No longer the Yo-Yo'er! :)

New life after lap band!

My Profile

  • Name: Luzenit
  • City: Charleston
  • Region: South Carolina
  • Country: United States

My Weight Loss

Height: 167.6cm
Start weight: 297.00lb
Current weight: 194.60lb
Goal weight: 170.00lb
Lost to date: 102.40lb
Remaining: 24.60lb

My Calendar

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May '12
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My Photos

Before After
Really Simple Syndication
07/06/2010 20:51

Back from vacation! :-)

Hello EP Friends!

Hope today finds you all doing really well.  I’m great after a nice four day weekend. It’s even better because I’m only working until noon on Thursday! I’d love to have such weeks all the time! LOL  Oh and guess what? Not only was there no phone service at all - I haven't even been on a computer since last Thursday! That was a very nice thing - no calls, no emails, no worries and no work!  WOO!!

Vacation was wonderful – although too short.  Four days was a nice get away!  We have hiked, gambled, gone white water tubing, played card games, spent a lot of family time chatting and, of course, EATEN more than we should have.  It was so much fun!  Although I tried to be careful of how much I ate of all that sinfully good food, I’m still two pounds up on today’s weigh in.  I’m okay with this because honestly I had so much fun doing silly things like making smores with the kids and grilling out at our campsite.  I had hoped with all the physical activity I’d break even, but no such luck! 

The best part of all was having so much fun with my kids. They had a blast!  The whitewater tubing was a bit worrisome for me because it was so hard for us to stay together.  One child would go this way and the other that way…then one would flip out while the other was stuck on a rock as I've already zipped by them over a small waterfall!  LOL I can surely tell you I am in pain today after using muscles that have not been used like that in a long time…maybe ever! Swimming upstream is a joke! I just gave up staying on my tube part of the time and floated beside the youngest while wearing my life preserver. That would be great to do all the time if not for the rocks you hit! OUCHIE! LOL  Later on back at our camp ground the kids used some cheap floats to go down the large creek – that was even more fun than the big water was! I'll have to post some pics once I download them. Next time I’ll know where I shouldn’t spend my money! LOL Maybe we’ll go whitewater rafting where we are all in one boat rather than so many different tubes.  Elastic Mom I’m not! ;-)  We also went to the casino – that was a waste of $20 for me! ;-) I’m no gambler and I quit after losing that much.  The others won small amounts or broke even.  I was pretty surprised how big this casino is – it has doubled or tripled and now they are adding another huge hotel on top of it!  IT’s IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE!  (Kat you might know what I’m talking about – Harrah’s in Cherokee.)

Work is calling me – I wish it weren’t but I gotta make the rent! LOL Have a good one everyone! 

*****And CONGRATS TO HEATHER AND TINA for your first race and such great finish times!! I am so proud of you ladies!*****

Posted By: Luzenit Add Comment | Comments (3) Top
07/01/2010 22:35

First step

Hi, everyone!
 
Well, I've made my first official steps towards qualifying for this lap band procedure.  I've got the bloodwork done for the tests ordered by my obstetrician, the appointment has been made for next Thursday with my primary doctor and I've watched the required video from the hospital, taken their quiz and am now waiting on registration paperwork to come in the mail.  I think this will be the easiest part of the process!
 
Today has been a monstrous day and tonight will be busy getting everything packed for our trip tomorrow.  I wish the laundry fairy would come and wave her wand over my suitcase while I'm at work so all I have to do is go home and throw everything in the car! LOL  Wouldn't that be a dream?  This trip is coming at a good time for me - I'm feeling stressed and getting away from my home is a good thing I think.  Away from phones and away from work! Wooohoo! I do feel terrible about leaving my father though - he is having a hard time lately and seems kind of down in the mouth.  And we won't be  home until late on Monday...which is his birthday. :0(
 
OH!  The GDT has been sent packing again - gone for almost two weeks now!  I think she has said something about me and the kids living there with Dad that offended him. All he would tell me is she just doesn't understand how close he is to his family. I could be wrong - but knowing her as I do - I believe I'm correct.  There were other reasons, but I seriously think this was the biggest.
 
Well, vacation to Cherokee, NC here I come!  Hope you are all doing great.  See ya Tuesday...unless we end up someplace that has wireless internet! LOL ;-)
 
 
 
 

Posted By: Luzenit Add Comment | Comments (1) Top
06/30/2010 17:22

SO SORRY!

Please know I didn't mean to make EP say I'd lost like 30 lbs overnight! LOL I was using the weight thing to see what my BMI would be at certain weights...Don't I wish I was that low! LOL I think I've fixed it but if you see me with a 30lb loss...it's my dream! LOL

Posted By: Luzenit Add Comment | Comments (2) Top
06/30/2010 15:14

I still have more to lose!

