I don't really hate May, but it is always so crazy! Everyone is busy! Kids are doing their final recitals, final events, end of year exams, etc. There are graduations all over the place! There are so many things going on, that it becomes easier to pick up dinner from the drive through greasy spoon down the street.
It is so hard to stay focused on weight loss. Who has time to plan? Too busy to drink enough water. Working out...are you kidding? Too busy driving everyone to their events! Sound familiar?
It is a busy month, but not too busy to stay healthy. All it takes is a little planning. While you are waiting for whatever event to begin, take out pen and paper and plan your meals. Every morning, throw a water bottle in your purse. On Saturday or Sunday, make some chicken breasts or several cassaroles and freeze them for use during the week. Find time to workout. I know it is a pain, but we all have to do it! Just suck it up and go for it.
Hang in there, June is right around the corner!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Where Did I Go?
Sorry I haven't been around. Life got really busy and I have done nothing but work and sleep lately. I am a full fledged member of the "No Fun" Club. Things seem to be slowing down a bit, so I can get back to paying attention to blogging and other support/aftercare types of things.
During this crazy time, I decided to get a fill and try to drop some weight for an upcoming family wedding in July. Some of you are probably wondering why I needed a fill. I am up a few pounds from last year's mono. They took out some fluid and I never got it back. So, time to drop about 20 pounds in order to look good in all my clothes. The fill went well and I obeyed my surgeon's post fill rules.
I don't eat much right now. I am glad I have been so busy because I have passed through the phase where I would be looking for food. When you are working through your lunch, you don't have time to be naughty. I did plan. I brought protein bars with me so there would be no temptation to go and buy milkshakes or fast food. I am not hungry. Small portions work just fine for me and I have been able to get in my water. By the way, I tried that new water enhancer called MIO. It is good! The berry/pomergranite is my favorite, but the tropical punch is good too.
The good news: I am down 10 pounds in a month! WAHOO! I should be able to make my goal by the July Wedding.
The point: I have had my band for 12 years. It hasn't stopped working and I know that as long as I follow the rules, I will ALWAYS be successful!
During this crazy time, I decided to get a fill and try to drop some weight for an upcoming family wedding in July. Some of you are probably wondering why I needed a fill. I am up a few pounds from last year's mono. They took out some fluid and I never got it back. So, time to drop about 20 pounds in order to look good in all my clothes. The fill went well and I obeyed my surgeon's post fill rules.
I don't eat much right now. I am glad I have been so busy because I have passed through the phase where I would be looking for food. When you are working through your lunch, you don't have time to be naughty. I did plan. I brought protein bars with me so there would be no temptation to go and buy milkshakes or fast food. I am not hungry. Small portions work just fine for me and I have been able to get in my water. By the way, I tried that new water enhancer called MIO. It is good! The berry/pomergranite is my favorite, but the tropical punch is good too.
The good news: I am down 10 pounds in a month! WAHOO! I should be able to make my goal by the July Wedding.
The point: I have had my band for 12 years. It hasn't stopped working and I know that as long as I follow the rules, I will ALWAYS be successful!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Another Check on my Bucket List
My husband and I decided to take a little winter break and go to Santa Fe. Actually, my husband has not gone skiing in about 12 years and he wanted to go again. I have never been on skis. EVER. So we go. He is so excited! The first day he insists on driving up the mountain just to "check it out". I get winded walking up the stairs to the rental shop. Since I work out quite a bit, I got a little nervous. Of course, the air is thinner, up the mountain. We head back into town and have a lovely dinner. Walked back to the hotel in -8 degree weather.
The next day, we get up, have a big breakfast and get dressed in all our ski gear. We head up the mountain. I get my boots (very heavy-but figured I was burning lots of calories), skis and poles. I headed to the Never Ever class. Nick joined it too, to be supportive. My first teacher was Ben. Nice guy, but a ski bum. He took us up to the bunny slope and got on the "magic carpet". This was a conveyor belt that took you up the little slope. The Magic Carpet was my favorite thing!
Went up and down, using my poles and trying not to fall. My husband was way too advanced, but cheered me on. We had a 15 minute lunch break. This is not good for being banded. The no eating and drinking rule always applies. I had a hot dog (no bun) and 1 slurp of water.
Nick got moved up to the advanced class. I was sent back to the bunny slope with a new teacher, Bob. Bob doesn't like poles. Bob made me give up my poles. I didn't like Bob. He made me go down the slope, without the poles!!! I did better. Okay, so maybe Bob was a good teacher. Up on the magic carpet and down the slope, over and over and over. When I let go, I was pretty good. I fell a few times, but I am short, so it isn't far to go! I have a problem stopping. No very good at the snowplow.
