Calorie Counting etc..... what's your plan?

What has it been since I posted last... a week?  Two?  Seems like the time has passed so quickly.  At my last post, I was STUCK. And it hurt. A lot.  I went for an unfill and she removed .75 ccs.  And I put seven pounds on as fast as they came off.  So then yesterday, I had .25 put back in.

That is the story of my life.  Get fill....too tight....lose weight... get stuck, unfill.... gain weight..... and get a fill again.  If you look at my weight chart, you will see the pattern there.  Up and down and up again.  It is just a wee bit aggravating.  I am so close to the 100 pound mark, and just a little farther than that to onederland.

So, I guess this is the point when I quit waiting for the band to tell me when to stop and I start being more concerned about calories. 

My nurse told me she wants me at 1100-1200 calories. 

So this is my question -- and believe me, ALL ideas are welcome.   What kind of plan do you all use to keep track of calories? I have used Sparkspeople in the past, but it takes so dang much time to do the food searches. And how do you account for things like homemade recipes that you have no idea what the calorie count is? 

My favorite plan ever was based on Diabetic exchanges, but I am not sure how many exchanges would equal the calorie range I need to be at. 

This morning, I had my protein shake for breakfast.  It is 1030 now, and I am ready for something else, but trying to hold out til it is closer to lunch time.  It seems like a long wait.  But, I am headed for a long hot bubble bath with my book, a novel about Marie Antoinette.  (Fascinating!)   My first thought was to take my sugar free hot apple cider to sip on in the meantime, but I have also been advised to cut out the artificial sweeteners, even fruit sweeteners.  Bah!!!!!!!   Yup, definitely need that hot bath!

If nothing else, I can't get in the fridge unless I scare my children with a naked streak to the kitchen!!

Happy Saturday to you!!

Lapband and flight

I am looking forward to the drive to the Big City.  I might even pack my laptop in case the sun is shining, so I can enjoy the city for a little longer. 

I am not looking forward to the weigh-in.  So much stress in the last few weeks and I have been PIGGING OUT.  Even after the last fill. But, I have a tendency to get tight with stress, so I have been super cautious with fills. But hey, I am not losing weight at this point, so really, I need this.  Even if I am tight.  

Silly thing is.... I may need an unfill in 2 weeks.... I am flying across the country to visit family for 10 days. My nurse, who also has the band -- ge4ts tight when she flies.  I am curious to know what everyone else's experiences have been with that.... I don't want to be throwing up for 10 days of vacation, nor do I want to be on liquids .... first time eating real southern food.... I would like to at least be able to taste it!

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.