Progress YA!

The band was definately tight this weekend but it wasn't too bad!  I lost 4 lbs so that is great.  Water was even slow to go down but as the days went by it got much better.  I am very glad I did not go in on Friday and have some taken out!  I can deal I just have to chew, chew, chew and drink slower. 

Have a great week

Back at It!!

Hello everyone I know it has been a while.  The process has been discouraging lately. I am doing really good watching that I do not eat bread, pasta, rice etc and I have been walking about 3 nights a week but have had little weight loss progress.  I went back to the doctor yesterday and they were aggressive with my FILL!  Oh boy today and last night has been rough.  I tried to take my pills this morning that didn't work.  I am on my 48 hours of liquids which I can get down ok but I am really worried about how tight my band is.  I tried to chew a vitamin this morning and drink some water to get it down and it came right back up.  Can anyone give advise on how much I should tolerate with the tightness.  I do not mind drinking liquids and soft foods for a while I just worry I won't get enough of what I need such as vitamins, protein etc.

ANY THOUGHTS?????? 

Tomato soup for lunch today was good!!!  Special K protein drink for breakfast!!!  I wonder what exciting I can do for lunch LOL. 

See you soon!
Yvette

I'm Back

Sorry everyone it has been such a crazy month!  My Nana passed away last week and the weeks before that we were busy visiting everyday and doing what we could.  I am very sad that she will not be with us anymore however she is in a much better place.  The stress is still continuing for the family with all of the little details and things that need to be done but I am getting back on track.

I have definately come to recognize that stress is an excuse for me to EAT!  I didn't lose weight for about 3 weeks but I finally kicked it and lost 2 lbs  Woo Hoo!  I need to get back in the swing of excercising at night.  I am just tired all of the time so I get home do things around the house and then sit!  Which then is followed but snacking of course.  Would love some good snack ideas other than fruit and veggies!!! 

I had another fill day before yesterday so I am just coming off liquids to soft foods today.  I have a total of 5 cc's now.  Havent noticed too much of a difference but I really haven't eaten any solid food yet so we will see.  Well here is to a challenging weekend of food and drinks at friends.  Lets see how we do!!

Sad Week!

Well I guess my "Title" is kind of misleading.  It was a sad week for me and my family because my Nana had a huge set back.  She was put into ICU on Saturday and will not be coming home.  The damage that was done is going to be permanent and so she will be moved to convalescent (spelling) care.  She is 95 years old but has always been full of energy, laughter and probably the best lady you will ever have met in your life.  I do not think I was ready for this but I also do not think I would have ever been ready.  We have all been taking care of her 24 hours a day for the past 9 months but this is exactly what she didn't want.  She can no longer talk to us to tell us what she needs and she is not mobile.  I always thought it would have been quick so she didn't have to go through this.  My daughter has been wonderful going to the hospital every day along with the rest of the family.  We feed her, talk to her and try and understand what she wants and how she feels.  I guess this is one time in my life that food hasn't been too hard to ignore.  Seem unimportant right now.  My husband is the best person in the world and is soooooo supportive. 

I had another fill this week.  Found out that they thought they put in 5ml but it only ended up being 3.5 ml so I have been working hard to stay on track because the band really wasn't restricting my eating.  So Wednesdays fill was another 1 ml which brough it to 4.5.  Seem low still.  Yesterday was liquids today is soft foods.  The good news is that I lost 4 lbs WOOOO HOOOOO.  I have officially hit 30 lbs lost.  Feeling much better each day and my clothes feel much better also.

Well here is to sticking to my weight loss goals!!  Cheers and here is to the week improving for Nana.  What "improving" means I am not sure but here is to her comfort! 

Just for Fun -

Andrea posted this survey on her blog and I thought it was a fun idea!  I love getting to know people better.

1. What is your occupation right now ?
Accounting/Office Manager - Impact Construction

 

2.What color are your socks right now? 
No socks. 

3. What are you listening to right now? 
Nothing at the moment.

4. What was the last thing that you ate? 
Cherries

5. Can you drive a stick shift? 
Yes, its fun

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? 
A vendor

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? 
Yes!

8. How old are you today? 
 42

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? 
Baseball - go Giants!  Sorry honey Go Yankees!

 

10. What is your favorite drink? 
Sangria - Oops can't have those anymore - Lemonade

 

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? 
Oh Ya All the time

 

12. Favorite food? 
chinese

 

13. What is the last movie you watched? 
Proposal

 

14. Favorite day of the year? 
Thanksgiving

 

15. How do you vent anger? 
To my husband usually.

16. What was your favorite toy as a child? 
Rollerskates.

17. What is your favorite season? 
Fall

18. Cherries or Blueberries? 
cherries

19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?

20. Where is you favorite place to escape?

Monterey.