The end of the lesson came (finally!) and we had to go down the bigger slope. Nick had finished his lesson and was watching. I did fine on the bump. Turned my skis perfectly. Nick was so proud. Then I had to get in traffic. I got scared and couldn't stop. I was trying to snowplow as hard as I could and I seemed to be going FASTER! I was going to take out a group of people by the lifts. So I fell. Nothing broken, but muscles pulled. I chose not to ski the rest of our vacation.
The next day, we get up, have a big breakfast and get dressed in all our ski gear. We head up the mountain. I get my boots (very heavy-but figured I was burning lots of calories), skis and poles. I headed to the Never Ever class. Nick joined it too, to be supportive. My first teacher was Ben. Nice guy, but a ski bum. He took us up to the bunny slope and got on the "magic carpet". This was a conveyor belt that took you up the little slope. The Magic Carpet was my favorite thing!
Went up and down, using my poles and trying not to fall. My husband was way too advanced, but cheered me on. We had a 15 minute lunch break. This is not good for being banded. The no eating and drinking rule always applies. I had a hot dog (no bun) and 1 slurp of water.
Nick got moved up to the advanced class. I was sent back to the bunny slope with a new teacher, Bob. Bob doesn't like poles. Bob made me give up my poles. I didn't like Bob. He made me go down the slope, without the poles!!! I did better. Okay, so maybe Bob was a good teacher. Up on the magic carpet and down the slope, over and over and over. When I let go, I was pretty good. I fell a few times, but I am short, so it isn't far to go! I have a problem stopping. No very good at the snowplow.
The end of the lesson came (finally!) and we had to go down the bigger slope. Nick had finished his lesson and was watching. I did fine on the bump. Turned my skis perfectly. Nick was so proud. Then I had to get in traffic. I got scared and couldn't stop. I was trying to snowplow as hard as I could and I seemed to be going FASTER! I was going to take out a group of people by the lifts. So I fell. Nothing broken, but muscles pulled. I chose not to ski the rest of our vacation.
Friday, January 21, 2011
YOU'RE SO VAIN!
I fell last Friday night. On my face!
I was walking our dog and tripped. Dog went one way and I went the other, I stopped my fall with my face. I was able to hit redial on my phone and call my husband. I screamed for him to grab a towel and come get me. My fabulous dog stayed by my side and started barking when Nick came running out the door. She got an extra treat the next day.
There was blood everywhere! The right side of my face looked like I had been drug across the street. My lip swelled to larger than Angelina's. We thought that my nose might have been broken. Argh. We cleaned everything up and I decided that I wouldn't be leaving the house for the rest of the weekend. When my stepdaughter saw me, she winced and said it was hard to look at me (Insert joke here). The worst part of this accident is that my husband and I go to one dinner dance a year. That party is Friday.
Once Monday came, I had to go public with my face. First of all, I am very lucky, nothing permanently harmed or broken. All should eventually go back to the way it used to be. I discovered 3 things from this experience.
1. Falling on your face hurts! A lot! Sneezing is not fun when your face is messed up.
2. Oh my gosh, I am SO vain! I have spent so much time in the mirror and trying to care for the cuts and bruises. Every bump has been examined. Creams and elixers have been tested. Lots of tears too.
3. The looks people gave me when they first saw me were similar to the ones I got when I was at my highest weight. People gasped! These are not my friends or family, but strangers. The insecurity that I felt when I was over 300 pounds came screaming back. I did not want to see patients this week. I didn't want to go anywhere. I hated the "I am trying to act like this doesn't freak me out, yet it really does" looks from people I didn't know.
I was going to write this on Monday, but at the time I didn't know that I would be healing so quickly. My nose still hurts and there is lots of pink new skin on my face with bruising, but I am better. There is a huge difference in my looks from last Saturday to today. I have a party to go to tonight. I am taking a deep breath and am planning to have fun. Bruises and all.
I was walking our dog and tripped. Dog went one way and I went the other, I stopped my fall with my face. I was able to hit redial on my phone and call my husband. I screamed for him to grab a towel and come get me. My fabulous dog stayed by my side and started barking when Nick came running out the door. She got an extra treat the next day.
There was blood everywhere! The right side of my face looked like I had been drug across the street. My lip swelled to larger than Angelina's. We thought that my nose might have been broken. Argh. We cleaned everything up and I decided that I wouldn't be leaving the house for the rest of the weekend. When my stepdaughter saw me, she winced and said it was hard to look at me (Insert joke here). The worst part of this accident is that my husband and I go to one dinner dance a year. That party is Friday.
Once Monday came, I had to go public with my face. First of all, I am very lucky, nothing permanently harmed or broken. All should eventually go back to the way it used to be. I discovered 3 things from this experience.
