Questions From The Un-banded

I received a FB message from one of my coworkers, who I love because everytime we run into each other she says "You've lost more weight", and then I get to tell her that I am in fact getting fatter...and we argue briefly about how good I look.

But I digress...

She of course knows that I am banded, has found my blog, and asked me the following questions.  And I thought I would answer them here for any of you newbies or those who are considering WLS.

 I am really thinking that this is the route I want to go but I have so many fears... will I loose the weight, be able to resist the temptations, tone up?? How did you do it, and were you not scared?

I hesitate these days to tell someone that the band is the most amazing weight loss tool ever.  Because even though for me, it certainly has been, over the past several years, I have seen those who succeed, those who don't, those who really want to but...for what ever reason...the band was not the right choice.  But I do not hesitate to say that for me, making the choice to a) have weight loss surgery and b) going the route of the band versus other options, has been the best decision of my life.  It has freed me.  It has given me things I never thought were going to be possible.  It has allowed me to live my life to the fullest-physically speaking anyways.   I would do it again in a heartbeat.

But, medical issues aside (bc there are those in our fold who have had to have the band removed and chose other options) I know the band CAN work.  But it only does about 50% fo the job.  And maybe that's why it worked for me.  Because I knew I could do HALF the work at least....just don't expect me to do 100%.  (Heather says I like to do things half-assed.  She may be on to something).  Once Dr. Friedman told me that I could have the surgery and NOT lose any weight, I knew I wasn't going to be THAT girl.  If I was going through with it, I was going through with it.  And it helped Dr. Friedman was smokin' and I wanted to impress him.

And like I have said before, having a good doctor-regardless of hotness-but one that you trust, can work with, let's you get fills when you make the case for one, etc...can make you or break you even before you get started.

I don't really remember being scared.  I remember being scared the day of surgery, just bc you get that fear that you may die :) But after that...I was good.

And the toning up thing.  Well, that depends on SO many factors, but I believe that if you start working out and then actually start WEIGHT TRAINING, that over the years...it does start to look better.  I have been lifting now regular for at least two years.  And it's not THAT bad.  You can't just lose the weight and THEN start toning.  It will be too late.  You can't just do cardio and expect your body to tone up.  It's a mix.  But you have to do it.  And that can be one of the hardest things.  Because the band doesnt help you work out.  Damn it.

But regardless of what you choose, do your research.  Be honest with yourself.  But don't wait.  Don't let your fears keep you from something that potentially could change your live for the better.  The unknown doesnt have to be scary.  It can be full of great things, new things, and the beginning of a new lease on life.

Hope that helps!

Running Against the Wind

Part of my "new" exercise routine for this new year will be changing things up just a little...and sadly...for me...that means adding more cardio to my workout and possibly cutting back on my weight lifting just a tad.  Instead of 4-6 sessions of weights a week, I am going to cut back to just 3 times a week, and add 2 sessions of cardio.

Mommy hates cardio.  I've even grown to hate Zumba.  I know.  It's true.  But, for ME to LOSE weight, I know I need to up my cardio and keep it consistent. 

So this morning, I went for a run.  I made my little playlist to go along with my Nike running gps app...which I have talked about before, but it is well worth the $2.99 to purchase it.  I love that it tracks my route, I can play my playlist through it, it tracks my pace, shows a map, etc.  I have tried other free apps in the past, and none are as accurate or user friendly. 

Anywhoozle, I started running to Will.I.Am's new song...so I got a little excited out of the gate and thought I may have to start walking just 1 minute in.  I made it though, without stopping, 3.13 miles...half of thosse against the wind.  The wind is no joke my friends!  I did pass this cute jogger man twice, and managed to say "This wind sucks" to him like I knew what I was talking about.  My pace is slow, but it was steady.  Upon entering the house I grabbed my water bottle and the bottle of IBprofen.  My knees were really hurting for some reason this time...they usually dont bother  me.

Hell.  I am old.

But I am feeling good spirit wise.  I feel like I can stay away from the diet hooch for the day, drink my water, make positive choices.

Here is my Nike GPS app for today:


I am also using Daily Plate/Livestrong app to track my calories.  Heather uses it religiously, and I have used to from time to time.  We pay for the $2 version...and they recently  made it tons more user friendly.  Here is the home page on my iphone app:


Some of the songs I have on my running playlist are:



Happy Monday folks.  It seems like a lot of us bloggers are recommitting.  Let's do this together.

