tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87136547165951615892024-03-13T19:14:59.137-05:00Beth Ann's Never-Ending Quest for SomethingIn July 2009, I decided to change my life, internally and externally. Much of my blog chronicles my experiences after getting my Lap Band in January 2010. It is my hope that my experiences can help others going through similar issues.Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.comBlogger808125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-28665503336297309912019-02-20T14:17:00.001-06:002019-02-20T14:17:26.913-06:00Slow but the right directionMy super success at the beginning of the year was followed by a substantial stall. I could use the excuse that I moved and had visitors, but honestly, I just got tired of dieting. But I maintained and last week I committed to getting back to it.<br />
<br />
I logged my food which always makes a difference. Also, on the weekend, I both logged and checked in with my accountability partner. I decided I needed a kickstart AND I have been having some reflux, so I decided to do a liquid day. That pushed me through my first goal!<br />
<br />
My next goal is to lose another 8 pounds. It might take me a while, but if I can continue to maintain in between focused pushes, I think I can get it done.<br />
<br />
Just wanted to remind myself of the smaller wins.Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-4295395838604849942019-01-16T09:56:00.001-06:002019-01-16T09:56:06.376-06:00The success continues!I have somehow happened upon a winning combination. This week I lost 5.2 pounds for a grand total of 9.2 pounds lost this year. How on earth did I lose more in the second week?? While my likely unattainable goal was to lose 50 pounds, my realistic goal was 25 and now that is down to less than 16 pounds.<br />
<br />
I've dieted tons of times and with the exception of right after weightloss surgery, I'm not usually that successful even at the beginning. Why is it different this time? I think there are a few things:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>I put the weight on really quick while being quite stagnant and honestly, eating and drinking totally irresponsibly. Making a 180 switch like that can produce results. </li>
<li>Also, at least half of this loss was simply holiday bloat.</li>
<li>I'm more committed. I'm actually making difficult choices that I wouldn't have made before. I'm limiting lattes and wine which is a big deal. Last night I ate responsibly at a Tex Mex place where I really wanted something drenched in cheese and sour cream.</li>
<li>I have decreased my portion size. This is a biggie for me. I tend to eat long past when I know I would be satisfied. It is truly a problem that I will always have to work on. </li>
<li>I have an accountability partner that I like to message with good news. Ha! It is good motivation. </li>
</ol>
Along with all of that, I had a surgery that truly helped me with the physical issues regarding weight loss. Pre-surgery when I dieted, I was always starving. My entire focus would be how to get as much food in my body within my allotted calories. I don't have to do that anymore. As long as I am reasonable, I can eat normal food. I have been easily able to stay under my calorie budget when I stay away from the liquid calories and unhealthy snacks. My focus now are the emotional obstacles.<br />
<br />
As a reminder to myself when in the future I want to remember what I was doing now when inevitably I'm no longer doing it, I want to put in a few sample days. <br />
<br />
Sample day (yesterday):<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Breakfast - Coffee with coffeemate. Snap Kitchen prepared breakfast scramble.</li>
<li>Lunch - Snap Kitchen chicken thighs (3/4 serving) and cheesy cauliflower grits along with 1/2 cup of ready to serve white rice.</li>
<li>Afternoon snack - 1/4 cup of mixed nuts</li>
<li>Dinner (Tex Mex restaurant) - 1/2 salmon cobb salad and two glasses of red wine.</li>
<li>Exercise - none </li>
</ul>
Obviously my dry weekday January has gone to hell in a handbasket. BUT, I am making myself log and what I have found is that I'm still staying within my calorie counts. AND, I'm not doing it every day.<br />
<br />
Another sample day (Monday):<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Breakfast - Coffee with coffeemate. Snap Kitchen breakfast platter.</li>
<li>Lunch (Tex Mex restaurant) - Appetizer ceviche, about 1/4 salsa and 10 tortilla chips.</li>
<li>Afternoon snack - Apple & 1/4 cup mixed nuts</li>
<li>Dinner - Snap Kitchen prepared beef lasagna</li>
<li>Exercise - Jazzercise</li>
</ul>
The Snap Kitchen meals are a little pricey, but they are perfectly portioned and that makes for healthy choices when I'm too busy to prepare good things. <br />
<br />
My parents are coming on Friday so it will be difficult for us not to enable each other. But I'm going to get some healthy fun recipes for my dad to cook (he loves to cook) while he is here. Plus, we will be busy with unpacking and moving stuff, so there won't be as much time to sit around and snack.<br />
<br />
Fingers crossed!!<br />
<br />
Hugs!Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-50266882453901104582019-01-09T08:34:00.000-06:002019-01-09T08:34:52.036-06:00Success!I'm proud to say that I have had one of my best "first" weeks ever. I lost a total of 4 pounds in 2019. I ditched Noom and instead partnered with a longtime blogger friend to hold me accountable. It is the perfect balance for me because:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>We know each other personally so it doesn't feel like a robot on the other end.</li>
<li>We aren't super close, so we won't enable each other.</li>
<li>We are there for each other as needed, so no extra work on either end. </li>
</ul>
Perfect!<br />
<br />
Last night was my monthly Girls Dinner. We went to a TexMex place which is usually a recipe for disaster. Wine or margaritas, chips, queso, sour cream, cheese...all my favorites. But I made a plan early in the day and told AP (accountability partner...I'm so original) so I was committed. I had a Diet Coke which is a rarity. I ordered the ceviche with a side of guacamole. There were 6 big chips with the ceviche so I ate those. I didn't even finish everything and I was completely satisfied. After logging everything, I was right within my target for the day.<br />
<br />
It was all worth it this morning when I stepped on the scale. Even more so when my jeans seemed to fit a little less snugly than last week. Honestly, I'm not typically this committed. I usually do really well during the week, but slip a lot on the weekends. I slipped a little this time, but not terribly. I haven't had an alcoholic beverage and only one latte. It is truly a miracle.<br />
<br />
Another benefit of not drinking last night is that BFF and I didn't want to just go straight home. So we went to Best Buy to pick out her new TV and to Home Depot for me to look at paint. We are moving to new apartments next week and there is just so much to do!<br />
<br />
My parents are coming right after the move to help me get the place in order. They are excellent at that type of thing. Mom will help me figure out how to decorate and dad will help me hang things. I know it will be harder to eat well and I will probably not work out much while they are here. But I'm taking one day at a time for now. Today I will follow all my rules and end the day with Orange Theory. Then tomorrow will be another day.<br />
<br />
Hugs!Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-84417302204554098992019-01-07T08:38:00.003-06:002019-01-07T08:38:31.402-06:00Just keep going...Today is Day #7 on Noom. I'm not 100% sure yet what it is giving me except accountability. As someone who has been fighting my weight since I was 8 years old, it hasn't taught me anything I didn't already know. But there is something about having to check in with someone that does make a difference. I mean, I could lie, but why?<br />
<br />
Let's check in on my progress:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>No drinking during the week. I'm actually trying not to drink at
all, but I'm afraid if I get too strict I won't stay with it, so a hard
stop during the week days. <span style="color: blue;">This one was killer yesterday. I did okay during the week, but usually on Sundays I have a glass (or bottle) of wine in the evening after chores. It took everything in me to not have a glass.</span></li>
<li>No sugary snacks. Honestly, this one isn't that hard for me. When
I'm eating a bunch of sweets, I know I'm off the rails. I'm more of a
savory snacker. <span style="color: blue;">I had a few over the weekend, but nothing really bad. One Godiva chocolate. One homemade caramel. I think that is it really. No shame here.</span></li>
<li>No Starbucks during the week. I only drink plain lattes so they aren't too bad to have on the weekend. <span style="color: blue;">I had my latte yesterday and it was blissful. I'm going to try and do this one for another week, but I don't think it will last long.</span></li>
<li>Work out at least 4x per week. 2 Orange Theory & 2 Jazzercise is
the plan right now. I really want to try yoga again, but it isn't
working out at the moment. <span style="color: blue;">2 Jazzercise, 2 Orange Theory. Right on track this week.</span></li>
<li>Small portions, small portions, small portions. This is really the
big one. I don't need a lot to fill me up, but the fat girl in me just
keeps eating. If I can conquer this one, I will be golden. <span style="color: blue;">I would say that I did fair on this. Most meals I did well, but there were a couple that I knew I should have stopped earlier. They were healthy meals, that wasn't the issue. I just ate too much. I need to start preparing less. The old "clear my plate" problem, I think. </span></li>
</ol>
Overall, not too bad. I started Noom on New Year's Day, so Tuesday will be my weekly weigh in day. In my younger days, this much attention to diet and exercise would have lost me at least 5 pounds. But I'm both older and honestly, smaller. I just want the needle to move in the right direction.<br />
<br />
One thing that is different from me today is that I don't focus as much on what the scale says. My goal is to fit into the clothes that I wore last year. Ultimately, I know that means losing weight, but the number itself doesn't matter as much as it used to.<br />
<br />
