So far so good. . .getting back on track

My goal today is to avoid snacking!! 

8:30 am    Fage Greek yogurt with 1 cup strawberries
10:30 am  40 minute walk on treadmill at 4.0 incline and 3.5-3.6 mph
11:30 am  Protein shake (EAS Myloplex Lite in vanilla w/frozen strawberries)
2:00 pm    1 cup Southwestern Tortilla soup pureed with rotisserie chicken
4:00 pm    Tzo Passion fruit tea

I have to keep it going and take one day at a time. 

Fingers crossed this fill does the trick!

Got my fill yesterday - 1 cc so now I am up to 8.5 cc's.  I am not hungry but I really need to focus on the head hunger.  I still have the desire to eat.  So I need to get back in the losing mode because I know that will motivate me.  I was doing so well and then got caught up in PIZZA!  I am staying away from PIZZA and wine for now.  I do have plans on Saturday night and if I am good for the next couple of days I will allow myself 2 glasses of wine while out but must order grilled fish and vegetables and stay away from carbs. 

About to hit the treadmill. . . step 1. 

6 Pieces of Pizza - how is this possible???????

I was kicking a** - having lost 3 lbs on vacation - and was down 43 lbs in total - that was on Friday morning.  Fast forward to Monday and I was back up 5 lbs.  So what happened. . . PIZZA and wine.  Friday night I went out with a girlfriend in NYC - we went to see a show - the new Ben Stiller and Edie Falco drama which had excellent acting.  Before the show out for drinks and appetizers at Del Fresco Steakhouse.  I was pretty good and Saturday morning only up 1 lb. probably b/c of the drinks.  Saturday day was perfect but then out to dinner with my husband.  3 glasses of wine later - and one half a dessert - up another 1 lbs on Sunday.  I know most of this is water weight.  Sunday have a great day until dinner.  Driving home from my sisters house (I was alone with the boys) and my 6 year old had to go to the bathroom.  So stopped in a town (Greenwich) and went to a great Pizza place and of course I told the boys we would have dinner since I couldn't resist the pizza.  A glass of wine and 3 slices at the restaurant - they were thin crust.  But - and this is a WTF moment - 3 more slices as I was driving.  I don't know what got into me?????? Then I also finished my son's ice cream cone.  And all while driving.  I NEVER DO THAT ANYMORE.  But instead of allowing myself to get really setback - I made a fill appt for tomorrow. 

Today I was not so great - decided I was only going to eat Protein so had egg white omlette for breakfast and then for lunch had half of a Rotisserie chicken.  That is just way too much food for a bandster to be able to consume.  I don't get hungry but need to stop eating.  Has any of this happened to anyone else.  I have 7.5 cc's in my 10 cc band.  I am thinking she will give me 0.5 tomorrow and bring me up to 8.  The nurse that does my fills is pretty aggressive.  I never PB - not once and have only gotten stuck if I eat too fast and don't chew. 

I have to admit I am getting a little scared that the band isn't going to work for me.  I know it is just a tool and I have been working it but most of my weight loss has been from willpower and diet.  And prior to my gain - it took me over a month to lose those couple of pounds and I was feeling so good. 

So what is my strategy - not to stress over it - I am not failing - just had a little set back.  Hopefully satisfied my pizza craving for a while.  And - I do need to stay away from the wine because it lowers my inhibitions and I eat more. 

And I need to blog - I have been reading and commenting on all of your blogs but not posting.  Send some encouragement my way - has this happened to anyone else?????

xoxo  Susan

Airplane Outfit. . .leaving for Florida "Vacation" tomorrow

Hi everyone!  Things have been so hectic getting ready for our trip to Florida tomorrow.  I have finally settled on the outfit for the airplane above.  And also a new picture now that I am down 40 lbs.  It is a new Michael Kors sweater and jeans that I haven't worn in 3 years.  Now why am I stressing over my airplane outfit???  I always like to dress nice on the plane - you never know who you will run into (and I guess b/c I travel for business a lot) but also my parents will be picking us up and I have not seen them since October as I mentioned in a previous post.  So they didn't see me after I gained my final 10 lbs but also haven't seen me since my surgery.  Although I have now lost 40 lbs most of the summer I was about 30 lbs heavier putting on the last 10 in October/November. 
I am very excited to go down but it will not be a vacation without a babysitter.  And it is also a pretty busy time for me with work and I will be checking my blackberry.  One of these days I will take a REAL VACATION! 

It is the Jewish holiday of Passover and so we will have two big dinners called Seders on Monday and Tuesday.  It is one of my favorite holidays.  For the first one we are going to my cousin's house who I have not seen in a long time and I am so excited for her to see my boys and to hang out.  She has about 35 people over for dinner so it will by a bit crazy.  And I will be seeing some of my cousins and my Aunt and Uncle who I spent Thanksgiving with right after I decided on surgery so I was at my heaviest.  It will be interesting to hear what they say - my Aunt knows about the lapband but she promised not to tell my cousins. 

For the second night we are going to my parents club so they can show off their three grandsons.  So of course I have been stressing over what to wear.  Back in 2003 right when I met my husband I went down there for Passover and I remember talking to him on phone and being so excited.  8 years later and I am returning for the holiday with about 55 lbs (but down from 95), a husband, and three sons.  In 2003 I wore a gorgeous St. John black dress suit and high Manolo Blahnik heels.  Maybe next year I will be able to wear it.  Not sure what I will wear this year but not too worried.  I have a few sweater sets, nice black slacks and some fun wedge platform sandals.  I will post some pictures.  I wish I could figure out how to upload pictures from my iPhone directly to my blog.  If anyone can help with this please let me know. 

Interestingly I am not worried about the food while on vacation.  I bet I actually lose because I don't see myself snacking as much as I do when working at home. 

Off to finish packing. . .

Take care xoxo  Susan

Bad, Bad Blogger - losing and gaining the same 2-3 lbs

That's me - haven't been good about blogging lately which is what helps to keep me on track.  I have been reading and trying to post on all of yours lately though and it does still help.  Here I sit - between 38 - 40 lbs down (Saturday morning I saw 41 but now 39) and I keep losing and gaining the same 2-3 lbs.  The problem is I snack and "pick" on food especially in the mid afternoon.  Not a ton but still not good.  The extra calories I am eating doing this is what has to be stalling my weight loss.  I have been pretty good about exercising. 

I have an important short term goal - we are leaving for Florida to visit my parents next Wednesday, April 13th.  I have not seen them since way before my surgery.  They live in Florida for 9 months out of the year and usually visit in the fall or around the holidays but this year for some reason they didn't come up.  They have been very supportive about my surgery - this time.  A year ago when I wanted it they were not but then watched me gain another 25 lbs and got on board. 

My mom is weight obsessed - why is it so many of us deal with that.  She is 5'4" and about 140 lbs but thinks she is overweight.  Not easy to deal with all the time but I know that she just wants me to be healthy.  My dad is pretty fitness and weight obsessed too.  He's about 175 and I can't wait to be lower than him. 

It is going to be pretty chaotic and not a real vacation with 3 kids, no nanny and parents. 

I definitely am starting to feel much more restriction than before - you were all right - it could take about 2 weeks to settle in.  Now I just need to work the band and get rid of the head hunger - I am definitely never really hungry. 

Promise to post more. 

xoxo  Susan