Long Time No Bloggy

Ahem - Miss Late Blogger here.

Two things have kept me away.

1) Fun in Life

2) Scale Frustrations

I will start with #1.

Life has been great. Weather is amazing, friends have been visiting from Michigan and we get to play tourist often when people come into town.

Saturday we went to L0ng B0at Key.  We spent time at the pool and went to a restaurant with them for a very expensive dinner which should have been foodie heaven.  Instead, every course I kept saying to myself I can cook better. Disappointing but at least the company was fantastic.

Sunday we woke up early and went on the boat. I was able to get a nice base tan and relax. I packed smart food accordingly but I admit I had too many cheese calories.

Sunday evening with the Evening with Anthony B ourdain and C hef Eric R!pert.  Good Gawd, Gorgeous those two.  Oof.  It was a really fun evening.

We started at a spot called Taps.  It has 3 walls of wine on tap and you can make your own flights or have full pours. They also had a really nice tapas menu. We ordered two tapas and I barely ate but I did partake in 2 glasses of wine pre-show. 

After the show, we all regrouped and went back since it was across the street from the Performing Arts Center and we didn't all want to move our cars.

More wine - More tapas. LeSigh! 

This brings me to # 2

Today - So So So back on the good girl wagon. However, my first fill didn't really do much and I can still eat too large a portion and I don't have to chew like a Bandster. That's how I know it hasn't helped.  I can eat exactly like I did previously but I choose not to.

I do get full easier but there is zero restriction.  Z-E-R-O. I hate dieting.

So today -
Late Brekkie:  2 poached eggs, Turkey Bacon
Lunch: Nada since Brekkie was late
Dinner:  3 oz of Grilled Mahi Mahi, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Roasted kale, Spinach Salad with Strawberries and goat cheese
Snack:  Skim Milk & Protein bar

Under calories, low fat, met my protein, low carb.

I have been active and working out and walking but not in a gym. Maybe I need to do so.

I booked another fill. I am scheduled for late April but decided to book for Monday.

I am heading to D Isney W0rld on Thursday and didn't want to be on liquids and get stuck while there.  I am just heading up on Wed evening, staying in my parents condo they booked and then hanging at the park on Thursday and maybe Friday.  I am hoping to get a TON of steps in.

It looks like everyone is having much better scale outcomes than I am so I am happy for everyone. I am hoping mine cooperates SOON!!!!

Some Fun Pics from the past few days:

Our boat with pups

 








Before Bourdain Show
Top:  Z, Moi, Nicola (friend since high school), Her Mister Philip & Bobby (also high school).

Bottom: Moi & Nicola

(Nic and I have our 20th reunion in July - we both think we are aging well LOL)

My new walking routine - one of my favorite walking spots



The bottom half won't budge!! 





10 Late Things Slipping into Friday

So late on this but I decided to post anyway... It's still Thursday on the West Coast ;)  Thank you Laura!!

1)  I have a wedding in April. I bought this dress from a wonderful site called Eloquii. They are owned by The Limited and have some really nice clothes. I bought it in a 16 as a pipe dream thinking I would hopefully fit into it.  Well it arrived yesterday and zipped up and fit wonderfully.  I am just not sure if I am keeping it because the ruching is more than I desire and it adds a bit of fabric. Maybe get it tailored, not sure. But the fabric is gorgeous and it zipping up and fitting was monumental.

2)  I am excited for tomorrow evening. Z & I are going to happy hour and dinner at a new restaurant downtown called Tryst. We are meeting up with some friends and then we are all heading to a play at a local theatre. We try and attend every show because the productions are incredible with a lot of amazing talent.  Tomorrow is a play called Rip.Tied - the set looks insane. They built a massive water structure with a half submerged house floating in it. It is supposed to be Katrina, Nawlins', voodoo based. 

3)  Saturday is St. Paddy's Day.  One of my favorite liver splurging holidays. I am making a slow cooked Corned beef in Guinness, with potatoes and leeks, homemade Irish soda bread and lots of good drinks. A few friends are stopping over and then we are headed downtown for some debauchery. Not sure if I can eat any of it but if I do, it's fattening so I need to limit myself big time.
Here are my Irish pups for a day:

The poodle did have a green boa on but she took it off. 

