Looking Forward to a New Year!

I am so excited about this New Year! I just know that 2013 will be the year that I achieve my healthy weight (150 lbs).  I have never weighed that 'little' as an adult, so I have no idea what I will ultimately look like.  I have been overweight since puberty.

Some Non-Scale Victories this week: 
  I fit into SIZE 14 jeans!!  OMG this is a biggie for me! I haven't been this size since the 1990s!
  I actually outgrew my size XL Spanx, and now fit into a Large. I love this camisole, it helps to contain the wobbly bits.

 I'm back on track since my Christmas Carb- High. And all my leftovers are protein (turkey & ham)!

I hope everyone has a great New Year celebration!

Friday Weigh-In

Just as I predicted, I rode the Christmas Train into the ground, and enjoyed cookies and carbs. I gained two pounds this past week, but I can honestly say it was worth it. I had a wonderful Christmas.

I'm back on track now, and expect to be back in One-derland within the next two weeks.
Happy New Year everyone!!

Friday Weigh-In

That *scream* you heard this morning was me stepping on the scale.
I have dipped my toes into ONE-DERLAND and it is beautiful!!

Alas, I fear it is a fleeting glimpse, as the bakingeatingcookingeatingroastingeatingbaking season is upon us. I'm going easy on myself, because I just KNOW that I will gain a few pounds in this next week.  But still, this was a wonderful early Christmas present!
Maybe the Mayans were just a little off; it's not the End of the World, it's merely the End of Weighing In The Two-Hundreds for me? LOL
Well, I'm off to work out, er shop. HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

More Nail Effects...

Having more fun with these nail polish strips again...

If you haven't tried these yet, I strongly urge you to! I always get compliments when I wear them.


Have a great week, everyone!

Friday Weigh-In

I have lost 50 pounds in the five months since my surgery. I am halfway towards my goal!!

 

 

 

 

Fitting Room Victory!

Size 14 trousers brought to you by Lane Bryant. Smile brought to you by True Results (and a lot of hard work!)
Wow! I haven't fit into size 14 since the 1990's! I am so excited!

Ladies Who Lunch

Today I had the awesome experience of meeting some local Banded Bloggers! I met with Ashlee from My Lapband Adventure and Z from From Fabulous to Fit.  I also invited my friend and co-worker Valerie, who had the LapBand in June.
I've been following their blogs, so it was nice to meet everyone in person. We talked about relationships, working, shopping, and oh yea, our Bands. It turned into a two-hour gabfest! We finally got the hint to leave when the waitress offered to put our drinks into 'to go' containers. LOL
I look forward to meeting up with them again. If anyone else here in Blogland lives in the San Antonio area, reply to this post and I'll extend an invite next time we meet.


L to R:   Z, Ashlee, Karen, and Valerie

Weekly Weigh-In

This is my 20th weekly weigh in.

 

Unfortunately, it reflects a 2 lb weight gain this past week. I'm not worried though, because this is, er, not the best Time of the Month to be weighing oneself. I'm confident that next week will reflect a loss.

 

I'm so excited, I've joined a Holiday Weight Loss Challenge with some other bloggers. Hosted by Z at Fabulous to Fit, we e-mail our weights every week through February. There will be first, second, and third-place winners. I love a little friendly competition!

 

I expect to be in Onederland sometime in the next two weeks. I'm so excited! I haven't seen those numbers since breastfeeding, over a dozen years ago!!

More Time Lapse Photos!

250 lbs/size 20 jeans.................................212 lbs/size 18 jeans.......................................201 lbs/size 16 jeans

Old Me Interviews the New Me

My life has changed SO MUCH in the past five months since getting the LapBand.The Old Me, a 250 lb couch potato, can hardly believe it. She wanted to sit down and ask the New Me (a 201 lb marathoner)  some questions. This is how the interview went:

OLD ME: Wow. You completed your first 5K marathon yesterday. WTF? What on Earth possessed you?
NEW ME: Yeah. I can't believe it myself. It started as an idea at work. My boss suggested we get a team together to participate in the Dirty Girl Mud Run and help raise money for breast cancer. At first I was soft on the idea. There were so many reasons NOT to do it: mud. running. 5K (3miles). But I really wanted to support the cause and be a good team member at work.

