Today, I had an office lunch. I was very lucky, and my business card was drawn out of the bowl at Noodles and Co, to win a lunch for my entire office.
I also took this opportunity to let all of my coworkers know that I would be leaving the company.
Thankfully, Donny behaved today. I ordered the pork mediterranean salad, and had a ciabatta roll with butter. I ate about 1/4 of my salad, the roll, and I was done. No PB. No slime.
Thank you, God! Usually, I have to excuse myself about 10 minutes into a meal to go to the bathroom because I'm having an episode.
I avoided salad for the longest time because I felt that it would be something that would get stuck--like a flap of lettuce would cover my little opening and clog me up. Who knew that salad was a slider?
Guess who will be ordering salad more often when put into social situations that involve food? This girl, that's who!
It's been an awesome day. It's Friday. And even though it's raining, tomorrow will be close to 70! That's a reason to celebrate right there!
Happy Friday!
Friday, March 28, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
The difference a year makes....
March 25 was my one year Bandiversary! I totally forgot to post that.
March 26, I had one year post op checkups with both my surgeon and my PCP.
My surgeon is happy with my progress, he thinks that I am at a good restriction. He is happy that I'm averaging a pound a week in weight loss. He also said that my night coughing doesn't sound like an issue since it's not acidic and there's not food in it--he thinks that it's excess saliva pooling in the back of my throat--because lets admit it--I'm a sleep drooler, and when I sleep on my back, I can't drool it out. So, I choke on it. He suggested elevating my head if I sleep on my back, but doesn't feel that it's anything to be concerned about.
My PCP is awesome and I love her to death. She ran blood work, and took me off two of my three medications (the only one I have now is my birth control pills). My A1C is sitting on 6.1, and my blood pressure is terrific! She will run a full lipids panel in September when I have my annual physical, but I am over the moon right now! She gave me a hug and said that she would see me in September!
I also had a loss of 3.8lbs from last month to this month--and am sitting JUST UNDER 85lbs total loss since starting this journey. WTF! That's the size of a cheerleader!
I'm not saying that there aren't rough days with Donny. We still fight. She tells me no, I tell her that I don't care, I know what I want--she throws some punches, I take them because there really isn't anything I can do to her. But in a year, as bitchy as she has been to me---and most likely will continue to be--I couldn't have come this far without her. Yes, I did lose alot of weight on my own before she came into the picture. And we had an adjustment period, but I know that I would be a far worse place than I am now without her help.
Before I started this process (six month classes, surgery, and now a year post-op), I was out of control. I was mired in depression, I was eating non-stop, I had ballooned to 428 lbs. I hurt everywhere all the time. I would get winded going up a flight of stairs. I had constant headaches (most likely from my blood pressure). I was always hot and sweating and had heat rash. I was angry. And I hated everyone and everything--most of all, myself.
I had tried diets, I had done exercise, but I honestly felt that I was past the point of no return. And then I met a friend for dinner, and she told me that she had decided to have gastric bypass--and that set the wheels in motion. And then I made a friend who had a lapband, who shared with me all sorts of information and helped me with my decision. So, I will be FOREVER in both of their debts for starting me on this journey. And starting this blog, and meeting all of you and learning about your struggles and your successes and your stories--that has inspired me and motivated me--and you all deserve thank yous for your part in my journey.
At one year in, even though I haven't gotten to my 50% goal (I'm only 15lbs away!), I am still winning. I am no longer on medication to control my blood sugar or my blood pressure. I choose to walk because I like the way it makes me feel. I had the confidence to get a new job. I'm happier, and don't eat to smother my feelings.
I'm still a big girl. And honestly, I will always be a big girl. I'm a 6ft tall blonde Amazon, and I'm okay with that. And when I get into a weight that starts with 2, that will be one of the happiest days of my life. I don't care if I ever reach my goal weight--because, I'm already winning at life...and more importantly, my health.
Happy (belated) Bandiversary to me! I hope to that you'll stick around for what year 2 will bring!
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
One of those days...
Donny is being a little bitch. She's closed up tighter than....well, I don't know what--I was going to go the crude but funny route--then decided that maybe I shouldn't.
Anyways, bonus--I'm not hungry! But I can't eat even if I was hungry--so, I guess it evens out!
Plans to make chicken kale soup on the agenda tonight--unless I just cop out and make fat free refried beans with Rotel and greek yogurt. Or I might not eat at all--at the rate I'm going--it will be option number 3.
Snow in the forecast (reason that I'm tight). Supposed to get three inches--but the weather people are ALWAYS wrong--so we will see. Should finish just in time for my drive home!
