Shinyhappymommy

My husband has been applying for the next position in his career path within the same company, just in a different location. He has applied pretty much all over the country and will continue to do so until something pans out. So basically we'll move wherever the job takes us at this point.

Anna, There's a great difference in your face shots. Nice. My surgeon actually works at P/SL, so that's convenient. I see Dr. Matthew Metz and his partner Dr. Brown are in the Professional Plaza East of P/SL. Here's their website: Denver Bariatric Surgery | Colorado Bariatric Surgery Institute I had surgery done by someone else who moved, but I've been very pleased with Dr. Metz for the follow up. He is very good at fills, usually I only get one stick. The first time he filled me after my port had detached I think he stuck me twice because it moved unexpectedly. He successfully filled me last time with the port being detached with just one poke. I was very nervous to get filled the first time he did it because I have this huge fear of being overfilled. I hadn't had a fill in several months and was nervous to mess things up. He was very understanding and he let me do my first fill under flouro so we could make sure it wasn't overfilled. All subsequent fills have been without flouro. Anyway, I really like their office. They have a panel of nutritionists you can meet with in conjunction with your fill. I have loved Lindsay who I've seen twice. She's very down to earth and helpful. I believe that Dr. Brown has even more experience and has even been featured in some Discovery Health programs. So either way, I think you'd be pleased with them. Good luck!

Anna, I can totally relate to meeting knew people and them not knowing the old, fat you. We hope to move as well at some point and I've thought about that a lot. I can give you surgeon recommendations if you're coming to Denver and you are still looking for a surgeon there.

I didn't do any exercise on Thursday or Friday. But, today I went running for the first time in a week and a half. I did 2 miles on the treadmill. I was honestly surprised that I could still do it, with no trouble. I had this fear that since I had taken a break, I'd have to start again from scratch almost! That wasn't the case thankfully. So far my hip feels fine. I'm going to keep my distances down in hopes that it will stay fine. I need to go in Monday for my x-ray.

I'm going to post this entry I wrote for my blog. Enjoy! I’m finally getting around to writing my review of this last year. My anniversary, or bandiversary as some like to call it was last Sunday, almost a week ago. I have had a lot of thoughts about writing this, but for some reason haven’t felt ready to write it. I think in part because it’s such a personal thing for me, and such a huge thing, that it’s hard to put into words what a difference this year has made in my life. How can words do any justice to how grateful I am and how different I feel? However, I have to try, because I want to share this. One year ago I was so scared. I was having a life-changing surgery. Firstly I was scared of dying in surgery. I cried and told my husband that if “something happened” I was sorry and that I never meant for that to happen. Thankfully the surgery went off without a hitch. Secondly, I was scared of not succeeding. I was scared of not being able to stick to the new lifestyle and scared of failing. I started keeping a blog mainly to see for myself any progress I was making. I wanted to share it with my family and very close friends to begin with, but nobody else for a while. As I started really seeing success and seeing that success continue I felt more and more confident and increasingly strong. Before too long I was ready to share my blog publicly. I was (and still am) amazed at the response I get from those who read. I’ve had so many kind and supportive comments as well as people who find my journey inspiring for their own lives. I had never anticipated that and I’m thrilled that my struggles have in any way been able to benefit others. Now, a year later, I’m 103 pounds lighter. All within 12 months, I’ve seen my weight be in the 300s, 200s and now the top of the 100s. How cool is that? I’ve gone from wearing a 30/32 to almost being able to wear a size 14. I’m more comfortable in a 16 still, but things are a little loose. I’m so happy with my looks right now. I don’t mind having my picture taken and being seen by people I haven’t seen in a while. It’s actually really fun! I have become a strong and dare I say, athletic person, which is a surprise to me. I have become a runner, even running 6 miles at my longest distance so far. This is incredible to me. I’m working out some hip problems right now, but even today I was able to run 2 miles on the treadmill without it being a huge deal. This is amazing! I will continue to pursue this running journey, because it is so empowering. I have regained so much of the confidence and exuberance that had been buried underneath all that weight for so many years. I no longer dread going to social gatherings, or running into people. I’m just so happy with where I am. Doing things is easier, period. Kneeling on the floor, getting in and out of the car, shopping, walking, standing, bending, all of it is so much easier without that extra 100 pounds weighing me down. I have a little ways left before I’m finished with the weight-loss part of this remaking of myself. I know I can do it and I’m not scared that I am not going to be able to keep the weight off. I have used this Lapband as a tool, not a magic fix. I have worked hard, using the tool to make the work easier, but I have worked very hard. Because of that, I know that I will continue to work hard and take my health and the state of my fitness seriously. It’s not something that will take care of itself. It will be something I have to be vigilant about for the rest of my life, which thanks to this journey will be healthier and longer. I am so blessed. I am so thankful.

