Contest Day

Here I am. It is my quartet contest day! Nervous??? OMG can't think about it at all right now... I truley feel that we will do well. It's just those contest jitters that eventhe best of the best get. My roomie and I are relaxing and waiting for the other 2 parts of our quartet to be ready to go to brunch. We are heading to the Bob Evans down the street for a 10:30 Meal... I've had my hot hot tea this morning in order to take my meds with. everything is fine so far. the adrenaline will be flying very high after that so I won't need anything except maybe a protein bar or some peanuts to hold me over till Dinner... Which btw, won't be till AFTER the contest is over and the winners get their medals and then we sit thru 2 hours of evaluations done by the judges that have just heard us! SSSOOO... I eat now... BIG, then we have to be at what they call quartet "breifing" at 3, the contest starts at 5... We are on stage at aprox. 5:35. The last quartet sings at aprox 7:30. Then they announce the winners and then we have the evaluations... I'm thinking I need to eat as big as I can now, because after all is said and done...It is very probable that there will be no "meal" for me again until... oh maybe 10:30ish if Im lucky.

I'm praying that "Voice Message" does well this evening... Keep me in your thoughts, if you would. <3

Have to Brag a little!

Just a little tho... Had 3 Dr appointments today so I didn't work. Eye Dr first... I guess I have officially gotten "OLD" even tho my birthday isn't until Next Tuesday. I have become one of the "progressive lens" wearers! UGH!

Then LB Surgeon appointment was to be for a 3rd fill however he suggested that as long as I am going away this weekend and being out of town that Maybe I should wait another week. He didn't think I would need the "stress" of trying to be extra careful getting used to a tighter band again! So no 3rd fill til NEXT week... AFTER Contest... Whew, I Love Dr G.

Then my PCP Appointment. and the thing I want to brag about... I am now, officially 40 lbs and 1 of 3 BP meds gone! Now to get rid of the other 2 meds and I will be happy! Thanks for all your support Dear friends!

Thanks

Thank you!!!  For all the good luck wishes. I thought this morning that I should post a picture of my quartet for you to see, sssooo... Here we are in all our stage make up glory! We call ourselves "Voice Message". This was taken at last years contest on May 1st 2009. I am the one on top. One of my very best friends (More like a sister from another mother) is the lady to my left as you look at the picture. (She has been by my side thru this journey right from the time I said I was thinking about getting my own band) She is the one that worried and wondered for the 2 hour surgery with my DH, and then texted me all night in the hospital to make sure I was "doing ok"!!!  The girl on the bottom is the mother of the girl to my right (as you look at the picture) and they DO NOT know what I have had done!

Tomorrow, I'm not working... I have 3 Dr appointments! I have to go see my optometrist to see if my glasses can be changed from "readers" to Bi or even tri-focals, (I really am not that old am I?) Then, I have my GP appointment to check the BP levels and weight and, well you know all that "6 month check-up" stuff. AND then I have an appointment for my 3rd Fill! YIKES!

I am not so sure I will have him put anything in. I'm still losing little by little each day as long as I watch what I eat and don't go over board! (Could I possibly be at my sweet spot already with only 3 CC's in a "Standard" band?) AND, I leave for contest on Thursday night, will be gone till Sunday, and do I want to be too tight and not be able to "eat normally" while in the midst of 100's of Barber-shopper friends that do not know I have had this done? Do I want to risk the PB'g and the problems I had with the last fill, because I had to much and couldn't eat anything for 3 days? What do you think Followers? I value your opinions please offer your advice!

Now, I'm off to go for a walk. It's a rainy day in Northern PA right now but I am not going to melt and I have this nervous, pre-fill, pre-contest adrenaline that I need to burn off. I will turn on my Ipod and try to lose myself in my music for an hour or two!

I have done it

I hate the fact that I seem to be so busy that I don't have the time to keep up with things on here... Next week tho, hopefully, I will slow down a bit and be able to catch up! You see... Next Friday night is a competition for my quartet that we have been practicing 2 nights a week and Saturday mornings for. The contest continues on Saturday for the chorus. SO, after contest I won't have to practice every night of the week and will be allowed to concentrate on MY life not the life of my chorus and quartet. Whew. As much as I love singing and my music, It does become very, very time consuming when contest time is here!

