Been a long time...

So I keep forgetting to update this with my progress.  I was stuck for some time and finally broke through that stubborn weight.  I am now at over 70 pounds lost so can't explain how great I'm feeling.  I found a pic of what I looked like before I started all this and couldn't believe I was that big.  Even my husband couldn't believe I was.  So at this point I only have 20 more pounds to reach my goal.  Seriously I have never seen 150 pds since I was a teenager.  I am no longer embarrassed to tell people how much I weigh... and to wear regular clothes... OMG!  I don't even buy XL shirts anymore. The only downside to all of this has been my excess skin.  The four areas that bug me the most are in this order: stomach, arms, boobs, butt.  Once I get to my goal and stay there for at least a year, I plan to start looking into a tummy tuck.  I have never had a flat stomach and I would deal with all the others for just that fixed.  On top of all that, about 3 weeks ago I started working out again.  Let me tell you, Wii's Active game is great!  With the weather being in the 100's, working out inside is a must.   

Getting back on track...

So I can report that after 2 weeks of snacking on candy/cookies each day (only one time each day) I have finally broken that habit. YEAH!  3 days in a row now and the scale has been rewarding me for it.  Each day I've gone down... so now I'm only 1 pds off my lowest weight right before Easter.  I have a goal of 8 more pds by June 10th when I leave for vacation.  If I don't make it... oh well but I have something to strive for.

Double Whammy

OK... so I'll admit it... totally fell off the wagon.  Been finding myself snacking everyday in the afternoon.  All because on Easter I gave in and ate sweets.  I was doing so good and than that damn ice cream cake for my daughters birthday and my favorite home made cookies.  Good thing is I'm still at 50 lbs lost and wearing XL clothes so there is an upside to it all.  I need to get back on track though.  Each day I say this will be the day and than I get stressed and eat something bad.  I am totally a emotional eater... and I was doing so good.  Guess I just have to find another outlet for the stress... hmmmmm.  Any ideas?!

The big 2-0-0

I never thought I'd see that number again in my lifetime.  After I passed it years ago, there was no going back.  Well luckily... I can say I finally saw it again.  I couldn't believe my eyes this morning.  Felt so good to see that number again.  Shopping for clothes has been difficult but good.  I can finally fit into regular size shirts... but pants... I'm on the verge of that so finding shorts for the summer has been difficult to say the least.  Does feel good to shop in regular stores again though.  I also can't believe the energy I have!  My two biggest things right now though are that I am no longer that person on a plane (you know the one everyone thinks to themselves that they hope they don't get stuck next too) and I can't wait to go to the amusement parks again and not worry if I'll fit in the rides seats.  The confidence is growing... and next 25 pds lost, I'll be at what I was when I lost weight years and years ago.  I can't believe I'm already half way to my ultimate goal.... so exciting.

30 Pounds Down!

Finally hit the 30 lbs lost mark total!  I don't remember the last time I saw that number on the scale. I even checked twice! It's been so long.  The best part is I actually enjoyed a meal out last night... scrambled eggs and hash browns. Hmmmm.  Only a few more days 'til I can eat some meats and other foods that can sustain me more. 

Hmmm.... tuna fish!

So I got to add tuna fish today to my eating.  Didn't go down as easily as I expected.  It was a weird feeling but felt good once down.  Looking forward to next week when I can introduce all foods back... just gotta be smart about it.  It has been so incredibly hard to not try to eat the loads of candy and cake in this house from Emily and Morgan (between Em's bday and than her bday party.)  I've successfully have done it though so that I am proud of.  I haven't lost anything and gained 2 pds back since starting to eat more... I only eat 3 meals a day that are small but I guess my body has become used to that.  I'm hoping it starts to pick up again... I'm only 15 pds away from my first goal.  I am happy though at right now I am at the weight I was in 2004.  Shirts and pants are falling off of me and I actually tried on some adidas wind pants I haven't worn in years and surprisingly they fit! 

another one bites the dust...

OK... so I've dropped another pound this morning... each day seems to be a nice surprise.  Makes all the pain from surgery seem worth it.  Since the surgery I've dropped 8 pounds (whoa!) and I am only 14 pds away from my first goal.  The non eating thing isn't too fun but I know Tuesday I get to look forward to some scrambled eggs and some mashed potatoes!  So looking forward to that.  I'll finally feel satisfied when I eat something... cause yogurt just is not cutting it anymore.  One thing I found though... taking care of 2 little crazy kids when your not eating enough equals no energy whatsoever!  The 6 hour nights some days just isn't enough to get through a day with them. 

A week later...

