So thanks to my friend Leslie, super mom, savvy shopper and anchor extra-ordinaire...I was on a quest to find the latest and greatest must have for spoiled rotten kids who have everything- translation- Nick Cote.
She told me about the Elf on a Shelf....apparently I am the last to know because its been hot for a few years now but going mainstream this year. It's basically a funny looking little elf that you hide around the house each day and he reports back to Santa if you've been naughty or nice. So parents use it as a tool to keeping present obsessed kids in line and most kids get a real kick out of it. Well not my kid. I finally found the little $30 bugger at Hallmark today...and was so excited to give him to Nick. Of course he wanted nothing to do with it and screamed at me not to take it out of the box. I think Nick just takes things very literally and he wanted not part of some elf who might be able to report back to Santa when he's naughty. He prob figures he's better off taking his chances without a little spy hanging around the house- smart kid of mine.
Anyway had a great weekend...was able to catch up with one of my best friends, Kathy Dovas Saturday. We met at Pheasant Lane Mall and it was so luxurious to sit and chat at Starbucks for at least an hour...especially over free lattes! HAHA long story.
Kathy also introduced me to one of her weaknesses- those damn annoying carts where they are always offering free samples and asking for just a minute of your time. I always ignore them and keep walking. But nooooo not Kathy. By the time we were through we were the proud new owners of not 1 but 3 miracle nail kits, a wet AND dry ceramic hair iron, and of course the roman oil hair styling kit to go with it. I could have killed her. She is INSANE. But we had alot of laughs, got our hair straightened, and made some nice new friends with foreign accents. Love ya Kath!
Today we did some errands, then hung out at home so Lew could of course watch the Pats Dolphins game. Our neighbors came over and the kids had a good time.
I am very proud that I did the eliptical 6 our of 7 days this past week. Where did that come from? I didnt even really plan it. I just really looked forward to it every day. Things have been going pretty well in the food department. 9 straight days without getting sick. Ever since my appt with Dr. Ameri. So I think our talk did help and I am not so quick to try and get sick when I feel full. I've been trying to eat more consciously, slowly and chew more...and I guess it's working.
Two big milestones to report...I had my first wrap sandwich and a protein shake and both stayed down! I had a half a wrap of grilled chicken, avocado and boursin cheese from the Soup Factory the other day at work. I ate it for 2 meals and man it was AMAZING. I think because it was on lavash bread and not a soft wrap is why it worked. Today I made tiramisu protein icecream- yum- and made the left overs into a shake so I didnt waste it. It was really good! I felt like I was having a mudslide...I did use a coupel tablespoons of Kahlua in it- woo hoo. This could be a big step forward for me because I have been concerned with the carbs lately and I think if I can have a protein shake every day instead of so many crackers, bread, english muffin etc...I will be much better off.
Well Lew and I are going to watch the 24 Movie...finally JACK IS BACK!
Thought of the day courtesy of Beyonce and my new favorite song:
"If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it!"
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
74 degrees in November?
What a crazy couple of days....it's been so balmy, albeit rainy and dismal, but hey i'll take it with the warm temps. Had a great day...my Saturday morning ritual, 1 hour of blissful alone time, coffee and magazines on the chaise lounge with the dogs by my side. Nick and Lew go to their Daddy and Me class at the Rec Dept and it is so nice to have the house to myself....when does that happen right? Anyway we did a bunch of errands and got alot done around the house....which almost never happens because when the weather is nice you will find me anyplace but in the house. Took a nice long walk/run with the dogs late this afternoon and it was raining but it was so nice.
So I had my appt with Dr. Ameri...he and Louise were thrilled with my progress...said I was right where I should be in terms of weight loss for 6 months- a little ahead but nothing drastic. Which is good because I dont want to lose it too fast and then have problems down the road. I ended up crying and giving Dr. Ameri a big hug when he came in to see me....I didnt plan it...but it was heartfelt. I thanked him for taking a chance on me because I was thinking about how he almost cancelled my surgery when i admitted to eating cheese a few days before when i was supposed to be on my liquid diet. I remember telling him that day that if i didnt have it done that day I would never do it. And I do believe that. Thank god he went ahead with the surgery.
