Sunset on New Years Eve

From the boardwalk.

Vacation time

So I'm on vacation with the ELB. We are in myrtle beach this week.

Today we walked 2.5 miles on the warm (72 degree) sunny beach.

This guy was walking his dog wearing nothing more than a speedo and shoes. #disturbing... Especially since he was like 70.

New Medical Breakthrough!

I have decided to chalk up my recent weight loss success to two things:  a fill I received in November that brought me to 6.5cc, and sinus issues.

I have decided to call the first one my "green zone", and the second one, "the snot diet". Let me explain.

I get the feeling that I am hungry. That I 'should' be eating, because I'll look at the clock and think, "oh, it's lunch time", or "oh, it's been six hours since I ate anything, I should eat now", and then I try to eat said item...and it doesn't work. The WANT to eat is there.  The ability to eat is not.

Today, I went to Chili's for lunch with a coworker. I ordered the chicken bacon quesadilla lunch combo, and told the waitress to bring that part boxed to go. I just wanted the soup that came with it (chicken enchilada), and some of the chips/salsa from my coworkers table order. I snacked on a few chips/salsa, and I ate about 1/2 of my soup. And I was full and wondering if I would be having a PB episode. I didn't, but I think it was close. I boxed up the rest of my soup (to have for dinner), and I'm taking the quesadilla and fries home to the ELB for dinner--along with a bag of the chips. And I'm FINE. I'm not hungry at all.

My coworker was like, "aren't you going to eat anything?" And I told her that I ate some chips and soup, and she was like, "you haven't eaten hardly anything". So I told her that I'm on the 'snot diet', and she laughed.

I have good restriction. I don't think I'm too tight, I'm not getting stuck, I can drink water and I can eat as long as I don't try to eat too early in the day, I eat slow and chew good and I avoid certain things. But this week, I am also having Aunt Flow visit, so I'm probably a little bit tighter this week than I was last week. Plus the constant drainage, I think, is filling up my little pouch and keeping me full.

So, the snot diet might not be the IDEAL way to lose weight with a LapBand--but it seems to be working for me right now. I might as well ride this puppy for as long as I can. It's jump started my weight loss after I stalled out, and I'm embracing it.

It's also a good excuse for all of those unexpected trips to the bathroom to PB up something that doesn't work. Feel free to use it.

Jewish Christmas = New Tradition

Yesterday was wonderful.

The ELB and I slept late. We went to the movies and saw "Frozen". Did anyone else think that the snowman, Olaf, stole the show? We want a movie about him alone.

We went and had Chinese food.  The ELB had sweet n sour chicken, and I had his WonTon soup and an egg roll. We finished the afternoon at the Charmery, an ice cream place that makes their own stuff. The owners are Jewish, so they were open for business!

There were very few people out. It was the most quiet that we have ever seen the city. Of course, we have never actually BEEN in Baltimore for Christmas. We have always been on vacation, or traveling--so this was a new experience for us.

But Jewish Christmas was a great idea, and I think it is one that will be repeated in the future.

Hope that you all had wonderful holidays--no matter how you chose to celebrate them!

B'ah, humbug!

The ELB and I have chosen to be Jewish for the holidays this year.

It's amazing what you can get out of doing! For example, you don't have to decorate. You don't have to cook a big dinner. You aren't obligated to travel vast distances on Christmas day to spend with people you may only marginally like, even if they are related to you by blood. You don't have to buy gifts, and you can avoid malls like the plague! It's awesome. And before you get all judgy on me, know that I had a roomate after college who was Jewish, and I was included in tons of family celebrations, Passover Seders and Rosh Hashanah..and on Christmas day, we went to the movies and ate Chinese food. So yes, I DO know what I'm talking about!

We started talking about doing Jewish Christmas a while ago, and I think that, even if our original plans of Chinese food and a movie don't work out, we can still embrace the Jewish Christmas theme. But we have chosen to play it be ear, see what comes forth tomorrow, and to embrace whatever we may end up doing.

After all, the whole point of the holidays are to spend time with the ones you love...and there is noone that I love more in this whole entire world than the ELB.

Happy Holidays!

I wrote a poem today

In honor of the holiday, enjoy!

Christmas cookie

You wear your festive red and green sugar sparkles

like diamonds that draw my eye

to the lithe lines of your curving shapes of

Santas and snowmen and angles

I dream of you at night, you iced vixens

of chocolate and nonpareils

that tempt me with your bright colors

and your forbidden fruits

One taste and I fall victim,

powdered sugar coating my fingers and my clothes

hard to hide the evidence

of my indiscretions.

