I have really taken my behavior seriously this week: salads for lunch at the office, bike and/or walk everyday for 40 minutes, and quilt so I won't be close to the kitchen. For those of you who read my last post, I have excused myself from the South Dakota bandsters yahoo group. I don't have time for that and I find my blogging bandits a far healthier crowd.
Not that we are holier than thou, but I read some self criticism in our blogs and not so much self "woe is me". From my viewpoint, we are pretty touch on ourselves and the attitude is that we want to be healthier and that is why we chose to change our life styles.
If you wonder at the comments, Mom is not my mom but my "sorta ex" sister-in-law. She is a wonderful support cheerleader. She has known me practically all my life and she knows how much obesity has hurt my self esteem. I have not been married to her brother-in-law for almost 23 years but I have remained very close to his family.
I had a wonderful chat with my daughter this afternoon. She was cleaning her closet and offered me some of her 16s and 14s that are now too big for her. She has been going to the gym faithfully and I know she works hard at keeping herself in good health and shape. I didn't give her the best of genes and her father was 6'3" with a large bone structure. Anyway, she is thinking that some of her professional clothes will help me through the spring and summer. I wonder where I will end up in the clothing department?
It is snowing in such a beautiful way this evening. No wind, just constant flakes. My cozy slippers and knitting are calling my name.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Oh Holy Cow
I just vented on a Yahoo users group to some real whiners. I feel cheated because they live in my area and I could benefit from some local support. But oh well, I probably won't be hearing from them again. I will share what I said because I do so believe in this. Hope I did the right thing.
Copy of my e-mail:
"I joined this group to listen and sometimes add if I felt I had something to say. I have my own blog and have some followers from around the world who are fellow bandits. We communicate regularly and I have learned much from them. With all due respect, I don't think a "fill" or "less of a fill" is the answer that some of you need. I never hear any of you talk about exercise. I go to the rec six days a week to exercise. I am a busy person, working full time, but exercise and eating correctly are two things we all have to do if we are going to be successful. The band is a tool to help us eat less not the answer to weight loss. I suppose after I vent, I should leave the group and not submit my thoughts again. I too have been thinking this group is a waste of time. Attitude is so important. I travel to Sioux Falls to the support group at Sanford because the leaders are motivational and the bandits are too. I was banded on August 27 and I have lost 44 pounds. I am not special and I am not unique. You too can lose 1 or 2 pounds a week if you exercise, use the band to tell you when you are full, and believe in the whole process. Excuses don't get you anywhere. If you have a problem with PBing and you think it is a problem, then you have a doctor that needs to hear what you have to say and you need to stop second guessing the problem. Small bites, some foods aren't tolerated, some foods are a waste of high calories and shouldn't be consumed everyday just because they taste good, and we all need to chew more and eat more slowly. I have gone on enough. Getting a lapband is a personal choice, no one made me do it. I wanted it and I will continue to have a positive attitude and surround myself with those sort of folks. If anyone is interested in some tough talk, feel free to e-mail me, otherwise I will keep my mouth shut. Sylvia"
Copy of my e-mail:
"I joined this group to listen and sometimes add if I felt I had something to say. I have my own blog and have some followers from around the world who are fellow bandits. We communicate regularly and I have learned much from them. With all due respect, I don't think a "fill" or "less of a fill" is the answer that some of you need. I never hear any of you talk about exercise. I go to the rec six days a week to exercise. I am a busy person, working full time, but exercise and eating correctly are two things we all have to do if we are going to be successful. The band is a tool to help us eat less not the answer to weight loss. I suppose after I vent, I should leave the group and not submit my thoughts again. I too have been thinking this group is a waste of time. Attitude is so important. I travel to Sioux Falls to the support group at Sanford because the leaders are motivational and the bandits are too. I was banded on August 27 and I have lost 44 pounds. I am not special and I am not unique. You too can lose 1 or 2 pounds a week if you exercise, use the band to tell you when you are full, and believe in the whole process. Excuses don't get you anywhere. If you have a problem with PBing and you think it is a problem, then you have a doctor that needs to hear what you have to say and you need to stop second guessing the problem. Small bites, some foods aren't tolerated, some foods are a waste of high calories and shouldn't be consumed everyday just because they taste good, and we all need to chew more and eat more slowly. I have gone on enough. Getting a lapband is a personal choice, no one made me do it. I wanted it and I will continue to have a positive attitude and surround myself with those sort of folks. If anyone is interested in some tough talk, feel free to e-mail me, otherwise I will keep my mouth shut. Sylvia"
Saturday, January 3, 2009
It is Snowing
I know it means Vince will need to shovel the drive and sidewalks but I do believe if it is going to be cold, then snow is perfect. It is January in South Dakota.
