The squeaky wheel....

Lost another pound......that is 2 pounds down in 3 days.  I guess the squeaky (whining) wheel gets the weight loss.....

I am 33 pounds away from a total of 100 pound weigh loss.  That sounds surreal!

Feeling Lucky......

Look up at my weight loss ticker.  I moved DOWN one pound today!  First move down in a while.  I'll take it!  Been racking my brain all morning trying to figure out what in the world I ate yesterday to help lose some weight. I didn't work out or run yesterday. No clue??  But I'll take a pound down.

My stomach has felt achy for the past 24 hours so I haven't been wanting to "eat" much.  I woke up this morning craving a protein shake.  I had seen a lot of posts on other bariatric pages for a Mint Shamrock Shake so that I what I made!

2 cups of Silk Soymilk
2 scoops of vanilla protein powder
1 cup of ice
2 cups of spinach salad leaves
Sugar Free vanilla syrup (Starbucks)
Sugar Free peppermint syrup (Torani)

Mix in blender and yum!!! (had to borrow this pic....but mine looked just as yummy)

Caboose......

I have stated 100 times in this blog that I am not a "runner", don't want to be a good runner and acutally just really suck at running. I compare myself to a caboose.  Heavy, slow and always pulling up the rear in a race.  Even when I was much younger and athletic, I was a bad runner.  My soccer coach in high school gave me the nickname Prancer because he said I ran like a deer, bouncing on my toes down the field.  He tried to "teach" me how to run correctly.  He said I would waste more energy bouncing up and down than any sort of rhythmic motion forward.  There was no hope so my nickname was Prancer and running was not my talent.

Even stranger about my lack of ability to run is that my father and my brother were both excellent runners.  Long distant runners in high school and college.  Both of them can just go out and run whenever they want to and it doesn't matter how long it has been since they last ran.  It is a special gene I didn't inherit.  Since I didn't inherit their skinny legs, I also didn't inherit their ability to run like the wind. 

Now that I am on this mission to live healthier, I am running.  But stand firm that I am not trying to be a runner.  I think I keep saying that just in case I continue to suck at running.  But I have really begun to LOVE the fact that I am healthy enough to run if  I want to.  It is motivating and rewarding.  The first few 5k races I entered were completed by walking.  Then I eased into a little light jog here and there.  Now, I am determined to complete a 5k by running the entire time.  I am so competitive with myself.  So even though I keep saying I am NOT a runner......I am accidently becoming one. It is easy and feels good no matter how much I am able to run.  I remind myself constantly that I should be so thankful to be blessed with the ability to use my leg and I need to take care of them. 

This week I began running in my neighborhood.  My neighborhood is perfect for running.  Mostly flat with a few mild hills.  I love it because I am sitting A LOT at home right now wrapping up the last moments of my dissertation for my PhD.  I haven't been to Boot Camp in 2 weeks.  I put myself on restriction in the afternoons after work so I can just focus on finishing school.  But I am trying to get a run in at home when I can. I like that I can just jump up, go run for a bit then come back and start writing again without missing too much time.  So I go for my first run the other nite in the hood and like Forrest Gump.....I just ran and ran and ran.  I didn't stop running.  I ran one mile without stopping.  This was HUGE progress and not even sure why it just happened that nite but it did.  I ran the mile in a little about 14 and a  half minutes.  Did it again the next day.  Pretty cool considering I haven't been able to run for more than a minute or two without stopping.  I am now running a whole mile without feeling like I am going to die.  Not even winded.  Heartrate is up, sweating but controlled.  Fabulous!

I also have a cool app on my phone called "Runtastic" which logs in my run using GPS.  I turn it on before I start to run.  It tells me every time I reach a mile.  When I am finished it will tell me how far I ran, how long it took me to run, and my pace.  It will do a lot of other cool stuff like heartrate etc but I don't use that.  Then it will post a pic of the map of the course I ran and info about my run  on my Facebook.  It stores the info so I can see progress etc.  Free app...very cool.

I am still a caboose.  I run slow and heavy like my legs are weights pulling me down.  I guess I'll work on technique before I try out for the Olympics but until then....I can run like the wind without getting winded! 

Dirty Girl.......

I am all about some fun, themed races now.  I am still NOT a runner.  Well, not a good runner.  But each and every time I do a "fun run" I get faster at finishing.  Last Saturday I participated in another Mud Run!!  This one was called Dirty Girl Mud Run.  This was a 5k obstacle race like the Warrior Dash I did back in October.  The "Dirty Girl" was for girls only....no boys allowed.  It had a pink theme and lots of dirty girls!

