I'm with the Band

And the panic is back

2012-02-02T17:08:00.002-07:00

Yeah, panic is back. Heartburn isn't (although my throat is a bit scratchy).. but my stomach.. aches. Not like "feeling sick" ache. just Uncomfortable ache. And Ronnie had mentioned something about if my surgeon had fixed a hiatal hernia during my surgery I wouldn't be having these symptoms.. What if he didn't fix or mention a hernia? as far as I know I've never had one to fix.

The most worrying part of this is, it's supposed to snow like 20 inches starting soon, and going through saturday. (not to mention the fact that it'll be the weekend) Do call and see what they say?

I'm sure the fact that I can drink water just fine still is promising .. but achy isn't. I have mushies and soups for the next few days. Maybe just tough it out till monday.

looking back through communications with Kaiser, in sept, and Nov. I'd mentioned my stomach aching too. (Nov was when I went in for a bit of an unfill) .. For sure calling the surgeon, just not sure when I can get in there. *sigh* I hate complications.

*edit* surgeon has been called, message left. Plan is unless I hear otherwise I'm doing soups and mushies this weekend.

<3

*edit #2* surgeon called back, told me to get some liquid mylanta and/or prilosec and if it gets worse over the weekend call him to see him monday or tuesday.

Sorry For the Panic

2012-02-02T08:03:00.000-07:00

Yeah, sorry about panicking yesterday. I just always tend to jump to the worst possible conclusion.

And while I suppose it is possible that having JUST the heartburn could mean I have a slipped band, odds are it Is probably something more along the lines of eating too much. So now I'm going to focus on really trying hard to follow my bandster rules. Even if this means strapping a measuring cup to my purse to bring with me everywhere. I know I've been eating more than I should. So not too uprising if that's the cause of heartburn feeling (and dur, I shouldn't if anything because that can lead to a slipped band) ..

So we're going on to focusing on being good!
And bundling up for the foot of snow we're supposed to get starting tonight. *sigh*

<3

Sam

A little advice?

2012-02-01T13:04:00.000-07:00

I hate having such a pessimistic head. The last couple of days (maybe just one?) after eating (which i can do mostly just fine, just a little pain to let me know to chew more) I've had a burning in my throat afterwards. I wonder is this a new heartburn? I used to have really bad/constant heartburn pre-band. But from day one after surgery, no more prilosec for me ( I was so thrilled!)

So I'm wondering, is this a new way for me to feel heartburn? and if so.. does this mean a slipped band? I can eat just fine (probably too much .. which I've read can cause a slipped band) I can drink just fine (after the first couple of hours of my day). Nothing else feels weird, just this throat heartburn.

Since last night though I've been worried about a slipped band. Looking up symptoms online, and heartburn is the only one I can tick off. But I know I've been eating too much lately. *sigh* now I'm obsessively worrying about it. Do I call my surgeon? Do I just do a few days of liquids and see if all is better?

HELP!

<3,
Sam

I'm awesome (in a bad way)

2012-01-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I'm totally awesome at making excuses.

Some of them are legit. Like my knee really hurt a few weeks ago, and it also hurt this week (I cleaned all the things! on Tuesday, and my knee has hurt like a mo-fo since then)

Some of them I feel are legit, but if I really really wanted to lose this weight and get fit etc, i'd find a way to work it. For example Nora totally inspired me to check out the Body Pump classes at my gym.. so I go online to look at class schedules and that class for my gym is offered 2 days a week (well 3, but I'm at work for the third) one at 5:45 pm, and one at 6:45 pm. I get to the gym at 4pm, and am typically done with cardio around 5. I could probably stretch it and stay till 5:45.. and not get home/have dinner till almost 7.. but 6:45? yeah, no. I could go home, and have dinner, and go back to the gym.. but I know me. The reason I go to the gym at 4 is it's on my way home from work, don't have to stop/sit down. Because if I'm home, I'm so not leaving again. There is one gym that's "close" that has a bit better times (5:30/6:30) and four days a week I could get to, but it's like 20 min out of my way. *sigh* So i'm back to figuring out weights on my own until I can afford a trainer (never).

On the plus side I AM going home and doing the beginning of Ronnie's 200 sit-ups and I'm also going to try the 100 push ups too. I should also do the 200(!!!) squats program.. but that's just scary.

On another plus side I should be down this week unless something happens between now and sunday ( a distinct possibility).. I've been seeing 218-219 in the mornings for the last few days. so yay!

Of course since I talked about it on not weigh in day, I've jinxed it ;)

<3
Sam

It's one of THOSE days...

2012-01-13T11:53:00.000-07:00

Willpower, I lacks it.

oy, it's 11:45 and I'm technically 57 calories over my daily amount according myfitnesspal. awesome.

I'd totally be okay with this if it was 9pm. I think i need to cut out/down on my sweet coffee drinks. I DO get the sugar free/no whip/skim milk versions.. which helps but that's still almost 300 calories.

It was the stupid "Broncos party" .. I had some not in my plan cheese and chips and salsa. and a milky way.

I don't get why I'm so much MORE addicted to sugar food than I was before sugary. Before I very very rarely had dessert of any kind. No candy bars, no pints of ice cream.. whatever. After? holy cow, just don't take me down the ice cream isle. (although it always seems like the day after downing ice cream i have a loss of weight.. go figure)

anyways.. this is me going RAWR at myself. Bad me, stick to the plan!

<3
Sam

My brain is awesome before going to bed!

2012-01-12T09:31:00.000-07:00

Yup, My brain is awesome and motivated when I'm laying in bed trying to sleep.

Last night I decided (for the zillionth time) to be a more productive person! Brain said "tomorrow after work you're going to :

1) go to the gym
2) Do Ronnie's 200 sit ups program (or at least look into it, which i did, and downloaded the app)
3) clean the cat litter
4) clean the kitchen
5) make dinner
6) clean the bathroom
7) vacuum whole house (silly fluffy cats)
8) do laundry INCLUDING folding and putting away clean stuff (that part never seems to happen)
9) maybe try my Jillian 30 day shred video I've had for 2+ years and never ever looked at so far.

.. and yeah, you see where this is going. Odds of me doing ALL of this.. slim to none. But maybe if I put it out there for the world to see I'll get more done that just "make dinner and do the cat litter" which is the more likely option.

I think I need to learn how to get more organized/motivated. Because there ARE people out there that do this all the time. le sigh

On weight news, I *think* I almost entered a new decade. Yesterday morning I got on the scale to 222.? .. but I saw that it was sitting on a grout line on the tile. So I moved it, and then was 219.? (i checked 3 times in a row the same!). No celebrating yet though, this morning was 221, and it's not sunday! but it's nice to see things moving again. :D

<3
Sam

Losing weight would be easier if I didn't have a Job!

2012-01-07T07:26:00.000-07:00

Apparently none of the various boot camp places that have been offering deals on group*on and/or living*social lately cater to people that actually work. This latest one I see today is close enough to my home that I could justify the drive there, but it's mon/wed/fri either 6am or 9am. at 6 I'm already getting on the train to get to work, and by 9 i'm two hours into my work day. Just like I discovered even if I wanted to get up early enough to gym before work, I can't, as my gym opens at 5:30. (but trust me, getting up at 4:30 is early enough)

This makes me think of the people that say "oh yeah I lost my weight easy! I just went to the gym 2/4/6 hours a day" .. well yeah, I'm pretty sure if I had the time, I could do that too. Just like "Celebrity lost her 40lbs baby weight in 6 weeks!" .. with a personal trainer, personal chef and hours and hours a day working out.

This is where my mom gets on my case about being negative, and not to worry about others and do what I can.. and she's right. But I'm still stuck with "it's not fair" and "i could do well if I had those advantages too!" and so I'll still wait for the money fairy so I can hire a trainer... which means losing weight would be easier if I had a better job. so either no job, better job. blah.

*posted from my mediocre job!

<3 Sam

10 things Thursday

2011-12-30T12:58:00.000-07:00

Alrighty, gonna try this and see if I can come up with 10.

1) I'm so frustrated right now. After getting a new scale and seeing things moving again, It looks like this weekends weigh in will put me right back at 225-ish.

2) (maybe an extension of #1) I shouldn't be frustrated since I've had some ice cream a couple nights this week, and keep forgetting to stop eating and wait to see if I'm done or not. I just keep going. (but really, this weight has been going on since Oct.. i'm over it)

3) I do get a pat on the back for today. I went to a soup place for lunch today, they have 12 soups that change daily, and I was eyeballing the Twice-Baked Stuffed Potato (with bacon).. but instead got chicken noodle.

Potato =Calories 380, fat 30 grams, net carbs 18 (carbs less fiber), dietary fiber 2 grams, protein 10 grams, per 8 ounce serving.

chicken noodle = Calories 120, fat 1 grams, net carbs 16 (carbs less fiber), dietary fiber 2 grams, protein 9 grams, per 8 ounce serving. PointsPlus: 3

So yay for some part of my brain thinking (although I did eat 3/4 of the bread roll they gave me)

4) I love my bracelet I got from ~~myself~~ my hubby for christmas:

5) I really need to win the Lotto. Not only am I totally stressing over doing the budget this month (I'm pretty sure there's a couple of weeks when we've got about $15 for food)... but I really want to buy some personal training sessions. Not only will they get me a work out plan, but Having somebody holding me accountable like that is good for me. I can't seem to do it by myself.

6) Totally addicted to facebook. I don't post a lot, but I'm always checking to see what everybody else is doing. I think I live vicariously through my news feed.

7) Sometimes I love that my job can have a lot of downtime (plenty of time to catch up on blogger and/or make a post) .. and sometimes it sucks!! sitting for 8 hours with about 45 minutes of total work to do can go blow donkeys.

8) I'm jealous of you people with your surgeon support groups. I went to my first support group meeting after surgery.. and I was the ONLY band patient. I know I should still go, but I also know me. I know that the more irrelevant i find stuff (i.e. I CAN eat sugar and don't have to hunt down food with no sugar alcohols or whatever).. or the more.. jealous i get (the guy who was 6 months out from his bypass and had lost over 100 lbs so far), the less likely I am to want to go.. which is why I'm not. But I do consider you all my support group.

9) speaking of speed, Sometimes i feel that my loss is hugely slow. But then I read through some very successful people's blogs, and see I'm going faster, or at least on par with some of them.. and I feel better. i think I may need to do some more re-reading soon.

10) MINDSET. I needs it! or at least the "right" one. No more lazy, no more tons of food, no more bad food (within reason, part of why I got the band vs. bypass is "absolutely no_____!!" doesn't work for me)

And that's my ten things. I'm not sure I can do this every week. I'm pretty boring :)

<3
Sam

I'm pretty sure my fat cells are laughing at me.

2011-12-27T10:03:00.001-07:00

Yes.. if fat cells could laugh, mine are doing the evil mad scientist "mwahahahhaha" right now.

Yesterday morning (after Christmas dinner mind you) I weighed 222.something. This morning I magically weighed 225.6.. I didn't eat THAT bad yesterday. So after so many days of going down slowly, it all magically came back in one day/night. evil evil fat cells.

But that's okay. Nothing I can't come back from. In fact I've got my gym bag in my car, and I've been shivering so much at work this morning that's got to be good for a couple hundred calories burned too! LOL.

Anyways, just checking in! Hope everybody had a good holiday weekend!

<3
Sam

Sunday (Christmas) weigh in

2011-12-25T08:56:00.001-07:00

That is all. Going down again

Accountability

2011-12-16T17:27:00.002-07:00

Looky what my bakery top ( in these size 16s it's more than a muffin top) and I did today!

LOL. yes. wrong pic. stupid phone. and silly hubby for rushing me out the door while i'm trying to post.

it's supposed to have this pic:

I'll leave the kittty, cause he is cute.

NSV of sorts

2011-12-16T08:01:00.000-07:00

Yup, a NSV to report.. that came to be by pure laziness (aka not swapping laundry loads)

I was running around this morning trying to find some jeans (yay casual fridays!) .. and realized that both my pairs of size 18s are in the washer (as in still wet). Oops. So I look in my closet, the only two pairs in there are a size 20 (only if i want to be pulling them up all day) and a size 6 in Lane Bryants right size whatever line. Also, way too big.

So I go to the "soon" closet, and pull out a pair of 16s.. thinking "yeah right" .. but they're on! they're tight.. but they're on! and buttoned! ... and with 3 inches of flab hanging over the top >.<

But we'll ignore the flab (or cover it with a loose top) and go with the fact that I'M WEARING SIZE SIXTEEN JEANS!! for the first time in years!