Ups and downs....

Do you SEE the ticker number?!?

Yesterday was a bunch of fits and starts. I have been fighting a cold, and I have massive drainage. I am learning that massive drainage can cause me to do things like...oh, I don't know....PB water. Seriously. I took a drink of water, and it had to come right back up. Since I hadn't actually eaten anything, there was only one explanation.

So this is how yesterday morning started. The work lunch was scheduled for 11:30. We show up, I order my standard Don Pablos order--lunch fajitas with black beans and refritos (no rice) and no tortillas. I ate two bites of a tortilla chip with salsa--and I get stuck. I don't know how--since it was chewed up really really good--but I had to run to the bathroom and PB that right back up, too. Ugh.

This is really difficult when I'm at work and have issues, because I have chosen to tell NOONE about my little helper. So, I have to have good excuses. Yesterday, I blamed on phlegm from my cold. Which, in truth, was accurate! So, I just ate my beans (I mix them together and put some salsa on top) for lunch, and took the rest to go.

Then there were the cookies. And the cookies, damn them all, went down without a problem. And I ate WAY too many of them (like 4) while we were doing our gift exchange.

Then, I had to go to my appointment.

Based on the day I was having at this point, I was very intimidated by the scale. I should also note that I did not wear my super awesome light weight weigh in pants. I was wearing regular work pants and a sweater.

And the scale was DOWN ten pounds from my last weigh in on November 13.  I had gained weight last weigh in, so I lost that PLUS another 6lbs. I went from 364 to 354.

Even with the massive amount of junk that I feel that I've been eating, I had a loss.

I am very happy, and I did not mess with my restriction. My next appointment is in February. Let's see how things go.

Now, my goal is to lose at least another 10 lbs before my next appointment! I can do that in two months.

I think I've got this!

It's Hump Day

Today, there are many things going on.

1.  We are having our office party. This involves lunch out (at Don Pablos), and cookies.
2.  I have my surgeon appointment today to see if my most recent fill is good or bad. All signs (if my PCP scale is any indication) are good.  However, since my appointment is after lunch, well, lets just say that it may not be as good as I had hoped to see.
3.  After my appointment, I am meeting up with two other banders from my surgeons program and we are going to dinner.
4.  I am kind of 'backed up' in the waste removal process, and it's not through any lack of trying.  I have been taking Miralax (blech!) every day, and still no real relief. I'm afraid (and this is stupid) that I will weigh heavy b/c of this, and I won't get a true reading. Seriously, I know that when I get home tonight, I will probably poop out about 5lbs.
5.  #4 was kind of gross and probably WAY too much information. But hey, we are all sisters here. We can commensurate.
6.  I'm dragging @ss this morning. Bed at 1am, up at 5:30 does not a happy Luka make. Plus, I'm trying really hard to fight a cold off, and I know that lack of sleep is not doing me any favors.
7.  Did I mention that I was tired?
8.  Did I mention that I was cold? Yeah, I am FREEZING lately. Me, the girl that used to go all winter wearing just a scarf thrown over whatever I was wearing to work, or just pulling on a fleece jacket during a blizzard...I'm cold. The down comforter has not been taken off the bed. It's an adjustment for me, since I always tend to be hot.
9.  I got my Chickfila calendar yesterday. Bring on the freebies! Okay, well, bring them on for the ELB since he will get the majority of the items on the list, except for the soup and the salad. :)
10.  Vacation commences in TEN DAYS! What!

I know it's not Thursday, but I like to buck convention and do things on MY terms. Hope you guys are having a great day. Hopefully I will have an awesome report for you tomorrow!

What the Numbers say....

I had an appointment with my PCP this morning to check my bloodwork, and to reevaluate my medications.

According to her scale, I am down 7lbs from my last visit in September. Yay! However, this will not be the same number on my surgeons scale Wednesday afternoon (which is actually the day of my office Christmas party and which I will be having lunch out with my coworkers).

However, based on the numbers I got today:

A1C is at 6.3 (I was at 6.7 three months ago!)
BP is great at 120/76
pulse: 72 BPM

I am NOT anemic, and I do not have any B12 deficiency. My kidney function is great. My LDL cholesterol has come down from 145 to 130 in three months.