I joined a team of ladies and we called ourselves the "MUDonnas".  We had shirts made (that I didn't love because of the fit but otherwise were very cute).

One of the girls on my team for Dirty Girl also did Warrior Dash in October.  Warrior was HARD.  Super intense and for those on the more athletic side of the curve. We survived just fine at Warrior and were prepared for another intense challenge.  Dirty Girl was more......girly.  It was fun but the course was a lot more running and not so many obstacles. We were a little disappointed after surviving the Warrior Dash.  The obstacles for Dirty Girl were fun and experiencing this with a fun group of ladies was even better. One thing I noticed more than anything is that my strength and stamina was so much better during this race than Warrior Dash.  I rocked the obstacles, didn't get winded or tired or weak.  I just suck at running.  I run really heavy bottomed like my legs are too heavy to pick up.  I think I'll get better at it the more I build my cardio system up but I really do still suck at running and stayed behind the group for Dirty Girl but never too far away.

 However......in case you didn't notice the date of this post, the race was on March 9th. March in Alabama can be a little tricky.  Not quite winter but not yet spring. So this particular Saturday was COLD!!  Had been in the high 30's overnite and was in the 40's the morning of the race.  This girl does NOT do cold anything, more less crawl through freezing mud.  But  I did.  Was a fun time!

The very second obstacle almost killed us all.  It was a large pit of WATER with mud in the bottom.  A heavy rope net laid over the top of the pit.  There was enough space between the water and the net for your face to stick up.  Barely!  The pit had been filled with water the nite before.....how do I know this?  Because it was FREEZING!!  As I stepped into the pit, I knew how cold it would be.  Then being the Gulf Coast, raised on the water girl that I am, I knew if I just went ahead and went under the water that I would get over the water being so cold.  Well let me just say for the record, this theory doesn't work when the water has reached a certain degree that I am positive was below ZERO.  The second I hit the water and went under the net I immediately lost my ability to breath like a human.  I panted like a dog the entire trek down the pit.  For those of you who are claustrophobic I am sure you are already on the verge of passing out thinking of this experience.  It was seriously a little uncomfortable.  If I had not pushed the rope net up using my head, I would have drowned.  Passed out for sure.  I could not breath!! The best part about this experience is that is was over and the second best part was that it made me run like the wind when I got out.  I ran and ran and ran so I wouldn't die of hypothermia.  It was the worst part of the course in my opinion.

One of the best moments of the run was captured on camera so I will share and explain when we get there (at the end of the race).  For now.....Here are our pics to prove that even the cutest girls can get a little dirty sometimes!! I'm not in all the pics but want you all to enjoy this day as much as I did!  (Thanks to one of our MUDonna team mates' husband for chasing us the whole course and taking pics)

Prerace: I'm the one still wearing a jacket because I don't do cold (as I waited anxiously to crawl through icy water)

The Starting Line......let's get ready to rumble

Obstacle #1:

This obstacle was fun and easy.  Bumpy climb up and a little bumpy ride down but all smiles both ways.  This is before we hit the water!

What goes up......

Must come down.....

The rest of the dirty story......the other obstacles

To the finish line......all together! 

For the final obstacle Alisha and I held hands and went down the big wet slide together.....

and had a huge crash into each other.  I went down and under hard and fast. I had used both elbows as brakes into the pit of mud and pebbles below. Needless to say I came up bleeding and bruised but laughing so hard that I swallowed a mouthful of mud and loved every bit of it.  Alisha tried desperately to pull me out but I was laughing too hard. The look on my face in the pic below says it all.  LOVE THIS!!!

Post-race moments......

That is me  in the back (twirling my hair) walking off the finish line.  Love the look on my face.  It says "mission complete.....and satisfied"

It is all Greek to me.....

Greek style food has always been one of my most favorite ethnic dishes.  I love the taste of feta, red onion, and cucumber together.  My most favorite pizza is the Greek Pizza at California Pizza Kitchen (minus the chicken).  I was thrilled to find a fun recipe for a low carb Greek Pizza on a bariatric website last summer after I had surgery.  Then.....I discovered an even better deal!  Greek Nachos!!  This is actually almost the same as the Greek Pizza I love but with a nice spread of hummus as the "sauce" this is a winner in my sleeved tummy and my body which needs as much protein as it can get.  It is seriously freezing cold here in Alabama right now (for us southern people who die when it is below 50 degrees) so this hit the spot for my comfort food craving as well.

