I no heart Denise Austin

Omg, how can ANYBODY be so perky?  And trim?  And... perky?  And annoying?  Did I mention perky?  Nobody should be able to do those exercises and breathe normally, much less be able to talk.  Continuously.  All through the workout.  Ugh.

I've also realized my "downward dog" more resembles a "wounded beast." 

I DID, however, survive an hour of Denise, followed by a half hour of the Kettlebell Goddess.  :)

LARGE!!

I worked the Vagina Monologues at school for a class project last night (pretty funny show), and in so doing, I was given a tee-shirt if I wanted one.  Sure, free tee-shirts are great.  However, I remembered looking in the box and kind of stressing since there were only three sizes:  small, medium, and large.  No extra-large.    Okay, I thought, I'll take the large and fit into it soon enough.

Well, I decided to try it on right there -- just put it on over the shirt I was wearing.  And... IT FIT!  I don't mean that I was able to pull it down over my girth and stretch it out, I mean it FIT  OMG!!  Yesterday was a good day.  :)

221.5!!

Okay, I know 1/2 pound isn't a big deal in the grand scope of things, but this is my lowest-low weight since being banded -- and I haven't been here in four months and nine days.  :(  I kept bobbling two to three pounds above that number, usually 223 to 225 or 226, but when I started my two-week liquid kick-start three weeks ago, I was at a disappointing 231.

So... I feel like I'm FINALLY back on the edge of the precipice and am ready to go down, down, down, baby!!!

Watch out for those little calorie bombs you think are healthy!

As of Monday, I did what I SAID I was going to start with the new year and began logging my meals on my GoWear Fit site.  It's really helped readjust my thoughts on what I'm doing, and I KNOW it will help keep me focused and from going over.

Last night was an eye opener, though.  I have these little sesame bars I bought from Wegmans that are WONDERFUL, healthy (I thought) snacks.  I mean, nuts and grains are healthy in moderation, right?  Well, I went to a nutrition site to get an idea how healthy these bars are based on limited information, I understand, but it was a bit disheartening.

These bars are about one ounce a piece.  As far as I know, they consist of sesame seeds and honey and are hardened to a solid bar.  So I plugged in one ounce of sesame seeds and about a teaspoon of honey (best guesstimate) and those little suckers came out to nearly 180 calories each!  A few weeks back, before I started the liquid diet, I was eating sometimes three or four in a day thinking they were good for me!  WOW!  Now I know one of the reasons I wasn't budging with my weight!

The other little surprise was the flax seed I've been adding to my Dannon fat-free yogurt, another treat I do once a day for the calcium/dairy and because it's a good sweet.  My sister mentioned adding flax seed for the added fiber because it really doesn't add a taste.  I looked those puppies up, though, and two tablespoons (the amount I add) is about 80 calories.  Not that 80 calories is a gut buster, but it seems high for such a small amount of stuff.  :(  And whe you add it to the cup of yogurt (which is 110), plus the few walnuts I toss in for texture (another 30 or 40 calories), you're talking about a 225ish calorie snack!  o_O

Well... I guess so long as I plan for it and leave room in my day OR decide to do 1/2 cup instead, I'll be fine.

222!

Got up this morning, and I'm 1/2 pound away from my all-time low of 221.5 -- I was 222!  This has me psyched, since I have been more like 224 - 225 for the longest time, but I had gotten back up to 231 by the time I started the two-week liquid jump start.

I spent an  hour and a half this evening doing a workout of 30 minutes of kettlebell training, followed by an hour of Pilates (something new for me).  I was pretty happy with this DVD because it gives a beginner, intermediate, and experienced version of all the exercises.  Depending on what you pick, that's the type of exercise you see instead of having all three there and you have to watch one particular person.  My GoWear Fit, however, showed only seven MINUTES of exercise.  I assure that stupid thing that I as working my butt off.  :)

Down eight sizes

This has me pumped, going to a comfortable 16 (down from a 24).  I guess even though the scale AND the tape measure haven't been moving any, stuff is shifting around.  Even friends I only see periodically say they think they see the loss in my stomach or hips.  I'm glad they can see it because I have not been able to.  However, I can't remember the last time I was a size 16!

I just spent over an hour in the basement doing a new kettlebell routine that about killed me.  What a great way to get cardio AND strength training in one!  I recommend it for anybody who thinks they are ready to try something new.

I have been somewhat lax in starting my new year off right.  I either go balls to the wall or nothing.  It's time I get a decent routine down and STICK WITH IT.  I'm not going to see any results if I don't do what needs to be done.