21. Favorite Tv Show?
Greys Anatomy - Or any reality shows

 

22. Living arrangements? 
Rent a two story house with my husband and children

 

23. When was the last time you cried? 
Just this weekend.

24. What is on the floor of your closet? 
Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

 

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest?
.

26. What did you do last night? 
Fell asleep at 8:30 LOL.

27. What are you most afraid of? 
SNAKES

 

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? 
Cheese

 

29. Favorite dog breed? 
All Dogs - NO Pit bulls

 

30. Favorite day of the week? 
Saturday

31. How many states have you lived in? 
1...California

 

32. Diamonds or pearls? 
Diamonds.

33. What is your favorite flower? 
Tulips

 
Sure that would be cool

Survived Vacation!!

Santa Cruz with the kids and family was great this weekend.  Had a rough start but ended up being great.  Weight loss for about 1 1/2 weeks was only 1lb but it was over vacation so that is good.  I think my hardest struggle was drinking since it was my daughters 21st birthday.  I like to drink and hang out so I am sure that contributed to the problem.  Does anyone have any suggestions for low calorie/low carb drinking with no carbonation.  I had cranberry and vodka most of the time but I also had a few glasses of wine.  The food choices didn't seem to be a problem other than I cheated a few times taking bites of my husbands french fries LOL.   I walked and walked and walked so I didn't gain and it seemed to work.

I had sugar free butter becan ice cream.  It made my stomach hurt.  I want something sweet but I don't want to cheat anyone have any good ideas?

Well heres to another loss in the right direction

Scale Success!

Another 2 lbs down!  WooHoo.  Sometimes I really wish it would move faster but I am trying to be patient.  At this point I feel like it is just me dieting because my band is not restricting my portion sizes.  Every once in a while I feel like I have eaten too much or too fast but for the most part the portion size has not been restricted.  I assume on my next fill August 6 this will change.  I did  a little bit better last week.  Walked two days but I need to do much better.  It feels good to walk but right now it just feels like another chore that I need to get accomplished with the others!  I had to fight with my son to go for a walk but he stopped whining about 1/2 way through and it ended up being fun!  Sydni loves to walk but she isn't home that much and my oldest Vanessa, LOL never see her.  She is doing her dance classes, zumba and other excercise.  I am so glad that she is motivated I do not ever want my children to have to fight their weight like I do.

I can't wait for our finances to settle down and my husband to stop working his second job.  This will allow us to do more together like walking.  Bailey wants to start golfing so that could be good for all of us too.  Well here is to another successful week.  Sorry I didn't blog earlier.  Hope everyone is having a great summer.  We leave for Santa Cruz on Friday for a little weekend vacation, SOOOOO  Excited.

Yvette

Goal Met!!

Woo Hoo this week I met my 2 lb goal, and I don't even think my band is tight enough yet.  Just really been concentrating on my portions and what I am eating.  I haven't had any bread or pasta since my surgery and I am a carb aholic!!  It has been great being able to fit into some of my clothes that are sitting in my closet collecting dust.  Still haven't been able to keep up the excercise motivation but I am definately feeling better and move around much better.

Here's to another good week!

Working on a Postive Week

I had my fill last week but I do not seem restricted?  Does anyone else have issues with this?  I am still trying to eat right and not eat too much but I do not get full very easy and I haven't found very much I can not eat.  I did my walking last night, 30 minutes, seems like when you start it takes forever to get through that 30 minutes.  I wish I was better at self motivation.  I will say my clothes are fitting much different.  I have a pair of pants I can NO longer wear and I fit into some of my smaller pants that have been sitting in my closet staring at me.  I am hoping to fit into some more of my shorts and shirts before we leave for Santa Cruz at the end of July.  Just a short weekend but I would prefer to be more comfortable in my clothes.

I don't worry too much about the food there because I love seafood and there should be plenty of options.  May have to be careful with the alcohol consumption it is my daughters 21st birthday that weekend.  Well I hope everyone has a great week, I will report in on Sunday with my weight loss!!

See you then
yvette

Fill #1

Ok so that wasn't so bad!! The needle was freakin huge but it didnt hurt.  Today and tomorrow is liquids and then back to soft foods.  I have a Realize 11c band and they put in 5cc of fluid.  I don't feel very constricted but I haven't been that hungry either.  I was expecting to not be able to drink big sips of water but I have been fine.  Just ate a can of tomato soup and I have been drinking V8 splash all day, watered down.  I told him I was tired a lot but he thinks it is because of my blood pressure medicine so I am going to my primary and Dr Boone suggested cutting the dose in 1/2.  WOO HOO  maybe I can get off some of these medicines once I have lost enough weight. 