4) Tonight I found out that Anthony Bourdain and Chef Eric Ripert are coming to Tampa for a show. My favorite foodie heaven restaurant posted a major discount code and I jumped on them. So next Sunday, I will be only a few rows from their hotness.  :) 

5) Z goes to a big conference next week and I am flying solo. I need to get some girl nights lined up and get my ass-a-crackin more in the gym.  That means, easy meals and more free time.  It's fun to be single for a few days but I get weirded out alone in the house.

6) I went and bought Easter baskets for my family and about 10 bags of candy.  I really felt weird buying all of it. It's been sitting in my spare room and I see it daily and none of them have even interested me in opening them. 

7) More tickets - Janes Addiction.   Yes indeed - we are going to see them in Tampa and Orlando.  We are food and music whores, can you tell?

8)  I am excited because tomorrow my new Netflix DVDs arrive. Both Season 1 & Season 2 of FANTASY ISLAND - yes you read that correctly - will be here.  I am OVER THE MOON to watch them. It was my fave show as a kid.

9) I went to a department store today and for giggles tried a bunch of regular sized dresses on.  That was a wake up girl. Get my big arse back to the plus.  Body is not ready yet.

10) Netflix on demand has a TON of fitness videos. I have been using them this week and I found a Pilates for Weight Loss DVD that I LOVE. I can actually do it and I feel it. 

Fun with Food!

So I think my eating has been pretty clean lately and I am proud of what has been going in my body.  I aim for all organic sustainable food.

I am focusing on healthy proteins and greens. I haven't bought bread in eons and actually don't miss it. This was a big weakness of mine previously.

I have been experimenting with "mini" recipes and using my muffin tin often. I use it for mini turkey meatloaf, mini lasagnas, mini Mexican meals and today, a divine brunch option of mini crustless quiches.

Low Fat, Low Carb, High Protein, Perfect portion sized

I also wanted to post one of my favorite dinner ideas.  You will be able to see that I eat, I eat well and I don't live off of water to the advice of my surgeon ;)

Grilled 3 oz salmon with spices over chopped spinach, chopped cabbage, grape tomatoes, red raspberries and goat cheese.  Yumbo!

Quack, Quack, Quackery

Paging Dr. Quack

First off - thank you to everyone for responding yesterday and today about my surgeon and the lack of nutritional guidelines I have.

I think I am doing ok and not going by that advice.  I just wanted to hear from others on amounts of protein I should be going after. 

I definitely get my water in and I am 99% most of the days on target for protein. I even just ordered protein shots as a just in case scenario to have them as backup.

I think I am ok.. and I am eating VERY healthy. No processed foods, all organic and I still add some fruits when I want and crave them.  This is for life, I am not going to NOT have something for the rest of my life, especially healthy antioxidant berries.

But again, thank you everyone for your experiences, input, perspective and comments.  They help and guide me and make sure I am not crazy!! 


On another note - I found my old Weight Watchers booklet.  I thought I was at my lowest weight but I realized I am not.  As of today, I am 232.  When I quit WW (before I gained and rejoined) - my lowest was 224.8 at 30 pounds loss. (By the way - It took me from March until October to reach 30 pounds - CRAZY!!!)

So my new mini goals are as follows:

10 pounds for month of March (I am currently at 7).
224 to get to lowest WW weight
216 to get to weight that Z met me
199 to get to Onederland for the first time since I was around 18/19.  I can't even fathom this right now but KNOW I WILL!!! 

Pretty good mini's I think and very motivating for me. I will make the next goals as I get close to seeing a ONE at the beginning.

Is my Doctor a Kook?

Something is bothering me and I want to get as many people's experience as possible on this blog.

It helps me with other successful banders to know if my Doctor is amazing or a full on Klucky Kook.

Yesterday I mentioned I went to my Doctor for my first fill.

He did not tell me how many cc's because he doesn't want me hung up on the number. He just pointed to a chart and showed me the tightness he was aiming for.

I have previously mentioned that my office doesn't have a nutritionist I am supposed to meet with. Just my surgeon and a nurse on site besides the staff.

With that said, I asked him how many grams of protein I should aim for daily. He said none and laughed.

I was a bit confused.

He said, to aim to eat zero. If I could live off water alone, then do it.  I know he was over exaggerating and I said a bit snarky, "Well that isn't going to happen".

He then showed me his hand and pointed to his palm and said:  "Eat this amount per meal". "Keep it small"  "Eat protein first and then a veggie".

He wants me to stay away from fruits.

OK I get all that... 

But he doesn't have ANY nutritional goals daily.  His focus is just getting weight off. Period.