My biggest success of the week was that I kept going. I was sick on Friday, so much so that I went to the doctor. I had a bad sinus infection and am on antibiotics. All I wanted to do Friday was drive by McDonald's or get some tacos, but instead, I ordered groceries from Kroger and picked them up on the way home from the doctor. I admit that I had some boxed macaroni and cheese with my rotisserie chicken, but I'm okay with that. I stuck with healthy eating the rest of the weekend and didn't sabotage myself.<br />
<br />
I pick up the keys to my new apartment on Friday, then I move the next Friday. Moving stress could easily make me turn toward food for comfort. My goal this week is to not let that happen. Also, I'm going to continue to focus on the 5 goals above. If I can do those things, I will be successful!<br />
<br />
Hugs!Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-57942936799416105642019-01-03T08:47:00.000-06:002019-01-03T08:47:23.687-06:00Well, I did say it was never ending...My last entry was March 2017. Maintenance is boring. It was boring, but life was good. I was working out, eating decently but balancing it all with fun. I was gaining and losing the same 5 pounds but fitting into some clothes that I just never thought I would. It was awesome!<br />
<br />
Then the holidays came along and I gained a few pounds, but not a big deal. You always lose them in January, right? Unfortunately, the day after Christmas last year, I went indoor free climbing with my nephew. I got a little cocky and ended up in a controlled fall from about 10-12 feet. It was controlled, but still painful because at the bottom I broke my fibula. Oops.<br />
<br />
I couldn't walk at all for months. Add to that, January-July I was working on the biggest work project of my life. So most of 2018 was not great. There were a few good moments, but mostly I'm not sad to see it go. But back to the never ending quest part...<br />
<br />
On top of the 4 pounds I gained during the holidays last year, I gained another 18 pounds while getting over the leg break and working 60-80 hours per week. Then during these holidays, I went ahead and gained another 3 pounds because, why not?<br />
<br />
So here I am, fully healed, but out of shape and a full 25 pounds heavier than I was one year ago. However, things aren't all bad.<br />
<ol>
<li>In the olden days, I would have gained over 50 and I'm being conservative. I'm not congratulating myself or anything, but I am recognizing that life is different now.</li>
<li>I'm still in "regular" sizes. They are at the higher end of the spectrum, but I didn't have to modify my shopping to get some "fat" clothes.</li>
<li>I'm truly healed and still quite able to work out.</li>
</ol>
With that in mind, yesterday I started with Noom. I have no idea really what it is or what it does, but you log your food and exercise and you have a coach that messages with you. I will at least give it a try for the 2 week free trial. I work better when I have someone to check in with. Honestly, that was what this blog was all about. My accountability. I don't know that it will work without people reading it, but I felt like maybe putting my thoughts on "paper" would help me.<br />
<br />
My goals are reasonable and this is for the month of January:<br />
<ol>
<li>No drinking during the week. I'm actually trying not to drink at all, but I'm afraid if I get too strict I won't stay with it, so a hard stop during the week days.</li>
<li>No sugary snacks. Honestly, this one isn't that hard for me. When I'm eating a bunch of sweets, I know I'm off the rails. I'm more of a savory snacker.</li>
<li>No Starbucks during the week. I only drink plain lattes so they aren't too bad to have on the weekend.</li>
<li>Work out at least 4x per week. 2 Orange Theory & 2 Jazzercise is the plan right now. I really want to try yoga again, but it isn't working out at the moment.</li>
<li>Small portions, small portions, small portions. This is really the big one. I don't need a lot to fill me up, but the fat girl in me just keeps eating. If I can conquer this one, I will be golden.</li>
</ol>
I know I will probably never lose the 50 pounds I want to lose, but I do think 20-30 is possible. I just have to want it more than I want other things. Right now, I'm focusing on January. One step at a time.<br />
<br />
Hugs!<br />
Beth Ann Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-54415213443391432882017-03-16T08:15:00.001-05:002017-03-16T08:15:14.852-05:00BoringMaintenance is boring. Eat right, work out, sleep well, and drink water. If you do all that...nothing happens! And that is the whole point. But it is boring. There is nothing sexy and exciting about working hard to stay the same. However, I recognize its importance.<br />
<br />
Right now I'm a size 10. Well, I guess I'm a 10. Sometimes I wear a 12, but yesterday my pants were size 8. I wear some medium shirts, but my Tshirt from this weekend fit snugly and it was an XL. I hate sizes. Today I'm wearing a large tank, medium cardigan and medium skirt, so let's just say I'm a size 10.<br />
<br />
Why do I still feel like the fattest person in the room? I know part of it is that I do crossfit and yoga. Many times, I AM the fattest person in the room there. If I ever start to feel good about myself, a good fix is to look in the mirror at yoga. Skin pockets sticking out everywhere as sweats pools at my feet and fat bubbles muffin topping while I try to maneuver into a pose. Meanwhile, the slim lovely beside me shows no signs of sweating while her perfect body flows from one pose to the next. When it is over, I tell myself it's okay because she has been working hard to excel at this...just as the instructor gives her a 20 class bracelet. FML.<br />
<br />
But that is an abnormal circumstance. In the everyday scenario, I'm "below average". Objectively I know that, but instinctively, I'm not there yet. BFF & I had floor seats at a Mavs game the other night. The guy next to me was pressed up against me from knee to shoulder. My first instinctive thought was "oh no! I don't fit!" I did everything I could to shrink myself. At one point late in the first half, I finally realized that I was not the problem. Heck, his butt cheek was almost on my chair! I looked over and there was space between him and the guy next to him on the other side. He was purposefully crowding me so he didn't have to touch the guy. After halftime, I came back to my seat and sat down basically using my tushie to move him out of the way. He asked me if I was okay and I smiled, took up the room I had a right to use and said I was great! He moved over and (gasp!) had to touch his friend just a little bit.<br />
<br />
I still gingerly sit down on things petrified that I'm going to break them. I still assume that people look at me and see a fat person. My revision was one year ago yesterday. Since then I have lost 66 inches on my body including 11.5 inches on my waist and 10 inches on my hips. I have lost over 2 inches on each calf!!<br />
<br />
What is even more astounding is that I have lost over 100 inches since I first started this journey. I have lost 18.5 inches on my waist alone. And about 8 inches on each thigh!! That is nutballs. There is no question that I take up less space. However, because I never really felt that big when I was that big, I don't think I feel this small being this small. My brain is always and forever an 18.<br />
<br />
In September, I injured my back and had to lay off CrossFit. I started yoga and it has been doing great things for my body. BUT, I really missed CrossFit. At the end of the year, my CF box closed. All of my CF friends had moved to another close by and last week I decided to try it. The gym, coaches, programming and people are awesome!! My plan is CF twice a week and yoga twice a week with (most times) Jazzercise on Saturdays.<br />
<br />
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<br />
I look at that picture and instead of saying, DAMN Beth Ann, you are rocking it! I think "good job on hiding your upper arms and positioning yourself to look as small as possible." Heh. But then my next thought was "Damn, Beth Ann, you are rocking it!" Baby steps.<br />
<br />
I have to remind myself that changing your brain takes a lot longer. It will come with time. <span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What is important is focusing on that boring maintenance so I don't let my body catch back up with my brain first!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Hugs!Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-13299133259280045122017-02-13T10:58:00.002-06:002017-02-13T10:58:33.185-06:00Society and MaintenanceI LOVE music, but I don't watch the Grammy's. The next day I look at all of the photos of the outfits and if someone gets a lot of attention for an amazing performance, I will go back and watch that as well (I'm looking at you this year, Bruno.) But I get no enjoyment from schadenfreude. If someone has a bad performance or they fell down or whatever, I don't want to see that.<br />
<br />
This morning I checked Facebook and the big topic was Adele vs. Beyonce. Now, from what I can tell, those two lovely talented women like and support each other. I've seen no evidence that either has done anything to tear down or malign the other. So why is it that we feel compelled to pick sides? The things I have read coming from my actual friends (not just anonymous comments) are just plain ugly. We are constantly griping that society is deteriorating, but don't want to take steps to change how we approach things. And I don't want to make these comments on FB, because then doesn't that just add to the dischord?<br />
<br />
We want our leaders to be better. We want our athletes, musicians and actors to be better. All of that starts with us being better. I don't think anyone (Obama, Trump, etc.) made us decisive. We are doing that all on our own.<br />
<br />
*ahem* Now back to our not-so-regularly scheduled blog posting.<br />
<br />
I have been suffering from acid reflux since my revision surgery and it has been particularly bad in the last week. I had been taking OTC omeprazole and it just didn't seem to be working. My doctor prescribed Rx pantoprazole and it didn't do much differently. They tried to switch the Rx to Nexium, but my insurance won't cover it. They then tried to switch to Dexilant but both the potential side effects and the price gave me pause.<br />
<br />
I decided to take a long hard look at my eating/drinking habits and see if I can figure this out on my own. I have suffered from acid reflux since my 20s, but 100 pounds down, it feels like there should be something I could do regardless of my genetics.<br />
<br />
Goals:<br />
<ul>
<li>Continue to eliminate soda and carbonation.</li>
<li>Cut back on caffeine. Limit to one caffeinated cup of coffee each morning. Decaf only after.</li>
