35 Down! Luggage Weight

Back from my trip and so happy to report I am now down 35 lbs from my high.  I am thrilled and feel great.  Yesterday at the airport I had a major revelation when they weighed my luggage.  I had been lugging this bag from the car and couldn't believe how heavy it was.  Turns out it was 36 lbs.  When I think about the fact that I have lost almost that and have more than that to go I am just astonished.  I often think when I lift my kids that I need to lose much more than they weigh but for some reason this luggage thing hit home.  Next time I feel like eating a lot - you can bet I will be thinking of how heavy that bag is! 

So far so good

I just can't believe how different the restriction is in this altitude. I have flown before and didn't feel like this. I went to the Hotel gym at 5:20 am - am so proud of myself. Walked rapidly for 40 minutes. Then had some breakfast - yogurt with some berries and granola but only ate half. Not having a problem with my coffee. We'll see how the day goes. Not going to try anything too difficult.

The Mile High City

I love it here. The mountains are calling me but I know it is not a good idea for me to ski when I am 75 lbs over from when I went the last time. So I will be back next year!
We have an early day tomorrow with meetings starting at 7. I am going to try to go to the gym from 5:30 to 6:00. We'll see. . .

Holy Restriction! I managed to eat a small piece of chicken on the plane and ever since them I am tighter than I have ever felt. Tomorrow should be interesting.

Hope everyone is doing well. I am really looking forward to the NYC Brunch.

Take care and have a good night!

Hello from Sunny Naples Florida! Need some help with posting pictures from iPhone using Blog Press

Hi Everyone! Last few days have been a bit crazy. Kids with stomach flu and getting ready for my Conference. I came down to Naples on Sunday morning and had a nice afternoon by the pool. The weather here has been gorgeous! Some NSV's - I fit better in the airplane seat (still room for improvement) and I didn't totally stress over packing because I had clothes that I liked that fit.

Getting dressed for dinner on Sunday night I felt good - like I used to. I even took pictures in the full length mirror and sent to my parents who wrote back I looked "fabulous" - a big compliment from them. I wish I knew how to post it - I have Blog Press and can't figure it out. If anyone can help please send me a message.
But the biggest one for me is that I was actually looking forward to coming down here. I have been attending this Conference since 1993 every year - I only missed one in 2008 because I was giving birth that month and couldn't travel. I am on the Board of the organization that sponsors it and I have run it in the past so I am very visible. And this year I didn't mind! It was like I used to be before I gained all the excess weight. A couple of people noticed and said nice things - not "you lost weight" but more - "you look great and happy". It also helps that I am really happy right now in my job and love what I am doing (although as we all know that could change) but for now I am enjoying it.

On the not so good side. . . my poor husband. Last night 2 of the boys were up throwing up. I just pray the stomach flu is gone by tomorrow night when I get home because I am petrified of catching it with the band.

Eating wise - I have been making good choices but clearly drinking more wine and not preparing my own food. Today I went to the gym and walked for 40 minutes at a rapid pace on the treadmill. This afternoon I am flying to Denver and with the 2 hour time difference I am hoping to get a workout in before my meetings tomorrow.

On Friday I am going to see Bethanny on tour. It will be a fun girls night out. I do think she is a bit full of herself but I like watching her.

Off the pack up and head to Miami for our flight to Denver.

Take care and hope everyone is well.

xoxo Susan

Fill update and some not so good news about incisional hernia

I got another 2cc's so now have 6 cc's in a 10 cc band.  I honestly don't feel any different - no gurgling and I am still able to gulp water.  I stuck to soft solids today as per surgeon's instructions.  I am less hungry so I guess it is working - but for lunch I was able to eat more than 1 cup of chili which surprised me.  I am sure I would have been full on less so I have to stop - but it is hard :)

I did get some bad news at the doctor's office yesterday.  I have an incisional hernia (likely from my 3 c-sections and being so overweight after).  I knew I had it but didn't think it was as bad as it is.  I don't have any pain or complications from it but the surgeon wants to fix it sooner rather than later to avoid emergency surgery.  Until I have it done I am at risk so likely going to do it in early August.  I know that sounds so far away but I have been living with this for a couple of years now.  I also don't want to disrupt my weight loss and it is a pretty major operation with recuperation much longer than the lapband.  And he told me more painful :(   It is larproscopic.  My recovery will be easier the more weight I lose so my goal is to lose another 50 lbs by August - aggressive but not too bad - 50 lbs in 6 months.  I can do it - after all . . . "failure is just not an option"! 

Today was also my first day using my BodyMedia fit and going to synch it now to see how many calories I burned. 