I went to the Rec early today because it is right after New Years so everyone has made a promise to exercise. It was busy but some of the regulars were hanging in there. I rode the bike for 30 minutes and then walked on the treadmill for 10 minutes. It feels good. Can't believe I am saying that. I have to work harder now to get my heartrate up there where it will burn some fat.
It is a great day to be alive! I am listening to the last of my Christmas CDs and then I will put them away until next year. We have put some decorations away as well. Need to get back to normal so that I can hit the road hard on Monday.
I went to the Rec early today because it is right after New Years so everyone has made a promise to exercise. It was busy but some of the regulars were hanging in there. I rode the bike for 30 minutes and then walked on the treadmill for 10 minutes. It feels good. Can't believe I am saying that. I have to work harder now to get my heartrate up there where it will burn some fat.
It is a great day to be alive! I am listening to the last of my Christmas CDs and then I will put them away until next year. We have put some decorations away as well. Need to get back to normal so that I can hit the road hard on Monday.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Day One in Onederland
It is a beautiful sunny day here in South Dakota but cold as can be. I love these kind of days. I have been quilting all day and contemplating some personal goals. This is that time of year. I have talked a great deal about weight goals but I have some others as well.
I have decided to read the Bible over the next two years. It would be the first time I have ever done that. It is on my bucket list. I also want to make certain I write thank yous to people who give me gifts or do special things. I think that e-mail has become too convenient for me and I need to make a better effort to say thanks.
I was watching a television program tonight about Obesity in America. It featured a woman who had once lost over 111 pounds and had been honored on a Richard Simmons program. Since then she has gained all of her weight back and again some. This really scares me as they were discussing the genes and fat cells she had and how her body fought her to get back. I called Vince into the room and we discussed my fears. I forget that with the band, one is not starving the body as she was on a very low calorie diet. I just have to remember to eat sensibly and let the band tell my brain that I am full. I wonder if I will ever lose the fear. Perhaps that fear is a good thing.
I added a picture to the slideshow of me, last night. The slacks are the size 16 I just found. I do have to work on the fat around my middle. More sit-ups!
I have decided to read the Bible over the next two years. It would be the first time I have ever done that. It is on my bucket list. I also want to make certain I write thank yous to people who give me gifts or do special things. I think that e-mail has become too convenient for me and I need to make a better effort to say thanks.
I was watching a television program tonight about Obesity in America. It featured a woman who had once lost over 111 pounds and had been honored on a Richard Simmons program. Since then she has gained all of her weight back and again some. This really scares me as they were discussing the genes and fat cells she had and how her body fought her to get back. I called Vince into the room and we discussed my fears. I forget that with the band, one is not starving the body as she was on a very low calorie diet. I just have to remember to eat sensibly and let the band tell my brain that I am full. I wonder if I will ever lose the fear. Perhaps that fear is a good thing.
I added a picture to the slideshow of me, last night. The slacks are the size 16 I just found. I do have to work on the fat around my middle. More sit-ups!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
I Made It!
Today marks 18 weeks since I was banded. I went to the Rec this morning and Thomas weighed me. I weigh less than 200 pounds (well .5 pounds less). I was so pleased that I accomplished my first major goal. It still seems hard to believe that if I eat right and exercise, the pounds just keep coming off. That has never happened before.
On August 13th when I went for my bariatric surgery class, I weighed 243.6 pounds. That was 20 weeks ago and during that time, I have lost 44.1 pounds or about 2 pounds a week on average. That is just about perfect as far as what the doctor wants.
I have so much for which to be thankful. I feel so much better. Thomas laughed today and noted that I was jumping up and down with excitement. I couldn't have jumped six months ago. I am especially thankful for the loss due to having the holidays in the middle of this time period and also that last surgery which was a setback.
