Been thinking about doing this for quite a while

Don't know if any of my dear sweet LB followers are still out there but I figure I'll try and write a short post to find out!

Been a lot in my life going on that I need to catch up on in blog form but I just can't post a year's worth of stuff in one post. To make a very long story short since my last post in November 2011... UGH that was over a year ago! Pictures inserted at the most recent I have of my and my DH taken last Christmas!

My Lapband office closed and surgeon moved 4 hours away. :-(

I found a new Surgeon and bariatric office that I absolutely love! :-)  All of the people there, even tho they are all MUCH younger than I am, all seem to understand the band better than even I do after having my 3 year Bandiversary just 2 days ago!!!

Much to my dismay when I found this office and did all of the testing that they needed done before they would ever even see me. (Which I became glad about after I had it done and discovered what was wrong), I was told that My "pouch" and esophagus were stretched out and the Dr was taking all the saline out of my band and we were starting over from day one minus the initial surgery. We Did! ... Only 5 CC's in my band and I was to tight. Was sliming a lot and couldn't eat most of the time and when I could... OMG, I would go hog wild.

All fluid out, 6 months and 3 upper GI swallows later we are happy and ready to start filling again. THANK GOD I had the sensibility to eat right during those 6 - 8 months of non fill because I only gained back 12 of the pound that I had initially lost. WEEE! Long story short I am back to 5 cc's in and back within sight of my goal of 180-185 pounds. Last appointment was 193 lbs. Altho' at last blood work, I am low on calcium. so was told to get more milk and calcium supplements in...

I've also changed jobs, just recently. I have gone from working with juvenile delinquents to working at a State University! I absolutely LOVE it...


If any of my dear sweet Band buddies are still out there I would love to hear from you!

I feel horrible!

Yes I really feel horrible… I haven’t been on this blog of mine since Thanksgiving! That is HORRIBLE! Will You, my fellow bandsters and support people ever be able to forgive me?

In My Absence: Things that I have missed out on celebrating with you are … #1. Christmas & New Year!!! I hope your holidays were all fantastic! Mine were well, let’s just say strenuous BUT happy nonetheless.

At the beginning of November we were informed that my DH would be losing his job as of December 31st Due to the loss of the primary contract at the Company, Unless, of course his company could get another contract before then. Well they did not get the new contract as they were hoping. So, DH is now on unemployment, aggressively looking for work but, in this economy who knows when that will happen. And I am working 2 jobs to help supplement the unemployment money that he is getting. I, on a whim, I picked up a “part-time” job for the holidays! I applied to be a sales associate at “Piercing Pagoda” a jewelry sales kiosk in our local mall, and due to the timing of my application (Black Friday) the manager asked when I could start and I did the following week. On December 1st I started as a “seasonal” sales associate. I had only wanted to get a few extra hours a week but, those few worked out to be 20 -25 /week for the month of December then the first week of January, my manager asked me if I would like to continue on as a regular sales associate… Because DH was now not working, I said yes as long as it didn’t interfere with my chorus’s or quartet. Then the second week of January I got asked again if I would be willing to advance to a “Key holder Associate”. I thought about it and told her yes, again as long as it didn’t interfere with my chorus’s or quartet and that she didn’t schedule me on to many weeknights due to the fact that I am up at 4 am to go to my day job. So I am now officially a trained Key holder and can open and close the store by myself. It’s actually very fun and honestly a “Relief” from my day job as the stress of THAT is getting worse and worse every day!!! I have been told that, that job could quite possibly come to an end this year if our new governor has his way! Supposedly an announcement is being made about budget and employee cuts on Feb 1. I may be sitting here on unemployment with DH soon too. So, I am glad I have this extra thing going on now! This is a picture of me and DH on Christmas Day!

The Second thing that we have missed celebrating together is my BANDIVERSARY!!! I have been banded One complete year as of January 12th 2011. What a day that was one year ago! Hiding my surgery from my father who was having a heart catheterization the same day at the same hospital and then being placed on the SAME FLOOR as I was on… Whew, but I did it! With the help of my DH and a very good friend.

Then a 3rd thing I need to share and vent about is at the end of the year there was a Big write up in our local paper about how the Bariatric Office that I have been dealing with for the last almost 2 years is CLOSING! WTF!!! How can an office that has SSSOOO many patients CLOSE! Now all I can think of when I read this is NOW what am I going to do. I had an appointment on 1/17 and I spoke to the nurses there. My particular surgeon is seeing all of his patients thru till the end of May and then hopefully he will be picked up by another local hospitals bariatric office and I will be able to continue with him. I really don't want to go to anyone else. My port is tilted downward and he is the ONLY one that has been able to hit it in the first try when he gives me fills. Granted the first time was a little tense but now that he knows he is dead on every time!!! So I wait till May now to see where he goes and then I will follow if he is within an hours driving time! I am now to have a teeny fill on 2/21 which means that I will see Dr G and talk to him about a game plan at that time!