Greek Nachos
1 low carb tortilla or small super thin pizza crust
hummus (I used the plain Sabra brand and it was delish)
diced cucumber, red onion, kalamata olives, tomato and artichoke hearts
feta cheese

Warm your tortilla/crust until crispy
spread hummus on the crispy crust
sprinkle topping on the hummus (fabulous protein and healthy carb)
cut into triangles
Enjoy!!

It's the small things that count.....

In my journey, the biggest frustration has been the scale.  I want to see it move down constantly.  As I have whined about on here too many times, I haven't really moved down too much on the scale since October.  Basically when I started working out so hard.   I preach to my followers that the scale does not measure your success but I have always been better at giving great advice and not taking it.  I don't get discouraged but I do get ggggrrrrrrrrr about that scale a lot.  MOVE down more that the 2 or 3 pounds I had already moved up anyway.  But I work out harder and stronger than ever have.  My insides are so much happier and the hard work shows on my outside as I continue to melt away into something super. But I do get frustrated about the weight.

Then something magical happens.  Small things happen.  Those small things that others wouldn't even notice or think are a big deal  However, it is the small things that count.  So, I really try to celebrate the small things that mean more to me than anyone could understand.

Here are my latest small things:

-I gave myself a Valentine treat of a day at the spa on February 16th.  I had a super duper Groupon deal for an express massage, facial and pedi.  This also included  a "snack".  It was a really wonderful relaxing day. My "small thing that counted" was when I had to put on a robe after my massage.  Big girls....you aleady know where I am going with this.  In my former body,  that robe never fit.  Was always anxiety and stress putting it on because it wasn't big enough to wrap around my body more less close.  It certainly was tight to tie around the waist.  Well not this time.  That robe just melted onto my body like chocolate syrup over ice cream.  Smooth and flowing and it wrapped around me beautifully.  I also had a  free nite in an old historical beautiful hotel that I had won so took off and piled up in the bed there and ate room service and wrote on my dissertation for the nite.

-Same thing happen at the doc office.  I have a non-bad skin cancer that was removed from my shoulder 2 years ago.  Have to get my chest, shoulders and back checked yearly to make sure I am spot free.  This requires me to strip down with my top down.  Also means I have that paper hospital "vest" over me.  This thing is always too small.  I used to end up ripping it as I alternated it from side to side to find the best coverage.  Almost as bad as getting Saran Wrap to actually stick to something beside itself.  Small things moment.....not only did it fit but it overlapped in the front without effort.  My doc was also super supportive and celebratory about my weight loss.

-I have had 3 more people message me to tell me they think they saw me somewhere but wasn't sure it was me only to find out after they messaged me that it WAS me!!  I see the same person in the mirror so I am glad other people see someone else.  Someone better!!

-I recently posted this silly pic on Facebook of me during our Dr. Seuss dress up week.  Was really posted to show me being silly however I had so many people message me, post or even text and call me to tell me how great I was looking. I am hearing words like tiny, skinny and awesome.  That is just fun yall!!  Here are my pics I posted (dressed up for Wacky Wednesday.....I was in neon overload)!  The pics do no justice to the insane amount of brightness coming off of my body!

 


-Doesn't matter what I buy or want to wear, it fits!!  That is surreal!!  Seriously don't know if anyone can relate to this feeling.  Ohhhhhhh the anxiety of shopping.  Not only was I limited on where I could shop because I needed big sizes but even the big sizes were too tight sometimes. I never knew and that causes so much anxiety.  I can wear the cutest clothes now and it makes me happy!  Here is a dress I just bought from a swanky boutique ONLINE with no idea of the brand or how the size fit.  This is SERIOUSLY my fav dress purchase EVER!! The fit is PERFECT!!

Where's Waldo??

Oh my goodness......seems like a week or two since I posted.  I knew I was terribly behind but didn't realize it had been well over a MONTH.