Anyway I am happy to say that I am doing well with my eating and all that is involved with this life I lead now. AND being that My birthday is in a short week and 1/2 I have talked my DH into paying for my membership to the Gym that I want to go to for more "training". I have chosen the hospital gym where I had my surgery because in order to get a reduced rate AND a personal trainer ($25/mo) you have to have some kind of surgery and well Eileen & I qualify for that don't we? So anyway, DH said that if it was what I really wanted he would pay for me to go. I wasn't saying no to that!

Today to start preparing for the Race for a cure in which I will be doing the 5k walk part on May 16th. I went to a park we have here and did almost 2 1/2 miles with a friend. And I am happy to say that I am not even sore... YET! :-)

Just in case I don't get on here again till after contest... wish me, my quartet, and my chorus good luck! we are all really hoping to do well this year!

BOOB's

DAMMIT  I find out what all the Chicago posts are about (I was secretly hoping that we were planning a book signing for BG and her new adventure) I joined (follow) the blog... Even got the logo (LOVE IT btw!) I even posted the link to the boob blog ON MY blog, And now, I have to say... In all honestly I can't go! (I'm seriously crying here!!!) I want to go! I want to be there. But you see I have this little thing called a wedding anniversary that week and uhm, I don't think the DH is going to say "yes, go... have a ball" to me (not that he tells me what I can/can't do) but somehow, leaving our annual BEACH vacation and anniversary celebration for a side trip to Chicago, just doesn't seem like the right thing to do.

God, how I want to go, I really want to be there!!!! How can I make this happen? Face it, Stupid sdh5463 you can't... at least THIS TIME you can't! If I read it all right and the next one is in April 2011. I won't be able to make that one either... I'll be on the singing competition stage again. Dammit! Dammit... DAMMIT!!!

Can I still Order a shirt to support the function and pray that I will be able to make one after April?

Chicago???

I've got to catch up I swear... I've been sitting here reading and reading and all of a sudden I realize that EVERYONE is posting something or another about going to Chicago... Now, I know I have been a little out of touch for a few days but that's no reason to plan a trip together WITHOUT ME!!! (And Eileen of course) :-( Wha'd I do to you all? that pissed you off so bad? JK

Can someone PLEASE help a fellow bandster out here and let me know what is going on? why is everyone going to Chicago? And when? I wanna come................ If I can?

Happy Birthday To DH

I just have a moment to make a quick post! And About all the time I have is to say...

"Happy Birthday to my Love, my DH!"  I Love You! Even tho I may piss and moan and bitch and complain about you! I said I do and I meant it with every bit of my being!

Happy Birthday Honey! <3

Recipe

I just wanted to share a recipe that I just got done making and eating w/DH for dinner tonight.  I've been wanting to have a nice salmon dish for a few days now and I think I just found a very good one.

Salmon with Dill Sauce Recipe


2 Salmon filets about 2 lbs
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 medium onion, sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/2 cups Chicken Broth or 1 1/2 cups water and two Chicken Bouillon cubes  (I used the low sodium chicken broth, I mean we have it for our clear liquids stage so why not? Plus it's lower in sodium than bouillion cubes)

Remove skin from the Salmon filets. In a large skillet add the butter, onion, salt, lemon juice, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Add the salmon filets and cook covered for 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily. Remove filets to serving platter and pour dill sauce over the salmon filets and serve.

Dill Sauce:

1 1/2 cups Milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons chopped onion
2 teapoons dill weed
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon lemon juice
In a small sauce pan, cook the onion in the butter till tender. Stir in the flour, Dill and lemon juice. Add the Milk and stir till the sauce thickens, stiring constantly.

Serves four. (Or 1 LB'er and one very healthy and hearty appetited husband!) :-)

I served this with Brussel Sprouts that were tossed in olive oil, sprinkled with sea salt and pepper and baked at 400 degrees till they were just browning.  I have NO Idea how many calories it is if you are a calorie counter (I'm not) But it is really good... lots of protien and flavor. Even Eileen liked it as long as I chewed well and took small bites!  If you happen to try it let me know what you think! Or if you have any other salmon recipes that you want to share PLEASE DO!!!

Where does the time go?

I wanted to post on here long before today but have just been so damn busy it is pathetic...

Eileen and I are doing well... only had one sliming episode this week and all in all have been keep things down and to a good minimal meal balance. Have gained 2 of the pounds back that I lost when the restriction was to tight but I think that alot of that was because I was NOT getting enough water in and we all know what that does to you. Yeah I believe that I was dehydrated and may still be due to the fact that I take a "water" pill as one of my BP meds.

