Yesterday! Scary Day

Yesterday I was about as scared as I have ever been in my life. I can remember only one other time being more scared and that had to do with a injury my daughter received by a neighbors dog.  Yesterday started like any other day I got up, dropped of "K" at school, came to work. Was first one in so unlocked and got lights on, about 10 min later picked on the guy who normally beats me in every morning for being"late" ( even though he wasn't) since I beat him in ... with in 15 min though my world was rocked and I was going through something I had never been through in my life....I started feeling really just not well dizzy and unbalanced to the point I called my mom ( 8:23 am ) said at 2 can you leave and pick up "K " from school. If I still feel like this I wont be able to drive but I am going to drive to suck it up and stay here, I do however just sit on my tail all day .... by 8:30 I was calling her saying pls come get me and take me to the ER... ( remember Hubby is gone so he is not available to come help) I could not see the key pad on the phone in front of me to dial. I could not walk with out falling, I was vomiting in the trash can by my desk bc I could not walk to get to the bathroom ( I tried the anti nausea pill the surgeon gave me, it hit to fast tho did nt have time to work) was sweating like a crazy person, was not  slurring my speech but was finding it very hard to answer questions. I honestly thought I was dying it was crazy ... Mom (nurse of 35 yrs) checked my BP when she got here to pick me up to make sure it had not dipped to low, ( losing LBS and still being on my meds.. bp has been coming down by not too far YET) but that was not the case so she said well your granny suffered from Vertigo and since its not your BP if I have to guess that's what they are going to tell you.... Also my mom gets it about once a yr and my aunt 3-4 times a yr... AND Mothers knows best that's exactly what the ER Doc said....I told the Doc I was fine one second and the next I thought I was dying so fast, he said honestly that is normal for the first time but gave me med while I was there and wrote me an RX told me next time I wont be scared bc I will have the med to stop it and KNOW what the heck is going on.... VERY True if I had know yesterday I would not have been near as scared...Hubby on the other hand is still worried I cant seem to get through to him that I am fine..may try to skype with him this weekend so he can SEE me so he can see for himself  am fine. He was txting mom the whole time we were in the ER checking on me... so sweet:)
I told him something HUGE happens every time he leaves one time the laundry room floor caved in, one time I wrecked both cars ( in our drive at same time...lol) one time our little dog got attacked by a HUGE neighbor dog in our yard... At least this time its was just me and I have med now and there is not floor the replace when he gets home ...lol

Oh yea when I told my Boss I needed to leave I was sick.. he could see I was very sick he said it was bc I was loosing too much weight to fast... I guess he has been worrying about me and not saying anything... He does not know about my WLS.. I told him I didnt think that was the case I was under Dr supervision for that. Was the only thing I could think of to say to ease his mind with out spilling it to him and I just don't want to share that with my bosses... BUT I am going to count that as a NSV and as someone who does not know about the band has noticed my WL...lol gotta take em where you get em..lol
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!

Weigh in Wednesday and 8 Wk Post Op Reflections

Good Wednesday morning...so last week I came out of the "closet" about my actual weight, this was hard, but I felt so good once it was out there... I've received so much positive feed back from that, that I wanted to say.... Thank You for your support, you guys and your kind words mean the world to me :)


Starting Weight 273 Surgery Day 259.8 Today 224.4 TOTAL = 48.6 LB soooo close to 50... and that 6.9 since last Wed...

Whats different today, then say... 8 wks and one day ago....
*Well for starters  I am a lot lighter
*Ive dropped 2 sizes in my clothing
*I was able to play basket ball with my daughter Saturday without issues
*I am able to cross my legs when I sit down ( come on ladies we all know that's a big deal...lol)
* If I cant get to the gym, I find a way to get cardio in at home ( I don't skip)
*I am only 3 1/2 wks away from my first 5K ( wow I cant believe its that close)
*I have connected with some awesome people (mostly Ladies) who are all inspirations, strong, and daily source of balance for me.. I read you Blogs every day they help ME stay on track and focused.. THANK YOU!
*Oh cant forget I learned how to mow the grass and now push mow our 3 acres ( could NEVER  have done that almost 50 Lbs heavier).. UM THIS COUNTS AS CARDIO.. its even listed in my fit pal app...lol

This is just a short list, I can go on and on...
Have a great Hump Day!

PIc Time

I took a pic today to change my profile on facebook and thought wow  I can really see a difference in my face. Since tomorrow will be 8 weeks Post Op I decided to go on and post it here too..

