Week 24 Weigh-In (-55)

Hi All,

I know, I know. It has been forever since I have written. Its been crazy and busy and everything! Well, I am down 55 pounds! Why am I not satisfied with that? If you could see my face you would probably wonder why I am not jumping up and down. Well, I have gotten a taste of heaven so to speak and I am not satisfied with where I am. I am ready to do more to get down to the size I want to be. Ok...so let me back up. When it comes to losing the weight, I tend to lose a bunch then stay at that weight for a while and then drop more. It has been my patter throughout my weight loss. I am so anxious to be in the 100's (36 more pounds) that I have taken up jogging avidly and have been steady now for 4 weeks! But alas, the weight remains the same. Stuck at 235. I don't mean to sound ungrateful just really really eager.

I just recently bought some new clothes. Buying new clothing is tricky because I am not sure what I will be down to but I can't look like a bag lady in the interim. It's almost like growing your hair out! I finally bought some normal clothing that isn't cinched with a belt or falling off my shoulders. I bought 5 outfits for each day for work and hopefully I can mix and match. May the fashion gods forgive me as I start my wardrobe all over again. Right now I am in the "medium hair length stage", so to speak! It's good to have that problem. I actually took some time to reflect on how great this all was. 6 months ago I was at 290 pounds. Even with this accomplishment, I tend to look up other people's progress and compare it to mine. Did she lose more? At what month? How old is she? How big was she? It goes on and on. I am basically driving myself crazy. I am trying to bask in my own glory while leaving my competitive spirit out of this!

I still have great restriction with 2.00cc's in my 4.00 cc band. I think thats great. I still have head hunger and mourn the food I have to leave on my plate. I can't help it. I am mad that I can't eat it all. I am not hungry, I just love the taste and want more....but the ole stomach will not allow it!

Well, guys wanted to check in and let you know I am still in the race.

Hope all is well!

WEIGH-IN (-50 pounds) Week 19

Hi All,

It seems that I have lost 50 pounds!!! Whoopee! Whhoooooheeee! Your girl is weighing in at 240 pounds. Still got a lot of ground to cover but not as far as I had to go!

When I started this journey, I would have never thought I would actually write that I lost 50 pounds. I was actually scared that it wouldnt work for me. I think I have been lucky on several planes. One, I took a chance and went to a doctor out of the country and he was great! Two, I have had 2 fills and I think I am at my sweet spot already. My band was smaller so that might have something to do with it. Three, I have met so many great people who are supportive and interested in what I am going through! Wow! I am feeling mightly special here lately.

I have gotten back on the exercise train and have faithfully worked out this week. I started back with my jog/walk routine for 55 minutes. My legs are so tired and sore but Ihave kept at it and I am doing a 16 minute mile. I know, I know....that might be mighty horrible but it is a vast improvement from my past times! I am really pushing myself because I really want to see the 230's soon. I am just a pound away to seeing it and I am excited about it! I still have to tell myself it is actually happening! Wow! The more I lose, the more I am motivated to lose.

I have finally gotten to where I can eat food. Not a lot of it but food is food. I don't think I need to have a fill for a while. I am not looking forward to going through this again you know! I feel lucky though that I havent had to have a whole bunch of fills to get to a nice even level.

I am thinking that I want to go and get brachioplasty in a few months for my arms. They have a lot of extra skin but they were always big. I talked about it in my video below.

AS usual, thanks to everyone who is following this journey and I hope your personal lap band journey is successful.

