Weigh-In Saturday

Starting weight: 301
Last week's weight: 207
Today's weight: 205
Total loss: 96 pounds
Banded: 6/7/2013

Hey everyone....happy last weekend of April to you!

Another two pounds gone this week. REALLY happy about that. I'm feelin' that BIG number coming around the bend. You know the one I'm talking about...and I just cannot wait for it to get here. All in good time.

My mentality this week can best be described as "in the trenches". Making my plan, and working that plan. Grocery shoppin'. Meal prep. Workouts. Resisting temptation. Daily focus. Self-care. Stress management. Seriously...can I get an assistant?

Anyone who has weight loss surgery and doesn't think they aren't going to have to work hard EVERY day is in for a rude awakening. Do you hear me? Every. Day.

Work. WERK.

And I've been workin' it like the rent's due TONIGHT!

How have I lost 96 pounds in 10 and a half months? Hard work.

I hope you all have a great week. Thanks for reading.

Weigh-In Saturday (Non-Scale Victory Edition)

Starting weight: 301
Last week's weight: 207.5
Today's weight: 207
Total loss: 94 pounds
Banded: 6/7/2013

Hey everyone! Happy Saturday. So the weight loss this week was just half a pound. Kind of what I was expecting. After losing 4 1/2 pounds in the last two weeks, which is a lot for me, I knew that the number would be small.  Also… this is not the time of the month when I usually lose weight. Do you feel me, ladies? I think you do. :)

So this week… I thought I would take the focus off the numbers just a little bit. I will be the first to admit that I have a giant tendency to get so wrapped up in those damn numbers. Especially now that I'm so close to seeing a 1 in front of my weight...the first time in over a decade that I've seen that number. It is close and it has made me a little bit crazy. It's very easy to get so laser-focused in on the numbers, that you lose sight of why you're doing all of this in the first place. You know? For me, it's to lead a healthier, more productive life. A life where I am not limited by my weight. A life where I actually have energy left over to do the things I want to do. So let's hear it for the non-scale victories, y'all. These are the things that make all of this so worth it.

The first one is just a little one, but something that struck me out of the blue this week at one of my very favorite places. Target! I've mentioned to you guys before that Target is right by my gym, and it's super convenient for me to run in there after I work out to get anything I need. And let's face it...sometimes I like to look at shoes while I'm there. I'm only human, people. This week, I saw a pair of sandals that I liked a lot, and I needed to try them on. You already know I like a heel, but this heel looked too high even for me. I had to find out! I had tennis shoes and socks on and I wasn't too keen on plopping down right there on the floor. So what did I do? I balanced on one foot and changed shoes. Like it was no big deal. A hundred pounds ago, I wouldn't of been able to do anything like that. I used to have to sit down to even tie my shoes, and much huffing and puffing followed. If you've ever been there, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I didn't end up buying the shoes, but I did find out I can now do this neat little trick. Hot damn.

The second one is a little more important. Last fall I posted about being able to fit into the desks at school again. I told you guys that we have a lot of impromptu faculty meetings around school, and how it was always awkward for me to have to pull up a chair and use the desktop as a tabletop. Well guess what. We had another faculty meeting this week, and I found out that not only do I fit, there's a lot of room to spare! I've been enjoying it so much that now I'm looking for excuses to sit in student desks. I'm sittin' in desks all over the place. Oh…"You need help conjugating that Spanish verb? Well let me pull up a desk and help you!" I cannot be stopped.  :)

And the third one…it's just sort of fun. This afternoon I'm going to a clothing party at Rachel's grandmother's house. I'm sure you guys know what I'm talking about. Kind of like a Pampered Chef or a Tupperware party, but with clothes. I've only been to one clothing party before, and guess what… I couldn't wear one thing they offered. I remember feeling extremely self-conscious...standing around looking at the handbags and accessories. This time, it will actually be fun. I previewed the items online, and even if I don't buy anything, I know that I could. That I have the option. And that the clothes would fit me. Cool.

We are headed to my sister's house tomorrow for Easter and I'm so excited about it. After I get home tonight I'm making my special green beans and Cheese Grits Soufflé. Easter food is my favorite food of all. There will be Honey Baked Ham, Deviled Eggs, homemade rolls....all the good stuff. I'm going to have a little bit of everything and enjoy my time with my family. I hope you all get to do the same.