The Holidays: Gifts That Keep On Giving

Apparently, I am storing up for a long cold winter.  Like a squirrel collecting nuts for a snowstorm that will never arrive, I have been packing on the pounds over the holidays.  10 pounds to be exact.  And I have reached an all-time PB (post-band) high of 180 el-bees. 

That's right.

180

It is official.  Perhaps I can blame a residual counter gravity effect due to the winter solstice...but...probably not.

And seeing as how January 1st seems like a good place to begin....I shall begin again.  I have been thinking about my plan of attack for several days now, mulling over my grand ideas and possible goals...whilst eating large amounts of ice cream and swigging Pepsi straight from the 2-liter bottle.

Here is what I've got.  What worked for me during the first year of weight loss?

1.  Goals
2.  Blogging
3.  Water consumption
4.  Self-discipline
5.  Proper Restriction

And as of late my friends, I really can't claim to have possessed any of the above 5 mention items.

So here is my goal.

By May 1st, that is five months from today, I will have lost...

wait for it....

wait for it...

30 pounds. 

So I will weigh in at 150 on May 1st, 2012.  Awesome. 

Am I scared of not reaching this goal.  Wellllll....sure.  30 pounds is a lot for where I am, how I eat, how I work out.  But you have to set a goal.  You have to make it public.  And so it is.

I will also be blogging more regular.  I will be updating my weight using the tracker ticker every Monday, just like the good old days.

I started drinking water again today.  I remember when I used to be religious about the old H2o.  I would preach the virtues of it.  And then slowly...the demon soda pop took hold of my heart.  As of midnight last night, I am giving up drinking my calories (well, at least pop with calories)...although I will be cutting way back on adult beverages and diet soda as well.

As for the self-discipline, I need to be more aware...be more present...you know...make actual healthy choices.  I did this once.  I shall do it again.  This part, for my old bandsters...is all up to us.  The band does not make the healthy choices for us.

And finally...proper restriction.  I still get stuck...but that doesnt mean I have good restriction.  It means I am probably trying to shovel a full sized hamburger down my throat like a normal person and it gets lodged.  My band is actually pretty loose. I am coming up on my three year anniversary, so it is time for a visit to Hot Doc anyways...but I moved it back until the beginning of February...bc I am not dragging my ass in to see Dr. Friedman having gained 10 pounds.  OH hell no.

So there you go.  I'm feeling good about it.

Of course, it's just the end of day one. 

Happy New Year to all of you.  May it just keep getting better :)

Band Misuse and Abuse

Scene:  Amy on soapbox

A couple of recent events have led me to this post.  And please keep in mind, that I am just shooting from the hip here (which...if you have actually seen my aim with shooting instruments, you would be scurred)...but I have been thinking about how otherwise seemingly smart individuals can either misuse or abuse their bands. 

So, let's pretend that everything is black and white... really so I can lump these misusers and abusers into one of two categories. 

First, we have the Too Too Tighties.  Now I understand the need for restriction.  I know that in the beginning it is the holy bandgrail.  I mean, the band doesn't really work for you until you HAVE restriction right?

And I understand, and have participated in, and also condone...getting a fill when you need it.  Getting a fill when you feel like your eating habits need to be put in check, when your hunger is not only generated from your head...but your tummy.

I dig.

BUT, I do not understand being so tight for YEARS that you cannot, unless baby Jesus or Santa Clause gives you a special pass, get food down before noon.  Or just for s's and g's, what about being too tight for YEARS that you actually have trouble getting water down for a few hours every morning.  I'm sorry dude.  Not cool.  And a lot of us have been too tight...you know...after you beg your hot doc for a full cc.  But choosing to use your band in this way is dangerous.  And when you start to experience problems that are most likely a result of being too tight for so long...well...I want to say...did you not think that having this implanted device squeezing so tight for months and months wouldn't lead to issues?

Now to be fair and balanced, let us look at the other end of the misuse and abuse spectrum.  I am talking about those people that go through all the trouble to have surgery...but then never follow up with their doctors, never get fills, never put forth an effort...and then blame the band for the lack of weight loss.  WHAT DID YOU GET THE BAND FOR THEN?  If you werent going to stay in contact with your doctor, if you weren't going to go for fills...what did you think would happen.

WHAT PEOPLE?  WHAT?