Week 17 Weigh-In (-46 pounds)

Hi ladies and gents. Week 17 and I am checking in with my update. Food consumption much,much better. Man how food can affect a mood. Well, I can not eat like I had before but I can eat better. I had one heck of a fill don't you think. I don't see myself going back until two more months maybe. This might actually be my sweet spot. Now that I have that all straightened out, I need to get my exercise routine going again. I think I was just so disgustedwith the eating situation that I was being rebellious and anti-exercise. But now, I am super-psyched because the weight is coming off again and I am so happy about it! Now I want to go exercise to speed this thing along and get to MARRIED Stephanie!! Anyone who follows my blog regular knows what that means! 230's here I come!!! I feel good. Blood Pressure good! Clothes are loose and I think even my feet have lost weight. I have decided to get an arm lift in May of this year. Anyone have any ideas or advise on that? I have been measuring my arms and suprisingly, they have not gone down. I have these dreadful arms that I inherited from my lovely mother and her mother before her and I refuse to go down without plastic surgery...LOLOLOLOL! I am really excited. I think that my arms are big and no matter how much weight I lose, it will be like a flag waving around that makes me look big regardless. I plan on a tummy tuck later on in the year if I can afford it. My arms are a MUST. I can live with my tummy!

Anyway, people, my video is below....enjoy and hope everyone is ok.

WEIGH-IN (- 44pounds) Week 15

Greetings People!

I am still tightly restricted and not able to eat much solid food and to be quite honest miserable. I am healthy though. My doctor says that if I have not acid reflux, heartburn, etc. I am ok and should take advantage of the weight loss. Great right? I am missing food. Missing chewing. Missing eating period. I know that people crave restriction but come on! I think I am leaning towards the "Lets lose weight slowly" crowd. If I could eat a cup full of food a sitting I would be the happiest camper.

In other news.....I have had to think about getting some smaller clothes. My bigger clothes look really crappy and I am a little sad about it. Isnt that crazy. I am skipping over sizes. Its crazy. I did empty out my closet to send my clothes to some friends but I am upset that the Michael Kors pants I bought last year didnt get to touch my rear end. I have great clothes and I am going to hate to depart with some of them. I know, I can get them taken in and I have but it seems to be never ending. I picked a couple of dresses up that I had taken in and they had to be taken in again. How do you handle the whole clothes part of the deal? It seems pointless to buy much. I do need to look professional every day and my failsafe dresses look dumpy!

The picture though is of me now in a dress I couldnt wear for the past three years. Some might think its still a little tight but I think its PERFECT!!!

Anywho, everyone have a great week.

WEIGH-IN (-40 pounds) Week 13

Hello all. I am attempting to get back on track. You will not beleive that I have lost 10 pounds in one week. Why? How? Well I had my second fill....1 cc to total 3cc in a 4.75 cc band and today is the full 1 week liquids phase my doctor recommended I do. Of course, I have attempted to eat real food but I can not keep it down. I have eaten soup however, I cant eat anything else...another soup, until 8 hours later. I am not panicking yet though. If it lasts much longer I think I may have to have some taken out. I don't feel very hungry or anything after I eat the soup but I don't want to be stuck eating soup for 3 weeks you know? Anyone out there have this experience? If so, please chime in. It is very important. Does this thing loosen up or what? The loss is so unbeleivable that I think that if I start eating again I will gain it back. From all my research of this particular situation, I won't but still. Happy with the results but not too happy with how I had to get here.

I can not beleive that I am just a pound a way to being INTERNSHIP STEPHANIE. Hahahahahah!!!!!! I am still exercising every day but it is much harder when you don't have a lot of calories in your system to energize yourself. I can tell a huge difference in the last week but I do what I can tolerate and then stop when I have to. I hope it loosens up a little bit more. This is torture. Funny how your tortured if you can eat and tortured if you can't. My PBing episodes have increased quite a bit though and that worries me.

My clothes are bags! Happy about that but unhappy that I now have minimal clothing options. As all of you can see I am a bit of a clothes horse so I am sad and happy at the same time.

Hope everyone is doing well!