Here's to ignoring the numbers. Sometimes!

Thanks for reading.

Weigh-In Saturday

Starting weight: 301
Last week's weight: 209.5
Today's weight: 207.5
Total loss: 93.5 pounds
Banded: 6/7/2013

Down another 2 pounds! Woo hoo! Thrilled with that.

This was a whirlwind of a week. It seemed to go by really fast because I was so very busy. Nothing major, just a lot of different stuff. It was standardized test week at school, so that was kind of blehhhh, but there was plenty of fun stuff too. I went to get my hair done on Monday and it was MUCH needed. There's just something about fresh, new highlights that make a girl feel like a million bucks. Not to mention my stylist Jeanna is the absolute best. We always manage to solve the world's problems, discuss fashion at length, talk about travel plans...she just got back from Tulum...and of course celebrity gossip. Gywneth and Chris....why?

During....

After....

On Wednesday I got to spend time with Rachel and sweet baby Shepherd. School has been such a drag with Rachel on maternity leave. I'm literally going through withdrawals. But...she is right where she needs to be. She is a complete natural at motherhood and is head over heels in love with her boy. I'm completely smitten with him myself.

Friday night, I had dinner with my friend Jordan. She is a world traveler extraordinaire and has just returned from a trip to London and Paris with 29 kids!!! The very thought of taking that many teenagers to Europe makes me break out in hives, but Jordan is the perfect person for it. She is an unstoppable force of nature. We caught up over dinner at a local Mexican restaurant and I'm sure you can imagine that she had PLENTY to tell me. 

I did manage to get to the gym for three killer workouts though, and I was proud of that.

My eating this week has been pretty repetitive and streamlined. You guys know that I begin every single morning with my Unjury coffee. Cannot. Live. Without. It. Now that it's getting warmer, I'm getting ready to make the switch to iced. I'm pretty damn excited about that. I use the Pioneer Woman method to make my iced coffee, and it has never let me down. I have been having the same breakfast every day for about the past month...a hard-boiled egg and my beloved Greek yogurt.

Lunch has been a chicken pita from Sam's Club. I used to be able to find these at Walmart, but no more. There are several different varieties of these pita sandwiches....hamburger, cheeseburger, gyro. They are great for Bandsters. If you can find them, that is.

Dinner has been a little varied. Homemade chili a couple of nights, chicken sausage another night, and some Chick-fil-A nuggets one night when I was on the go. And I cannot forget snacks. VitaTops, of course. But...hold onto your hats, because we've got a new contender. Have you guys tried Skinny Pop??? It is sooooo good.

It tastes like Target popcorn. If you've never had Target popcorn, know that I mean that as a huge compliment. It comes in three flavors, butter, white cheddar, and black pepper. I've only had the butter flavor, but I will eventually try all three, I'm sure.

This weekend I'm just enjoying NOT having anywhere to go. I'm catching up on stuff around the house, doing tons of laundry, and a little bit of meal prep for the coming week. John had a gig tonight, but he'll be home a little later and we're going to catch up on some shows and just relax.

What are you guys up to now that Spring is finally here? Tell me!

I hope you have a great weekend and thanks for reading. :)

Weigh-In Saturday

Starting weight: 301
Last week's weight: 212
Today's weight: 209.5
Total loss: 91.5 pounds
Banded: 6/7/2013

Surprising? Yes! Welcome? Very. It's been a long, long time since I've had a 2 and a half pound week. I like it!

One thing that is helping tremendously...I'm pretty sure I'm firmly ensconced in the Green Zone. I mean...at almost ten months I should be, right? I love it here.

For me the Green Zone means...

• I can still eat bread, but not an awful lot. You all know how I feel about bread. :)
• I'm not hungry for about 3 hours after waking, but I try to eat a little something as soon as I can just to get the metabolism going
• I don't obsess over when I'm going to eat next. I live my life and then after a few hours get the "oh...I'm getting kind of hungry now" feeling
• And the hallmark of the GZ....being satisfied with a small amount of protein dense food. My band is finally "speaking up" a little bit louder when it's time for me to stop eating. This is HUGE. For so long I've felt that I could eat more than I was "supposed to".