I also had a partial unfill today.  I am getting really tired of going back and forth to the doctor's every month.  He fills me up, then less than a week later I need to go back and have some taken out.  I MAY have been brought from my 5cc to 4.8.  He said I was still more than the 4.6 I was at when I got my last fill, but less than the 5 he had me at.  I did just FINE Saturday afternoon (my first day of solids after my fill), but dinner didn't do so well.  I think it was a combination of having had a couple drinks and then trying to eat -- AND eating a bit of bread at the table when we got to the restaurant.  Nothing like pb'ing most of the evening in a very posh restaurant.  I highly recommend it.  o_O  I have to say that the last week or so, I no heart my band and have been going through a case of "what did I dos?"

The good, the bad, and the ugly

Last night we went to dinner with the foodie friends to a very posh restaurant (well, for us anyway).  We had tried this restaurant last month when we were enticed by a "restaurant week" where we were allowed to choose from a reduced menu for $35 per person.  This restaurant typically costs quite a bit more (everything is a la carte with a steak alone costing about $50), so the previous dinner was quite a bit cheaper.  The problem was, when the waiter was told by us that we were doing the "restaurant week," he copped a bit of an attitude.  This set pretty badly with me and I complained to the manager, who at the time, offered no relief.  I later came home and contacted the home office and a few days later got a call from the manager who then offered us and the other couple each a $150 gift certificate to come back -- which we did last night.  The friends also rented a limo for us to go in style (the wife's CEO uses a service, and they were able to get a reduced rate).  Overall, we felt like rock stars.

Well, on to the good:  I haven't worn any of my work clothes in some time, but then again I haven't lost much since I quit working last March.  I decided to wear a pair of nice slacks instead of a skirt and went to the closet to pull out my black ones, size 18.  When I slipped them on, I couldn't believe it -- TOO BIG!  HOLY SMOKES!  I almost decided to wear them, but then I decided to go into the box I had stored away with all the smaller sized clothes I had bought off eBay right before I lost my job and see how a pair of 16s would fit.  Well, they were a tad bit snug through the rear, but they FIT!  I was in size 16s, something I can't recall the last time I was able to wear!

The other part of the good was that yesterday was the first day of solids after having been on a liquid diet for two weeks (at my doctor's suggestion) to try to kick my metabolism back into gear.  Other than Valentine's Day dinner (where I was DYING for a steak), I haven't had anything but soups and liquids for forever.  I decided to run the fast into my fill time, which was Tuesday.

Okay, now for the bad and the ugly -- I pb'ed my nice Morton's dinner (or what little I had of it) and spent half the evening in the bathroom.  :(  It was painful, to say the least -- not just the physical pain, but the fact that such a nice dinner was being wasted.  We ordered appetizers for four (at "only" $88, if you can believe it) which was PHENOMENAL (but not worth $22 a person, I'll add), and that was about all I got in me but a few pieces of my steak.  I think the problem may have started, however, with the bread they brought.  Ah, yes, bread.  But not just any bread -- freshly baked onion loaf.  That was my biggest mistake.  I think this fill put me over the bread threshhold, and I got shown what for.  I never felt right after the bread (topped with a mojito and a couple sips of wine -- BIG mistake).

I came home and took a TON of papaya enzyme, popped some Protonix for later, and hoped for the best.  I have to say, the papaya seems to really help.  I used it one other day when I was feeling a bit tight, and it seemed to relieve the pressure in pretty quickly.  So note to those of you who may not know:  Papaya enzyme helps break down proteins, which is especially helpful if that's what's stuck in your band.

Oh, and on a side note -- foodie friend wife called us their best foodie friends.  Yay.  o_O

More on plateaus

Odd that I got this in my e-mail from Livestrong.com since I've been on the plateau from  hell.  Eventually everybody is going to hit one, so I thought I'd share.


Overview

Weight loss is typically a long process. Most people lose the greatest amount of weight at the beginning of their regimen, due to the many changes their bodies go through. However, weight loss plateaus are also common. This occurs when you do not gain weight back but you are not losing any more weight, either. You can overcome weight loss plateaus in various ways so you can get back on track to your ultimate goals.


Cause

While you lose weight, you likely are cutting back on your calories. Although calorie-cutting helps you lose more pounds, it also can decrease your metabolism, Weightlossforall.com explains. Also, when you lose too much weight too soon, your body can respond by eating muscle stores in order to make up for the loss in calories. Because muscles help rev up your metabolism, losing muscle can contribute to a slower metabolism. During such a scenario, your body no longer burns calories, so you reach a plateau in which you will not lose any weight.


