Success!!!! Well, maybe.

The band was nice to me -- tightness went away so I could eat some of Thanksgiving dinner, and some pie.... went out to eat a couple times, and I have one more thanksgiving meal to get through today. 

Of course, it has been a little crazy here, so I haven't gone to the gym, so I am not sure what that is going to do to me.  

I am supposed to go to the Big City for a weigh-in tomorrow, but it has been snowing all night.... and the storm wasn't even supposed to start til tonight.  So -- I am thinking I will call and cancel my appointment for now.  The vomiting-PB-slimy crap has stopped.  I can't eat every meal, but more than I was.  So the only reason I need to go tomorrow is to step on the scale.  LOL -- give me a week at the gym and then I will go.

Thanksgiving Day went well with the family.  As always, I enjoyed my family -- I love being in a family like mine.  And dinner with the in-laws was not so bad, considering we went there twice.... before Grandma's and after grandma's.  

On the before trip, everyone was diving into the snacks and talking.... only one of the cousins even acknowledged I was there. But later, some others walked right up and introduced themselves to me, which was nice.  There were still alot of people there, and I am not fond of crowds, so it was a little weird.  But... as more people left and I could loosen up a bit, then it was actually kind of nice. 

My sister-in-law called -- she lives back east.  She stayed here with our family while my brother was deployed and I just miss her so much now that she has gone back to her own home. 

We did a lot of shopping this weekend... both for Christmas, and for the house.  Get this --- we managed to hit one hell of a clearance sale at Lowe's!!!!  We got the most beautiful wall sconces. Regular price: $88.  Clearance Price; $17.90.  But hey, it's Thanksgiving and we want this GONE, so take another 90% off of everything on this rack.  Final price: $1.70   There was one light on the rack, so we snatched it up. And then, as I was wandering (waiting for the husband) I happened to notice three more way up high on the shelf.  So..... I grabbed a store manager, and YES, I got three more at the same price. Wahooo!!!!  I don't like shopping much, but who can complain about that???

Tomorrow is back to the grind..... even if I don't do a weigh-in, I will make it back to the gym.  If that is the only thing I do all day, I must go to the gym.  I am sure I will be back to 20 minutes on the elliptical after not going this week. But it shouldn't be too hard to get back up to 30.  

That's all for a weekend.  I hope you all had a really nice band-happy holiday.   

I am thankful for......

So many things.

I am thankful for my lapband, my parents who helped me get it, the family who gets it, and the husband who never, ever makes me feel bad if he takes me out to dinner and I just can't eat. I am thankful for the pounds lost and health gained.  I am thankful for the support I have found online.... on my Twitter page, and from all of YOU pushed the little follow button because you thought I might have something interesting to say.

I am thankful for my daughters.  All four of them are beautiful, amazing girls.  They mind their manners, they mind their momma, they are all 4.0 students and they are so kind to each other and the people around them.  I lve those girls so much.  They make my job as a momma so easy.

I am incredibly thankful for my family.  I am so lucky to have a drama-free family where we really just all get along and enjoy one another's company. 

Did I mention my husbands?  My ex, who was an ass, who made be learn to be incredibly strong and independent. How can I not be thankful for that?  Life lessons are life lessons, even if they come with heartache.   But even better is my new husband ... my Marine.  I am thankful he wouldn't take no for an answer. He has such an infectious personality that the girl who swore she was never getting married again couldn't say no twice. :)  He takes such good care of us.... me and my girls.  Where our lives were once filled with anger and anxiety, now there is laughter. And I love it.

Above all, I am thankful for blue sky and sunshine and I will be forever happy when I get my summer back. :)

Never thought I would see the day

I used to eat like every meal was my last. No restraint. Whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. 

I never thought I would see the day when I would just appreciate the ability to eat, when I would savor even a tiny bowl of soup because I just never know what is going to stay down. 

The ol' band is tight again.  I was on mostly liquid yesterday.  I did manage a few crackers in the middle of the day but that was it.  I have had a sip of chocolate milk this morning and I am thinking today will be about the same.  

Liquids get really old. 

And tomorrow is Thanksgiving. 

Hmmmm. What in the hell am I going to do about that?

Once through the lips, forever on the hips

The weekend is over.  Husband and the dog have gone to work on our house and the girlies have all gone to school.   So I get the entire house all to myself.  Even with the TV on, I can actually hear myself think! Of course, that mean I have to take a look at this last week. 

I went to the Big City a week ago today for a bit of an unfill. In the last few months, I seem to be either way too freaking tight or eating like a horse!  It has been heaven since Monday.  I was so thrilled just to be able to get a protein shake down before going to the gym.  Since then, I have been very conscious about what I am eating.  I got my tiny bowls out again instead of eyeballing my plate.  

Today  -- I actually got food for breakfast and I loved it. An egg and a slice of ham.  It was delish and nice tot to be drinking the protein.  But then again, last night was potato soup and breadsticks.  One (regular size) bowl and one small breadstick, with a small apple crisp an hour later.  For anyone else -- that is good eats.  For me -- eesh, maybe a bit much!

