inside the inner balloon through the access port. This adjustment process, known as a fill, helps drive the rate of weight loss.

Tomorrow is a New Day!

This weekend Loree and I went to our favorite scrapbook retreat place. The food there is incredible! Needless to say I ate too much food, did not always make the best choices, and now feeling regret.

Tomorrow is a new day!

Emily

1 more pound

I would be lying if I told you I was not a little disappointed that I lost 1 pound this week. However, I am grateful for that 1 pound. As Emily said, every pound counts. I looked back at what I had been eating this week and I know I am going to have to focus on reducing my fat. It is somewhat hard right now since most mushy foods are high calorie. I also need to get my butt on the treadmill. This is such a learning process and I realize it will take time so today I am going to focus on the positive of gaining more of my life and health back from losing 1 pound!!!

Every 0.1 Pound Counts

I am happy to say that I was down this week, .1 pound. Now, yes I know that does not seem like a lot to some people but to me, to date I have lost 11 pounds in 4 weeks!

We went to the support group last night and I am glad I did. It was great to hear other peoples experiences.

We go next week, on the 18th to get the first fill! I am excited but after some of the things I heard last night, I am also a little nervous but I am looking forward to the experience.

Emily

Non Scale Victory

I had been noticing some non scale victories (NSV) lately. My pants seem to be a little bit looser. Plus I pulled out some pjs that were too tight before and they fit fine last night. These are definitely the things that make the process worth it. No matter what the scale does, my clothes fitting better is a great feeling.

Another NSV is that I am not taking naps on Saturday and Sunday. My naps had become a very regular habit but now I find I am not tired enough to need them. I am not sure why this is happening but I will take it. It leaves me more time to spend with David and Ashleigh.

It will be interesting to see what other changes I notice over the next couple of months.

Panic has Come & Gone

Thank goodness my wave of panic has come and gone. I got on the scale this morning and was DOWN 1.2 pounds!

I am glad to report that my water intake with my meals is getting so much better! Just to let some of you know, water with lemon is my favorite drink. Some of my friends say I drink an unusual amount of water. Even Grace gave me a "Mom's favorite things" for Mother's Day and she listed my favorite drink as ice water.

Weigh day

So I was thrilled to see the number on the scale this morning. I lost 2.5 pounds. I am so glad to be going down on the scale. My goal is to continue to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. That way it will come off the healthy way and my skin might have some time to tighten up. Did I mention I was thrilled??

Small step

I have been telling myself for days I need to get on the treadmill and start working on walking everyday. So last night I was determined to get on that blasted machine. I am proud to say that not only did I get on the treadmill but I managed to walk for 30 minutes. Now, I was not walking very fast but that will come with time. I have to remember that this whole journey is not a sprint but a marathon.

A Wave of Panic

I am trying to only weigh myself once a week, on Thursdays. Sometimes I just can not help myself. Well this morning I got on it and I WAS UP 0.9 pounds! Now, yes I know, it is not that much but it is still something, going the wrong way! I can sit here and make all the excuses but the truth is I need to be more aware of my food intake. How much protein and fiber I am getting, how many calories I am eating.

As I was driving to work I was thinking about what I need to do to make the band work for me. I know from experience that "journaling" my food works in my favor.

So as I try to continually work on reducing my water intake with my meals, I will start journaling my meals and logging my activity/exercise.

Emily

Cleaning frenzy

So last weekend while at home, I watched a lot of Clean House. While our house is pretty organized, I knew my closet was a mess and needed some help. I also saw on the bandster message boards that organizing your closet helps you shop your closet as you lose weight. So yesterday afternoon I got on a cleaning frenzy. Four large bags of clothes, shoes and purses later, I am proud to say my closet is looking good. An added bonus, I found some really fine clothes two sizes down!

I do think I over exerted myself. I was starting to get some discomfort at one of my incisions so today I am going to rest and make some soup for lunches this week.

Finally Satisfied

I have officially logged my weight loss in a nice neat chart. I started this chart the week I started with the pre-op diet. I guess technically the first week (5/14-5/21) I lost 3.6 pound (5/21-5/28) I lost 6.1 (one week after being "banded")! So since I started this journey, 9.7 pounds gone! I am very happy with that!

Last night I was struggling with the fact that I was not feeling "satisfied". I started thinking I needed to have a "fill" already. Is this possible, I am not scheduled for my first "fill" until June 18th!

Today was the first time I started eating "mushy" food. Much to my surprise after my cup of soup for lunch and a 1/2 baked potato (which I could not eat all of), I was satisfied! That is a great feeling. I was not "stuffed" and I did not feel sick, just happy to feel satisfied.

I know I will continue to struggle with drinking while I eat or drinking too much water (yes that is my favorite beverage of choice) too soon/after my meal. But in time I will be fine.