Ok...good news is this for me today:
 
I can still lose more - NOT just maintain.  I messed around with the weight thing on here today to see how much I can lose without going  under the 40% BMI and I can still drop another 13lbs or so.  This is good news and I won't feel as if I'm doing nothing in the mean time.  I hated the thought of just "dropping" all motivation to stay fat so I could be approved for this lap band.  (We all know by now I SUCK at maintaining! LOL) It takes a long time to get approved - as much as six months!  So I'm going to keep working during this time.  I'm happy about that! Plus I still have several more weeks to go in the challenge at work and I want to help my team too! We've come in second and third the last two weeks respectively. (Out of 7 teams.)  I'm looking to help keep us in the top!
 
Yesterday was such a good day for me.  Things just went well and seemed to be clearer in my mind.  Nice having that proverbial monkey off your back that comes with getting your mind set right and making a decision.  The surgery decision made has left me relieved and now hopeful for approval.  I think I've also come to grips with some other issues that have been bothering me and feel better equipped to head them off... 
 
Had a great evening with my Dad watching the College World Series where my favorite team, the Carolina Gamecocks, won!! WOOO HOOO!! I love baseball! This is a big deal to us ball lovers here in the states since it was my state's team. Sorry if I'm boring you guys elsewhere but I can't help it! WOOOO!! Back when I was a kid my Dad and I used to watch a lot of baseball together and I loved to play softball. So this was a good time for us!  Game went 11 innings, didn't end til midnite and was just awesome!  
 
Walked last night - with the little beastie dog who tries to kill me! LOL Gotta get that dog trained one of these days! ;-P  Meals yesterday were good, lean and healthy and I'm feeling like I'm in control.  All these things are good!
 
Well, Happy Hump Day everyone out there in EP Land! Hope you are losing! :-)
 
And to Heather and Tina...I'm sooo looking forward to hearing about your first 5K. I'm very excited and proud of you both! You guys have come such a long way!! 
 
 
 
 
 

Posted By: Luzenit Add Comment | Comments (2) Top
06/29/2010 21:33

Isn't it ironic??

Ok...after much deliberation I've made my decision to see if I am eligible for the lap band surgery.  We are blessed to have a fabulous hospital here in SC within 45 minutes that has a bariatric weight loss program that is well known for this surgery among other miracles.  So...I called the insurance company today and they are sending me a list of requirements (40 page document) that will fill me in on all the requirements and loop holes I'll have to jump through to get approved.  I'll plan on what to do next once the doctor advises me on the lab results.  She may need to refer me.
 
One requirement they did tell me on the phone was I had to have a 40% BMI or greater...well I find that ironic! I do have a 42% BMI right now, but now I need to keep it LOL! This is not the thing to tell me, Mr. Insurance Man! He literally said don't drop too much lower now that you've started this attempt to qualify for surgery or you won't qualify unless you have other "morbid" problems and then you can be 35% or higher BMI.  Well, I don't know that anything else I have is considered a "Morbid" problem???  I'm not understanding all the terminology, but I'll take his word for it that I needn't drop below 40% or else!  That is bothersome to me - don't diet too much? Are you kidding? So for now I'm not taking it as leave to eat and do whatever I want - I don't want to be any fatter than I am already, but I will make sure to keep above that required BMI.  I still can't believe they want you to stay fatter than let you be progressive in your treatment?
 
I feel a bit relieved making this decision, but still scared.  I definitly need to do this though.  I'm ready.  I don't necessarily think I'll ever stand on my hands :-) but I would love to do things like Hydrosliding and Parasailing! LOL I miss the days when I felt fit and looked it!
 
I have a pic I need to post of me when I was younger - just before children came along.  I WAS FREAKING SKINNY! Why oh why did I ever think I was fat then? I'd kill to look that way again - even though I still wore baggy clothing!  Well, I may never wear a bikini again like that summer, but I could certainly get back into the things I love to do!  Oh I hope this thing is approved and that I'll have the money to pay what the insurance won't cover!
 
Well, in the meantime I'm going to just pray about it and hope it goes the way it is supposed to. If it turns out I'm not qualified then ok...I'll deal somehow.  But I feel like I'm doing the right thing to try. 
 
I hope you all are doing well.  I'm looking forward to a short week at work then the trip with the family this week.  :-)  I need the get a way time!
 
Until tomorrow...hugs to you all!
 
oh...and thanks to those of you who commented and contacted me with info and input. It helped a lot!

Posted By: Luzenit Add Comment | Comments (5) Top
06/28/2010 20:11

Day 4, Cyle 2... And Weight Loss Surgery?

