OMG~~~>muscles

OUCH MY GROANING ~~~> muscles. This morning i did the complete Strength Training workout on my wii fit, and every muscle in my body is burning...... especial my core center. I also did15 minutes of Cardio. it is a great workout for me right now, and it is also great entertainment for Katie as she sits on the couch and laughs at me trying my damnest to balance on one leg, Graceful i am not :-P, but who cares:::

I had a wonderful time at McKeever, and i was able to make my own shakes in the AM, reheat my own prepared lunches, and both Dinners worked for me. i must admit i did end up bring back up my last lunch, i just assumed i could eat it, so i didn't prepare for that meal.. it was tomato soup and grilled cheese, i tore the sandwich up and put it in my soup...but i didn't wait long enough for it to soften as much as it should have, and we actually ate 90 minutes earlier than normal. ( i seem to tolerate foods better from Noon on). As the Nurse i didn't do as much hiking/walking as i could have because i have to stay in one place while several groups go out on the trails, they also did an afternoon hike, but i couldn't do that either. :(, i did manage to keep myself moving and did my squats and lunges in the Nursing Office. on Friday i walked over 4 miles according to my pedometer. I took my own snacks, of Prunes and Sunflower seeds, and I even shared my prunes with my buddy Dave one of the teachers. I so love that place, i plan on going for many more years if they'll take me.

have i mentioned SNOW yet? well we are having snow, and snow and more snow........ it doesn't bother me, and it is so beautiful......... but even i a die hard WINTER lover, is ready to see, hear, and smell signs of Spring...... not long now
Tomorrow i have Carley, and i also have plans to hopefully get a tooth pulled out. it is the tooth farthest back in my mouth, on the top left side.... the filling came out a year ago........ but honestly i didn't want to take the funds to fix it, first off Bill was on strike and second every available dollar went to get Andrews mouth fixed.... i don't want a root canal, i have a very tiny mouth, and plenty of teeth....... hey i didn't say i had a quiet mouth, just a small one....... ;0).
Christina offered to take me just in case I have bleeding issues or light headiness issues...... never even thought about that.
well i think i am going to go and read a while..... my tooth is really bothering me..........

TWO POUNDS

I'd like you to meet my trainer "Georgie", I started my Wii fit + on Feb 16 which was last Tuesday. so i guess i'll post my weight Tuesday mornings on the blog, to help me stay accountable, if i don't then ask me why i didn't post....... so i dropped 2 lbs this week. :0) I am more than happy with that...... i mean if i continued to drop 7 and 8 lbs a week like when i first had my last adjustment...... well then that would not be healthy! my doctor said once i get used to the adjustment i should realistically lose 1 to 2 lbs a week, and that is what i plan to do.
I must say the workout can be very difficult, for instance they have a hula hoop cardio game, and you think you are playing....... and playing,... and playing......... and then all the sudden your lateral abs, are screaming......... hey this isn't play. and they have a boxing game, and a bird flying game,......... and and and...... OUCH!!! my muscles are feeling it :)
I go to work today at 4 pm....... so this morning i am cooking, packing, washing laundry and getting ready to go to McKeever with our school district http://www.mckeever.org/ I already read the menu, and know every meal we will be eating ~ i am not even going to pretend that i can eat pizza, chicken nuggets, french fries, grilled cheese........ breakfast's are out of the question too..... i have my shakes, my frozen berries, and my Flaxseed cold pressed oil.... i'll prob pre make them, and just grab the shake in the morning. I plan on making my fish for two lunches, and maybe chicken for one of them....... dinners i may be able to work with to an extent.... one meal is a turkey dinner..... one meal is baked chicken......
I won't be able to do my wii, but i may take my bands, and heck Johnny taught me i can take squats and lunges and push ups with me where ever i go. i also started wearing my Pedometer again.........for this week i am not "trying" to add steps, i am just doing what i normally do, and see how many steps i do in my "normal routine"......... then next week i'll try to increase a little!!
Well i really should get my butt moving....... gotta drink 24 oz of water before my watch goes off again for my next meal, and i haven't even started yet. have a Chicken in the rotisserie, ....
I doubt that i will get on again as there is no service at camp, and i leave so early tomorrow morning........ i'll touch base when i get back.
Have a great week

my Greatest Accomplishment~

No doubt my greatest accomplishment in life happen to be these three Kids, Sammy, Andrew and Katie. Tonight was the sweater hop dance, and the classes pick freshmen to escort the seniors.... both Sammy and Andrew were selected to be on the court..... They are growing up so fast, and i am enjoying the adults they are becoming. Katie of course picked out the sweaters for both brothers....... i think she did a good job. I am blessed...... i am blessed !!!!