Diet

Eat a mix of carbohydrates, protein and healthy fat every few hours in order to help speed up your metabolism (NOTE:  My doctor only wants us eating three times a day, so I guess my advice here is to follow your doctor's orders). This also will help prevent you from going hungry too long and overindulging at your next meal. MyOptumHealth.com also recommends that you vary your healthy food choices in order to prevent boredom. This will help prevent meal-skipping, which can thwart your continued weight loss efforts.


Exercise

While adequate fuel is necessary to help increase your metabolism, you also will need to revisit your exercise routines. Once your body becomes too accustomed to a particular type of exercise, your muscles adapt and you will not lose as many calories. Intensify your workouts by pushing it to the next level or by trying something new. For instance, if you speed-walk, try adding some jogging intervals. Also, add some strength-training routines to help build up your muscles.


Considerations

According to AnneCollins.com, you may experience a weight loss plateau within the first month of your weight loss regimen and experience it occasionally until you reach your weight loss goal. The key is to quickly recognize that you have reached a plateau and respond accordingly. A weight loss plateau does not mean you have failed at your weight loss regimen.


Warning

Ideally, you should lose a maximum of 2 lbs. per week during your weight loss regimen. Although weight loss plateaus are common, your body can enter starvation mode if you lose too much weight in a short period of time. If you start to experience dizziness, headaches, hair loss, anemia, excessive fatigue and heart rate changes, call your doctor immediately.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/74728-weight-loss-plateau/?utm_source=jannewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=100201

It's like being pregnant

I'm on day six of liquids and I've seen my bathroom more than any other part of the room.  Six pounds down, though, but dang...

And hubby's eating.  All the time.  AND mentioning food coupons he's come across.  Since we've gotten epic snows, I've been stuck with him more than I might normally be inclined to be.  I may have to run him through the woodchipper.  Don't worry though, I won't leave a trace.  o_O

The only thing I've done other than straight liquids is a half cup of yogurt with flax seeed each day and a small piece of cheese.  I figure that since they're primarily protein (and dairy), they won't hurt anything.

The goddess kicked my ass

I got some new DVDs for kettlebell training to use with my new toy.  One is called the Kettlebell Goddess Workout, and I have only three words -- OH. MY. GOD(dess).

If anybody is into kettlebells (reminder:  I bought a Weider Powerbell in which you can adjust the weight), this looks like it's going to be the whole package.  It shows three different women doing the exercises, and what's nice is each one is holding the kettlebell(s) different than the others so you can choose which way you want to do them.  There are numerous workouts you can choose from depending on whether you want to do cardio or work on specific body parts OR the entire body.  I did the entire body one, and though it was only about 30 minutes, I am REALLY feeling it today.  My butt, behind my shoulder blades, my legs -- feels good.

And the best news of all is that my arms aren't all beat up like the first time I used it.

Can you break a New Year's resolution when you haven't even begun it yet?

One of the promises I made to myself starting off this year was to start logging meals -- not only to see where maybe extra calories are hiding out, but to see if at times I'm not getting enough, especially since I've had a plateau from hell.

Do you think I've done it?  Guess.  o_O

WTH?  I think part of it is, unless it's a VERY basic food item, it can be hard to know how to log it.  Ah, but I can't do that.  I can't say how "hard" it is to do and then not do it when I KNOW it is something I will have to do to make sure I'm on track.

And I didn't do any exercise last week.  I spent the entire weekend looking for new glasses, and it caught me behind on my homework.  I was doing each day's homework the night before until the wee hours, and barely getting it done.  I just can't start off this semester this way, barely hanging on by the skin of my teeth.

Just shoot me now.

Going back to my roots

I finally made it to one of my doctors' monthly meetings this past Monday -- the first one since January of 2009.  Unfortunately, my school schedule has been such that I always had Monday evening classes and could never make them.

My primary question the other night was HOW IN THE HELL DO I GET OUT OF THIS PLATEAU???  I've been stuck here for more than half of 2009, and I'm sick to DEATH of it.  Even all the exercise I did the last few months didn't do a damn thing.  I mean, I don't expect the band to do this FOR me, but I expect SOMEthing to come of it.

They recommended I go on liquids.  For. Two. Weeks.  Uh... wow.  I've done liquids before -- even did the five-day pouch test -- but those only last a few days.  They felt that doing this for a couple weeks will shock my system.

So as of today, I'm on liquids.  I held off a few days because I realized I could run it right into my next fill on the 16th, especially considering that I have to do two days of liquids right after my fill anyway.

Therefore, if I seem especially cranky, you'll know why.  o_O

The nice thing is that a friend of mine, who has been trying like hell to get a band for a while (she had a date set for this past August and it got canceled just days before she was set to go in) got a new date of 2/12, so she's on liquids too.  Being that I was already planning on doing liquids, it worked out nice that I could be a liquid buddy for her.