Good day everyone!
 
Today is day four of the second cycle...only eight days since I decided to stick to this plan and I absolutely hate it! So - with that in mind today is going to be the last official cycle of this plan.  I know me. If I hate the strict restrictions of this diet so much I'll eventually cave.  I can stay close to this plan - a few variations here and there and I think I'll do fine, but not so much repetitive eating!  Under normal circumstances I ate mostly what was on this plan anyway, but I allowed for things in my totals for the day like salad dressing, soups and sauces.  I can't help it...I like some taste to my food and I'm just not that creative in my cooking! LOL  I can also use some WW meals I have in the freezer to supplement on days when I can't cook.  Dad's garden has been putting out a  lot of fresh veggies and that is quite nice.  I wish the squash were still putting out and I've avoided the corn for the most part.  Although fresh silver queen corn on the cob is wonderful when it's grilled in the shuck!!  
 
I am so disappointed in only 2lbs lost this week.  Terribly!  BUT I cannot say I've done my best on the working out end of it - I haven't.  I did things that were low impact like yesterday I worked out in the yard enjoying myself despite the heat. I spent time watering flowers, pulling weeds and playing with the kids.  Sweated a ton!  We rode bikes a couple of times - the second time was definitly not as long because my aching arse couldn't take it! LOL  I did the Jillian Michaels video last night starting off on the lowest level all over again and OMG she nearly killed me! LOL  But, it's a good video and I'll try to incorporate it more.  The kids laughed at me but somewhat joined in and admitted it wasn't as easy as it looks!  I also didn't drink as much water as I should have.  That is something that used to come so easy to me, but now I'm having to constantly remind myself to drink, drink and drink some more.  I've had only ONE diet soda the whole week and OMG it was good!

I'm planning out meals for the weeks to come - it isn't looking like it's going to be easy for me, but I'll make it.  Camping trip this weekend to the mountains with my family. In this environment we will have a hard time not all eating the same thing. I can't warm anything in a microwave...can't exactly cook a separate special meal when it's my parents who will be doing the cooking...ugh!  I'm packing my own little cooler with things like carrots and celery for snacks and lettuce for salads.  Not exactly campsite food, but I'm hoping I can stick to it.  I may even cook some chicken before we go and have it prepared already. I like cold chicken on a salad or as a sandwich.  Any ideas are welcome as we will be out there for four days cooking on camp stoves, grills and fires.  I'm sure they'll also take us out to eat as well and THEN is the big challenge...you don't go to a place called "Grandma's Kitchen" without expecting something very tempting to pass your way. I'm thinking grilled chicken and steamed veggies will be a freaking joke to them.  EEEKK!!!  The thing is, I really want to be able to have a serving of the dinner at that restaurant...but will one day wreck me?  I don't want to lose the hold I've finally managed to get.
 
I can't remember if I've talked about this on EP or not, but I've thought about it a lot and I've finally decided to reconsider something I was determined to be against.  The lap band...  The doctor talked to me about it again Thursday.  My weight is key to a lot of health issues...current and possibly in the future.  She said as long as she has known me I've been up and down on this weight roller coaster, never maintained for long and she thinks I'm doing more harm than good.  She will back me on this surgery and has asked me to consult my back doctor and get into a program at MUSC (big hospital here in SC).  I'm just not sure.  I can see where the good points are for this, but then again I see the not so good points as well.  I'm scared I guess...and not just about surgery to help, but the future and how my life will be! 
 
I'm going to talk to my cousin who had the lap band and see what she thinks of it now that she has it.  Then...I'll start making some decisions.  I still know I have to change the habits either way - nothing will be done for me. I've blabbered enough...but again all comments on this in particular are very welcome!
 
Hope all is going well for you today!

Posted By: Luzenit Add Comment | Comments (3) Top
06/25/2010 15:55

Day 1, Cycle 2!

Whew! I've made it to the second cycle of this plan and that in itself feels like an accomplishment even if the cycles are only four days long! LOL Bad news is slightly less food - well bad for me, but good for plan!
 
After working the afternoon in the warehouse yesterday I was in complete misery.  I went home, took a muscle relaxer and a pain pill and laid down. I had intended on only laying there for a few minutes til the meds kicked in, but they knocked me on my butt and I woke up at 10pm with my Dad checking on me! EEEK - lost the evening completely.  I even overslept this morning and didn't go to the lab for bloodwork. What a loser! Now I have to go Monday morning instead.
 
So today I will be working on the warehouse floor again. I've taken 1/2 muscle relaxer and some ibuprofen with the hopes of preventing some pain today. I dont' want to spend the evening in bed again!
 
Carrie is coming home from camp today and I'm super excited!!  I missed that kid so much. I'm sure she isn't ready to be home, but her sister and I are ready for her!
 
