Flattery, for the first time.

Happy Monday! It's such a beautiful day here in East Tennessee. It's sunny, cool and breezy; love it! I don't think I mentioned before but I got sick last week, around Wednesday. Friday I left work early and pretty much stayed on the couch the entire weekend. I'm much better today and so happy to be out of the house. I hope everyone else is well. It's that time of year when the sniffles and coughs like to appear; be sure to sneak in some extra Vitamin C over the next few months!

Last week I posted that my restriction wasn't quite as good as it was the first few days following my first fill, October 21st, and that my next fill was scheduled 6-weeks out on December 8th. Although my numbers have continued to fall beautifully, my restriction kind of just isn't there. It's almost like I want to eat something naughty, to get stuck, to know it's still there. Each day I am relying more and more on willpower as hunger pains are becoming more frequent. With Thanksgiving coming up, I called my doctor today and requested a 4 week fill, instead of a 6 week fill; they scheduled me for next Thursday. This makes me happy! Thanksgiving turkey is my kryptonite and I was so, so nervous going through the big day without restriction. I'm nervous anyways, as this will be the first food centered event I've been to, post-op. So far, nothing has entered my mouth outside breakfast, lunch or dinner and nothing unhealthy, at that. My will-power has been great, but if I had to solely rely on it, I wouldn't be traveling this journey, right? So, many thanks to my fabulous surgeon's office for getting me in a wee bit earlier.

I wanted to share something fabulous with you. I received a text from a friend this morning, telling me what a motivator I have become how I have jump started their efforts to shed thier extra weight. This was all kinds of flattery. Especially from this paticular friend. She is gorgeous, smaller than me and for her to notice and to actually be motivated from me, well, is just lovely. I remember just 3 short months ago when I was a few pounds shy of my heaviest at 260. I was so out of shape and so unhappy about myself. None of my clothes were fitting and my self-esteem had officially plumitted to its lowest. point. ever. Now a few pounds shy of being in the 'teens, life is great and I love the gym. Know there is always someone who notices your efforts. If we are taking care of ourselves, others will notice. And if we are fortunate enough, we can inspire others to be healthy with us. Everyday, your blogs inspire me. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

a perfect explanation!

Sitting here at work slaving away, tackling these piles of folders on my desk reading blogs, I ran across something I wanted to share, specifically for the newer bandsters like me regarding restriction and what being full, really means.

From a lapband diva who had an 108 lb. loss in 9 months, she explained this way, "What is it that you're expecting to "feel" with restriction? I don't actually feel restriction. I didn't even realize that I had pretty decent restriction until I got a little over-filled and then had to have some fill taken out. Restriction should be very subtle, or else you probably are over-filled. All it means is that you are satisfied (not full!) after eating 1 c. or so food at each meal, and then you have reduced hunger for 3-4 hours. As for full, most of us overweight people consider "full" to be that Thanksgiving-dinner-two-plates-full-of-food" stuffed to be what "full" feels like; that is overfull. Full is when you eat about 3/4 of a cup of food and you don't get hungry for 4 hours. That's a new way to define full."

This was simply and beautifully put. For so long, my full was miserable. Starting my band journey, was full to feel the same?  And when I got restriction, was I supposed to feel like my stomach was being strangled? Since my first fill, I haven't felt anything. I've only realized I have been able to eat appropriately. I have been ever so cautious and in control and stopping when I feel content, or satisfied. An entire cup of food or not, I push the food away when I arrive at satisfaction. So far, I last 4-5 hours between each meal, with no snacking. So, I think not feeling anything is our new skinny.

Saturday L-O-V-E

Today is a very, very unusual Saturday....

1. My husband has to work.

2. I slept past 8:00.

This hasn't happened in like 5 years or so.  It's crazy and secretly, I'm looking for some me time to get some things done around the house. I made it to the gym earlier and did about 30-min of light cardio. It really was my first official day back so I didn't over do it, as that kicked my arse. I can't wait until I can go to the park and just run...run for miles. The last time I attempted C25K, I about bit the big one, by the 4th run. While at the gym, I signed up for the "Maintain, Not Gain" Challenge. It's $1 per week and it's designed to get us through the holiday season w/o weight gain. Each week we weigh in, if we maintain or loose, we get our name added to a drawing. At the end of the 10 weeks, we have a small banquet and prizes are given away.