1. Falling on your face hurts! A lot! Sneezing is not fun when your face is messed up.
2. Oh my gosh, I am SO vain! I have spent so much time in the mirror and trying to care for the cuts and bruises. Every bump has been examined. Creams and elixers have been tested. Lots of tears too.
3. The looks people gave me when they first saw me were similar to the ones I got when I was at my highest weight. People gasped! These are not my friends or family, but strangers. The insecurity that I felt when I was over 300 pounds came screaming back. I did not want to see patients this week. I didn't want to go anywhere. I hated the "I am trying to act like this doesn't freak me out, yet it really does" looks from people I didn't know.
I was going to write this on Monday, but at the time I didn't know that I would be healing so quickly. My nose still hurts and there is lots of pink new skin on my face with bruising, but I am better. There is a huge difference in my looks from last Saturday to today. I have a party to go to tonight. I am taking a deep breath and am planning to have fun. Bruises and all.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
THE FAMILY MOTTO
We have a running joke in my family. The Jones family motto is: "If a little is good, then a lot is better." This pertains to EVERYTHING! If one tube of toothpaste is good, buy multiples and then you don't have to go back to the store as often. If one sweater looks good on you, get one in every color! If one roll is yummy, have as many as you can stuff into your mouth!
This is an expensive motto in every way shape and form. My mother told me just last week, that she is on her last bar of soap from my father's stockpile. My father passed away in 2003. We are not hoarders in any sense of the word, though my husband might argue that point, we just want to make sure we do not run out of the things we love. I would call us pre-hoarders. Currently, I limit the products to buying a shower gel to store in the cupboard, the moment the last one goes into the shower. When the kids were home full time, I made it two, as things would often disappear and I hate showering with my shampoo!
When it comes to clothes, I am the same way. I go to the Gap and if I find a t-shirt I adore, I get one in every color. I know I won't wear them all, some colors don't look good on me, but I will buy it, just in case. Crazy thinking huh? Well the Salvation Army loves me for my donations of never worn clothing! Right now I am trying to amass a Tory Burch cardigan sweater collection, but they are expensive and I must limit my collecting to sweaters that are on sale. Let me know if you see one!
The family motto as it relates to food. Hmmmm. Pre-Lapband, it was a mess! A little is good and alot is more shopping for bigger sized clothes! Seconds on everything! Holidays were the worst. Lots of favorite dishes are only made during the holidays. Must eat as much as possible as it won't be back for a year! Pants get tighter, etc. My sister always says, "Lets not stop eating." A whirlwind of cakes, cookies, candy, creamy dishes, yum! Then January hits. We all are remorseful and we pledge to lose weight.
Post Lapband, it is much better. During most of my banded holidays, I have lost weight. I have had to learn that I can leave food on my plate and that is ok. I use to think that I needed to take it home and eat it. Now I know that I don't have to do that. I actually lost 2.5 pounds over the holidays this year! While there are loads of people going to the gym as part of their resolutions, I never stopped. I knew that if I took some time off, I would have gained.
What is your family motto? Is it a healthy one? Is it similar to my motto? Perhaps, I need to change our motto to a more positive one. All I have to do is shorten it. Instead of "If a little is good, then a lot is better," it can be "Little is good!"
This is an expensive motto in every way shape and form. My mother told me just last week, that she is on her last bar of soap from my father's stockpile. My father passed away in 2003. We are not hoarders in any sense of the word, though my husband might argue that point, we just want to make sure we do not run out of the things we love. I would call us pre-hoarders. Currently, I limit the products to buying a shower gel to store in the cupboard, the moment the last one goes into the shower. When the kids were home full time, I made it two, as things would often disappear and I hate showering with my shampoo!
When it comes to clothes, I am the same way. I go to the Gap and if I find a t-shirt I adore, I get one in every color. I know I won't wear them all, some colors don't look good on me, but I will buy it, just in case. Crazy thinking huh? Well the Salvation Army loves me for my donations of never worn clothing! Right now I am trying to amass a Tory Burch cardigan sweater collection, but they are expensive and I must limit my collecting to sweaters that are on sale. Let me know if you see one!
The family motto as it relates to food. Hmmmm. Pre-Lapband, it was a mess! A little is good and alot is more shopping for bigger sized clothes! Seconds on everything! Holidays were the worst. Lots of favorite dishes are only made during the holidays. Must eat as much as possible as it won't be back for a year! Pants get tighter, etc. My sister always says, "Lets not stop eating." A whirlwind of cakes, cookies, candy, creamy dishes, yum! Then January hits. We all are remorseful and we pledge to lose weight.
Post Lapband, it is much better. During most of my banded holidays, I have lost weight. I have had to learn that I can leave food on my plate and that is ok. I use to think that I needed to take it home and eat it. Now I know that I don't have to do that. I actually lost 2.5 pounds over the holidays this year! While there are loads of people going to the gym as part of their resolutions, I never stopped. I knew that if I took some time off, I would have gained.