I'm good, I'm great really but very very busy.  I teach children all day, come home, snack, change clothes and go to my Bootcamp class at 5:30 or Zumba at 6, back home, cook dinner, eat, take care of things for the college course I teach, work on PhD, make lunch and coffee for next day and bed.  It is seriously crazy busy and doesn't leave a lot of time for much else.  In fact,  my PhD stuff has been the red-headed stop-child lately as I leave it for last and last place it where it stays.  My health is first place then in a close first is my life and job responsibilities.  I really think most people have lives like this.  I think??  I also think I have no idea what life without the busy chaos is like.  So I do function very well in it.

Last week and so  far this week (Tuesday) I haven't worked out at all!!  I really miss it.  Feel sick and blah without my intensive workouts but I HAD to come home and go into hiding and work on my dissertation if I want to finish. I also had a little knee strain from doing Zumba in my living room on carpet in new tennis shoes (too much traction for the sassy moves).  Nursed that back to health quickly.  I will go back to Bootcamp tomorrow because I miss it badly and feel like crap not working out.  I never thought I'd get to a point in life where I felt sick, blah and fat NOT working out.  But I really do and it is a wonderful feeling.  On a side note,  I lost the 3 pounds I had gained.  Lost this 3 pounds at the end of last week when I didn't work out.  That is weird but pretty annoying too.  I go up and down in the 3 pound range constantly but to lose that much and not work out really does support the claim that I am building muscle.

I have a lot of cool things to tell you all about me and what has been going on in my healthy little world lately so will share those in some other posts.  I need to catch up so be sure to check for several posts back to back.  Until then.....

I'm not on a diet.....

When people who are having weight loss surgery ask me if I tell people I had surgery, I tell them YES!  For one, I can't lie.  I don't know how and I am really not good at it.  My father said I could never be a politician and that is so true.  I am a very honest, too honest person who believes that nothing good comes from a lie.  And.....I am a very confident girl.  Even when I was at my heaviest,  I was confident in who I was.  I knew that being overweight meant nothing in regard to the person I really am. I am really pretty fabulous.  See, I cannot tell a lie! 

In all seriousness I say all this because it comes with a warning.  IF you are going to be open about your surgery, then you need to be prepared for people to say things that are a bit annoying.  Sometimes hurt your feelings. You just need to go ahead and put on your Big Girl Panties (smaller ones for sure) and paint yourself with confidence. 

1.  People ask me all the time about my "diet" or say "I can't believe you can eat that, is it on your diet".  Ummmmmm.....I didn't have WLS surgery to be on a diet. Clearly if I could lose the weight and be healthy on a diet, then that would have worked for me 1000 times before.  For ME, I had weight loss surgery to basically force myself to live healthier.  So, I am NOT on a diet.  I just eat healthier, live healthier and will live longer and better because of it.  In my personal opinion, if you go into this new lifestyle thinking you will be on a diet the rest of your life then you are almost setting yourself up for frustration and failure.  I took the perspective that I wanted to live the MAJORITY of my life healthy but that I was still going to enjoy life, have fun and not obsess about being on a "diet".  Dr. Rod (my surgeon for my Gastric sleeve) told me, "If you want a hamburger, eat a hamburger".  "You will not eat the whole thing anyway".  "Just don't eat one all the time".  So.....if I want a burger, I have one.  However, I haven't wanted one yet.  I can really eat whatever I want to now though.  Anything!  So, my goal (lifelong) is to make the mass majority of my intake healthy and workout when I can.  That way when I do want to enjoy something special, it really isn't a big deal. 

2.  People will see me and say, "Oh my gosh, you look great, what is your secret or what did you do to lose so much weight"?  As soon as I confidently say "weight loss surgery" they say "oooohhhhhhhhh".  Like a disappointed "oooohhhhhh".  So I say to myself, "oh well".  If anyone wants to ask me intelligent questions, I love to answer and educate and inspire others about surgery.  However,  it seems the MOST overweight, unhealthy people feel the need to "try" to educate me on the dangers of WLS, risk of gaining weight back, say you should just eat right and exercise... blah blah BLAH.  I need a ballcap I wear that says, "Research Nerd" so they understand the FACT that I am not an idiot who just thought I'd run by the surgeons office one day and have 80% of my stomach removed and I may have done just a few minutes (A YEAR to be exact) of research on all my weight loss surgery options.  Again, you must be confident and tough.  And just FYI for anyone reading this who doesn't know, sadly WLS does not make you lose weight.  It is simply a tool to help with the process.  I am over the top dedicated, committed and obsessed with being a healthy person now.  I have to make choices everyday to eat right, exercise and live better.  Or I can choose not to.  Ohhhhhhhhhhhh......yup!!