My youtube post link is below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o59Ky1UbuAs

Week 12 Weigh-In (-34 pounds)

Hi All,

I think I have been thrown off my weeks but after counting twice, this past week is week 12. I had my 2nd fill yesterday. I weighed in at 257 at the doctors office. Today I weighed in at 256. I am sure that is partly due to my having to be on liquids for a week. I did find out that my band only holds 4.75 so now I am up to three. I can tell that the restriction is kicking in because I went and bought a smoothie from smoothie king and I took one sip and up it came. I think I may have gulped it down instead of sipping slowly. After that episode I waited 10 minutes and tried again...MUCH slower this time and it was fine. I am so very happy to be able to report more on the loss front. I was truly getting very frustrated at the stand still. I did take some time to think about how far I have come and not to beat myself up so much. I was 290 lbs. only 3 months ago. Today I have on a suit that I could not have put on then back in November and had been sitting in my closet for a year. I notice that everything is shrinking and it feels great! I keep making short term goals for myself to keep myself motivated.

Let me share my list:

• DOExercise at least three times a week for 45 minutes or longer




• DO Reduce the sweet intake to once a week




• DO Always eat a protein breakfast




• Don't wait until I am starving to eat...(I always eat too fast).




• Remember to drink water




• Remember that weight is lost in inches AND pounds.




• DO lose 10 pounds at a time.




• DO Start taking measurements




• DO keep blogging....It is therapy.

One other thing I try to associate with losing weight is what I was doing at what weight, which I can miraculously remember. For instance, When I did my internship in D.C. I was 240 pounds. When I got married, I was 238 pounds. When I was Miss Spanish Club, I was 217 pounds. Don't laugh! This system works for me!!! LOL! So, after I reach 250 (which incidentally was my trigger weight to tell me to start losing weight!), my next goal will be INTERNSHIP STEPHANIE!

Thanks to Jennifer who keeps me on my toes and in good spirits.

Have a great week gang!

WEIGH-IN (-30 pounds) Week 10

Hola comrades. I am checking in one day before Week 11. It has been a crazy couple of weeks and I am late in my blogs. Thank Jennifer who reminded me that I am behind and need to get on the ball. Thanks Jen!

Anyway...I am down only 30 pounds in 11 weeks. I had my first fill last month on the 12th and will have another one on the 16th of February. I am a little discouraged because it seems that I struggle with the same 3 pounds all the time. Now I am fighting 259 - 262. Go figure. My first fill had 2 cc's saline and I am hoping for more restriction after this second one. I am really trying to get to 250 in the next month.

Part of it is my fault. I have been remiss in my exercise routine and have dropped the ball for the past two weeks. This weather has me down. It has been so cold and miserable and I am so ready for some hot weather. It is funny how weather affects my mood. I am a Floridian and I NEED sunshine and warmth because I love being outside. I know that I will do better when the weather changes so I am trying not to stress about it. I know I am ok because I havent GAINED any weight....right??

Anyway, I went skiing this past weekend to celebrate my birthday so I will include a picture. I am pretty bundled up so don't hold it against me.

I will get back on track with the posts and hope all of you are doing well. Please send some words or experiences of encouragement. I need them!

WEIGH-IN (-30 pounds) Week 8

Greetings Lap Banders and Lap Bander fans! I am reporting in at a whooping 30 pounds lighter. I have included a few pictures onm this post although my outfit is not form fitting I can tell..HA! Also, don't I look like I am about to kill someone? LOL. I wasnt. I happier photo in the second one.

I had my first fill January 12th. This week has been a little crazy. Directly after the fill, I was able to eat mushies the next day. However, since yesterday, I have not been able to down any solid foods....even in very small bites. This morning I tried eggs and hash mushed up. Even taking the small bites, brought on so much pain and rejection, I had to stop. This has brought me to a brand new experience. When food doesnt go down, it feels like I am having a heart attack. It is not throwing up exactly, but a pain in your chest and then food moving back up to your mouth and out. Not to be gross or anything but it is awful. So instead of eating, I am back to protein drinks and other liquids. I won't even touch soup at this point that is not just clear broth. These past episodes have made me afraid to even try to eat anything. I am not afraid though. My reading on lapbandtalk.com has said that the band may get tighter a little time after the fill. Regardless, this is my experience and at least I was prepared for it. No problem right? Right! My boyfriend however, is very concerned and told me that I didnt have to do this. I was fine the way I was and he doesnt like seeing me suffer. Isnt that the sweetest thing you have every heard?? I think so.