My plan / my menu / my stats

things are going well for me, and I am finding that i am starting to get more consistant writing down everything in my "Dietminder". this week i've also decided to try something different for me, instead of the end of the day writing everything down that i eat..... i plan my menu the night before or during my breakfast "shake". This way i can look in advance see how my protein numbers are and my calorie number, and i can add or subtract as i need. AND if i stray off my meal plan, i can erase and add.......but i find the last couple days it is nice not thinking about what i should eat, i just look in my dietminder and know what i need to eat. for instance this morning i precooked everything..... and have my lunch packed and ready to go for this evening.
today:
Breakfast:
1% milk 6 ounces
protein powder
raspberries 1 cup
Cold packed Flaxseed oil 1 TBS
added fiber 10grams

set watch for 3 hours:

Lunch:
Gilled Tilapia 4 ounces
Broccoli Cheese Soup 3/4 cup *Christina's soup
2 Tbs of light shredded cheddar * added to soup on top
Dark Chocolate Pomegranit 1/2 serving

set watch for 3 hours.

Dinner:
Grilled Lemon Rosemary Chicken 4 ounces * Patti's recipe
Lettuce/ Tomatoes/ Spinich leaves/Arugula
LF individual cheese 3/4 oz.
Red wine/Olive oil Drsg * meme Glady's recipe

set watch for 3 hours

Snack:
Prunes 1/4 cup
Choc Mouse sugar free 2 ounces

I weigh and measure everything

Calories are approx :1155
Protein is approx: 107 grams

and if you all promise not to laugh...... i started using the Wii fit + to increase my activity level until i can regularly get out on the trails. again don't laugh unless you've tried it.... my muscles feel like i've worked out with johnny, or when i tried the Firm video's a few times years ago. Yesterday i did Cardio and Strength Training, and Abdominal. Today i did 45 minutes of steady Cardio activities. it's cool how most of the strength exercises are Lunges and Squats, something that Johnny incorporates with every workout. The balance board scale is right on track with the doctors scale in regards to my weight...... and it will keep track if i want it to as my weight drops or goes up. i picked the boy trainer for the exercises........cause Jillian has just annoyed me lately. besides my little wii guy reminds me of my brother Johnny :0).
Well i am going to get a bath, get dressed and head to work..... that is if i can talk this very sore body into moving..... have a great day today

Baby Paige

With this baby's mama's permission, a crop, and a blackout around the face, i am able to post this picture of this very precious baby. I LOVE BABY FEET! I love this baby...... please understand i love my many many babies, i just happen to see this little peanut more. After all, this is Christina's beautiful granddaughter.
Paige is such a joy to be around, there is something about this little girl. she dances, sings and talks all the time. she is so happy and so much fun, haven't seen her in a while so today knowing she was at grandma's ....... i had to go down and see her.... so when i get there, get her out of her high chair, she gives me this huge hug, says in her sweet baby voice..... " hi Sandi". and pats my back..... my heart just melts., she'll be playing and she'll just look at her mama, or her meme, and just again in her sweet voice say....... hi mama, hi meme. This baby is so much like her Mama.... if she loves you..........she loves with all that she has, and if she is pissed........ well you know that too ;0). Next to my three children, Christina's kids follow..... how could they not. Chris has been my dearest friend for two + decades...... And Chris will be the first to tell you, she lucked out with the son in law and daughter in law she has. Okay now back to my little "title" girl. If you tell Paige something one time.......... she remembers it even weeks later........ gee the girl will be 17 months in March, and sometimes she acts like she is 13. I wish i can explain how sweet this baby is, ...... but i just can't get the words out..... i just know, when you've been with her, you smile more, laugh more, and love more!!. Thank you Christina for sharing this baby with me, and i promise to share my grandchildren with you someday...... no hurry Katie, Drew or Sam...... i can wait and enjoy Christina's grandchildren as they come :0)

i know i already posted today but i just had to show you....

isn't this the cutest little plate..... it is much smaller than a salad plate. 4 maybe 5 inches in diameter. i actually take it with me to work..... today i had 3 0z of grilled tilapia with 2 TBS of Alfredo sauce (not the 1/4 cup serving size suggested) with old bay seasoning. on top of the mixed greens.... no dressing. and with this i had 4 oz of Greek yogurt with 1/4 cup of Red Raspberries. and that was MORE than enough for me, and i did not get hungry even after my watches alarm went off after 3 hours. the plate has gray letters all over, no order. and as you see in Red, I "love" you!! what a better way to remind myself to be good to ME, gotta love Me first before i can love others right???.
Okay folks enough plates for a while, i promise ~ i think everyone knows how i am eating since my last adjustment.... so i think i'll move on to bigger and better things.
I had a wonderful chat with my dear dear friend Patti today, i sure miss her :(, i am looking forward to figure out when i am going to get out there.... i will make arrangements before i lose the next 15 pounds... that is a goal of mine, to at least figure it all out before then........ even if it is several months away ....... and i gotta start looking for that Bike too.... oh so much to do.....
love and blessings

