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! :-)