Kind of dreading the surgeon appointment tomorrow--afraid that my love affair with Fritos and Kahlua the past month will bite me in the ass and cause me to gain. Of course, coupled with my inactivity recently (no walking nor elliptical for like two weeks) is sure to not be friendly on the scale. But my pants are getting looser--so I don't know what's up with that.
Anyways, if you are getting snow, be safe. And Happy Tuesday!
Anyways, bonus--I'm not hungry! But I can't eat even if I was hungry--so, I guess it evens out!
Plans to make chicken kale soup on the agenda tonight--unless I just cop out and make fat free refried beans with Rotel and greek yogurt. Or I might not eat at all--at the rate I'm going--it will be option number 3.
Snow in the forecast (reason that I'm tight). Supposed to get three inches--but the weather people are ALWAYS wrong--so we will see. Should finish just in time for my drive home!
Kind of dreading the surgeon appointment tomorrow--afraid that my love affair with Fritos and Kahlua the past month will bite me in the ass and cause me to gain. Of course, coupled with my inactivity recently (no walking nor elliptical for like two weeks) is sure to not be friendly on the scale. But my pants are getting looser--so I don't know what's up with that.
Anyways, if you are getting snow, be safe. And Happy Tuesday!
Monday, March 24, 2014
Now it's REAL...
The past few weeks I've been living in limbo. I was offered a great opportunity, and I accepted opportunity--but I had to wait to give notice to my current position--my manager was out of the country and I didn't feel right doing it before she came back.
She came back this morning--and I officially gave notice.
It's weird--I've never actually been in a position to where I could give notice before. This is only my 4th 'real' job out of college, and each time in the past, circumstances beyond my control dictated my end of employment. I was laid off, I was fired, and I technically resigned--but was kind of forced out of my last job. This is the first time in my life that I've been able to give notice, that I was able to look for a job while I had a job, that I was able to take the time to do my research, think about things, negotiate things...and Damn it! I'm either super mature because I'm not freaking the F out right now--FTFO for short--or I'm super confident that I've made the right decision.
Either way, today, this became REAL. Now the countdown begins--four weeks until I end here, and start something new. Four weeks to get my Sh!t together--to refresh on some things that I haven't done in a while (Thank you, SHRM) , brush up on my people skills (thank you, Dale Carnegie), try to find pants that fit (Thank you, LapBand!), and generally, prepare for a new challenging position. After all, I wanted change, and I wanted challenge, and now that it's almost here--I'm slightly worried that I might suck. I'm taking a huge chance--leaving my secure job for something new.
Life is about change, and I'm going to do my best to embrace it. I'll probably use this as my sounding board over the next few weeks. I hope I don't bore/anger/frustrate you with my rehashing the same things over and over as I make my preparations. I do that to the ELB....alot. It's just the way I do things. I talk and talk and talk about them until I have everything in my head straight.
So anyways....It's Monday! It's calling for SNOW (thank you, Mother Nature--and yes, I'm being sarcastic). I'm getting my 6th (and final!) crown started today. I go to my PCP and surgeon on Wednesday--hope that I have a loss, hope that I can come off two of my meds, and hope that I'm doing okay. I need to slam some water between now and then.
Let's get this party started!
She came back this morning--and I officially gave notice.
It's weird--I've never actually been in a position to where I could give notice before. This is only my 4th 'real' job out of college, and each time in the past, circumstances beyond my control dictated my end of employment. I was laid off, I was fired, and I technically resigned--but was kind of forced out of my last job. This is the first time in my life that I've been able to give notice, that I was able to look for a job while I had a job, that I was able to take the time to do my research, think about things, negotiate things...and Damn it! I'm either super mature because I'm not freaking the F out right now--FTFO for short--or I'm super confident that I've made the right decision.
Either way, today, this became REAL. Now the countdown begins--four weeks until I end here, and start something new. Four weeks to get my Sh!t together--to refresh on some things that I haven't done in a while (Thank you, SHRM) , brush up on my people skills (thank you, Dale Carnegie), try to find pants that fit (Thank you, LapBand!), and generally, prepare for a new challenging position. After all, I wanted change, and I wanted challenge, and now that it's almost here--I'm slightly worried that I might suck. I'm taking a huge chance--leaving my secure job for something new.
Life is about change, and I'm going to do my best to embrace it. I'll probably use this as my sounding board over the next few weeks. I hope I don't bore/anger/frustrate you with my rehashing the same things over and over as I make my preparations. I do that to the ELB....alot. It's just the way I do things. I talk and talk and talk about them until I have everything in my head straight.