<li>Drink more water. (This one just needs to happen anyway.) </li>
<li>Eliminate fried foods completely. </li>
<li>The biggie: cut down on portion size. </li>
</ul>
I have gotten in the habit of eating three meals instead of 5 small ones. It is just more convenient. But I think that maybe it has irritated my little banana belly. I think I'm eating the right amount of daily calories, my consistent pound a week loss since the beginning of the year tells me that. But I have to be smarter about how/when I consume. Fingers crossed anyway. We shall see.<br />
<br />
My workouts are going great. Since they closed my CrossFit box, I decided to do more yoga. I'm inconsistent, but when I go, I love it. I think it does great things for my body and it forces me to slow down a bit. I also still go to Jazzercise on the weekends which is fun. And I supplement all that with walking/running/elliptical at lunch.<br />
<br />
I know that maintenance is the long, boring part. This is the "never-ending" stuff. But I need to focus on it. Maybe I could even lose a few more pounds in the process.<br />
<br />
Hugs!<br />
<br />
Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-7756381222786555252017-02-09T18:24:00.001-06:002017-02-09T18:24:55.416-06:00Did it really happen?I haven't blogged since October, October 3rd to be exact. Usually, if I step away from my blog for 4 months, I come back with the intention of resetting myself because I've gone astray. While my mind can always use resetting, that isn't why I'm here.<br />
<br />
I actually came to allow myself to reflect on the amazing things that I have earned these last few months. My October 3 reset must have worked because I lost almost 5 pounds that month. And another few over the weeks that followed.<br />
<br />
On December 6th, I reached 100 pounds lost. That journey started in January 2010, almost 7 years earlier. This is me that day:<br />
<br />
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<br />
Wow. Who is that girl on the left? I haven't known her in so long it is hard to remember that I lived as her for so many years.<br />
<br />
Then one day in December, I realized I was wearing the same outfit I had worn a couple of years earlier and I couldn't believe the difference.<br />
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I am really starting to see the true difference. I had made a goal that by the end of January, I would no longer be obese. On February 1st, I reached that goal!<br />
<br />
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<br />
I actually put on outfits and feel beautiful or sexy. People I have worked with for years stop me in the hall and with wide eyes tell me how much I'm changing before their eyes. Most of the time I still envision myself as the girl in the unicorn picture on the left above. I wonder how long it will take before I can envision myself as the girl on the right?<br />
<br />
One last picture...<br />
<br />
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The boots were my gift to myself for breaking that obese barrier. I'm now proudly overweight! :-) My next goal is to lose another 5 pounds. If I do that, I will let myself splurge on a dress for my friend's Memorial weekend wedding. If I don't make it, I still get a new dress, I just have to be more reasonable. Ha!<br />
<br />
Anyway, thank you for letting me indulge myself. Now back to the quest!<br />
<br />
Hugs!Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-10823780795885843272016-10-03T09:34:00.003-05:002016-10-03T09:34:54.534-05:00Monday morning blog resetI woke up this morning feeling defeatist. If you have been with me long, you know I'm a decidedly half-full person. I'm taking a few minutes to reset and determine why I feel the way I feel.<br />
<br />
Weekly update. I weigh every Monday. That is a stupid day for me to weigh, but I tried to change it once and it didn't stick. So, Monday it stays. I neither lost or gained any pounds this week.<br />
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Monthly update. I lost 8 tenths of a pound this month. Not great, but at least the right direction. For two months, I have lost a total of 4 pounds.<br />
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Measurement update. I didn't take measurements last month, so these are for two months (corresponding with the 4 pound loss). I lost almost 8 inches in total. Most notably, a full inch in my left arm, 1.50 inches in my bust, 2 inches in my belly, & 3/4 of an inch in my left thigh. These are truly significant changes.<br />
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Size update. I'm now in all of my "skinny" jeans. My size 12 Levis and Gap jeans fit, albeit snugly. My Cato size 10 jeans fit great. In fact, I went through the remaining items in my "too small" bin and everything I have ever worn previously fit. YAY!! The remaining items were pieces I had never actually worn before, like the size 10 Gap jeans I bought on sale in anticipation of moving down a size but never made it. It would be super awesome if I could actually get in those for the holidays.<br />
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In every conceivable measurement (scale, inches, clothes), I'm doing great. Maybe not off the charts, but certainly nothing to feel defeatist about.<br />
<br />
So, let's talk behaviors. Fitness. I injured myself at CrossFit last week. Not horribly, just a lower back strain that I need to baby a bit, but I still am Jazzercising and walking, so nothing to be ashamed of there. This week, I'm planning at least 4 workouts which again, isn't off the charts, but certainly solid.<br />
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Nutrition. Ahem. Okay, maybe I found the problem. Since returning from Rio, I have been eating terribly. I will have a day or two here or there when I will stick to the script, but most of the time it is a free for all. I know that if I continue with this behavior, I will eventually fail at my overall goals. So, now I have admitted it to myself and put it in writing for all to see...what to do?<br />
<br />
Fortunately, I'm still keeping to small portions, but I need to focus on protein over carbs. I also need to focus on limiting sugar. I hate tracking my food, but I plugged today's meal plan into MFP last night. My hope is that if I put it in there before hand, I will actually follow it.<br />
<br />
Breakfast: coffee & mango keylime smoothie<br />
Lunch: ground beef nacho casserole<br />
Snack: mixed nuts & laughing cow<br />
Dinner: homemade pasta dish<br />
<br />
The mixed nuts and cheese in the casserole make the day a little high in fat, but otherwise (calories, carbs, protein), I would be exactly at target. Now I just have to be mindful.<br />
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Nothing like a Monday morning blog reset. It always puts my mind in the right place for the week!<br />
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Hugs!<br />
<br />
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<br />Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-63604254751545495482016-09-22T10:14:00.004-05:002016-09-22T10:14:42.311-05:00August was Amazing!It has been almost 2 months since my last post, but there is a very good reason why! First, my friends and I went to Rio for the Olympics. It was amazing!<br />
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Rio itself is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. There were no mosquitoes so no fear of Zika. The people were amazingly warm and helpful, plus we were careful where we went, so almost no fear of crime. The weather was gorgeous almost every day. And the views were spectacular from every direction. My favorite "Rio" moment was visiting the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. The whole day with our private Rio tour guide Ederson Oliviera was incredible. If you go to Rio, look him up!<br />
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The greatest "Brazilian sport" moment was being at Maracana for the Sweden v. Brazil women's soccer game. We had hoped it would be Brazil v. USA, but I think from a spectator perspective, this might have been better. We got to be all in for Brazil and feel the amazing nationalism that poured out. It was like nothing I had ever seen and I can't even compare it to anything in the States.<br />
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My favorite "Team USA" moment was the first day when we saw the women's gymnastics team win gold AND Michael Phelps win his 20th and 21st gold medals. It just topped of the whole experience when the swim team was at the Today show the day we visited and we got to interact with many of them. This "Phelpie" is the best!!<br />
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I mean, seriously?!?? We were even on the Today Show website. Click on <a href="http://www.today.com/news/michael-phelps-announces-retirement-today-show-time-i-mean-it-t101844" target="_blank">this link</a> and scroll to the bottom.<br />
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It was a trip of a lifetime and I will never forget it. Once we got home, I had a week to catch up before I left for Houston. I volunteered with the Team USA Paralympic team to get them through team processing. All of the athletes, coaches and staff go through Houston to pick up their swag, get fitted for their clothes, take a head shot, do media, etc. The first four days, my primary job was at Ralph Lauren helping the tailors and stylists fit everyone for their Opening/Closing outfits. There was SO much tailoring to be done and it was like magic. People would come through in the morning and all of the alterations had to be complete before the flights left at 8pm. It was unbelievable and my hats off to the amazing folks at Ralph Lauren Polo. Truly incredible! Here is a picture of two of the track & field athletes I got to work with one day.<br />
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One of the greatest things about volunteering is meeting people. One of the volunteers and I hit it off and were able to get together for dinner (along with BFF) the other night while she was in the area.<br />
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Not for nothing, I was feeling pretty sassy in that outfit. <br />
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I've been back a couple of weeks and I'm starting to get back into the groove. I'm back at CrossFit consistently and I'm really trying to focus on nutrition. I brought my bullet blender to work and I'm drinking a smoothie for breakfast each morning. Today's recipe:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>1 scoop of Chocolate protein powder</li>
