Guess what? I have a lap band

I had surgery on 9/13/10, but I don't think I really got it until 11/29/10 when I went for my third and final for awhile fill.  I am not too tight as I first assumed.  It is just that I hit my sweet spot (I think)!  I have to eat sooo slowly and take the smallest bites. I know that is the whole premise of the band, but that is what I thought I was doing before.  Wow.  I totally didn't get it until I got semi-stuck for the first time. My weight loss has been steadily plodding along. That number up there?  The really big one?  THAT IS HOW MUCH I HAVE LOST!!!!!!!!!

I didn't want to come on here and just talk about how great I am doing and be all ME ME ME.  Then I remembered that it is my damn blog.  SO . . . I can't remember feeling this good in a long time.  I ROCK!!  Ok.  Back to humility.  I don't comment very often on other blogs because I read from work and I am not allowed to post/comment on things from there.  But, I am keeping up with everyone. 

I went out last night and put in some effort with the hair and make-up.  I felt great.  Then this morning when I was on facebook I found a picture of me from August that I hadn't seen.  Holy Mary Mother of God. 

This woman is not happy.

THAT is the real smile.

I still have a ways to go, but pictures like these remind me that I have come a long way already.  The biggest difference between August and last night is in how I feel physically and about myself.  That is what I see the most in these pics and I LOVE it.

Thanksgiving 2010

Let's see what was different this year:

• I ate a small dessert plate of food instead of two huge dinner plates
• I took the time to do my hair and make-up
• I went out and bought an outfit instead of wearing whatever fit and hid the most of my rolls
• I stood proud in pictures instead of hiding behind people in pictures
• I felt really damn good

This year was awesome.  I don't post as much now or check as many blogs and I don't know why that is, but I am so happy these days that I am not going to beat myself up over it.  I have been working out 6 days a week and I feel fan-fucking-tastic.  Behold:

Last year with my mom and sister

This year 41 lbs down!!!

Edited to add another pic because I felt so hot!  Also, my sister has lost over 20lbs on her own, so she deserves an updated pic also.

10% DOWN!!!

I made my 10%.  I feel like I should give myself a little charm Weight Watchers style.  I have some other NSVs to report as well:

• I am comfortably wearing an 18 from Old Navy.  
• I am 9.25 inches down off of my body total.  I should post my measurements soon!
• I made 60 cupcakes last weekend and only ate 1.  Didn't even have one at the party.
• My disaster-ex flared up again this week and I did NOT eat my pain.  

I have some restriction from the first fill.  Actually, I have a lot of restriction.  I am eating so much less and I am not hungry even if I have gone a while.  It was better last week and this week I am eating slightly more, but I think I am really close to the sweet spot. 

I have not been blogging a lot. The primary reason is that I have been going out again.  Seeing friends.  Working out after work.  Doing things other than coming home and feeling sorry for myself and hiding.  That is no excuse not to blog, but it feels good to be feeling kinda cute again. 


I am going to a party tonight and I plan on spending all day tomorrow catching up on blogs and commenting.  But tonight I am putting on those 18s and strutting my smaller stuff!!

Into the Mouth of the Beast

Off to help a friend make and ice 60 cupcakes for a party tomorrow.  Pray for me. (On a happier note, I retired my old pants. I can remove them without unbuttoning them.  I just bought a pair in a size smaller for said party tomorrow.  I will post pics!)

For better or worse . . . 1 month pictures

First of all, thanks to Jen for showing us all how to do this.  So easy! Jen's Picnik Tutorial

And then extra thanks to my wonderful sister-friends who helped with the photo shoot:  Rebecca, the fabulous photographer; Meghan, the apartment owner with the perfect black photo taking wall; and Catherine, the occasional chandelier holder. Rebecca even made me homemade meatballs because I am still on post-fill mushies. Having a support system during this process is so important and I have such a tremendous one.  Between my large family and all of my friends, I am so supported and loved.

Ok. Can't put it off with Academy Award thank you speeches any longer. 

The pictures. 

Wow.  Eww. Gross.  Don't post them.  Hide them.  Delete them.  These are all thoughts that went through my head upon seeing the collages when I was done.  WHY ISN'T THERE MORE OF A DIFFERENCE????  I can barely see a change and in some of them, I think the afters are slightly fatter than the befores.  How can that be????  I contemplated never posting these, but I promised myself that I would no matter how bad they are and how many months it takes for them to look good. 

I keep repeating "It's only been a month.  It's only been a month."  If I say it enough, maybe I won't jump off of the roof.  Besides no one and I mean NO ONE looks good in too small gym clothes. (Well maybe skinny girls.  But larger-boned girls should avoid this look.)

Without further ado . . .

Please tell me next time my shorts are riding up from chub rub!!

This is the only one where I can see a slight difference.

Can't wait until the back pics don't look like a 5-tiered wedding cake!

My First Fill!

I was dreading it.  Filled with fear.  I am not a huge fan of needles anyway.  Actually that is not true.  I don't mind needles that take stuff out. For instance, I often like to watch while blood is being drawn.  It is needles that put stuff in that I don't like.  Probably something I should have thought about pre-band.

So, I was a nervous wreck waiting for my first fill.  Finally they called me in.  I got on the scale.  Down .5 from the last time I weighed in there.  There was a time in my life when that would have made me leap out of the 10th story window.  But today I just shrugged.  I am eating too much.  I have a teeny bit of restriction, so I am eating less than I used to but way more than 1 cup.  I didn't expect to lose big and at least I didn't rebound from all liquids by gaining. Very Zen.

Then Frank came in to do my fill.  I told him about the weird pressure I feel in the back of my throat when I lie flat on my back.  He said that some people experience it and it is the feeling of the band.  Because of that and because I am eating so much less than before, he decided that I should not be really aggressive with the fill because he thinks I am sensitive to the band.  He decided to go with 3cc. 

I got on the table and he started pressing around for my port.  Then Gaspar came in.  So, my first fill was with both Frank and Gaspar which is terrific.  He located my port and told me to put my arms behind my head and do a crunch.  I did and then before I knew it the needle was in and I was watching the CCs disappear.  It took no more than 2 minutes.  Then it hit me.  Of course it doesn't hurt.  It's fat.  There are no nerves in fat.  The initial prick of the needle through the skin was not even noticeable and it just slid through my lovely insulation.

I am back on liquids for two days.  I'm kinda hungry though.  Ok.  I am really hungry.  I have another appt in 3 weeks, so we'll see.

OH!  I got a trainer today.  More on her later, but I think I love her.  She's so petite and strong and she didn't care that I hadn't shaved my legs in much longer than I care to admit.

To be free one must give up a little part of oneself

I think my band is a man.  My BFF pointed out the other night that a man is usually the inspiration and motivation when women lose weight.  Speaking strictly for myself that is 100% true.  I have always lost weight as a way to get back at a guy and show him what he is missing.  Or get a prom date.  Or impress him with my sleeker physique and make him love me.  Totally unhealthy.  I get that. Anyway, going with tradition, I think my band might be the one man that gets me to goal.  Not any man though. Like 75% of the men in my life, I think my man-band might be gay.  I hereby christen my band after the most fabulous lady-man I know:

Ladies and Gentleman . . . Hedwig!