In other news, I almost forgot my gym bag this morning, but went back inside and grabbed it. AND I shaved my legs.. Nothing is stopping me!

<3
Sam

And done

2011-12-15T17:42:00.002-07:00

Excuses are so easy

2011-12-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

Walking into work this morning I was so proud that I actually managed to remember to put my gym bag in my car. Now I can't use the excuse that "it's too inconvenient to go home, THEN go to the gym" ... so the very next thought i have?

"OMG, the pants i packed are capri length and I haven't shaved my legs in like a week!"

really brain?? really? this is what you come up with to keep me from going to the gym? Do I honestly think people are going to be looking at my legs?? yeah.. right.

I even got my early game access to the new MMO I want to play, which normally would mean me rushing home to plant my behind in a chair for the rest of the night, but I have VOWED!!! to go to the gym first. It will happen. And if it doesn't somebody come to Colorado and slap me silly!

<3,
Sam

I have a scale!!

2011-12-11T08:58:00.001-07:00

Today's weight:

226.0

I don't have photographic evidence, as my phone was upstairs this morning, but it's true.. Otherwise I'd probably tell you I'd lost more than 2 lbs in the last 2 months. >.<

yeah, since my last recorded weight 2 months ago, I've lost 2lbs. HOWEVER, it is still a loss, and with all the cr@p I've been eating, It's amazing it hasn't gone up. So I'll take it, and use this as motivation to get back in gear. (I know I've said that a lot recently, but I mean it!)

<3

Sam

update on my unfill and thanksgiving pics

2011-12-06T10:48:00.002-07:00

Okay, so it's almost two weeks later. But I think this unfill has been good. I got 1cc removed, which should leave me with 5.

Firstly, there was not an excessive amount of poking to find my port and remove liquid. YAY!

Secondly, I can still feel my band working (hamburger last night was almost an issue), but it's not as bad in the morning. It's still tighter in the morning than later in the day, but oatmeal or yogurt doesn't hurt anymore. so hallelujah!

Now, I need to get back to eating the right things, and back to the gym. Yes I've lost 60lbs.. but I've still got 60 more to go. As it stands right now I'm that statistic. You know "most gastric banding patients lose 50% of their excess weight". I went into this wanting to NOT be that statistic, and I need to make that happen! So RAWR!

I can do this. It's not rocket science, it's just head science.

<3 Sam

And no, I STILL don't have a new scale. New house + new car = NO money. I'm half tempted to put up a paypal donation button for a scale! LOL. not really, I know I can find the money.. just need to do it.. as with everything else <3

also also,

here's some pics from thanksgiving. I decided to be all fancy!

surgeon appointment this afternoon

2011-11-23T08:41:00.001-07:00

Yup, I have an appointment to see my surgeon the day before thanksgiving. Although if anything happens he'll probably be taking fluid out, instead of putting it in. After I called my stomach started feeling better.. And i was tempted to call yesterday and cancel the appointment, until this morning. I got a Starbucks strawberry smoothie (lots of proteins!) for my drive this morning (YAY I got to drive my new car to work!) .. and for the first 20 minutes or so, I could feel the smoothie kinda getting caught up in my band. It is cold, but it's blended well.
I could only do small sips of it at first, but by the time I got to work I was able to down the second half no problem.

I'm pretty sure I should be able to have a smoothie without feeling like it's almost getting stuck. I'm just confused because I haven't had a fill since early July. Nothing has changed. Ah well. I'll talk to the surgeon tonight and hopefully all will be well. And hopefully he won't continue to dissapoint me. All the reviews on him are good, and he's being doing this forever, but I've never had a barium swallow.. i've never had a numbing shot before a fill (all two of them).. and for the first fill he had to sit and poke me multiple times. Like lots.. I know what's one thing that can cause leaks, and you'd think a Doctor with 14 years experience (but maybe only 11 in lap band) would know better? I suppose if today is just as disappointing I'll contact Kaiser and see if I can go to the other bariatric surgeon they use.

I suppose that's it for now! hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

<3 Sam

edited to add: Since I STILL don't have a scale, and until money is better i might not get one, I took some measurements today. It was at work so they're prolly a little off, but I needed to see proof of progress. so far in 6 months i've lost a total of 22.5 inches. A breakdown of what I'm measureing is on my stats page.

Appointment made

2011-11-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

Yarp, I have made an appointment with my surgeon to talk about an unfill. Wednesday afternoon. Now i'm all worried he'll think i'm doing it so i can eat more on thanksgiving. Blah. But honestly, I do better if I'm able to eat actual food for breakfast in the mornings. Shakes don't cut it. And yogurt sometimes is uncomfortable. So in I go. Also for the last 4 days or so my stomach has felt a bit off. Like not quite sick off, but not normal. sometimes eating helps (new feeling for hunger??) but not always. Maybe my band has gotten too tight (weather? hormones? freak of nature?) and it's irritating my stomach.

Hopefully all will be resolved soon! On a yay note I "jogged" a bit as i was walking the doggy yesterday. It wasn't for long, but still. I don't think that the dog will make a good jogging companion, as much as he could use the exercise too. He's way to interested in stopping and sniffing everything.. I'd yank my arm out of my socket if I was moving at a faster pace.

Speaking of dog walks, I need to figure out something.. In order to not walk the dog in the pitch black, I need to go straight home to walk him, skipping the gym. I COULD go to the gym afterwards, but at that point i'm home, and the hubby is home and my will power is out the window (not to mention the rest of the people are off of work and the gym will be more crowded). Which is why I would always go to the gym on the way home, never stop.

I really should just go home, change to gym clothes, walk, throw the dog in the back yard and go to the gym... Just convincing myself at the time is the issue.. *sigh*

<3 Sam

Losing weight the hipster way

2011-11-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

Came across this article today Losing Weight the Hipster way.

It was amusing. But really it all comes down to same ol', same ol'. Burn more than you consume. :) but his tips are good:

Former "chubster" Martin Cizmar offers these tips on How to Work Out Without Looking Like a Tool:

Always take the stairs."It's pretty easy to commit to never riding an elevator or escalator again." He also recommends volunteering your help when your friends move, becoming the office go-fer to pick up off-site coffee, walkng the dog and energetically cleaning your residence (including the windows) once a week.

Walk whenever you can."Always an easy, low-impact way to go. Also, it doesn't really look like you're in the middle of a sweaty workout, so you can get some exercise in while wearing jeans, leaving the people you pass to think you're simply in a hurry to get somewhere," he writes.

Stand at concerts."You would probably burn 200 calories over the course of a four-hour concert. Not bad, right? So stand for the show — it's more rock 'n' roll, anyway."

Fidget.Cizmar endorses the nervous tics that drive everyone else crazy: Pacing, tapping your toe, wiggling a foot, slicking your pen. He cites endocrinologist James Levine's Science magazine article on non-exercise activity thermogenesis: Fidgeters burn an extra 350 calories a day.

Fitocracy

2011-11-13T13:49:00.001-07:00

I don't know if any of you consider yourselves "gamers" like I do. I don't know if any of you have heard of Fitocracy either. But after reading an article about it, similar to this one About Fitocracy, I was totally interested.

Long story short, yes it's another website to track your fitness goals, work outs etc. However this one has the gaming twist. you earn points, you level up, you have quests to complete. One girl I know was interested because as she put it "I'm lazy as hell, but I'm super competitive too, so this could be good" .. As for me, when I played WoW I was very into collecting all the "things" and leveling up, and getting achievements. If I can apply that to fitness, this could work for me.

I finally got an invite today so yay! and I have 10 invites to give out it looks like. So if anybody is interested, send me an email with your email (or if your not shy leave a comment with your email) and I'll invite you. First come, first served!

<3

Sam

edited to add: This is still in Beta, so expect changes/updates etc. There's a forum associated with it, where you can make/get suggestions. Looking around I don't find anything to track food, so you'd still need something for that, but it still looks fun for tracking exercise.

Picture Time

2011-11-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

yup, Picture time! mostly of my surrounding during the dog walk yesterday, and one of me! I'm really likeing the front camera on the iPhone. it makes taking self pics to easy!!

This is how work makes me feel

... I probably shouldn't put this picture first, as that's what you all will see on your reading list... ah well

and let me just say, it's not easy trying to take pics of the moon, with a dog on a leash!

hehe.. Oops.

2011-11-08T09:51:00.002-07:00

Yeah, oops, it's been 20-ish days since I've blogged. I totally blame my still broken and not replaced scale. I have no progress to report! Even if my scale were working I'm pretty sure i'd have no progress to report. I have been very lax. and Very into the cookie dough. Bad me! I think without my weigh-in's I haven't been holding myself very accountable. *sigh*

Also in my non blogging defense, I did have like 3 days when we weren't home until late... because I got a new car! it's my first ever new car. I got a 2012 Chevy Cruze Eco. I loves it! <3

Also also, Work has been a bit busier than usual. I have 12 hours of overtime coming on this next check (yay $$) and even without overtime, I haven't had as much blogging time as I had before.

Excuses, Excuses.

I promise to be better. no excuses. It's okay if i go to the gym after work, then come home and walk the dog, even if it is going to be dark out! And no more cookie dough!

Also my band has been weird lately. I haven't had a fill in maybe 3 months. I'm okay with that. But I swear it's gotten tighter. I mean maybe this last week or so was due to ToM, but even before that, applesauce felt like it was getting sort of stuck. I dunno. I can still drink my water, so I'm not too worried, it's just odd.

<3
Sam

Edited to ad:

Let me clarify things.. It's really tight in the morning (sometimes) to the point where applesauce is a bit uncomfortable.. but it does go down. But later in the day regular food is fine (assuming i'm not wolfing it down). I think/hope it's just hormones/cold weather (is that possible?) making things tighter in the morning. If it keeps up I will call my doc about making sure everything is okay and/or taking a bit out. Because yeah, complications scare the bejeesus out of me.

Just a Funny

2011-10-20T08:48:00.001-06:00

That is all

<3
Sam

This one still blows my mind.

2011-10-19T19:34:00.001-06:00

Bride's Brother, My Brother, Sis-in-Law, Me, my Hubby

So not pretty. Not saying I'm all that now, but I KNOW I look better than I did less than a year ago.

Sorry was just perusing facebook and came across this and shuddered. Hooray for progress!

<3
Sam

Unofficial (late) weigh in

2011-10-18T12:12:00.000-06:00

No picture, and this is a quicky, but on Sunday on my mom's scale (mine is still broken) I weighed 228.5. So still (slowly) going down! huzzah!

coming up on sunday is a day to resist (yeah right) temptation. We all have to work fri/sat/sun due to the Occupy _______ (your city here) protesters. So they're planning a grilled cheese day on friday. I haven't had grilled cheese in soooo long. probably even years before surgery. Sounds sooo good. *sigh* but i'm pretty sure two pieces of bread won't feel so good. Ah well.

That's all I've got for now. I'm "working" :)

<3 Sam

Too young to fall apart!!

2011-10-12T08:48:00.000-06:00

Argh!! I though things were supposed to get better as I lose weight! Last night as I was undressing for bed I did something to my knee. It still hurts this morning. It's not "OMG ow!" crippling pain, but it's there every time I try to extend it fully, or move it in any direction other than straight front and back. My walk to work this morning was, slower and a bit limpy. Last night it felt almost "mushy" .. that's the first word that came to mind to describe it. I'm pretty sure this isn't good, but I'm hoping it goes away.

You throw this on top of my right elbow pain that's been going on for maybe a month now, and the plantar fasciitis that still flares up, you'd think my body is conspiring to keep me from moving ever. blah.

The thing that bugs me about my knee is that i haven't been doing anything fancy. Just walking mostly, and then i'm undressing (maybe I twisted funny?) and boom!! ow!

Blah, just ranting and annoying is all I am. Sorry bout that.

<3,
Sam

Still here!

2011-10-10T17:39:00.001-06:00

I'm still here, I promise! been a little busy lately, busy at work, busy at home. Dog walkies take up time in the evenings. Which is a good thing :)

No weigh in this week. My scale seems to be broken. Unless I magically lost 230lbs and now weigh 0.0lbs. I put a new battery in and everything and 0.0. This makes me sad. And also aware of how much of a scale whore I was being. I actually felt a little be of anxiety the first couple of days of broken scale. *sigh* I can't find anything in the manual or on the internet as to why it's stuck on 0 .. or how to fix it. Looks like a scale might be in the budget for soon.

