ABCs of Me

So, since I am struggling to find anything profound to write about in terms of weight loss, working my band, tackling head hunger or formulating world peace I thought I would share the ABCs of me.

(A) Age: 46 (can't even believe that is possible.  I still feel like I am in my 30s.  Denial is a wonderful place to live)
(B) Bed Size: King - LOVE IT
(C) Chore You Hate: Picking up dog poop (especially in the summertime)
(D) Dogs?: 2 Golden Retrievers - Suva and Buffy (after the Vampire Slayer) and one Malti-Poo - Lily.
(E) Essential Start Your Day Item: Protein shake
(F) Favorite Color: Green
(G) Gold or Silver?: silver
(H) Height: 5' 8"
(I) Instruments You Play: I took piano lessons as a child but never practiced to I can only play 2 tunes
(J) Job Title: Sr. Manager - Project Management (otherwise known as a cat herder)
(K) Kids: See "D" above
(L) Live: I believe so.  If not, I am a reasonable facsimile of.
(M) Mom's Name: Debby
(N) Nicknames: Libby, E - anything but Liz!
(O) Overnight Hospital Stays?: This summer I spent a couple of nights in the hospital after a bike accident - the first for a pneumothorax then a few days later for pneumonia.  Prior to that, when I was 6 or 7 and had my tonsils out.  Both times the food sucked and I was bored out of my mind.
(P) Pet Peeve: Bad or aggressive drivers, hypocrites, liars, rude people, mean people and people who are cruel to animals, children or the elderly.  Gee, I have a lot of pet peeves!
(Q) Quote from a Movie: "Wilson!!!!!!!!!!!" (What's that from?)
(R) Right or Left Handed?: Right but I can write with either
(S) Siblings: 2 brothers, 1 sister, 2 half-sisters, 1 step-sister
(T) Time You Wake Up?: between 5:30 and 6am
(U) Underwear: No
(V) Vegetable You Dislike: Broccoli, Beets and Brussel Sprouts
(W) What Makes You Run Late: Wardrobe meltdowns.  Some days nothing looks good.
(X) X-Rays You've Had Done: Chest and Back (after bicycle accident), Teeth
(Y) Yummy Food You Make: Coq Au Vin, Chopped Mexacali Salad, Green Chili 
(Z) Zoo, Favorite Animal: Gorillas and Polar Bears

BOOBs 2011

Have been a horrible blogger lately.  Work has been crazy busy and, quite frankly, my weight loss/band success has stalled out again.  So very frustrating although I felt a small bit of relief when I read Stephanie's (Dreams of Skinny High Heels) blog this week in which she said she didn't start to seriously start losing weight til the 7th month.

I am planning to attend the BOOBs get together in Chicago in Sept.  I am looking for a roommate so if anyone is so inclined, drop me an email!  Really looking forward to meeting everyone and putting faces to blogs!

Need to Rededicate My Efforts

So, I went ahead and had a mini unfill.  Dawn removed .1cc.  When she showed me what it looked like it was miniscule!  I really didn't see how that little bit could solve my sliming problems but voila! it did!!!!  Yesterday is the first time since early Dec. when I haven't PB'd or slimed once.  It is amazing what a small adjustment can do.  It has only been a couple of days, but I can't say I feel any increased hunger.  As a matter of fact, because I was able to eat more solidish food (had a fish burger made with tilapia and shrimp yesterday, no bun) and not slime I felt more satisfied and did not feel the need to supplement my food intake with sliders.  Today I have a renewed sense of hope that I can make this tool work for me and not against me.  It is wonderful to not feel as though I am warring with my body.

 

Thank you to everyone that provided input on my last post.  I really did think about everything you had to say and do feel like I have made the right decision for my body.  I do believe it is just as counter-productive to be over-filled as it is to be under-filled.  I am not sitting with 5.5 ccs in my 10 cc band.  This feels right for now.  Let's hope I can build on this momentum and get the scale moving again.

 

In an effort to become completely honest with myself about my food consumption and take responsibility for eating healthier and in a "band appropriate" way, I am going to log what I eat every day here.  I am also going to log my physical activity because it is important to both my physical and mental well being to move my body every day.