"forced" to eat healthy

okay i haven't posted in a day or so, but Christina was aware that i was wondering if my lapband was okay.... because as i've blogged lately, i eat very little, i can't even think about trying white bread, pizza, steak, heavy pasta. So i was a good girl and contacted my surgeons office~ spoke with the wonderful physicians asst. who informed me that NOW my lapband is doing exactly what it is supposed to. although 10 lb weight loss in two weeks is high, it is normal considering i hadn't had an adjustment in so long. Now that it is leveling off, i should lose 1-2 lbs a week. like i've said i drink more than fine, can chug a cold glass of water like before. and if i am in pain at all it is after i've eaten something wrong or too fast, once that part gets resolved, i am fine and feel no pain what so ever. i am sure that i have readers thinking............ not enough calories, too drastic,..... not healthy...... actually what everyone is thinking doesn't really affect me, it is what i am thinking, and what my doctors are thinking that impacts my thoughts and decisions. I am eating a healthier 1000-1200 calories than someone eating an unhealthy 3000 calories. It is like this. I knew what i was getting in to, and with God's Grace, i will continue to have success with my Lapband surgery. notice i didn't say speedy results, i said SUCCESS!!! :0).
So this is where the "forced" to eating healthy comes in right now.. so right now my tummy holds about 4 to 6 oz of food, every 3 hrs. i could fill it with 4 oz of ice cream and 4 oz of Pecan Pie, or i could fill it with 3 oz of grilled fish, and 3 oz of Greek yogurt with a few berries and maybe a few greens. If i want to get healthy there really isn't an option. Oh the Doc office also said it is perfectly normal to be tighter in the morning, and looser in the evening..... so she thought a high protein, high fiber (20g), 1/2 cup of berries, 1 TBS of cold packed flax seed oil, and 6 oz of skim milk....... is a worthy breakfast, that nobody could really argue with.
So i am doing fine,........ and my labband is doing what it is supposed to be doing..... and for the record the weight has slowed down....... i lost 2 pounds this week....... i think that makes a 12 lb weight loss since my last adjustment which was 2 weeks ago ........
Have a great weekend folks.........and enjoy the moment!!!

presentation

okay, let me explain before i show you the pictures.... I always make a point to put my food on my dessert size plates, make it look all pretty, and then i take a picture, to put on my blog. i just bought several new tiny plates, a few salad plates, and a few what they call desert plates. i even put my sugar free jello in a little dessert dish. if i am eating 1/2 oz of cheese and 3 whole grain crackers, they go on a plate.... right now i have to really focus on how i eat, so i sit down and enjoy the food slowly, it makes it easier when i have something pretty to look at. So be patient with me for the next few days while i show off all my new little plates.

this photo is my lunch, it is 1/2 of a burger, with 2 TBS of cheddar cheese, Arugula, Spinach and Romaine lettuce, with cherry tomatoes and one tsp of Italian dressing. with 1/2 cup of organic low fat yogurt and a few raspberries.


sadly though i found out that i can't do beef as easily, this came back up, but the yogurt went down well.

this photo is my dinner. it is a homemade crab cake with minimal bread crumbs (1/2 cup in the entire recipe (made 8) each cake weighed approx 3 ounces. Bill had surf and turf, so he had a grilled steak with his crab cake. I didn't even try the beef this time.

I had to eat this slowly, but it stayed down.

Now i can't resist putting this last picture up, Katie and Bill were making fun of me...... so they "Vanna Whited" my plate........ silly silly family i live with, but I love them tons


this morning i had my high fiber shake 20grams of fiber, with 1/2 cup of berries and 6oz of skim milk, and 1 TBS of cold pressed flax seed oil.
snack tonight will be Greek yogurt and maybe a sugar free jello pudding.....
and that is my day of eating with a lap band

about 1000-1200 calories

My last lapband adjustment has been considered a success~ I feel good. I am able to drink without any difficulty, and i am able to eat about 60z of food at every meal. I am trying to eat 4 meals a day. after i eat a meal, I set my alarm on my watch to beep 3 hrs later, to remind me to eat again, and to not eat between meals . I eat until I am full, as soon as i get that "full" feeling...... I STOP!!! This is how the Lapband is supposed to work :) , i must admit i was a little worried last week, that i'd need to go back to the doctor and have the adjustment........ re-adjusted. i have been forced to eat more mindfully yet again. and i am choosy as to what foods I eat. i mean i'm not going to fill my little tummy with a cupcake, no nutritional value there..... but i will fill it with grilled fish and veggies and greek yogurt. :0). i am so ready to head outdoors again for my daily hikes........ i am loving the snow i truly am, but i think when Spring pushes through...... i'll be happy.

My life is going well, And the kids are doing great. Katie has jumped into school again head on. She goes to class mon through fri. but she is forever doing homework. Andrew's senior year is half way over. he does both, the dual enrollment, high school and college classes. he also works at our local grocery store. Sammy is in 9th grade, and loving being a kid.