No scale might not be a bad thing. On Saturday we went to dinner at a NICE Italian place for my friends birthday. It's a bit pricey, but OMG was it worth it. And I splurged. I had a choclatini. it was yummy! And chicken caccatori which was sooooo good. and a dessert coffee that was probably more alcohol than coffee. :)

Tomorrow is the hubby and my 3rd anniversay!! Holy cow, we're both still alive! hehehe.

Oh and I ordered an iPh*ne 4S. :D I shall have the precious. I've wanted an iPh*ne since they came out but have always been on veriz*on family plan, which is too good of a deal to switch. But now... yay!!

But that's all I have for now. just a quick check in. And a quick doggy pic!

<3
Sam

Happy Birthday to me! a Weigh in, and a Doggy!

2011-10-02T12:09:00.001-06:00

So, yesterday was my birthday. 32. I feel like I'm getting old-ish. But it's nice when people at work are saying they would have guessed closer to 22. Hopefully they're not just being nice. I'd be awesome to have my Mom's genes. She's 59 and looks late 40's/early 50's.

Weigh in day is going to stay on sunday's. It's easy. today was 230.2. or 5 minutes later it was 231.3. I'm going with the one I took a picture of. And I stepped on the scale twice for each weight. Ah well. Either way is a loss!

Also, on friday Chris and I brought home Charlie! he's our new doggie. We got him from one of the shelters in the area..ish. It was about an hour drive. But when I saw his pic online, I was all "awwwwwwwww" and then i showed it to Chris and he was all "awwwwwwwww" .. So yay! he's 9 months old and a Austrialian Shepherd mix. He's so pretty. I'm going to put a photo or two up, but there's more on my facebook if you want to friend me (NOT a desperate plea for friends ;) )

That's enough for now I think

<3
Sam

A short treatise on Port pain, jealousy, and speed.

2011-09-24T21:29:00.000-06:00

Not a whole lot going on. Worked 12 hours today. Someone called in sick, so I stayed over for half a shift. Nothing says fun like time and a half! Of course this means I didn't get to eat dinner until 8:30 or so. Ah well, I'm pretty sure tomorrows weigh in isn't going to be spectacular.

So in regards to the title. Port pain. I don't know (although I'm hoping and assuming) if it's because I tend to sleep on my front left side, but today the area around my port is really hurty. But it's from the inside. So if I move a certain way it hurts, but if I poke it, not so much. Is this normal? should I be running to my surgeon? I just don't know. I suppose best bet is to wait and see how it is in the next couple of days (which is what I'm doing with my elbow, which has been hurting for weeks).

I'm just falling apart! Oy!

Let's see, Jealousy. I just found out my friend who got her band 2+ years ago is getting a tummy tuck in November. While I'm happy for her, I'm also jealous as all get out. I KNOW I'm going to need one (and prolly the ta-ta's too) my pannus is very disgusting and blah, and there's no way that's just going to shrink up and in and be all pretty. BUT unless something amazing happens on the job/lotto/relative i don't know or care about dying front (I kid, I kid!) I'm so not going to be able to afford either of those surgeries. And during the pre-surgery class I asked if Kaiser ever deemed skin removal surgery "medically necessary" I was told no. I've seen other answers on the Internet, but most of those are either out in California (so different system sort of) or from 2+ years ago. I suppose since I'm only a few months out from surgery I could start saving $$.. but that never works out as planned. I'll figure something out, I'm sure. (probably just learn to live with blah)

Last but not least, Speed. I remember reading that the majority of weight lost with the band takes place in the first 8-ish months. Is this really true? Do I need to get my rear in gear if I ever want to see 170 (or less)?? I'm not terribly upset with how fast I'm losing, although when I created my stats page the other day, I realized I'd lost less since my surgery than I had thought. 30lbs in 4 months instead of the 40-45 like I had been thinking. This makes me worried I'm going to be one of the "failures" .. I suppose the only solution to that is to get my butt moving! Zumba tomorrow!

This is long and ranty enough, to ta-ta for now!
<3 Sam

p.s. If any of you win the lotto think of me, and my future surgeries and current need for a personal trainer!! ;)

love ya!

Emotions

2011-09-21T10:22:00.000-06:00

Nothing too deep or insightful today. I think I'm just amused with the emotions I'm having with this weight-loss. They're not what I would have expected. I mean .. I'm almost dreading the day when my wedding/engagement rings won't fit. That day is soon. I know part of that is I have a bad habit of imagining what other people are thinking about me. And for a long time I was imagining "oh the poor fat girl will never have anybody" .. even though I DID have someone, lacking the visible proof I assumed everyone thought I was alone.

I'm also .. annoyed that my pants are getting too big. I'm happy, but at the same time.. annoyed when i have to hike them up.

The obvious weirdness is the "OMG I've lost 60lbs from my highest ever!!" which then swings to "OMG I've got another 60lbs (or more) to lose, I'll never do that"

I know I had a few other examples in my head a few minutes ago, but they flitted away. So I think I'll leave you with the statement that somehow I expected all "Happy Happy Joy Joy" and am confused by the other feelings leaking in.

<3
Sam

p.s. bananas hurt :(

Heavy

2011-09-18T11:04:00.000-06:00

Also, I've been watching Heavy on netflix. I think I'm taking the wrong things away from this show. Don't get me wrong, I like it. It's moving. But my main thoughts are a) That's not fair, I want someone to pay for a personal trainer for me! and b) Not fair, they weigh about what I weigh now, and are getting their belly fat/flap removed. (and also "hey, she's going in for surgery with make-up on! that's a no-no")

Half of me watches this show and thinks "if they can do it, I can do it" and the other half of me refers back to my previous "not fair" statements. I know life isn't fair. I know there's a lot of stuff I can do myself without a trainer. But I also know that'd help so much. Someone to help keep me accountable every week. Help me switch up (or even start) a routine. It's frustrating. I need to win the lotto.

<3
Sam

Lucky!

2011-09-18T09:56:00.000-06:00

I'm so chalking this weeks loss up to luck. Lots and lots of luck. I've been crap with my food ( can we say 2 pints of ice cream over the week?) .. I've been crap with my work outs (one night of Wii Zumba). Granted, It was my ToM, and Thursday/Friday I was sick. But there was more crap going on than was justified. So hooray for lucky loss, and now i get back in gear and actually earn my weight loss.

I know i'm not around as much lately, but mostly that's because i'm boring. Nothing much to report. Got to take a class in courtroom testimony this week. Going to court as an "expert witness" is a probably part of my job, so this was to make sure we're at least somewhat prepared to get torn apart on the witness stand by defense attornies. Not looking forward to it, but at the same time, I am.

Otherwise, that's it. I"m boring. But I read you all!

<3
Sam

A day late a pound short

2011-09-12T09:35:00.001-06:00

Sunday weigh in on Monday! 233.8. huzzah. Down a bit, which is good after this week. I was bad with food, even with being on mushies for a bit. I was also bad with exercise, because moving made my tummy feel worse. I think what made the difference was my house warming party yesterday. Was up at 7am cleaning, had a small breakfast, and didn't eat again till 6ish? And i had a burger with a slice of cheese. I only had like 2 bites of the various chips and dips we had out. In all honestly this "I did so well" is mostly due to the fact that I was way to busy to eat. But I'll take it. I'm pretty sure if I had remembered to weigh yesterday It would have been closer to no loss for the week. I"m a cheater ;) Hope you all have a great day! time to clean up the house.. again

<3
Sam

Freaking myself out

2011-09-08T16:44:00.002-06:00

Blah. After what seems to be everybody having issues with their band lately, I'm freaking myself out. The last 2-3 days, after I eat my lunch, my stomach has hurt. Not sick feeling, just uncomfortable. And burps flavored like I whatever I ate. So now i'm all "omg what if there's something wrong with my band too?" I'm sure there's not, I've had this blah-tummy feeling before the band.. just.. welcome to my paranoid head.

<3
Sam

I have the best Mommy EVAR!

2011-09-07T07:55:00.001-06:00

So, I told ya'll how my heels have been hurting. They still do, however not near as much as before. Thank you all for your suggestions :) I did end up going to the doctor yesterday, mostly to see if they still do/cover through insurance doctor made orthotics. I was told that Kaiser doesn't. At least not at my office or my plan or something. Or maybe just after jumping through a lot of hoops. Either way, the doc just told me "stretches, ice, stretches, no flip flops, no flats, no heels, no bare feet" .. (no fun shoes is what I heard). She also said especially with my flat feet orthotics could help. (! oh! NSV, when they took my blood pressure, they didn't have to go get the big arm cuff!! yay!)

So I called my Mom and said "I know what I don't really want, but need for my birthday.. orthotics!"
Long story short I now have some Good Feet orthotics (and the shoes I've been eyeing) .. and HOLY COW are these suckers expensive. My mommy loves me and my feet! And I am spoiled rotten.

That is pretty much it for now, much house cleaning in the future, my house warming party is on Sunday! eesh.

<3
Sam

Sunday weigh in

2011-09-04T07:58:00.002-06:00

235.8 . I got that weight twice, so that's the official one :D yay! that makes for a loss of 3 lbs this week. My goal is to at least maintain that loss (obviously) and hopefully lose some more in the next week. I say at least maintain because I seem to go up and down, and up and down... I just want to go down.

And now, after my Mountain pictures last week, I'll give you a couple of other sights we see out here in Colorado. :) (click on the pictures for full sized glory)

Sam

Boredom

2011-09-03T12:58:00.000-06:00

So, I work Saturdays. Saturdays are really really really slow. I've been watching tv and stuff on the computer at work (hooray for am.azon instant streaming).. but .. I've noticed since being banded... I eat when I'm bored. I'll be siting here, doing nothing, and suddenly thinking "i could go buy some sushi at king soopers" .. or whatever boredom noshing food you can think of. Someone has a fundraiser box of $1 candy bars up on the counter. I have availed myself of a twix or two. Heck, today I ate my meatballs (thank you costco!) .. and 5 minutes later I was planning a run to go buy some sushi. After a week of meatballs I KNOW that my 5 meatballs and pasta sauce is enough. I just need to wait a few minutes for the hungry to go away. AND there's the fact that I've been really good all week, and headed towards a loss, and these Saturdays are messing up my Sunday weigh in! dang it!

I think I need to bring in my knitting again on weekends. Put something to do in my hands. Watching things is nice, but it's not keeping me occupied enough to keep me from wanting food. It'd be nice if willpower was enough, but if that were the case, I'd probably not be here in the first place.

I've got a doctors appointment set up for Tuesday morning to talk about this heel pain. Of course that means today after making the appointment, it feels way better. Monday I have an appointment at the gym for a "fitness orientation" .. basically a walk-though of how to use/where to start with the machines, and a lot of "if you buy training packages this is how I can help you" . I plan on taking notes, hopefully I can get him to help me find a starting weight to use. And since I seem be sharing my appointments in reverse order, tomorrow morning is Zumba, and tomorrow afternoon is waxing the girly bits!

So plans. Long term, stop being bored! bring some knitting, coloring, gameboy, something!!! to get my mind of boredom eating. short term: appointments galore! I hope everyone else has a great long weekend!

<3,
Sam

Heel pain anyone?

2011-08-31T07:46:00.000-06:00

Uhg, looking for some advice.

For about the last week my heels (especially my right one) have been KILLING me. They've hurt off and on for who knows how many years, but this last week.. blah. It's a miracle I went to Zumba on Sunday (this is why I need a gym buddy, if someone is waiting for me to be there, I'm there). I couldn't do the jumpy bits of Zumba because when I tried STABBY pain in my heels. And walking is ow. Mucho Ow-o.

I do have very flat feet, and don't wear orthotics (not even cheapies), and I'm sure this is the number one thing that will help. I've also seen that ice could help. And rest, which isn't an option. A) I HAVE to walk from the light rail station to work, about 1/2 a mile and B) If I use this as an excuse not to go to the gym, it'll be another 3 months before I go back. I know me.

So, any suggestions for heel pain?

My weekend!

2011-08-28T21:21:00.000-06:00

My weekend has been awesomely fun. Which so far has translated into awesomely bad in regards to food choices. But I suppose I was never made to be perfect all the time, so It's all good. I had fun :D

Saturday was my friends annual seafood festival. There was smoked fish, beer, wine, cheese, home-grown veggies, boiled shrimp, corn, potatoes and lobster!

Actual Picture from Saturday.

First today, I went to my first Zumba class. I showed of my Jewish White Girl Skillz. aka. I can't dance to save my life. But it's okay. I had fun, and know if I keep going, I'll eventually stop looking like someone is poking me with a sharp stick.

