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Blog 61341

A blog by Cingulus in General

  • Entries

    58

  • Comments

    157

  • Views

    1,181

About this blog

A weight loss surgery blog by Cingulus on BariatricPal. 58 entries on surgery, recovery and progress.

Entries in this blog

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a Bear?

So I will warn the ladies this is guys blog…I came across a real unexpected side effect of the LB surgery…the hair grows back. I can hear the collective “EEEEEWWWWWHHHH!” from the ladies, but I am hairy like a Wookie. Chewbacca could be my long lost brother. I new they would have to shave me for the operation, but it forgot how much it would itch growing back and the damn stuff is poking through the clear bandages like grass growing through concrete. Of course I can’t itch it very much and i

The Waiting is the Hardest Part?

In the immortal words of Tom Petty, “the Waaaaaiiiting is the hardest part.” I know that I am only 5 days post-op. I don’t want to wait for day 365. I know I will do the work and follow the right diet. I just want that year to be over so we get to those highly desired AFTER photos. I had really thought that going back to work would distract me and help me let time slide by, but alas that is not the case. I am neurotically thinking about the band and getting to the gym. Today was my first d

Perspective is a Wonderful Thing. Help Yourself to Some?

As a write this my son (Navy), my brother-in-law (Army) and nephew (Navy)…two of whom are in Iraq and Afghanistan serve with the global forces deployed in harms way. I cannot really imagine what their days are like…and I have a very vivid imagination. My brother-in-law is due to come home after a second tour shortly, assuming they don’t decide to keep him longer again…which they have done twice. As I was annoyed that I am having some post-op nausea and gas, I thought about what their days mus

The Deed is Done?Don?t Let the Villain Rise Again

So the deed is done, i have the band and this story will not end like most bad blockbuster movies with the heroes having triumphed and the villain has slithering away to return in the squeal do next summer. Screw That! After getting banded I have no interest in seeing the weight-loss sequel. I just want the pounds-I-have-to-lose villain dead. One of the things I loved about the movie “Taken” is the Liam Neeson’s character does not try to be to be heroic. He is simply on a mission to find hi

I Will Not Go Quietly Into Bandster Hell

We all know that the proper expectations with the band is to take things slow…have no weight loss expectations before the first fill and then expect slow, constant weight loss when we hit the “sweet spot.” My reaction to this sensible and well support council is a defiant NO! I am fully aware that this is a long term process, but I intend to accelerate it along as quickly as possible. I am not going to go through this process and personal costs (I am self pay) and not fight this battle as har

A Red Sox Fan is excited about Yankee Stadium?

So every job has its pros and cons. One of the pros of my job is we hold customer events as some cool locations. Although I am a lifelong Red Sox fan, I am on my way to the New Yankee stadium. We are holding a one day customer conference and then taking in a game. No not the Sox :w00t:.   I have been fortunate to spend 3-4 weeks are traveling in the city for various tradeshows and events. It has also let me sample some of the best restaurants in the city. However, I am I thinking about

Through the Looking Glass?My Metal Images

So I work is screwing with me again and I had to cancel my pre-op. I should be able to reschedule and still make June 8th. I am very happy with my pre-op weight loss (43 lbs.), I feel great and being focused on surgery prep has really helped me keep my weight in line. The funny thing is I fell kind of scrawny right now…I know that is not the case…and the picture below validates this.   I am sitting on the couch with a guy about my height and about half my weight (I am 330 right now). It

I Have Met The Enemy and...