Getting ready for the second wave of Snow, School has already been closed for Saltsburg yet again. . . . i always enjoyed snow days, i loved having the kids home when the weather was in question. and that hasn't changed.

Have a great day today.........stay warm and safe

Sunday Morning at Seclairer

for my regular blog readers i posted these photos for my co workers to view, i'll blog later!

the first picture is the walk way for our patients, there are two and three foot drifts- not sure what is going to happen........ do we have a snow shovel anywhere????

the last picture is of my yard....... early this morning..... i have 4 and 5 foot drifts...

it has been years......

it has been years since i remember snow like this. the last time i can remember something like this, was January 4,1994. The day my Dad died, it was such a hard time figuring out how to get to my mom..... I almost ended up going with Larry on a snow mobile... however, i got a ride from my home to Saltsburg then from Saltsburg to Apollo, and then Apollo to Brownstown.

Because i live on top of a hill, there was a lot of wind and drifting~ some of the drifts went mid waist if not deeper. Thank goodness for Christina's husband Larry, he came up with his big farm tractor and plow, and got us dug out! He is such a wonderful guy. Chris and I are such lucky women having husbands like we do :) Even though there are days i don't want to even look in Bill's direction........guess i'll keep him.

This morning when Izzy first went out, she did a leap off the porch..... maybe thinking like Patti does, that one can walk on the snow...... however she went into a snow drift way over her head, she panicked and high tailed it back to the porch.... ( just what Patti did too) but after a little while, as noted in the picture above.........she was lovin it. :)

I think i am going to head back into my room, put in a movie, or curl up with a book. I've got supper in the crock pot...... it is going to be a nice day!

~~> honestly

not that i am not honest in my blog anyhow, But i guess i've had the lapband for ten months, and just now am understanding how it really works. Pizza at this point isn't even possible, not even a bite. I am not having problems with drinking fluids, or taking soft foods at all, so there isn't an issue there. They have told me all along that when the lapband is working, at least for a while, the stomach usually holds 1/2 to 1 cup of food.... this morning i made an omelet, using one egg, one egg white, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and 0.5 oz of Havarti cheese. i am weighing my food now, and my eggs weighed in at 5 oz., I ate 3 ozs. and had the "full feeling". lunch I ate 4 oz light yogurt, 1/4 cup of raspberries, and one Jello mousse pudding ( 2 oz). and i tolerated this quite well. IF I EAT TOO FAST, IF I DON'T CHEW MY FOOD WELL.... I THROW IT UP! and that is how it is. I told Christina that i am not going to exercise this week, as i let my body adjust to the decrease in calories, and i also told her that if i start dropping weight too fast... that i will go get a small adjustment (removal of fluid) my goal isn't and never has been to drop weight at high speed. Sometimes after an adjustment, if it is too tight, it is difficult to swallow liquids, that is obviously not a problem as i am taking in 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. i plan on taking an extra protein shake while i am adjusting too........ we shall see.
Well i am at work now, i brought my rotisserie in, Jeff one of my co workers brought in a duck, and i brought in a chicken. the duck was first..... don't know how Jeff talked me into trying this, but i tasted the heart, the gizzards and a bite of the duck....... not bad, Jeff said Duck is usually greasy, but by cooking it on the rotisserie, it seems to drain the grease as it cooks. my bites were the size of the finger nail on my pinky... and i chewed and chewed. the Chicken is cooking now, i'll eat about 2 oz of this, and i will eat my Greek yogurt. and when i get home, i'll make my protein shake......
We are supposed to get several inches of snow this weekend......... so i may not go anywhere :0) and that is okay by me.
Oh and Patti, in regards to your comment on my last blog entry, if you ever watched the movie Ground hog day........... that is what is Happening to Christina, she must be reliving New Years Eve...... over and over again,.. i know we are neighbors, but i've moved into February...honest

~> 4 to 6 ounces <~

This is a photo of my lunch, just to illustrate how much i am actually eating. This is a desert plate. and i have 4 oz of Whole wheat, Fire roasted vegetable lasagna with about 1/2 cup of salad using 3 cherry tomatoes and 1 tsp of Italian dressing. As soon as i finish my meal, i set my 3 hour timer on my watch, and i will not eat again until it goes off. And i am FULL!! i am not miserable and i am not having that "stuck", mouth filling up with saliva, feeling that i usually get. I must also eat very very slowly too. This morning i had one scrambled egg. couldn't even eat my yogurt with breakfast. Drinking fluids is NO PROBLEM, I had 5 glasses of water before noon. i also snuck on the scale and have dropped two more pounds, making a total of 9lbs since Thursday night when i weighed myself before my next day appointment. I figure i'll wait to exercise next week when my weight loss stabilizes, and maybe i'll be able to eat a little more. IF for some strange reason, i can't drink, or the amount of food i can digest decreases. I will call the office and make sure this is all cool. i am feeling good though.... speaking of which, I am heading to work soon, so i better get my butt in gear. dinner is going to be 4 oz of grilled fish and if i can 40z of mixed steamed veggies, or carrots and hummus...... maybe i should try carrots and hummus, because it has more calories and protein. and my 4 th meal will be 1/2 serving of my protein shake, with 1/2 cup of berries and 1 TBS of cold pressed flaxseed oil... .sounds good to me.

