Slight Unfill

I've had a nasty head cold for a week and a half, and although it is much better this week, I'm still not able to eat normally.  I went in today and got .25 removed, so hopefully I'll be able to get back to more meats soon.  I went back and forth about getting an unfill.  On one hand, I feel a bit like a failure, but on the other, for gosh sake, Amy, it is an adjustable gastric band for a reason!  Frickin get it adjusted and quit being uncomfortable!


I'm also getting a referral to a psychologist to discuss the, "my body is ugly" feelings.  I really hate feeling so critical of myself, but the sagging belly is sooooo bothering me.  It is causing low back pain, clumsiness and generally making movement more difficult.  Hopefully I can work through some of the issues so that I can still enjoy weight loss and getting back into shape.  Why?  Cuz there's more work that needs to be done!  


Whew.  I feel better.  Today was rough.  Thanks for reading my rant.

Updated Picture

First....the current me...

The old me...

Otis is not my friend. A blog about sagging skin.

91 pounds down.  I've decided to start dating after V-Day.


Here's my question...how am I supposed to feel good about myself when my body looks so terrible and saggy?  Within the last two months, things have gone south, literally.  My belly looks like a giant deflated balloon that has been rolled over by a truck several times.  I've named my belly Otis.


With clothes (spanx) on, I look fairly normal, just very chunky.  Clothes off and I look....well...terrible.  Who's going to find THIS sexy?  I take off my pants and this mystery monster of blubber (Otis) appears like a scene from a horror movie.  When I'm walking/working out/moving in general, Otis keeps moving even when I've stopped.  Ugh.


So here's my question for the veteran bandsters.  If you were single when you got banded, how did you approach dating?  I could care less if he knows about the surgery, but how/when do I reveal Otis?  I can cover up my arms fairly easily but Otis is difficult to hide.  Otis makes finding pants that fit appropriately a true challenge.  This morning the thought of wrapping duct tape under and all the way Otis to hold him in entered my mind.  Of course I wouldn't do that - but the thoughts are getting crazy.  If you had a partner at the time of surgery, how did/do they react to the body changes?


I have a feeling that Otis will be surgically removed once the WLS is over (quite a while out).  I never thought I'd need plastic surgery, but damn you, Otis.  Damn you!  No amount of exercise is going to make you go away.  BAH!

Altered Traditions!

Before My Lap Band

After My Lap Band

This year, after 33 years of celebratory birthday cake, I decided to break the tradition.  My 34th Birthday did not include cake.  Some traditions are okay to change. :)

Before and After

Before My Lap Band

After My Lap Band 

Yep - I can still occasionally eat thin crust pizza. This was a Red Baron pepperoni pizza.  I removed half of the pepperoni and put it in the freezer for another dish. I added turkey sausage for some more flavor.  I much prefer making my own, but sometimes I'll spring for a frozen one.

A cold and a lap band....oh my!

I had a nasty cold this past week.  This resulted in more weight loss.  How?  Well, my band is pretty darn snug right now.  The conjestion caused me to have very little appetite and also dramatically reduced the amount of food that I was able to eat.  I noticed this feeling when I had a cold a while ago, but this one was much worse.  I wasn't able to eat breakfast at all.  I managed to drink water and G2, but that was it.  Lunch was barely anything (1/4 cup of something mushy).  I was able to eat about 1/2 cup of mushy stuff at dinner.  


Hopefully I haven't screwed up my body/metabolism by being down for so many days.  I only made it to the gym last Monday for yoga, and the guilt is getting to me.  I've continued basic stretching and my sit ups and home, but not with the effort that I usually put forth.  Tomorrow I'll be back in the saddle.  Thanks to the cold, I lost three pounds in five days.  Yipes.  Hopefully it doesn't pile back on when I'm eating normally again!

7 Month Update & Current Goal

87 pounds down :)


that adds up to 304,500 calories that I've resisted since banding :)
a Butterfinger candy bar has 180 calories...so...a little math....and
I've resisted 1,691 snack size Butterfingers!

Starting Weight: 315
Current Weight: 228


Starting BMI: 50.8 (super morbidly obese)
Current BMI: 36.8 (severely obese)

Next major goal:  reduce weight to 215.
-BMI will be 34, which moves me from severely obese to just plain obese.
-marks 100 pounds lost