So anyways....It's Monday! It's calling for SNOW (thank you, Mother Nature--and yes, I'm being sarcastic). I'm getting my 6th (and final!) crown started today. I go to my PCP and surgeon on Wednesday--hope that I have a loss, hope that I can come off two of my meds, and hope that I'm doing okay. I need to slam some water between now and then.
Let's get this party started!
Friday, March 21, 2014
Dear Kahlua
Dear Kahlua,
I think I love you just a little to much. You are so delicious poured over chocolate frozen yogurt. I've chosen you over pain pills the last few nights... And I seem to be sleeping a little bit better. But I dont want to come to rely on you so much that I can't live without you.
So I'm probably breaking up with you once aunt flow leaves town. But it's been real Kahlua... it's been real.
Hard decisions...
Hollee posted today about a decision that she made to revise her band to VSG.
This is probably something that none us of ever want to think about, but which we all have the potential to face with our Bands.
In spite of the fact that I knew in the future that I may have to have another surgery to remove/revise my band, that there would be possibility for port revision, that I may have a leak, or God forbid, my band eroded into my stomach ( I did MASSIVE research) I still chose to get the Band.
Honestly, the thought of RNY scares the bejesus out of me. And my insurance would cover either the Band or RNY--even though my surgeon really wanted me to go with VSG, as he felt that I would be more successful with it long term. I chose the Band, and I don't regret it. I wanted to know that if something truely went wrong, that it could be removed.
If VSG had been an option under my insurance, would I have chosen it? Possibly--but there is still the whole 'half of your stomach is missing' thing--which isn't as scary as RNY, but is still scary. But when you look at the follow up with the Band, financially, VSG is better in the long run, especially if you don't have insurance to pay for adjustments. My friend who was banded a few weeks ahead of me changed her insurance, and now has to pay 50% of each adjustment, plus a co-pay for her visit. That's about $200 total each time she needs a fill. It can get very expensive.
Like Hollee, I am going to be changing insurance soon--and I'm in limbo about whether the new insurance will cover adjustments--so I'm rolling the dice and hoping that my restriction right now will be good for a while--and I'm going to take a chance and hope I don't need any adjustments soon. I can't exactly ask my new employer, as I'm going to work for a very small company, and essentially, I am going to BE the HR/Benefits person--so once I'm there, I'm going to follow up with the insurance company directly and see how to proceed. I want to keep this a secret from them, just like I've kept it a secret from my current coworkers (a whole YEAR no less!).
Hollee has turned out to be a great friend, and I only wish her the best with her revision, and her continued success. She has been an inspiration to me, and even though she's not going to be a Bander any more, I know that she will always be a friend!
Happy Friday, everyone! Here's to blue skies and warm breezes (at least until the predicted snow arrives on Tuesday!).
This is probably something that none us of ever want to think about, but which we all have the potential to face with our Bands.
In spite of the fact that I knew in the future that I may have to have another surgery to remove/revise my band, that there would be possibility for port revision, that I may have a leak, or God forbid, my band eroded into my stomach ( I did MASSIVE research) I still chose to get the Band.
Honestly, the thought of RNY scares the bejesus out of me. And my insurance would cover either the Band or RNY--even though my surgeon really wanted me to go with VSG, as he felt that I would be more successful with it long term. I chose the Band, and I don't regret it. I wanted to know that if something truely went wrong, that it could be removed.
If VSG had been an option under my insurance, would I have chosen it? Possibly--but there is still the whole 'half of your stomach is missing' thing--which isn't as scary as RNY, but is still scary. But when you look at the follow up with the Band, financially, VSG is better in the long run, especially if you don't have insurance to pay for adjustments. My friend who was banded a few weeks ahead of me changed her insurance, and now has to pay 50% of each adjustment, plus a co-pay for her visit. That's about $200 total each time she needs a fill. It can get very expensive.
Like Hollee, I am going to be changing insurance soon--and I'm in limbo about whether the new insurance will cover adjustments--so I'm rolling the dice and hoping that my restriction right now will be good for a while--and I'm going to take a chance and hope I don't need any adjustments soon. I can't exactly ask my new employer, as I'm going to work for a very small company, and essentially, I am going to BE the HR/Benefits person--so once I'm there, I'm going to follow up with the insurance company directly and see how to proceed. I want to keep this a secret from them, just like I've kept it a secret from my current coworkers (a whole YEAR no less!).
Hollee has turned out to be a great friend, and I only wish her the best with her revision, and her continued success. She has been an inspiration to me, and even though she's not going to be a Bander any more, I know that she will always be a friend!
Happy Friday, everyone! Here's to blue skies and warm breezes (at least until the predicted snow arrives on Tuesday!).
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