Getting "stuck" vs "sweet spot"

above is an illustrated photo of a Realize band in place, the upper pouch is what makes my new stomach, the food is then processed there and continues into the rest of the stomach, with a lapband there is no alteration in the digestive process as would be with a gastric bypass. the access port in which they adjust the tightness of the band is to the right of my abdomen just below my ribs. this is where they inject fluid to tighten the band. ... so when i go for "an adjustment" this is what i am getting done.
For reasons beyond my surgeon's office control, (two Physician assistants leaving, and one in a terrible car accident.) it has been about 6 months since my last adjustment. there are different kinds and makes of lapbands available. some hold as little as 4 cc's of fluid, these bands are tighter in the beginning, and people usually experience the "sweet spot" ( which in Lapband pt terms, means the point in which you are able to drink fluids with ease, and eat about a cup of food and then you get the full feeling) after the first or second adjustment. With the Realize band that I have, it holds 11 cc's of fluids. which is good that i have much more room for adjustment. However they told me on friday, it also takes several adjustments to find that "sweet spot". all these months when i'd eat and get that "stuck" feeling. I just assumed it was the "sweet spot". and i have decreased the amount of food i've drastically ingested. We went over what i am eating, and it is a really healthy balanced diet. and when i go on maintenance, it will be the perfect amount of calories ( 1600 -1700). However it was explained that the lapband isn't doing it's job if I can eat 6-8 oz of baked fish, 4-6 oz of veggies, and 4 oz of potato or rice, and 4 oz of sugar free pudding that ='s almost 22 oz of food which is about 3 cups of food......... seems like a lot when i look at it that way. The doctor that did my adjustment on Friday explained to me, that getting stuck does not mean finding the sweet spot. i can get the first bite stuck if i don't chew well. which makes sense. it will be one year in March. and I just found my sweet spot this weekend.
and it is amazing to finally understand what that means.
i can drink fine, i can chug 12 oz of water with no problem (sometimes a too tight band, and you cannot drink) HOWEVER to my surprise, i can eat only 6 to 8 oz of food at a meal. today we took the kids to get clothes and take them out for lunch, i ate chopped chicken and veggies that equaled about 6 oz's of food. I didn't experience pain or a stuck feeling, it just felt like i just enjoyed a thanksgiving dinner, and i could NOT take another bite. Supper today i ate 60z of greek yogurt but i could only eat less than 2oz of my grilled turkey burger. today was the first day i could eat something other than soft foods. and it worked fine. I ate dinner at 6pm, it is almost 10 pm and i am full, and i have no desire to eat before bed. I haven't had the stuck pain, or throw up urge. I must admit i had a miserable day yesterday..... my chest hurt from back to front... the doc said there are alot of nerves surrounding my stomach area, so when she deflated my band completely to check the fluid level, then she filled it back up aggressively (cc when they usually fill 1 cc at a time) that i may feel sore, but as long as fluids where going down, and if i did not throw up i would prob be okay. Because of her aggressive adjustment she told me if i threw up even once, i was to go directly to the ER. {{ yeah, didn't happen}}.
AND bottom line ... i've dropped 7 lbs since i weighed myself Friday morning before my appointment. :)
I KNOW that my calories are low, I know Vitamins are a must right now, and I know i must eat 4oz of protein before i eat the other food..... BUT i did get the lapband to help me lose weight. If i drop weight too quickly they will remove a little fluid, if i start to maintain again or even gain, they still have room to add more......... I love this decision i've made, and i am doing well.
I know this blog entry is quite boring, so hang in there. i had a couple people ask exactly what is the lapband, and what is an adjustment......... so i thought i'd just explain it here.
Love and Blessings, Think i'll drink a few more cups of water before i go to bed. Good Night