3.  People will still say things like "you are so pretty or you are such a great girl, I hate that you think you needed to do this" or "you would have found someone to love you".  Yall, that isn't flattering or supportive.  Just go ahead and jot that down in the "Things Not to Say to People" notebook.  It can go next to "are you pregnant (but you are not)" or "cute little boy (but it is a girl)" comments.  Oh and the "I can really tell you have lost weight in your FACE" doesn't work either. 

I'm not bitching.....def don't want to come across that way.  Just making light of the reality of what you may face post-op if you choose to share with the world.  My family and close friends would tell you that they wouldn't expect anything less from me than to tell everyone I had surgery and tell about about it on this blog.  I am open, honest, about as REAL as it comes and.....did I mention I am pretty fabulous???

Check out my pantry.....

Here are some of my new FAVS in the pantry and fridge......

I LOVE the sugar free flavored syrups. I have only used the Vanilla, Caramel and Hazelnut up until I ordered these 6 sweet babies last week.  Arrived today and yes......I opened each one and stuck my finger in (they are MINE thank you) and tasted each syrup.  Soooooo yummy!!  There is so much you can do with these.  I recently mixed the SF caramel syrup in some greek yogurt with some cinnamon and Splenda.  Was a delicious "caramel apple dip".  I cannot wait to make yummies with these new flavors.  I ordered these directly from the Torani website.  In case you didn't know, you can buy the big sugar free bottles of syrup from Starbucks as well.  They usually only have SF vanilla and caramel to sell but for about $7 including the pump, not a bad deal. 

If you do not already LOVE and follow Eggface, you need to!!  She is the BEST post-op bariatric lady out there in my opinion. She uses SF Torani all the time and was my inspiration for buying the new flavors. 

My other new fav find are these fabulous protein packed lentils!  I have been wanting to add Lentils to my diet.  Sooooo yummy and a big PUNCH of lean protein for your diet.  The idea of cooking dried beans kept me far away from trying this since I am short on time on week nites.  I found this "Melissa's Lentils" at Walmart in the produce section.  Delish, already cooked and just need to be warmed to eat.  Fabulosity yall!!

Since one of my besties is a vegetarian I decided to make my first Lentil meal for us on Sunday.  I made Easy Lentil Feta Wraps. (Click for recipe). Was like a Medeterrian Burrito.  High protein, low carb and delish.  I used the Low carb wraps and regular onion instead of shallots.  My veggie bestie LOVED them.  I let him take home the leftovers and I made some more tonight.  I just warmed up the lentils tonight and put fresh red onion on top instead of cooking the onion.  Was just as good.  Sooooooo excited about this Lentil find. 

Ironically, Eggface posted Lentil burgers on her page this week.  Will have to try those. 

Here is my lunch box for the week (we had a short week at school since Monday was a holiday).  All of this usually lasts me about 3 days.  I make these on Sunday and take to work for my fridge there.  I will eat something off the salad bar or the hot bar if it is on my "healthy" list. 

This week I made a BLT lettuce wrap.  Large lettuce leaves, bacon and diced tomato.  You can add a little lite mayo to the tomatos if needed but I didn't this week.  Also fresh strawberries with Splenda.  Pic 2 has fresh blueberries, cottage cheese, hummus and veggie stix.  Yummo!!

 

Exactly 20 days ago......

You ever have those moments or memories in life where you know exactly what you were doing when something happened?  Like I remember every single moment of my day on 9/11/01. Can tell you the reaction of a co-worker who's husband was a pilot, the weather outside that day and the dead calm that came across my city that evening.  Well, I can tell you exactly what happened to make me not blog about ME for the past 20 days.  Exactly 20 days ago.......

I thought it would be a grand idea, and it really was, to take the offer to teach a college course this semester.  This is on top of teaching young children with severe disabilities all day, finishing my PhD this semester and taking care of ME.  This is really a great opportunity for me since I haven't taught college in a few years but ......I am seriously slammed. The course is online but wasn't set up online and I wasn't able to get online to get it set up until AFTER the class started.  Uggghhhh!  Super busy and I have managed to keep all this upper respiratory crud like the rest of the world has right now.  Cough cough cough sniffle snort! Been a busy 20 days!! I have so much to show and share and post and tell. 