Today May 28,2013

                                                     Wednesday May 1,2013 ( 4wks Post op)

I am lovin this journey!!!

May Measurement Update

So this month these numbers are super exciting.. Last month I had only been banded about 3 weeks and only back in the gym about one wk when it was time to re-take my measurements so this month of course I was banded the whole time and I am in the gym every day ... Below are my actual measurements to side in ( ) the amount decreased since April 24 and the next set of ( ) over is the amount down since I started my journey with my first Dr apt in January ( very end of Jan)

Drum Roll Please........


Chest  46 " ( -1)   ( -6)
Waist  43.5" ( -2)   (-3.5)
Hips    48 1/4"   (-3.25)   (-7)
Thighs  26 1/4"  (-.75)   (1.75)
Calf's  19"   (-1)    (-1.75)
Biceps 14"  (-1.5)  (-2.75)
Wrist   6  1/4"  (-.50)  ( -.75)
Neck  17"    (-.50)   (-2)


That is 10.5 inches in ONE month and 25.5 inches since late January ... I CANT BELIEVE IT!!!!

OK so I sat down to think about things that have been different this month  vs last ... bc there are some big changes there and in areas that there had just been small changes before... I up'd my Cardio time from 45-1 hr daily to 1.5 hour M-F and 2 hr on Sat and Sun... also I have started using the rowing machine and helping hubby mow the grass I believe both of these contributed to the big losses in my arms this month...

So I promised my goal for the next three weeks also... my goal WL for the time while hubby is gone with the military is 11 Lbs. I feel this is doable based on the point I am in my journey.. So this morning I am sitting at 228, eleven pound would put my goal as 217 by June 16 when he's back..

Not Hidding Anymore

For about the last 2 years I have been the queen of layering, I have hid behind sweaters ... Year round I have found away, short sleeve ,long sleeve, heavy, light weight, all over top of camisoles. I am talking at least 6 days a wks... want examples... here is the evidence

all three pics are me in some of my FAV sweaters of the last couple years.. I am proud to announce today I am at work without a sweater on ( I have not been at work without layers in 2 yrs at least)... I am not hiding, I am in a regular dress top and proud of it...nothing to pull around me every time I get up from my desk, nothing to tug down over my rear every time I get up... I am done hiding....
My sweaters are so much of a security blanket to me when I packed up my 18s and 20s a couple wks ago to pass on I kept 3 of the sweaters and about 6 of the camis so I could keep wearing them.... for the record they are ridiculously big on me ( as most were 20s I am firmly in 16s now) BUT that's where my comfort was and I was not ready to move on...
Tonight though I will be packing them up and giving them away too, no more hiding behind them... it is hard though bc honestly the only place I notice a difference yet is my face but obviously the rest of me is changing to I just don't see it... I don't have a pic of me in a regular top I will try to get my daughter to snap one :) This journey is about so much more than loosing weight and regaining my health it about facing all the issues that come along with it...insecurity's, emotional eating, and oh I can go on and on...
I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and are looking forward to a long Memorial Day Weekend and dont forget to hug a VET.. I will hug mine lol... :)

Recipe Share

So I had the following with my chicken last night and left overs again tonight ... Its so delish I had to share
Squash and Red Pepper Strata

6 oz Zucchini trimmed ( about 1 medium)
6 oz Yellow Squash trimmed ( about 1 medium)
1/4 tsp garlic salt, divided
1/2 cup Herbed Roasted Pepper ( see below for recipe)
1/2 c chopped Scallions divided
1/2 cup crumbled reduced fat Feta Cheese divided

Preheat Oven to 350, coat shallow baking dish with cooking spray. Cut Zucchini and Yellow Squash in half cross wise then cut ea piece lengthwise into 2 long slices for a total of 12.
Place Zucchini sliced in the prepared baking dish sprinkle with 1/8 tsp garlic salt spread with 1.3 c of the Herb Roasted Peppers, sprinkle with 1/4 c of the scallions and 1/4 c of the Feta. Place yellow squash slices on top of that, then sprinkle with 1/8 tsp garlic salt,layer with rest of the red peppers, scallions, and Feta as described above. Bake 35-40 min or until the squash is tender.


Recipe for the Herbed roasted Red Pepper
1/2c drained roasted red peppers
2 tsp olive oil
1 TBL spoon balsamic vinegar
2 tsp finely chopped fresh  herbs ( such as rosemary, oregano, basil, thyme, tarragon, parsley, or a mixture of herbs)
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp Pepper
1/8 tsp hot sauce

Chop the peppers. In a bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, herbs, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. And the peppers and stir to combine.
Store leftovers covers in fridge for up to a wk.

