Thursday, January 28, 2010

Protein bar review

I just ate a LUNA - Caramel Nut Brownie Bar
8g protein & 180 calories.... YUM!
It was this first one I really liked, felt like a treat!

Just passing it along :)

I'm working again today, 4 days in a row! So, I'd better log off and get something done...

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Support group!

A quick shout out to Lap Band Gal and Melissa It was great to connect with you both tonight!
You both look great! I can't wait to see the changes that one more month will bring in all of us!!!!

~ Jen

What's the deal?

What's the deal with that number your scale flashes a couple seconds before it settles on a number 2-3 lbs higher??? Can you answer me that?

Sorry I've not been commenting much... actually working all week instead of my one day per week. I'm tired!

Headed to support group tonight, should be good :)

Hope everyone is well!

Monday, January 25, 2010

About me... passing the time on my lunch hour!

Thought I would join in....

1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:15 AM only on Monday, as that is the only day I work right now. 6-7AM the rest of the time

2. How do you like your steak? Don't really eat steak much... I'd say med/rare

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Avatar in 3-D

4. What is your favorite TV show? Biggest Loser, Survivor,Modern Family, Day's of our lives (holds head in shame)

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? South Australia

6. What did you have for breakfast? vanilla yoplait

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Chinese, sushi

8. What foods do you dislike? bananas! hate them with a passion

9. Favorite place to eat? Powderhorn cafe in Grants Pass, OR

10. Favorite dressing? olive oil, salt, pepper & lemon juice

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? 2008 Toyota FJ cruiser

12. What are your favorite clothes? my Old Navy PJ's, jeans and t-shirts

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Gaffney, South Carolina (my dad was from there and I have never been) Australia

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Full

15. Where would you want to retire? In the South somewhere

16. Favorite time of day? mornings, before anyone is up and I walk to the barn and the ducks are flying out of the pond... Love it

17. Where were you born? Bay Area, California

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Baseball and College football, Go Ducks!

19. Bird watcher? sorta, see #16

20. Are you a morning person or a night person? Again... see #16

21. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? it's a secret

22. What did you want to be when you were little? A truck driver

23. What is your best childhood memory? Hanging with my BFF Laura and getting into way too much trouble.

24. Are you a cat or dog person? Cat, Dog, Horse...

25. Are you married? Yuppers! 17.5 years! together 25 this June

26. Always wear your seat belt? Always

27. Been in a car accident? Yes... a couple, nothing major (knock on wood)

28. Any pet peeves? flaky people

29. Favorite Pizza Toppings? veggies

30. Favorite Flower? passion flower

31. Favorite ice cream? not a fan

32. Favorite fast food restaurant? Pre-band Jack in the crack, Post band - McD (grilled chicken salad)

33. How many times did you fail your driver's test? none

34. From whom did you get your last email? Weight watchers (I need to remove myself from the list) lol

35. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Zappo's been on a shoe kick recently

36. Do anything spontaneous lately? looked up someone on Facebook that I shouldn't have, didn't friend them... just looked

37. Broccoli? just had it tempura...oh so good

38. What was your favorite vacation? a road trip with my Mom to Colorado/NM/AZ

39. Last person you went out to dinner with? My daughter

40. What are you listening to right now? Ani Difranco Canon CD

41. What is your favorite color? Green

42. How many tattoos do you have? 1 (on my shoulder, has my daughters name under it)

43. Coffee drinker? 2-3 cups a day OR ELSE!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Git-R-Done!

Today I will accomplish something!
Not sure what yet but I have a mental list a mile long.
It's cold in my house because I held off on using the wood stove because of my chest cold. So, it is very tempting to curl up in the bed, finish a book, watch a movie....
But today I am gonna finish something on my list!

Have a Great Sunday!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Sad Momma :(




My son, Zack 18, moved out to share a place with some friends. A part of me is really excited for him and part of me knows he will be back at some point or another, maybe.
He is a fast thinker, hard worker and has a pretty good head on his shoulders but I am his Mom and I worry about him.

My band has kept me from nervous eating. I had a really rough stuck episode this morning. I had to fast from midnight for my 6 month post-op labs this morning. I grabbed a cup of coffee after and then went home to make an early lunch. Tried a piece of flat bread (10g protein) with some cottage cheese and deli turkey. 1st bite... STUCK! This was the worst one I have had to date. I slimed for a good hour. Still, No Regrets! I love my band!