I am off for a short trip to San Francisco. As I was driving to the airport, I was thinking to myself...ok I can stop by the Admirals Club, they have great chocolate chip cookies, have nice snack...get some email done... Oh Shit my mind is screwing with me again, DAMN! As my rational side took over again, I thought to myself, this is the real battle of the Lapband.   We all know mind-hunger is the great trickster. Why is our own mind our greatest enemy? I now find myself moving beyond ratio

The Opportunity of Being Delayed, Determined?but not Disappointed

For a variety of work related issues my banding has been moved out about 30 days from May 6th to June 8th. First, I would like to thank folks who have expressed their support. Second, I am somewhat relieved, odd as that might sound. I have been making good progress on losing weight with the pre-op liquids and kind of want to keep it going. I have been able to hit the gym almost every day and figure the better my physical condition before the surgery, the more likely it will be successful and

48 Hours to Go?Oh, and I liked Wolverine too?

I am a little over 48 hours away from getting the band. I am intellectually resolved to this course of action, but I am amazed at how difficult ignoring all of the other emotional issues continues to be. Every time I read the new postings, there is a sea of conflicting experiences that assaults your mind and emotions. In no way do I begrudge others posting, venting and seeking help for issues, many of which I may also post and seek help for myself, but it does require work and some conviction

Changing the Final Goal from 240 vs. 197Lbs

In one of my earlier blogs, I had set a target goal of 240 lbs, and later I changed it 197lbs. My wife asked me why I had made the change. The answer if both simple and complicated at the same time…From a logical engineering point of view I looked at my lean body mass measurement (206 lbs) and added 15% to that picked 240 as a target. Then as I thought about the likely fact that my lean body will probably drop, I began to rethink the target and changed my expectations to about 200lbs and thos

I Funny Thing Happened on the Way to The Doctors

So I got up this morning expecting to go Dr. Oliak’s office for my pre-op day and shit happened. I got a call from my PR firm says that my company had just received an unsolicited take-over bid. As you can imagine we had a firestorm of activity and communications work that have to be done with industry and financial analyst, customers and partners. Since, I run the outbound marketing group; needless to say, I had to make a change of plans and go to work instead. I called the Dr.’s office thi

Give me the Juice Baby?Seeking the Right Energy Drink Replacement

OK…let me dispense with the rationalization. I understand the many pros, cons, limitation and issues with caffeine. I am will to submit to vast majority of good ole’ common sense items with being banded, but I want my caffeine fix…I don’t drink coffee, tea lacks the punch and banders can’t really deal with carbonation which kills Red Bull, RockStar and almost all the other energy drinks. So how to get my legal dose a speed when required. I have started using 5 hour energy shots and they seem

Frozen Yogurt?Essential or Evil

I have not seen much posted about non-fat frozen yogurt? Which I must confess, I find somewhat surprising...so it has led me to ask. Is there some inherent evil associated with this diet friendly treat and the Lapband? An inquiring mind wants to know… I am planning on it being part of my post-op repertoire…or so I think? Second, it may just be my imagination, but it seems (no scientific data), that many of the newer banders are struggling with post-op weight gain and slow starts. While a f

A Blog?About Nothing

Jerry Seinfeld was quoted as saying that “Seinfeld” was a show about nothing…as it turns out so is this blog…here is a random potpourri trivial items from my week. Once a quarter we have our sales force in for training, account reviews and our quarterly executive business reviews. It is a complete blitzkrieg all week long, of never ending string of meetings and creating PowerPoint for meetings, hence, my lack of blogs this week. I did get stuck having to eat a meal during the day vs. my prote

No 30 Day Chip for Me?Expunging the Guilt

As part of most 12 step programs you get a chip once you have been clean for 30 days. I am not getting a virtual Lapband chip this month. As part of my pre-op diet with the doctor I am supposed to do protein drinks during the day and 6-8 oz of chicken/fish for dinner. I have been following program (15 days down, 15 to go) until tonight. I did not go crazy, I ate to much chicken, some fat free cottage cheese, three scoops of peanut butter and non-fat chocolate frozen yogurt. It was one of th

The Day after Making the Right Choice

So I was driving to the gym last night, fighting my mental battle between I had done enough exercise this week and keeping to the rules of 30 minutes every day. Despite trying to rationalize my way out of going to the gym, I grudgingly kept moving towards the gym. It was not a bad workout, and I got through it. It was one of the many thousands of “right choices” that have to be made to be successful with the Lapband journey successful. I was able to weight in this week with a nice weight los