I may be overweight but I am actually a very healthy eater for the most part. I am a veggie fanatic. I want to do this the healthy and correct way not the starve myself mentality.

So I left a bit mad.

He is a very nice man in general. He is reassuring and he has A LOT of experience. He isn't a fly-by-night practice, He isn't part of the 1-800 gimmick, He RUNS the Center of Excellence for the hospital.

So with all that said, How in the world can he tell a patient my goal is eat as little as possible and survive on water alone if I can.

WHAT THE??? 

Thoughts please - Let them fly! 

Sunshine and CC's!

Happy Monday everyone! I am a bit behind on reading and commenting for the last few days but will try to do so this evening.

I had a nice weekend with the bachelorette event.  Cocktails, Lazy days, beautiful sunshine and a lot of teen stalkers.  Apparently Sal ena Go mez and J ustin B iebe.r and some girl from the show G LEE were staying at our hotel.  They are in town filming a movie called Spring Break. A friend noticed the girl from G LEE and took a pic with her and I had no clue who she was LOL.    

Anyways - I came home yesterday and I went on the boat with Z all day.  The weather was stunning and we drove all around and I was able to read and get a nice start to my base tan. I try and do it slowly since I use sunscreen and have a lot of sun here in Florida.

Today was a new experience for me.  I went and had my first fill!!  I was SO nervous but it was NOTHING.  They numbed with me the spray and I had no idea he even had the needle in.  I didn't feel it at all, not even pressure.  When he gave me water to drink, that was the odd part. The water was in my throat tight and he would remove a little at a time for the water to go down.

I am a bit bummed I don't know how much but I think I eavesdropped as I was leaving and he was transcribing notes that it's 3.5 cc's.  My next fill appointment is in April as soon as I am back from Chicago. I had the option to get the fill the week before but I opted to wait.

I want to eat, drink, be merry and not be tight in Chicago (within reason) but I don't want to be worried about PB'ing and getting stuck or having a tight travel band.

I am on liquids for today and tomorrow. I had some soup when I got home and very little stuffed me. I love it!  I hope it lasts me a little bit.

Tonight I will be exercising so I am hoping the scale does some good budging downward this week!!

I didn't take many pictures but others did and I haven't seen them yet. Here are a few off of my phone:

From left:  Friend since high school, Me, Bride - also known since high school, and far right friend since elementary school.  Long time friendships!!

The bride when the room service snacks were ordered as people were arriving.

The three pics above were outside having cocktail and an early dinner

Food porn - Grouper sliders.  My friend ordered them and I took a tiny bite and omg yum. I was a good girl and had grilled salmon, nice salad and a lot of wine and champage. See where my priorities are?

Me in the limo waiting on the girls.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Happy Anniversary!

Friday marks 6 years that Zack and I have been together. 

Happy Anniversary to my living-in-sin partner!

We met when neither of us was looking, that's always how it happens right?? 

It hasn't always been perfect, but it's never been boring. We have travelled all over together, seen some amazing sites & discovered our shared loves of many things!

He has been my #1 cheerleader thru this band which surprised me.

he & i:

Ten Things Thursday

Ten things Thursday, brought to us by the lovely Laura

1) I am starving right now.  Sorry this didn't open nicely but the rumbling is on my mind.  With that said, I have amazing Indian chicken that has been marinating in Greek yogurt with Indian spices in the oven. Normally we grill the chicken but my mister is the grill master and he is still at work.   I will be pairing it with sauteed spinach and roasted brussel sprouts.

2) I have been sick since Monday. Like SUPER sick.  Severe chest cold/Upper Respiratory Infection and a ton of asthma. I am on a dose of Zithromax. My PCP thinks because I didn't finish my last pack which was the week of surgery, it has come back with a vengeance. With that said, I BETTER BE BETTER BY SAT MORNING FOR GIRL'S WEEKEND - See Previous Blog Post

3)  Have you all seen the KONY 2012 Video and massive effort on F-book?  What do you think about it? A ton of exposure for something that is a definitely a horrible plight against children.   There is a lot of talk and speculation about the charity in charge so I am unsure how to think. Awareness is a good thing I think.
As much as I have issues with many of our own US policies, I am thankful I wasn't born in a 3rd world country or in a country that is war torn. How do you ever have a chance in life?

4) Since I went serious, I will be serious again.  Every day on the news, they are discussing a lot of random public shootings.  At hospitals, schools, gov't buildings, etc..   Just seems like there have been a lot lately and it's disturbing.