I've been on the hunt for jeans the last couple days as my current stash (with the exception of my two 14's) have some major saggy-ass going on! If I put my keys and blackberry in my pocket I'd better hope I am wearing a belt. I posted this on Facebook but I am going to repeat it here. Shopping for jeans BLOWS! I find them that fit in the waist....just not length. So I broke down and ordered a pair in a tall from the Gap and also a pair from Old Navy... so in about 5-7 days we will see.

I've really sucked with working out and water intake the last couple days. I'm fighting some sort of chest cold thingy and my sleep has sucked due to coughing (and worrying, lol)

Okay, this post is pathetic...I'm going to down some cough medicine and see what tomorrow brings!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Shamefull plea for a LBD from the sisterhood of traveling clothes!

So... I am headed to Las Vegas (or Lost wages...if you will) the last week of Feb. This is a belated 80th b/d celebration for my mom (the original trip was delayed with my brother-in-laws passing)

I'm wondering if anyone might have a going out on the town dress in a fitted 16 or not so fitted 14W that might be up for grabs??? I'm a freaking total jeans and tee sorta gal and have no idea what is in style or appropriate for my age (40)! Seriously, I have not worn a dress in at least 10 years!

I have a feeling that the big event night will be a trip to see Wayne Newton. Yay! (not so much) but Mom will like it. Side note: Mom knows him...She was affiliated with Bimbo's 365 club in San Francisco and hobnobbed with a few of the celebs from that era. So, should be fun for her, and it is after all about her.
Back to my plea...or ideas on flattering styles for a tall semi-fat chick who is pushing 41 and has no boobs? lol

That is what I've been up to...planning this trip and my first ever ski trip. Ahhh, life of the semi-unemployed tis rough!
Thank you all for the great comments to the first VLOG. That was fun and I was hecka nervous and prolly made you all queasy swinging my chair back and forth, ha-ha

I'd better tend to my soup on the stove....

~ Jen

Friday, January 15, 2010

Appointment with the "Lady Station" Doc

So, today was my yearly.. I'm always a bit nervous about it as I have DES exposure (a hormone/medication my mother took when pregnant which has led to cancer in daughters born DES exposed) I also have had a hysterectomy due to two reasons. A football sized fibroid tumor...yes the size of a 4mo pregnancy! and precancerous legions on my uterus. I feel incredibly lucky & blessed to have been able to have my three children prior to the side effects of my PCOS & fibroid tumors. All seemed okay today, awaiting the lab results.
My doc who I saw today is who sent the required referral to SOBC where I had my lap band surgery done and this was the first time I had seen her since. The reaction was great! She asked a lot of questions and asked if I was happy with everything so far. DUH? Yes!!!! I lost 60 freaking lbs. for the first time in my adult life! So - NSV!

Got an hour of exercise today between cleaning out my horses stall and unloading and moving hay. That felt pretty good. Tomorrow I am hoping to walk with my mutt if it is not raining.

On the word of 2010 - PASSION front...still nothing (unless you count the exam today, lol) Although that wasn't the entire meaning behind my choosing the word.

I added a couple pics to the sidebar... Not loving the Texas shirt pic so much... but hey, I didn't delete it, I'd say it is Progress!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Monday, January 11, 2010

60!


60 lbs. down! That last 10 took a while..

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Them Bones

The hip bones connected to the....

I was scanning myself in the mirror, laughing at what I was wearing (a blue & white stripe shirt with my orange and red striped PJ's all Old Navy finds and I turned to the side and noticed my hip bone was actually visible through my clothes. Don't get me wrong...there is still a lot of padding left but all over my body I am starting to discover my inner frame, The one that has taken & carried the load of my excess weight for years.
I think in my head I always imagined my frame bigger, therefor justifying my overall size, until now. My frame, under this shrinking fat and layers of muscle is of normal.. not small, not manly...but normal size....fascinating!
I'm tall..and that won't change, much. I've lost an inch in the last few years but have spent most of my adult life being just a smidgen under 6' tall.
The point, vague at best, is that I think I am starting to question some of the excuses I've used through the years so I could accept myself and tolerate living at the size I was.
All part of the process I guess!

~Jen

On a side note:
I received a reply via email to my fireman story that pretty much said I was being disrespectful to my husband in that post and went on to call me a few choice names. I don't know who sent it....but to those of you who read and comment often I will tell you this:

Hubby reviewed my post...and laughed before I posted it (when I walked up to him in the store...I said "Sorry, I got distracted" and he said "I figured as much"...
and at the end of the day Hubby is who got to put my fire out if ya know what I'm saying...

So bite me anonymous e-mailer

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Get the tranquilizer gun...there is a cougar on the loose in Southern Oregon!

