The Dreaded Gain

Yup, I'll admit it. I WI this morning and was up .6 lbs. Now, I am very thankful that it was not even a pound that I went up, but it is still disheartening. I did eat some pretty high sodium meals this week, I ate out 3 times and I am still very sore from my workout on Tuesday (damn them kettlebells), so I know I still have excess water in my body from that mixture, but it is okay. I'm not devastated or anything but it's a bummer. I know it happens...just won't let it happen a lot to me ;-)

Now on to a fun filled weekend of delivering product (only 3 stops today, thank heavens!), lounging with the family, heading to mass tonight and then watching the race with my boys. It is my first open Saturday in I don't know how long! I stopped doing parties on Saturdays because 1) it is my business and I can do what I want with it :-) and 2) I like having the entire weekend with my family. So, Monday, Wednesday, Friday it is for me and my Slumber Parties and Saturday, Sunday with my family and the gym.

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Weight Redistribution

I read a lot about this, especially since that seems to be the case with me, because I am losing a lot of inches but have "only" lost 35 lbs. Well yesterday morning as I was doing my hair I was examining my arms (aka bat wings). Now, I have ALWAYS had big arms. Even when I weighed 175 lbs I had big arms. Just in my genetics I guess. So I noticed that my right arm is getting smaller, which was shocking to me. So I put both arms straight out and that is when I noticed....my left arm bat wing is hanging while my right arm is noticeably smaller. WTF? Guess I need to use the Shake Weight on my left arm only ;-) I will be upping my free weight activity on my left arm since it apparently feels it is being left behind.

And speaking of behind...HOLY CRAP does mine hurt!!! Kettle bell workouts are NO JOKE. Oh.my.gosh. My legs and rear end are in agony. I have been in so much pain the past 2 days from 1 tiny little 20 minute workout on Tuesday morning. Now granted, I did go to the gym again that night for cardio but I knew I was in trouble on Tuesday afternoon when I was already "feeling the burn" so I kind of hoped that my p.m. workout would help that out a little bit. Wrong! So now I literally flop into my chair, couch, car seat and toilet seat and whine/cry like a baby as I try to get up from it. I learned my lesson, oh kettle bell Gods. I will never underestimate you again.

Weight Chart

I got this off of LBT and had to share it on here. I have so far lost a cinder block. My goal is to have lost a 2 month old horse :-)

Your weight loss =

1 pound = a Guinea Pig
1.5 pounds = a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts
2 pounds = a rack of baby back ribs
3 pounds = an average human brain
4 pounds = an ostrich egg
5 pounds = a Chihuahua
6 pounds = a human's skin
7.5 pounds = an average newborn
8 pounds = a human head
10 pounds= chemical additives an American consumes each year
11 pounds = an average housecat
12 pounds = a Bald Eagle
15 pounds = 10 dozen large eggs
16 pounds = a sperm whale's brain
20 pounds = an automobile tire
23 pounds = amount of pizza an average American eats in a year
24 pounds = a 3-gallon tub of super premium ice cream
30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year
33 pounds = a cinder block
36 pounds = a mid-size microwave
40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of water or an average human leg
44 pounds = an elephant's heart
50 pounds = a small bale of hay
55 pounds = a 5000 BTU air conditioner
60 pounds = an elephant's penis (yep, weights more than his heart!)
66 pounds = fats and oils an average American eats in a year
70 pounds = an Irish Setter
77 pounds = a gold brick
80 pounds = the World's Largest Ball of Tape
90 pounds = a newborn calf
100 pounds = a 2 month old horse
111 pounds = red meat an average American eats in a year
117 pounds = an average fashion model (and she's 5'11")
118 pounds = the complete Encyclopedia Britannica
120 pounds = amount of trash you throw away in a month
130 pounds = a newborn giraffe
138 pounds = potatoes an average American eats in a year
140 pounds = refined sugar an average American eats in a year
144 pounds = an average adult woman (and she's '4")
150 pounds = the complete Oxford English Dictionary
187 pounds = an average adult man
200 pounds = 2 Bloodhounds
235 pounds = Arnold Schwarzenegger
300 pounds = an average football lineman
400 pounds = a Welsh pony

Bandster Hell

Yup, I am there. Bandster hell (in bandster terms) is when you hit a point where you now need a fill and you are still a couple of weeks from it. I am officially there. I was fine when I went in for my first appointment because I was still losing, I was still satisfied after my meals and I wasn't snacking. Well the past week has been different. I am eating slightly more than my 4 oz (because I am still hungry), I am eating faster than my 20 min (not every time, but more often) and I am hungry again a few hours later. Either I still had enough swelling from surgery that it was creating the restriction or I have lost more fat around my stomach and now it is looser.