By my one year bandiversary, I should be off of one medication entirely, and another is being reduced to 1/2 the dosage.

I have not come close to meeting my goal weight in the first year, but my goal with surgery was to be healthier. So that I could have a kid. So that I could grow old with the love of my life.

The weight loss will come when my body is ready to let go of it. And that day is getting closer. I will meet my goal weight...one day. Even if it takes 10 years to get there.

Separation of church and pizza

The ELB and I ordered a pizza today.
It was good.... But I wouldn't say it was 'heavenly'.

Post modern foot

Today's socks come courtesy of Lane Bryant circa 2010 or 2011.  I normally don't buy socks there because they are GINORMOUS (and that is saying a lot bc I wear a size 11) but I liked that these go with everything.

Still not learning

Last night, I decided to make 'fried rice' using bulger instead of rice (because I'm afraid to eat rice any more). I had made some bulger the night before, and my plan was to saute some carrots, celery, and onions, then toss in the cooked bulger and some shredded chicken, scrambled egg, and some soy sauce.

I can say--FANTASTIC.  So much so that I ate THREE 1-cup servings. OMG. I don't know what I was thinking. I ate my first porition, and I was happy! I felt satisfied. I was comfortable. But then my brain started thinking about all of the yummy leftovers in the kitchen. And I went into this zombie brain eating trance--must eat EVERYTHING.

I made myself stuffed to the point of sickness. I binged. I have not binged in a while.  Not only did I have the super healthy mock fried rice till I was over stuffed and uncomfortable, I also ate Trader Joe's salted butterscotch caramel balls, peanut butter M&M's, pretzel M&M's, three bite size bagel dogs. It was not pretty.

I have not had a binge episode in a while--mainly because since this last fill, I've been doing pretty good (I think) with portions. I haven't had the need (or want) to binge eat. I'm not bulumic, but I have (in the past) binged until the point of vomiting. I never want to do that again--but I came very close last night. I binged until I was pb'ing peanut butter flavored water.

Today, my stomach is swollen and irritated. I regret it.  But there's only one thing to do--move past and move forward.

Today is a new day, and I can make today a better day than yesterday. I can make better choices (although this morning is bad in the breakfast scope b/c I'm having a McDonalds white chocolate mocha and a sausage mcmuffin---pretty much half of my daily calories in ONE meal).

My daily calorie goal is 1350. That's it. I just blew 680 calories on breakfast. But am I going to throw in the towel and chalk today up to a lesson to be learned and blow out the rest of the day? NO. I'm going to buckle down, enjoy what's left of my coffee (I paid for the calories, I'm going to enjoy the calories), and then I will focus on making the best choices I can the rest of the day.

Falling off the wagon isn't the end of the world. It's failing to get back on that is.

#blah

It's one of those days. You know, THOSE days when everything seems to hit the fan, the stupid phones won't stop ringing, and I'm agitated to the point BEYOND any bending point? Yeah. Sucks to be me today.

I talked to my nutritionist at the surgeons office, and asked her some questions. She gave me a number to work on meeting with my calories of 1350. That's not so bad. I can do that. I know it's stupid, but coming from her, it will make my brain more likely to accept that this is THE number to work with. If I had randomly picked a number myself and tried to implement it--I would fail miserably.

I have been addicted to cookies lately. I don't know why, but I just want cookies. I really need to get that under control. I am going to pull my book from my class and start back with the basics. I need to cut out the extra junk that I was perfectly fine not eating a year ago. Cookies, bread, cakes, candy bars, candy, etc. And I need to focus on eating the good things--protien, whole grains, and vegetables. I really do NOT eat enough vegetables...and I LOVE vegetables. And I need to get back on track with writing it down. If I bite it, I write it. No more excuses.

I am trying to get through the next few weeks until VACATION. Have there ever been any sweeter words in the English language? SIXTEEN DAYS. I can do anything for 16 days. Cmon brain--lets get through this!

Socks of the day

In deference to the winter blast we are under, I sported socks with figure skaters today with my snow boots.

I got this pair when I lived in Richmond.... Pretty confident they came from Kohls. Ironic because Richmond is 99% temperate and rarely has at true winter experience.

The weekend....

Was fun. And cold. And there was snow.  Alot of snow.

But I got some cute things at the 'will. And I spend some quality time with the ELB in the car whilst traveling to his gigs.

I broke down and put the down comforter on the bed.