Now I need to set my second goal. I believe I have an appointment with Dr. Glatt in February. I would flat blow him away if I had lost 50 pounds on his scale by then. I think that it would have to be 60 pounds on any other scale to be safe. I think they have those hospital scales rigged. Any thing less than 195 pounds should cause a smile on his face. So for the time being, I think I will shoot for 188 by Valentine's Day. I also want to plan to exercise 6 days a week.
Happy New Year to all and may 2009 be a time for losing for all of my friendly bandits.
On August 13th when I went for my bariatric surgery class, I weighed 243.6 pounds. That was 20 weeks ago and during that time, I have lost 44.1 pounds or about 2 pounds a week on average. That is just about perfect as far as what the doctor wants.
I have so much for which to be thankful. I feel so much better. Thomas laughed today and noted that I was jumping up and down with excitement. I couldn't have jumped six months ago. I am especially thankful for the loss due to having the holidays in the middle of this time period and also that last surgery which was a setback.
Now I need to set my second goal. I believe I have an appointment with Dr. Glatt in February. I would flat blow him away if I had lost 50 pounds on his scale by then. I think that it would have to be 60 pounds on any other scale to be safe. I think they have those hospital scales rigged. Any thing less than 195 pounds should cause a smile on his face. So for the time being, I think I will shoot for 188 by Valentine's Day. I also want to plan to exercise 6 days a week.
Happy New Year to all and may 2009 be a time for losing for all of my friendly bandits.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Home From the Holidays
Well bandits, I made it through my first full blown holiday! I learned a few things and I think I better write it down so I remember.
First, if I am going to eat cold shrimp, I must chew even though they are bite size. Our Christmas eve feast tasted so good but after the meal, I thought I was having a heart attack from the pain in the chest. I realized that what seemed like chewing probably equated to buzz sawing through the pile of shrimp on my plate and that if I ever (and at that point I doubted I would) ate shrimp again, I must chew them thoroughly!
Second, I can't eat rice. The literature says you can't but I have to try things. We went to a pleasant little oriental restaurant in Northfield and I ordered my entree. Of course, it came with rice. I put just a couple of teaspoons under the bed of chicken cashew and chewed slowly. The rice wouldn't stay down. Let that be that lesson.
Third, ice cream goes down with no problem. So it is best to measure a reasonable amount and eat it slowly as it goes right through the pouch and those calories can add up quickly. My brother and I take after our dad who loved ice cream. Vanilla in a bowl is a happy time.
It is a fact that food is an integral part of a family holiday. As a bandster, I just have to think about what and how much I plan to eat and participate with reasonable sensibility.
First, if I am going to eat cold shrimp, I must chew even though they are bite size. Our Christmas eve feast tasted so good but after the meal, I thought I was having a heart attack from the pain in the chest. I realized that what seemed like chewing probably equated to buzz sawing through the pile of shrimp on my plate and that if I ever (and at that point I doubted I would) ate shrimp again, I must chew them thoroughly!
Second, I can't eat rice. The literature says you can't but I have to try things. We went to a pleasant little oriental restaurant in Northfield and I ordered my entree. Of course, it came with rice. I put just a couple of teaspoons under the bed of chicken cashew and chewed slowly. The rice wouldn't stay down. Let that be that lesson.
Third, ice cream goes down with no problem. So it is best to measure a reasonable amount and eat it slowly as it goes right through the pouch and those calories can add up quickly. My brother and I take after our dad who loved ice cream. Vanilla in a bowl is a happy time.
It is a fact that food is an integral part of a family holiday. As a bandster, I just have to think about what and how much I plan to eat and participate with reasonable sensibility.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Sorry I took time off
Oh my, it has been a long time since I have posted to my blog. So much has taken place. First off, Allison got strep throat so I took off on the 16th to drive to Waconia to help with my grandsons while she got back to normal. After three days in Minnesota, we zipped back to South Dakota and put in a marathon evening wrapping gifts so that we could celebrate Christmas with all on the 20th as that was Kevin's weekend off. It was a wonderful day with all of our family and we had so much fun with the grandsons. Of course, Zachary gave me his terrible cold so when we headed back to my brother's on the 23rd, I had the runny nose and sneezes. I have tried to be most careful with hand sanitizer and Kleenex so as not to give it away.
