My fifteen minutes starts now…

My fifteen minutes starts now…

Jan 08

I can’t tell you much but I can let you know that I’ve been selected to be on a TV gameshow! It’s actually a crafting competition. Filming is very VERY soon. I will let you know more details when I can.

Super psyched!

So what do you eat anyways?

So what do you eat anyways?

Jan 03

If I’ve said it before I’ve said it a million times. I’m a year out from surgery and probably should take a moment to reflect on where I’m at as far as my eating. So today I decided to take pictures of what I ate so you and I would both understand a bit better then seeing me write it out.

B-fast in the car while driving to work (6:45): One Premier Protein Drink

Lunch (11:30): I didn’t prepare to be honest so I just bought a school lunch
Before

After

Snack (4:30): low fat (not non-fat I can’t stand it) cottage cheese with a bit of sea salt

I also had a fat pinch of shredded cheese as I put back the cottage cheese container but I didn’t take a picture of that
I was FREEZING so I jumped into bed while I waited for my baby and husband to get home and decided I might need more calories
Snack (5:15): Cinnamon Sugar Graham Cracker

My husband was craving some Korean food so we went out to try a Korean place in Denton I read about on Yelp. It wasn’t very good to be honest I ordered the bulgogi.

Dinner (7:00): Bulgogi, Rice (very little) tofu and one small piece of candied potato

I split the order with my very VERY hungry son

And this is what was left. Honestly I know my son ate more then me

Then I came home and ate two marshmallows

On top of that I drank probably six glasses of water. Water is my struggle.
So that’s my day as far as food is concerned.
I didn’t workout tonight. I have something going on with my knee and I don’t want to press it and jack it up anymore.

Jawbone: the good the bad and the more bad

Jawbone: the good the bad and the more bad

Jan 02

So not that you need to know but my husband is a technology junky….actually that’s being to kind.  Anything that is within the walls of my home must be able to connect to something else. Computers  talk to each other without letting anyone know. At any point in time zeros and ones are streaming into other ones and zeros and all this while getting cross matched and backed up. Once you cross over the threshold of my home you can feel your fillings vibrate with the potential energy of the next big thing in the internet just bursting out of the rooftop and spilling out onto the primitive world below.    

When we met I was a nature loving hippy child without a care in the world. Overalls and flipflops-I’m not saying it was pretty- we all have pasts you know. So just picture it me with no phone, no tv, no real goals, I was an art making hippy dripping with patrulli oil and a lackluster view on government. My simple goal was to make soap on some mountain top and commune with nature as much as possible. Well now five years into our marriage he has slowly carefully manipulated me into a person who can’t live without it. I see my iphone as an extension of my soul.

What’s my point?

We bought the latest technology who-ha in weightloss. It’s called the Jawbone from Up. I use it with my iphone.  I was very excited about it when I found out about it. I almost brought out the jazz hands mind you. Just check out the commercial.  

I know what you are saying. You are saying you would like to be a non-speaking white person too right?? It’s a bit zombie-ish I’ll give you that but it does a nice job showing off what this little thing can do for you while being pretty noninvasive to your lifestyle.

So we pre-ordered two of them and waited…..and waited and waited. We finally got them in the same day they announced that they were having major problems with the technology. They introduced a “no questions asked” rebate to everyone who ordered one which was a nice way to say “sorry it sucks”. It took about a week and a half for my first one to bust. I’m now on my second Jawbone- hopefully this one works out a bit better.

 

It’s a pedometer, sleep monitor and food log all in one. Did I mention it even wakes you up?? Ya, crazy I know. Visually on the edge of  “what the heck is that” and minimalistic jewelry. I went with the black. You take pictures of your daily meals, upload them and rate them two hours later based on how you feel. So far it’s been great (when it works) I find that mine has a hard time holding a charge (and I’m on my second one) for an extended amount of time – it can’t make it an entire day without a recharge. My husband has had to reset it a few times for me.

One of the features that I like about it is that you form “teams” of people where you can check up on how people are doing and you can also set challenges (how many steps? how many glasses of water ect.) So I spy on what my husband eats and he checks out how hard I’ve been working out- kinda nice, kinda big brother.