I wore two pairs of cute socks, but forgot to take pictures. And I didn't wear snow boots (that I own and which are super awesome), even though I wish I had.

I got stuck on french fries (no more french fries--this was my final lesson on that). There is nothing worse than getting stuck, sliming, and not being able to spit it up. I had to stand in line for over 10 minutes with a mouthfull of slime, trying to not gag, while I waited in line at the bathroom at McDonalds during a freaking snow storm. NOT. FUN.

Drank a whole 20 oz bottle of Dr. Pepper (and not the diet stuff) in a 6 hr span.

I made super awesome bbq chicken cups using the canned corn biscuits, shredded chicken and bbq sauce. OMG, delicious, especially topped with coleslaw before eating. Yes, I am a southern girl--I like slaw on my BBQ and on chili dogs.

I spent too much money that I will probably wish I hadn't spent by the end of this week. Hey budget--where were you when I needed you?

Today is off to a humdinger of a start. We had hellacious ice storms over night--but work wasn't canceled. I still had to do my orienation this morning. I still had to go for my blood draw at lunch. I still have to go to a coworkers retirement party tonight (when all I really want to do is go home and chill out).

I really need to walk, but the weather kept me from doing that. I need more motivation to get back on track with my eating, and with being more active with exercising. I don't know why I can't focus on staying under my calories and making better choices. I feel like such a lapband failure.

*sigh*

Enough of my bitching. Whats up with you?

New teeth and old socks

I got two crowns put in today. They are gorgeous. Seriously. You cannot tell they are fake. The fit and color are spot on.

So today's socks are one of my favorites. I've had them for over 10 years.... No joke. I remember wearing them with a rose pink  turtleneck sweater to a German class I took in 2003. I know. Too much detail in remembering socks. Maybe I have issues?

Wanna see my feet?

I love socks. Especially cute ones. So this month, whenever I wear cute socks I'm going to post them here. And maybe a story of how I came to own them. I own a lot of socks, and almost all of them are this cute!

Weird? Yes. Fun? Hell yes.

Today's pair I bought yesterday at ACMoore. The ELB and i love penguins, so these had to come home with me!

They were $1, but I only paid 50 cents with my coupon. That is one hella sock deal!

Btw, meet Puddles.... we got him the first Christmas we lived in sin.

#awesome

Last night, I tried Bulger Wheat for the very first time.  Verdict? DELICIOUS!

I sauteed some onions and mushrooms, added the cup of chicken broth, brought to a boil, then put in 1/2 cup bulger wheat, returned to a boil, then put on low for 10 minutes. It turned out perfect. Combined with my sauteed kale and talapia, it was a good healthy dinner night. I think that the Bulger will be a good addition to my diet, since it is high in protien, like quinoa (which I also love).  The bulger has a different texture--it's a little bit more hearty and chewy, but it turned out really good.

Dinner tonight is the orange soda chicken in the crock pot. I started it this morning. 1 can of Sunkist (that's the only orange soda in the machine at work), 1/2 cup soy sauce, and a TBSP of minced garlic.I plan on thickening the sauce with a little cornstarch for the ELB before serving. I might repeat my bulger recipe to go with the chicken tonight, since I still have chicken broth left from last night. We shall see.

Nothing else is really going on.  Counting down to vacation. Stepping up my search for new professional opportunities (with the blessing of my current manager). I need to get some smaller knitting needles because some of the yarn I got was smaller weight. Wow, I have a boring life!

Later....

Hump Day!

In our house, hump day is also known as 'garbage day'. Just an FYI.

I think I'm fairly well recovered from yesterdays mishap with the french fries at Chickfila. I've done okay--protien coffee, terriyaki chicken thigh, some mashed potatos. Two bottles of water. Two butter mints. Two walks (about 2 miles total). I need to eat some vegetables, so I'm going to make some fish and sauteed kale with mushrooms for dinner. I used to eat kale ALOT--and since surgery, I really don't anymore. It's a superfood--so I know I should eat more, so I'm going to try to eat it at least once week going forward. Babygirl will just have to share her stash with me.

I saw a recipe in a crockpot cookbook that I have to make orange chicken using boneless skinless chicken breasts, a 12 oz can of orange soda, and 1/4 cup of soy sauce, and some garlic. I'm going to try that tomorrow for the ELB. I don't know how it will turn out, but it should be interesting. I think that I'll be able to thicken up the sauce with a little cornstarch when it's done. I'll let you know.