Friday, February 4, 2011
Food:
B =

Vanilla Premier Protien Shake with
frozen strawberries                                                       210 calories    30gr. protien
L =

4oz. tunafish salad with veggies and 1T light mayo         115 calories    28gr. protien
1oz. LaPanzanella Croccantini crackers                        110 calories      4gr. protien
1C. Tomato Basil Soup                                                150 calories      3 gr. protien
D =

1C homemade Green Chili                                             50 calores        0gr. protien
4oz. pork in green chili                                                 235 calories     32gr. protien
S =

Dole Fruit and Juice Bar                                                  50 calories     0gr. protien
                                                                      Totals =   920 calories     97gr. protien

Exercise:
Group Power Class (weight lifting)                                         1 hour
Treadmill                                                                              30 minutes

Thanks again to everyone for the wonderful support.  It does help.

To Fill or Not To Fill

That is the question.

I have been struggling since my second fill but shortly before my 3rd fill I thought that everything was worked out.  However, I think I am sliming too much.  I've had my worst 2 episodes since fill number 3 on Jan. 12th.  The first episode happened when I was eating out with a couple of friends (who don't know about the band).  I believe that it was a result of eating too fast and not chewing enough.  I have a very hard time remembering I am a banded person once I get out and start socializing at a restaurant.  I know that it is old habit to eat and talk and not be mindful, so I know that I probably brought that one on myself.  It is the first time however that it has resulted in a honest-to-god throw up though.  That was scary and I was incredibly uncomfortable (not to mention the 30 minutes I spent in the bathroom that I had to try to explain to my dinner companions).

The second episode happened on Saturday.  I had my normal protien shake for breakfast around 8am (I have found that I cannot eat solid food in the morning anymore).  Then I met a my girlfriend for brunch/lunch and shopping around 11:30.  We went to a nearby restaurant and I ordered the huevos rancheros (eggs scrambled).  The dish came out (it included eggs, chorizo and black beans on a tortilla smothered in green chili and melted cheese - I know not great).  I was being very mindful and took really small bites of only the egg with green chili and some cheese.  No tortilla. No chorizo.  Just little bites.  I had about 3 small bites - spaced out - and immediately went to the bathroom where I had a sliming/throw up incident to rival the earlier one.  What the hell?  It seems to have gotten to a point that the only food that doesn't cause me to slime is liquid (protien shakes) and mushy (tuna salad).  If it is solid, I almost always slime just a little (if not more).

BUT, I do not have heartburn or GERD and I can drink with no problem (even more than sipping).  So....do I get a teeny unfill?  Or, do I wait it out til my next appt. in April?  I really hate to spend so much time in the bathroom, especially when I am out socializing with friends.  But my level of restriction does not seem to fall in the same catagory as Gen's or some others who have recently had trouble.

What I am concerned about is that even with the difficulty eating solid food, I am not losing weight.  I have stalled out again and not lost any more in the last 2 weeks.  Is it possible that because I cannot eat solids easily that I am stuck because I have been satiating my hunger with sliders?  Would I be better off with a little unfill so I can eat more solids?  Or, am I just a huge woosie?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  I am still really trying to learn how to use my band and I am frustrated as hell at this point.

In other news, it was a balmy -14 degrees here in Denver as I drove to work this morning.  Have I ever told you all how much I hate Colorado sometimes?
Be Well

Thank You!

I'm a couple days late with this but the ever lovely Black Butterfly, Dawnya and so inspirational Christine at Phoenix Revoloution nominated me for the Stylish Blogger Award.  Thank you so much ladies!!!  I am flattered.  So, I think I need to reveal 7 things about me and nominate 15 more bloggers that I love or have found lately.

. 

7 (obscure) Things About ME!

