My FIRST before and now pictures!!

In a few days I'll be at the four month post op mark.  Oh....what a whirlwind this has all been!  I'm so grateful to have "met" each and every one of you, whether you're my family/friend/blogger friend, thanks!

BYOC!!

Bring Your Own Crazy!

It’s Friday and time for BYOC – Bring Your Own Crazy! A couple of questions we answer to get to know each other better and to give our blogging brains a break. 

1. When did you begin blogging? Do you plan to do it a long time or do you think you’ll stop after a while? 

My first blog was at the end of June, 2011 (a few days before surgery).  I'll continue as long as I can.  No plans to stop anytime soon.

2.  What do you enjoy more - blogging yourself or reading other’s blogs?

I like to express my thoughts/concerns/victories, but I love reading about others' as well.  Sometimes reading about what others have been/are going through helps me to stop whining about my own struggles. I get PMS (poor me syndrome) too frequently.  Suck it up, Amy.

3.  What’s the biggest thing blogging has taught you? Biggest surprise about blogging?

Blogging has helped me to discuss Lap Band and other related issues in a private (yet public way).  My biggest surprise has been the amount of support that I get -- when I screw up, I know that someone will tell me they've screwed up, too.  We've all been through the scary times, the fun times, and I think we all wonder about the future.

4.  Have you met any other bloggers in real life – solely because of your blog or theirs?

Yep - Kellibelliband!  We both had the same surgeon and we're about a month apart with our surgery dates. It's fun to know people that are a year out, 6 months out, 2 days out...etc.  In the next few months, I'm hoping to have a small group of bandsters over to my house for a get together.  

5.  Does your blog have a general theme as in one topic or do you cover everything and anything?

My blog is like my brain...completely random.  It is mostly weight related stuff, I don't blog about my personal life too much.  Probably too boring!

6.  Are you public or anonymous? Whichever you are – do you ever wish you were the other?

I'm public, and I don't wish I was anonymous, but really, either way is fine with me.

7.  What’s your best blogging advice for a new blogger?

Blog for yourself.  Blog what bothers you, blog what you're proud of, blog what scares you.
8.  Does anyone in your real life read your blog/know it’s address? Do you wish they would or wouldn’t?

A few family members and a few friends have the URL to my blog.  Let's see.....my mom & dad and four long time friends.  My dad is always on top of it and sometimes we talk about my blogs on the phone.  He is my #1 supporter.    Not sure about friends, but *hug* I know you read sometimes when you have time.  Some I told before my surgery, some after.  No rhyme or reason, I just didn't want people worrying about me or saying something about the surgery that might make me fly off the handle.  Once I had the surgery, I told them and they were all super supportive.

9.  Do you enjoy blogging or do you view it as a chore? How often do you blog?

I have a hard time keeping up on weeknights, so a lot of my blogs are on the weekends.  I've never viewed it as a chore - it helps me keep my sanity.
10.  Do you tell people in your real life that you blog? Or keep it a secret?

Only people that I really trust know my blog address.  Others might know I have the band, but I don't choose to share my blog with them.

Smile in My Mailbox!

There are times that I feel totally alone in this battle.  There are times that I can't see the end.  There are times that I feel like no one understands how difficult this journey is.


Today I opened my mailbox and found a greeting card from a friend.  I couldn't figure out why.  It isn't my birthday, no one died ...  I'm not sick...hmmmm.  I opened the card to find the kindest, most thoughtful paragraph.

Amy,
I just wanted you to know how excited I am for you with your recent weight loss.  All the things you are doing to change your life are truly amazing and I am so happy for you.  I wanted to give you something really special to celebrate your first milestone at 50 pounds.  Here's a little something to go buy yourself something extra special. Enjoy! You deserve it!

Inside I found a gift card to Lane Bryant.  Reading some other blogs lately has opened my eyes to how important support is.  I don't need 25 friends that don't give a crap.  I need a few great friends that know how very hard I am working to become healthy again.  The most ironic thing is that the person that sent me the card has never struggled with being overweight.  I think it almost makes it more special.

Nominations!!

Versatile:  ver-sa-tile [vur-suh-tl] or, especially British, [vur-suh-tahyl]:  capable of, or adapted for, turning easily from one to another various tasks, fields of endeavor, etc.:  a versatile writer.
Word information source:  www.dictionary.com
Here is how the award works:
1.  You thank the person who presented you with the award.
2.  You tell 7 things about yourself.
3.  You award 15 other newly discovered bloggers (okay, I'm doing 3 because I'm short on time)

Thank you Brenda for my nomination!