After that the Hubby, a friend and I went driving to the top of Mt. Evens. That up a 14,000 foot tall mountain. It's also apparently the highest paved road in North America. I didn't know that. But it's gorgeous up there. I live in a beautiful state. Too bad I spent half the drive looking out the side of the car that didn't look down. So not good for my nerves.

There's a ton more pictures, find me on facebook if you're interested.

But after mountain, we went to Idaho Springs, where we had dinner at Beau Jo's Pizza. They're so yummy. I didn't have pizza, but what I did have was basically all the toppings of a pizza thrown together in a skillet... And the salad bar. And about half a beer. AND after that we walked down the street to a home-made ice cream place. I had a waffle cone with spearmint chocolate chip ice cream. SOOOOOOOOOOO good. and Soooooooooooo bad. <3

I know I'm going to be hating the scale in the morning. But I had a good time doing it. So no regrets!

Sam

Back to Basics Weigh in!

2011-08-21T11:22:00.000-06:00

And this one is worth reporting! huzzah!!

Last week was 243.6, this week 237.7! for a loss of 5.9?? dang.

I DO however think my scale needs new batteries or something. It seems I can get two different weights depending on how i step on it. I dunno. After this one, i stepped on and it said 238.1 . But either way, new century, and back on track! huzzah!

<3,
Sam

Exercise

2011-08-20T10:32:00.000-06:00

I need to add weights, just like this guy! Only with more hair.. and cuter.. and .. yeah.

But weights, I need them! I've done 4 days of cardio this week, with gym in the plan for after work today (and actually planning on Zumba with friends tomorrow!!). But blah. I know HOW to use most of the fitness machines at the gym, I've had a trainer before, and I'm i'm fairly good with posture and breathing and all that. My problem is know what weight to start with, and putting together a plan (upper body, lower body, mix, etc). So I'm thinking i might need to beg/borrow/steal some $$ to get a few sessions of training, at least to get a starting point. Anywhoozle, that's it for now. Wanted to share my 4 days in a row, with the potential for 6!

ttfn!
<3, Sam

It's CrAzY man!

2011-08-19T11:12:00.001-06:00

It’s Friday so that means here in Draz Land it’s time for BYOC – Bring Your Own Crazy!

We answer just a few questions to get to know each other better and to give our blog brains a break!

Copy to your own blog if you wish and ENJOY!

1. How much makeup do you wear daily, how long does it take you and are you loyal to certain brands?

Until, pretty much this week, NONE. I'd put some on for special occasions, but that's it. This week has been mascara. I guess at 31 it's time I learn how this works..

2. Repeat question: I’m going to pick a person not knowing your relationship with them (or even if there is one) and you try to describe this person in 5 words/short sentences.

Your oldest paternal aunt
Chesty (I get the chesticles from that side)Secretly Snarky (again, so me)Nice
Hard working
Favorite

3. Tell me about your first real kiss and how old you were.

I was 14. and I was sneaky! I had been told no dating until I was 16 (which totally would have been my JR. year of high school!!), but this guy asked me to the movies. My mom was out of town (like in Germany) so I asked my step-dad and he let me go! After that there's no turning back. As a kiss.. it was a bit sloppy, but I think it may have been both of our firsts.
4. If I gave you $1000.00 and told you that you had to give it to a charity – which charity would you choose and why?

I'd probably pick the Human Society and/or Dumb Friends League. I guess I'm one of those horrible people (I've heard it!) that pick animals over humans. It's not that I don't care about the people, it's just that I DO care about the animals.. if that makes any sense what-so-ever.
5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in blog land and in real life.

Blog land: I've been slacking. I'm trying to keep up with everybody, and generally doing fairly well, but work is a bit busier this week. Yes, I use work time as blogger time :) But never fear, I may not be commenting as much, but I'm reading!

Real life: I feel like I'm back on track band-wise. I've gone exercising 3 days so far this week, with 2-3 more planned. I've also been (mostly) good with my food, and even when I'm making not so stellar food choices, the amount isn't too bad. IF things keep going the way they have been, sunday's weigh in will be awesome!

But now working is picking up again, so ttfn!!

<3 Sam

Might this be...

2011-08-18T17:15:00.002-06:00

A post workout glow? For three days in a row?
Heck yeah!

In other news, today ... was... blah at work. It was BUSY .. mostly due to stupidity on the part of the shift prior to mine. But there was only two of us there today. Usually there's at least 3. So basically I didn't get to eat at all until 12:30..

but now the hubby is hungry, time to go make feesh.

<3,
sam

OMG what have I done??

2011-08-16T17:26:00.000-06:00

Oh right, I went to the gym! YAY gym points! and I should get bonus points. It's that time of the month, and lord knows I don't like to do ANYTHING during this time of the month, much less go to the gym. But I did. huzzah! Now to make this a trend :D I did 32 minutes on the elliptical machine, for a (supposed) total of 320 calories burned. Not too shabby and a good place to start!

I am also please to report that the tiny 24hr fitness nearest me had enough machines that I could get an elliptical, and didn't have to wait. They didn't, however, have the spiffy machines with televisions built in, that could sync with my ipod and track my workout with NIKE+. Maybe the 2nd closest gym will. I'll probably try that one in the next day or two.

But I just wanted to check and and let you all know that I gymed! And it was good!

<3,
Sam

Back and better than ever!

2011-08-16T09:47:00.000-06:00

Yup, I'm back, with an improved attitude!

Maybe it was the pre-TOM thing going on (now the full fledged thing is here..blah)

Maybe it was just me.. have an down day. It happens. But after some retail therapy (I love you Coach outlet store!) and a trip to our new IKEA (holy carp that store is huge!! 90 minutes of walking and that was zipping through the last half) but I feel better now!

Sunday's weigh in was basically the same. 243.6 (although liar scale said 242.? just a little bit later) and I'm okay with that. Even though I wasn't going down, I wasn't really going up either. it's a half victory!

I actually remembered to bring my gym bag today, so I'm going to hit up the 24hr fitness after work (and see how full this one is) and then more unpacking.

And my co-workers continue to amuse me. One of them (the only guy) just started the HCG diet. Last week he lost 5lbs, so good for him? I personally think the diet is crap (after reading many things, including the pills he's taking probably carry little to none of the hormone in question) but good for him loosing weight. Although he's already talking about the binge he's going to have in 6 weeks when he's done.. Seems to me that defeats the purpose.

Anyhows, just wanted to let you know that my attitude is in a much better place than last week, and I love you all!

<3,
Sam

Stalled

2011-08-12T09:24:00.000-06:00

This is me. I need a push. I am so stalled/dissapointed/frustrated right now. And the crappy thing is, as much as I don't want it to, the push I need, the encouragement, the movement, it all has to come from me (not that I don't love and appreciate you all).

How is it that I KNOW these things, but it seems to do me no good? This last week or two (in which i have been conspicuously absent, commenting, but not blogging) .. have been blah. Bad food choices. Too much food. "Measuring? what's that?" Yesterday for example. I wasn't really hungry all day (dunno why) .. but ended up eating a whole bacon cheeseburger (no bun) for dinner. I could have probably gotten away with nussing.. or at the least just a quarter of it. But Head said "that looks good, you must eat it!" so I did.

My head is evil. I get bored, I want to eat. So I do. It took me 3 days after saying I would to actually unpack my gym bag. And the next day I forget to put it in my car. My weight hasn't gone up.. but it hasn't really gone down either. This just discourages me, which sends me into my cycle of "nothings working, why bother trying" .. I KNOW this.. but somehow am not got at stopping this cycle once it starts.

I just need to do it. It being exercise. IT being measure my food, and stop after a cup (I'm pretty sure I won't be hungry after that). IT being drink water at home. IT being stop making excuses.. Sure I left my gym bag at home, but it's all of 8 minutes from my house to the gym, no reason I couldn't have gotten my stuff and then gone. Sure I ate crap yesterday (and too much of it) but that doesn't mean I should eat crap today.

Each day is a new day and the only person who chooses what kind of day it will be is me. Time for me to grow a pair and make it what I want it to be. (Although if I could borrow a few of Draz's skittles and rainbows that'd be awesome!)

<3,
Sam

and the results are....

2011-08-07T06:01:00.000-06:00

dun dun duuunnnnn

better than I expected, not as good as I hoped. I think I'm back down to where I was 2 weeks ago (and have been hovering all week). thank you stuck/pb episode? time for work.. blech.

<3,
Sam

Uhg

2011-08-06T21:14:00.000-06:00

Blah.

So today was craptastic in terms of food. Breakfast was a starbucks strawberry smoothie. I'm okay with that. It's sorta been my go-to breakfast lately. It's 280 cal and 15g protein. Not the best, but better than other choices, and it usually keeps me full till lunch.
But then!!! I had a greek yogurt for a snack. And for lunch I had some sushi (Philadelphia rolls) AND some popcorn chicken from the grocery store... I was (obviously) way full after that.. but ordered dinner around 6 anyways. Hubby is out with friends, so I figured I'd try one of the chinese places around, I have to find a new one now. So I order.. and wait 2 hours, which actually was kind of good. That meant I was hungry by the time food got here. So I take a bite of my crab-meat cheese wonton/crab rangoon (I figured they're crunchy, I'd be fine) .. and OMG STUCK. like OW. And .. PB. it happened. sliming.. burping, and a little bit coming up. I'm soooo glad I was home alone. Otherwise Hubby would so be all "I told you not to eat that!" *sigh* Good thing I ordered some soup too, since that's all I ended up eating.

I think that was my bands way of saying "hey dipshit, you ate enough at lunch to feed yourself for 2 days, you don't need dinner!"

Blah. So I'm predicting another not so steller weigh in tomorrow, but such is life.
Time to go beat some sense into my head. It needs to learn to listen to my stomach more in regards to hungry vs. not hungry.

<3,
Sam

By popular demand..

2011-08-05T08:59:00.001-06:00

Dress pics. Please excuse the mess. My room is in a state of explosion mostly due to unpacking.
Also keep in mind the current dress pics are lacking the spanks, tights, shoes and belt from the prior picture. Let me know, I'm not sure I can tell a difference.

And then I need to figure out a quick way to make to drastically different sized pictures into one same sized picture so i can do side by side.

Also, work is being EVIL today. People have brought in donuts, bagels, and CAKE. and when I said maybe to cake, they went and brought me a piece! It's still sitting on my desk un-eaten. but UGH. EVIL. :)

<3, Sam

I hate when my head and real life don't match

2011-08-03T20:46:00.002-06:00

So I was going through my Sister-in-law's facebook looking at their wedding photos. They got married this past December. I came across this picture with me in it ... and I don't remember looking THAT fat. *sigh* ..

Of course now I want to run downstairs, put on that dress, and see how it/I look now.. Maybe tomorrow.

<3,
Sam

Survey Time!

2011-08-02T11:19:00.000-06:00

Time to share!

1. What is your occupation right now ?
Fingerprint Identification Technician for the Denver PD. Sounds way cooler and more exciting than it actually is
2.What color are your socks right now?
White. boring. I'm a big fan of fun sucks.. but they're not very "professional". :P
3. What are you listening to right now?
the typing of hardworking people.. or me blogging.

4. What was the last thing that you ate?
Honestly? *sigh* I had the last bit of M&M's from going to see a movie on Sunday.

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
Yup. I learned on one, currently drive one, and actually prefer it

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
My mommy.

7. Do you like the person you stole this blog from?
Yup. Although with the number of people who have done this, I"m not sure I stole it from any one person
8. How old are you today?
31

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Football
10. What is your favorite drink?
Iced Tea (un-sweetened) with lemon.
11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
All the time. I actually need to now, lots of grey showing (thanks mom and dad for that)

12. Favorite food?
Mexican!

13. What is the last movie you watched?
In the theater was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2.
At home it was Hot Tub Time Machine

14. Favorite day of the year?
hmmm.. Any day not at work.

15. How do you vent anger?
I'll usually either vent to my Hubby (who tells me he's tired of hearing about the stupid i put up with at work) or vent to my Mom.

16. What was your favorite toy as a child?
Legos

17. What is your favorite season?
Probably either Fall or spring. Mostly for the lack of snow on the roads and lack of 90+ degree weather (so I guess spring is out, Fall wins!)

18. Cherries or Blueberries?
Blueberries

19. Do you want your friends to blog this survey?
Go right ahead! it's fun

20. Where is you favorite place to escape?My new big ol' bath tub and a book
21. Favorite Tv Show?
currently watching Glee. Love it way more than I thought I would. But my favorite right now is Castle! Love me some Nathan Fillion!
22. Living arrangements?
Just bought our house a couple of weeks ago! Me, my hubby and three kitties

23. When was the last time you cried?
A couple of days ago. Fighty time with the hubby and I was frustrated. All is well now.

