Ok so everyone was asking what I used on my scars from surgery thanks to my lovely photos from yesterday. Did I use a miracle cream? Well I wish there was such thing but apparently there's not. I will be honest in saying that I didn't really use anything in particular religiously. Every once in a while I would rub a little Vitamin E oil on them and I always use lotion on my whole body after I shower. I recently purchased some Mederma which I probably used for one week and then stopped. I get lazy with my routine for stuff like that.
So now for the dirty little secret.....
I....
Am....
TANNING!!!!
ahhhh!!!! Yes, in a tanning bed. I don't know how many of your do this. I used to tan every year and then last year I decided I was too afraid of skin cancer to do it anymore and I basically became Casper-ella, the friendly freakin ghost girl. I decided about a month ago that I would start tanning again but not as often as I have in the past. I just want a little base tan and then I will maintain that by going a couple times per month. I have only tanned maybe 5 times in the last month and already my scars are almost unnoticeable. So yeah, you wanted to know what kind of magic I was using....there it is....a tan!
Also,
A little NSV or is it? I don't know. The hubby has been giving me all kinds of compliments lately about how great I have been looking. He has said in the last week and I quote:
"Well, your butt is getting smaller, more toned."
"I think you look better now than you ever have before"
"You are getting so small."
YAY! When the husband truly notices and isn't just saying so to make you feel good, that is great! I think this is the first time he has ever really stopped and looked at me hard and realized, well, holy shit, she really is changing!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Losing inches, no pounds~
I weighed in yesterday and the scale said 177.0lbs. I'm not gonna kill myself over it. At least I didn't gain. I ate fairly well all week. I did have a couple of high calorie meals like some veggie pizza, a little bit of Mexican food one day, etc. So I can understand it a little bit. But I exercised my ass off again last week and throughout the weekend. I can really see the inches leaving my body but the scale just hates me. I'm bout to just say "f" the frickin scale and just go by clothes from now on. Because it's like I'm supposed to be stuck in the 170's for my whole life! ugh!
I have been cleaning out my pictures on my computer at work and found all of my incision photos from the surgery. I wanted to post a early post op compared to today of my incisions and my stomach itself. Take a looky poo...don't mind my bra in the second one! haha Just wanted to show I still had a little cleavage now that I have officially downgraded to a 36B CUP!!!! AAHHHHHHH....the horror!!!!!
I have been cleaning out my pictures on my computer at work and found all of my incision photos from the surgery. I wanted to post a early post op compared to today of my incisions and my stomach itself. Take a looky poo...don't mind my bra in the second one! haha Just wanted to show I still had a little cleavage now that I have officially downgraded to a 36B CUP!!!! AAHHHHHHH....the horror!!!!!
2 weeks post op (sooo swollen...ouch!!!)
Today...(my scars have faded well) Woo hoo!!
Next stop: Breast implants! haha
Friday, February 4, 2011
Happy Freezing Friday!
I just got done reading my comments that you all made on my post yesterday and I am crackin up laughing. I wasn't actually intending on wearing that outfit out at all. I always wear shorts at home because the heat is on and I was just trying on the top to see how it looked. I won't be able to wear that until probably summer time. Maybe by then it will be too big? (wink wink). So no worries. I didn't freeze my ass off.
The crawfish was really yummy last night. I was pleasantly surprised. Nice and spicy. Only bad part is down here we tend to dip the tails in melted butter or some sort of sauce. I had melted butter. Didn't use much of it but I ate about 2lbs of crawfish (equivalent to about 3oz of meat). Sounds like alot but when you throw away everything but the tail it doesn't amount to much. My friends can eat 5lbs or more by themselves. The first round this season were high quality but fairly small. When summer comes they will be alot bigger (more meat). For those of you who don't know what crawfish is, here is a picture of some boiled crawfish (usually served with spices and corn, potatoes, or mushrooms).
They are ugly little things, remind me of a miniature lobster (pinchers and all). The meat is in the tails. So you basically pick up a whole crawfish and pull the tail apart from the body and then crack the shell around the tail and pull the meat out and the tail meat looks like this in the bowl:
Sounds like a hideous process (and it is if you really think about it). If you get some good sized ones they have a little claw meat too. My friend actually cracks the chest sometimes and eats the lungs (looks like brown tissue paper and is flavorless!) GROSS I know! haha I just eat the tails. All the flavor comes from the boiling process and the spices used. Next time we go I plan on ordering mushrooms with mine and bringing my own butter. I didn't really care for their butter. It was far too thick and greasy like margarine.