I do know that I will NOT be eating it with rice. I'll be making some quinoa or bulger wheat, instead. The ELB can have the rice. Me and rice--not such good friends anymore.

Anyways, it has been Wednesday. I'm ready to go home. Ciao!

I think I'm getting this

So far, so good!

Monday back to the walking before work routine. Last week was jacked because of rain and the holiday. But yesterday was clear (though brisk), and I slammed out 4 laps in less than 15 minutes. I stuck with just coffee and then switched to water until almost 12:30 when I ate one slice of 7-11 cheese pizza (I was running errands), and three Oreo cookies. I didn't eat again until after 6 when I had leftover chicken corn chowder (need to finish it up--I hate to waste!). I enjoyed a cup of my 'potpourri' tea, as the ELB calls it, and it was a good night. No sticking episodes yesterday, no PB episodes, no painful OMG what have I done moments.

This morning, walked 6 laps in less than 20 minutes, then had my coffee. Sipping a cup of Cranberry Apple zinger tea (caffiene free), then will switch to water the rest of the day.

I think that I'm going to stick with this restriction through the rest of the year, and then reevaluate. I'm afraid that I might have gained again when I go back on the 18th--but that remains to be seen. In the beginning after my fill, I was getting stuck, and then eating too many sliders just so that I could get SOME food down. Now that I've adjusted, I'm hoping that any residual damage that I might have done with slider will resolve itself.

Obvs, if I have gained, then I will know it's because I'm too tight--and then I will have the surgeon remove some fluid--but I'm optimistic that this might be my first visit to green. Fingers crossed!

UPDATE: I'm a freaking idiot. I ran errands during my lunch break with a co-worker, and she wanted to grab lunch out. I got a 4pc grilled nugget meal from CFA with fries. I ate two fries and got stuck. Had to go PB in the bathroom. Blamed it on phlegm. Sigh. Back to babying my Band for another day or two until the swelling goes out. It's always hard for me to get out of these situations since I chose to not tell anyone about my friend being installed--so sometimes, these things are going to happen. I should have gotten soup. Chalk it up to another day of being stupid.

I LOVE WINTER!

Well, I like the idea of winter more so than the cold temperatures and super high heat bills that we have (heating a 120 year old brick row house is NOT fun).

But, I do like brisk mornings and get your blood flowing--and snuggling under the blankets at night with the ELB.

And drinking hot tea, and making soups and stews in the crockpot. Winter makes me think of my mom. She LOVED LOVED LOVED winter.

The weekend I went to the movies with my friends, there were scattered snow flurries that night. Walking out of Wegmans with the girls, one of them started singing, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow". And it hit me really really hard. My mom ALWAYS did that--at the first sign of snow, she would break into song and dance--in the middle of a store aisle, in the parking lot, or even just dancing around the kitchen. When I told my friend that, she just looked at me and said, "see, your mom is always with you". That made me cry.

But anyways, yesterday the ELB and I headed out so that I could fufill my latest obessession--KNITTING! I learned how to knit last year, and made two scarves--but wasn't able to complete them because I didn't know how to FINISH the last row. I finally learned on Friday from a coworker--so I was able to open up both of my pairs of needles--and that deemed a trip to AC Moore for yarn. I got alot of pretty colors (but I'm still a beginner--I'm excited to learn how to purl soon!). I have big knitting dreams. :)

While we were out, we also went to Trader Joes to stock up on the Cinnamon Vanilla tea and Candy Cane teas for the year. I went a little crazy at TJ's--6 boxes of cinnamon vanilla, 4 boxes of candy cane, 4 bags of salted butterscotch caramel balls, red and green lentils, bulger wheat (I saw a recipe that Jamie Oliver made on TV and I wanted to try it), and two jars of my love in a jar--Crunchy cookie butter and cocoa cookie butter. I spent around $50, but that is a years worth of tea bags! And those flavors are only around for Christmas--so we stock up. I also got a box of Harvest flavor tea--and it was good. Of course, the ELB said that it smelled like potpourri--although it tasted pretty good. :)

I decided that after eating the Progresso lentil soup that I can make a better one at home. So that's my new challenge. I spent around $3 for lentils (each bag was about $1.50). So now to find a lentil soup in the crock pot recipe. So, if you have any good lentil soup recipes, feel free to pass them my way.

Otherwise, I'll be spending the winter elbow deep in scarves (because that's all that I know how to make right now).