Now, am I going to eat like I used to, absolutely not (I am sure I could, but there is no way that I will). But I will look forward to my next appointment with my surgeon :-)

I also need to pick up my exercising. I will admit that I have been slacking the past 2 weeks. I love my gym sessions. I love going there really early or really late because everything is available. If I am there less than an hour I feel like I didn't do enough. BUT I am back to hating waking up at 5:15 am to go. So today my husband woke me up, as I asked him to, and I knew that I needed to workout but I really, really, really didn't want to. Plus by the time I got up and moving it was almost 6:00 and I would only have 45 min to workout. So I got dressed and did my kettle weight exercise (same basic thing as a kettle bell but it is a weight instead of a ball...it was cheaper and I can use it for other exercises). It also came with a 20 min workout disc (2 in fact, beginner and advanced). I did beginner and all I can say is OUCH!! Holy crap that is a workout! My legs are already sore which means I will hardly be able to move in the morning. Oy. You want a good full body workout? Do the kettle bells. You will definitely feel it!

8 Weeks...With Pictures!

EIGHT WEEKS!!! I know I say this every week, but holy crap! It is hard to believe that time is going by this fast. For this weeks WI I wanted to be under 240. I got on the scale this morning and I was............240. Oh well, I just look for a killer loss next week. I have not weighed 240 since late 2008 so this is thrilling!! I cannot wait to be at my wedding day weight. Still have my goal of 220 by my son's b-day in Sept. Lets see what happens! I had my hubby take my 8 week pictures this morning and it still amazes me that it takes me looking at myself in a photo to see the difference each month. I know that I am smaller. I know that my clothes fit me better. I just don't see it in the mirror. So, since you are all just DYING to see the results ;-), here you go! You see those rolls disappearing? LOL

Damn The Triggers!!!

Got some more bad news today (actually, 3 doses of it) and what is the first thing I went to? You got it. Food. My office has been pretty stressful the past 2 weeks and I think I have been doing pretty well, but today was intense. I ate my lunch at 11:30 like I usually do and waited my 1/2 hr to drink water. Made it 40 min past lunch and then I noticed the cookies. And I started to eat them. I wasn't hungry, but I started to eat them. I ate 1 1/2 and feel so sick. I didn't finish eating them because I recognized what I was doing and stopped...then the nausea set in. And then I cried (which is probably what I should have done in the first place).

For those of you who don't think this is difficult or that I took "the easy way out" of being overweight, think again. Changing your entire way of living and dealing with life is harder than I ever thought because I never really did it before (remember I pretended that I was before but I cheated like crazy on WW). The band is a tool. It does things to me so that I realize what I am doing. Boy oh boy I wasn't kidding when I said it was going to be a bumpy ride.

I Need A Scalervention

My name is Michelle, and I am a scaleaholic. I weigh myself every day....sometimes twice a day. It is becoming a problem. I know I need help and I am finally reaching out for it.
UGH!!! I need to stop weighing myself daily!! I got on the scale Sunday after a victorious Friday WI and was 1 lb heavier. Okay, I didn't drink my water like I should have on Friday & Saturday (like 1/2 of what I should have, in fact). I got on the scale this morning and it was 2 LBS more than what it was on Friday. Holy Crap!! Again, I didn't drink like I should have on Sunday, plus I had chicken that is marinated for 24 hrs in a mixture that included soy sauce. Can you say BLOAT?! Oh well. I got in good workouts on Sat & Sun night and am proud of myself for that. Today I ate leftover chicken today (of course, with avocado) and have been chugging my water as I should be. I also have my protein shot mixed in with one of the bottles that is being chilled for later. I have been doing poorly with getting all 100 grams of protein each day.

I am doing a party tonight so I know I need to get almost all of my water in before that (since I failed to get all of my water in before and after my parties on Thurs & Fri) plus I need to eat before I head out of the office. Since I don't just swing through the drive-thru anymore after I do a party (that was so much easier....and bad for me), I have to be diligent to get my protein packed 3rd meal in before I head out tonight. Doing parties as often as I am used to has really thrown me for a loop. I am glad that I took the 2 months off that I did post-op so I could learn as much as I have about my new lifestyle. It is a continued learning experience for sure!!

Weigh In Days

I remember back when I dreaded weigh in days. When I was doing WW the very first time, along with my phentermine that spun me out like a chicken, I loved WI days. I knew I was going to have a lower number on the scale because I was starving myself. Then I learned how to cheat the system. And WI day sucked.

Well, I LOVE it now!! I wake up every Friday and can't wait to jump on the scale because I know that the number is going to be lower, even with all of the avocado and cookies I eat ;-) Today's WI put me at 241.3....so next week I should be out of the 240 range! Hard to believe just 8 weeks ago I was 275 lbs. Sweetness!