Anyhoo...Now that I have given everyone a little Crawfish 101...what else can I say?
Oh, When I got home last night I rested a little and then did my circuit training for 75 minutes and burned about 1500 calories in my workout. I almost passed out by the end but it was great and I felt so accomplished.
One thing I have noticed though that's not so great is that since my unfill I feel nauseous alot. Pre-band I had nauseousness all the time. My doctor summed it up to being sinus drainage causing upset stomach/nausea. But it seems lately that every time I eat I just have that sick feeling and even when I don't eat it's there. When I had my unfill and told the doctor that I experienced stuck pain all the time she said that I should have my gallbladder checked out. I know that gallstones can make you feel sick alot. Well just add that to the pile of crap I have to deal with. Woo hoo. Not! I guess if it continues I will have to make a stupid appointment and go get that looked at. UGH!
Other than that, things are well. I hope everyone has a good weekend!
The crawfish was really yummy last night. I was pleasantly surprised. Nice and spicy. Only bad part is down here we tend to dip the tails in melted butter or some sort of sauce. I had melted butter. Didn't use much of it but I ate about 2lbs of crawfish (equivalent to about 3oz of meat). Sounds like alot but when you throw away everything but the tail it doesn't amount to much. My friends can eat 5lbs or more by themselves. The first round this season were high quality but fairly small. When summer comes they will be alot bigger (more meat). For those of you who don't know what crawfish is, here is a picture of some boiled crawfish (usually served with spices and corn, potatoes, or mushrooms).
Anyhoo...Now that I have given everyone a little Crawfish 101...what else can I say?
Oh, When I got home last night I rested a little and then did my circuit training for 75 minutes and burned about 1500 calories in my workout. I almost passed out by the end but it was great and I felt so accomplished.
One thing I have noticed though that's not so great is that since my unfill I feel nauseous alot. Pre-band I had nauseousness all the time. My doctor summed it up to being sinus drainage causing upset stomach/nausea. But it seems lately that every time I eat I just have that sick feeling and even when I don't eat it's there. When I had my unfill and told the doctor that I experienced stuck pain all the time she said that I should have my gallbladder checked out. I know that gallstones can make you feel sick alot. Well just add that to the pile of crap I have to deal with. Woo hoo. Not! I guess if it continues I will have to make a stupid appointment and go get that looked at. UGH!
Other than that, things are well. I hope everyone has a good weekend!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Crawfish and a new top
Well it's that time of year and our local crawfish shack is open for business for 3 days this week. This is the south after all and crawfish is a major thing down here. I have never been a big fan of just peeling and eating it but I do like it in gumbo and etoufee and cornbread! yum. So tonight I have agreed to go with my friends to the Shack and eat a couple of pounds of crawfish and some boiled shrimp. I will most like get the meaux spicy (the spiciest they serve) and the spice might kill the blandness of just the meat.
Also, my friend at work gave me a few of her tops that she doesn't wear anymore and I kinda like this one. I don't usually wear strapless because my girls like to run to my feet without a bra but I have some strapless bras now that do the trick. I am particularly proud of my collar bone in this picture.
Also, my friend at work gave me a few of her tops that she doesn't wear anymore and I kinda like this one. I don't usually wear strapless because my girls like to run to my feet without a bra but I have some strapless bras now that do the trick. I am particularly proud of my collar bone in this picture.
We are in for a freeze tonight and tomorrow. Schools have shut down today and sent kids home and alot of the local businesses are closing too. We are supposed to get 3 inches of snow. The last time the weather got this cold all there were tons of wrecks in town because no one knows how to drive on ice here in the south! haha. I waited in traffic last year for 2 hours to get across a bridge that's like 2 minutes long! Man, I hope that doesn't happen again this year. My friend that I work with said that her dad told her he would take us to work tomorrow in the firetruck, sirens and all! haha Wouldn't that be an entrance???
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Untitled...
Clever title huh? I thought so too. Well I know I haven't posted in a week. I have been very busy with my schedule at work and just had no time. But it's a new month and my schedule has changed and it gives me a little more spare time to keep up with posting and reading up on my fellow bloggers.
.................................................................................................................................
To Barbara:
First, I would just like to say (belated, unfortunately) that I am so sorry Barbara for what you are going through. I just found out yesterday because I happened to notice that Sandy Lee commented on my post from last week for a second time and she said something about the sadness going on in blogland right now and that she knows I don't cope with loss well (thank you Sandy Lee for being concerned about me, that touched my heart). I instantly realized something awful must have happened and Barb was the first person that came to mind. So I frantically looked through one post after another and found it. I am literally heart broken over this. I feel so awful. I just have no words. I just wish words were enough but nothing really is enough. Only time can help and even that doesn't fix your heart. Hang in there. My heart goes out to you and your family.
