Still Tight, but Not Nearly Like Before...

Thanks so much to those of you that have written or commented about my recent experience of being too tight and getting stuck a lot. I am happy to report that I have been able to get more types of food down, although not all. I have been able to get my proteins in and vegetables, so I am definitely happier. I still think I might be a little too tight, but I am going to wait a little while longer to see if it stretches at all, as that has happened to me in the past. Sometimes, I have what  I believe is a good restriction and then within 2 weeks, I don't have it anymore. I do know the importance of getting the right foods in and will definitely schedule for a little unfill if I don't feel a change in a week.  What a journey this is, trying to find the "green zone" :)  Wishing all of you success in this journey of ours!

Boooo...up 2, but think it's water weight...

So...I'm up 2 as of today, but I really do think its water weight because all I've been able to eat is soup for the last few days, with lots of sodium. I think I might be a bit overfilled because all of the sudden come Tuesday, I haven't been able to get much down without being stuck.  Funny thing is, well not so funny, but it seems all the fattening stuff still goes down, just not the stuff that's good for me. I have no problem with cupcakes or chips, but I can't get scrambled eggs, chicken, beef, pasta, or anything else down. This morning I was able to get a 1/2 of a granola bar down so hopefully it is stretching a little bit...this whole getting stuck thing sucks! And it hurts :(  Oh well..if it doesn't get better in a week I'll be traveling again to get some taken out. Hope you have a better weekend than my week...lol...have a great one!

Back At it - With Good Restriction (For now :) )

Hello all of you wonderful bloggers and lurkers! It's been a couple of weeks since I posted, so I figure its time to update you on how life has been going for me. Let's see where to start...hmmmm...on 6/29 I weighed in at 295.5, and on 7/6 I weighed in at 294 which is my lowest this time around. I did go get a fill on 7/2 and they put an additional .5 cc's in my band, which now has 7.5 cc's (10 cc band).  I wanted to get it before the 4th of July so that I couldn't go crazy with the food, even though I could still go crazy with the drinks...lol. It helped!  I ate very little on the 4th, although I did have 3 shots of Chocolate Pretzels and about 4 Mike's Hard Lemonades. I did much better than in previous years because we normally play beer pong and I usually end up drinking a lot that way, but it was too stinking hot to be outside, so we had indoor poker and stuff to keep us occupied. I wonder if any of you have the same issue as me...initially I am able to eat a little more after a fill, but then a week later, something kicks in and my restriction seems to be great! Like today for lunch I ate a 1/2 of a hot dog without bun, 1 bite of an egg and a couple of bites of hash browns and was super stuffed! I still feel full and its been 2 hours already. I really hope this is the restriction I was looking for and that it lasts for a long time. Last time I got a fill, I had this feeling for about 2 weeks and then it diminished. I really want this to be the fill that worked! I have been doing pretty good with the exercise as well and getting in a 30-45 minute walk on most days. I am still trying to get all of my water in and am doing well in that area as well. Now, if I could get rid of some of the after dinner snacking/drinks, I think I would be on a great downward spiral. I definitely am starting to feel better physically and am gaining more energy and I have a whole closet full of clothes that fit again, so yay! On another note, my job had me up for a promotion about a month ago and they froze all promotions...booooooo, but I didn't fret and guess what??? Yesterday, my boss called to tell me that they lifted the freeze for a little while and he slipped mine through!!! WOO HOO...nice raise too ;)  This couldn't come at a better time because I just got a new Heating/AC/Hot Water Heater/Insulation and Washer/Dryer in the last month! So good things do come to those who wait and don't freak out...lol  Hope all of you are doing well. I hope to update you this Friday with another loss...Good luck!!!

Somebody please fix my brain :)

So, its been awhile and I haven't been all that great in my journey. I have been up and down with the last few lbs, currently I'm down, but my official weigh in isn't until tomorrow, so I won't count it just yet! So, when I ask for someone to fix my brain, I am totally serious. I mean, I went and got this surgery to help assist me with my weight loss goals, but yet at every corner I make decisions that ultimately hamper those goals. Why, oh why, can't I just give up the alcoholic concoctions that are hindering my weight loss? Why, oh why, can't I stop eating some of the sweets and things that are hindering my weight loss. For some reason, I am maintaining my current weight loss, but I think that's purely because for the last few weeks I have made sure to get my walks in every day! If not for that, I'm sure I'd be up. I was really happy a few weeks back when I felt like I had good restriction, but as of today, I am again able to eat more than I should be able to eat, so that isn't helping either.  I set up an appointment to discuss my issues with the nursing team and also scheduled another fill for 7/2. I really hope I get to the green zone soon because this is soooo hard. I know everyone says not to compare yourself to anyone else, but it is hard to see so many people losing so much more. I am very happy with what I have lost so far and for the fact that I have so many more clothes that fit, but I really need help with this thing called summer and BBQ's and beverages...lol. I have tried switching to non-alcoholic beverages like the Crystal Light Mojito, Margarita and Appletini mixes, but it just doesn't feel the same. I guess I am just on a rant and need to kick myself in the butt, but if any of you are close by, I wouldn't mind a kick in the "arse" from some of you as well...hope you all are doing better than me!

Ughhh...I suck at being good!

Sooo...today I weighed  in and am up 1.5 lbs from last Friday. I haven't been drinking. I only have had 1 glass of wine in 2 weeks, so I'm hoping to attribute it to my "Pyramid" as my girl calls that time of the month...lol...oh well...gotta get back up and push on. I've been walking everyday this week and need to just be better with the "slider" type of foods. I don't think I'm paying enough attention to that, so here goes again!!! Have a great week everyone!

Well..well...well...is this what some restriction feels like?

So, I'm not sure if I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be or if I hit my "green zone" or not, but let me tell you this...I have eaten very little and feel pretty well satisfied so I think I may just be there! I didn't have breakfast, somehow I drank my coffee and made it to lunch without being hungry. I know having something is important and on most days i do, but I just didn't feel like it today. By lunchtime I was starving, so I made a small sandwich (yes bread!), and didn't know if I would get stuck or not, but didn't. I only ate 3/4 of it and gave the rest to my hubby as I was full!! That never happens, so I don't know if its a fluke or if I'm there! I really hope I'm there because I travel 1.5 hours each way for a fill, so if I was there it would be fab! On another note, I made it through the first day of the weekend without a alcoholic beverage..go me! Today and tonight are going to be a test though, as I have a party.  I also was asked to bring a dessert, the famous Blonde Brownies....so I need to try to steer clear of eating them too! Well..enough rambling...hope you guys are doing good!

6/1/12 Weigh In - :)

Soooooo...I was absolutely horrible over the Memorial Day weekend. We had lots of BBQ's and lots of alcoholic beverage consumption. I ate a burger w/bun, dog w/ bun, steak, corn on the cob, pasta salad, rice & beans, fried bananas and just about anything else I could get my hands on throughout the weekend. I also consumed bloody mary's, beer, smirnoff ice, margaritas, shots, etc. What a way to spend the weekend! Anyway, was pretty pissed at myself for going back to old habits, so kicked myself in the butt on Monday. I stepped up the walking, water, and got back to eating correctly, and guess what???? I am down 3 lbs as of 6/1...woooo hoooo! So, with that said, I am now 33 lbs down since January. I'll take it :) Hope all of you have a great week as well!