OK, that is the updates for me! I know there are more things that I am forgetting BUT, for now I will keep the post a little on the shorter side. Not to mention I have a lot of reading to catch up on! How is everyone else out there in Bandland doing? I miss you all!

Happy Thanksgiving Bandland!

Today (and EVERY Day) I am Thankful for my Loving husband, My Family, My Friends, My Faith and My Music!

Today has to be one of the worst Thanksgivings I have ever spent in my life! Or maybe I should look at it as one of the best?

You see, I came down with a Horrible, horrible cold/flu this week. I have been fighting to stay healthy this year as you may or may not remember, my boss and another person in my office retired and I am the only one there that knows "shit about anything" right now. SO, I can't afford to be sick. Well I am! Plus I have a concert on Saturday night and I just don't know how I am going to sing with my voice sounding like a bullfrog in heat right now!

Anyway, I have done NOTHING but lay on the couch under a blanket and watch TV, or sit up with the laptop in my lap! In addition to being sick, DH had to work this afternoon, (he works nights 2:30 - 11) so it wasn't even worth trying to go out and have some turkey at a local restaurant. I was so looking forward to going to my SIL's for her fantabulous dinner spread! She always makes the best dinners when we are having a holiday celebration. But with DH having to work and me being sick, plus we get a "winter weather" advisory and it started snowing at 9 am. We didn't get to go or eat anything "Thanksgivingy" today! I'm SSSOOO bummed, but then again, in a way, I am very thankful that I didn't have to NOT eat "everything in sight" thinking pre-band days and wanting to have it all, just to be miserable afterward as you lay on the couch and sleep while the football game is on!

My hope is to celebrate a very Happy Thanksgiving on Saturday with MY family, eat all the turkey I can (within reason and that 1 cup portion control) and then be able to sing in the concert without a problem. I'm thinking I may be able to kick this thing in the butt if I have another day like today, tomorrow!

♥ ♥ ♥ Have a Wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! ♥ ♥ ♥

DH made the Blahs go away!

I just have to share what my DH said to me right after we finished dinner as I was reading some new posts... He asked me "So, when you post on your blog, why do you refer to me as DH?"

You see, he was under the assumption that I was lovingly calling him a Dick Head!!! 

:-) Yes he is the man I married and love with all my heart! :-)

Thought I'd share that little piece of laughter for my evening!

Sunday Blahs...

I'm feeling  bit blah today, I read all the blogs that I follow and everyone seems to be having some really great accomplishments. And I must say congratulations to you all. As I sit here struggling to even get off the couch myself, I feel horrible that DH is terribly sick with a horrible cold I am fighting to NOT catch it. I am also feeling urges to revert back to my old NON-bander days of laying on the couch all day watching TV and eating.

Of course we are sitting (laying) here watching "Man vs. Food" on the Travel Channel... He is at "The Vortex" in Atlanta, GA. and eating some really big burgers! SOME of them even sound and look really, REALLY good. BUT how would I ever even think I could eat one of those??? (maybe 1/4 of one but never the whole thing). As some of you may remember my sister just moved to Atlanta. Should I tell her to go check out this place and tell me what the food HONESTLY taste like? Maybe they really don't taste as good as this guy says they do and I wouldn't like them at all! :-) (Hey, Wake up stupid honey! You did just finish putting a nice pork loin roast in the crock pot with lots of veggies for dinner. And yesterday you did chicken breast with that homemade "Spanish rice type" sauce over shell pasta). This time of year DH loves that I will cook on the weekends and I love that the Crock pot makes it so easy for me. Then we have lots of left overs for lunches during the week. Since he works nights and I work days it's nice to be able to have our weekend dinners together. They are healthy, and he can eat as much as he wants while I eat my one cup and am done.

After my last fill and unfill, I have settled back into the good eating habits that we all need to have... small bites, chewing lots, little to no liquids till at least 1/2 hour after. And after coming home from Florida, I have had no sliming, which is a really good thing. I am thinking that nerves played a big part in that whole episode! When I got on the scale this morning, I am UNofficially below 180! so why do I feel so blah? I say unofficially because I will not post it as "Official" until the Dr weighs me and I weigh in at that weight! I guess I'm just in one of "those" moods. I know I am doing everything right and I know I am losing, toning and slowly getting to my goal. I just don't understand it sometimes.