5) Hell froze over today. Pat Robertson said he supports legalizing Marijuana.  What the?   Is it is opposite day?

6)  My poodle has stubby short legs (just like her human mom). She is extremely rambunctious and 2 yrs ago was SO excited from me returning from a 30 minute grocery trip (doesn't take a lot!), that she flew into a small step and dislocated her hip. We had to have massive surgery and she has a bionic hip on one side.   Well the past few days she has been hitting her other leg from being insane as well.  Dear Lawd Almighty, PLEASE don't let us repeat that vet experience.  Uggg - seeing her screaming AND the 2k vet bill El-Sucketh!
Last night I had an ice pack on her hip and was massaging her leg as I was hacking up my lungs.  We are fun!

7) Why didn't I think of creating Spanx?  That woman who invented them grew up super close to my house and knows mutual friends and now the bish is a multi billionaire.  I need to invent something.

8)  I am getting REALLLLLY exciting about next months trip to Chicago. We are planning amazing Jazz clubs and really fab foodie dinners.  I will be down 30+ by then I hope so I have NO seatbelt plane fears anymore - WOO HOO

9) Tomorrow is Z (my mister) and my anniversary.  We aren't married, we both tried that once but may do it again in so many years. Right now I am ok how just living in sin ;)   I will have a bigger love post tomorrow about it with some fun pics. It's all typed up in draft.

10)  SEND ME SOME HEALING VIBES. I need to get rid of this funk so we can have our fabu Anniversary evening tomorrow and the wonderful girl's weekend on Sat/Sun.

Girls Weekend Here We Come!

I have mentioned a few times of my girlfriend who is getting married in April.  I went to her shower 2 weeks ago and this weekend marks her Girl's Bachelorette Weekend !

We have a few suites booked here:

The hotel was built in 1925 and is downtown on the waterfront. There is a massive old veranda with rocking chairs and a bar inside and out.  Saturday we will be having cocktails, pool time, a spa session,  gourmet dinner and then jumping in a limo and hitting a few nightspots.


Sunday is brunch and more pool time and I am so looking forward to it!

I wish I was down a bit more weight since all of my girlfriends are pretty small. Oh well, I have know some of them since high school and the rest are pretty sweet and amazing.  Only a few know of my surgery and the rest do not.  Pretty perfect timing that I don't have my fill until Monday so I can enjoy myself without worry.

Up and Down - I like it DOWN baby!

Thank you everyone for all the wonderful comments and helping me get thru this phase of figuring this bandster hell stage.  It does help!!

Saturday marked one month since surgery!  I can't believe how quick it flew by!

Sunday I got ahold of my hairdresser and was able to get a non normal appointment.   My hair is growing SO quickly from taking 7500mcg of biotin.  My highlights from about 2 1/2 weeks ago were already growing out big time.

I went in and did something a lot more drastic.  She added caramel, deep red, honey and touched up the blonde.  It's darker and richer and will help my hair as it grows so quick.  I love it!

Last night was my sister in laws birthday and my family got together for a dinner at a Mexican restaurant.

I have not seen anyone in my family except my mom and nana and they all were extremely loving and full of compliments.  I was also able to fit into a pain of "skinny jeans"  my mom gave me about a year ago.  Preband, I wasn't able to get them past my knees. They are a size 17/18 which is a juniors plus.

Last night, they fit, buttoned and zipped and I wore them to dinner. I couldn't believe I was wearing them!  My 22 jeans I can now pull off with them zipped and buttoned right off my hips so I am ecstatic my ass is starting to budge!!! :) 

Now Friday and Saturday I felt like I could eat a horse.  Yesterday was such a different experience.

I had one muscle milk for breakfast. I had a low fat mozzarella string cheese at lunch and when we went to dinner with my family, I ordered a tiny cup of black beans and a side salad with the hopes I could snag a bite or two off of everyone since I wasn't very hungry. I also had half a glass of sangria. It was 2:4:1 but I gave the other to my nana.

The food came, I took about 4 bites of chicken from my mom, 2 teaspoons of the black beans and couldn't even look at the salad and felt Thanksgiving stuffed.  I brought two gorgeous bar cakes that in preband days, I could have eaten two wopping pieces.  One is called a tuxedo cake and the other was a layered strawberry shortcake type cake.  I took one bite of each and was done. 

Weird how yesterday I had total restriction and other days I was eyeing my poodle again.

I just went with it and today the scale finally jumped down. 