And speaking about that last one...my nurse Greg (he does my fills) says that you will never really experience a month of "perfect band days". Those awesome days when our bands speak up and keep us in check. I'm not talking about sliming, PBing, or throwing up. I'm talking about satiety. I love those days. Unfortunately there are also the other days...days when I've wondered "do I even have a lap band in there?" Those are the days where my lifetime of professional dieting skills have served me well. I guess being the only 5th grader at Weight Watchers did end up serving a purpose. :)

About Greg...he's awesome. We talk about all kinds of stuff and I ALWAYS learn something from him. He lost 150 pounds with the lap band and has maintained his loss for a number of years. The last time I was there he said something that has resonated with me literally EVERY day since. It may be one of the most important things I've learned so far and it's this:

When you're in the Green Zone, you will not experience perfect restriction every day. There will be days when you have to work harder. However, the good days should outnumber the bad, and if they don't, then you probably need a little fill.

So simple. I keep this in mind on the days when I AM having to work a little harder and it helps my  perspective. I hope it helps some of you too.

Have a great weekend and thanks for reading. :)

Haiku Review: Michael Angelo's Parmesan Crusted Stuffed Chicken Breast

Ahem....is this mic on?

 

"Crispy chicken parm

Hot, cheesy, deliciousness

Get it at Sam's Club"

 

 

I also need to tell you that John and I did NOT like the sauce packets that come with this. The tomato sauce wasn't all that great, and there is just SO much. It's all you end up tasting. Which is not good, because the chicken and cheese is so delicious. We topped ours off with some Bertoli Light Garlic Alfredo and it was REALLY tasty.

 

Thumbs up and Beatnik snaps all around. :)

 

 



Weigh-In Saturday

Starting weight: 301
Last week's weight: 212
Today's weight: 212
Total loss: 89 pounds
Banded: 6/7/2013

So...it was with no small amount of anxiety that I stepped on the scale this morning. Trust me when I tell you that I have enjoyed my spring break. In last week's weigh-in post, I told you guys that I was going to allow myself some treats this week, and I definitely did.

Let's see...Saturday night there was Mexican food. With guacamole and many chips. I had iced sugar cookies from my favorite bakery one day. And of course I had to sample the banana pudding that I took to John's work for him and his coworkers. Oh yes...and donuts. Just two though...a chocolate filled and a glazed cake... and I enjoyed every delicious bite. These illicit shenanigans occurred Saturday through Tuesday, and by Wednesday morning… I had to cut myself off and get back on track. Truth be told… that kind of crazy eating, especially the sugar, was making me feel like complete and total shit. Not to mention, my skin just looked horrible. When I eat badly, it really does show up on my face. Welcome to your forties, ladies! :)

So by Wednesday…when I returned to my regularly scheduled programming, it really was kind of a relief. In the days since, my energy levels have returned, my skin is looking better, and I just feel better overall. This is not to say that I didn't completely enjoy those treats, but I guess I kind of have a new perspective.

Something else that is new…despite being off track with my eating this week, I was firmly on track with my workouts. And because I was on spring break, I could go to the gym whenever I felt like it...usually late morning. When school is in session, I go around 3:30. One thing I noticed this week is that when I can get to the gym shortly after eating something, it really makes a difference in how well I can perform. Coupled with those extra calories from the aforementioned treats, I don't mind telling you I felt like a beast in the gym this week. I could go longer, harder, faster…everything. My takeaway from this is that I may need to shuffle some calories around on the days that I workout.

But here's the cool thing…normally if my eating was off the rails, I would also have the attitude of "why even bother going to the gym?" I used to have kind of an "all or nothing" personality when it came to health and fitness. I was either the Captain of the Weight Loss Train, or I was the one crashed in the ditch clutching a Strawberry Margarita in one hand and a box of Twinkies in the other. Could it be that I have finally separated the two in my mind? That it doesn't have to be ALL or nothing all the time? I really do think that I have gotten to a place where I simply like how I feel after I exercise. This is huge for me. I will also admit that vanity plays into it a little bit. I'm really proud of my new muscle tone, and I want to keep working at it so I don't lose it.