Exercise has been a little difficult this week, but I will try and get back on it this week. I had to travel quite a bit and that always throws my schedule off. BLECH! I will get it together this week.

Anyway, have a great day and hope all is going well!!!!

(11/21/08) 290
(12/1/08) 273
(12/7/08) 268
(12/14/08) 270
12/21/08) 268

(1/19/09) 260

Check out my lastest youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYlj_vwe1b8

WEIGH-IN (-25 pounds) Week 7

Oh happy day! I weighed in today at my docs office and I am down 25 pounds. In addition to that I also had my FIRST fill today. First, let me say that I love my doctor. I found him in Dallas Texas and he is wonderful. His name is Dr. Jayaseelan Nirmal MD 7777 Forest LnDallas, TX 75230972-566-2263. He was nice and funny and his staff was awesome. Today was my first visit to him and it was a great experience. I travel alot with my job so although I reside in Tennesseee, I am here on business quite a bit and it was convenient. His rates are great too.

Folks, the fill was painless and quick and he does all of his under flouroscopy. I have a 4cc band and today he put 2cc's in it. He put numbing medicine in the site of entry and then put the 2 cc's in. I felt fine. I have been eating soup since he recommends eating clear liquids for the first 24-48 hours then on to regular liquids. I had some broth and kept on trucking! I am hungry though and I just ordered more soup.

I am happy to have had such a great experience and I am on my way to work out now. I feel really uplifted and hope that 2 cc's will give me a great start.

Here is my latest youtube video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGiiJWvVAKk

Week 6 Weigh-In (-24 pounds)

Happy New Year People!!!

Still at war!!!! The fight is different now. I am now at war with my next three pounds. Instead of telling you all that I have teetered between 20 to 23 pounds, I am now tottering between 23 and 26 pounds. It's the evil three pound rule (LOL)! I am in good spirits and recovered from my cookie eating binge....especially since I ate them all and they are now gone....NOT to be replaced. Thanks for the post to my cookie monster posting. I literally laughed till my sides split. Read it....its funny and sympathetic at the same time.

Since the cookie monster post, I have turned it up a notch (as Emeril says) and I have been an exercising fiend. I strongly advocate you all to buy any of the biggest loser videos. My favorites are cardiomax and Jillian Michaels front and backside workouts. Not the official name but easy enough to find. I have been working out twice a day since "cookie monster". Since I had some time off for the holiday, I just threw myself into the workout. Now I am back at work and yesterday during lunch I jogged/walked 2 miles and cardio lifted for 15 minutes. I am so glad to be at work and not at home thinking about what is in my pantry and fridge. Gheesh! I am a horrible stay at home person and god bless any of you who are stay at home mom's and such who have the discipline to eat right and not go overboard. I would have ballooned to twice my size if left to my own devices!

My first fill is in 6 days and I am super excited because despite my plunges into sugar darkness, I am showing signs of loss and that is without the fill. With the fill, I should be able to accomplish more. Part of me wants to take advantage of this 'open' time and eat all that my little heart desires but I am not going to do it. I eat plenty now as it is. I do have problems with tuna and chicken going down though. I think I don't take the time to chew as much as I should but to be honest, all that chewing takes the fun out of it for me so I have been eating a lot of fish. All kinds. Tilapia, salmon and trout are my favorites and I fix them all kinds of ways.....blackened, bourbon, baked/breaded. Yummy. I still keep one staple the same since my liquid days and that is to drink one or two Atkins Advantage shakes a day. One every morning and another if I need it as a snack. Need meaning that I am in a rush and/or too lazy to cook myself something.

Anyway, happy holidays lap-banders! I hope your year is starting off just right!