Scene:  Amy starts rocking back and forth, muttering "The best way to spend Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear (Elf)"

Home Alone. Unsupervised.

Heather is out of town for the night (not too far away though) awaiting the birth of her first niece...and sadly...what I was looking forward to the most...was eating pasta with shit-tons of cheese, some bread with butter (um...Parkay), and ice cream.  And I have.

And it was goood.

Now I am in a food coma.

Is 7:54 pm too early for bed?

Last night we played the game "where-the-hell-is-the-camera-i-bought-you-for-your-birthday".  Which means I just started taking random Wednesday night pictures.  Here are the pigs waiting for Santa.

Me and the little lady.  As white as our little wife beaters.

And speaking of ladies...

So please excuse me while I go drink Pepsi right out of the 2-liter bottle.

Nearing The 3 Year Bandiversary

One of the pictures that really startled me.  In my mind...I didn't look like this. 

Same trip as picture above.  Probably somewhere around 325-330 pounds.

On the right: 12/4/2010 170 pounds.  On the left: today.  174 pounds

So hmmm.  I thought there would be a noticeable difference in my tone since last year...but there is not much.  That's okay.  Maybe I should be happier that at least there it's not worse. 

I took this picture below the other day.  I wanted to show you guys the difference in where my boobs ARE and where they should be...but then I heard my mother telling me my father says I share too much.  So I cropped the happy boob out (it's not like there was a nipple or anything), but its a close up of how my stomach is doing.

That scar there that you can see is my biggest one.  The remaining 4 have faded very nicely.

So that is the picture progress...I will try to work on something witty and amazing for the 3 year on January 27th.  Happy Monday.  It's practically over!

Friends...We Shall Begin Again

Have you ever been gone from Blogger for so long that you want to come back but you dont know where to start.  Like do you do a recap of your absence?  Do you just come out swinging talking about the profound thoughts you had this morning regarding vibrators?  Do you try to think of a funny bathroom related story?  I just couldn't decide.  So I will pretend that I havent been a bad blogger for the last...oh...million weeks.

Hi guys!  Seems like just yesterday that I posted.

Hope all you Stateside had a good Thanksgiving.  As it goes in the Gainey Clan, we spent most of the 4 days hunting.  Now, hunting down here involves dogs.  You let out your dogs and they run the deer, and then you spend most of the time hunting the DOGS in a pick-up truck.  No deer were killed.  Which Heather was a little bummed about because she is determined to kill one so we can have meat.

Here is a picture of me and Fisher.  We don't need real guns...with guns like these.

My Heather and "the other Heather".

Basically, me and "the other Heather" just rode in the backseat while Henry and my Heather were in the front seats doing serious hunting.  Now, when you head out for a day of hunting, you usually get out there around 5 am and may not come home...no home for lunch or anything...until 5 pm.  So I come packing food okay?  I should of takin a picture.  But me and the other Heather would just sit in the back, blanketed in cheetos, chips and dip, bacon, biscuits, pringles, puppy chow.  It was awesome.  It would be 6 in the morning and we would say "um...could you pass me the bacon and pringles please".  Good times.  Good times.

Last week I took a hunters safety class where I got to shoot a bow, a rifle, and a shotgun.  It was totally hot.

I have been shopping for Christmas.  This year I am SO GOING ROGUE and buying people what I want.  No Christmas lists please and thank you.  Remember that Heather doesnt really "do Christmas". It stresses her out and makes her grumpy.  So I already bought her some boots she wanted and she is wearing them already.  But I have a few presents under the tree for her BECAUSE I WANT TOO!  She bought me a Columbia jacket in front of me, and I tickets to an Eric Church concert.  Which excites me in the naughty kind of way.  He is my new man crush.  In fact, the day I announced that he has passed Jennifer Nettles (from Sugarland) in the running for my heart...Jennifer announced she married some model dude.  Coincidence?  No.  I think not.  Clearly she was jealous.

On the weight front, its up a few pounds...around 174. But I aint worried. That's nothing a week of buckling down couldnt cure.  My band is el-loose-o, I think I will wait until January to get a fill.  I am not sure I want to go back to tight band living.  I like to eat with a little more freedom.

On the workout front, things are good.  I am still working on getting bigger muscles.  Lower body is getting a lot of focus....as well as my triceps.  A lot of sore muscles.  Mommy likes.

Hope this finds everyone well.

Until we meet again.

kisses.