School starts back up on Monday, and we also have parent-teacher conference on Monday night after school. It's going to be a long day. But I've had a wonderful break and I feel ready. I think John and I are going to go out to dinner tonight and then chill at home.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Thanks for reading. :)

March: 5 Things I'm Loving

I hope everyone is having a spectacular week! It has been a really great Spring Break and I've been trying to enjoy every moment. I've not done a whole lot, but then again...that was the plan! :)

I thought I'd take a moment and share a few things that I've been loving this month. So, without further ado...here we go!

1. Vitalicious VitaTops - All Flavors

I mean...come on. You knew that this would make the cut. I cannot get enough of these delicious little cakes. Whether I'm making my imposter Carrot Cake, or just eating them right out of the wrapper, these are my favorite food find of the month. Right now, I'm loving the Deep Chocolate warmed in the microwave with a half tablespoon of peanut butter melted on top. 148 calories of scrumptiousness.

Can't stop. Won't stop.

 

You can check them out at vitalicious.com

 

2. Milani Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss

Here is what the Milani website says: "Experience lip gloss that has rich color, extreme high shine, and comfortable lasting wear. Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss is moisturizing and non-tacky. The flexible sponge-tip applicator makes application easy."

 

Here is what I say: these are JUST like M.A.C. Lipglass at a fraction of the price. You can find Milani cosmetics at drugstores nationwide. I picked these up at Walgreen's.  

 

3. Xersion Workout Shirts from JCP

I am really digging the Xersion line of workout wear at JC Penney, and these are my new favorite workout shirts. I can usually find these on sale for around $12...you know JCP always has a coupon available or a sale going on. They come in all kinds of awesome colors and the fit is great. I have a couple of Nike Drifit shirts, and I like these way better. First off...they are softer, and secondly....can we talk for a minute about how SMALL Nike runs? It's a little disheartening to have lost nearly 90 pounds, only to still wear a 3X in Nike clothing. Amirite?

 

4. Smart Ones Fish and Chips

Confession time. I LOVE Captain D's. Do you guys have Captain D's where you live? I know you might be thinking "Welllll...we have Long John Silver's. Isn't that the same thing?" No. No it's not.

 

How do I even begin to describe the deliciousness? Their fish is crispy, flaky, and delicate. Their hushpuppies are golden, light, and fluffy. Do NOT even get me started on the coconut shrimp.

 

But here's the deal...I don't go there anymore. And, hyperbole aside, it is really damn good. But every now and then I'll get that crispy fish fast food craving and this does the trick. Kudos to the mad food scientists who designed the "crisping tray" because it really works well here. This is not an every day kind of meal. The sodium is pretty high and the protein is not all that great, but if you need to stop yourself from visiting the Cap'n, this will help you out in a pinch.

 

One caveat: Smart Ones also has a Chicken Strips and Fries in packaging almost exactly like this. Do NOT buy it. I beg you. Just don't. It is literally the worst frozen diet meal I've ever had. And I've had almost all of them.

 

5. High Heels

 

Another confession. I'm not really 5'2. I like to pretend that I am, and that's what's listed on every "official" document, but I'm not. I'm really a little less than 5'1. So...when my weight started creeping back up a few years ago, and my knees started hurting very badly, high heels became a thing of the past. It really sucked because when you're as short as I am, a little bit of a heel allows you to be able to do certain things that taller people take for granted. Like....oh I don't know....being able to reach things on high shelves at the grocery store without having to ask for help from total strangers. 

 

Now that I have virtually NO knee pain, and my plantar fasciitis is doing fine, I'm happy to report that I'm back in my heels again! So when I spied these navy and red sandals on Haute Look for $44 (regularly $79), I had to snap them up. I did a quick internet search to make sure I couldn't find a lower price, and what do you know...I found them at ShoeMall.com for $31.99 with a 20% off coupon AND free shipping for a total of $23! Score! I think they are going to look great with jeans, white jeans, or even my army green pants.

So there you have it! What are you loving lately? I'd love to know!

Thanks for reading!