Speaking of avocado (Ha!), my PIC at work and I decided we need to start our avocado tree now. See?! The CLO cup makes it that much more special :-)

Water, Avocado & Cookies

The above items are my recent cravings. Really?

Let's start with the good stuff. Water. I am doing really well with getting my 100 oz in every day. I love it. I seriously crave the water! I used to be a 52-100 oz of Diet Dr. Pepper girl every day and I haven't had one in 8 weeks. I lug around my giant bottle of water and am a happy camper. See?

















On to avocado. I want it with every single meal. Two examples:




















I even have an avocado sitting on my desk as I type.

And then to the cookies. I have been craving fresh baked cookies, every day. Fortunately I am only eating 1-2 a day, but man oh man. I still love me some cookies. At least I consume more avocado and water than cookies :-)

Triggers

No, I don't mean this kind





My husband loves to say I am his mental trigger :-)




I am talking about food triggers. What causes us to want to eat? Stress, anxiety, boredom, being upset, being happy, being around others who have all of these feelings/emotions?

Well, I had a wake up call on Friday about food triggers. I got some news that upset me and boy did it have an impact on how I ate not only on Friday, but the whole weekend. BUT, I caught it. I realized it. And I dealt with it by using the trigger above. No I didn't shoot anyone...I shot a big boulder and many, many targets. But it helped me get the bad feelings out rather than keeping them in and eating to deal with it. I think this was a huge step for me because for the first time I recognized what I was doing. I am happy to have learned this valuable lesson and hope others are able to see it in themselves as well, before it gets out of hand.

On another note, I ate chips on Saturday. Yes yes, I know. Bad Michelle. We had been out shooting for 4 hrs (and it had been 5 hrs since I ate breakfast) and I ate chips. I had a couple taco flavored Doritos and a handful of Lays kettle style. BIG mistake. No, I didn't have a stuck episode, but about 2 hrs later I was sick as a dog. So what did Michelle learn? Don't eat potato chips!!!

We had brunch at Hash House A GoGo (if you have seen the Vegas episode of Man v. Food, you know what I am talking about) with friends yesterday. This place is known for their enormous serving sizes. I am talking about 2-3 meals for the average person out of one serving there. So we decided that I would share off of my husband and son's plates to make life easier, and cheaper. Well, they have a $2.50 sharing fee that they charge there. Okay, I guess. OR, I could order a side and it would be cheaper. Yeah, just what we needed, more food on the table. But okay. I ordered wheat toast for $2. I know I can't eat it! So just for shits and giggles lets compare my plate












with my husband's



















In all fairness, he didn't eat all of it (our friends took half and he took about 1/4 of it home) and I had the eggs & 1 sausage. I will admit I had 3 bites of his Snickers pancake because holy cow. Yum. Who would have thought of sticking a Snickers bar in a pancake. I mean, really??

Have a great Monday!

6 Weeks Today

My gosh how time has flown by!! I was discussing with my mom last night how I haven't had caffeine in 7 weeks. 7 WEEKS!!! I used to have at least 3 cups of coffee or tea a day! Now I don't need it...it is really quite nice. But I do miss stopping at Starbucks and ordering my Venti Skinny Caramel Macchiato every morning. Wait, what am I talking about? The extra 10 min of sleep and $20/week saved is worth it :-)

I think I am going to bring my home scale to my mom's house or change my WI day. It is too hard to try and figure out what I actually weigh on WI days when dealing with 3 scales (mine at home and 2 at my mom's house). Today I had a reading of 239 on one scale and 246.6 on another one. So I split the difference and called it 243.6. As long as the scale goes down and the clothes keep getting looser, it is all good in my book!

Ego Booster for the Week: I actually had a co-worker walk by me in the hallway yesterday and do a double take. This is someone who sees me every single day. She said "Whoa! You are really getting skinny. Can you see it now?" No, but you can keep those comments coming and eventually it will sink in! :-D

Have a great weekend!

To Fill or Not To Fill

I had my first appt for a fill yesterday and was really debating whether I actually needed one or not all week. I feel good. I feel restricted. I eat slow and don't overdo it. I figured that we would go over things and they would let me know if I actually need one or not. Here is how the conversation with the PA went:

"So you're here for an adjustment. Do you think you need one?" "I don't know but don't think so"

"Are you measuring your food?" "Yes"

"Measuring out 4 oz every time?" "Yes, but usually don't finish it."

"Do you feel full when you finish your meal?" "Yes, I feel satisfied"

"Are you snacking?" "No"

"And you're losing....so nope! Okay, you're good! See you in a month."