24. What is on the floor of your closet?
Shoes! and cat fur.

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest?
Probably my friend Allison. She's far away now, and we don't talk that much, but when we do it's the same.

26. What did you do last night?
honestly >.> skinny dipped in the hot tub

27. What are you most afraid of?
financial disaster I think.

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
mmm cheeseburger. Sounds so yummy

29. Favorite dog breed?
I really want a Corgi!

30. Favorite day of the week?
Sunday/monday. My weekend!

31. How many states have you lived in?
Technically two. I was born in Missouri, but moved to Colorado when I was 9 months old.

32. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds! Chics dig Sparklies!

33. What is your favorite flower?
hmm. I've never really thought about it much.

Tuesday is my Monday :(

2011-08-02T08:33:00.000-06:00

Nobody knows where my Sunday has gone
Monday left the same time
Why was he holding her hand
When he's supposed to be mine

It's my Monday, and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if your weekend left you!

Yeah, it's my Monday :P .. but all weekends must come to an end. All things considered it was a good weekend though.

That was my Sunday morning weigh in. Up about a pound from last weeks. However by this morning, I was down to 242.8. so we're moving the right way again. huzzah! hmm.. and that's about all i have so far. It's now time to spend the next several hours catching up with you all. I can't wait till I have internet at home again (tomorrow!!)

<3,

Sam

Uncharted Territory

2011-07-29T12:51:00.001-06:00

Kitchen: The Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Samantha. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new cabinets, to seek out new recipes and new flavors, to boldly go where no woman has gone before.

Yeah. New house = new house payments. That means Hubby and I really really need to be good at eating at home. Also bonus, it's easy to eat the right things (as long as guacamole isn't involved) when I'm at home.

So I'm trying this: http://thescramble.com/default.aspx

Basically for $30 (or $15 like paid through livingsocial) you get a 6 months subscription of daily dinner recipes (with nutrition info listed) AND a weekly shopping list (OMG LIFE SAVER!). Each recipe is supposed to be able to be made in 30 min or less. You're able to trade out recipes if there's something icky (or in my case a band meanie). I figured for $15 it was worth a try. Hubby's biggest problem with eating at home is we tend to just repeat the same 4-5 things over and over again, so this could be huge!

I'll keep you posted on how this works!

<3,
Sam

P.S. while looking for awesome pictures to go with this blog I totally found my next knitting project!!

It's that time of the week again!

2011-07-29T09:04:00.000-06:00

(.. so I copied and pasted.. and what was "Bring Your Own Crazy" on Drazil's blog says "Pea Picky Panda" on mine? so confused)

Bring
Your
Own
Crazy

A little ditty where we answer a few questions on Friday to get to know each other better and to give our blogging brains a break. Copy and paste to your own blog if you so desire! Enjoy!

1. Sun or rain? Roses or tulips? Romantic movie or comedy?

I like the sun after a rain. When you look in one direction and it's all dark, but the sun is behind you lighting things up.

this is as close as i could come to finding what I'm trying to describe.

2. I've been sick lately and haven't eaten in two days - except for ice cream...which leads me to ask - what's your favorite ice cream flavor?

Mint Chocolate Chip. No questions asked. (or an Oreo Mint Blizzard)

3. Are you a door locker - in your house and car?

Usually I'm a locker. I got into the habit for a while of not locking my car, even at the park-n-ride. I think maybe I was hoping someone would do me the favor of taking my car so I could get a new one. But front and back doors always. The hubby has been locking the door from the house into the garage.. which is driving me crazy when I get home and try to go inside!

4. In the spirit of my being sick and wanting to die - tell me your "go to remedies" for when you are sick?

Baths.. Just to try and relax

Sleep. Amen for sleep.

Soup. I wish my hubby would make me some, but it's like pulling teeth just to get him to buy me some cans.

5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in blog land and in real life.

Blogland has been good, at least when I'm at work and can actually use the Internet to read (does that make me a bad employee?? ) Everybody is super amazing and I'm so glad to have found you all.

Real life.. still unpacking after the move. I feel like we've made the mistake of unpacking the "essentials" first and now the 8 million books we need to unpack will never get done. Ah well. Not as good this week in the food and exercise department, but it's not the end of the world.

Sam

Lunch

2011-07-28T12:00:00.000-06:00

So I tried one of these today:

And it was actually pretty good. it was a small container of reduced fat chives and onions cream cheese, some flat bread crackers, and some turkey. And when I opened it I discovered a tiny Toblerone! and all for 270 calories. I'm sure it's not the perfect bandster lunch. Maybe a little high in calories? A little low in protein? (11g) .. but I think for a quickie lunch on those days when you just forgot your plan, or late running out the door it's not too bad. And if it is bad, please yell at me now before I get addicted to these!

Not the best week

2011-07-28T07:56:00.000-06:00

THIS has been my downfall this week.

Yeah, so far this week I've gained back most of what I lost last week. Oops. Not the end of the world, I know. But it's damn frustrating. And it's all on me. I've been eating like crap, and less active. I haven't been doing my stairs (partially due to my slip soreness this week) .. I'm full of excuses as usual.

But.. This is okay. This is not an excuse to pig out the rest of the week (this is my last grande no whip caramel mocha, I swear). This is not an excuse to say "I'll skip the stairs today, and just start next week". This IS time to look back and say "yeah, I wasn't great, but I did skip the donuts they brought in yesterday". This IS the time to go home and find my gym bag and put it in my car and go! (damn moving, giving me another easy out for not exercising).

This surgery IS my reason to keep myself from falling back into old patterns. I DON"T want to fail. I DON'T want to be 6 months down the road and sitting in the exact same place as I am now. and I know what I need to do in order to achieve my goals. Now it's just a matter of DOING it.

I think I need NIKE to sponsor me!

Sam

Time to catch up!

2011-07-26T07:30:00.001-06:00

Oy, Not having the Internet at home yet is killing me (and still a week to go!) And at the same time it's nice to get a little untied from my computer. If I can keep it up, it'll go a long ways to helping me get more active. But now I get to spend the first few house at work catching up on everyone's weekend :)

As for me, I wasn't very productive in the weigh/exercise department, or the unpacking department. Although I have an excuse! (don't I always?) Sunday (which is my saturday) was my cousin's baby shower. It was at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse which was really cool. I ate more than I should have, and stuff I shouldn't have but it was good. And it was fun, and part of why I chose the band instead of the bypass was so I could go out and have cucumber with humus, and artichoke stuffed pastries and a tiny little ~~slice of heaven~~ brownie (just as long as I do it very occasionally).

On my way home, I stopped at the grocery store to get some dishwasher detergent. And promptly managed to walk in the slippery stuff on the floor and do the splits. OMG OW. My groin area is still very very sore. And I didn't see any store employees, so no incident report so I can sue! and be rich! except I'm not going to. I'm way too nice.

Also it seems despite my worries the 2cc fill I got recently is working. I've noticed several episodes of getting mini-stuck. mini because it goes away quickly as long as I'm not trying to shove more food down my gullet. Although this morning the hubby was nice enough to get up with me and make breakfast of scrambled eggs (he seemed to think he needed to make 6 eggs for the two of us) .. and scrambled eggs almost got me to my first PB episode. But not quite. I'm sure it didn't help I tried to wash the stuck eggs down with some orange juice. I KNOW better.. but obviously not. :)

Anywhos, time to go and see what everyone else did this weekend, and time to pray that Downtown Denver stops smelling like a shit truck exploded everywhere.

<3 Sam

Merp? How'd that happen?

2011-07-24T07:55:00.001-06:00

Sunday weigh in, and daaaaang. I don't know if last weeks weigh in was small due to TOM, and now I just lost all that water weight, our if this week with moving and my second fill I'm in a good spot, but yay! Last week I'm pretty sure I was 250 on the dot, so this is 6.something pounds this week. (I'd look at past entries, but I'm doing this on my phone and don't want to lose it) And since this is on my phone, this is all you're getting for now.

<3 sam

NSV and BYOC

2011-07-22T10:01:00.000-06:00

So.. Firstly NSV. I pulled out a pair of jeans to wear today (yay for Fridays!) that I hadn't worn in .. maybe 3-4 weeks. OMG these suckers are falling off. I can pull them off EASILY without unbuttoning them. And some of my shirts are starting to look huge on me! Also this morning one of the Police Technicians on the night shift commented that I was melting away! I'll take it. :D

and BYOC brought to you by Drazil

It’s BYOC day! Bring Your Own Crazy! We answer a few questions to get to know each other better and to give our blog brains a break! Copy and paste to your own blog and enjoy!!

1. Alright – forgive me – we’re gonna get a little personal here. I was flipping through my organizer and saw in big bright letters “ANNUAL PHYSICAL DUE” coming up soon. Then I remembered that last year my lady bits doc said that since I haven’t had a bad pap in so many years – that I don’t have to come back for another 3 years if I don’t want to. What the what? Did you guys know that?

No speculum in the vaginulum?

Anywhoozle – it sounds all good but really – do any of you follow this medical rule? Do you go every three years if you’ve never had a bad pap?

I try to go yearly. I'm all good with preventative medicine. But I think that's a woman thing. But we all know we're smarter than those guys who only go to the doctor after a body part has fallen off.

2. If you read, what are you reading right now? Or how about what is your fave music right now?

I am such a reader it's not even funny. When I was a kid, when I got in trouble I was grounded from reading. Mostly I read Sci-fi/Fantasy. Currently re-reading the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin (as he finally published the 5th book and I need to remember what the heck happened in the previous ones)

3. Name some of your favorite smells.

hmm.. Fresh baked goods (not that I bake). Fresh cut grass.. Lots of fresh things (that don't come out of people)

4. Showers or baths? Shampoo only or shampoo & conditioner? Shave daily or just when you start feeling and looking like an ape?

Both showers and baths. Showers daily for cleanliness purposes, but baths for relaxing with a book/kindle and candles and smelly stuff. I'm such a girl and I don't know where it came from.

I have to use both shampoo and conditioner or else I'm never getting a brush through my hair. And Shave when I'm starting to imitate an ape, or when the hubby complains about my legs cutting his legs up in bed.

5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in real life and in blogland.

Real life: I am a homeowner!! YAY! moving was rough, took longer than I thought and probably burned a million calories. And now comes unpacking. But it'll be so worth it!

In blog-land I've been mostly M.I.A. with that whole moving thing. But I spent a good chunk of time catching up yesterday, and hope to stay caught up. You all make this worth while!

That's it for now!

<3 Sam

Never Moving Again!

2011-07-21T11:35:00.001-06:00

I swear, I'm not moving again until I'm wealthy enough to be able to pay someone to come in and pack all my junk for me, load it, and unpack it. Oh, and to clean the old place. Holy carp I am so tired. And we're not even unpacked yet.

And did I mention the 8 million mosquito bites I acquired? >.< blargh. But on the plus side there was much physical work being done, so yay exercise! And YAY for my first house! And boo for no internet at home yet. I wont' really be able to catch up on everybody's blogs, as it would take my entire work day. But I'm here, doing well (except for a sore port area.. maybe using those muscles made it sore? dunno) and my goal is to have my scale unpacked before Sunday!

But that's it, just checking in.

<3 Sam

P.S. I now have a huge mirrored closet door. Pictures will be EASY!! (once I decide I like taking them)

Sunday Weigh-in

2011-07-17T05:16:00.000-06:00

Posting this quickly and in the not even bright and early morning cause today is moving day. OMG there's still so much to do. This sucks.

I attribute this to liquids after a fill, (which I'm half convinced that's part of why they have you do it.. give you a little boost). And now you all can see how often I don't get my toes nails done. Ah well, they're still cute. I won't have much internet besides my phone till wed. So <3 you all till then.

<3 Sam

Busy Day

2011-07-14T18:38:00.000-06:00

This morning we closed on our house! I am a home owner. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

:D I am very very excited about this.

This afternoon, I got my second fill. Apparently the needle didn't want to go in the diaphragm, so much poking ensued. ... not fun. (my surgeon apparently doesn't do fills with xray).. He finally got it, put and put 2cc's in. So in THEORY i have 6 cc's total. Why do I say in theory? Well, when he finally got the needle in, he couldn't get any of the orignal fill to go into the needle. So immediatly pessimistic/panic mode of my brain kicks in with "OMG I have a leak somewhere already!!!!" which I soooooooooooo hope is not true. I mean it's been 2 months, can I have a leak? What else would cause the original fill to not want to play nice? I dunno. But he wants me back in 4 weeks to see how I am and probably to see what happens with this fill. If it's gone too... (dun dun dun) .. *sigh* I hate how paranoid/pessimistic I am.