a calorie is NOT a calorie~a fat is NOT a fat

one of the main things i've been doing to prepare for the next leg of my weightloss journey is focusing and becoming more "mindful" on what i am eating again. so i started writing everything down, keeping track of calories, fat, protein, fiber and carbs. Now understand this is my opinion, and i am not a registered dietitian. But Calories in = Calories out (exercise, metabolism, activity level) is a crock of crap. 1000 calories worth of Twinkies is not the same as 1000 calories worth Salmon and steam veggies. By body will metabolize each meal totally differently, my glucose levels, pancreas, liver, kidneys and endocrine system will respond in different ways. many weightloss and diet websites use the percentage way of measuring just can't be accurate. In the morning when i take one tablespoon of cold packed Flaxseed oil that equals 11 grams of fat. will immediately throw my "balanced percentages" off not to mention the 1/4 cup of roasted organic sunflower seeds I have as an afternoon snack at 14 grams of fat. so with two small additions to my daily intake, i've already ingested 25 grams of fat. AGAIN 25 grams of this type of fat is NOT the same as 25 grams of fat coming from bacon, pastries, crackers and such. A "lowfat" diet is lost before my day even begins. Yesterday was a great day. my calories ended up 1700, and my protein intake ended up 100 grams, had 5+ servings of fruits and veggies ( need to increase that just a little, ) had 3 servings of the heart healthy fats, 4 servings of lowfat dairy. My 100 g of Protein came mainly from grilled fish, turkey breast, nuts. my Carbohydrates came from 100% whole wheat bread, and Light wraps, fruit and veggies. all good sources of fiber too :0).
Friday is my 3rd adjustment to the lapband, i haven't had an adjustment in 6 months, and i haven't even hit what they call the "sweet" spot yet. the adjustment i was supposed to have at the end of October, was supposed to help get to that spot. Dr. Mike left, and then the other doctor who does adjustments was in an accident....... and the waiting list for an adjustment was long..... So my goal is to eat the same foods. but instead of 1/4th cup of seeds, i'll eat an 1/8 cup . instead of 4 to 6 oz of salmon or tilapia, i'll eat 3 to 4 oz of tilapia. I had an extra meal last night which i did not need which gave me another 400 calories. I should realistically with the lapband stick to 4 meals a day. So my calories should decrease to about 1200 after the adjustment, and protein may go down to about 80 grams a day. a little low. but very dense in nutrition. and don't forget. Next year at this time i'd like to drop a good 50 to 75lbs more.
well enough of this chit chat.... looking forward to Friday. Christina, Megan and Paige are going to escort me to Pittsburgh. we will meet up with Jeanine and i am hoping to stop at Trader Joe's. a great day in Pittsburgh. even though "trader Joe's" isn't Katie's cup of tea, i wish she wasn't in school 5 days a week, cause she'd have fun too........ then it would be ALL the girls. not only is she in school full time, her work doesn't seem to understand she wanted to cut back on hours.. so friday she goes from school to work......... what a good girl

Christina Said....................

okay Christina, the woman that last wrote on her blog LAST YEAR just told me i needed to change my blog, she doesn't like clicking and seeing herself working out.......... So i guess i will :0).
I have been doing really well doing 4 meals daily....... i eat slowly, and i eat until i am full one meal is my protein shake with berries, two are my meals, and the fourth can be Greek yogurt, lowfat cheese, sugar free pudding... or something like that. in the 3-4 hours between meals i make sure to drink 3 glasses of Water.
Our big screen TV in the living room died this weekend, my brother Johnny gave it to Us about 7 years ago, and he had it a few years before that....... i didn't even skip a beat. for some reason it didn't bother me much. I brought the television out from my bedroom to the living room. and for the first time since i can remember, i do not have the TV in my bedroom. and i can't say that i am missing it....... I am a reader, so when i go to bed, i read a while, and then fall quickly asleep... and i've slept quiet well for two days in a row. I am not sure why I've been having really vivid funky Dreams that i have NO idea why i am dreaming them, and wonder even more why i remember them when i wake up. Last night i dreamt , i was raising my kids in my childhood home, and in the dream we had a GIANT cat living in our basement.......... and when i say giant, i mean Clifford the big red dog size Giant...... 30 feet long..... and every time my boys and i had to get in the car, the cat would try and smash us............. what is up with that???
Tuesdays are my long days at work, so i'll be getting home later tonight. It is so nice to have a job to go to that i do not mind....... there is NO stress!!!! I love it !!! I don't go until 330, so i'd like to get the house clean and in order. i should get down to CM Gym. and get a shower too......
Oh and one other thing poor Patti is now going to have Verizon........ which means..... i can talk and talk and talk and talk......... poor girl..... Look out
Have a great day... I AM Going down to the gym........... that has to be a priority.
I'll come back and clean..........
see you later

~country meadows gym~

Well, our very own private "gym" in our back yards. and i must admit, Christina and I worked our A** off. Funny how much learning from Johnny has stuck in our minds. we have a treadmill, and elliptical, and weight machines and benches and free weights, and exercise balls and exercise bands A huge TV and the ability to do many exercise videos, yoga and dance. I think we are set :0).

I think you are going to hear more about my weight loss journey than normal on the blog. just because i am switching gears a little higher, as i am heading into the next "mile" of my journey.

past couple weeks i began to really pay attention to my eating again...... being mindful of how what when and where i eat. Me working at Doctor Chaudhary's office is keeping me an honest girl LOL.