It's Veterans Day!

And I'm thinking... Having a "holiday" and being off on a Thursday does that to me... I'm thinking about veterans that I know, and those that I don't. How they served this country, and what they gave (or gave up) so that I could live in the best country in the world.

I've been thinking... about blogging for quite some time, but as you see I did not get enough rounded up in my head until yesterday to actually get some down on paper, Or on this blog. I think the reason behind me not blogging, in addition to just plain being extremely busy and out of touch with my bander friends, was the fact that I have a very hard time writing things in a way that makes sense to anyone except myself. After going to Florida and spending 3 wonderful days with my BFF. I found myself thinking alot about and feeling the need to get on here again and start talking. I also need to get back to the gym. That free membership that I won was up in October and I did sign up for a paid one. however, I have been to Zumba class once since then and not even gotten the gumption to get up and go to walk on a treadmill or ride a bike... I need some enthusiasm, or encouragement or maybe just a good swift kick in the ass to make me go again. I love my Zumba so it's not that I don't want to go... I just find that with all the "Crap" that is still going on at work I say... "I'll go tomorrow" a lot lately!

For the most part friends, I am able to eat some things normally and not worry about it when I try to eat. However, I'm not able to eat before at least 10 or 11 am and sometimes not until later than that. Then I have to be very, very careful not to eat to fast and to make sure that I chew it all to oblivion before I try to swallow. Can someone please tell me why it is that you are so much tighter in the morning and then can eat almost anything (and/or EVERYTHING) just before you are supposed to go to bed?  All in all I am feeling well with my band and my loss to this point. I do not have any reflux, but there are a lot of times that I feel as tho I have a lump in my throat and it just does not go away till well into the afternoon. UNLESS I get myself a cup or two of the hottest (and I mean really hot) decaffeinated tea or hot cider from Dunkin Donuts! Then and only then it seems that I can adjust into a "normal" day in the life of a bander, If there is such a thing!

My "happy" goal that I keep talking about is easily within site and now I find myself wondering if I should lower my goal expectations, or raise them? which would it be? Should I make my happy goal lower to make myself work harder at hitting it? My BFF made a comment at one point when I was there and she said she was worried about me making myself sick and when I slime is that a sign that I AM at my sweet spot and should have some more taken back out? I don't think I need to have any more out, BUT, I do however, do NOT believe that I want any more in at least until well after the Holidays... If I can make it thru Thanksgiving and Christmas... Which are HUGE Food holidays in my and my DH's family, I will be excited beyond belief. And then January 12th is my Bandiversary. I really want to be, at the very least. to my happy goal and/or below by then. Sssooo... What do you think banders? My next appointment to see the Doc is 11/22. And I'm gonna tell you right now, I am NOT having a fill that day!

Me and Eileen - MIA

Not really missing... just busy still... altho' I'm thinking that I have begun to slow down a bit for the winter. LOL! So here are some updates for now.

The wedding on 10-10-10 went off beautifully, without a hitch. I sang the best I know how and every time I started to choke up in the middle of a note the best man would look over his shoulder and smile at me. that would make me look the other way and concentrate on the song, not my emotions at the moment. I'll post a couple pictures as soon as I can but at the moment they are held hostage in my old PC that died last weekend and is in the shop right now.

10-14 I had my appointment to have my fill... and yup, no questions asked I got .50 cc's put in. I was good for a couple days and right up until after the show. then I started having problems. the feeling of a lump in my throat all the time and just not able to eat, even remotely normal. Only thing I could get down was hot hot liquids. So I called the office abut couldn't get in until the 25th

10-23-10, my barbershop chorus had a joint show with our brother barbershop chorus. it was a great time. could have had a few more people in attendance but we had approx 175 there and that was enough for this first time having a joint show! my quartet was the first performers. and I know your going to get tired of hearing this but...Can you say nervous? We made it thru and the entire show was a success. And of course pictures will be posted later... again after I can access them on the PC again

I had my appointment with my surgeon to have my UNfill on the 25th. And he seemed unconcerned at the need to take some out. I dropped 6 pounds, and am within 8 pounds of my "Happy" goal now. He ended up telling me that I must be very close to my sweet spot and took 1/2 of what he had put in on the 14th out. So I am at 3.25 cc's in right now. For the most part I've been good at that until of course I got ready for my trip to see my bff for a quick whirlwind trip to Florida on 11/4.