This, I am not very excited about.

<3 Sam

Huh..

2011-07-13T10:10:00.000-06:00

So. I think I'm actually more nervous about this second fill tomorrow than I was about my first. Probably because I pretty much expected to have little to no restriction on the first fill. But the second.. this could change everything. (of course the fill is the day before I was supposed to go to lunch with my friend. Ah well, we can change that)

I have been doing fairly good with food though. I stick to my small meals (although with snacks, otherwise I'd kill someone).. and dinner is usually good. Although it almost seems when I'm not as good for dinner, I weigh less the next morning? Is this the "up the calories, lose more weight" I've read about? Does this mean I just need to eat a little more, and don't need a fill? I dunno. I'll ask my surgeon tomorrow I suppose. (Although I really can eat pretty much whatever)

I'm pretty sure I had something else to say.. but it's gone now. Have a great Hump Day!

<3 Sam

P.S. OMG HOUSE TOMORROW!!!! *SQUEEEEEEEEE*

On a happier note:

2011-07-12T17:18:00.000-06:00

On a much happier note, After being told by one of the gals in my surgeons office "well the lady who does the fill schedules is not at her desk right now, but I know he's currently taking appointments for the end of August" (!!! holy cow, remember to schedule early!) .. I got a call back from his OTHER office .. and have a fill scheduled for Thursday evening. O.O .. so yeah. the day we close, i get a fill. 2 days before we move, and grill food for everyone who helps. ah well. Food should not be my life any more. and if it means i get a small fish fillet instead of a burger or brat, it's okay (now to repeat this to myself over and over and over)

So Fill #2 on Thursday. dun dun duuuunn....

Never forget how lucky we are

2011-07-12T12:36:00.000-06:00

Please never forget how lucky we are to be here.

I just found out today that a co-worker on another shift just passed away. She apparently had either gastric banding or bypass (depends on which rumor you listen to) surgery just this last Thursday.

I don't know her well, I dont' know if she followed doctors orders, I don't even know for sure which surgery she had (if it was even weight loss surgery). But I do know, that I'm very glad that I'm still here. This really drives home that those 1% numbers they throw around are real.

go hug someone, I know I'm going to as soon as I get home.

<3 Sam

Cheap and Easy

2011-07-10T11:05:00.005-06:00

That's me!! ...er.. not so much. But dinner last night was! It's super easy to make, super easy to modify, and super easy to make for just one, or a whole bunch. And when I say easy, I mean easy, I'm not much for cooking, but this is a do again. And it tastes better than the leftover Lonestar Steakhouse Salmon I'm eating for lunch right now.

FOILED SALMON AND LATE SUMMER
VEGETABLES

Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1917,152191-254196,00.html
Content Copyright © 2011 Cooks.com - All rights reserved.
1 tsp. olive oil
4 oz. salmon fillet or steak
1 sm. yellow squash or zucchini, thinly sliced
1 sm. tomato, skinned, seeded, diced 1/4"
1 green onion with top, thinly sliced
2 tsp. vodka or white wine
Salt & pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place cookie sheet or baking pan in oven to preheat 5 minutes. I've also used a gas grill.
Meanwhile, smear oil in center of a 12" square of aluminum foil and place salmon, squash, tomato and onion in center of foil over oil. Sprinkle with vodka, salt and pepper; fold diagonally to form a triangle; tightly seal edges.
Place foil package on preheated cookie sheet, return to oven and bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until salmon is opaque and vegetables are tender. Open foil packet, arrange salmon and vegetables on dinner plate and serve. Makes 1 serving. 283 calories, including 155 fat calories.

7/10/11 weigh in photo

2011-07-10T05:26:00.000-06:00

for a loss of 1.5 lbs. Not much, but it's down, so I'll take it :)

Adorable! That's me! fluttering eyelashes go here

2011-07-08T20:31:00.002-06:00

Booyah! I have proof that I'm adorable! where's the hubby when he needs to see this? *sigh*

The Rules

1. Thank the person who gave you this award and link back to them in your post

2. Tell us 10 things about yourself

3. Nominate your bloggers

4. Contact these bloggers and let them know you have nominated them

Thanks goes to Jessica for this award. I couldn't have done it without her!

!. OMG my first house! It's almost here! very excited and nervous. And half worried if we can really really afford it.

@. I am Queen Procrastinator. I close on thursday, can move in any time after that, have everythign set up to move move on sunday, and have a grand total of ZERO boxes packed. yeehaw. And this is nothing new. In college the only difference between a rough draft of a paper and a final draft was spell check. Mostly because it was written 4 hours before it was due (oddly enough usually got an A)

#. I love the State i live in. Colorado. It's beautiful, the weather is awesome, and it's beautiful!

This is the view out of my window right this second.

Now I just need to fit in. Colorado has the lowest obesity rate in the nation. me too please!

$. I'm Jewish...ish. I identify as Jewish, although am not practicing.

%. I'm a technophile. If it's new and shiney I must have it. This I inherited from my mom. She had a portable DVD player when it cost almost $1000 and didn't have enough battery power to play a whole movie on one battery. I'm not that bad (mostly because I don't get paid what she did) .. but I want to be.

^. I'm also an internet junky? A lot of it is the fact that so many of my friends I made online, and therefore are spread all over, so much easier to keep in touch online. Also .. I kinda feel like it keeps me young. I know what the kids these days are talking about if they say "nyan cat"

&. My favorite TV genre is Sci-fi. My favorite TV show? Castle! <3 Nathan Fillion <3 (who's also in Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog which more <3 and Neil Patrick Harris! I want him to be my gay best friend!

*. My most favorite movie ever? Probably the Lion King. Still. Just <3 it very much

(. I have a competitive streak. One of my motivators in this weight loss band journey is to do better than a friend of mine is.. That sounds wrong to me, but it's something to shoot for.

!). I did stairs at work all 4 days this week!! (yay for short weeks) Tuesday was 2 x 2 floors, Wed. was 3x2, and both thursday and today were 5 x 2 floors! Holy cow! (yes it hurt but still) .. That's probably the longest I've stuck with anything exercise related.

!!. you get eleven, cause you're that cool! I have this knack for liking expensive things. Show me 4 pairs of shoes, the ones I like best will be the most expensive. ALWAYS. I'm so very good at that. It's a curse.

Nominations time! This years Nominees are:

http://lasttrainoutoffatland.blogspot.com/

http://blackbutterflyevolution.blogspot.com/

<3 Sam

BYOC bandwagon!

2011-07-08T19:49:00.000-06:00

This is my first BYOC, but it's a good idea! so hear goes!

1. If you were asked to symbolize yourself as an animal – which animal would you be?

I would say... A cat. and a freaking lazy ass house cat at that. I know it's lame, but I look at my kitties, and I'm freaking jealous. They want food, they get food, they want love, got it. Sleep all day? check. nuff said I think.

2. Did you ever play an organized sport – with coaches, rules and scoring? Tell us about it.
As a kid my dad enrolled us in some sports at the Y. I've done soccer.. which I always wanted to play guard, much less running. I did basketball too.. Same thing.. running sucks. Since then, avoided it with a passion.

3. When did you start shaving your legs?
Gosh.. don't remember for sure. But I do know it was later than most of the other girls. My mom didn't want me growing up too fast I think (that and I tended to be a year-ish younger than the other kids in my grade). I want to say .. Jr. High though (here that's 7th or 8th grade). Make up was for later... in fact I still rarely wear any.

4. When you’re in a crabby – pissy – want to stab everyone you see kind of mood – what do you do to get out of it or do you revel in it?
... I revel in it. Much to my hubby's dismay. And have I ever been there lately. being hungry is NOT good for my mood. Every other sentence comes out stabby. If any part of this weight loss thing is going to affect my marriage, it's the stabby mood I get in when hungry (remind me to call about an early fill)

5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in blogland and in real life.
This week... I've had trouble reading all my blogs i'm following. I want to read/support/comment on everybody's.. but I don't have the time. I'm not sure how you all do it! (I'm sure the 3 hour raids 3 days a week in World of Warcraft don't help with time management any)

Real life.. hectic!!! We close on our house this coming Thursday!!! EEEEP. and guess what. Miss Queen Procrastinator here hasn't packed a single stinking thing. Guess what I get to do all weekend! oy.

And tada! my first BYOC! fascinating (?) in sites into my life!

<3 Sam

Comparisons

2011-07-07T09:26:00.000-06:00

wanted to do a quick face comparison. although my phone pic looks crappy today.

I suppose getting the same angle would have helped, But I think I can see a difference? (and don't I do great faces in self pics? )

When in doubt (or longing)...

2011-07-07T09:19:00.000-06:00

Look up the nutrition. ~~The Devil~~ Someone brought in Einstein bagels and cream cheese today. OMG .. so not fair. I was wavering. So I looked up the nutrition info. Most of their bagels with no cream cheese are right around 300 calories. That's enough to make me stop. For now.

This right here, This is Food Porn

On the plus side, I'm on day 3 of taking the stairs at work.  I do have to take the elevator to the second floor, but then I can walk to the 4th. And I'm doing extra stairs during the day too. Yesterday I did 6 floors. Goal today is 8 ( I do two floors at a time and am winded after that).   I'm hoping to relive my freshman year of college when I lost 15 lbs in the first semester just from dorm food and taking the stairs to the 3rd floor all the time. By the end of the first semester I was able to run up three flights of stairs, skipping stairs all the way up.   Soon. yes soon.   I've been .. mostly good with my food. Much much easier to be good at work, than at home. Which seems backwards in my head, but it is what it is.

I do need to call my surgeon and find out what his policy on fills is.   Is he one of the "call me if you need one" types, or the "you will get it on this day, and no other day, and no sooner than 2 months after the first"? .. Cause right now I can eat anything. And I'm HUNGRY.   I had a smoothie with 15g of protein in it for breakfast this morning, finished it maybe 2 hours ago, and I'm starving (which is why the bagels are EVIL). I'll probably have half a protein bar as a snack here in a few. Only good news is weight isn't going up, other than daily fluctuations. Bad news, not down either (although I haven't weighed since Sunday)

But I'm at work, so I should probably look like I'm doing worky stuff.   toodles!

<3 Sam

OFFICIAL Back to Basics Challenge weigh in!

2011-07-03T07:19:00.000-06:00

Seeing as I jumped the gun a couple of days ago, here's my official weigh in for the B.O.O.B.S Challenge (which yes, I sent to the designated email address)

I swear in real life my toes are longer and less chubby. *sigh*

But this should be interesting. I've done these things before, and always peter out after a week or two.. But i've never had the band before, and never had such a wonderful support community like you all before. so Huzzah!! We can do this!!

So anybody who wants to join, do it today! today is sign up day!! go go go go!

<3 Sam

I joined the B.O.O.B.S challenge!

2011-07-01T16:40:00.001-06:00

challenge here

Or at least I think I did. I sent in a photo of my weight, and expressed my interest to join and am waiting to hear how to pay :) Maybe this will kick me in the rear to get started. And for super accountability:

official starting weight (unless i have to do it again on sunday morning. Never realized how chubby my feet look :(

Here's to weight loss! May it all be almost as easy as the pre/post-op liquid diet (the losing, not eating.. that sucked)

<3 Sam

I'm here, quick update more later?

2011-06-27T21:18:00.000-06:00

I saw fireflies this weekend. This made me happy. I live in Colorado, and after the last weekend, I've come to the conclusion that we in CO, haven't any idea what "having bugs" means.

This weekend eneded up being an emergency road trip out to Missouri. My hubby's sister-in-law passed away very unexpectedly, so of course we went. This would explain my lack of updating this week. Found out Thursday evening, and I've been gone since Friday morning. Being just a couple days after my fill, I was a bit worried about food .. but apparently i haven't hit that magic green zone yet. I DID make mostly good choices this weekend, even while driving, but .. somehow as soon as i'm home, i manage to scarf down half a thin crust pizza. Oops. But there. No hiding. I ate pizza. and a lot of it. And now i'm regretting it a bit. My tummy hurts. but I'm pretty sure it's nothing due to the band other than the fact that I haven't eaten anything close to that much in a month and a half. I don't know what I was thinking other than "damn that sounds good" .. But it's back on track. And staying on track. And getting my fat behind to the gym. Or out walking, or fraking packing the house (we close in 2 1/2 weeks!!! ) *sigh* too much to do.