................................................................................................................................
I don't have much news to share other than the fact that I did go to the doctor on Friday to get a slight unfill. They did a barium x-ray and said everything looked fine but I still insisted and she took out .5cc. I haven't had stuck pain not even one time since the unfill. It is WONDERFUL to be able to eat normally again without getting stuck after two bites and hopping around like a toad trying to dislodge whatever the hell it is that is stuck in there. I still have good restriction and can't eat too much and my portions are staying as small as they were before the unfill, just pain free. And amazingly enough, I have less of an appetite than I did before too and am more interested in clean whole foods than cravings for junk. It's crazy. Looks like it's just what I needed to get my groove back. I feel pretty good and I have been working out every day. I worked out the day before yesterday 45 minutes straight doing plyometrics, aerobics, and cardio and burned 840 calories. I was exhausted afterwards but it felt great. When I weighed in at the doctor's (empty stomach and all) their scale said 178.2. So I lost 2lbs and broke my lowest low and got to 176.0lbs (see my ticker) as of Monday.
Although I love my Click protein shakes I feel like when I skip the shakes for a couple of days on the weekend that I lose more weight without them. I am convinced I must be sensitive to the caffeine. I know I have asked about this before and I know alot of you drink coffee every day. But this is the second time I have tested this theory and I must be one of the lucky winners that can't drink caffeine on a regular basis. Sucks because I really enjoy my shakes. I have even cut down to 1 shake a day instead of 2 and still had better results when I skipped them altogether. I hate the caffeine withdrawals though. I am super tired right now because I am skipping my shake today to try and ween myself off of them. I wish there was a protein shake that had the same great taste but no caffeine. That would be awesome, so if any of you are aware of any out there fitting this description please chime in and let me know!!!
NSV: I just bought like 5 pairs of size 10 slacks from Kohl's about 3 or 4 weeks ago. Well they now look like my 12's did on me. I guess I will be downgrading to size 8's the next time I shop because my 10's are too loose now. The exercise is doing the trick. It's nice finally feeling like I am going to really do this. No matter what.
I know, I know...could I shut the heck up already???
.................................................................................................................................
To Barbara:
First, I would just like to say (belated, unfortunately) that I am so sorry Barbara for what you are going through. I just found out yesterday because I happened to notice that Sandy Lee commented on my post from last week for a second time and she said something about the sadness going on in blogland right now and that she knows I don't cope with loss well (thank you Sandy Lee for being concerned about me, that touched my heart). I instantly realized something awful must have happened and Barb was the first person that came to mind. So I frantically looked through one post after another and found it. I am literally heart broken over this. I feel so awful. I just have no words. I just wish words were enough but nothing really is enough. Only time can help and even that doesn't fix your heart. Hang in there. My heart goes out to you and your family.
................................................................................................................................
I don't have much news to share other than the fact that I did go to the doctor on Friday to get a slight unfill. They did a barium x-ray and said everything looked fine but I still insisted and she took out .5cc. I haven't had stuck pain not even one time since the unfill. It is WONDERFUL to be able to eat normally again without getting stuck after two bites and hopping around like a toad trying to dislodge whatever the hell it is that is stuck in there. I still have good restriction and can't eat too much and my portions are staying as small as they were before the unfill, just pain free. And amazingly enough, I have less of an appetite than I did before too and am more interested in clean whole foods than cravings for junk. It's crazy. Looks like it's just what I needed to get my groove back. I feel pretty good and I have been working out every day. I worked out the day before yesterday 45 minutes straight doing plyometrics, aerobics, and cardio and burned 840 calories. I was exhausted afterwards but it felt great. When I weighed in at the doctor's (empty stomach and all) their scale said 178.2. So I lost 2lbs and broke my lowest low and got to 176.0lbs (see my ticker) as of Monday.
Although I love my Click protein shakes I feel like when I skip the shakes for a couple of days on the weekend that I lose more weight without them. I am convinced I must be sensitive to the caffeine. I know I have asked about this before and I know alot of you drink coffee every day. But this is the second time I have tested this theory and I must be one of the lucky winners that can't drink caffeine on a regular basis. Sucks because I really enjoy my shakes. I have even cut down to 1 shake a day instead of 2 and still had better results when I skipped them altogether. I hate the caffeine withdrawals though. I am super tired right now because I am skipping my shake today to try and ween myself off of them. I wish there was a protein shake that had the same great taste but no caffeine. That would be awesome, so if any of you are aware of any out there fitting this description please chime in and let me know!!!