We had a wonderful Christmas eve and day with my brother and his wife at their home here in Minnesota. I have been very careful to drink lots of fluids and we have been eating sensibly so I ventured onto their bathroom scale on the 24th. That would be 18 weeks since banding and on their scale, I weighed 200 pounds. Now I am not certain how that equates with the scale at the Rec Center but it feels good to be in that range. Linda weighed a five pound bag of flour and it read 6 pounds. Needless to say I am hoping it says 200 when I weigh in at the Rec in five days.
Linda had to work today so I left the boys and went to the Eden Prairie mall to meet Allison with the Christmas presents they couldn't get in the Jeep last Monday. I just had to go into Talbots and look around. Actually, they have a large petite department and I love their slacks. No need to shorten them. I was a bit disappointed when I looked on the rack and the largest size were 16s. However, I found a grey wool lined pair of slacks to replace my old favorites and I decided to try them on. I have always hated trying on clothes. I think it is because nothing ever fit. Well, I went in and pulled those slacks up and buttoned and zipped them up. A bit snug but who would have believed I could wear a size 16?! I was psyched and they were an additional 40% off to day so I bought them and danced out of the store.
I have really let down on the exercise since the 15th. I didn't specifically exercise while at Allison's and so finally yesterday, I used my sister-in-laws' "gazelle" in the pole barn for 50 minutes. It felt good. I won't be able to reach the 750 mile goal at the bottom of the page but I have done remarkably. I read a really great article in this month's O magazine about taking better care of yourself. Poor Oprah fell off the wagon. I think it is reasonable to say that just because I didn't exercise for nine days doesn't mean I won't exercise regularly for the last four days of the year. I can get another 96 miles on the ticker before the 31st.
It has been a much needed break and I am feeling better today. As Vince said, I should be better by the time I have to go back to work. I hope to get some quilting in this next week. I want to have my friends over to play with my birthday, Christmas and anniversary gift, my new quilting machine. We will make merry and have fun. I guess I should call this to a close and go pick up the knitting I brought to Minnesota, a readers shawl. It is going to turn out quite well and I will enjoy the warmth.
We had a wonderful Christmas eve and day with my brother and his wife at their home here in Minnesota. I have been very careful to drink lots of fluids and we have been eating sensibly so I ventured onto their bathroom scale on the 24th. That would be 18 weeks since banding and on their scale, I weighed 200 pounds. Now I am not certain how that equates with the scale at the Rec Center but it feels good to be in that range. Linda weighed a five pound bag of flour and it read 6 pounds. Needless to say I am hoping it says 200 when I weigh in at the Rec in five days.
Linda had to work today so I left the boys and went to the Eden Prairie mall to meet Allison with the Christmas presents they couldn't get in the Jeep last Monday. I just had to go into Talbots and look around. Actually, they have a large petite department and I love their slacks. No need to shorten them. I was a bit disappointed when I looked on the rack and the largest size were 16s. However, I found a grey wool lined pair of slacks to replace my old favorites and I decided to try them on. I have always hated trying on clothes. I think it is because nothing ever fit. Well, I went in and pulled those slacks up and buttoned and zipped them up. A bit snug but who would have believed I could wear a size 16?! I was psyched and they were an additional 40% off to day so I bought them and danced out of the store.
I have really let down on the exercise since the 15th. I didn't specifically exercise while at Allison's and so finally yesterday, I used my sister-in-laws' "gazelle" in the pole barn for 50 minutes. It felt good. I won't be able to reach the 750 mile goal at the bottom of the page but I have done remarkably. I read a really great article in this month's O magazine about taking better care of yourself. Poor Oprah fell off the wagon. I think it is reasonable to say that just because I didn't exercise for nine days doesn't mean I won't exercise regularly for the last four days of the year. I can get another 96 miles on the ticker before the 31st.
It has been a much needed break and I am feeling better today. As Vince said, I should be better by the time I have to go back to work. I hope to get some quilting in this next week. I want to have my friends over to play with my birthday, Christmas and anniversary gift, my new quilting machine. We will make merry and have fun. I guess I should call this to a close and go pick up the knitting I brought to Minnesota, a readers shawl. It is going to turn out quite well and I will enjoy the warmth.
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