But now it's bed time. I have to be at work tomorrow morning, bright and early ..woo... hoo.

<3 sam

And done!

2011-06-22T15:07:00.000-06:00

I'm filled. I think liquids are going through fine.. Maybe a little different than before? not sure yet. He put in 4cc's after a little bit of poking around to find the right spot in the port. (no fluoroscope or anything like that) That was a weird feeling. I could feel things moving inside me. Waiting for an alien to burst out of there and start dancing or something ;)

That's about it for now, need to get ready to leave for my first support group in a few, just wanted to let you all know I survived.

Big Day!!

2011-06-22T08:49:00.000-06:00

Big day .. two reasons!

1. First fill at 1:15 this afternoon. After my follow up with the Kaiser Nurse Practitioner on Monday, I'm feeling good about where I am. I've always been happy that I haven't really gone up in weight after hopping back on real foods, and she basically confirmed it. She said with the gastric banding patients, they typically expect a 6-12 lb loss in the first 6 weeks. I was 21 lbs down on their scale (which is never nice to me). So I'll take it.

2. My name is Samantha and I am addicted to Coach purses. I only ~~have~~ had Seven, so all told not TOO bad, but since we're moving I made the commitment (the sad sad sad commitment) to sell some of them. I was just telling my hubby that over the phone yesterday, and he was having lunch with a co-worker and she jumped all over it. So already 3 are gone at $50 each. I only have one left that I'm for sure getting rid of (might throw in a small wallet too) and if I can get blogger to show pictures I may put it up here for you gals to look at.

sorta this bag, but 6 inches deeper.

So I have basically this bag, but if you stretch it longer.. Like a rectangle shape. and Used. Blogger isn't letting me upload pictures to this. But if anybody is interested leave me a comment with an email and I'll email you pics. I figure $50, and 5 for shipping? with a free small black coach wallet thrown in.

But that's all. I'll let you know how the fill goes. Oh yeah, First Support group tonight also. busy busy busy day. and TOM might be showing up. I'm not sure how that's going work with the fill .. I saw something about avoiding fills the few days before your TOM/during. We'll see.

TTFN
<3 Sam

Why?

2011-06-21T10:23:00.001-06:00

I'm not sure why I ever read online articles that have anything to do with plus sized anything. Just read one about the lack of real fashionable clothing for plus sized gals... And the comments, oy! One started out "we should not cater to fat people; we should ridicule them until they lose weight." I just don't get how people can be so cruel. It's like if you're over a bmi of 25 you're not a person. I know I let this stuff bother me more than I should, but it just reminds me of why I worry about the direction our society is going. anyways, on the cell phone for this, so done for now.

<3 Sam

Have you seen this girl? or An award? for me? you shouldn't have!

2011-06-19T13:15:00.000-06:00

Have you seen me? Cause I sure haven't. Nobody told me buying a house would take up so much of my time! eesh! But yes, I'm back by popular demand *waves* Hi Red!

Things are going well for me. I have no idea what my previous diarrhea/vomiting/bladder pain episode was, but I feel much better now. Thank goodness. My weight remains steady, up a pound or two one day, and back down the next. I'm okay with that. Considering I get my first fill on Wednesday, I figure I'm doing really well not gaining back the weight lost from liquids after entering real food phase. But yes, First Fill Wednesday! dun dun DUNNNN. I'm looking forwards to it. Want to start going down again. Of course exercise would help. Mostly it's the hectic crazy that has become my life. Or me making more excuses to not go.. you pick one. I'll give you a hint, choose the excuses. >.< I know, I know, I'll do better. Promise.

Past news, I got the Adorable Blog Award from Prudence! Thank you so much!

Rules of the Award
*Thank the person who gave you this award, and link back to them in your post.
*Tell us 10 things about yourself.
*Nominate your bloggers.
*Contact these bloggers, and let them know they received this award.

Thing the first: I'm a gamer geek. Not hard-core, but love me some computer games. For the last few years I've been playing World of Warcraft, and very much enjoy it. I'm a decent player, and enjoy the challenge of raiding with a group of people from all over the country. (and am looking for a new raid group >.>) In fact, I met my husband on an online game: Kingdom Of Loathing .

B) I am also a band geek. I did band from 5th grade through the end of college. I miss marching band. A lot. I miss the instant friends, and the forever friends. (It was also a decent source of activity) I played flute/piccolo, but personality-wise I wasn't a flute. I was not a girly/princess girl.

3. I worry that I'm too boring to come up with 10 things about myself.

More: I'm a homebody. 9 times out of 10 I'd rather stay home and read/computer/whatever. (and then I wonder why I lose touch with friends). I think that's why this last week had drained me to the point of avoiding my computer after i do finally get home. I'm so worn out for being out, that all i want to do is read and go to bed.

Fiver: I feel like I'm always behind. I'm 31 and buying my first house. I was 28 when I got married (barely). Buy the time I lose weight and am (hopefully) able to have kids I'll probably be 33-35. I feel like I've let responsibility go by the wayside.

6: Favorite food? Mexican. even if it doesn't always agree with me. I love spicy! spicy gives me heartburn! It's win/win. somehow :)

7-up: I hate my currently efficient body! I've been wearing my body-bugg again and it says that I'm burning 2500 calories a day. There is no effing way that I'm eating that much (probably around 1500), so why doesn't the scale move? grrrrrr. This I need to work though (a.k.a. exercise!)

8 is great!: I .. mostly like my job. I work for the police department ID-ing all the prisoners by fingerprint. The way we do it is sooooo old that only 4 or 5 places still do it like we do in the entire country. On one hand I think it's awesome that I have a skill that so few people possess.. On the other hand, that skill won't take me very many places other than where I am.

8 1/2: on a related note, I want to go back to school and get my masters degree in something that will let me work in the crime lab. THAT I will be able to take with me wherever. However I'm daunted by the fact that I need to take the GRE and it's been almost 10 years since I finished college.

Nein! : I took German in high school. My grandmother thought I should have taken Spanish for a couple of reasons, a) She's Jewish and basically hasn't gotten over WWII (not that I can blame her) and b) because of where I live. Looking back she's probably right (for reason b). I did enjoy German though, and got to go to Germany which was awesome. I also took a semester of German I in college. I figured after 3 years of H.S. German, intro in college would be an easy A. HAHAHAHAHAHA. That one semester covered at least as much as all 3 years of H.S.

The End: Exercise is going to be the death of me. I have NEVER been an active person (and it shows!) Sure I played basketball at the Y. I wanted to be a guard so that I didn't have to run back and forth all the time. Same with soccer. Stay back and guard the net, none of this running crap for me. Bike rides were great, as long as they were all down hill. I need someone to come re-program my brain to like exercise please!

And now the nominations go to: *drumroll*

Red!

http://realityslappedmeintheface.blogspot.com/

and

http://justawallflower83.blogspot.com/

ttfn! good luck reading all of this!

<3 Sam

I'm writing again?

2011-06-08T18:36:00.001-06:00

Yup, I'm back writing to you all again! lucky you. Band front, I'm still not unconvinced that I haven't done something. But at the same time, I've been hesitant to try solid food today. So just water and broth and applesauce for me. But right now I've got that "stuck burp" feeling, kinda like I had right after surgery. I'm hoping that maybe I just irritated things a bit with the throwing up (not that there was ever much, if anything, to throw up), and didn't do any permanent damage. Here's hoping. How much of a failure would I be if I slipped my band or something before my first fill (not that I'd really be a failure, but you know what I mean). *sigh*

On to a much more up-beat/exciting note: We just signed a final offer for a house! OMG! I am so freaking out right now. It's more than we're paying for rent, and it's further for the hubby to drive, and we're adding in home owners insurance and all that, and I'm really really hoping we're not diving in over our heads, but YAY!! (best part is, this house has a jetted tub in the master bath, and a hot tub in the back yard!) But yeah. Freaking out. A lot. Half over house, half over band. EEP!

I think I'm done for the day!

Love ya'll!

<3 Sam

and the verdict is...

2011-06-08T14:30:00.000-06:00

... a mystery? I just got a call back from the doc, no bacteria in my urine sample. So I'm to stop the antibiotics, and go back for a retest in10 days. So mystery bladder pain it is. At least it basically feels better today. Let's hope it stays that way.

<3 Sam

another update

2011-06-08T12:39:00.000-06:00

woke up feel lots lots better today. mostly. still waiting for the UTI culture to come back though. But yesterday, went back to the doctor. Bladder starting having excruciating pain. and constant. Took an x-ray with the caveat that IF it was kidney stones, only the calcium based ones would show up. But there was nothing to show. picked up the antibiotics and a prescription for some Tylenol/codeine. Took a pain pill last night, waited a bit to see if it would make me nauseous, took my antibiotic, and felt almost human again. I work up this morning with just a few uncomfortable twinges in the bladder area, but stayed home anyways, since yesterday when I woke up I also felt better before things got worse. So far today has been mostly good. Except eating, I tried a bit of leftover Chinese chicken probably too spicy/solid for my tummy after the last few days. Had a little applesauce also, and then my stomach hurt soooo much. Coughed at the toilet for a few, nothing happened, and now I feel fine again. My biggest worry is I somehow messed up my band before I even got a fill. Is that possible?

meh, time to go down some more fluids. whee!

<3 Sam

update:

2011-06-07T12:06:00.000-06:00

Went to the doctor. She seems to think that despite the hour of vomiting last night it's probably just a bladder infection. The initial sample said a few red blood cells in my urine (not a lot, but somethings probably up) but not really any white blood cells (which having them means good sign of infection). So i'm just taking some of the over the counter bladder numbing stuff and will find out what the culture says tomorrow. Here's hoping it's just a weird bladder infection. I'd really like to save the pain of childbirth for childbirth, and not my bladder.

<3 Sam

OMG seriously??

2011-06-07T02:32:00.000-06:00

So.. yesterday I'm cruising along (on 3.5 hours of sleep.. yay) .. and everything is good. Put in an order for dinner (chinese food, I was going to have pot stickers) .. In the time it took for food to get here (about 50 minutes) I went from feeling fine, to OMG worst abdominal cramps ever!! I get fairly bad cramps with my TOM but these were just constant, not letting up. They brought on diarrhea and vomiting. So not only do I feel like cr@p, but I'm sitting there worried that I'm going to mess up my band before I even get a fill. Anywhos, about an hour of feeling like death, and then about as suddenly as it came on, it mostly left. Just settled into a discomfort in my bladder.

So I do what any intelligent, reasonable adult does and self diagnosed myself on WebMD. Kidney stones! It actually makes sense (and if I factor in the 10 mins of random stabby pains in my kidney area on Sunday, it makes more sense i think). I do have a doctors appointment set up for tomorrow (this) morning. But I was reading up on causes/prevention of future ones (since apparently once you have one, you're prone to more) and one thing that was listed was calcium in pill form. drinking/eating it is okay and even encouraged. but "uh oh, I'm supposed to take calcium supplements forever and for always".. so keep reading. HIGH PROTEIN DIET can also lead to kidney stones. Anybody else see a problem with this? yeah, me too.

So we'll see what's up. Will keep you all up to date on the gory details.

<3 Sam

I'm still here!

2011-06-05T11:04:00.000-06:00

I've been slacking this week on the posts, I know, I know bad me! But I've been having a good time. I beat the "I'm shy and don't know anyone so I'm not gonna do it" me, and actually went out and did something fun!

In Denver they have this place http://www.canvasandcocktails.com/ which is totally awesome. They basically talk you through making a painting (and sell you alcohol, which I was very good and stuck to my water). Last night I went with someone from college who I literally haven't seen in like 8 years, and bunch of her friends and one of my friends (so I didn't freak out). and it was so much fun! Here's my painting:

I'm way impressed with myself. Not so impressed with my chin however. But we're working on that. I've been holding pretty steady at 250 (last weeks 5lbs probably was TOM related and some transitioning to real foods). That's 25 lbs down from pre-surgery and 35 down from highest ever. As I'm still two weeks out from my first fill, I'm perfectly okay with this.

And my husband just commented "pretty soon, you'll weigh less than your husband, how does that make you feel? " my answer "normal". It's bugged me that I weigh more. That's not supposed to happen (unless you're married to one of those bean-pole types) But time to go out and do stuff today! ttfn!

<3 Sam

Another not band blog

2011-06-01T21:24:00.000-06:00

I don't know where this technique has been all my life. I just learned about Water Marbling nail polish. I'm so going to have to try this some day (on my much shorter than these nails)

See Here

<3 Sam

Soreness?