What is it about firemen anyway?

Anyone catch Modern Family last night? (if you did, you will know why this is funny, if not....it might still be funny)

So today I was at the grocery store WITH MY HUSBAND I was sort of taking my time in the produce section. The hubs hates to shop with me. He is the type who goes in, throws some crap in the cart and then comes home and expects me to do magic with it....I'd probably do pretty well on that show where you get three funky ingredients to create a meal with...anyway, back to my story.

There I was, checking out the avocados, when in came six firemen doing some shopping for the firehouse and let me tell you....one of them was DROP DEAD GORGEOUS! He had to be in his 20's... Did I mention tall & built and in his 20's? (if you watch Day's our lives - think Rafe :)
So there I stood, with an avocado in each hand, locked eye to eye with hunky fireman.
And what did I do?
I smiled a smile at that boy, you know the one girls... that "you couldn't handle me" smile and that boy blushed, turned his gaze away for a second
but then it happened... wait for it...wait...
He smiled back with a grin that said..."oh yes I could"

Then my husband yelled from across the store - Jennifer! I don't want to be here all day!

Oh right, back to reality!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

First fill of 2010

Had my fill today... Another .3 cc's - was too chicken to go with a whole half a cc after my unfill/stress/stuck episode. I'm at 9.2 in my 11cc band, at first it sorta freaked me out to be so high, but now that my adjustments are so small I have relaxed about it. I still have 1.8 cc's of room and am so dialed in right now

On liquids for the next 24 hrs then we will see how she (Claire, my band) feels about it!

I lost four pounds of fat and one pound of muscle since December 9th so I won't be too hard on myself, a loss is a loss and with all the holiday eating/grazing and cheese cake I am thankful for the loss. Truthfully, I behaved pretty good with the exception of working out. I sat around with the kids, hubby and mother-in-law and watched episode after episode of McLeod's Daughters on DVD.

My funk seems to be fading some, I actually wore a color today- RED no black or grey lol, dyed my hair last night and plucked my brows, painted my toes and rubbed some lotion on the skin! I feel much better.

I treated myself to a shopping spree at old navy this afternoon. I got about 10 new tops/sweaters all of them were on clearance and were mostly around $3.99 - $5.99 Great deals! I even got the hubby a new sweatshirt (to ease my guilt, he-he)

Hope this Wednesday is treating you all well,

Jen

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Realize band website - NSV

Tomorrow I have an appointment with the NP and am pretty sure I need a small fill. I know I am right on the borderline of the much sought after green zone. I don't recall which fill this is, I think it is my 7th including my unfill. I will get the stats tomorrow. I think I am currently sitting around 8.4 in my realize band???

Anyone else have a realize? Have you been using the website? (realize my success) I chose my realize band based on the info given that the interactive website was an advantage over the lap band. Pretty much all the other stuff was the same, slippage, port flip... In my humble opinion I don't care for the realize site much but that is just me :)

I don't think I have lost or gained anything over the holidays but I really only go by the scale at the docs. Mine at home can read 5 different weights depending on where I place it on the floor so I sorta quit using it....... much!

NSV- wearing a size 14 in jeans (two different brands) which is cool! It's only been about 18 years! What is funny is when I started this whole journey a 14 was like my goal size....now, with 30-35 lbs to go to goal I'm not sure where I will end up size wise??? I am just full of mystery tonight, eh?

On the WORD of Twenty-Ten front - PASSION I have done nothing, nada but it is only the 5th of Jan so I hope to have something to blog about soon on this subject.

till tomorrow....
Jen

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Word for Twenty-Ten

A few of us have been selecting a word for the new year and I had to put a little thought into it before I made a whole years commitment.

I chose the word: PASSION

Passion
ardent affection : love b : a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept c : sexual desire d : an object of desire or deep interest

I want to feel passion for life again, passion for my work and hobbies and have passion in my relationships and marriage. A tall order? Why yes it is.

Can you make yourself feel passionate just by will alone? I don't think so. So I guess I have to figure out the pathway to do so......where to start?

I am forming my plan of attack and feel a little lost as I have been a bit lackluster the past twenty years.

At the ranch where I grew up in California there is a native medicine wheel that I attended the creation of. A passion rock was placed in the circle and I plan to visit it soon. I am so connected to this property, it is hard to explain. I feel at peace and do my best thinking when I am there. It may seem silly to some but to me it is part of my "spirit" journey.

The rest I will have to give more thought to as the year progresses. I want more than anything to "FEEL" again. I think it can happen!