1. I am a Libra and I was born in the Year of the Dragon.  This makes me very strong willed but I am also very even keeled.  I like peaceful.  I'm a lover, not a fighter.
2. I got kicked out of my house when I was 16 and have been supporting myself ever since.  I put myself through college and have a relatively successful career now.  Not the ideal way to get started in life, but it sure makes one grow up fast.
3. I can pour hot tea into a parfait glass perched on my forehead, foot and behind my back.  A little trick I had to learn (quickly) when I waited tables at a Morracan restaurant.
4. I appeared on a couple of episodes of Work in Progress - a show that used to be on HGTV.  I LOVE doing home improvement projects.
5. I'm a giver.  I like to give gifts randomly (picking up things when I see something that reminds me of someone.)  I like to help friends with their home improvement or organization projects (told you I like DIY projects!).  I think this trait goes way back.  My mother says that when I was about 4 or 5 she was talking to a friend of hers who told her that she was so broke she didn't have 2 nickels to rub together.  Overhearing this, I promptly went upstairs and retrieved my piggy bank which I presented to her.  Even back then I would give you everything I had if I thought you really needed it. 
6. I'm a TV-aholic.  I love reality shows - mostly competitions like Top Chef, Project Runway, Amazing Race.  I also love HGTV, Food Network, cable series like Dexter, The Big C, True Blood, Sex and the City (I know it's not on anymore but I still loved it) and The Big Bang Theory.  I TOLD you I was an addict.  It's lucky I work in the satellite industry I guess.
7. I really, really, really want to travel the world.  Someday when I have time and money I want to go to India, Africa, the Seychelles, Costa Rica, Cinque Terra (in Italy), Brazil and pretty much everywhere else.  If I could find someone to do The Amazing Race with me (that I wouldn't want to kill or vice versa) I could get a whole bunch of traveling in.

15 bloggers I love or have recently discovered:

(this is gonna be hard because I follow over 130 of you guys and I love you all!)

1. Well, I have to say, I just recently discovered Dawnya and even though she nominated me, I have to nominate her right back.
2. Same goes for Christine.  She is the first blogger whose entire blog I read beginning to end.  She is always full of great suggestions and, because of her, I am completely paranoid the my port will protrude eventually ;-)
3. Catherine is wonderful and living the big city life I always wished I had had the guts to go for.
4. Amy W. kills me.  Have to admit I have a little girl crush on her.
5. Gen - my Colorado neighbor who shares the same doctor and whose experiences have taught me to only go to the wonder PA, Dawn, the port whisperer.  One of these days we will finally meet in person!
6. Read - whose MIL stories slay me.  OMG, she and my MIL belong together.
7. Tina who sent me a wonderful, cushy bike seat
8. Sherry whose writing style is so wonderful. I just wish she posted more frequently.
9. Maybe this Time - who is practically my band twin
10. BG at The Sweet Spot - So inspirational.  Can't wait til her book is published and I get to read it.
11. Mimi at The Big Fat Bet - just found her yesterday and love her already
12. Robin - another Colorado blogger.  I haven't met you but I am so impressed with your success!
13. Cindylew - Where are you girl?
14. The other Amy.  Again, you haven't been around that much lately but I love it when you show up.
15. Dinnerland - always so supportive.

I could go on and on.  If I didn't list you I swear it is only because I ran out of room and because I need to wrap this up.  Now I have to inform everyone I nominated.  Yikes.  So much to do, so little time (while at work).

Thanks again to Christine and Dawnya.  I truly appreciate the sentiment.  I am not the most prolific blogger but I am trying.  This is going to be a long journey and I need all the support I can get from my (mostly sisters) in bandedness.

Monday Blues

Happy Monday everone (well, as happy as a Monday can be).  I just noticed that I am averaging about 1 post per week in the new year.  This is not good.  I read everyone elses post religiously but don't seem to find much inspiration for writing my own.  I guess I am not feeling all that interesting.

My weight this week was the same as last.  Not sure if it is related to TOM, or if I am just continuing along on my massively glacial weight loss movement.  I know I should just be grateful that I am going in the right direction but it is sooooo slow.  (Over 40 and peri-meneposal does not make for rapid weight loss.)

I'm feeling a little sad that Read's MIL has gone home.  I am sure she doesn't share my sentiments but her presence does make for great reading.

I'm headed to the gym tonight for the Group Centergy class.  It is a combo of yoga and pilates with some squats and lunges mixed in.  I have actually found it more challenging than my Group Power class - which is just a group weight lifting class.  I think I am going to stay late tonight and get a steam in.  Things at home are not so good so there is no sense in running home.

On the band front...restriction seems good.  I became insanely tight when TOM hit late last week.  Seems to be easing up a bit but I do get stuck on solid foods at a pretty regular rate.  I know I must not be too tight since I have no problem with liquids or mushies so I am convinced it is just me still eating too fast or not chewing enough.  I am so jealous of Lap Band Gal who has never PB'd and still managed to lose over 100 lbs.  Crazy!

Hope everyone is well.  I promise I will try to blog more.  Have a great week!

WooHoo!!!

199.8 - Helllllllllllllllooooooooooo  Onderland.