I did the full t-tapp workout today again. Woo hoo!

It's not silly. It's a legitimate concern. I have lost most of my breast tissue. I started off as a 44 H. 104 pounds later I'm a 36 D. If I'm not wearing a bra, I'm pretty much flat chested. I love not having such big breasts anymore. It was such a hindrance. I couldn't fold my arms, I couldn't sit close to a table. It just was a constant bother. Now I feel normal. I don't mind the deflated breast-thing because a bra fixes the problem enough for me. I was looking at the Victoria's Secret website and there are so many choices in the Very Sexy bra category. Is there a specific one you recommend?

Oh, Jamie, I'm so sorry! I can't imagine the pain you must be going through. Know that we are feeling your pain with you and my prayers will be with you. I don't know if you believe in God or not, but I know that He strengthens me when such overwhelming things happen. I pray that you feel that strength. Please take care of yourself during this difficult time. You are important to many people. (((hugs)))) Melissa

That's a bummer, tapshoes. I hope the unfill gets you to a perfect spot. Oh, and Happy Birthday!

I'm reporting in my exercise done for today! I did a full T-tapp workout (50 minutes) while my toddler was napping. Yay for getting it done! My book came today so I'll have to see what words of wisdom are found inside about running injury free. I was going to get my x-ray on my hip done today but after the standard "Could you possibly be pregnant?" question I decided I'd rather wait until after I get my period this month to make sure I'm not. So I'll go in sometime next week probably.

Aww, thanks, Rhapsody. I miss running too. Today should have been a running day, so I went and walked my two miles on the treadmill. My dd was still not done with her basketball class so I did a couple more miles on the stationary bike. It said I only burned 60 calories on the bike for those two miles. Of course I wasn't going very fast and the resistance was pretty low. It just seems that the treadmill-workout burns way more calories, even walking. Here's the website for Chi Running. The author of it is Danny Dreyer. I ordered the book elsewhere, amazon.com, I think. Maybe it will come tomorrow.

I too love chocolate. I was watching a show yesterday with my hubby and that commercial for Hershey's chocolate came on where the whole scene is liquid chocolate and the people are chocolate, etc. I told him, "That doesn't help me one bit!" I love chocolate. I ate way too much pre-band. Lots of sweet milk chocolate, Hershey's Kisses, Symphony bars, etc. But I have had to change that. I have limited my portions hugely, and what I do eat is dark chocolate. I actually eat some chocolate pretty much every day. I limit myself to a couple of small pieces and make sure it's 60% cacao or greater. I've got some amazing 70% Lindt chocolate in my cupboard right now. I've read up on dark chocolate and how to make sure you're getting one that is actually beneficial to your health and that one fits the bill pretty well. My personality is such that if I completely deprive myself of something it will backfire and I'll only crave it all the more. I'm amazed that I'm able to eat chocolate in small and reasonable amounts. This doesn't mean that I don't think about chocolate a whole lot more than I allow myself to eat it, but it's a big step for me. I also agree that this is a rough time of year for those plagued by chocolate lust! I don't crave the Cadbury eggs, but the Cadbury Mini-eggs are hard to resist. I'll have to make sure they don't come into the house.

Irene, so sorry for that news. I guess it is what it is and hopefully you can adapt and move forward. I haven't run since last Wednesday. In fact, I don't think I've exercised at all, really. Ick. I am going to go walking on the treadmill today while my dd is playing basketball at the gym. I'm waiting for my Chi Running book to try their technique of running before I begin again.

You look great and happy! Thanks for posting these. I think we should make this the official progress picture thread for our one year mark.

My surgeon had a lot less than 40 and in retrospect I can't believe I went with him. I would look for someone with more experience.

Go Exercisers! I'm taking it easy until I'm pretty sure my hip is better. I'm waiting for my injury-free running book to come as well. Hopefully that will help me when I start up again.

