Onederland... hopefully for good this time!

So, this is what I saw at noon today.  Interestingly, it was 200.6 this morning when I woke up.  Whatever - I'll take it.

The last time I saw the 100's as a starting number was about 10 days before I realized I was pregnant with Liam.  Toward the end, I got a stomach bug (morning sickness in hindsight?) and got to the lower 190's.  It was great.  I am hoping, that since I KNOW that isn't the case this time, that this is a trend that is here to stay for a long, long time.

I haven't been doing much toward this number - in fact, I've been pretty lax about thinking about it.  Maybe that is part of it - a lot of other "stuff" in my head the last week or so, and haven't been weighing myself as much as usual.  Could not thinking about it be a help?  Again, I'll take it if so.

I am at a really good place with my band fill.  I'm at 4.5 cc's right now, and it is perfect.  I've also been trying to make good meal choices, and really listen to how full I am.  And I'm really working to make better drink choices too.  i.e. cutting out the wine.  Although I am not doing any exercise, I know I need to add that back in - just finding the time right now is a challenge.

I haven't been in the 100's for more than 2 weeks tops since I was 18.  Goal this month is to keep it there for good, so that I can get solidly lower and have some "wiggle" room to flex a bit without going back into the 2's.  We shall see!

4.5 years into the band and counting to get here, but it is after all, an ongoing journey.

Happy New (school) Year!!!

Wow... Memorial Day since I've last posted!  Sorry... I just honestly haven't had a lot on the WLS front to share!

We had a great summer... We spent every major holiday (Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day) at Smith Mountain Lake and had a blast.  Lot of long weekends which were great.  Interspersed between, were my Grandmother's 95th birthday, my parents 45th anniversary and a wonderful girl's weekend for Lucia and me to FL.  Here are a few pictures below...

July 4th - SML

Grandma's 95th Birthday

Mom & Dad's 45th

Mom & Dad's 45th

Lucia and me... WDW

Fly, EAGLES, Fly!!!

Anyways, not much new on the WLS front - down to about 202 - still can't seem to break the 200 mark, but in the grand scheme of things it is less important now than it used to be.  I still want to get there, but life is really good - so I'm not too, too worried about it!

Hope to post more soon.  Please know that I read everyones blogs - love connecting quietly - keep up the great work!

xoxoxox
~ Sarah

Memorial Day Memories

Wow... a great Memorial Day weekend!!!  I had to get a slight unfill the Thursday before... for some reason, all of the sudden (over 2 weeks) my band got super tight so I went in Thursday and went from 5 cc's to 4 and a "smidge".  Seems to have done the trick - still eating very small amounts (i.e. the 1/2 cup or so serving size)... hoping that the scale sees some results this week as an outcome!

We went to Smith Mountain Lake with my parents for a delightful Memorial Day weekend...  tons of fun!  No TV (there was one there but it never got turned on)... lots of outside time with the kids, a bit of water time on Lucia's behalf, and just overall quality!  Can't complain.  In fact, Den and I had so much fun that we booked a condo for the July 4th holiday!  5 weeks and counting.  Can't wait!

Here are a few pictures from the weekend!

View from the Condo Deck

Mom... and Me!

Moonrise

Mom & Lu - moonrise...

Me & My girl... (and little passed-out-guy)

Tired boy!

Lu & Grandma 

Dad & Den

The Fogler Four (Where's Dennis???) in an old boat...

Grandpa teaching Lu how to skip rocks

Fogler 4 = Booker T Washington Nat'l Monument

Mom & Dad with the Kids = Booker T Washington Nat'l Monument

Running to the lake...

Lake-bound!

Early Morning Sunrise.

Passed out on the way home...

Big Girl is tired out too... Lu (& Emily)

Longest Non-Blog ever I think... So some updates!

Let me start out by saying that Life, is REALLY good!!!  

If only we could all have the joy of Liam's face above (albeit maybe not driving)...

Wow.  It's been almost 3 months - THREE MONTHS since I've blogged. Yikes!  I guess over 4 years out, life is at kind of a "normal" level, and honestly there hasn't been a ton that is band related to blog about!