All in all- even with all of the problems I still like it. I realize it has some major problems. I want to see where the developers push this towards next because I know it will be a winner for me. If you get one and would like to be on my team please let me know.

 

A year (plus some) in photos: what does 97lbs look like?

A year (plus some) in photos: what does 97lbs look like?

Jan 01

So I went looking for photos for this post and I have two things to note
1. I don’t take pictures of myself very often
2. If I take pictures of myself they aren’t full body shots
You will need to use some imagination for this but here’s a year in review of my first year with the sleeve

January ’11 First snow for my son to play in

 

 

 

A happy gift from the people at Premier Nutrition

A happy gift from the people at Premier Nutrition

Dec 31

I got a nice little gift in the mail a couple of days back. The kind people at Premier Nutrition sent me a package with a selection of Titan cookies, some premiere protein vanilla drinks and a cute little stainless travel mug.

Isn’t that nice of them?
I love free stuff!

I must admit I’m not a big fan of protein bars but I do eat them when I’m traveling. I find them chalky and a bit medicine like for my taste. I haven’t really found one I like- so, I stick with the protein drinks and to be honest with you I drink the Premier Protein Chocolate. I buy a case of them at Costco about once a month. I drink it on the way to work and I’m 30g into my protein count for the day. Not bad for 6:00am.

Anyways….I’m getting distracted…..I tried one of the Titan Protein cookies (the peanut butter one) and it was…..it was……downright delightful. Yup, I’m telling you people it was downright good! So if you are in the store give it a try. At 10g of protein and 150 calories it’s not exactly a “lean” choice however I see them as a treat with a bonus. The come in packages of two so hold yourself back from eating both of them as a 300 calorie snack might just bite you on your ass.

Below I pasted some of the nutritional information I found off Premier Nutrition’s website

Here we are one year later

Here we are one year later

Dec 30

This blog hasn’t been a priority and I apologize if you actually read it on some sort of regular basis. What can I say- I work full time (plus more) and I have a young toddler my attention is shifted and rarely do I spare some me time to actually sit in reflection in front of a computer.
ANYWAY.

One year ago I was sleeved. I let a doctor and one sexy machine go in and trim up the old guts. It was the best decision I could have made for myself. I am healthier and happier. I have a new mindset (well I work on gaining a new mindset) towards positive growth in my life.

The year has brought challenges of course and forced me to address some of my inner emotional demons of how I cope with stress, being alone, boredom and other things I’m not comfortable in addressing at this point. I’ve just begun to stir up that fire.

I am happy and active in spurts and sad and lazy in spurts just like before.

I’ve stopped being the “crazy funny one” in exchange I’m finding myself more introspective and independent (could be me growing up). I’ve found myself being cruel to myself for no reason at times in reflection to my behaviors – mainly my foods of choice and I’m replacing that monolog with something a bit more productive.

I’m 97lbs lighter. Yes, I didn’t hit my 100lbs in one year goal. I could cry about this if I wanted to but honestly with my eating/working out behavior in the last month I didn’t deserve to loose that last couple of pounds. I was bad to myself and I know this. I don’t blame the holidays I blame loosing a bit of focus and being off my schedule mostly. But were getting sidetracked here a bit…..did I hear myself say 97lbs? Hell yes!

Apparently I lost a Demi Moore!
Hot damn!

I’ve lost 37.5 inches from my body.

That’s apparently the width of this bulls horns.
Isn’t the internet awesome?

I’m proud. Very proud of my successes. Much more to come in the new year.

I will keep you updated more often. But, that’s not a promise.

Making plans and taking action: Scuba

Making plans and taking action: Scuba

Dec 04

Well guys I have my first intro scuba class on Tuesday. So freaking excited I can’t tell ya. It’s one of the top things I wanted to do when I lost weight. I’m not at my goal by far. But, why would I want to wait to do the things I want to do?

My delusion that one day I will be Martha Stewart: Meal Planning

My delusion that one day I will be Martha Stewart: Meal Planning

Nov 25

Ok you got me. I’m a mess when it comes to things like meal planning.
I realize that meal planning is one of many keys to success with weight loss.