NSV: I just bought like 5 pairs of size 10 slacks from Kohl's about 3 or 4 weeks ago. Well they now look like my 12's did on me. I guess I will be downgrading to size 8's the next time I shop because my 10's are too loose now. The exercise is doing the trick. It's nice finally feeling like I am going to really do this. No matter what.
I know, I know...could I shut the heck up already???
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Food Train hits Yumville
Hello people!
Thanks for all the lovely comments left on my post yesterday! Too sweet of everyone. And yes, I am feeling pretty good about my progress the last couple of weeks. I hate that the scale isn't showing that so much. But then again, I am only weighing on Monday's now...period. So it's sort of a guessing game the whole week and the tension that builds up waiting and wanting Monday to hurry the hell up and get here so I can see what that scale says is even more aggravating than weighing every day. Because if it didn't budge or barely showed results you get even more down because it feels like a whole week was wasted. But I have conquered that mindset. FINALLY! I don't care what the hell the scale says (well, I do but you know what I mean) as long as I KNOW I am getting thinner then it's ok and I will just keep reminding myself that eventually the scale will catch up to my body. That's that.
I just went grocery shopping yesterday and bought so great foods to make great healthy meals. Remember, I am going high protein, complex carbs AMAP. And if I do eat bread, grains, etc. it will be the real wheat kind and not dyed brown crap. I have realized how simple it is to healthy-up any recipe and still enjoy what I love. (Yes, I know, it's taken how many years for that concept to sink in???)
For example: Last night I wanted pizza for dinner so as I was browsing the frozen pizzas in the store I looked over several boxes promising whole wheat crusts, smaller portions, less calories, blah blah blah. When I looked at the nutrition facts on each box it was like "serving size= 1/16 pizza is 250 calories and up it went) I am like really???? Because 1/16 of some of these things would literally be a sliver so thin I might miss it on the plate! So I said screw that, I will make my own pizza! I found the whole wheat thin buns by Earth Grains (???) and read the ingredients. Whole wheat and whole grains were the first ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup. Very little ingredients and no funny words so I bought it. I got some ragu pizza sauce, skim mozarella shredded cheese, red bell pepper, sliced mushrooms, and mini pepperoni slices by Hormel. When I got home I used one bun (2 slices=2 mini pizzas) and threw it all together, baked them in the oven for about 8 min. and then broiled them for about a minute for some added crunch and OH MY DONKEY BALLS, they were absolutely delish!!!! See below:
Thanks for all the lovely comments left on my post yesterday! Too sweet of everyone. And yes, I am feeling pretty good about my progress the last couple of weeks. I hate that the scale isn't showing that so much. But then again, I am only weighing on Monday's now...period. So it's sort of a guessing game the whole week and the tension that builds up waiting and wanting Monday to hurry the hell up and get here so I can see what that scale says is even more aggravating than weighing every day. Because if it didn't budge or barely showed results you get even more down because it feels like a whole week was wasted. But I have conquered that mindset. FINALLY! I don't care what the hell the scale says (well, I do but you know what I mean) as long as I KNOW I am getting thinner then it's ok and I will just keep reminding myself that eventually the scale will catch up to my body. That's that.
I just went grocery shopping yesterday and bought so great foods to make great healthy meals. Remember, I am going high protein, complex carbs AMAP. And if I do eat bread, grains, etc. it will be the real wheat kind and not dyed brown crap. I have realized how simple it is to healthy-up any recipe and still enjoy what I love. (Yes, I know, it's taken how many years for that concept to sink in???)
For example: Last night I wanted pizza for dinner so as I was browsing the frozen pizzas in the store I looked over several boxes promising whole wheat crusts, smaller portions, less calories, blah blah blah. When I looked at the nutrition facts on each box it was like "serving size= 1/16 pizza is 250 calories and up it went) I am like really???? Because 1/16 of some of these things would literally be a sliver so thin I might miss it on the plate! So I said screw that, I will make my own pizza! I found the whole wheat thin buns by Earth Grains (???) and read the ingredients. Whole wheat and whole grains were the first ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup. Very little ingredients and no funny words so I bought it. I got some ragu pizza sauce, skim mozarella shredded cheese, red bell pepper, sliced mushrooms, and mini pepperoni slices by Hormel. When I got home I used one bun (2 slices=2 mini pizzas) and threw it all together, baked them in the oven for about 8 min. and then broiled them for about a minute for some added crunch and OH MY DONKEY BALLS, they were absolutely delish!!!! See below:
I did get stuck a little because of the bread but the crunch helped it go down. This meal was only 239 calories and included veggies, 2 proteins, and a whole grain!!! YUP!