My fill is good. I am consuming about 3/4 - 1 cup per meal. I can tell when I am done and easily push away. It's not a hard full, like I'm gonna get sick if I eat another bite sick, but a comfortable full. I think the portion is a bit higher than goal with band, but so much less than what I was putting away prior to my first fill.

I splurged today. QVC had a great deal on an e-reader (i.e. Kindle) for you guess it, "5 easy payments!" I've really been wanting one so I called and got one for my mother-n-law for Christmas as well. She is a huge reader. She will be Happy. Now I'm left with the perfect gift searching venture for my parents and the pops-in-law. I love the holidays.....only a few weeks until Thanskgiving!

I found these fabulous wraps at the store yesterday - 8g Protein, 5g of carbs, 71 calories and 2 fat per wrap. They are so yummy and seriously, the healthiest wrap I've found.

Wishing all my sweet banded lovelies a beautiful weekend.

a little bit of this, a little bit of that.....

Officially my least favorite part of this lovely journey, today was my first official day back on protein shakes since the liquid diet phase came to an end 3 weeks ago.  My doctor's office had some protein mix on clearance yesterday for $5. The box had 7 individual packs with 34g of protein per serving. Add 16 oz. of water, shake and enjoy. Might I add a few things: 1) It wasn't the best tasting stuff but tolerable. 2) It took me almost 3 hours to get all of this down 3) I can't wait until Sunday and can start back on soft foods. My major point: 3 hours to drink down a shake, insane. So happy my first fill left me restricted. The real results will come when I can start eating in a few days, but for now - very happy.

I had to reset all my goals. I based my goals off of day 1 post-op. Meaning, I thought I would have instant restriction, despite the scary strories about bandster hell. The first few days post-op, yes - I still believed. Next, bandster hell slowly set in and then a stall leading to a few pounds gained. I've adjusted accordingly based on my first fill:

goal 1:  235 [Halloween ]

goal 2:  220 [Thanksgiving]

goal 3: 199 [New Year's Day]

goal 4: 170 [10th Wedding Anniversary, 4/7]

Please offer feedback on those goals. I've asked and have been told they are very obtainable. Your thoughts?

I officially start the gym on Monday. Yes, my membership started several weeks ago but while in bandster hell, I was so discouraged I didn't go one time. Yes, I wouldn't have gained those few I feel but I did and that weigh in is over.

Leaving you this gorgeous fall day with a few fall pics with family ♥

 Hayride with my niece Rachel and nephew Caleb.

Sitting around the fire with my fabulous mother-n-law.

 Sleep-over! (w/ caleb, rachel and mary bea)

                                                            

 my ♥ J

And i'm off.....

Let me first say, I've not had any updates lately but have been keeping up with everyone. Work has been extremely busy as the end of the fiscal year came to a close. We've also been having my nieces and nephews on the weekends and with 5 extra additions, I barely have time to potty. I've missed everyone and look forward to jumping back into lovely blog land.

I've had no loss since my last update. If you remember I had hit bandster hell and hit hard. After the weeks of the liquid diets and softs slowly passed, the scales actually creeped up about 4 lbs. Thanks to those who got me through this ruff time...it meant so much.

Today was my first fill. The worst part was the numbing shot. It was a little worse than a bee sting but reminder: I am a big baby! I'm sure it's common but my fill was via fluoroscope. I have a Realize Band, 11cc and was totally empty. I received 6cc.  I was so nervous because I had ran into a lady at the gym several weeks back who had the band and saw my doctor and said he only did 1cc at a time. I was actually in panic stage; I would never loose. But I am very happy with my first fill and can't wait for the scales to start dropping! My next fill is scheduled for December 8.

The race has started; and she's off!

Please tell me.....

this is normal? On Wednesday I will be three weeks post-op. My lapo-incisions are perfect, I have no more pain, the swelling is gone - so no post-surgery restriction. In fact, it's as if none of this ever happened. I can't feel the band. I can eat and at normal portions. This is bandster hell, right? I have myself convinced that this isn't normal. I should have restriction and I should've just gotten the sleeve. Is everyone like this prior to their first fill? My weight-loss has stalled, which I'm totally bummed about. I pushed all my goals forward a month, so I could calcualte with my first fill, which is next Wednesday.

Feeling a bit gloomy and all alone.