What Bob Marley taught me about the LapBand

I was listening to Bob at the gym last night and as I felt the ocean breeze cover my mind. I found his music talking to me and here is what it said to me:   1. Jamming – Just keep jamming at any goal, it is hill that is climbed one step at a time.   2. Waiting in Vain – Waiting for some else to fix things is a vain hope. Lab bands give us a plan.   3. Get Up, Stand Up – Getting up, standing up and not giving up the fight is the only way to do this.   4. Satisfy my Soul – I need this to

A Knights Tale

One of my all time favorite movies is “A Knight’s Tale.” In one of the key scenes, William, our intrepid hero; played by the late Heath Ledger, is told by his father “a man can change his stars, and make a new and better life.”     It is that spirit that surrounds this Lapband community. So for those of you who have people who doubt, alienate or deride you for “taking the easy way out”…stand true. You have chosen to “change your stars” and it can be a lonely road. However, truth be to

Lapband Decathlon

I feel like I am in training for the Olympic decathlon, trying to balance the ten events of LapBanding:   1. Seminar – A hurdle cleared with ease…   2. Doctor Visit – A short, but grueling barrage of questions…   3. Head Doctor – Yes, it is just a cigar…Get over it…No I don’t want to talk about my mother…   4. Blood and EKG – 100 Yard dash of testing, seemed to be done to quick to matter, but who cares we move forward   5. Payment/Insurance (Self pay in my case) – Need to pay off my bi

I Bet $16,000 on 30...

So the number 30 is looming large in my mind today:   • 30 Bites – Chew, Baby Chew…this is going to be one of the biggest items for me. I am sure if I don’t , the Lapband will let me know. I just worry about forgetting to eat slow and swallowing to soon.   • 30 Sets –of weights for my muscle workout days across 3 body parts per/day. Gotta, keep up the Vin Diesel look. :wub:   • 30 Minutes – or more of cardio everyday seems to be the biggest key to success factor after eating right. Ba

From Fat to Furious

I just saw the fourth installment of Fast and the Furious. I am a gear head, so this movie was easy for me to like, but even my wife liked it as well. It certainly is not high theater, but for what it was supposed to be I gave it a “B+.” All of that aside, I looked at Vin Diesel in the movie and said, to myself, for once in my life I could look like that…wear clothes like that and look good doing it.     I was so pumped up I went to the gym again after the movie. I know styling you go

The Joy of Deletion

I love clothes…my wife says I am just one hair’s breath away from being gay when it comes to clothes. However, today I deleted my email from Rochester’s Big and Tall. As all of us know one the purposes of the lap band is to delete many things from our lives (weight, health issues etc.), while have not had the surgery yet, I still deleted my Rochester’s Big and Tall email, because…I don’t plan on ever buying anything from them again. It may just be mental masturbation, but it feels good all th

Bloodhound Blues

I was had a great day yesterday work was good, stayed on diet task with drinks, went to the gym. Then I went home and my son was making grilled cheese and chili for dinner. The smell was killing me, so I went up stairs hoping to escape the seductive aromas. That did not work…I could still caught the faint whiff of things tempting me below. I opened the windows and turn on the fan to draw it some fresh air…it still did not work. Finally, I left and went for a drive although I swear I could s

Negotiations and Love Songs

Paul Simon’s, aptly names anthology of solo hits is called “Negotiations and Love Songs.” He does a great job of capturing the often bizarre and illogical discussions and negotiations we have with ourselves. I think he has done a better job than most in capturing the 5 Stages of the Mourning (Denial, Sadness, Anger, Bargaining, and Acceptance). Well…last night I found myself locked in a mortal battle of wills with Denial.   Obviously, I have spent years denying that I had a real problem and

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