Weigh IN Wednesday

Happy Hump Day! I am so glad we are 1/2 through the week and coming up on a 3 day weekend :)

This weeks weigh in results are....1.1 lb this week ( lower than Id like to see but Ive had 2 real big weeks and coming up on TOM so Ill take it)
Brings me to something else I have debated in my head for the past week.. When am I going to be brave enough to share my weight with you guys instead of just the "lose numbers".. I mean you are all here for support and bc you care or else why would you read ...Plus most of us are in the same boat right. Then I thought well when I do post my weight I will just post current then if someone really feels the need to see what I started at they can do the math backwards... WELL today I am feeling the need to be open and honest with you all as well as myself... My name is Christy, I am 33 yrs old 5' 6.5" my  starting weight was 273( gulp).. surgery was 259.8 today was 231.3 my goal weight is 145 ( I don't have myself on a time table for this goal, just at a consistent/healthy speed) I am currently 32% of the way to my goal weight HOW COOL IS THAT!!!! I AM 7 WKS POST OP! I LOVE MY BAND, I LOVE THIS DECISION, I AM DOING EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO REGAIN MY HEALTH, I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY!!!!!

I had a HUGE NSV last night... I battle High BP and I say battle b/c for me it is, even on meds it runs 140/80 to 150/90 ( I take 2 meds every day for this) Day of surgery they almost would not let me leave the hospital bc it was so hi... my hubby had to get firm with them, he said look you told her not to take her meds today, she has not had any since last night we are almost 24 hr out since her last dose what do you expect it to look like...
Last night it was 122/68 this is the lowest Ive seen it look like in years....I really hope this is a trend and not a fluke, regardless I am claiming it as a NSV anyways LOL....

My mom is coming by this weekend to help me with my measurements (its so much easier with an extra set of hands) so I will post them this weekend. But since surgery I have dropped from size 20 to 16 so I know I am shrinking..lol

Thank you to ea one of you that reads my blogg and offers your support you will never know how much your kind words mean. You are all a great support.

Get a Grip

I have got to get a grip... this week I am all over the board, and I know why. My hubby is in the military and on Monday will be leaving for 3 weeks. So for 3 weeks I will be lonely, my BFF will not be at home for me to chat with, and I will not have immediate access through text message, I will have to wait on him to have time to get back with me plus, I will be pulling double duty on chores etc and the whole schedule I have worked so hard to create will come crashing down around me ( yes it could be so much worse I know he has 20 yrs in service and we have been through deployment but still). Not to mention he will miss another anniversary and fathers day during this time (our family is growing used to this we just celebrate later)
So my normal weekday schedule is get up take K to school go to work, get off go straight to gym for 1 1/2 hrs come home eat dinner ( prepared by hubby I am spoiled  :) ) sit outside with hubby for 30 min to an hour chatting, feeding our chickens who are greedy and if I am not fast enough will hop in my lap for the bread... come in do some chores and go to bed ( this is every day its just what I do and it works).... WEEKENDS are horrible for the fact I have no routine all that is the same is I that get up  ( normally first in the house) and go to the gym for about 2 hours ( since its nice and quite there on the weekend) I come home and stay busy with yard chores and  chicken chores and activity's with K.. almost every weekend I forget to eat at least one of the days which by the end of the day leaves me feeling VERY VERY bad... after my visit the the PA last week he suggested since being out of my routine was such an issue and I DO need my protein to do shakes on the weekend at least during the day till I can take time for dinner at night ( I tried this last weekend and it helped and I was able to keep my protein count up)
I said all that to say I need my routine and my schedule even the weekends mess me up, So I know I am fretting over my routine being off for 3 wks, I have worked so hard to change and develop new, good, healthy habits and shaking things up for so long scares the tar out of me..

.While he is gone to keep the grass in check my plan is to mow an hour every night ( to replace my gym time) 5-6 hrs on the weekend just is too much Ive done it two weekends in a row now and it just kicks my tail... planning to add may some Just Dance ( Wii game) with K a couple nights a wk too ,while he is gone, after dinner. Hopefully these two will help with the fact I wont be getting my cardio in.  And of course will squeeze all the other chores in there too :) I can do this I just got to get over my head.. which this week is getting the best of me... of well. Weigh In is tomorrow and New Measurements are coming this weekend :) Oh and I am trying to come up with an attainable goal for the time he is gone and will be announcing that this weekend too. So lots of good stuff coming in the next few days... much deserved too after you read that whiny rant :)