<li>2 pineapple juice ice cubes</li>
<li>1/2 c frozen mixed berries</li>
<li>4 oz. unsweetened vanilla almond milk</li>
<li>2 squirts SF strawberry Torani syrup</li>
</ul>
It is delicious!<br />
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I lost 2.6 pounds in August even with the two massive vacations. I have another week or so in September, so we will see how it goes. I'm not down anything at the moment, but going back to CrossFit always causes some water retention for me, so I will be glad to take measurements next weekend. I definitely feel a difference in my clothes. I'm fitting into all of the smallest things I have ever worn, so it will be new territory from here. I'm in my Cato size 10 jeans, but I never did fit into the size 10 Gap jeans I have, so that is my next goal!<br />
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I hope things are good out in Blog World. They sure are great here!!<br />
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Hugs!<br />
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<br />Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-84793929700750263252016-08-01T14:39:00.002-05:002016-08-01T14:39:35.883-05:00JulyAnother month passes...but I am trying to check in and keep myself accountable. I'm being consistent anyway.<br />
<br />
Pounds lost:<br />
<ul>
<li>April - 5.4</li>
<li>May - 4.4</li>
<li>June - 6.4</li>
<li>July - 5.6</li>
</ul>
I lost another 4.5 inches in July, most notably from my waist and hips. I'm back in my Cato size 10 jeans (picture on the right side of my blog page.) I'm consistently fitting into size 12s in traditional clothes (not boutique clothes which seem to run smaller.) Only about 6 or 7 pounds to my lowest weight as an adult. That's a pretty big deal. :-)<br />
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I did buy a pair of white skinny jeans! Woohoo!<br />
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My mom came for a visit for a week in July. We had a lot of fun buying new clothes for my upcoming trip to Rio. Right when she left, I got a stomach bug that morphed right into some sort of respiratory infection. I'm so tired of the doctor but I'm going yet again today. I need to be 100% healthy. Rio is in T-1 week!<br />
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Hope all is well out in blogland!<br />
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Hugs!Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-20911871040756855052016-07-05T13:59:00.003-05:002016-07-05T13:59:47.830-05:00Summer Craziness!June was crazy busy! Work was crazy, workouts were crazy and there was a whole lot of fun in there too!<br />
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I worked out 21 times for a total of 18.5 hours including 12 times at CrossFit. Not bad! I lost 6.4 pounds and over 4 inches. I'm starting to fit into my size 12s. In all fairness, they are big size 12s, but size 12s nonetheless!!<br />
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This weekend is going to be crazy busy as well, but I wanted to check in. I need to get back to posting on a regular basis. I'm doing well, but I know how quickly I can go off track if I'm not careful.<br />
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I spent my birthday month preparing for my big trip to Brazil and spending a lot of time with friends. July will be more of the same. My biggest focus is making sure I work out regularly and that I focus on nutrition. I get my labs done next week and I have my follow up with my bariatric doctor the week after that. I should learn if I have any vitamin or mineral deficiencies then. I think I might be low on iron. I seem to be bruising a lot. But that is easily fixed.<br />
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The doctor wanted me to lose at least 16 pounds in the 3 months between visits. I had hoped for closer to a 25 pound loss. I hit a 3 week stall though when I started back to CrossFit so that isn't likely. I know I was building muscle and doing good things for my body so no worries. Even with the 3 week stall, I'm still right at 16 pounds lost. Since I have another couple of weeks, I should be more than on target with the doctor.<br />
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Yesterday, I went through my closet and all my "too small" clothes. So many things actually fit now! I'm so close to my all time low and it is so exciting to start fitting into things I haven't worn in years.<br />
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Here is a picture from exactly four years ago. I had just had plastic surgery and I weighed almost exactly the same as I do now. <br />
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I hope to check in a little more regularly!!<br />
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Hugs!<br />
<br />Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-2956305982889636532016-05-31T10:31:00.000-05:002016-05-31T10:31:09.151-05:00Vacation Wrap Up and Weekly AccountabilityThings have been crazy busy, so buckle up!!<br />
<br />
Let's start with Weekly Accountability:<br />
<br />
Loss this week - 2.2 pounds <br />
Total Loss since revision - 33.8 pounds<br />
Total Loss from highest - 79.8 pounds<br />
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This is actually for two weeks. I lost 2.4 pounds last week and then was up .2 this week after my vacation. I'm okay with that.<br />
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So right before the holiday weekend, I got my hair cut. The plan was to be able to make it funky on the weekends but wear it more conservatively during the weekend. However, I like it WAY more funky-like so I have just been wearing it that way. My only issue is that if I'm not wearing makeup, I feel a little masculine.<br />
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The stylist did it on the left and I wish I could recreate it better. I'm sure it will take practice. The right side is with it flat. It is okay, but a little short for my taste to wear it that way.<br />
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I spent Memorial weekend with my brother's family in Louisville. My parents went as well and we stayed in a hotel not too far away. My oldest nephew graduated and was a speaker at the ceremony. It was just fantastic! I love him so much, I just can't even say.<br />
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You can see in this picture I did my own hair. It is a little less sculpted than when the stylist did it. I'm sure I will get better at it! <br />
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My younger nephew left for camp and to say he was excited is a massive understatement. This kid LOVES camp. I think he would live outside if he could. He is going to be my world traveler someday and I love it!<br />
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Then there is my niece.<br />
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She finally took a normal picture with me right before I left. The rest have faces or we are snapchat filter dogs. You know how it goes. She is 12 going on 25 and she rounds out my love trifecta.<br />
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I even took a picture with my brother. I can't tell you the last time we took a picture together just the two of us. He smoked pork and salmon while we were there and it was amazeballs. The guy will be ready for a grilling competition soon!<br />
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We went to Churchill Downs for the races on Saturday. It was a lot of fun! <br />
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I managed to get a workout while I was in KY too. See the difference without makeup? I'm not a fan. I just feel like I look manly. I'm sure I will get used to it.<br />
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While I was in Louisville, BFF was busy with Olympic prep. I can't believe we are leaving for Rio in 70 days!!!<br />
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And finally, I started back to CrossFit this morning after an 8 month hiatus. Today was a little lighter than normal because worldwide, Memorial day is a really tough workout. It was a good day for me to dip my toes back into the water. We did a lot of mobility work and stretching. We also worked on our front squats which was good for me. I went light, 45# which is the bar with baby weights, but I feel like my form was good.<br />
<br />
The workout was:<br />
<br />
21-15-9<br />
Deadlifts (85# which was probably just right for me today.)<br />
Box Jumps (I did step ups instead of jumps, but I did that before too. The boxes are big at this gym.)<br />
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So...I'm ready to go back tomorrow!<br />
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Hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend. <br />
<br />
Hugs!<br />
<br />
Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-10678276114237904462016-05-17T10:54:00.001-05:002016-05-17T10:54:58.251-05:00Key West & Weekly AccountabilityKey West is beautiful!!! Before I tell you about my vacation, I want to check in for my weekly accountability:<br />
<br />
Loss this week - .2 pounds GAIN<br />
Total Loss since revision - 31.6 pounds<br />
Total Loss from highest - 77.6 pounds<br />
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Since I went on a 4 day vacation, I'm not even upset about a little teenie tiny gain. I do hope I make up for it this week though!<br />
<br />
Thursday, BFF & I headed to the airport bound for Key West. We had a connection through Miami and got in about 4pm. We met up with our friends Lili and Coco and headed to Duval Street for dinner. We went to Keyviche for dinner and had a lovely time catching up. <br />
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Friday morning, we had breakfast and headed to the marina. It was our friends' wedding day!! We cruised around in the boat for a couple of hours. The conditions were perfect and it was just beautiful. We stopped at a beach for a while and collected shells. Then we headed to a deserted sandbar. We got off the boat and had the wedding ceremony. BFF was the witness and I was the officiant. I worked hard on the wedding script and I think my friends were both pleased. It was the perfect wedding for those two!! Not another person or boat in site. After the wedding, we played around the sandbar and then got back on the boat. Just as we were all starting to drag, we saw a big pod of dolphins. It is mating season, so they were all playing around like crazy. There were probably 10 or 12 of them and we sat and watched them for a while. It was the coolest thing!!<br />