I can only assume the anxiety, and nerves over flying, seeing my bff for the first time in almost 2 years, since she retired and moved to Florida and the anxiety of telling her about my band, AND trying to "make a good impression" as the perfect band patient had a lot to do with it. But the entire trip was centered around me wanting to eat, and not being able to eat. Getting to a restaurant and ordering, taking one bite and ending up boxing it all home because I would have to run to the ladies room and slime. Never actually threw-up. but there were at least 4 episodes where I felt like I should have just said I wasn't hungry and ordered only a drink. But the "coming out" was a success I think. both the BFF and her hubby told me how proud they were of me for doing this for myself. BFF wished she could have been here for me on surgery day. and we both cried and hugged a lot. I love her so much... she really is my sister from another mother.  I did drop another 3 pounds tho'... UNOfficially I am within 5 pounds of the first "happy" goal... Yippee!!!

Any way, we came home (DH & I) on 11/7, (told you it was a quick trip) and the story that headlined the local paper the next day... Elmira-bound Allegiant flight hits large bird, damages landing gear

stargazette.com, Star-Gazette... (I posted previously)  We NEVER felt or heard a thing... it was a smooth, uneventful flight... Or so we thought.

Now I am preparing for my boss's retirement next week. Anxiety... ugh, here I come AGAIN... BUT hey, tomorrow is Veterans Day, I would like to say a big, "Thank You" to all the Veterans out there reading this. I appreciate the sacrifices you and your loved ones made to keep America Free, and I don't have to work! Yahoo. However, I do on Friday! ;-)

Until next time...

Elmira-bound Allegiant flight hits large bird, damages landing gear | stargazette.com | Star-Gazette

Elmira-bound Allegiant flight hits large bird, damages landing gear stargazette.com Star-Gazette

OMG It's Wedding Weekend!

No NOT mine, thank god! Altho I would marry my wonderful hubster again in a heartbeat, this weekend is my Brother's wedding! I cannot believe that it is here already. Brother seems to be fine, Bride is a nervous wreck, Matron of honor has pneumonia, and I am crazy excited yet extremely nervous to sing for them!

I'm not nervous to sing, it's what and who I will be singing in front of. I am singing "God Bless the Broken Road" and there is a LOT of inside meaning to this song for both the bride and groom. I have yet to practice the song without crying at some point. So tell me how am I to get thru it on Sunday in front of family and at such a special occasion that I want to be perfect for both of them! AARRGGHH!!!

And let us not forget that I have this Band that NO one in my family knows about except my brother and DH! We ALL know that nerves make it act up, and I am so afraid that mine will prevent me from eating at all this weekend... Hey that might be a good thing tho since I have a Fill appointment next week and am to get a fill NO questions asked! :-( Remember, we (my surgeon & I) agreed to disagree on this subject??? I've been hovering in the high 180's for 3 months now. I do not feel that I have lost anything since I was last in to see him but with all the commotion going on in my life in October and the planning and preparation it isn't any wonder if I haven't. I haven't been to the gym in a month and I am so upset at myself for that! Oh well, some day I hope my life will slow down and I will be able to get back to concentrating on me and Eileen. I am within 25 pounds of my "Happy" goal. I hope I can get there before Christmas!!!

OK, Sorry for the short but rambling post... But I am off to decorate! I hope to post again after the wedding. Maybe even with pictures!!!

Life "CRAP"

Oh Yeah, Life "CRAP" is the only way to put it... My reasons for not being a good blogger THIS time! :-)

#1. Lots of stressful changes at work, to the point where people were demoted and escorted out of the facility. Others left for other jobs with no notice. 2 from my office giving notice that they are retiring sooner than expected, and now the one that just got a promotion to my office is looking to get promoted OUT and that leaves me all alone by myself in the office that is (when fully staffed) is at 6 employees. I will drown and that is not a joke! On top of all that a vacation in November that I have been planning for months will probably get canceled because of all the people leaving and the office not being staffed... someone has to do at lease SOME of the work! Good thing this isn't a choral trip or I would really be pissed!!! (Like I'm not anyway :-(  GGGRRR!)

#2. My Chorus "fun" stress... we are having a show on October 23rd, just preparing, selling ads for the program, tickets, learning the show script and songs, and trying to learn 3 new songs with the quartet.There is so much work that goes into a "show" and it is all over in about 2 hours on "show" night.

#3. Family "Happy/fun" stress... my brother is getting married on October 10th and I am singing in the wedding... I just found out they want TWO (yes 2) songs at 2 different times.  I'm trying to help the bride get organized and stuff done because my brother LOVED the way I put MY wedding together... UGH. Oh, and we are moving her from Harrisburg to Mansfield where he lives THIS Weekend! That in itself will be a feat... Harrisburg is 3 hours away!