Roller coaster of a couple days

So we all know WLS does not solve the reasons,we are over weight. .the band is just a tool. Just like a treadmill , if I don't get on it it won't help w your fitness. .. so Thursday I was dealing w a lot of crap and emotionally it got the best of me. I not only skipped the gym Thursday night but I went over my calories for the day by about 400... w that said it was done w healthy, band size snacks but in my book, a big day of fails regardless... pre band emotional eating would have gone on for days and not been healthy so I am thankful for that.. but just like I would correct my child for not doing right yesterday was a day to correct and get back on track... liquids until dinner... check... gym an Hour & 45 min cardio ( u read that right)... check... and its 830 on Sat morning and I am back in here so I obviously didn't over do it... I say all that to say we are all human. BUT don't loose sight of the goal, if u have a slip up... just correct it.

6 wk out. .weigh in and fill appt

Today I am 6 wks post op.. as of this morning I am down a total of 40.6#s...that is 14 pre op 27.4 post op and 4.8 since last Wednesday!
I am scheduled for a years worth of fill appts right now, this is standard at my dr office, these apt were scheduled the day surgery was scheduled.  However since I was banded w Plication they don't normally start doing fills till the WL starts slowing or we can no longer wait 3-4 hr btwn meals. So the appt end up being more like check ups. So yesterday I went for my first scheduled fill appt.. PA  felt like I didn't need a fill at this time. But he checked me out and I am doing fine. We discussed my protein intake...averaging about 80 gr... he said that's perfect he said can be anywhere btwn 80-100... same w calories I told him I am typically about 850 he said that's fine, 800-1000 is perfect... we also discussed my workout schedule,  I told him how much cardio I was doing and confessed I hate strength training so I just don't do it...lol he said well you found what you do like and you are doing that so that's what matters..
This pic is from today....not a great pic.. no makeup on, I was squinting in the sun, BUT its me, 6wks out!

Worked my Butt off

So  hubby is coming up on his 3 wk AT with Army which will leave me and our daughter home alone with all the chores while he is gone. So I demanded he teach me to mow the lawn.... we have 3 acres ( LOL) ... and a PUSH MOWER... my step dad used to mow for me at our old house but we only had just over a 1/2 acre so I just don't feel right asking him to come cut the BIG OL yard now.... Have hired someone to come in for an hour a day and help with some of the chicken chores while he is gone... Anyways back to the grass so Saturday I set off the mow the yard by myself. I want you to know my legs are still throbbing ( I probably should have skipped the gym that morning since I knew I was going to mow when I got home ) I pushed and pushed and pushed that mower for over 3 hours and only ended up about 2/3s of the way done... I final just left it, in true Christy Fashion, in the middle of the front yard and said I give up I cant go any further... I am really bummed I could not get it all done but Hubby was more than thrilled I got as much done as I did..he mowed for about an hour Sunday and it was done... and guess what its grass so it grows right back so next weekend I will get to try to mow the whole yard again (  might split the yard in half though half Sat and Half Sunday :) )...lol this time with sunscreen on tho, I look like a tomato today.

Commitment vs Interest

I am commited to a healthy lifestyle. Both for me and as an example for my family. I must take care of myself in order to be able to take care of them. This says it all....

No Excuses just Results!

My band is not the diet of the week, it is a tool in my new healthy lifestyle just like a good pair of running shoes or a gym membership.

Wonderful Wednesday Weigh In

Here I am 5 wks out. Feeling WONDERFUL!!! Since last Monday when I posted my lost early for the wk I am down 5.4 LBS HOW INCREDIBLE IS THAT! So total since surgery 22.6 LBs, total pre/post op 35.8 Lbs. Next Tues is my 6 wk ck up and fill apt.. I am thinking I wont need that fill but I am looking foward to the appt and seeing my band under floro.
Also wanted to give a HUGE shout out to Gov Chris Christie..regardless of your political views. He came out of the WLS closet and not just to family and friends in front of the world and that takes a lot of guts and courage, as most of us WLS patients know.
Heck most of my family does not even know, I have only told those that I felt like I could trust not to talk about me behind my back, ones that I felt like if they had questions or comments would have enough courtesy to come talk TO me  rather than ABOUT me! There is a difference you know! Maybe one day I will be brave to shout it from the mountain tops and tell the world and not care what anyone says about me but right now I am private. I feel like there is so much mis-education regarding surgery. For instance this is SO NOT A MAGIC BULLET or the WEAK mans way out. I hit the gym hard and do 60-90 min of cardio 7 days a wk I earned that 5 LB loose last week, I worked/sweated hard for it. Also just like if you take an alcoholic to rehab that is NOT ready to make the changes themselves to get better, surgery is the same, as a heavy person, if you are not ready to face your issues head on and correct them surgery is not going to do anything, it is just a TOOL. You aren't guaranteed a WL if you don't put effort in to it. And guess what IF you don't make any changes you probably wont loose any weight.