2011-05-29T17:48:00.000-06:00

two things.

a) I have a sore spot (but only if I move just right) in my abs.. but several inches below any of my incisions.. Is this normal for 2+ weeks out from surgery?

b) OMG I'm up 2ish pounds. However not too freaked out because 1) first several weeks aren't focused on losing, they're focused on healing (losing is a bonus!) .. 2) i just started my "soft and moist" foods. Still only 1/4 to 1/2 cup of easily chewed food.. but more than I was eating and 3) TOM sneaked up on me... sorta. It was actually right on time IF I were still taking my BC pills. Usually if I'm off the pill it can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months for TOM to show. so yay for on time? i guess?

That's bout it for now. Hope everyone is having a great Memorial Day weekend!

<3 Sam

Oh yeah

2011-05-25T19:33:00.000-06:00

To vote, click here

to vote, click here

2nd day of work, here I am!

2011-05-25T07:41:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was my first day back at work. and it went .... like work. Nothing spectacular. Didn't get tired, didn't get sore. So yay! (and boo for not being able to claim "ow" and stay home more) So here I am at work again, and things are fine. Nothing to report there. Not a whole lot to report in general.

I DO need to really work on remembering to take my vitamins. I've sooo been slacking. I think it's cause the Vitaband ones make me feel like I'm foaming at the mouth as I chew them. Ah well, such is life. I'm pretty sure this morning on the train ride in I had something monumental (to me) to share with you all, but it must not have been that important as I haven't a clue what it was now. :)

I don't know if it's just me, but Blogger is being a butt and not letting me post comments! (either that or when it starts working right VWBug is going to have about 3 of the same comment from me). But it was about a person at her work (banded at the same time a.k.a. recently) being "hungry" already. She things it's head hunger, and I totally agree. As I suppose that's what I had/have. Although mines not so much hunger, and just craving. I know that I'm not hungry, I even don't want to physically steal my hubbys greasy burger. But the idea of greasy burger sounds very very good, especially as I sat there eating my greek yogurt. But I'm definitely working on my thought processes. Asking myself "am I really hungry?" and "should you be eating that at all?" And I know if I can keep that up, I'll be setting myself on a good path for the future. :)

ooo! I remembered my monumental thing! it was Thank heavens for decaf sugar-free tall cinnamon dolce lattes!!

and with that, it's back to work I go! toodles

<3 Sam

back to work :(

2011-05-24T05:36:00.000-06:00

I go back to work today. boo. I so need to win the Lotto. I don't think I'd ever get bored of not working. ah well. of course this morning my tummy is kinda ..eh. I'm hoping it's just cause I was so tired yesterday I didn't get in my 5th meal. So I'm having my protein shake now, instead of waiting till i get to work as originally planned. I'm also sure not sleeping well for the last 3 nights or so isn't helping any either. soooooooo tired.

But I should go now, finish getting ready. toodles

<3 Sam

♪ ♫ What is this feeling?? ♪ ♫

2011-05-22T20:08:00.000-06:00

What is this feeling?
Fervid as a flame,
Does it have a name?
Yes! Hunger!
Unadulterated Hunger!

For your food  ♪ ♫

Your fries  ♪ ♫

Your Burger!  ♪ ♫

Let's just say - I want it all
Ev'ry little bite, however small
Makes my very bowels begin to growl
With simple utter hunger  ♪ ♫

In regards to the song, if you've never seen/listened to the musical Wicked, I highly suggest you do

That's right. OMG I was actually hungry today. (still am) ... with 3 more days of 2 oz servings of full liquids to go. This might get tough. But I can do this. *nods*

on a side note, spent most of the day out and about. First was looking at houses and found an OMG PERFECT!!! one (except for the location.. mucho commuting was had by all) .. get this, it has a jetted tub in the master bath, and a hot tub! SQUEEE. although more to look at tomorrow.

After houses, we saw the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Liked it very very much. It was fun, and Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz make good eye candy.

But now it's laundry and bed time. TTFN

<3 Sam

totally not band related

2011-05-21T11:12:00.000-06:00

Yeah, this is totally not band related, but this is sooo my life:

from http://catversushuman.blogspot.com/

Daaaaaaaaang

2011-05-19T20:39:00.000-06:00

Yeah, I'm a little surprised at my weight loss so far. I mean doing all liquids will do that to a girl, but still. And I either can't measure consistently or I've lost about an inch or so off my waste! so hooray! I am however trying not to get too excited. I'm aware that things can and often do swing back the other way upon the start of "real" food, but I'm going to do my best to stick with the 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food recommendations *crosses fingers* but that's all for now, just wanted to share my surprise/happy!

(and yes, that picture creeps me out a bit too)

<3 Sam

Something that scared me the other day

2011-05-18T12:06:00.000-06:00

A few days ago while I was at my mom's house recuperating, a couple of friends of the family came over for dinner (and omg damn my mom for making veal parm). Anyways, her daughter had had the lap bad procedure done in nov. I think. anyways, recently she was very sick (throwing up a lot) that didn't have anything to do with the band. But it seems she's already slipped her band. 6 months out. That scares me. I know there's tons of people who have had theirs forever with nary a problem, and I hope to be one of them, but the whole slipping/erosion thing is why I spent so much time pre-surgery flip-flopping between banding and bypass. I'm sure I'll be fine, and even if i'm not, what will be, will be. But damn.

<3 Sam

One, Two, Three, Four, Five...

2011-05-17T18:15:00.000-06:00

(Think to the turn of the song in Sesame Street)

Day 5 post op. Doing well. Most of the gas is gone. None of it was ever painful, just darn annoying. My incisions aren't painful either, just a bit tender when a cat jumps on me, and my abs (such as they are) are starting to not be sore too. The worst bit now is my hand! I've always been a difficult stick when getting blood drawn. I pretty much ask for a butterfly needle right off the bat. It's a family thing. My mom and her dad are the same way. For surgery they initially tried to put the IV in my left hand, and complained about my rolling veins. My response, "that's just how I roll". At least I made them laugh. After that still in the left hand she got a nerve. OMG weirdest feeling ever. It was a shooting almost pain followed by tingly in my ring and pinky fingers. And still so far if i bend my left hand too far those two fingers get tingly. I'm hoping it's just cause the area is still bruised and swollen, so movement pushes down on the damaged nerve and that it will go away soon. It's grrrr.

As for "food" .. I had/have a dilemma. My doctors discharge notes said "2 weeks of clear liquids (broth/water/isopure/tea etc) then transition to the directions Kaiser gave you" The directions Kaiser gave me had me starting out right after surgery with 2 weeks of "full liquids" (pudding, protien shakes, cream of ___ soups etc. ) skipping clear liquids all-together. So I called the Doc to clarify and he said I could just follow Kaisers plan and that he tends to be "conservative".. of course during class Kaiser said "other people might eat __ but we're conservative". I LOL-ed. The first day after I had my mom and my hubby forcing me to eat pudding and soup and stuff, and I was very "meh" about it. After that I decided to split the difference and do a week of clear liquids, and them move on to the full liquids. And it's still confusing 'cause if you search around there sooooo many different doctor approved plans. I've seen some with maybe 4 weeks of liquids before moving on to mushy/pureed? I dunno. after my week of full liquids I move on to "soft and moist" .. seems like I get to skip pureeing anything. I think that's it for now, I've rambled a bit. Have a good day everyone!

<3 Sam

uhg!

2011-05-15T17:19:00.000-06:00

Don't know if i'm some freak of banded nature, but I swear it feels like my burps are getting stuck. I'll have to burp (and even do sometimes) and it's followed by "OMG OW" .. like an entire balloon is trying to come up through my band. grrr

Sam

Go away

2011-05-14T20:08:00.001-06:00

Dear non-painful but annoying gas.,

I'm done with you. You can go away at any time now. I've been walking, i've taken gasx and i'm so over it.

No love,
Sam

for all of you "been there done that"

2011-05-14T07:31:00.000-06:00

I have a question for all you post bandsters. I haven't had any of the dreaded shoulder pain gas stuff. But my tummy is very rumbly/gurgly. Like I can hear it, beyond feeling it. Is this normal? is it normal 2 days after sugery? and is it normal to not really be hungry even though i'm off the broth diet and can have real full lquids and jello and pudding and stuff??

just curious.

<3 Sam

I'm on the other side!

2011-05-13T19:44:00.001-06:00

That's right folks, I am officially a bandster now. Surgery was yestery morning 10:45ish. was out of there by 3. Everybody was super nice, but it was weird that they just let me out. No tests or upper gi anythings. but i'm home, no problems, just a bit sore. Kinda like i did a bunch of crunches yesterday. Am glad to be off the clear liquids, although I didn't eat a lot of my full liquids today. just no hunger. that any my tummy is very gurgly, think it's gas as i've been burpy all day. have been good with my water at least. Another night of sleeping on my back, not lookng forward to that. I'm such a side/stomach sleeper it's not even funny.

that's all i've really got for now, just wanted to let the world know that i'm still alive, and everything went a-ok.

<3 Sam

Photo mess:

2011-05-11T14:07:00.001-06:00

surgery tomorrow, getting nervous/excited/scared hubby fell asleep didn't get a chance to take "official" pics, so i leave you with a few from sometime in the last couple of months, and a couple awful ones i took just now (i so remember thinking when camera phones came out "who would want a camera on their phone?? hahahaha).

My head..

2011-05-07T16:28:00.000-06:00

My head, I think it's getting smarter-ish. Day one of clear liquids. Meh. not thrilled, but that's a given. I have my tea, my isopure, my water, and my broth. hooray >.< I did call my hubby on my way home from work though and ask him if we could go to Garbanzo today, as I didn't get to eat there before I started. I figured that since I'm really only supposed to do 3 days, i could cheat. But he told me "no, you decided to do this for 5 so stick with it"... which i reluctantly agreed to. Of course then my Evil Brain said "he won't be home for an hour after you, just drive through somewhere and get something small" .. And I was so tempted. Until Good Brain said "hey dummy, that's how you got here in the first place. Hiding what you're eating is bad" Good Brain won this time. And hopefully more and more in the future. Good Brain is also working on the whole sit back and see if you're really still hungry thing. It's days like today, I think maybe I *can* do this thing.

and now for measurements, and before pics as promised! (actually pics on Monday, Then the hubby will help)

Neck: 17"
Chest (do you measure this under boobs? including boobs??):53 1/2" w/b's 49" without
L upper arm: 17"
R upper arm: 18.5"
Waist: 54 at belly button
L thigh: 27.75 (7 inches from knee)
R thigh: 27.5

I'm with the Band

And the panic is back

Sorry For the Panic

A little advice?

I'm awesome (in a bad way)

It's one of THOSE days...

My brain is awesome before going to bed!

Losing weight would be easier if I didn't have a Job!

10 things Thursday

I'm pretty sure my fat cells are laughing at me.

Sunday (Christmas) weigh in

Accountability

NSV of sorts

And done

Excuses are so easy

I have a scale!!

update on my unfill and thanksgiving pics

surgeon appointment this afternoon

Appointment made

Losing weight the hipster way

Fitocracy

Picture Time

hehe.. Oops.

Just a Funny

This one still blows my mind.

Unofficial (late) weigh in

Too young to fall apart!!

Still here!

Happy Birthday to me! a Weigh in, and a Doggy!

A short treatise on Port pain, jealousy, and speed.

Emotions

Heavy

Lucky!

A day late a pound short

Freaking myself out

I have the best Mommy EVAR!

Sunday weigh in

Boredom

Heel pain anyone?

My weekend!

Back to Basics Weigh in!

Exercise

It's CrAzY man!

Might this be...

OMG what have I done??

Back and better than ever!

Stalled

and the results are....

Uhg

By popular demand..

I hate when my head and real life don't match

Survey Time!

Tuesday is my Monday :(

Uncharted Territory

It's that time of the week again!

Lunch

Not the best week

Time to catch up!

Merp? How'd that happen?

NSV and BYOC

Never Moving Again!

Sunday Weigh-in

Busy Day

Huh..

On a happier note:

Never forget how lucky we are

Cheap and Easy

7/10/11 weigh in photo

Adorable! That's me! *fluttering eyelashes go here*

BYOC bandwagon!

Comparisons

When in doubt (or longing)...

OFFICIAL Back to Basics Challenge weigh in!

I joined the B.O.O.B.S challenge!

I'm here, quick update more later?

And done!

Big Day!!

Why?

Have you seen this girl? or An award? for me? you shouldn't have!

I'm writing again?

Adorable! That's me! fluttering eyelashes go here