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That night we had dinner on the beach. It was so lovely. I know that not everyone agrees with same sex marriage, but when I look at my friends Lili and Coco who have been committed to each other for almost 20 years, in my heart I only feel love. I couldn't be happier for them.<br />
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Saturday the girls went fishing, so BFF & I took a seaplane to Dry Tortugas. The plane ride was awesome (after my initial panic went away...I don't like flying.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XzZJ7DElRvk/Vzs9RVbqIzI/AAAAAAAACF8/vlEN729xspYkKPSF319URXwCm4nsOKP2wCKgB/s1600/05-17%2Bplane%2Bisland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XzZJ7DElRvk/Vzs9RVbqIzI/AAAAAAAACF8/vlEN729xspYkKPSF319URXwCm4nsOKP2wCKgB/s400/05-17%2Bplane%2Bisland.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Dry Tortugas from the seaplane</td></tr>
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Once we got to the island, we took a quick walk around and then went snorkeling. It was the best snorkeling I have ever done!! The coral and fish were beautiful and I even swam next to a shark! It was only about 18-24 inches long, but still...A SHARK!! After about an hour, we dried off and took a walk around the old fort there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from a window of the fort.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach Hair, Don't Care!</td></tr>
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The trip was a bit pricey, but it was worth every penny. We head back to Key West, had lunch (mmmm...shrimp & fish cakes!) and then showered. You get really dirty near the beach!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch on the beach.</td></tr>
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Then it was time for the scooter. Driving a scooter for the first time is not easy. I took it for a test drive around the block a few times and managed not to crash. Once I stopped trying to break all the time and stopped using the handlebars so much, things got a lot better.<br />
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It was bad enough with just me, but I agreed to drive BFF around and I was petrified I would crash and kill her. But it got a little better. We went to Duval Street and did some fun shopping. We had planned to take the scooter around that night, but decided that it would be too stressful so we took it back.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This totally cracked me up!</td></tr>
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We went to Mallory Square for sunset which is apparently a thing. Hundreds of people were there along with a lot of entertainers and food vendors. After, we met up with our friends for drinks. Coco caught an 8 foot shark that day! She is a big of a badass and it was a great story. They had the pictures to prove it. The bar was out at the beach, so it was the perfect way to end the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CkZSvOHa0zg/Vzs9RQA9LfI/AAAAAAAACF4/audNTLDpPGgA55bTG3TuJ7LHIJHMM5B5ACKgB/s1600/05-17%2Bsunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CkZSvOHa0zg/Vzs9RQA9LfI/AAAAAAAACF4/audNTLDpPGgA55bTG3TuJ7LHIJHMM5B5ACKgB/s400/05-17%2Bsunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mallory Square Sunset</td></tr>
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Sunday morning, we met up for an outdoor breakfast and walked around a bit before the girls took us to the airport. The vacation exceeded expectations in every way and I'm sure we will go back someday.<br />
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Now it is back to work. Happily, the scale was back down today, so now I can start working on losing some more. I went to Jazzercise last night and plan to walk at lunch the next couple of days. I'm 2.8 pounds from my next mini-goal. It would be super cool if I could reach it before I head to Louisville Memorial weekend.<br />
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Hugs!Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-39172757665140509272016-05-09T10:29:00.000-05:002016-05-09T10:29:33.666-05:00Weekend Wrap Up and Check InGood morning!<br />
<br />
I had a lovely weekend and I hope you all did too. I will say that I was frustrated on Friday because I was nursing a 2.5 week stall and I was getting tired of it. So I changed how I was going about things.<br />
<br />
I know this is hard to believe, but I am a planner. (Sarcasm font, anyone?) It is how I establish control in my life. In order to keep my nutrition in line with what I should be doing, I make a plan ever Sunday and meal prep. I write down everything I eat BEFORE I eat it and check things off as I go. It helped me with hunger because I spread my calories over the day and could eat something before I got so hungry that I would make bad choices.<br />
<br />
I think post-WLS, it is not as beneficial of a plan as it was before. I think it is possible I am eating unnecessarily sometimes. Again, this is all trial and error, I don't know. I decided to try only eating when I'm hungry. I know to normal people, that sound obvious. But for someone like me, that is just scary. I don't make good choices when I'm hungry. I overeat when I'm hungry. Blah blah blah.<br />
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Starting on Friday, I took the leap. First of all, I can't really overeat right now, so my challenge is simply to make good choices. With the exception of a drink (1!!) each weekend night, I did just that. Because I have been limiting carbs, I really am not craving them right now. I really want protein and that's mostly what I'm eating (with healthy fats.) And this morning, I'm down again. Coincidence? Time will tell.<br />
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Speaking of Friday, it was Derby weekend and my family lives in Louisville. My nephews went to the Oaks dressed in their Derby attire. How adorable are they?<br />
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I love those kids (they aren't even really kids anymore!) I'm headed up to the oldest's graduation in a few weeks. I feel old, but oh so very proud.<br />
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Friday night, BFF & I ran some errands, got pedis and had some Chinese food. Saturday we got up and went to Jazzercise. BFF taught some new type of strength class and it was awesome. I'm still sore today! Apparently she is teaching the same set tonight. Hopefully I will still be able to walk tomorrow!!<br />
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In the afternoon, we went to a Beatles tribute concert. It was hot and sunny outside, but we had a lot of fun. After church, we went for Mexican food on the patio.<br />
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I can't believe I actually like a picture that includes my bare arm. I'm definitely feeling good!<br />
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Yesterday we went to the annual fund raiser show for the theater where we have season tickets. They always do such a good job and we had a great time!<br />
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My weekly accountability:<br />
Loss this week - 2.6 pounds<br />
Total Loss since revision - 31.8 pounds<br />
Total Loss from highest - 77.8 pounds<br />
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The loss was a full pound more than last week's gain so I'm back in new territory. Also, I realized that I forgot to take my monthly progress photo last week, so here it is.<br />
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Bottom line, things are going well. I just have to be patient and trust it.<br />
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Hugs!<br />
Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-39203725026091331682016-05-02T12:11:00.001-05:002016-05-02T12:11:31.448-05:00Weekly & Monthly Check-inBFF & I went to WinStar this weekend. We had a couple of comp nights and we saw Harry Connick Jr. while we were there. I was super unlucky day one and lost my limit quickly. But things got better on day #2. It is a nice little getaway. We got back yesterday afternoon in time for me to get my chores done.<br />
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Things were not pretty when I weighed in this morning.<br />
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My weekly accountability:<br />
Loss this week - <span style="color: red;">(1.6) pounds GAIN</span><br />
Total Loss since revision - 29.2 pounds<br />
Total Loss from highest - 75.2 pounds</div>
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Yeah, so that sucks. Fingers crossed that it is mostly water retention and will be gone tomorrow. It still was painful to see. My punishment is logging my food for the week. I hate doing that, but it will help me stay in line in case I was wavering. <br />
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Luckily, my monthly check-in happened at the same time and I have seen a drop for the month. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
My monthly tracking:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Loss this month - 5.4 pounds</div>
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That isn't a ton, but what is even better is that I have lost almost <span style="color: blue;">12 inches</span> this month. Most notably in my belly (3"), hips (2") and a staggering 1.5" in my right thigh. So, good things are happening even if it isn't all showing on the scale.<br />
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I prepped all my food yesterday for a reset. I hit a snag this morning because when I got to work, someone had thrown away my egg beaters out of the fridge. Rude! So I had to be flexible. Not going to lie, my "plan B" did not turn out well. But I ate it, so whatever.<br />
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Breakfast - the plan was for a Sriracha Beef Egg Mug. Egg beaters with ground beef, frozen veggies, swiss laughing cow and some sriracha. Instead, I had ground beef, veggies and cottage cheese. Again, it was not great, but it was nutritious. I will stop and get some egg beaters after work for tomorrow.<br />
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Lunch - I made paprika chicken last night. I mixed 2T of paprika with 1t of minced dried onion and 1t of kosher salt. I used it as a dry rub for some chicken thighs. Once they cooked, I used the drippings and mixed with some sour cream for a little gravy. It was pretty tasty. Today I'm having one leftover thigh with a 1/2 individual can of peas and 1T gravy.<br />