What is your family motto? Is it a healthy one? Is it similar to my motto? Perhaps, I need to change our motto to a more positive one. All I have to do is shorten it. Instead of "If a little is good, then a lot is better," it can be "Little is good!"
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Do you have Toxic Friends?
Over the last few days, I have had several conversations with friends and family members about friends. I guess with the year coming to a close, quite a few people seem to be re-assessing their relationships. A good friend is very hard to find. I have lots of acquaintances, but very few good friends. I think you know what I am talking about. These are the friends that if they got a phone call from me at 3am asking for help, they would just ask where I need them to go. I have less than a handful and I consider myself lucky. Way too often we lose the real definition of friend and allow some people who do not really care about you, make big decisions for you. Not a good idea.
Now you are wondering what this has to do with weight loss? Loads! Think about it. Are there friends that you call when you want to go and "pig out" on certain foods? Do you have friends that are 'fat' friends? Have you noticed that some people haven't been as supportive of your weight loss journey as you thought? They complain that you are no longer any fun to go out with or that you are changing (and to them, not for the better). These people are not your friends! Friends support you! Friends want you to be successful, even if they lose an eating buddy. A true friend has your best interest in mind and not what you can do for them.
Perhaps with the coming new year, it might be a good time to think about your relationships. Are some of those toxic? Maybe it is time to count your blessings for the close friends you do have and put some distance between you and the Toxic friends. They really aren't your friends.
Now you are wondering what this has to do with weight loss? Loads! Think about it. Are there friends that you call when you want to go and "pig out" on certain foods? Do you have friends that are 'fat' friends? Have you noticed that some people haven't been as supportive of your weight loss journey as you thought? They complain that you are no longer any fun to go out with or that you are changing (and to them, not for the better). These people are not your friends! Friends support you! Friends want you to be successful, even if they lose an eating buddy. A true friend has your best interest in mind and not what you can do for them.
Perhaps with the coming new year, it might be a good time to think about your relationships. Are some of those toxic? Maybe it is time to count your blessings for the close friends you do have and put some distance between you and the Toxic friends. They really aren't your friends.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Focus on the Priority
I love all the great food that shows up for the holidays. I get so tickled at patients who put off their fill because of Thanksgiving or Christmas. I must agree that it is hard to turn down aunt Edna's special cake that she only makes during the holiday. I am just as guilty as the next person. I need to lose a few pounds, yet I don't want to interrupt my holiday feeding frenzy in order to get my weight back to where it was 6 months ago. There are white chocolate covered pecans to make and chocolate ginger cookies to consume! Feed me, feed me, feed me! Love the holidays! I can be 'good' in January.
Isn't that how we all got big in the first place? We noticed that we are gaining weight, but tomorrow is always the better time to start a diet. Our pants got tight and we just bought the next size up, or better yet: stretch waist! We 'tomorrowed' ourselves to unhealthy. I think it is time to focus on the priority. Health. Last month at TLCEdge, Mary McNeill, our Registered Dietitian, presented a holiday eating program. She showed us how we can enjoy some wonderful recipes and not have all the fat. There was tasting and all around yummyness. I have even recreated a few of her recipes with success. If I can do it, anyone can.
So, I plan on enjoying the holidays, but within reason. I will have a bite or two of the special, once a year, recipes, but I will give myself permission to NOT finish what is served to me. I won't deny myself, but I certainly don't have to eat half the cake! I am not going to get swept up with the excitement and eat and drink myself silly. I will weigh the same or less on January 1st that I weigh today. I will continue to exercise throughout vacation. I will pay attention to the scale and make sure I weigh everyday so nothing sneaks up on me.
Will you join me in a 'no gain' Christmas?
Isn't that how we all got big in the first place? We noticed that we are gaining weight, but tomorrow is always the better time to start a diet. Our pants got tight and we just bought the next size up, or better yet: stretch waist! We 'tomorrowed' ourselves to unhealthy. I think it is time to focus on the priority. Health. Last month at TLCEdge, Mary McNeill, our Registered Dietitian, presented a holiday eating program. She showed us how we can enjoy some wonderful recipes and not have all the fat. There was tasting and all around yummyness. I have even recreated a few of her recipes with success. If I can do it, anyone can.
So, I plan on enjoying the holidays, but within reason. I will have a bite or two of the special, once a year, recipes, but I will give myself permission to NOT finish what is served to me. I won't deny myself, but I certainly don't have to eat half the cake! I am not going to get swept up with the excitement and eat and drink myself silly. I will weigh the same or less on January 1st that I weigh today. I will continue to exercise throughout vacation. I will pay attention to the scale and make sure I weigh everyday so nothing sneaks up on me.
Will you join me in a 'no gain' Christmas?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)