#4. Family "happy" stress... I got a new baby... I adopted another kitty! she is 2 months old and boy is she a trip. the 2 older cats don't care for her much but they are getting used to her... slowly. She on the other hand, if she doesn't want to eat, she is scurrying around right under your feet, OR sleeping as close to, if not ON your belly! I forgot what it was like to try and train a kitten what she can or should not climb on!

#5 Family "really Crappy" stress... My sister that I visited in Ohio has moved to Atlanta, GA. and one of her cats, she had 3, when moved from Ohio to Atlanta... had heart failure and died Wednesday night/early Thursday morning! As much as they are animals, they become our children and my sister sometimes has depression issues anyway... She is a mess and they have only been in their new house 4 days. Already a $5000 vet hospital bill and no energy to "move in".

Ok, I'm done with my post of life crap! I was returning an e-mail to our LB buddy BG from work (Oh and btw, THANKS Everyone!!!  for not posting, and for commenting on my few, as I was the wonderful winner of the SWA challenge, hehehe! BG assures me that my winnings (thong) will be arriving shortly) for support and said I should just send this to my home e-mail and then post it as my reason for being out of touch lately, huh? Well here it is. I was supposed to get a fill yesterday, but had lost another 3 pounds so he was ok with not filling again, however, he said let's get you back in 3 weeks and put a smidgen in to maybe "bump up" the numbers for next time. I'm down 54 total pounds now and I am losing inches because of the ZUMBA classes at the gym. I am happy! ;-) Altho' I have started to become hungry between meals, to the point where I eat to fast when I do eat, things get stuck or I swallow air and I end up then having to go the bathroom and slime or actually throw up.  So I'm guessing that a fill in 3 weeks will be needed.

So there you have it... My Life "CRAP"! It really is the only way to put it!

SWA - What's up with U?

Just wanted to take a moment and say "HEY" to all my SWA Challenge folks! What's up and what happenin? Got on the scale today and it said 188! I am a happy girl with that as long as it continues to go down.

I've had a busy weekend and took today off to rest and relax with some friends! NASCAR's race was in my local town this weekend and I spent 2 full days up there selling souvenirs with my chorus pals. Didn't eat as well as I could and should have but I kept it small and I was busy enough to "work" it off. Now I am heading to my friends house to sit by her pool for the afternoon. My regular routine will resume tomorrow. Work, ZUMBA, the right foods... BUT, I will just be glad to be back in a routine! Maybe not so much the work but, the ZUMBA and my regular eating routine will be very welcomed.

SWA - I don't get it!

I just don't get it! Fellow Scale whores! Why??? Can you tell me? I get on the scale this morning right after getting up and doing the normal P & P, before the shower and it says 185... Holy CRAP... Are you kidding me? OMG, OMG, OMG!!! I run to get the camera so I can snap a shot of it and get back on and WTF? It says 190! I'm off and on again...190... Off & On...190! DAMN! Where in the hell did that 5 lbs come from in less than 2 minutes? I guess it just goes to show you that being a SWA really is an obsession, huh? Oh well, I can now mark down that goal (190) achieved at least! Whoo Hoo!!!

SWA - Follow me I'M BEGGING

OK BG here is my first post of the day today... lets see if I can get this challenge right. I'm posting a pic of the scale this morning! Only 1/2 pound to go for my next goal... Comments anyone? EVERYONE?

And PLEASE I need more Followers!!!

I forgot

OMG, I can't believe I forgot to tell you all this! One of the reasons that I have been out of touch lately, and such a bad blogger is all the things that are going on in the life and times of my family this summer!!! And two of these things are success stories of Eileen, Fillene and me.

Success #1... What you may not know is, I am the youngest of 5 siblings, 3 girls and 2 boys. And 2 weeks ago I went to see my great niece (and sister, Brother-in-law, niece in Ohio) I posted a blog and picture of her on her birthday 7/2, before they move to Atlanta GA and a lot longer trip to go see them at the end of August. This sis is the middle child. Anyway, I left here on Friday morning, picked up a sweet traveling friend (because DH couldn't get the time off work to go) and drove 5 hours from my house in PA to their house in OH. We had a great, almost, 3 days together. My friend and I left and came home late on Sunday. But I guess, one of the best parts is that I ALMOST told my sister about my band. (This picture is me and my friend in front of the Cleveland Browns Stadium, I'm the one on the left, in white) You see my friend has had the Bypass (and has lost 122 lbs in a year) and my sister was so interested in the surgery that a very big part of the conversation revolved alot of the time around what she could or couldn't eat, how she feels and would she do it again, etc., etc... She (my sis) asked alot of things and wanted to know how I had lost my weight. I just said that I have been mentored by my traveling friend and had won the membership to the gym and in 6 months of very hard work this is what I had done. I was almost ready to tell my sister and then we got interrupted by something and I chickened out and the truth of my story did not get told. However, when we left my BIL said to me as he is hugging me... "don't get any skinnier, I won't know who you are next time I see you"!  C'mon... Me... Skinny????? I have NEVER in my life been SKINNY! but it sure felt good to hear them talk and tell me they were proud of me!