But overall, I think I did really well.  And I made it to the gym FIVE DAYS last week...... 30 minutes on the elliptical Monday through Thursday and 20 on Friday.  The scale at the gym this morning said 220 pounds.

This week -- just have to keep watching how much I eat.  I would like to think I could be back at my happy sweet spot again.  I am SO CLOSE to 100 pounds lost I can taste it, lol.   I go back to the Big City next week Monday to step on the scale and see how this unfill is working for me -- Thanksgiving and all.

All I want is the pie..... a bit of anxiety about Thanksgiving

It appears I can't get out of appearing at two Thanksgiving dinners and this is giving me a great deal of anxiety. 

We are going to Grandma's at 2:30 p.m.  Easy peasy.  All of my family knows about my surgery and is quite supportive. So if I am having a tight band day and it is all liquids for me -- they get it,  No stress there.  I love going to Grandma's house. It will be a small gathering this year -- even better. 

The problem is -- now husband wants to also drag me to Uncle's as well, at 1 p.m.  TWO meals, so close together, when I dont even know if I can eat at one.  And his family doesn't know about my band, so I am sure there will be a bazillion questions if I don't eat anything.  Not only that -- but to be around all the food, smell all the food, and not even take a bite...... man, that puts me in a tough spot. 

Because let's face it -- I still love food. 

Besides the food, it is just a larger crowd and I don't do crowd's well. And -- I don't know hardly anyone there, so that is always uncomfortable. REALLY uncomfortable. 

And then there are the potatoes. Grandma asked me to do the potatoes. She is getting older and preparing such a large meal is hard on her. So absolutely -- I need to peel and cut and mash potatoes so she doesn't have to.  

Call me fussy, whiney or whatever you like.  But I do not like mashed potatoes that have been prepared in advance and let to keep warm for several hours.  It changes the consistency.  And believe me --- Aunt has hardly welcomed me into the family so the last thing I want to do is go to her house, refuse to eat her Thanksgiving Dinner -- but ask to use her kitchen so I can make potatoes for Grandma. Besides, I totally understand -- her kitchen will already be chaotic.  

So that leaves me with peeling and chopping potatoes, and taking them to Grandma's, and make her promise just to turn on the stove.  Then have to leave Uncle's, race to Grandma's to mash those potatoes before she does.  Which will be a challenge.  Because if I am not there -- she will mash them.  

Ugh!!!! All of this heartburn and all I really want is the pie.

Don't touch my meatloaf!

I have been tight for days and downing a lot of liquids. I am feeling great today and I want real food. 

I have been playing around with my meatloaf recently and I came up with something that is just to die for.  I always make extra so that I have a good high-protein food in my fridge.  And every time I make the meatloaf, my kids eat the leftovers before I can.  

So today... I am being incredibly indulgent.  I am making an entire meatloaf just for me.  Husband is off working on our house.  All the daughters are in school and I am home ALL ALONE.  

I tried a trick that I got from a Pampered Chef consultant...... I am cooking my meatloaf in my stoneware muffin pan.  So, it is a good way to season my pan and I get little mini portions that I can heat up one at a time. I can not wait. 

And yes, dear sweet daughters will be told --- "Don't touch my meatloaf!"

Can you believe I am still in bed!?

OMG it is 930 already!!! That is insane.  But it isn't like I have been wasting the day away.... I have been playing on the computer, adding pages to my blog.  Since my surgery was actually a year ago, I added pages so it would be easier to learn about me and my experience with the Lapband.  One of these days, I may get around to adding one more page with some before and after pix. MAYBE.  I have never been fond of having my picture taken. 

As for now, I need to get my behind to the gym.  I am not dying to be there... kind of stiff and sore this morning.  But wouldn't it be cool if I can say I made it all five days this week?

Yesterday THE BAND was a little tight.  I never did eat dinner, and let me tell you -- today I am totally looking forward to some kind of nourishment.    I have to settle for a protein shake now, but maybe by dinner time I can do something better. 

Hope you all have a great day.  I am going to do my best to enjoy because I am much like my fellow donut-loving friend... hate the rain, hate the snow, hate to be cold.  And we get five damn days of it, beginning tomorrow. :)

Gym got my attention today. There is no more.

I wanted nothing more this morning than to stay in my cozy warm bed with my laptop. But -- I had to take the kids to school.  And I can't take them to school without passing the gym.  Therefore, I can't go home without GOING TO THE GYM. 


So, I went. I did my 30 minutes on the elliptical while reading a magazine and watching the Today show. I can't say I enjoyed it.  But the time passed quickly. 
I need to start doing weights again. Another day.  Today... I am just. worn. out. 


Had soup and a roll for lunch today and THE BAND has not been happy.  It has been hours and I am still slowly working on a bottle of chocolate milk.  Since I just started the band blog, I will have to update you all and the recent issues I have been having with being too tight.


But for tonight, driving to the Big City to pick up the dog. And en route, I have to figure out how to do two Thanksgiving dinners in 90 minutes.  I am not sure this is really possible.  I am not sure I want it to be possible.   Did I mention I am a newlywed? Grandma’s house is safe and familiar. (translate as: I don’t have to explain my eating habits or the lack thereof).  Uncle’s house… not so much.