Hope everyone is doing well! 

xoxo Susan

Can't wait for my fill tomorrow!!! Loving My Fitness Pal and just got BodyMedia Fit Armband

Last week I posted that I wasn't sure if I needed one.  This week I 100% know that I do.  I can definitely eat too much at each sitting and really don't feel any restriction at all.  Luckily I have an appointment tomorrow.  I have been very diligent about logging in my food to My Fitness Pal on my iPhone which has me at 1200 calories a day.  I know that is probably a bit high for a bandster so I should lower it.  I think when I put my weight, height, activity level and how much I wanted to lose - that is what came up. 

I splurged today on the BodyMedia Fit Armband.  I read about people using it on a couple of blogs so I went to Costco and got it for $199.  Not cheap!  Which means I will have to wear it or feel very guilty :)  Will keep you posted on how I like it.  Does anyone else use it? 

Last week had a great work week - was in NYC for a Conference and just felt so much better about seeing people.  One major NSV for me was that when my CEO when to the podium to present on our company - I joined him and the other representative from my company at the table - visible for everyone to see.  Last year I hid in the audience.  I am just feeling more and more confident and like my old self in business. 

My husband met me in NYC and we stayed an extra night.  Had dinner at Blue Fin which I hadn't been to in forever - love all their fish dishes and then saw The Merchant of Venice on Broadway.  While I am not a huge Shakespeare fan since for me it is difficult to understand - my husband loved it and so that is what is important.  We stayed at this great boutique hotel on 46th off of 5th called The Gotham.  It was new, clean, and felt like living in an apartment building with extra services. 

The weekend has been hectic with kids and activities.  I got a number of comments on my weight loss from people who know about the band but none from others.  I think that people are just embarrased to mention weight when you are obviously still very overweight.  It will be very interesting to see when and what people say as the pounds drop. 

I continue to be so inspired by your blogs - while I watch TV with my kids I read blogs on my iPad.  I love going back to when some of you first started and I am picking up some great tips.  I am so excited for the March 20th NYC Bandster Brunch.  I feel like I know so many of you so well from reading your blogs from the beginning.  Today (taking a cue from Jen's blog) I increased my water consumption realizing I wasn't paying enough attention to how much I was drinking.

I need something to jump start the weight loss again - it seems like I have been at 32 lbs down for nearly a week now.  Hopefully the fill will do the trick.  I am leaving on a trip to Florida on Sunday for business to a nice resort in Naples.  But then leaving Tuesday to go for a one day trip to Denver.  I originally thought I would take a trip up to Aspen to visit a girlfriend but I just don't think I am ready to ski and I don't want to be away from home that long.  My goal is to plan a ski trip for December in Colorado - maybe a long weekend and be at a comfortable weight where I am not in extra danger of hurting myself. 

Sorry for the long post - that is what happens when I don't post for a week - need to post more often. 

xoxo  Susan

Jennifer Hudson and Other Stuff -- Down 32 lbs from High

Have any of you seen her recent interviews - specifically the one on Oprah and then at the Grammy's.  She looks amazing and is so excited about it.  I don't know why Weight Watchers won't let her say how much she has lost.  But the thing I love the most is when she says she just can't sleep because she is so excited to wake up in the morning and get dressed.  I remember that feeling and so want it back again!  As I have mentioned, prior to 2004 my weight always fluctuated from about 130 lbs to 170 lbs or I really was mostly in the range from 145 lbs to 160 lbs.  But those times that I got down to 130 - 140 I was obsessed with getting dressed in the morning and became a shopaholic because everything looked great.  I have to be careful not to shop obsessively anymore now that I have kids and so many other expenses but I can get that feeling back of just loving putting on clothes.  I am sure many of you already have it!  

Yesterday was 8 weeks since I was banded and I am down 32 lbs from my high.  Feels terrific!  Our ski weekend was good - of course for the first hour the boys complained about the boots, etc but once they got going they really loved and wanted to go faster and down bigger hills.  They also love staying in hotels so were very excited on Friday night.  I am looking forward to taking them again and torn as to whether I can go with them.  I think I would be fine on the bunny slope but just so afraid to do any damage that would stop me from being able to exercise. 

I have been logging my food on My Fitness Pal and love it.  I know a lot of you are using it as well.  Now that I have my iPhone it is so easy to update. 

I still need to figure out how to upload pictures easier from my iPhone.  I did download the Blogger app but I think that is just to post - if I can do pictures from the iPhone and someone can explain how - that would be great. 

Leaving shortly for a Conference in NYC today and tomorrow and sleeping in tonight :).  Tomorrow night my husband is meeting me and we are going to see The Merchant of Venice on Broadway with Al Pacino.  It is suppose to be great so I am very excited.  We are debating whether to spend Wednesday night in the city as well.  Would be nice not to have to take the train home after the show and I have babysitter coverage so we'll see.  My husband gets nervous leaving the boys overnight with just the au pair even though everything will be fine and we have done it a couple of times before. 

Have to go get ready.  Have a great day! 

xoxo  Susan