So it's been a week since I was fitted with my very own LapBand and it's been a "fun" week. All liquid diet is brutal... especially when it's your kids birthday and you have to feed your other kid cake.  Since the surgery, I am down another 5 pounds which is great but apparently I'm not getting enough fluids in.  I drink a few ounces and I just can't drink anymore.  Staples were removed today and the pulling feeling on my incisions are a little better.
I just wish that I could carry around my two little ones.  Thats the hardest part I think.  But only a few more weeks of that.  I really haven't had time to stop and think about anything this past week so the whole mental issues of being banded haven't set it yet.  Between being completely out of it for about 3 to 4 days last week, than my cat needing surgery as well to amputate her leg (cancer), it's just been a whirlwind of a week. 
One thing I have to say is will power isn't as bad when you see the pounds coming off.

Night after surgery...

So it's done... I am now a owner of a brand new LapBand.  I got to the hospital at 8am and was back in the pre opt rooms by 930.  I wasn't too nervous at all... just alittle worried of the unknown.  About 10 different people cam through my room and all asked basically the same standard questions.  Joe was able to come back before I was wheeled away to be drugged up.  All I can remember is being wheeled away... next thing I know I'm waking up next to a nurse telling me to constantly breathe deeply.  This sounds like a easy task unless you can hardly stay awake and have this stabbing pain in your diaphragm everytime you breathe in.  After this nurse, I was wheeled into recovery where Joe was waiting.  I really can only remember hearing myself snore since I could really only be on my back in this odd somewhat head elevated position.
At this point they needed to wheel me over to Xrays to do a barium testing to make sure the band was in place right.  OK... to have someone who can hardly stay awake and nauseau from being knocked out, this is not an easy task.  They made me stand up take one xray than put me in this god awful chair for about 10 minutes before the PA could get there.  They stood me back up (mind you they had about 100pd girl helping), and than I was forced to drink barium and twist in some painful ways.  After this they left me in the hallway behind some curtains for another hour I believe.  This is where they started to piss me off.
The lady who was assigned to wheel me back had a knack for hitting walls.  Seriously... is it that hard to avoid them in large hallways?!  Than she brings me over to pre opt where the confusion started.  I could hardly talk at this point as I was still in and out of it.  The nurses debated where I needed to go while one noticed I was shacking my head.  Finally they realized where I needed to go... and just as they are about to put me back in the room, another nurse comes by and says, is she ready for pre opt.  I said, NO!
So I get into the room to my previous nurse being on lunch so they stick this other nurse in there that has no clue whats going on.  First she asks me a few things and as she's doing this blows a bubble with her gum and snaps it.  Like I wanted to do to her.  Seriously... chewing gum in front of someone who has eaten a thing and can't?!  Well than she says, well your able to eat or drink... what would you like?  I go to her, well I'm not allowed to eat and I can only have clear liquids.  Her reply, so you want apple juice?  Clearly she had no education in bariatric surgery or she would have known that I cannot have this straight.  Finally they brought back my old nurse which wasn't any better.  Ask if I needed some pain meds... which at the time I wasn't that bad but opted for them.  45 mins later, Joe walks out in the hallway cause at this time I could hardly breathe. 
The gases/air they had to pump me with in my abdomen to expand it was sitting under my diaphragm which caused stabbing pains every time I took a breathe in.  Well apparently the nurse forgot... and than told me it will take another 30 mins for it to kick in.  Thanks for nothing!
Finally the bariatric coordinator nurse came in and spot to me.  After this I was free to go at about 4/430pm. 
We went to Walgreens to pick up my meds and lucky once again, they proceed to tell us the Insurance system is down and my meds are not being ok'd so it will cost $500.  I was ready to rip that guy right out of the window.  So Joe took me home and called insurance.  They than called the pharmancy and told them to ok it.  So he finally got home around 7pm with my meds.  Couldn't take half since they are in pill form and I don't think that will go down right now. 
Right before bed, joe helped get me some watered down apple juice and some liquid pain killer which was worse than doing shots of tequilla.  I luckily was able to find a decent position in bed but have been waking every hour to use the bathroom.  Damn IV bag.  Than at 230am I just couldn't sleep anymore so I'm writing this now with a heating pad on my back since thats supposed to help with the pain in my diaphragm from the gases.
Lets hope day two goes alittle better.

Low Carbs for 2 Weeks...

For 2 weeks prior to surgery, I'm supposed to go with 60 carbs or less a day.  This sounds like an easy thing to do unless your me... I love carbs!!!  You really never realize how many carbs are in each little thing you eat.  I found myself with nothing really to eat so off to Walmart I went.  Managed to find some things that were either low carb or no carb.  Pretty much got whole wheat bread, a extremely low carb pita bread, roast beef, cheese, grapes and sugar free Jello.  Tried finding some soups too that weren't bad.  Hopefully this will kick start my lose so that when the surgery happens... it will just melt away.  OK... wishful thinking but hopefully it works.  Now to get these kids to stop eating candy so it's not in the house... now that is wishful thinking. LOL!

I am starting to get nervous of the surgery now... thinking how I will never be able to eat certain things ever again that I enjoy eating.   I know within days of my surgery too, I will already be tempted with Emily's birthday being the weekend after.  Ahhhh birthday cake!  Think I'll get her a chocolate one so I don't care to eat it.