For those who don't know what I am talking about when I refer to a fill, the band is harder plastic but the inside of it has a silicone ring that can be filled with saline through my port. When they fill it with saline, it expands the band causing more restriction when you eat. See pictures:
Some people get several fills while some get none. It all depends on the placement of the band and how big it is to begin with. I am perfectly content staying how I am. I am sure that I will need fills as I go along simply because of the fact that my stomach will be losing fat and the band will loosen, but we will cross that bridge when we get to it :-)

Today I stepped on the scale and saw a number I haven't seen in over a year. That along with my jeans being extremely loose and easily buttoned (no sucking in at all!) showed me that I am doing what I am supposed to and that I am on the right track. Now if I could only get rid of this rash so I can go back to the gym...

Dermatitis Update

It was almost gone. Sooooooooo close. Then we went to AZ. And it was hot. And humid. And I was sweating up a storm. And then I went swimming to cool off. And then we sat in a car for 5 hrs driving home yesterday. And then it came back with a vengeance. I am SO upset. I just set myself back another week in the gym. Can a girl catch a break here?!

Any suggestions as to what I can do to stay active while not sweating or causing rubbing/friction on my torso area with clothing?

Why Do We Do This To Ourselves?

So this weekend we are staying with family in AZ. We had a family reunion yesterday, and even though I thought it would be tough to get through (you should have seen all the food!) it wasn't really that bad. I weighed out my chicken and corn and didn't even finish the corn. I did indulge in desserts but only ate off my husband's plate. I found myself looking around at everyone elses plates while sitting there eating my 4 oz., chewing & chewing and timing my eating, I felt a slight twinge of jealousy that everyone was able to stuff themselves as much as they wanted, but then realized that was stupid. That is what got me to 275 lbs.

But I enjoyed myself overall. I love my husband's cousins. We always have fun together and the stories that come out are a riot!! Today we are melting away. It is disgusting. I feel bloated and gross. I haven't been drinking enough water and that makes me feel even worse. I had my first meal at a restaurant (Mexican) and did really well. I ordered a side of fajita chicken and a side of guacamole. The chicken was almost exactly 3 oz (3.45 to be exact), I was shocked! I ate 3 chips with salsa while waiting for our food and ate 4 of my son's nachos. I was full but not overly stuffed. About an hour later I decided that we needed something sweet so we went to u-swirl for yogurt. Shared with the hubby again and ate more than 4 bites. It helped slightly to cool us off.

Then the stupid mistake came about. We went to Kohls so I could buy a swimsuit because we will be swimming at Granny's tomorrow and I left mine at home. Tip for you, do NOT go swimsuit shopping in July when you are having a "fat day" because it will send you spiraling into a funk that is no bueno. I am now all pissy. I am having a serious pity party here because I feel like a lard. I am irritated beyond belief because all of the 16W swimsuit bottoms are skirts. Really?! I do not want to go swimming in a dress. Sorry if you are offended by my cellulite and still fat thighs & hips but I am working on it. Do not try to put me in a burkini. But, I successfully found a long-torso suit that will last me the summer (and I will be honest, I hope that it is way too big soon!).

So now I sit here, chugging my water and watching my son & in-laws playing Mario Cart. I am feeling better now that I got all that off of my chest and will enjoy myself tomorrow in my new swimsuit while soaking in the pool before the long drive home.

Happy 4th everyone!!

4 Things That Are Awesome About Today

1) It's FRIDAY!!

2) 3 Day Weekend begins today!!

3) I had to fasten my bra on the last notch (LOL)

4) I met my 1st goal today!!!!

I wanted to be 245 by 4th of July. I was 245.4 when I weighed in this morning!! That is 30 lbs GONE and I am elated!! I have dropped more than 10% of my body weight since the start of my journey. Now on for the next 10% which will put me at 220. I am shooting to be at 220 by my son's birthday on September 15th.

We are going to AZ for a family reunion bbq this weekend. I am concerned about all of the food that will be there so yes, I am going to be that person who brings food with me to another state. For the bbq I am bringing my Hebrew National 97% FF hotdogs (which I can eat 2 of with no bun) and I am hoping that my MIL's cousin will grill some yummy zucchini so my lunch will be complete. I have my food scale in my purse so everything will be measured out and I need to make sure I pay attn while eating so I don't do it too fast. I am taking down cupcakes and a cake I made (yes THE cake I posted about a few weeks back) and I am sure I will nibble on the delectable items, but will not overeat. I'm not going to sabotage myself.

For the rest of the weekend, I have my cottage cheese, some yogurt, soup and my supplements. We will be eating out a couple times while there so this will be my first test (or two) eating in a restaurant. I am pretty sure I will just eat off of my husband and son's plates. Restaurant servings are so huge that we will all be satisfied.

Hope you all have a very Happy and Safe 4th of July!!