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Snack - Greek yogurt or lunch meat rollup depending on my mood.<br />
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Dinner - Tonight I'm having a pseudo-shepherd's pie. I browned some ground beef with onions. I'm going to mix that with some peas and a little bit of mashed potatoes.<br />
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I'm planning to Jazzercise tonight. That should get my body back on track and I think I will feel much better tomorrow!<br />
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Hugs!<br />
<br />
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<br />Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-70976497820281589222016-04-25T16:22:00.000-05:002016-04-25T16:22:17.799-05:00Weekend Wrap up and AccountabilityFriday after work, BFF & I headed to dinner with her uncle, aunt and cousin. It was nice to catch up! We went to a steakhouse type place and I was able to get salmon with a sweet potato and green beans. I ate about 1/3 of everything.<br />
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Saturday I got up and went to Jazzercise for the first time in many, many weeks. I'm definitely out of shape. I used 5 pound weights and didn't do much of the core work and I was still tired!! Tonight I will up myself to 8 pounds weights (normally I use 10, so that will still be a break) and start working my core. As hard as it was, it felt so great.<br />
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Saturday night after church, we went to a friend's house for a crawfish boil. I was worried about what I could eat, so I brought some deviled eggs. I had a couple of eggs, but the crawfish were cooked so perfectly, I ate several of those as well. It was a beautiful evening until the mosquitoes came and we had to go inside!<br />
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Sunday, BFF & I had a girls' day out. We started out at breakfast at a place called Modern Market. I thought it was cool because all of the nutritional info was right on the receipt.<br />
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I had an egg scramble with broccoli & cheese. It was delicious! I ate about 2/3 of the egg and about 4-5 pieces of potato.<br />
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After breakfast, we went shopping. We went to Target, The Container Store and the Galleria. I got a lot of organization stuff for my declutter/organizing mission at home. Plus, I got some clothes for my trip to Florida in a few weeks. I don't have a lot of casual summer clothes that fit!<br />
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I'm going to be in a wedding in a couple of weeks. It is a super casual beach wedding and I was told that their color is coral. They are so laid back and just told BFF and me to wear whatever we want. I'm sure they will be in shorts and t-shirts. I wanted to be casual but still wear a dress, so I went with this:<br />
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BFF's dress is all coral, but this one has coral in it and it was on sale. Plus, it looked good!<br />
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My weekly accountability:<br />
Loss this week - 2.2 pounds<br />
Total Loss since revision - 30.8 pounds<br />
Total Loss from highest - 76.8 pounds<br />
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Not too shabby! Since I reached my goal, I was able to order my new bedding. I can't wait to get it!! I'm enjoying this reward thing so I decided to add one every 5 pounds. Is that terrible? Ha! So I have 4.2 pounds to the next one. :)<br />
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Hugs!<br />
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Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-90143393355485254412016-04-22T08:50:00.000-05:002016-04-22T08:50:38.441-05:00Follow up AppointmentI had my 6 week follow up appointment yesterday and it could not have gone better. I had lost 9 pounds since my appointment 4 weeks prior. I was cleared for workouts. AND I found I can have caffeine. No alcohol for a while yet though.<br />
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Every time you visit for an appointment, you have to list out what you ate the day before. The doc told me that my menu looked like a sample menu. Ha! I told her that I learned a lot with my lap band and as long as it was working properly I did really well. She is actually a former band patient and understood entirely.<br />
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Today's menu:<br />
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Breakfast - breakfast taco fillings (brought into the office for someone's birthday. So much better than a cake!!!)<br />
Snack - Greek yogurt<br />
Lunch - leftover meatloaf & green beans<br />
Snack - 2T peanut butter<br />
Dinner - Grilled salmon, sweet potato & mushrooms<br />
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We are going to dinner with BFF's uncle, aunt & cousin for her little cousin's birthday. She and her uncle were close in age and grew up more like cousins than uncle/niece. Her cousin calls her Aunt BFF. Anyway, when we lived out in the 'burbs, we would see them every week at church and we would have breakfast with them after. Now that we live downtown, we don't see them often. It will be nice to catch up.<br />
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Did I mention that I get to Jazzercise on Saturday? YAY!! I will start with itty bitty weights and work my way up, but hopefully it won't take to long to get everything working right. I already notified CrossFit as well that I will be coming back on 6/01. I'm excited and terrified thinking about it.<br />
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Today, I'm going to forego going out to lunch and I'm going to walk. I thought I might try and jog a few small intervals.<br />
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Things are starting to fall in place. The doctor told me that her goal for me was to lose 16 pounds for my next appointment in 3 months. I would like to lose more like 25. It will take work, but now is the time!!<br />
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Hugs! Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-54915355625938877892016-04-21T11:42:00.000-05:002016-04-21T11:42:33.383-05:00Ten Things Thursday1. Today is going to be a good day. My clothes fit. My hair did what it was supposed to do. AND I get a massage tonight. Not even the clouds can dampen my spirit. Although, the sun looks to be peeking out!<br />
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2. I started eating "real" food on Tuesday. It is going great! I only eat a small amount at a time, but I eat 5x each day instead of 3. So yesterday looked like this:<br />
<ul>
<li>Breakfast - Greek yogurt & coffee</li>
<li>Snack - SlimFast Protein</li>
<li>Lunch - Homemade meatloaf & green beans</li>
<li>Snack - 2T peanut butter</li>
<li>Dinner - Lunchmeat & Cheese roll ups with avocado</li>
</ul>
I'm finding that I'm hungrier in the morning than I was with the band. So today I had egg beaters for breakfast and yogurt for a snack. It definitely made a difference!<br />
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3. I have my 6 week follow up appointment today. I feel like I'm doing great so I'm eager to check in.<br />
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4. Today I met my current mini-goal!! I'm now officially regularly obese instead of super obese. I know that is a very good thing, but it is too much to get happy for obesity... <br />
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5. BUT...I will get happy for my reward! I have been wanting new bedding since I moved a year and a half ago. I decided that would be a great reward. I found what I wanted online, but when I went to price it, I couldn't get the bed skirt. I looked all over the internet and no bed skirt. Booooo! I have an adjustable bed that sits really high so I feel like I need one.<br />
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BFF & I are going shopping on Sunday so this is my #1 priority. I would like it to be bright and cheery without being overly busy.<br />
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6. I'm hoping at my appointment they give me workout clearance. I would love to be able to go to Jazzercise on Saturday. Fingers crossed!<br />
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7. After my surgery, I joined an online support group for people that have had weight loss surgery with my doctor. I'm having dinner with some of the people on Sunday. I've never met any of them, so it always makes me nervous. But I have found that you can never have too much community in this endeavor. Even though I'm nervous, I'm looking forward to it.<br />
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8. I have to get things done this weekend. I'm traveling 4 out of the next 5 weekends. While it will be fun, fun, fun...I also will have no extra time in the month of May. Gotta make things happen.<br />
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9. My dad is having surgery tomorrow. He is 75 so no surgery is really minor. He is having two surgeries on his foot. He will be in a cast for a while and then a boot for a while after that. I'm not sure who is going to be more annoyed, my dad...or my mom. Sending prayers of patience for both of them.<br />
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10. My jeans are almost too big. They may have to go soon. I'm going to have to break out the next size down!<br />
<br />
Hugs!Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-17080741069347119422016-04-18T09:12:00.001-05:002016-04-18T09:12:38.233-05:00Weekend Wrap upSaturday morning, I went to Jazzercise with BFF. Of course, I can't actually Jazzercise yet, but it was nice to see some friends and while they danced, I walked. I went for an entire hour and finished a 5K+. I'm a little sore today but I have to say that I felt really good. I really hope that they clear me for workouts soon. I find out on Thursday. Fingers crossed!<br />
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This is me as I finished up. After that we went to La Madeleine for lunch. I had a scrambled egg and cup of tomato basil soup. Delicious! Although I'm getting tired of the pureed stage. Eggs, cottage cheese with spaghetti sauce and refried beans with guacamole is about all I can stomach in this phase. I'm extremely done with pureed soups. I'm ready for some new things. Today is the last day though, so I can do it!<br />