So I am just rolling with it and not going to stress anymore unless it flies up.  I get a fill one week from today so I can do this!!

I Think This Sums It Up Nicely...

Lisa needs a fill!! 

I think this ecard sums it up quite well.  I saw a nice drop on the scale yesterday when I woke up. I had the healthiest and perfect breakfasts and lunches.

Last night I had my monthly girls night with a group that I have known for many years. We went to a great restaurant called Kon a G r ill. They have an excellent menu. I ordered lettuce wraps and chicken satay skewers.  I had two out of the 6 skewers with this wicked yummy spicy Asian cabbage slaw.
I know it had to have been fatty because it tasted so damn good.  I also made two chicken lettuce wraps and left almost the whole bowl. 

Then the wine kept being ordered and I of course can't say no!  I had 3 glasses over a 7 hour period.  For me, this is good...  I would have had a lot more preband.   

But then they ordered 3 desserts for the group to share.  Red Velvet cake, a sinful brownie and key lime pie. I skipped the red velvet, took one bite of the brownie and a thin sliver of the key lime.  

Every bite I felt guilt but it didn't stop me. I downed about 5 large glasses of water when I got home but I of course woke up this morning with a pound gain. 

Bastard evil scale! 

I behaved today and even skipped going out with a group of friends because I know I would drink.

I think if I could have club soda with lime, I can pretend it's a cocktail since I love vodka sodas.  I am not a regular "cola" drinker at all and in fact don't drink sodas except for club.   So for now, I have stuck to wine and wine is showing me that she isn't my friend.

Oh well - all a learning process.

But none the less, I had a great time with my ladies and here is some of the evidence. 

I am in the white dress

Me with the Santa Marg arita Pin ot Gr ig io - the culprit of the 1 pound gain!

BYOC

Brought by the fabulous Drazil to let us rest our Friday blog brains!

Bring Your Own Crazy!

1.  Since I talked about psychics this week - I'm curious....if you could see one for free and you could only ask one question - what would it be?

 

I am not psychic opposed and have been a few times in my life. I take some with a grain of salt and other times, I have been freaked the hell out with how spot on they were with very strange things they have mentioned. Typically I don't ask questions, I sit and listen and see what they are going to tell me.

 

2.  What's your favorite ice cream flavor and topping?

 

I am more of a gelato whore versus an Ice Cream fiend. My fave flavor is French Caramel with Flueur de Sel (sea salt).  Sweet & Salty - Mmm

3.  What's your preferred method of working out?  DVDs, an external gym, gym inside your home, classes?

 

I enjoy the Wii and I also enjoy Zumba classes. I get intimidated at the gym so it's not my fave. My all time fave is swimming (I live in FL so we can be in the pool a lot in the year). 

In the pool, I enjoy laps but I also love going in the deep end and treading water and sprinting in place.  It really gets your heartbeat up, it's low impact on your joints and you feel it. A top running athlete taught me this a few years ago.

4.  If you work outside the home or if you ever did or will in the future - do you think it's better/easier to work with men or woman?  Who do you work mostly with now?

 

I telecommute and have for years but when I used to work in an office, I really enjoyed women who were friends not managers typically.  But I love working with guys..   They are usually less drama and caddy.

5.  Repeat question.  Summarize your week in real life and in blog land.

 

In real life:  Fun week thus far.  Went to Radiohead on Wed night and had an incredible time. 

Tonight, I have a girl's night with some of my beautiful and fabulous friends.  They haven't seen me since I have lost 25 pounds and only one out of the group knows I had Lapband surgery.  Should be interesting.

 

I just received my Biggest Loser for Wii and ChaLean dvds in the mail today so I guess I need to do them!

 

In Blog Land:  I am excited to see the BOOBs 2012 being mentioned in so many blogs. I SO WANT TO GO!!!   Also - excited for Chris who was banded today and she is heavily on my mind!

Best Wishes for my Friend Chris!

Tomorrow is the day my friend is getting banded.  I remember the day before and the day of - here in blogland - seeing others giving me shout-outs and it just really touched me.

This is like our own secret society and a safe place to share our struggles and wins and it just made me smile on the inside and out.

I want to do the same for the people who inspire me daily.

So tomorrow is Chris' time to shine. She will be banded and joining us on the bad banded bitch side :)

May you have the easiest surgery, the skinniest liver, no pain, no gas and the quickest recovery!

I will be thinking of you!! 

If you don't know Chris - go check her out here:  bandedintheburgh