Good news is I am still maintaining all the weight I lost.  65 pounds (give or take a few at times).  7.5 months post op. Amazing to me since I have been sick (not eating at all or eating lots of crackers) and so super busy and not working out as much as I want to be.  I am eating healthy but I have NOT been tracking/monitoring my protein intake like I promised I would.  Just moved the Calorie Counter app to the first page on the phone.  Bad news....I have not been able to workout like I want to.  Maintenence is great.  Weight loss is better but maintence is fine by me too.  

I think I am totally fine because......

1. I started my journey pushing a size 20/XXL/1x in pants and wearing xl/xxl/1x in tops.  I had really cute big girl clothes by the way!  I have posted many times on here about my love loss of my cute big girl clothes.  However,  I had to buy size 14 MISSES jeans last week.  Not only do they fit but they are little loose.  Rock on!  I am wearing a medium/large in tops.  Really pushing hard into the mediums.  Rock on rockstar!!

Just a side note about brands.  If you want to feel good about your weightloss there are stores who have clothes that will ensure you feel like Fatty McFattie forever.  Target!!  I love Target and can now wear all their Junior size clothing as well as normal sizes in the misses but let me tell you that Target clothes have and will forever run small.  So don't start there.  Important to note ladies!  Love me some Target though!!

2. Last week I met one of my best friends for dinner.  When we walked in, some former interns from my school were sitting at the table next to us.  I haven't seen some of them since last semester.  I said HI and they didn't respond.  There were some glances between us all throughout the nite but never a conversation.  I just figured they didn't remember me.  NO....NO NO NO....they didn't recognize me because I had lost so much weight!  They messaged me later that nite and asked if that was me at the restaurant and I was like Oh YES, Yes it was little old me!  This is the third time someone hasn't recognized me.  Best day!

3.  I bought new bathing suits.  Real misses sized bathing suits.  Size 14 thank you.  I have been wearing an XL MATERNITY tankini for 3 years.  An ugly black A-line top that I had CUT around the bottom so it wasn't so big.  My new suits are so stinkin cute.  Still a tankini but I am 41 years old.  I bought one pair of bottoms (looks like shorts) and 2 different tops.  Can't wait to wear a cute suit this spring and summer.  Heck, I may even bathe in it at this point because it is so cute and small and fun!

Friends who follow, my point here is to not get hung up on that scale.  I have done it so many times.  I weigh daily and do make a "gggrrrrr" sound as a step off of it....almost daily.  Then I see my cute little 14 jeans and sassy little short dresses and I change my gggrrrrrrrr to a ppppuuurrrrrrrr!! 

On the mend.....

Today I feel soooooo much better.  Yesterday I just thought I did.  The steroid shot I got at the doc on Tuesday was still kicking for about 20 hours straight and I thought I was superman.  Then......it wore off.  So I crashed hard yesterday but much better today and itching to work out....hard.  But per doc orders I will wait.....just not as long as the doc said.  I will wait until Monday to go back to bootcamp.  Will do some Kettle Bell this weekend if I am still feeling fine. 

I cannot wait to use all my new exercise stuff.  My pink boxing gloves have arrived,  the new kettlebell workout DVD and.....I bought 2 new Zumba workouts for my Wii.  Zumba 2 and Zumba Core.  Have the jumrope to master. So no excuses anywhere. 

I am soooooo stinkin bored being at home right now.  I feel like I need to stay in the house (and I really do) so I did.  I am bored!! Blah!!

Happy "Flu" Year

I have the flu.  Not the way I wanted to start my new year.  Especially because I was so excited to start my new year-post holiday season working even harder at bootcamp, getting new recipes cooked, and just a new better me that was better than yesterday.  But I am on detour for a few days.

Fortunately, I don't really have an appetite.  Usually when I am sick I want heavy comfort food with a lot of carbs. Either the new me doesn't crave those things anymore or I am just not that hungry.  I am craving Sour Patch Kids and that is my confession.  Other than that I am on a lite apple juice, unsweet tea and chicken soup (no noodle) diet.  Sour Patch Kids cure anything AND....they were in my bag for the roadtrip to Miami to go to the National Championship game this weekend that I am no longer going to.  I think I am eating them out of pure sadness of missing this big game. But, do not need to miss that much work and have to prioritize.  I am off the rest of this week in Quarantine and we have been off for Christmas break for almost 3 weeks.  So, I need to be at work.  