I can’t seem to sit down and actually write out a list of the things I want to eat for the week before I get in my car and go to the store.
Seems simple right? Well for me it’s near impossible to make that extra step….so I’m working on it

I saw this idea on pinterest

Instantly I was glamorized into thinking that I too could join the world of the hyper-organized.
Everything matched, how very Martha! Everything seems to be perfect. It’s SO within my grasp!
I could see myself swaying over with my pearls and heels and delighting in the glory of planning out a week…or (GASP) even a whole month of healthy choices for my family.

Wanting this little dream to be realized I ordered some magnetic sheets off Amazon here

I downloaded the forms online here I must note that I hated that you can’t alter the font but that’s the snob in me

Here are my pages if you would like to steal them

Printed it all out and stuck it all together and cut all the little bits and pieces out

Then I cleaned off this thing which was a catch-all thing in our laundry room serving no purpose what so ever. I bought it at IKEA years ago and I’ve been lugging it around ever since.

Anyways, it’s up- clean and ready for me to use…..well that was a month ago. So far I haven’t used it once. Lots of effort for no result.
I’m no Martha. But that’s ok- I don’t think she is either.

So…..what do you guys do to organize and plan your meals?

Choo Choo

Choo Choo

Nov 24

Something to think about this Thanksgiving for all my bariatric sisters and brothers as we sit closer to the table then we did last year.

I don’t know this lady but you can buy a copy of the print here Etsy in my crack addiction

Month 11: How you doin’

Month 11: How you doin’

Nov 23

So hello strangers.

I have neglected this site for sure. But, let me update you on my weight loss progress.
1. I’ve joined a 12 week support group which has been wonderful for cleaning out the shit in my head, planning on bigger goals that don’t involve the obsession with the size of my body and weight loss. For the most part, the topics are things I know and everyone knows (i.e. identifying barriers, eliminating barriers and stuff like that) but for some reason it really helps me to hear it again and again. Something is “clicking” with me when I go to these little meetings.
And believe me I’m not a “let’s all get together and share” type of person. I’m very private when it comes down to my deeper emotions. The stuff on the top no problem- but when you start digging into my brain I do everything but clam up.

2. I signed up for scuba classes and to get my scuba certification. My husband actually bought it for me for Christmas. Can’t wait for that. It’s something I always wanted to accomplish but I felt I was to heavy to wear a wetsuit. It’s amazing to me how I’ve held myself back from things I want to do over little things like “oh I won’t look good in this, or I’m afraid of what other people will think” what a crock.

3. I signed up for AND did my first 5K. Now mind you I didn’t run but I finished it never the less. It occurred to me while I was walking that I wouldn’t have even had a 5K as a goal a year ago.

4. I went on a cruise for my five year anniversary. It was fine but not what I expected to be honest. We will be trying it again after our little one gets a bit older. Basically for five days I chased him around the boat and got him ice cream. Fun but not relaxing one bit.

5. I’m making an effort to make each day valuable. Oh how nauseating! Yup, it’s true.

6. I’ve started going to a nutritionalist. She pointed out that I’m basically starving myself in the early morning and that’s why when I hit the house about 5-6 I binge eat whatever I can find until dinner. With that pep talk I’ve started packing larger lunches and a small snack (usually a cheese stick) for the way home. I also started cleaning for 15 minutes when I get home to avoid the kitchen – I think that works better then anything. Plus, someday I might be able to see my garage floor.

7. Speaking of garage floors. I’ve faced the truth to my overconsumption of everything. Shopping & eating. I am trying to make amends to this.

8. Meal planning. Im going to create a whole post over this because I believe it’s been helping me out quite a bit.

Total weight loss: 96 lbs yes, I’m sort of my 100lb goal for the year but I still have time. Even if I don’t hit the 100 mark I’m still doing well for myself. At month 7 I said I was down 93 lbs I was actually down 83 I noticed I made a mistake in my logging but never went back and corrected it. What can I say? Whoops!