Anyway he is concerned about my vomitting so frequently. He wants to do a scope, but we are giving it 2 weeks to see how many times I get sick and what triggers it. So I have to keep a journal and try to figure out if we notice any trends. I am glad we are trying this first because if they have to do the scope, basically the little instrument they use to probe my poouch could stretch the opening to the pouch, and whether I end up having a stricture or not, it could really screw up my progress and success by allowing me to eat more. I dont want that to happen!
He said the hair loss is totally normal and should start slowing down soon. Overall they were just very happy for me and it all went great. I started crying when I told Dr. Ameri that just 6 months ago I would drop Nick off at pre school and then come home and set my alarm so I could sleep for 2 hours becuase I was in a sugar and carb coma every day and I was so exhuasted I couldnt even function. I told him that now I work out on the eliptical, clean my house, walk the dogs around the neighborhood and then usuallly still have time to read or relax for a bit before I pick him up. I thought that small example really summed up the improvements in my life and I am so grateful to him for giving it back to me.
Thought for the day:
"Dont be afraid your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin."
So I had my appt with Dr. Ameri...he and Louise were thrilled with my progress...said I was right where I should be in terms of weight loss for 6 months- a little ahead but nothing drastic. Which is good because I dont want to lose it too fast and then have problems down the road. I ended up crying and giving Dr. Ameri a big hug when he came in to see me....I didnt plan it...but it was heartfelt. I thanked him for taking a chance on me because I was thinking about how he almost cancelled my surgery when i admitted to eating cheese a few days before when i was supposed to be on my liquid diet. I remember telling him that day that if i didnt have it done that day I would never do it. And I do believe that. Thank god he went ahead with the surgery.
Anyway he is concerned about my vomitting so frequently. He wants to do a scope, but we are giving it 2 weeks to see how many times I get sick and what triggers it. So I have to keep a journal and try to figure out if we notice any trends. I am glad we are trying this first because if they have to do the scope, basically the little instrument they use to probe my poouch could stretch the opening to the pouch, and whether I end up having a stricture or not, it could really screw up my progress and success by allowing me to eat more. I dont want that to happen!
He said the hair loss is totally normal and should start slowing down soon. Overall they were just very happy for me and it all went great. I started crying when I told Dr. Ameri that just 6 months ago I would drop Nick off at pre school and then come home and set my alarm so I could sleep for 2 hours becuase I was in a sugar and carb coma every day and I was so exhuasted I couldnt even function. I told him that now I work out on the eliptical, clean my house, walk the dogs around the neighborhood and then usuallly still have time to read or relax for a bit before I pick him up. I thought that small example really summed up the improvements in my life and I am so grateful to him for giving it back to me.
Thought for the day:
"Dont be afraid your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin."
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Minus 100 pounds later.....
Today is my 6 month surgi-versary. 6 Months ago today at this hour I was headed to Winchester Hospital- close to 300 pounds and freaking out would be an understatement.
Fast forward to today, conveniently, I hit the 100 pound loss mark this morning- exactly 6 months after my surgery! I did my measurements this morning and that is even more astounding- if that is possible! I have lost a total of 56 inches-of fat I presume! I mean that is almost 5 FEET of FAT! My BMI has gone from a 48 Morbidly Obest, to a 31- which is still in the obese category- which annoys me! But I am sure it will still be going down. I have gone from a size 28/30 to my all time low the other day of SIZE 12! I think that particular pair of pants ran big- but WHO CARES!?!
So those are the factual numbers and stats. But even more important are the changes in my everyday life. I am definitely happier, healthier, and more comfortable in my own skin. My sister in law was asking me the other day what it feels like to lose a hundred pounds and my answer surprised me. I told her I feel completely comfortable and normal, and that isn't the weird part, it was more bizarre to be so big, and feel so strange. I feel like I am the way I am supposed to be now, and it's not really a big deal, if that makes any sense.
I still have challenges, but things are getting better. I have been getting sick alot but its kind of part of the drill now, and not so dramatic and drawn out as it was in the early days. I was able to have a couple glasses of wine and lots of yummy appetizers at a cocktail party this past weekend so that was great. I have noticed a pattern, when i have wine, I am able to eat much more easily. I heard that it relaxes all your muscles so that's prob why everything goes down fine! Definitely not something to do every day but nice to know.
I still get sick from basic stuff that is fine one day and hits me wrong the next- that is most maddening. Eggs, most veggies, red meat and pasta are still off limits.
But crispy pizza, high quality bread, chicken, fish, cheeses and most everything else are fine in small amounts. I subsitute splenda for sugar in everything and they even have a splenda brown sugar now so I do all my baking and no one even notices the difference. I am still a soup addict, and yogurt, power bars and protein icecream will always be my staples.