Still can't eat before like 10 or 11 am and that is killing me! By that time I am usually so hungry that I eat way to fast, whatever it is that I am eating till it gets to the point that I think it is going to get stuck then I realize what I have done and stop. usually 3 maybe 4 bites into the meal.  I have been doing better this week. with the water. still not getting my 80 oz in like I was before but I'm thinking that if I can manage at least 40 during the day I will be able to get back up to the huge amounts. Or maybe on the 26th when I go to see my PCP she will start taking me off the BP meds and (at the very least) get rid of the water pill.

Anyway yesterday As one of my mini goal "rewards" I went and had a facial and got my hair colored back to my natural color, which is light to medium brown, and here is what I looked like after that! At the facial, I could have spent well over $200 but I will save that for another goal reward.  Please excuse my arm in the post however I am not real good at taking the self portrait yet!

Have a Happy relaxing Sunday! I hope to post on here a little more often, but right now I am off to the store to buy some things for a salmon dish that I want to make for dinner tonight with rice and brussel sprouts!

YES, It Was!

A very Happy Easter Indeed. I ate, I enjoyed Family, I participated in an Egg hunt! And the best of all... There was no PB'ing! YAHOOO!!! Real Food, Not sticking to liquids and No explaining why I was in the bathroom so much to a family that has no idea about my LB! Everyone even made comments about my 40 pound loss and that I look great! Even my Dad, This picture is he and I (greatest man in the world to me) Told me how proud he was of me! Since my mother passed away due to complications of Morbid Obesity, His statement today means more than any of you can ever imagine. You can't really see the weight loss in this picture as I still have a pudgie face BUT... you can see it more in this picture as I don't have the double (and Triple) chins any longer!!!

It Has been a Very Happy Easter indeed!  :-)

Happy Easter!

I just wanted to say that before I go off to family's house for what may be a very long and trying day!

I thought Eileen & I had come to an agreement the other day but it seems that yesterday she decided to shut communication down on me again. WTF? I got thru my morning breakfast of hot Tea and then a slice of toast. And got all the meds down. But then, for some reason I felt a lump in my throat. Didn't bother me except when I was trying to drink my water. I had to make Macaroni and Cheese by my father's request so I did that yesterday and yes I munched on the cheese as I was cutting it up and yeah you guessed it... Even tho I sucked on that cheese till it was mush, I slimed twice trying to have some chicken for lunch. Then, I got some soup down for dinner.

Today I woke up with what felt like a "swollen" throat. But I have gotten my coffee and meds down. No sliming yet. Also No breakfast yet. My throat isn't sore, it just feels "swollen" inside. Like I have a very tiny hole there to get things down thru. I want to have some eggs before heading out for the day but am so afraid to even try... And Then What am I going to say when I can't eat anything for Dinner this afternoon???

All I can do is Pray to God for a good day ahead... PLEASE, let me get thru this day without a slime!

Oh And HAPPY EASTER To all my Blog/bander buddies! Have a great Day!

Turning a Corner

I believe that Eileen and I have come to an understanding. FINALLY!!! I think!

I was so afraid that I was about to have more "unfill" until yesterday when I was able to eat a 1/2 slice of very toasted pumpernickel toast for breakfast... A 1 cup bowl of Healthy Choice vegetable soup, and a snack pack applesauce for lunch, AND a 1/2 sausage patty with peppers & onions for dinner, (no roll of course) and I am very, VERY happy to say that they all stayed down. nothing got stuck. I had NO sliming. AND I was very full after eating each meal!

I think my nurse that I spoke to when I called about getting another little amount out gave me the right idea for me. For my first few days after a fill, in order to eat (after the 24-48 hours of liquids) I'm going to have to have some very hot liquids to drink first. You see, as she explained to me on Thursday, hot restricts (or has the shrinking effect on) the saline in the band. Cold expands it (or can make it feel much tighter, therefore not allowing things to go thru). So I did an experiment... When I was about to eat anything, I would either eat a fruit Popsicle first or drink a cup of very hot tea/coffee/cider. And ya know what? When I had the popsicle... I could not eat without choking or feeling stuck, sliming and PB'ing, being in pain and/or throwing up. When I drank the hot liquid, I was fine... the soup??? I drank 2 or 3 sips of the broth first. And Of course the veggies were really mushy so that probably helped too

If this is the only way I can get 3 meals a day in and get them to stay in without any problems, then I guess we'll chalk it up to experience and another learning curve in my journey... Yeah, I now understand that Eileen really is in control right now and she isn't going to let me fail!