I am back down to my (almost) pre-Liam weight which is wonderful, even if it is almost 2 years AFTER giving birth (LOL).... I weighed in this AM at 201.  I'll take it!

Life is good.  No, Great... Really no complaints at all.  I still love my job, and am quite busy with a major project on top of my "real" job.  I was offered another role about 2-3 months ago that was a promotion (but an organization outside of where I am).  However, after a lot of thought, discussion and prayer about it, I decided it just wasn't the right time for me to make that move... it was a hard choice, but I think the right one given personal circumstances.  For the "career girl" in me, it was HARD.  HR Director level vs. my current role in HR as a manager, but it was the right thing for us as a family.  I won't lie and say that I have a weekly or semi-weekly "pangs" of curiosity about what it might have been like, but it only lasts for about 2 minutes which is a good thing.  My employer is just so amazing... it is the MOST family-friendly place I've ever worked, and is without a doubt, the right place for me (and us) for right now.  So, I'm grateful for that because I know how many people don't have that gift.

On the kid front, they are wonderful.  Such an absolute joy in my life!  As exhausted as I get with them, every night I give my thanks for how blessed I am to have both of them (with their energy!) in my life.  And I can't even begin to believe it, but Liam will be 2 and Lucia 9 in June!  Where on earth did the time go?  My baby (babies) are becoming little people and a very grown-up little girl!

On the lap-band front, I'm at a really good level.  I need to re-engage myself and remind myself of all the new (old?) bandster tricks, but I think God has been helping me along on that front and making me a bit tighter than I've been in a while which has definitely helped me regulate my intake.  I've been using My Fitness Pal for about a month+ after seeing my band NP a while back, and it really has been a great help.  When I realized JUST HOW MANY calories I was intaking on a daily basis in liquid (i.e. OJ and Wine) it helped me make some better decisions.  Now if only I could up the exercise (sigh).  On the positive front, I've lost about 5 pounds since seeing her and starting to use the app.  I'll take it!

Dennis is great - life is great.  No complaints at all... I honestly am so blessed, and can't wait to see what next week, next month, next year brings!  I promise not to wait as long to post again though!!!

Here are a few pictures to leave you with from various events over the last few months...

Liam, checking out the pool at Disney 

Lucia - standing in the wading pool at WDW 

Liam.  Because hanging a bucket over his neck just made sense!

My beauty...  At a Mother/Daughter retreat

Blessed to have a weekend - ALONE - with Lucia at a mother/daughter retreat in NC

Me, and my boy...

Two of my 3 loves - preparing my Mother's Day brunch.

My 3rd love...

Daddy & Daughter...

Mommy & Son.

4 years and counting

Well, I'm a day late in posting this, but as of yesterday, I've officially been banded for 4 (FOUR!) years!!! 

I can't believe it's been that long... what an amazing journey - wouldn't change any of it... still THE. BEST. DECISION I could have made!

Follow up to the two weeks (actually 16 days) of liquid - everything is back to normal - YAY!  The swelling has all gone down, and as of tomorrow I am officially back to REAL food.  Not just liquid of mushy stuff!  I can't wait. 

I still haven't gotten below 200 (except for 4 days post-flu and before I got pregnant with Liam)...  I may never, but I am really, really happy with where I am right now!  I could stand to do a tad more exercise, but I am trying to get regular at Jazzercise, and as it gets warmer, I want to start walking and biking more.  Can't say that I miss running much - maybe someday, but it isn't a favorite...

Four years.  Thank GOD I made that decision... 

NOW....  205
(this is a picture from November - time to take some new ones!)

THEN...  close to 300 pounds

 

Mega-liquid-frustration...

Day 12 on liquids and I have been SO FREAKING GOOD!!!  I can honestly say that I have not cheated, and have done what I was told to do.  I've cut WAY back on the drinking.  I've had protein shake after protein shake... I've pureed my soups until they were as loose as water.

I was down to 204 on Friday, and what does the scale show me this morning, EVEN AFTER BEING ABLE TO HAVE A BM?!?!?!  206.6  WTF?  I know that bodies do weird things, but this is so damn discouraging.  I'm going to chalk it up to the extra hard workout I pushed myself to have at Jazzercise yesterday morning.