This is off the subject but related because I am concerned.  Even though I have the flu I also have a bad sinus/upper respiratory infection.  The doc today gave me a steroid shot, a new stronger antibiotic than what the doc called in yesterday (because I thought I only had sinus crud) and Tamiflu of course.  The pharmacist told me today that I cannot workout/exercise for about 2 weeks after coming off of the antibiotic because it can cause kidney failure. Levaquin.  I was like WHAT?  Not even stressed about the kidney failure....I'm stressed about not being able to work out.  I have evoloved.  Maybe too much! I'll have to research this.  I need my bootcamp badly!!

Holiday Rock Star!!

I am more than happy to report that I survived the holidays without gaining any weight!  Rock on!! Not one single pound.  I enjoyed every single function I went to, tasted and sampled if I wanted to, but really watched portion control and tried to focus on proteins as my main staple.  I drank a lot of water, unsweet tea etc too.  I went to Boot Camp when I could.  I didn't stress over anything and just enjoyed myself.  And.....I am just fine!

I have actually LOST a few pounds the past 2 days but I won't take full credit for that.  I have been super sick since Saturday (today is Monday).  I finally have my first real "sick" of the season. Totally my first stomach virus since surgery and I had always wondered what it would be like post-op to have a stomach virus.  So.....now I know.  Not different than any other virus thank goodness but misrable nonetheless.  I also got a really bad cold at the same time as the stomach virus.  Totally weird!! Either way I really don't want to eat nor do I hold it down.  I've decided that it doesn't matter how healthy one is, you are going to sick. Especially this time of year. I spent Thursday at the Georgia Aquarium with 1000's of people from all over the world with too many germs.  I am sure I picked it up there and brought it back to Alabama.  I was more worried that my sweet little nephews got sick but so far they are fine!

For New Year's I had fun plans with friends but will be laid up resting off this cold stuff instead. That is frustrating!!  I have to go back to work on Wednesday and leave Friday for MIAMI for the National Championship Game!  Pumped!  However,  I have no warm weather bottoms (capris or shorts) to wear.  Prior to being sick I tried on all of my shorts that I had just worn this summer into about October!!  All but one pair are HUGE on me.  Cannot wear them at all.  That is great but not good for my trip to Miami.  I didn't want to buy warm weather clothes until next summer. 

In the midst of being sick Saturday I tried to shop for my Miami trip.  I was seriously so sick so didn't make it long but I did score some super good deals and smaller sizes!  I bought my first pair of size 14 pants.  A pair of white capris from The Limited (a store I haven't shopped in since I was in my 20's).  I paid $7 for these cute little capris too.  I actually bought them with hope that I could fit in them by the spring but amazingly they FIT!!  Double good news!!  I also had some coupons and got a pair of RED skinny jeans for less than $5 and a pair of black leggings for $5.  I did spend more than I ever would on a cute little RED tunic at J Jill but it is perfect for the warm weather game next week (with my houndstooth scarf) and easily worn year round with leggings.  So I was done shopping, stopped to get some Nyquil and have been in the bed for the past 2 days since.

Jump Rope Day 2

I just need everyone to know that in Bootcamp class tonight I was able to rock the jumprope warmup much better than yesterday. I jumped all the way down the room and back SIDEWAYS.  Jumping the rope while also jumping backward across the room was a little more challenging.  Well, A LOT challenging. I was able to just jump in place tons more but once Marco (trainer) started with all the fancy footwork and twisting the rope all crazy....he lost me!  He is a former boxer so....yea!

Progress....progress.  I then came home and ate half a roasted chicken but I digress.....No Bootcamp till after Christmas.  I'm really sad!

Jump Rope Trainwreck

Last nite was my first nite back at Bootcamp in over a week.  I was fine.  Well, except for the jump rope warm-up exercises.  I CANNOT jump rope....anymore.  I honestly cannot think of the last time I jumped rope but I assure you in was in pre-pubescent times B.C. 

Newton's Law of Physics applies to this trainwreck more than the law of "it's like riding a bike".  I assure you that once my body was in motion it stayed in motion but not exactly the direction or flow I wanted.  I could not get the rope to go under my feet at the same time the feet were in the air.  Then I would have to hop twice before the rope made it back over and under the feet again.  I am really not sure how that worked but it did.  Even though I said "worked" I don't mean that in a successful way.  I just mean I was able to get the trainwreck to stay on the tracks without major injury.  I honestly think I looked like a baby horse trying to stand for the first time but with a jump rope swinging haphazardly around my head. 