I definitely need to work on my exercise routine, it has been haphazard at best. I feel like I have alot more energy in general, but if I do a workout it depletes half my calories for the day, and I cant just eat more like most people do. So I am working on that puzzle.
I still have 12 pounds to go to reach my original goal...and I had given myself a year to do that! I suspect I will be going below that goal, whether I like it or not. That is one of my concerns, being able to stop losing when I want/need to.
Right now the biggest bummer is my hair loss. It has been going on for 2 months now with no signs of letting up. Thank god I started with so much hair...but I can tell the difference big time. Lew says he cant, but its really bothering me. I am anxious for my 6 month check up with Dr. Ameri Friday. Maybe he will have some ideas for me on that and the getting sick so frequently.
But overall I am finally ready to say I made the right decision. If you read this blog since the beginning, you know I did not feel that way for a long time. I know it was the answer for me...because honestly right this second, if i could get my paws on a Boston Kreme donut, I'd be scarfing it down! Hey I am still me, and thank god this tool keeps me in check.
Well Nick and I are road tripping to Newport today to celebrate and have some seafood for lunch...check out the shops and boats. Here's to the next 6 months and healthy years ahead.
Thought for the Day:
"What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?"
Fast forward to today, conveniently, I hit the 100 pound loss mark this morning- exactly 6 months after my surgery! I did my measurements this morning and that is even more astounding- if that is possible! I have lost a total of 56 inches-of fat I presume! I mean that is almost 5 FEET of FAT! My BMI has gone from a 48 Morbidly Obest, to a 31- which is still in the obese category- which annoys me! But I am sure it will still be going down. I have gone from a size 28/30 to my all time low the other day of SIZE 12! I think that particular pair of pants ran big- but WHO CARES!?!
So those are the factual numbers and stats. But even more important are the changes in my everyday life. I am definitely happier, healthier, and more comfortable in my own skin. My sister in law was asking me the other day what it feels like to lose a hundred pounds and my answer surprised me. I told her I feel completely comfortable and normal, and that isn't the weird part, it was more bizarre to be so big, and feel so strange. I feel like I am the way I am supposed to be now, and it's not really a big deal, if that makes any sense.
I still have challenges, but things are getting better. I have been getting sick alot but its kind of part of the drill now, and not so dramatic and drawn out as it was in the early days. I was able to have a couple glasses of wine and lots of yummy appetizers at a cocktail party this past weekend so that was great. I have noticed a pattern, when i have wine, I am able to eat much more easily. I heard that it relaxes all your muscles so that's prob why everything goes down fine! Definitely not something to do every day but nice to know.
I still get sick from basic stuff that is fine one day and hits me wrong the next- that is most maddening. Eggs, most veggies, red meat and pasta are still off limits.
But crispy pizza, high quality bread, chicken, fish, cheeses and most everything else are fine in small amounts. I subsitute splenda for sugar in everything and they even have a splenda brown sugar now so I do all my baking and no one even notices the difference. I am still a soup addict, and yogurt, power bars and protein icecream will always be my staples.
I definitely need to work on my exercise routine, it has been haphazard at best. I feel like I have alot more energy in general, but if I do a workout it depletes half my calories for the day, and I cant just eat more like most people do. So I am working on that puzzle.
I still have 12 pounds to go to reach my original goal...and I had given myself a year to do that! I suspect I will be going below that goal, whether I like it or not. That is one of my concerns, being able to stop losing when I want/need to.
Right now the biggest bummer is my hair loss. It has been going on for 2 months now with no signs of letting up. Thank god I started with so much hair...but I can tell the difference big time. Lew says he cant, but its really bothering me. I am anxious for my 6 month check up with Dr. Ameri Friday. Maybe he will have some ideas for me on that and the getting sick so frequently.
But overall I am finally ready to say I made the right decision. If you read this blog since the beginning, you know I did not feel that way for a long time. I know it was the answer for me...because honestly right this second, if i could get my paws on a Boston Kreme donut, I'd be scarfing it down! Hey I am still me, and thank god this tool keeps me in check.
Well Nick and I are road tripping to Newport today to celebrate and have some seafood for lunch...check out the shops and boats. Here's to the next 6 months and healthy years ahead.
Thought for the Day:
"What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?"
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