And the worst part is that it is Dennis's and my 12th anniversary today - can't even celebrate with a nice breakfast or dinner... I am making sure we have a rain check on that one.

At this point, I think I'll just stop weighing until they tell me where I am on Tuesday at the fluoroscopy...  Lots of continuing to clean the house today (since the painters are finally done and we have to put this place back together), Jazzercise again tomorrow since it is a holiday, and a big batch of refried bean soup to hold me over until Tuesday afternoon.

Fingers crossed...

Almost like Starting Over Again...

I am 12 days away from my 4th bandiversary, and have been on liquids for 3 days... I had a violent "episode" of vomiting last week which resulted in my band being completely tight to the point that I couldn't swallow water... so went in for a slight unfill... went from 5 to 2.5... They wanted to see me under floroscopy this past Tuesday, and here is where I ended up:

My band is good - no slippage, and looks great.  However, my pouch is a bit stretched out, so they decided for me to do 2 weeks (!) of liquids.  UGH!  It is almost like I am reliving the liver-shrinking-diet from pre-op.  This is a good thing for me though, because I really want to keep on being successful with the band, and as I approach year 4 on February 20th, I want to be doing things right!

So, on the 19th I go back to find out how things look, and I am hopeful that everything will be back to normal.  In the meantime, I need to find some good liquids (and mush) - basically my rule is primarily liquid with nothing to chew (i.e. cottage cheese, yogurt, etc... are okay).  I have made it through alright, but boy the grumpy-monster comes out of the closet a bit easier when there is no solid food in the tummy!

I'll keep you posted - maybe this will catapult me under that 200 mark.  Tuesday I was at 213... this morning I'm at 207.2.  Fingers crossed!

Jazzercise

I went again this morning at 8am and liked it - I LIKED IT AGAIN... Actually, I really, really liked it!

So I am signed up for the next 6 months!  I am hoping that this is a good way to get those calories burned, because honestly, I really don't enjoy running.  I like walking, casually... but running?  I've done it because I needed to, but dread every step and trudge.  I'll follow through with the 8K Lucia and I are signed up for in March, but other than the occasional race, I really want to find some kind of exercise I LIKE to do.

Surprisingly, Jazzercise is FUN!  I get to move my whole body, and shake things that shouldn't be shaken...  and let me be honest - things are shaking that SHOULD NOT BE (lol)!!!  However, I feel strong and healthy doing it, and I am really hoping that this will be a good use of my time and energy!  Shooting for 3x per week... Tuesday & Thursday nights (when Dennis is in town) and Saturday mornings.

Maybe I'll learn a few more dance moves out of this for that next party or wedding reception... watch out dance floor!

What I love about Me...

*** Courtesy of Amy... ***

Amy had a good blog post today:  What do you love about You?

And so, as I sit here drinking my 4th glass of chardonnay and eating French's Onions out of a bowl (yes - I am being completely honest - don't judge... and BTW they are a GREAT combination)... and as my oldest is on her 2nd day of strep (1st day of antibiotics, and LOTS of other drugs) and miserable, but in bed with her super-daddy...

Here is my answer to the ever-so-inspring-Amy:

• I love that I THINK I am a decent mother (I know I'm not great, but I aspire to be daily)...  Lucia tells me repeatedly that I am "great' so I should go with that.  Really, I should - she's 8 and still speaking honesty.  But can I share a secret?  I'm not a great mom, but I aspire to be daily.  REALLY I DO...  there are just a whole lot of demons I fight on a daily basis to get there

In other, less serious and honest bullets:

• I love that I look good for 40, even at 206... way better than I did at 30.  I'll take it.
• I love that I am pretty confident I am a good friend.  Hopefully, a best-friend to some.
• I love that I have so many women in my life that I count as GOOD friends.  Not just acquaintances, but truly good friends...  Some from my "before-Richmond" life and some from after... (you know who you are!)
• I love that I love my husband, after almost-12-years... and I wouldn't trade him for the world.
• I love that I still really like my job... BS and all...
• I love that my kids rock - more than anything in the world...
• I love the US of A... thank GOD for ALL of the amendments...
• I love that the beauty of WLS allows me to post this post...
• I love that I can blog this freely, without fear...