My nominations:
1) Kelli (we got to meet in real life, way cool)
2) Brenda (she's sending me jeans, I love her!!)
3) Elizabeth (I hope to meet her, we live in the same town)

Seven Things About Amy
1) I love dogs! I have two, a male and a female - polar opposite personalities
2) My dad helped me pay for my surgery.  He didn't give me a band, he gave me back my life.  I Love you.
3) This year I'm going to be Bob Ross for Halloween.  I'll post pictures ;)  Remember him?  The painter on PBS? I have an afro wig and everything.
4) I once sent a text message to a student's mother that said "Okay Dike" instead of "Okie Dokie" - stupid auto correct!  Luckily she was understanding and laughed! I then disabled the auto correct.
5)  I'm a control freak. I'm also a teacher for K-1, which is sometimes very tricky to balance!
6) I love fruits (especially watermelon)
7) The house I bought came with a hot tub out back and I LOVE IT!  I refer to it as my "aquatic utopia."

Smiles at Lane Bryant !

I thought I had dropped from a 26 to 24 in my pants size....until I went to the LB Outlet today.  In jeans, I'm now a 24 (can't stand tight jeans).  In dress slacks, I'm a 22.  And in shirts, well....18/20.  Seriously!  I was a 28 or 3x before.  I was amazed.  


You know what, blogland?  I HAVE CURVES AGAIN.  It has been years since I felt good about new clothing.  The biggest change that I noticed was that the shirts fit me correctly now.  In the past, I had to buy larger shirts to fit the tummy part but I never had enough boobs to fill up the top.  I always had to hold my shirt against my chest when I leaned forward at a table when teaching.  Although my poor ladies are much smaller now, the shirts fit snugger and more appropriately.  Dad, I know you're reading this, so - sorry about the boob talk.  ;)


I also noticed something today.  I'm a happy eater.  I knew I was a sad eater (eat more=feel better?!), but today I was so happy after I left LB that I happy ate.  Seriously, Amy?  You just celebrated the biggest clothing NSV and you're EATING?  White cheddar popcorn?  Empty calories?  Duuuuh.  Okay, so I've identified another food behavior that I've got to change.


I'm not having hunger issues at all.  It took quite a few fills for me to learn what I'm supposed to feel like, but I'm here, baby.  Greeeeeeeeeen Zoooooooone.

Band Drama ... but a good NSV

My last fill was about a week ago and I've felt fine since.  I puked in the morning yesterday (stupid me, band was too tight for breakfast and I didn't realize it until it was too late).  I then ate my lunch at work too fast and had a nasty puking episode.  Duh.  I took it easy for dinner, which went down fine (chicken sausage).  This morning I tried to eat breakfast and BAM, puking.  Nonstop puking.  Couldn't keep any liquid down and decided to go get an unfill before work.  Thank goodness the office is open at 7am on Friday (only day it is open that early!).  I rushed in, got 1/4 cc removed, drank my tiny cup of water, felt better, and was only 5 minutes late to work.  Dang, Amy!

So....1/4 cc doesn't sound like much fluid removed, but trust me, it was a world of different.  My best guess is that breakfast yesterday was the problem and I was semi-stuck.  I think things just spiraled out of control with each meal.  This was by far the "worst" episode since banding.  Not to be repeated ANYTIME soon!!!  I do not enjoy the feeling of severe chest pain and feeling like I cannot breathe!

Okay, so not to only post negative stuff, I have another NSV!  Down another size in my pants!  Went from 28 to 26, and now 26 to 24.   WOOT WOOT!!!  My coworker told me today that my pants were "so loose in the butt I can't even see your butt!"   hahahahaha!!!

Aye!

Until today, I've never gotten "stuck" or PB'd outside of my home.  Today I ate lunch at my desk, super fast, and WHAM.  My mouth filled with slime and my eyes bugged out.  Thank goodness I teach Special Education and know sign language because I had to sign to my co-worker!  I made it to the bathroom and -GO FIGURE-, there was someone in the stall next to me.  I waited what seemed like an eternity to lose the lunch, then back to business.  So my secret is out at work - I had to tell my co worker that I was fine and not actually "sick."

The fill that I had a week ago has really taken effect - I haven't been hungry or wanted to eat much at all this week, and the scale is reflecting it.  I'm not getting the protein that I need, but I'm working on that.  My shipment from Netrition.com came with some yummy "special" treats that are protein rich.  I'll blog more about that later :)  For now, I'm just happy to be home after an eventful day at work.  As a side note, right after the PB episode, one of my students apparently purposefully peed on another in the bathroom.  Sigh...never a dull day!