OLD ME: How did you train for the event?
NEW ME: Actually I have a confession.  Since it is not a 'timed' event, not a 'competitive' event, I had convinced myself that I would only walk between the obstacles. And that I would choose the 'easiest' obstacle, or walk around most of them (they had obstacles for all levels: you could climb a high wall, a medium wall, a small wall, or just walk around...)  So my 'training' consisted of simply walking on a treadmill or eliptical at the gym, 3 days a week. I'd do 45minutes to an hour.  It's actually just my usual exercise program I've had since my surgery. My natural stride is about 3mph, so I figured it would take me about an hour to complete the 5K.

OLD ME: Ok. So let's be honest. You're saying you really didn't train for this event. Because you were going to walk it, and skip most obstacles. How did that work out for you?
NEW ME: Well what I didn't factor in was the encouragement I got from my co-workers, other participants, and the crowd. My boss (who easily could have run ahead of me...) stayed back with me, and cajoled me in to jogging as much as I could. "It's just as easy as walking, I promise you..."  "Breathe in through your nose, out your mouth..."  Another team member stayed back with me too, so we three completed the course together.

OLD ME: Ok, so you jogged more than you expected to. What about the obstacles? You went around most of them, right?
NEW ME: Again, I had misjudged the adrenaline rush/Rocky Balboa feeling that I got from the whole thing. So I found myself drawn to the bigger/taller obstacles. I would see all these women doing it, women of all sizes/ages/walks of life. I would see them scaling the tallest wall, and I'd think, "yeah, I can do that! Move outta my way!..."  And I did it. I scaled the tallest walls and crawled in the lowest, muddiest pits. And just when I thought I couldn't go anymore, just when I wanted to lay down and cry (my lungs were burning and my legs felt like rubber): I saw the finish line. There were lots of fun (read: muddy) obstacles at the end, and there was a large crowd gathered, so we sprinted those last few steps. It was a blast.

OLD ME: So it's one day after the event. How do you feel?
NEW ME: Well, my legs (thighs) are a little sore. The feeling you get when you work out a new muscle/try a new exercise. Otherwise, I feel great. Mentally, I feel such a great sense of accomplishment. I think I know why people get addicted to marathoning. I had such a sense of euphoria yesterday!! I guess that was the "runner's high" that people talk about. I know I'm hooked. Sign me up for next year!

OLD ME: Wow. It's like I don't even know you anymore. Anything you'll do differently next time?
NEW ME: Yes, next time I will definitely train. I will work on running/jogging more. And I will wear Spandex instead of loose yoga pants. That mud gets really heavy!  I was at high risk for a wardobe malfunction! I vow to wear Spandex despite the size of my thighs.

OLD ME: I just cannot believe what/who you've become. Let's be honest here. You miss me, don't you? Just a little?
NEW ME: No, not in the least. You stretched out my birthday suit, and you put me at risk for heart failure and diabetes. I'm not mad at you. I just feel sad for you. But I will let you come back and interview me anytime you'd like.

OLD ME: Well alrightythen. Pass me those biscuits, will ya? You're not gonna eat them....
 

Dirty Girl Mud Run

I had a blast at the Dirty Girl Mud Run! It is a 5K marathon that has (muddy) obstacles throughout. Four of us girls from work joined as a team. I worked muscles I never knew I had. I got bruises upon bruises.  I found mud in places that just cannot be mentioned here. And I look forward to doing it all again next year!!


Pre-Race. Nice, clean clothes!

After the first mud crawl...

Me, white shirt in center. I still can't believe I scaled that wall.

  

 Proceeds went to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. About 7500 women participated here in San Antonio. Look for a Dirty Girl Run in your area; you won't regret it!

Me on left, with gals from work.