I made chicken salad today for lunch and it was amazing too! I used Rotisserie chicken strips and cubed it up, added 1 tbsp mayo, 1/2 cup of red grapes (halved), and about 11 olive oil and sea salt flavored skinless almonds. SUPER YUMMY!!! It felt so decadent to eat and I forgot how much I love chicken salad with fruit in it like cranberries and grapes. I will list my full menu from today on my post tomorrow.
I also worked out last night for 45 minutes and burned 502 calories in my workout. My only vice now is staying up super late at night until like 1 or 2am and then waking up at 7am for work. I know I need more sleep so I am going to try to start getting more things done earlier so I can go to bed by 11 or 12.
Other than that things are peachy. I am going on Friday for a small unfill to prevent getting stuck on everything all the time. I think a tiny tiny bit out will make a huge difference! I also have an appointment with an ENT speacialist to see why I have constant post nasal drip and congestion in my head and ears. I have been dealing with it for like 2 years and I am sick of it. That may be the answer to why I get stuck all the time (congestion sitting in my pouch?)
We'll see. Have a great day!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Blogger Award and pictures!
Hi everyone,
I haven't had a chance to do any blogging the last few days. I've been really busy at work and have alot of catching up to do now! Ugh!!! I hate getting behind on my reading.
But low and behold I return to the sweet surprise of a blog award from Bec at My Lapband Journey . Thanks alot Bec that was super sweet of you and awesome. I haven't gotten an award in a while so I am very proud that you thought of me for this!
I haven't had a chance to do any blogging the last few days. I've been really busy at work and have alot of catching up to do now! Ugh!!! I hate getting behind on my reading.
But low and behold I return to the sweet surprise of a blog award from Bec at My Lapband Journey . Thanks alot Bec that was super sweet of you and awesome. I haven't gotten an award in a while so I am very proud that you thought of me for this!
The rules of accepting this award are: Thank the person who gave you the award, reveal seven things about yourself, and nominate 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered or love. Then leave a comment on their blog letting them know they've been nominated
Seven things about myself:
1. I love babies
2. I would have a farm or jungle if I could. I love animals.
3. I act pretty tough but am very soft in reality.
4. I have green eyes.
5. I am naturally anal or pessimistic about things most of the time.
6. I am not a people person at all but for some reason people flock to me.
7. I have never broken a bone in my life.
Nominate 15 bloggers:
Kristen @ Kristen's Lapband Journey
Tessie @ Band Me Baby
Manda Panda @ Candyland to Bandland
Dizzy @ Dizzy
Caroline @ Finally Going to Finish what I started
Grace @ Graces (not so) Fat chance
Angie @ I am in repair (Angie, I know you don't do these awards but I still wanted to)
Drazil @ It's just me, drazil, and sheniqua
Janelle @ Lap Band Living
Amanda @ Life of a (hopeful) loser
Meli @ Love, Meli Meli
Amy W @ Once upon a time...
Sandy Lee @ The weight loss rollercoaster
Ok. So now that the award is done. I wanted to say I broke my lowest low on the scale yesterday and weighed in at 176.8lbs! I know it's not that far down but my lowest before that was 177.2! I have officially lost 30lbs on the dot. I figure 4 lbs lost in 5 days is pretty good. But I am definitely kicking it up a notch starting today I am going to exercise 6 times a week (like I have been) but for at least 45 minutes every workout instead of 15-30 like I have been doing. I read that for optimum fat burning you need to exercise at least 45 minutes or it's not worth the trouble. Not sure how true that is but I know my results would improve so that's what matters. I have been eating great I might say. I have been counting all of my calories and trying to eat 5-6 mini meals full of protein. But I am changing it up and cutting out a few more carbs then I have been. I haven't been eating carbs too liberally but I still feel like I could cut out more like crackers and pasta and stick to veggies and fruits instead.
Now for the pictures:
These were taken in September 2009 Before lap band:
And this is 11 months post op: Now! 30 pounds down
Almost forgot to post this picture: This is my stomach now. Thought I show a little update of how my scars have healed in almost a year.
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