I had to buy my B12, Calcium and 1 a day vitamins.  Man they are expensive.  I left the Calcium on the counter because I wasn't sure how I was supposed to take it, it looks like a big alkaseltzer?  My sweet husband puts all my medicines out in the morning because I get busy and forget to take them.  He was happy with my 17 lbs in the first month.  I want to lose 2 lbs a week, being on this liquid diet should help LOL.  Thank you to my friend Tressa, called to check up on me after my fill.  Wish she lived closer I would be much more motivated to excercise.  My husband is way too busy so it is up to myself to get my butt in gear.  Obviously I am not very good at self motivation or I would not be this overweight! 

Well heres to a good month and hopefully many more to come!! 

Not a Lot of Progress! BLAH

Ok so we are going on 4 weeks post op surgery.  I have my first fill appt. tomm. July 6 in Fresno.  I am definately hoping for a fill since nothing is in my band right now and I can tell that I can eat a much larger quantity than I should.  Probably explains my lack of progress but I have been eating really good.  Haven't touched any carbs, and I am a carbaholic!!!!  Love bread, pasta, etc.  But haven't had any.  Also I started walking on the treadmill 30 minutes a day.  I am hoping for a fill tomorrow so I am not hungry.  Right now I find myself being hungry throughout the day and i don't want to be. 

My wonderful husband and kids are keeping me on track.  Rich got the treadmill up and working so now I do not have an excuse.  Its right by the TV and under a fan, I hate to sweat LOL.  Little bit nervous about going to my fill appointment by myself tomorrow, just don't know what to expect.  I look forward to checking in with the doctor so he can judge the progress.  Overall it has been 17 lbs in this first month.  I really want to set a goal of 2 lbs per week but I have been struggling this week with even 1 lb.  I seem to go up and down. 

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!!! 

Difficult Weekend and Week So Far!!

Well of course I have discovered that I do not necessarily get full right now because my band has not yet had its first fill.  On Saturday we went to friends and I ate more than I should have and had a drink, yes V8 Splash and Vodka.  Didn't seem to effect me too much but I drank it pretty slow.  I also ate beans and snacked more than I should have.  I tried to keep it healthy but still should have stuck to my 3 meals a day and no snacks.  Well it seemed to cause me a 2 lb gain for Sunday morning, not sure why?  I didn't eat that much but I did get off of my normal routine.  Well today is Tuesday and when I weighed this morning I had lost about 1.8 of my 2 lbs.  I have 3 days before I weight on Friday so I hope to at least net a 1-2 lb loss for the week.

Anxious for my fill because I don't want to get off track, but I sure miss food when we are at gatherings.  Unfortunately I love to cook and love to eat LOL!  I did make a great dish that lasted me most of the week:

1 yellow onion - Chopped and sauteed with a small amount of Olive Oil
2 Tbls - Crushed garlic - sauteed with the onion
Add - 2 lbs of Ground Turkey
Saute all together until Turkey complete - Add Salt, Pepper to taste
Add 2 Cans of Stewed tomatoes - chopped fine
Add 5 Zucchini - Sliced in rounds

Let cook covered on stove until Zucchini is almost done and then turn stove off

I ate this for lunch and dinner the last few days and it had great flavor and made me feel like I had a special meal. 

Anyone have any advise to get ready for my first fill on July 6?  Love comments
Yvette

Week #2 Down!!!!!

Hello Everyone!  Ok so week #2 seems to have rolled on by.  I lost 4 lbs WOOHOO!  Today I move off of my soft foods diet and onto Ground turkey/hamburger, fruits, vegetables.  Last night for my soft foods I took a can of fat free refried beans and mixed a small can of chile verde sauce in it to spice it up.  Took about 3/4 of a cup and topped it with a tsp of fat free sour cream it was yummy.  I have some for lunch today too!  Little nervous about starting larger foods, like veggies, but just have to remember to chew, chew, chew.  I have not had my first fill yet so the band doesn't seem to restrict too much.  Boiled Eggs was the only thing that seemed to get a little caught up in there. 

A friend has given me a treadmill so I am looking forward to excercising and losing some more.  I am trying to set a goal in my head of 2 lbs per week but I have an obsession on getting on the scale every day.  I think I just have a fear of failing since diets have failed so many times in the past.  My port surgery spot seems to be a little more sore the last few days, but I guess I just need to give it some time.  It has only been two weeks.

Well Two Weeks Down and am excited about the progress.  I was also very excited to talk to my best friend on the phone for an hour last night.  Somehow she just knows how to get me on the right path.  Sitting at home by myself just makes me want to eat for entertainment but talking on the phone diverted the path!YEAH -

Looking forward to this week, adding some new items in the meal plan.  Decaf Iced Tea seems to be keeping me hydrated and feeling like I have a treat! 