OK - time to go to bed...  Lots to love... so much not posted.

xoxoxo

Welcome back, band friend!!!

Ahhh... what a difference being banded correctly makes!  I am loving being back in the zone... I can only eat about 1/2 a cup of food, I am chewing WELL, and making good food choices.  I still can't believe that after 4 years (Feb 20th) that I still have challenges, but I am glad I do and that I still have this tool.

I went back in this past Wednesday and she took out 1/2 a CC... all the difference in the world!  I've lost 8 pounds since a week ago Friday, which is fine with me - although, I would have been fine with less if it meant being able to drink water for two days!

My girlfriend brought me to a Jazzercise class this morning, and I LOVED IT!  I haven't really done much exercise at all since having Liam (18 months ago!), but it certainly was a nice change of pace, and I liked it so much more than running...  I think if I can get into a groove of doing it 3 times a week, plus being at this good sweet spot, I just (fingers crossed) might finally get under 200 for good after 4 years!  Maybe, just maybe by my 4th band-iversary...

Happy New Year again my friends - I am really going to try much, much harder to blog on a more regular basis in 2013!

Happy New Year, 2013!!!

Well, hello friends!  Happy New Year - I hope you've had a Magical Christmas and great start to 2013!

It's been a while - a month, in fact... as I approach my 4 year band-iversary, I find myself less and less interested in blogging but I really want to find a way to get back involved...  I do read many of your updates, but seem to struggle to have much that is of any value to blog about.  Hopefully that will change in 2013.

On the band front, I was quite loose in the fall at the 4.5 cc level, and was okay with that until right after Christmas (yes, I made the decision to be able to fully enjoy Thanksgiving, my 40th, and Christmas without ANY WORRIES of PB'ing, etc... and I gained 10 pounds for that choice)!!!


We flew down to FL on the 22nd, and decided to upgrade to business class which was the best.decision.ever since I was "holding" Liam... HEAVEN in the form of a big seat and cocktails...  We had a blast there and really enjoyed an alternative Christmas...  Lots of fun in the Magic Kingdom (including the new Fantasyland) and in Hollywood Studios... Heck - Lucia did Tower of Terror and we did Rockin' Rollercoaster twice before 10AM!  Can't complain at all..  We were so pooped out by Christmas day that we bagged the parks, and decided to hang out at the condo and go to the pool, even though it was only 70.  I was COLD!

Liam's first ride on the carousel....

Waiting in line at "It's A Small World"

We got back from Disney on the 26th and I had to work the 27th and 28th...  Thankfully, I had an appointment the morning of the 28th to get a fill... I weighed in at 214.  YIKES.  Lots of fall enjoyment, which was totally by choice.  Imbibing of both the food and drink kind.  Honestly, more the drink (Chardonnay and Red Wine) kind.

So, we were aggressive, and Maya (my NP) put me up to 5.5 cc's...  The first few days were okay as I was on liquids, but come New Year's Eve things started tightening up... by the 1st, I couldn't even swallow water (or at least keep it down) so THANK GOD they were able to get me in on the 2nd and she backed me down to 5...  that minimal adjustment seemed to make the world of difference, and I can eat half-a-cup servings and drink water comfortably - WHOO HOO!  I've lost 7 pounds (from 214 to 207.1 this AM) since last Friday.  I'm okay with that.  And I've been fully measuring my servings at 1/2 a cup, and I continue to lose weight.

Liam, riding his xmas present post-xmas on our return!

On the personal front, I've had a great late-fall...  Thanksgiving with wonderful friends, then my 40th birthday which was a blast... lots of crazy-business in December with work, Lu's school, etc... and then we went to Disney from the 22nd - 26th with my folks which was a blast.  Not as warm as I would have liked, but a real treat!

I am really wanting to get below 200.  I know I've said that before, but it is time.  I'm signed up for an 8K with Lucia in Virginia Beach in March, and one of my BFF's has invited me to Jazzercise tomorrow morning at 8am (ugh).   But I am going, and I need to figure out how to get back into a more athletic mode where I was before getting pregnant with Liam.

That's where I am for now - Happy New Year to all of you!