<br />
After lunch, we went to get our hair cut. Since our hair stylist is near where we used to live, we often go together and just make a little "suburbs trip" out of it. I got my hair chopped.<br />
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Holy eyebags, sheesh. But you get the hair idea. I always feel like my eyes look bigger when my hair is shorter. After hair, we made a quick grocery store run where I was so excited to buy actual FOOD! Woohoo! Then we went to church. Deacon told me he loved my new 'do.<br />
<br />
After church, BFF came over and we watched Confirmation on HBO. I don't typically comment on anything that could be political, but I will just say that it made me very sad. I was in high school during the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings and I remember a lot of people didn't believe her. I'm glad she spoke up and I think it at least helped our country move in the right direction. There is still a long way to go, but I truly believe that this was an example of one woman making a difference.<br />
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I had this thought as I crawled into bed Saturday night before 10pm...<br />
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Yesterday, we had theater tickets, but it rained and stormed all day so we actually skipped it. Instead, BFF came over and helped me put together my new cabinet. It looks really nice!<br />
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I was super productive the rest of the day. In addition to my normal laundry & food prep (meatloaf!!!) and the cabinet building, I cleaned out my refrigerator and finished trying on all of my clothes in storage. They are now sorted:<br />
<ol>
<li>Items I can wear now are in the closet.</li>
<li>Items I can wear in the next 10-15 are also in the closet.</li>
<li>Items that will take 15 pounds or more are in a box in my armoire.</li>
<li>Items that are too big or I no longer like were bagged up for donation.</li>
<li>Items that were stained or torn or otherwise damaged have been thrown away.</li>
</ol>
I have been really doing well with my commitment this year to purge more. Next on the agenda is to go through all my purses and bags. I also need to reorganize my bathroom. I think if I worked at it, I could get rid of a whole cabinet in my bathroom and take it upstairs for useful storage. I will focus on those things next weekend.<br />
<br />
Lastly, I'm in a wedding in a few weeks. It is a very casual, destination wedding. The brides will be wearing shorts and likely no shoes. It is on a beach in Florida. BFF & I are standing up for them, but we told them we would be girly for them. Ha! This is the dress I ordered:<br />
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It looks really short, but the measurements indicate otherwise. I'm hoping the model is just really tall. Anyway, fingers crossed. If this doesn't work, I will have to find time to go dress shopping. I'm looking forward to the wedding. It will be the first same sex wedding I have attended. The day of the Supreme Court ruling, our friends immediately called us and asked us to be their witnesses. We were so touched! They have been committed to each other for 20 years and this means so much to them.<br />
<br />
Finally, my weekly accountability:<br />
<br />
Loss this week - 1.4 pounds<br />
Total Loss since revision - 28.6 pounds<br />
Total Loss from highest - 74.6 pounds<br />
<br />
Still going in the right direction. Of course, I want it to go faster, but I know I'm doing what I'm supposed to do, so I'm just trusting the process. It makes me gag a little to think of what I have to eat today. I think today is harder than my last day of liquids! But tomorrow, I get meatloaf and green beans!!<br />
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Hugs! Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-81505915575149969002016-04-15T09:21:00.001-05:002016-04-15T09:21:31.990-05:00New GoalsI spent some time last night thinking about my goals. I have two kinds of goals: life goals and actual weight loss goals. Today I'm focusing on the weight loss.<br />
<br />
There are many ways to "attack" losing weight. I've been through this process more times than I can count. My blog is titled "never-ending quest" partially because I know that my fight against obesity will be a never-ending battle. But I also know that I have about 12-18 months of an edge. During this time, while my body is figuring out what in the hell I've done to it and before it can adjust itself, it will be easier for me to lose weight than it is "normally". I know this because I experienced it with the Band.<br />
<br />
After that initial period of easier weight loss, but when my band was still working properly, I was just normal. It wasn't virtually impossible to lose weight like it was before. However, it was absolutely not easy. I see it as I was finally normal. Most people out there have to watch what they eat and be active in order to not put on weight. Very few people out there can just eat what they want and sit around and still be thin. So I don't mind work, I just want that work to pay off. For a few years, that was how it worked.<br />
<br />
Last year, I put on a lot of weight as I struggled with my band issues and my brand new hernia. It sucked. But now I have an incredible opportunity to lose as much weight as possible while it is a bit easier. I made a commitment to myself that I will use this opportunity.<br />
<br />
So, what should be my goal? When I got my band, I made a goal to lose 120 pounds. I fell short by 23 pounds and actually "settled" about 20 pounds above that. It was good, I felt great, in fact! I was active and strong. I was healthy. I'm currently now in the mid-range of where I settled. I need to lose 23 pounds to get to my lowest adult weight. My goal is to reach that before I go to the Olympics.<br />
<br />By the end of the year, it is my goal to be at my high school weight. I was always heavy, so weighing as an adult what I weighed in high school shouldn't be an issue. I have kept my prom dress for almost 25 years. It is a total bucket list item to be able to fit in it again.<br />
<br />
It is my slightly aggressive goal to lose another 20 pounds after that by this time next year. I honestly don't know if I can do that. If I can't, I have promised myself that I will still see the success in what I do accomplish. But if I can, it would actually put me in the normal BMI category. To be clear, I haven't ever been in a normal BMI category. When I was the "right" weight, I was shorter, so the goal weight was lower. I know the BMI scale is stupid and that someone muscular and broad like me might never be "normal"according to it. But I decided that doesn't mean that I can't go for it!<br />
<br />
My mom is the same height as me, but she has a much smaller build and doesn't have as much muscle. There was a point where we wore the same size and I was almost 40 POUNDS heavier than she. Think about that for a minute. We were the same height and same size, but I weighed 40 pounds more. Her BMI was "normal", but I was "obese". I wasn't even considered overweight...I was OBESE. Yet I wore the same size as a "normal" person. So, my point is, with my build, I don't know if it is feasible. But I do know that if I don't make it a goal, I definitely won't get there.<br />
<br />
You can see details of my new goals on my goal tracker page. While trying to update my photo page, Blogger ate it. Hopefully I will get it back up again and updated soon.<br />
<br />
I am less than a half pound away from my next goal, so fingers crossed I'm there my Monday! My reward is the new bedding I have been wanting to get for ages.<br />
<br />
Hugs!<br />
<br />
<br />Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-86360541300699386452016-04-12T08:24:00.000-05:002016-04-12T08:24:06.773-05:00Scales are StupidI'm frustrated. I'm frustrated because the scale while moving up and down daily, has been in the same range for a week. I'm doing all the right things, everything I can do.<br />
<br />
Believe me, I know that my body has been through a lot of stress so it probably is just reacting to that. I could be retaining water because of the recent start with activity or from hormones. I should have started my period a couple of days ago and I haven't, so I know that is probably itl.<br />
<br />
Just because I know all these things, doesn't keep me from being frustrated. :-) So, I will focus on something else. There is no questions that I can see results of my labors. Yesterday it was even more clear to me. My workout buddy couldn't work out yesterday, but I went anyway. I noticed when I changed that I had the same outfit I wore several weeks ago at the start of this. That day I had my friend take a picture. Yesterday, I stopped a random person in the locker room and had her take my picture. When I compared the two, I forgot about the scale:<br />
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I don't super love putting pictures of me looking like this out into the world, but whatevs. You can see on the left just how bloated I was. On the right, I feel so much more like myself. I'm smack in the middle of my "normal" weight zone. I'm sure in the 6 months I have been inactive, I have lost some of the muscle I worked so hard to build, but I can get that back in time.<br />
<br />
It is hard to explain how I felt from October-March. It was like I was in a fog and watching my life on TV. I knew I wanted to feel better, but it was like I was powerless to control it. I would imagine it is what depressed people feel like all the time. My heart goes out, truly. At least I knew my struggle was temporary. I'm still amazed that the very night after my surgery when I laid in bed and even through all the surgery pain, I was so happy not to feel the effects of the hernia. No more fluttering around in my chest. No more wicked acid reflux. It all was all gone. In the last few weeks, I think I have gotten some of my best sleep in years!<br />
<br />
Now that the haze from surgery and medication and all that nonsense is gone, I really feel like myself. <u>That is truly what this was all about</u>. I'm going to work hard to lose weight, just like I always have. I know that no matter what, it is going to be a struggle for the rest of my life. I'm okay with that as long as I feel like me.<br />
<br />
So, today instead of being annoyed at the stuck scale, I'm going to be so happy that I'm back. <br />
<br />