Surgery Complete, First Week Complete

Hello Everyone,
Sorry but my internet at home was down for a week!  Surgery went well on the 10th.  My wonderful husband stayed with me in the hospital and never left my side for 4 days until he had to go back to work.  I made sure I was up the next day at 6 a.m. to walk and drink my broth and whatever else I had to do so I could go home!  The first week went pretty well.  Sore of course for the surgery, mostly the surgery site that the port is in but it will feel better I am sure.  Still uncomfortable not being able to sleep in my bed but the recliner is doing the trick.  I lost 12 pounds in the first week and went for my first doctors appt.  They moved me forward to the soft foods diet.  Very excited at least now the food tastes like something.  Applesauce, pudding, cottage cheese, soups, etc.  Next week we move on to vegetables and ground turkey.

My next appointment for my first fill is July 6.  Pretty nervous about that because even though I am not hungry I do not feel very restricted except for if I eat too fast.   Now I need to start excercising, I really can't wait for my clothes to fit differently.

Good day to everyone!  Thank goodness for my Husband, Family and Friends!!! 

Pre-Op Appt.

Ok so off I went yesterday to Fresno for my Pre-Op appt.  Entertained by my son, Bailey, who joined me for the journey.  Blood work done, EKG done, Urine test done (wanted to make sure I wasnt pregnant! lord help me at 42), Pre-registered and ready to go.  Getting very scared now.  Try to keep my cool and keep myself busy!!!!!!  Leaving Thursday night and surgery Friday morning.  I sure am hoping and praying for great results.  I know I will have to work at it but I really don't want the weight loss to be so slow that I get discouraged.  Really wish I had someone to push me to walk at night and maybe bike ride (better buy a bike).  Biggest mistake was watching a Lap-band surgery on U-tube Yuk!

Well I probably wont be back on until after surgery but here's to moving forward!!! 

Memorial Weekend!!!

I had a great weekend with my family and friends.  Friday night we had closing ceremonies and movie night for baseball.  Saturday we had our 36th annual family reunion and Sunday we had a BBQ with our friends and family.  Of course everything was centralized around FOOD and DRINKS and I was not good at all.  I only have two more weeks and I feel like I am waiting for the Last Supper!  I am hoping all of that will pass because I had a great time laughing and visiting with my friends around the fire!!!  Sunday was a day to relax with my wonderful husband and clean up the disaster area of course.  Well I am hoping that the weight loss adventure will be a huge success, June 10th just around the corner and June 6th is my pre-op appt.  Maybe next summer I can look forward to the swimming pool and not worry about the swimsuit situation!!! 

I love my family and friends!!!!!  Here's to losing weight and feeling better!!  Cheers

Doctor Appt

Ok - Ants in my pants thats for sure!!!  Yesterday I went to my General Practioner so she knows what is going on and when surgery is scheduled, June 10! Then we went through all of my medications.  Some of them have to be crushed and the others have to be ordered in liquid form, BLAH!  I can't even take cough medicine without gagging, this should be fun LOL.  I wish the days would move forward quickly.  I must succeed, I must succeed, I must succeed.  My husband is already talking about the new clothes I will need.  WooHoo excited about that.  I am very lucky to have such a great husband to support me. 

Waiting, Waiting

Ok so after getting some great emails and reading more I am eager, eager, eager.  June 10 seems and eternity away LOL. I even asked my husband if I could call to see if they could move the surgery forward a few weeks.  He is nervous so he didn't feel that was such a good idea.  Thank you to all my friends and my new blogger friends.  I want to just start so I feel better and I can see some progress. 

Lap Band

I am about 3 Weeks away from surgery and getting very nervous.  I have fought my weight all of my life and it has effected my health.  Up and down on diets, people criticizing what you eat, everyone tells you to "Just Excercise"   -  I wish all of those things were that easy.  I have a wonderful husband who is very supportive and 3 beautiful children who I want to be around for in the future.  I am excited to say that my surgery has been approved and it is scheduled for June 10.  I am very sad that I will be missing an annual Memorial Golf Tournament for one of our dear, dear friends that we lost, however I know he would tell me to get my butt in there and take care of myself. 

I want to play softball again, take a walk without hurting, buy clothes that look good and take a picture without dreading when it gets developed.  The picture on my blog is one of the pictures that my husband had us take as a family for Mothers Day.  I loved everything he went through to get us together and on a day away to the ocean for family pictures however I just dreaded them coming in, unfortunately digital makes this a much quicker process LOL.  I told him before you hang a family picture please give me a year to change how I look!  Well the journey will begin in 3 weeks. YIKES!! 

I feel like my biggest fight will be with myself because I love to cook and feed everyone!  Well here is to new beginnings and progress with better health! Any advise is appreciated and I appreciate all of the posts that not only help encourage but also symptoms to be prepared for after surgery.

Here is to a New Beginning and many more years with my Husband, Children, Friends & Family!!