RSG, I'm so sorry you're struggling. I totally know what you mean about not wanting to post when you're not doing well. I do that too, but really that's when we need to post and seek out the encouragement. Good luck with your new fill and hopefully it will kickstart your weight loss and get you moving again. Seeing the scale move is so motivating to me. It's hard to keep on going when the scale is stuck and it feels like nothing you're doing matters anyway. Hang in there and keep trying. Good news is you have a band inside you. You can choose to work it to your advantage at will. That is an amazing thing. Melissa

I guess you guys saw my post about hitting Onederland. I'm pretty stoked about it. Yay! The chiropractor took a long while with me examining me and discussing my hip. He is concerned because after he adjusted it my legs seemed to get weaker. (He was doing the don't-let-me-push-your-leg-down test both before and after the adjustment). He has ordered x-rays for my hip to make sure there isn't anything pathologically wrong in there, although he admitted it would have to be severely deteriorated to be able to see anything. He said to cut my running to just 70% of what I was doing. Since tomorrow's run is supposed to be 6 miles and this would still make it 4.2 miles, I'm not sure what to do. My hip is bothering me quite a bit today and I don't feel like it would be wise to run on it. Maybe I'll take the treadmill for a walk. I really enjoy walking and miss doing it since I've been running. I can't make it in to get the x-rays till next week sometime, so it'll be a little while before we know anything. I took yesterday off and I'm not sure what I'm doing for exercise today. Maybe T-tapp, maybe I'll rest for today as well. Well, I'm not resting. I have to get the house ready to show by tomorrow morning at 9:00. So I'll definitely be getting some exercise in through housework. (We're renting this home which is on the market.)

Just wanted to update you all that two days shy of my 1 year mark I weighed 199 this morning! My goal was to be here by my bandiversary on Sunday and I can hardly believe I made it! That 203 stuck around for a very long time, so I had almost given up hope of making this specific goal. I also just got a fill, so that helped. Here's to reaching my goal in year 2!

I've been doing pretty good on my exercise, just not posting about it. :bananalama: I have continued with my running program and doing T-tapp on the off day. I am appreciative of your concern for my hip and you guys have helped me realize I need to take it more seriously, so I have an appointment with my chiropractor for this afternoon. I think he'll better know how to help me than my PCP. I live in a very small town and I'm hoping we have some physical therapists that I can get hooked up with if I need it. I saw my surgeon yesterday and he recommended a book to me called Chi Running. It's about injury free running. He said he's had great results with not becoming injured while running since reading it. I just ordered it from amazon.com, so I'm excited to see if those principles can be helpful to me in my running. They also have a book called Chi Walking. I got a fill yesterday. This was my 6th fill. It doesn't seem like I've gotten fills that often, an average of every other month, but it is my 6th. He gave me .3 ccs and now I have 6.8 ccs in my band. I can tell a pretty big difference with just the liquids I've been consuming. I even have to go slow on the Water. So here's hoping this will kick things into gear for me. It already seems to be helping, as I saw 200 on my scale this morning. I've been at 203 (or above) for what seems like forever. It's been about a month, really. I just may hit onederland by my one-year mark this Sunday. You guys are doing awesome. Thanks for the support and motivation.

Lil Miss, so sorry about your knee. I have such a fear that I will get injured and not be able to continue exercising. My hip has been bothering me a bit. I hope it's nothing. I did 2 miles on the treadmill today. I had it going 7.0 for about 2 tenths of a mile. Woo hoo! Congrats on the dog, Rhapsody. That is built-in exercise and good for you for doing more over and above that.

Well, I did it. I ran 6 miles. It took me 80 minutes which makes my average mile 13:20. I'll take it. I decided at the very last second to change back to my old shoes and I'm glad I did because I got a blister in those ones, the new ones would have been worse. I will wear the new ones for my short runs until I'm comfortable in them. I'm very tired and unusually sore, but happy with my accomplishment. :thumbup: Thanks for all the well wishes. You guys are such a help to my motivation. :thumbup:

Thanks for asking, Tap. I'm doing okay. I'm sitting at 203. I really want to be at 199 or lower by the 8th of February which is my bandiversary, but I'm wondering if that's going to happen. I will be getting a fill on the 4th, maybe that will help get the last pound or two off. Life's so much more exciting when you can see that weight coming off regularly. It is frustrating to see the same number day after day, but I told dh that at least it's not going up and up. Welcome to the thread, Cubs.

I'm sure dragging my feet on my non-running days. I managed to get in 20 minutes yesterday and 15 minutes today of T-tapp. I know that's not enough, but just didn't make myself do any more than that. 10 p.m. isn't my ideal exercise time. I do much better when I put it first in my day instead of last. Maybe I can do better next week. Tomorrow is my 6 mile run day. I'm a little nervous. I've never done more than 5. I will get to run outside which is always a treat. I think it's supposed to be 60 degrees outside tomorrow, so yay for that. I think I'll wear my new shoes but put my old insoles in them. Hope that works!

To finish off my day: Lunch: Same as yesterday's dinner, soup with w.w. bread. Dinner: Homemade chicken Pot Pie with w.w. biscuit on top. Snacks: not too bad today. I had a couple small handfuls of cinnamon almonds (the sugary kind) and about 1.5 oz of dark chocolate, oh and some little conversation hearts. Unfortunately this is an improvement.