Anyways Happy Wednesday! :)

One Day till Weigh In

This is so true!!! I came off my Anti Anxiety med 2 wks post op ( of course with permission from my PCP) and I could not be happier about it.. in the gym 60-90 min /  7 days a wk gives me time to clear my mind and find my focus...

Stay tuned b/c tomorrows weigh in is going to be OUT OF THE WORLD!!! I am so thrilled with this journey.

Happy Monday

I heard on the radio this morning, if you list 10 things you are grateful for, it will turn your mood around to the positive. Although I am not in a funk, Mondays tend to be a ruff day so I thought I'd start the day/week of right! In no particular order.

1. My Husband ( always supportive, faithful and loving)
2. My Daughter ( honestly the apple of my eye love her so much)
3. My Home ( not all have homes)
4. My Job ( not that I'm happy hear but at least I have one, so many others don't)
5.  My Weight Loss thus far ( stay tuned to weigh in wed... its exciting this week wont spill it early like I did last wk though)
6. Supportive friends both old and new that support my journey
7. Loving Family
8. My Chickens ( some of the silliest creatures ever but they make me laugh daily)
9. The Lord that is teaching me daily, patience, determination, balance and so much more
10. Health Insurance ( sometimes taken for granted but many don't have it and it paid for my surgery almost in full, I paid out of pocket pre-op- now less than $500)

Every Day we have choices! Were are your choices going to lead you today???

And this is why....

And this is why I love the elliptical. . Pic shows 753 cal burned in the one hour I was working out. Thats more than I ate all day ( haven't had dinner yet tho). That and the fact its the only cardio machine that does not bother my aching knee:-)
Well off to have dinner w my family!

Back in the Saddle

I've played hooky from the gym the last 2 evenings. I hurt my knee Monday night, or maybe I should say I re-hurt it. Tues I was bound and determined it was not going to stop me and I went back did another hour of cardio on it. By time I got home it was swollen and red and hurt way worse than it did Monday night. SOOOOO I skipped Wed and Thur night. Just took it easy and iced it when I got home from work both evenings. So tonight I am headed back going to do 30-45 cardio then get in the pool. Hopefully that will help it.

For those of you that follow, that are band patients, what do you take for aches and pains OTC? My surgeon said he doesn't ever want me to take Nsaids again, so Advil, Motrin, Aleive... so as far as I know that leaves Tylenol  (or Excedrin but my Neurologist does not want me taking that it effects my migraines) which right now my body is kind of laughing at me for taking like " really you crazy lady you thought that was going to help" Plus that is not an anti-inflammatory so when my knee swole up it did nothing for that at all..

Just curious what yall take.. I have an apt w PCP in a wk and a half will ask him what he suggest too.

Soft Food

Ok here it goes.. got my big girl panties on and I am trying soft food... this is my lunch. Tuna, I love tuna but got to eat it at work bc hubby hates the way it smells. And isn't the bathroom cup so darling...:-)

Pic Comparision

Sorry for a second post I wanted to post todays pic with a pic from Feb to see the diff in my face... not much but its there. I can see it :) cant wait to see what the next month and the next month and the next month has in store!

One month band-aversary!

I can't believe its been a month!  I am so happy w my decision to have Lap Band surgery.
In four weeks I am down a total (post op) of 17.2 lbs for a grand total of 30.5 lbs

Here is a short list of difference from today vs a month ago
1. If you read my prior stat post u know I've lost 3.75 in in my butt.. it gets sore sitting on it all day with out all that padding :-)
2.snuggling w hubby the other night he announced he felt bones when he had his arm around my waist... was I really that fluffy before... I guess so , had not dawned on me before...
3. 17.2 more lbs gone for good
4. Training for my first 5k
5.largest size in my closet has been retired .. they no longer fit
These are just a few a of the changes I've seen in the last month.
Today I meet w the nutritionalist at my surgeons office for a group sessions on how to move into soft food and beyond. I am excited and also very nervous about regular food. Am going to try to address that fear w him. I am thinking its normal but I do need to know how to get over it.
I also included a pic. Today one month post op.