Success #2... The 18th of July was my MIL's birthday. and the DH's fam ALWAYS has a party for her now that she is getting up there in age. (She's Only 72, but she claims that she is "Really Old"). This years party was at the middle son's house in Harrisburg, PA which has a pool and we all love to swim and be in the sun so we make the trek to his house to swim and celebrate their Mom! DH and I got up really early that day as it is a 3 hour drive for us and we are the farthest away. Grabbed a hot decaf tea and an egg & cheese "wake up wrap" at a Dunkin Donuts drive thru and we are on our way. We were there by 11:30am but (DH is the oldest of 4) only the youngest brother was not there, and he pulled in about 10 minutes after we did. All in all it was a good day of swimming, drinking wine and eating. I did well with my eating and didn't have 2nds. But I DID have that piece of ice cream cake that had MY name on it. Anyway, the success for me was when we walked into the back yard where the pool is. (BTW, None of these people have seen me since Christmas) (This picture was taken that day 7/25/10) Everyone except MIL was in the pool and when they saw us coming my SIL turned and said "Hi San..... Shes taking a double take now... OMG Look at you! Holy Shit, You look FANTASTIC" and then the conversation ensued of how I had done it! No, I wasn't even tempted to tell them, like I was with my own sister, but they all were very proud of me! MIL said... now if you could get him (DH) to lose some to maybe he'd feel better?!?! Gotta love her! DH feels fine, she just thinks there is something wrong with all of us! LOL

I've posted some pictures on facebook and of course people are noticing and saying things and wanting pointers on how to do it. I'm becoming quite a little fibber... So there you have it. I am not only a bad blogger. I'm becoming a very good liar too! hehehe :-)

It's OFFICIAL

Yes it is official... I am a horrible blogger... I am so sorry that I post and then disappear for days/weeks at a time... Just let me say this I am fine... I am actually better than fine... I AM GREAT!

Today I had my 6 month appointment with my surgeon. I fully and completely thought for sure he would want to give me a smidgen of a fill. and I fully expected to have a gain on the scale. because if all the damn exercise I've been doing I expected to either still be at 196 or have a gain due to all the toning and building of muscles I have been doing at the gym...

(Speaking of the gym. I had promised the explanation of the differences between ZUMBA and Tabata. First of all I LOVE them both, and that is an accomplishment in itself since until this year I HATED to exercise. An I do mean I hated it. I'd take a walk or something easy like that but actual cardio, or a class such as these... Hah, Forget it! the difference between ZUMBA & Tabata is dance vs. just exercise. But they both help me feel like I am doing something. ZUMBA is Latin and other dance moves put to music and it is called a "PARTY" in the gym. And you can't be afraid to sweat, because you do ALLOT! Tabata is actual push-ups, sit ups and other "toning" things that firm up those muscles.)

So, to continue with my appointment this morning... I walk into Dr. G's office this morning and after the normal checks, I get on the scale... I've dropped 5 lbs since the last appointment. I'm so excited. It is OFFICIAL I have lost an amazing 51 pounds! I've only got a very small 16 pounds to go before I am at my first realistic goal that I set, and actually Dr. G thinks this would be a great goal for me to stay and maintain at. However, I am thinking that I will try to go lower... I want to be like BG. She is my mentor and inspiration! :-)  And to celebrate this wondrous occasion, I have decided to treat myself to a massage... It's scheduled, Monday at 4 PM... ahhhhh, I can almost feel it already.

So there you have it... It is OFFICIAL... I am a horrible blogger, but I am a great bandster... Eileen & Fillene and I are happy together in Onderland!!!

I'm eating Chinese!

Well... at least I was tonight. Dinner tonight was, for me, a 1/4 of a normal "to go" container of Chicken, shrimp & broccoli in Garlic sauce.... Oh it was so good!!! And now I have Lunch & quite possibly dinner tomorrow too! :-) I've heard that some people have problems getting the broccoli down because it has a tendency to be stringy. I didn't have any problems tonight. Anyone out there have problems with broccoli.