I saw this on Facebook yesterday and it made me think of my post about <a href="http://neverendingquestforsomething.blogspot.com/2016/03/scars.html" target="_blank">scars</a>. I like it!<br />
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Hugs!Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-57052706230394943302016-04-11T09:07:00.001-05:002016-04-11T09:07:56.141-05:00Weekly Check-In<u>Weekly Check-In</u><br />
<br />
Loss this week - 1.6 pounds<br />
Total Loss since revision - 27.2 pounds<br />
Total Loss from highest - 73.2 pounds<br />
<br />
I'm always happy when things are going in the right direction. With the addition of new foods, I expected a slow down. I hope to boost my metabolism a little more this week.<br />
<br />
The best news is that the pain is gone!!! I can actually even sneeze without pain. It is joyous! <br />
<br />
<u>Nutrition</u><br />
<br />
I can't say that I'm a big fan of the pureed food stage. I'm happy to be getting savory flavors though, for sure. Plus, there is only one more week until I can move to soft foods. After everything I have gone through, that is totally doable.<br />
<br />
For breakfasts this week, I have Egg Beaters. For my protein power-ups, I have shakes (although I have a couple of Greek yogurts to mix things up.) For lunches, I have my cottage cheese/marinara concoction. And finally for dinners, I'm enjoying the soup my dad made and left in my freezer.<br />
<br />
A few of things I'm learning:<br />
<ul>
<li>I'm getting a slightly more normal appetite back which is great. </li>
<li>It's easier to eat thicker things as the day goes on.</li>
<li>I really don't love pureed soups and can't wait until next week when I can enjoy them as is!</li>
</ul>
<u> Fitness</u><br />
<br />
Even though I no longer have pain, my abs are still sore. I carried something up the stairs yesterday and could feel the tightness. It is probably good that I still have 2-3 weeks before I can go back to Jazzercise, but I'm ready to start walking in earnest. My goal is at least 3 days at lunch this week and then on Saturday morning. Hold me to it!<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Other</u><br />
<br />
I don't have a lot on my plate this week other than work. Work is a bit crazy busy (in a good way) so I can take time to really dig in there. Additionally, I can get a few more things done around home. I did a lot of purging when my parents were visiting. I'm continuing that trend.<br />
<br />
I tried on every Spring & Summer item in my closets this weekend. If it was too big or I didn't love it, it went in the "give away" pile. If it fit, it went back in the closet. If it was damaged, it went in the trash. If it was more Fall/Winter, it went in the guest room closet. I filled 2 garbage bags already!! I'm still about 20 pounds heavier than my highest so I have two more boxes of things to go through as I drop weight. It should help save some money to have some things to wear for another few sizes. I just want to stay on top of it.<br />
<br />
My goal is to try and live more simply. It will take a while, but I'm making progress!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-33972041536402327282016-04-08T10:50:00.001-05:002016-04-08T10:50:06.377-05:00Feeling more like myselfI'm really starting to feel like myself again after my recent sleeve revision surgery. The left side pain still lingers, but it gets better everyday. Sneezes are the worst, but it also hurts when I cough, laugh or move awkwardly. I also still have trouble sleeping on my side, but I know it will all get better with time. They told me it would take 4-6 weeks to heal and I'm only at just over 3 weeks, so I'm right on target.<br />
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I started eating pureed foods on Tuesday. The first day was a little difficult. I has some Egg Beaters in the morning, but they didn't go down smoothly. For lunch I has some pureed cauliflower soup. It went down easy peasy and honestly, I don't think I ate enough. I was a little light headed and hazy most of the day, even though I added a couple of shakes to keep my protein in check. I felt better in the evening after eating my favorite new concoction:<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Noodle-less Manicotti</u><br />
<br />
1 part cottage cheese<br />
1 part marinara sauce<br />
1 oz mozzarella cheese<br />
<br />
stir, then heat in the microwave until warm.<br />
<br />
I realize it had been a long time (35 days!) since I had real savory food, so my bar is low, but it was SOOOO good! I think that I would add some ground beef later on for an easy and tasty, protein packed dinner. I didn't think I liked cottage cheese...maybe I don't normally, but I do like it this way! 10 more days of pureed food eating before I move to soft foods. After having a band for 6 years, I'm an expert at soft food!<br />
<br />
I find the hardest thing has become getting my water in. I ordered some cool Swell bottles to inspire me.<br />
<br />
This morning I had more Egg Beaters and they were great today! Lunch will be trickier. We are going to a Mexican restaurant so I'm going to order a side of refried beans and a side of guacamole.<br />
<br />
I can feel myself itching to get active. I'm all ready to go work out and then "kablow"...it's like a knife to my side which reminds me that I'm totally not ready yet. All in due time. I know.<br />
<br />
I'm just glad that the energy is coming back and my mind is getting back to normal! I've had some trouble feeling like myself the last year, but the last 6 months have been really "off". It's like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I want to run toward it but I'm in quicksand so I have to take it slow. But the light IS getting closer!<br />
<br />
Hugs!Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713654716595161589.post-77263900113460081792016-04-04T10:40:00.001-05:002016-04-04T10:40:44.913-05:00Getting back into things...Today I'm starting my weekly check-ins. I want to keep myself accountable and this is the best way to do that.<br />
<br />
Loss this week - 3.8 pounds<br />
Total Loss since revision - 25.6 pounds<br />
Total Loss from highest - 71.6 pounds<br />
<br />
Wowzaa. I know the big losses are coming because of my highly restricted eating, but it still feels good. Weight-wise, I'm about in the middle of the range I spent the vast portion of the last 4 years. It is nice to start fitting into my clothes again.<br />
<br />
It is amazing how much you can do to your body in just a few months of feeling terrible. But, I will pay that no mind as things are quickly coming back down. In addition to the 25 pounds, I have lost 18 inches! Most notably over 3 inches in my bust (goodbye back fat!) and over 3 inches in my belly. Also, I've lost over an inch in each thigh!! <br />
<br />
As for recovery, my left side still hurts. I can tell it is getting better, but it is agonizingly slow! Heating pad and ice packs help my back pain that is coming along with it. It is absolutely better than last week, but annoyingly it just won't seem to go away.<br />
<br />
<u>Food</u><br />
<br />
Today is my last day of the doctor required liquid diet. While I'm SO eager to start eating some savory things, it makes me a little nervous too. Today is day #35 of having only liquid in my diet. Other than being hungry, it has been easy. Moving to more solid food is nerve wracking for a few reasons:<br />
<ul>
<li>What if it makes me sick?</li>
<li>What if it makes me gain weight?</li>
<li>What if I try to eat something and it won't go down?</li>
</ul>
Those are all things I had to deal with when I got my band, so I know I will be okay. But the doubts are still there. With the band, I always knew I could go get fluid out or even get the whole thing out if I wanted. What I have done is permanent. You would think I would get panicky about that, but I really don't. I get a little anxious on occasion, then I remember everything I have fought through and done. I will do whatever necessary to help myself be and stay healthy!<br />
<br />
It will be a learning curve, but I have no doubt I will figure it out!<br />
<br />
My plan for tomorrow is this:<br />
<ul>
<li>Breakfast - greek yogurt</li>
<li>AM Protein Power Up - Shake</li>
<li>Lunch - Pureed Cauliflower Soup</li>
<li>PM Protein Power Up - Shake</li>
<li>Dinner - cottage cheese with spaghetti sauce</li>
</ul>
One step at a time! <br /><br />
<u>Fitness</u><br />
<br />
I still can't work out, which is good because I don't think I would be able to anyway. However, my back seems to be better when I don't sit around so much. I'm going to test it today and walk some at lunch. I will keep it leisurely and stop if I feel like it. If it hurts more after, then I won't walk anymore until I'm better. But if (as I hope) it keeps it warm and loose, it actually just might do me some good.<br />
<br />
Plus, it is a glorious day outside. I might not get to go to the ballpark for Rangers Opening Day, but that doesn't mean I can't get a little sun!! Fingers crossed!<br />
<br />
I will be patient though. I know with solid food and ramping up nutrition, the energy will come. But it is easier to move something that is already moving! <br />
<br />
<u>Weekend</u><br />
<br />
The weekend was nice. BFF was in Vegas, so I had to entertain myself. I spent a couple of evenings last week with an old friend that was in town. Her son is my godson and it was great to see him. He is such a good kid!<br />
<br />
Saturday I saw Zootopia with Debidoodle. It was super cute! Plus, I love spending time with her. It is crazy to think we would have never met if we hadn't had WLS. For those that are new to my blog, Debi & I met at a WLS support group after we got banded around the same time. Fortunately, she is not having any trouble with her band. Yay!<br />
<br />
Sunday was the First Communion for another godson. He looks like Mowgli from the new Jungle Book movie! He did a great job. I got him a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/174344091/lego-rosary-the-original-lego-rosary-in?ref=shop_home_active_17" target="_blank">lego rosary</a>. Who even knew such a thing existed??<br />
<br />
Immediately after, I picked up BFF from the airport and we hit the grocery store. I bought several things to test out in upcoming days. <br />
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Tomorrow night I'm going to see Springsteen! What, what!?! Then I have a happy hour on Wednesday. Hopefully the week will be uneventful!<br />
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Hugs!Beth Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063989714851082617noreply@blogger.com1