Weights and Measures

I am back at Curves, working out, after a sabbatical due to my back killing me...again...

I have officially been there 6 weeks - even though I have not worked out for the past 3 - so time to get weighed and measured!
I couldn't wait!

Here are the "Official Results"
Bust +1"
Waist -2.25"
Hips -1.5"
Thighs (together) -5"
Arms (together) -1"
Weight -7lbs
Body Fat % -0.7%

I am disappointed in the weight - but expected as much. I waited too long to get a fill. The 'bust' measurement can't be right because my bras are defiantly looser. I have gone to the last set of hooks on the back (used to be on the first ones)and the cups are not 'filled out' as they were before. There is room for error as the gal that measured today is not the same person that did it last time - but you know what? I will totally take it!

A long time 'a-comin!

I haven't posted in 4-ever. Because I hadn't lost any weight in 4-ever! Agonizing! :(
Let me catch you up...

I made the decision to head to Snowflake and get a fill from my lap-band buddy's older brother who is a nurse and has been trained on how to do fills. He does about 10 people in the area, including his wife and (now) both of his sisters. Easy right? Well, not so much. See I am a passer-outer. I ALWAYS pass out when I get a shot or have blood drawn. Needless to say, I had my reservations. But I really thought that because the fill was going into my band and not my body that I would be fine. I think that sensation of the foreign substance mixing with my bloodstream, triggers my -lets call it - "lack of awareness..."

But I have to say - IT WAS EASY! EASY, EASY, EASY!!! I barely felt the needle and it was over in an instant. Shiela had a little harder time because her port was tilted (which is normal) and he had to "find" the center of it. Which means that when he stuck the needle in, he hit the outer metal ring and then had to move the needle (without removing it) around until he hit the 'fleshy' center part - ewwww... Thank goodness for small miracles - like hardly tilted ports!

It has been a success. I am now losing weight on a daily basis. It did take a good 5-6 days post fill for the weight loss to kick in. But it is back on track. I am re-learning how to eat (slow and small) but I love it! I feel full again. I don't crave snacks again. I am down again! What in the heck was I waiting for???

To fill or not to fill...That is the Question

I haven't been losing weight. I am back in the dreaded plateau. I bounce between 256 lbs and 261 lbs. I can eat an entire sandwich (toasted bread). I was certain that I needed a fill, until this morning when I was back down at the 256 mark. sigh.

I am encouraged (and confused) by the continuing compliments. My friends - the honest ones - think I am continuing to look smaller, even without the weight loss. I feel as though I am continuing to lose inches. For example, I tried on everything in my closet 2 weeks ago. I kept 3 pairs of jeans that were slightly snug with the thought that I would be able to wear them throughout the winter. Nope. The weather cooled late this week and when I put them on, they were too big. I wore them anyway but spent the day tugging them up. All the while not losing any pounds.

I am confused. I am not losing pounds, but inches. I am eating more than I think I should be able to. Do I fill or wait? I have been tracking my caloric intake to be certain that I am not exceeding the recommended 600-800 daily calories - and I am right on target. I haven't been able to workout (only once last week) due to back pain. I am getting another injection in my back on Thursday and the doctor says that I should be up and moving again in a couple of weeks.

sigh... What to do, what to do... Either way, I am wearing a smaller size and that is something to celebrate. I am still heading in the right direction and have had the opportunity to talk with several women who are interested in making this change in their lives. I love my band! I would do it again in a heartbeat. It is totally worth it!

The Difference A Day Makes

Yesterday I blogged about my struggle with the dreaded "plateau". Today I am here to report that I have officially surpassed the 25lb mark. This morning I weighed and was down about .6lbs. I then weighed after my shower (around 10:30) and was down 2 more pounds! Woo Hoo! I must learn to be more patient with my band.

I know, it's been awhile. I am just in a rut, otherwise known as a "plateau". Whatever you call it, I am going nowhere. Which is frustrating because I work out everyday.