DH just loves Chinese food and we used to frequent the local buffet quite often up until January 12th this year. No more buffets for me! Unless I can get a 1 plate deal that is. Went to Old country Buffet for father's day with Dad & the family (His choice) and I asked if they honored Bariatric patients lesser quantities deals? I got the answer of "No, We used to, but corporate said we couldn't any longer, Then we continued to do it and they told us if we did they would punish us. so we had to stop." Give me an effing break OCB. You'd rather lose 2 or 3 peoples business all together rather than give 1 a discount and still get full price for the others in the party!!!? WTF?

OK, so today after realizing that I wasn't so sore anymore decided that I will try ZUMBA tomorrow at the gym before I head to chorus rehearsal. So I'll tell you which class I think I am going to like more or even what the differences are. I really really want to go back to Tabata on Thursday so I hope not to be as sore as I was Saturday!

That's about it for today! I'll try to remember to blog again after ZUMBA!

Is it Hot enough for you???

Yeah, how many times did you hear that this week if you live in the Northeast? I spent my days at work in air conditioning, and my afternoons/evenings in a friends pool. there was not a day that was below 95 degrees in North Central PA this week. AND Humidity? OMG... You walk outside and the water just drips off you... Til Friday that is, when it stormed all evening/night. However, after the storms, even tho it was still in the upper 80's for temps at least it was NOT humid so it was so totally bearable! I love the summer weather and what we have had yesterday and today is exactly what the Dr ordered for me to get my butt back into gear. That and I just wanted to check in now and see what everyone was up to? And get some bandster love.

Thursday I went to the gym and tried a class that my Dr had recommended I get into... not necessarily the exact one but he did tell me to get into a cardio class or 2... Remember? Well, I did it I signed up for and started taking Tabata. Oh My Good God in Heaven! Has any of you ever taken a class called Tabata? I must admit, I really really, liked the class, but I honestly can say that I DO NOT like the sore muscles I have had for 3 days since! I wanted to get into a ZUMBA class yesterday and could barely even got out of bed let alone go to the gym and exercise... So today, I am feeling better and my DH decides that we really need to "repair" our front stoop/porch. Now, let me just tell you... It is a solid CONCRETE porch. It's not that big, Thank God in Heaven, But the corners are (were) wearing away and  there were some "pot marks" in it. So he thinks that we are going to go buy some lumber and build a "box" over it and then extend the "box" out and make a little actual porch out of it... I say "are you kidding me?" I call my dad who BTW, lives less than 2 miles away and he agrees with me... just mix up some concrete and put up some forms, build the corners back up and put a light coating over the top to fill the pot marks... That is how I spent my Sunday afternoon... mixing concrete and using a trowel to smooth it out and make it look nice. I really would have rather been up in my friends pool again. But that DIY project is done. And I have another "DIY" feather in my cap... so to speak. :-)

I will go to the gym again this week, I think I might go on Tuesday tho and get a Zumba class in before going on Thursday to another Tabata... Hopefully, I won't be as sore next weekend. Friday, I plan to drive the 5 hour drive to Ohio to visit my sister, brother in law, niece and great niece, Makennah :-) the sweet little 1 year old that I just adore. It will be the last time I get to see them before they move to Georgia at the end of August. I hope to be able to eat well and lite all weekend. It will be a little more difficult without DH there to shove the food off onto. But I'll be back on Sunday... hopefully early enough to post before bed.

Things

I must have gotten my head screwed back on right this week now that I have had my ass chewed out by my Lapband Dr. (Not really) But the reason I say that is I got on the scale today and according to MY Scale I have lost 2 of the 3 pounds that was recorded as a gain on Monday when I was in the Dr.'s office. And All I can say right now is... THANK GOD!

How? Why? What? you ask? well I attribute it to starting and keeping a "Food Diary"! Seriously!!! How many of you write down EVERY SINGLE THING that you put into your mouth? I never did. Until Tuesday that is! I was so upset that I had a gain when I thought I was doing so well that I decided I needed to do SOMETHING!!! Tuesday morning I got up and decided that I was going to write down every single thing that I ate, and or drank from the time I got up to the time I went to bed. I started a document in Word on my computer at work. I write (type) the time that I start, the time I finish, what it was and how much of it, from oz of water or liquids, to tablespoons or teaspoons, cups or 1/2 cups. Whatever it is I write it down... I have to tell you... It is amazing what you eat when you are bored! (which if you keep up with me, you know I do not have the time to be bored, and am not a "just sit around" type of person). Writing it down really holds you accountable for sticking to your plan!  I have had people tell me to do this before and I just blew it off like it was nothing... Even the trainer at the gym I go to said to do it. It really DOES help keep you on track. I used to say, "yeah right, like I'm really going to write everything down" what about that piece of chocolate... or that mini candy bar. (I haven't had any but I'm just saying) If you are stuck on a plateau and haven't done or don't do this, I suggest you start. Keep a little note pad with you when you are out of the house just to have handy if you are shopping and need to stop and get something quick! You'll still be able to write it down!!!