I am very happy with the choice I made to get the Lap Band. Yes, the first few days were hard but I only have the future ahead of me and I looking forward to what my future holds!

Emily

One week post surgery

I have made it through seven days of liquids!!! I was pretty nervous getting on the scale this morning not sure what to expect. Thursdays will be my weigh days since that is the day of my surgery. So...drum roll please....I lost 10 pounds!! Must be the liquids. I will be starting mushy foods soon and know my calories will go up so I don't expect to have that kind of result next week but I am grateful for every pound that comes off. That is one more pound off and lots more life!!

Rocking chair huh?

So last night I started to feel a gas bubble under my sternum. Another common problem from having stomach surgery. So I slept maybe 3 or 4 hours due to the pain this bubble was causing. I walked as much as I could during the day to try and work it out. I was walking circles around my living room when my mom called. She mentioned that some ladies she knows mentioned rocking to move the gas. So I did. I probably rocked 30 minutes to an hour. While I still feel some gas it certainly is better. I don't know if it was the rocking, the walking or just someone cutting me some slack but I am grateful. All I know is I will be doing it again tomorrow.

and the day was going so well..(men - gross alert)

So David and I went to see Star Trek today (loved it). I took my water with me to sip on and David got a Mr. Pibb. I got lucky in that no one had popcorn so no suffering from the smell. It was nice to go out with him and see a movie we both really wanted to see.

So onto the GROSS STUFF.

I have picked up Ashleigh, changing into my pj's and BAM, I appear to be starting my monthly cycle one week early. What, wait, seriously!! Why me?? Little known fact they forgot to mention - it is not unusual for females to begin their periods after surgery. That totally sucks. My question is, will I have to do this again next week??????

Jinx

I think I jinxed myself by saying I thought the worst was over...So we have been put on a liquid diet until Saturday. We have been drinking these protein shakes (that the advertisers say how wonderful the taste is. I call BS!) for almost 2 weeks. I tried the best I could to drink one at lunch and I just can't get them down anymore. The smell turns my stomach.

I had to run a few errands at lunch so I treated myself to my favorite drink, Chick-fil-a's diet lemonade and un-sweet tea, mixed together. It is the best!

I also swung by Tom Thumb to get some soup since I could not drink the shake. When I got back to the office and I was ready to eat my soup but NO I couldn't do it because I drank too much! Again!

THEN this guy brought in McDonald's, and all I could smell was the french fries! I thought I was going to jump out the window (no need to worry we work on the first floor).

So it looks like I will be eating soup, again, for dinner tonight!

5 days and counting...

Well I think the worst part is over. I had the surgery on Thursday, Friday morning was OK but by Friday night I thought I made the biggest mistake. I am still not sure if the pain I was feeling was hunger or gas but whatever it was, it passed. After several minutes of vomiting, only clear liquids thank goodness, I felt better.

Monday, Grace and I went to run a few errands. Is it terrible that as I sat and watched her eat a cheese pizza I squirted mustard on a fork and ate it?

Being hungry like I am is terrible. I hope these next few days will move along quickly so I can start eating the "mushie" foods on Saturday!

I am back at work today and feeling good, still hungry, but good. I am trying not to watch the clock to see when I can drink another shake.

4 days out

So I am in my fifth day post surgery. I am definitely feeling the hungries. Apparantely this happens once the swelling goes down. Being on a liquid diet is tough. Ashleigh was eating some crackers and I just wanted one...just one. I managed to refrain. I will just have to tough it out.

Yikes, what did we get into?

So last night I got behind on taking my pain medication. I was hurting so bad I was ready to go to the hospital and have them take the band out. Plus, I was uncomfortable from the gas. Geez, what did we get into? Once I was able to lay down and the pain meds kicked in, I started to feel better. I managed to pretty much sleep through the night. I only got up twice so I feel rested this morning. I plan on taking it easy, doing my walking (to keep getting the gas out) and focusing on drinking enough protein. I am ready to feel normal again.

Hunger or Gas?

So I had my first breakdown! Are these pains from hunger or gas? Have you ever been so hungry before that it is painful? This is the first time I have ever had so much air pumped into my body, so I have no idea what pain feels like... All I know is that I am ready for whatever it is to pass. I will eat my yougut while I walk around. Hopefully this pain will pass soon...

About this blog

Emily and I have been best friends going on 9 years. We have both struggled with our weight so many years. We have done all the diets, all the plans and finally decided that lapband was the way to go for us. We considered having this procedure for two years and just this spring circumstances arose for us to have it done. So on Thursday, May, 21st early in the morning we both had the surgery. Emily went first (well she is 5 months older than me) and I went right after. We thought a blog about our experiences with the band and our journey would be beneficial for our family and friends. We appreciate all the support we have received from everyone.

Loree