Yesterday's food was the berry shake in the AM

Lunch was grilled turkey burger ( homemade and pre frozen so i just pull out and cook) mixed veggies steamed (cauliflower, pea pods, carrots) light yogurt with mixed berries

Supper was a light wrap 90 calories 9 grams of fiber, turkey breast, 1 slice of bacon, crisp, tomato's, onion, 1 slice of LF Cheddar, and light mayo oh and a few black olives.

I was "allowed one more meal.......... but i didn't get to it........ and i was not hungry.

I made the men...... "oat meal" pancakes. my x mother in law sent me some "powder" made up and i just added eggs, oil and water. a relative of hers has heart disease, and these are what he eats..... they are made with oats, whole wheat flour, Cinnamon, some brown sugar, and some powdered milk..... and maybe cream of tarter, and maybe some soda...... it makes 10 cups of mix. and is stored in an airtight contain, and you use it as you need it. Bill and Drew Loved them. Bill said when he could normally eat 8 pancakes....... he could only do 2. and he wasn't hungry later on in the evening either. the left overs i froze, and i can take one out, warm it up, put some almond butter on it, or some fruit, or some peanut butter and there is a quick high fiber healthy breakfast ( hi Patti, love ya)

Speaking of Patti...... this girl lives so far away and i must say she is one of my dearest and best friends. just knowing her helps me to stay on tract. Thanks Patti.

Well i should get going............ didn't do a thing at home, but hey got my exercise in, that is way more important. have lunch made ( refried bean/ green chile's/chipolte seasons/ shredded cheese baked in oven. i'll then add a dollop of light sour cream and chopped tomato's on it at work. more mixed steamed veggies. and a light yogurt or sugar free chocolate pudding (*the only sugar free thing i eat )

Have a great weekend everyone.......

Transitions

Dr. Chaudhary is really looking into the over all health of his patients, mentally, emotionally, physically. He has and is in the process of looking into the decline of nutrition in the human population. He is a psychiatrist, he believes in pharmaceutical medicine BUT he refuses to just throw these medications on his patients, He wants to show them what is out there, he believes in DBT therapy, and yoga, and mindfulness, and exercise, most Americans when given a blood test are deficient in many vitamins and minerals now.. the big study out there now is Vitamin D. which they are saying is almost a hormone in keeping the body working. Well i recently started taking the multi vitamin, vitamin D and the Calcium....... these are all isotonic formulas that work with my lap band ( they quickly bypass my stomach, and go directly to the small intestines where they are processed for the body. With the Lap Band i find that early mornings are harder for me to take food in. So i started doing a protein shake...... (much better than nothing). When i saw the "numbers" on this shake, it shocked me. Surprisingly most shakes have minimal if any dietary fiber in them, and for instance the Slim Fast Optima Powder has 2 grams of protein it.

Here are the numbers for 5 types of powder containers i had in my home... (and yes after i did this i threw them away. except the muscle milk and the transitions. I am just giving my opinion and i am just reading the numbers........ not meaning to offend any company.

Slimfast Optima

calories 110

fat 1.5

carbs 18

fiber 5

sugar 6

protein 2

EAS soy protein

calories 170

fat 1.5

carbs 19

fiber 0

sugar 17

protein 20

Curves Shake

calories 115

fat 1.5

carbs 10

fiber 1

sugar 5

protein 15

Muscle Milk

calories 195

fat 6

carbs 11

fiber 1

sugar 2

protein 25

Transitions

calories 200

fat 6

carbs 18

fiber 10

sugar 2

protein 18

now i did not include the liquid, (milk, water, soy) and i didn't deduct the fiber from the Carbs. as fiber does Nothing but travel through the body collecting floaty things such as cholesterol and carry them out the body..

In the morning i take this protein shake (chocolate) with 8 oz of skim milk, and 1/2 cup of frozen berries. i put this in my Bullet blender... and it is delicious. i could use ice, frozen 1/3 of a banana, frozen spoon of almond butter. frozen pineapple chunks i can use the vanilla with a frozen apple and dash of Cinnamon.... so many idea's.

This DOES keep the hunger away for a good 3 or 4 hours. , and i must say that my intestines are getting used to starting my morning with such a great fiber number. If you do protein shakes, this is definitely worth investigating. :0).

I so need a lap band adjustment. I CANNOT EAT FAST ANYMORE but i notice i can eat a little more that i used to but slowly... but not nearly like i ate even 3 years ago.

We have Country Meadows Gym up and running.......... i've been there twice. and my body notices it. i miss my woods........ and i am ready for that.

I need to step back, focus..... and tweak myself, cause i would really like to lose as close to the last 75 lbs by New Years Eve 2010, that would mean it took me 4 years to lose the weight that was killing me........ going on 4 years now........ WOW....

well i am heading out the door in a few to head to work....... make it a great day.