I am trying to stay focused on the positives.

I went through my closet this past weekend and tried on everything. I will shamefully admit that I had several outfits still hanging in my closet that I had not been able to wear for some time. I was just unwilling to admit that I wouldn't get back into them (denial). But guess what - they fit me! All of my cute new clothes that I bought at the beginning of summer don't fit. People tell me they are hanging on me "like a tent". It's fantastic really, but I hate it. That's my good stuff. What's left is workout clothes and jeans. Blegh. It's too hot for jeans.

The other BIGGIE: After getting out of the shower last night, I wrapped a towel around myself. ??? All of my skinny friends are sitting in total confusion. ??? See, when you're "bigger" a normal towel won't wrap around you. It gaps in all the wrong places. You have the choice of having it gape in the front exposing too much or in the back (also exposing things that should otherwise be covered). I have always opted to have the opening on the side - who cares if my hip hangs out...

Last night - the towel closed! It wrapped around me and actually touched! Granted, I couldn't walk anywhere. But when I stood up straight - it touched! And it wasn't even a beach towel - it was a bona fide, normal sized bath towel! Thank goodness for small miracles, they keep us going.

Early Bird?

For those of you who know me, it doesn't come as much of a surprise when I say that I am not a fan of mornings. My body works on a clock that doesn't want to start until 10:00am and wraps up around 12:30-1:00am. However, life doesn't really care what my body's clock wants. It wants me to get up and moving at 6:45am and continue to go until 10:30pm at which time I am required to shut down.

I've adjusted somewhat over the years, but never been totally thrilled about it.

The thing is, I am now trying to fit a workout into my mornings. This isn't as easy as it should be. My mornings are booked solid from 6:45 - 8:00am. So the 8:00 time should be working, right? Wrong. Yesterday, my workout partner, and lap-band buddy - Shiela, had a meeting bright and early. So we went at 5:45am. A-M! Today, the air conditioning repair man is coming to my house sometime between 8:30 and 9:00am. So again, we worked out at 5:45am.

Yep, me the habitual morning Grinch has been up 2 days in a row to e-x-e-r-c-i-s-e. No, I don't feel good about it. No, I don't feel more energized or organized or whatever. I just feel tired. I can hardly keep my eyes from closing as I sit at this computer. Man, I need a nap!

The only benefit of getting up and moving in the middle of the night (it is still night at 5:45am - it's DARK. Dark = Night) is the fact that at that hour I totally weigh less. Now if I could only remember to weigh myself...

Poof! It's Gone.

I haven't weighed in a few days. I forget. Maybe I just don't want to see the scale go up one minute and down the next (OK, so I don't mind the down).

So finally this afternoon I got on and held my breath...

258.6!!! I am in the 250's! I know, that is still REALLY heavy. But man oh man does it feel good! No longer am I pushing 300! My clothes are hanging on me. Everyday my friends comment on the "new me"! They are incredibly supportive and encouraging. They make me feel fantastic about myself.

I must admit that I am excited to see my family. My brothers don't know that I had the surgery. I decided to surprise them. I love them dearly and we have a fantastic relationship. It is hard not to confide in them or to call them up and share my newest weight-loss news with them, but I can't wait to see them in June of next year and be down almost 100lbs. That SHOCK will be worth the wait! :)

My parents and sister know about the surgery (and they know to keep it quiet around the boys) but they haven't seen me either. I know, it's a little silly, but really already I am down over 22lbs! That has made a big difference in my appearance. I can't wait to show off the new me!

I am also thrilled to see my in-laws in December. My sweet, sweet sister-in-law and her husband were the ones to make the surgery possible so soon. Our plan was to wait until tax returns next spring, but they offered to cover the cost of our vacation together allowing me to have the surgery so soon!

How did I get so lucky? I have unbelievable support from my family and friends. I couldn't do this without them. I know that they love me regardless of what size I am. They do not love me any more or less because of my weight - they just want me to be healthy and happy. They are such a blessing to me.