I could not stop laughing.  Marco (one of my trainers) has got to think I am crazy.  I love him now though.  He is the one who tried to kill me the first time I ever went to Bootcamp.  Marco is a boxing instructor so while I was still trying to figure out how to perfectly align my feet with the movement of the rope, he had moved on to having the class do things like Rocky does with the jumprope.  We had to jump forward across the room, backward back across the room, and the sideways. Ummmm...negative. 

I just asked Santa for a jump rope for Christmas.  For one, I am EXTREMELY determined and I do not like not being good at something so I want to master the jump rope.  Second, the jump rope is actually an excellent workout.  I also asked Santa for boxing training gloves so I can start going to the Boxing classes at the gym.  Other chicas in my Bootcamp class said the Boxing classes are an awesome workout.  That will give me more options too!

Jingle Bell Run.....

Here are my pics from the Jingle Bell Run a few weeks ago.  This is me RUNNING!!  Remember, I don't run yall! I didn't run tons. Won't give anyone that false sense of accomplishment on my part. The fact that I could run at all without passing out is huge progress though.  Now off to my next Christmas party...ha ha!

 

 

 

 

 

Pants on the Ground....

These are NEW jeans.  Size 16 misses.  These do fit when I first put them on but by the end of the day this is what I have.....saggy bootie!! I'll take it.  I've never had clothes too big for me by the end of the day.  Usually just as tight as when I put them on!

A face tells no lies!!

Well....this makes me feel better about nibbling on a cookie tonight!  Day before my surgery and today!  What a difference healthy living makes!! 



 

June 2012-Day before surgery

 

 

December 2012--6 months post-op





                                                     

Holy Holiday Hell.......

Oh my gosh!  The holidays and my healthy lifestyle are not working well together.  I haven't gained any weight but haven't lost more than a pound or two off and on this week.  This holiday balance is hard. Harder than any holiday season ever but that is because I actually care what I eat and do now! On the positive side,  I am amazingly blessed to have my social life back for a change.  The past 5 years my teacher work and PhD demands really took a toll on my social life like it did my health.  I usually had to say no, or I can't or had to cancel last minute to holiday gathering and socials so I could focus on school work.  I am usually very sick by this time of year too.  NOT sick right now (fabulous) AND.....I have had a holiday "something" every single day or nite for the last week.  I have TWO tomorrow.  I am so happy to have this time with friends.  That is actually just as healthy for me emotionally as my "body" health.  So I am thankful!

Downside of all this celebrating is FOOD and NO EXERCISE.  Oh my gosh!!  I am surrounded by appetizers, snacks, comfort food and sugary treats at every single gathering.  I have done a great job maintaing portion control with my meals at the gatherings but I have also nibbled here and there on treats.  The good thing is that I really do just nibble but I feel horrible, full, and guilty after.  I think I am stressing more than I should.  I read the blogs or advice from others that says DO NOT even nibble on something unhealthy.  Actually, I do not think I am even supposed to look at it.  Looking at it is an automatic 5 pound gain I am sure!  Either way....it makes me feel horribly guilty.  Then I read other blogs or advice that says to just watch portions, get a little plate or take a nibble not a bite etc.  Still struggle emotionally with guilt either way.  I must be Catholic and not know it!

Tonight's party with my most favorite girls was pizza, salad and a "treat swap".  This is a pic of what came home with me tonight.  It doesn't even look yummy to me oddly.  I do love those Mexican Wedding Cookies though (shhhhhhh).  I will share with friends and neighbors but feel so guilty for even tasting some of this tonight.  I actually called my best guy friend from the car IN the driveway when I was leaving the party tonight to see if I could bring it all to him but he was at the GYM on the treadmill!  Oy Vey!!

I have read all the "tips" that say to eat before you go to a party or just don't eat while you are there.  Well, in the situations I have been in with my parties, it would be more than rude to not eat or the event was hours long and I had to eat something.  I need to do a better job of planning or packing snacks, drinks and meals to take with me.  Need to have things I keep in the car too. This is an issue and challenge.  My responsibility though.  Until I do it, I can't expect to make better choices in tight situations.  

All my parties have been at night as well which means no bootcamp since last week.  I need to come up with a Plan B workout.  The good news is that my last 2 parties are tomorrow.  I should be able to get it together after that.  I really really love Bootcamp!! Who knew??

Tomorrow is a new day......just happens to be a damn day in December!!