~ my JEEP ~

This is the first JEEP that i have ever owned, and i don't think I'll drive anything else but a Jeep from now on. This little Jeep Compass does beautifully in the snow, sleet, rain, ice...... haven't even had to use 4 wheel drive yet. It has some kind of electronically computed steering.. so if the steering wheel is steering left........ and my car starts to go right..... it fixes itself. sometimes i can feel the tires do something , i can sorta tell i am sliding on ice, but i haven't fishtailed yet. something about positive traction....... so if one tire starts to slip..... the control is taking away from it and put on the tires that have the traction....... Now how in the heck do they make it do that. :0). Well needless to say for the past 4 evenings, coming home from work, i've experienced lots and lots of snow and ice on the roads. oh an other safety feature that the car has, which by the way Bill hates. Is when you take the foot off the gas, the Jeep automatically begins the stopping process...... so if you want to take your foot off and just coast, it ain't gonna happen. So Thursday night, driving home i realized i was coming down the hill on ice a little too fast... i knew i couldn't put on the breaks without skidding... must admit i was nervous.... but as i started down the hill, the car started to slow down without me putting on the breaks..... it was at that moment... after years of having a van, and missing my mini van........ that a new love was established....... and i realized....... I LOVE MY JEEP!!!
So Bill, Katie, Sam and I went early this morning to get groceries, take care of Bill's mom. and then we went to the Drs. Office to clean that building. Sammy does help speed the cleaning process.... yes he can be a help when he wants too , We made it home at 3pm...... the only place i plan on going in the next day or two is to Johnny's IF he is going to be there. it's been so long since we went there, i do need him there to "remind" me what to do again.
I think i am going to leisurely put my house in order, and put in a movie........ and chill.......
Have a great day folks.....

Who Forgot to tell God!!!

Where does time go? This picture was taken when i was 4 years old, wow that was almost 20 years ago ;0) *wink!!! okay okay, this picture was taken almost 39 years ago this May.
I should give a blog update. I have been happily busy at work. I've been getting home no earlier than 7 pm all week. This was the first week i got to speak with patients as a "future" wellness coach. and i am loving it! The Doctor spoke with me yesterday and he is pleased with how things are working out. I am seeing this direction more clearly...... it was a vague vision 3 years ago when I made a promise to Melody, my angel in Heaven. and it has always been dormant in the deep corners of my mind ever since.
Now, may i please ask? Who forgot to tell God, that our world is supposed to be going through a global warming. I think when it snowed during the Global Warming Summit in Copenhagen, and Obama had to leave early to deal with DC Snow storms........ i should have known then and there that God has a sense of humor, and he isn't afraid to use it. It has been snowing daily for over a week now. the temperature hangs around 20 degrees but doesn't mind dipping in the teens. they are talking about most of US being blanketed in snow and freezing temperatures... and Meteorologist aren't just sure when we are going to get a decent break. I do not mind Winter. And actually i agree 100 % that we need to take care of our beautiful world, The World is and will always be forever changing... that is just how it is!
With me being so busy, I must say Bill has really taken on the home, and he is doing it with a smile, and yes i call him when i leave for work so that he can time me and make sure i don't get stranded in these snowy/icy/blizzardy roads. I walk in the door to a hot cup of coffee and a hot bath ready. gee, we are going on 9 years of marriage, ....... that would have warn off if it was going to right? We do not have a perfect marriage........ But we do have a great marriage. You know my life isn't always easy, and I've been through a lot. Even the crumbling of my first marriage when i was so devastated..... BUT i choose to take what God Gives me...... and i decide to make it a joy and blessing, it is just how i am, and how I always will be...... i got it from my mother. That woman loved life....... and even when God took her best thing in the world early ( my Dad, died when he was 52) She mourned........ and loved.......... and mourned...... and smiled. she never got bitter, or angry or hateful. And she somehow found the blessings that God gave her, and reminded me about them all the time..... Mom followed Dad 6 years later........ I sure do miss her. Christina will verify the joy my mom's face gave, even on her dying days ... as she was able to visit her before she died
Well I am not sure how i got on that subject......... wasn't planning too. but my Dad died on Jan 4, 1994 when the weather was just like it is now.... i had a heck of a time getting to my mom because the roads were so bad... wow 16 years ago,
So my first husband left me when i had 3 children ages 4 to 8, my dad died when he was 52, my mom died when she was 58.... i have a wedding picture of me and my first husband and my mom and dad... i remember looking at it shortly after mom died........ and it hit me..... at that moment, those where the MOST important people in my world...... And I lost them all in a period of 6 years!!! i think that would be enough to make someone pretty depressed. But God Blessed me, and it is only by his Grace..... that i didn't look at life that way..... it was by God's Grace that I got a second Chance for a wonderful marriage...... and it is by God's Grace that I have a Happy Marriage, (* even though my dearest friends know how there i times i want to sew his eyes and mouth shut, lol i am just saying)
Yes it is all by God's Grace.............