Today is my great niece's FIRST birthday. She lives in Ohio, and I am going to miss the party they are having for her tomorrow. I'm sad about that, but, I may get to go out and see her in a couple weeks. This picture of her that was taken a few days ago, when they got her ears pierced. She doesn't normally purse her lips out like this, she is eating something here. "Makennah Adyson" is her name and I just think she is the most precious thing!

Earlier this week our one and only shower in the house decided to start malfunctioning. The water, instead of going up and out thru the shower head decided it wanted to come out thru the cracks in the handle and out the seal of the hose to the head, etc., etc. Well today, actually it was yesterday, I decided that I was going to have this little DIY project today. (Do It Yourself) I didn't want to have to wait another 2 days for DH to not be working to get a new one... SO, I got up this morning and went grocery shopping for the weekends' festivities that are going to happen this weekend. BUT, I went to Lowe's first. Got me a new shower hose/head fixture and well let me just say that I do not need to rely on DH or even Dear DAD any more! I have now successfully fixed a light fixture, remodeled an entire bedroom (with dads help on both of those) and switched out a shower head fixture. :-) This was so much easier than DH would have had it to be. I don't think I'll even tell him it only took me about 25 minutes to do ! :-P

Tomorrow I will be out of the house at 6:30 and off to Watkins Glen International Racetrack to work for the day with my chorus selling souvenirs for the track. It is the biggest fund raising thing that we do for the year. We stand in a huge tent and sell t-shirts and race paraphernalia while the IRL race people do their thing and boy do these people like to spend money. But, at the end of it all my chorus gets 10 % of whatever we sell and that helps us buy new music and costumes and coaching sessions etc. It's going to be a tough day for eating right but I already have my lunch packed, fruit, applesauce, protein bars. Lots of Water. I'll be ok! Sunday after church, I have a family picnic to attend first, then a chorus member is having a picnic at her lake home so, DH and I'll be swimming and boating till we are to tired to do anymore. Then I'll probably spend Monday (I'm off work) trying to catch up with the household chores. I hope to get into the gym Monday too!

Have a WONDERFUL and SAFE Fourth of July! :-)

6 Months Post Op

OK, I need to talk... I know I've been MIA lately, and I really do apologize... Jenny, yes, fun has been exactly what I have been having. From the time I got home from the beach till now I have been doing nothing but what I wanted to do. With the exception of going to work every day that is.  However, apparently now I need to get back to the work at hand in Bandland/Onederland.

Here I am... almost 6 months post op... had a surgeon appointment today and we had a real nice little discussion about my weight loss... Or should I say the lack there of, in the last 2 months since I had my last fill/unfill. It's not bad... I only gained 3 pounds in 2 1/2 months so I'm OK with that. BUT, when I am within 25 pounds of my initial "Happy" goal, it really kinda hurt to hear Dr. G. say... "What do you think you are doing wrong?" ...All I could say was "I dunno?"

Turns out I am NOT doing ANYTHING wrong. I'm eating smaller meals, lots of protein in those meals, and I am going to the gym at least 3 times a week to do the toning and cardio... seems that he feels that I must be maintaining and gaining muscle mass. So again, No more fill for me today. Not yet he says. then he says get some cardio classes in when you are at the gym and we will see you in 4 weeks and see if you need a fill then... I mean can it really be possible that I am at my green spot with only 3 CC's in? Everyone I know that has a band has more than 3 in and they are still "getting there".

So now, I get to go to the gym on Wednesday and sign up for a cardio class or 2, woo hoo! If you really knew me, you would know how much I really hate exercising. treadmills, bikes OK. But please don't make me have to work for this! :-) I need my sisters in Bandland support here... encouraging words will be highly welcome.

MIA - Again!

So over 20 days ago I said I was done being busy and would be blogging more now. I really did say that didn't I? :-( I'm so sorry band people! My sweet band people! why does time fly so fast when you are having fun! I must apologize I will try to be better I promise.