Lined up for a busy weekend. Today after work is housework and laundry. Tomorrow we have to go to Columbia (about 2 hours drive) for Carrie's Color Guard Team day camp for spinning.  Leaving from there and coming home for a quick change and then about an hour drive to Edisto Beach where we will meet everyone from our church down on the beach.  Tomorrow evening is baptism night and I'm thrilled my girls want to be baptized!  I've never seen a baptism in the ocean so I think this will be very memorable experience because of the place as well as the actual meaning to them.
 
Well...off to work. Yay - not!
 
Have a great day & weekend. Don't know if I can post Saturday, but will catch you guys soon!

Posted By: Luzenit Add Comment | Comments (2) Top
06/24/2010 20:58

*Edited* Day 4, Cycle 1 & Some not so great news...

Day 4 of this first cycle has found me tired of eating virutally the same meals.  I'm doing it though.  I'm going to have to go shopping for some different veggies tonight and get a bit more variety going.
 
I'm having a crummy kind of day.  Today I had to go to a obstetrician visit (yes, I finally went after putting it off for months) and when I weighed on their scales I showed 275lbs.  WTH?  No freaking way!  Needless to say I'm less than pleased and quite honestly disgusted.  Granted - it's only been four days, but that weight shows up 2lbs from Monday!?  I'm glad I'm not weighing daily anymore because I think I'd throw something - most likely a scale.  I know this weight will come down because I have been eating well - very well.  I'm quite PMS-ish for the millionth time this month so perhaps that could be hurting me a little. Next weigh in will be good - I'm sure.  I have til Monday to see a good loss and I'm determined. WILL STAY ON PLAN! :-)
 
I'm pretty upset because the OB has suggested PCOS may be my problem. It sounds bad to my ears - probably sounds worse than it really is, but it explains a whooooole lot of what I'm going through now and what I've experienced in the past.  I have a ton of labwork to be done in the morning so hopefully within two weeks she'll have a confirmation on her diagnosis and decide what to do from there.  She definitly believes my hormones are way out of whack - which just makes sense considering how I've felt emotionally.  Should have just gone to see her in the first place rather than putting it off for so long.  I guess I just worried something was wrong for my body to be doing such crazy stuff...and I wasn't wrong. I love this doctor - she delivered my oldest and was with me for most of my pregnancy with the youngest. She is so awesome, but man she gave me hell today for not being in her office sooner! Almost like a Mom!
 
I think (from what I've read) PCOS could be a huge contributing factor to weight issues, excess facial hair and the fact that I went for nearly five years having unprotected sex with my husband hoping I'd get pregnant with no luck.  Weight and the hair growing on my chin definitly suck a$$, but the pregnancy thing...wow that takes me down a few pegs. I always blamed him for this because I figured all his bad lifestyle choices had made him infertile - sadly enough I think it is me who is infertile. How freaking f'd up is that? I lived a good life - he ruined his - and I'm the one with the problem? It's not as though I want more kids now, but back then I sure did! For years I silently hated on him because I felt like it was yet one more thing in my life I had lost because of his actions, but now... now I feel pretty crappy about thinking like that.   Maybe it was just divine intervention for me not to have a baby, but I sure do feel awful for that one time of throwing it in his face in a moment of pure fury.  It was the one thing I knew I could say to hurt him...and now I'm eating my words from an argument years ago. God, karma sucks royally... 
 
One interesting thing though - considering my previous problems with endometriosis and uterine polyps - this is actually a lesser evil since I'm not trying to have babies anymore.  It might be a better diagnosis for me - looking at it positively - because supposedly pills can "fix" me.  That is a good thing.
I guess I'm a bit ahead of myself and should wait to see what the tests say. I'm just going to quit stressing and leave it for now.
 
So today - I had chicken and steamed green beans again and an itty bitty red potato.  I skipped breakfast in case I had to fast for the doc...but instead of doing the bloodwork there I have to go to the lab for it. I'm trying to go before work tomorrow with the hopes if I'm there at 7am I can make it to work by 8am and not get into trouble for missing.
 
We shall see!
 
Well, I hope all of you are doing fantastic and losing more than me today!
 

Posted By: Luzenit Add Comment | Comments (2) Top
06/23/2010 16:57

Day 3, Cycle 1

Hi ladies!
 
Yesterday was a good day and all went well.  I'm stressing because my router got zapped by the storms we've had lately and can't post, FB or email like I want to.  It only just dawned on me to unplug the stupid router and plug the connector in directly to my desk top! LOL Can you say "duh"?? LOL  I just like my laptop soooo much better even though the desk top is a much faster PC.
 
Had an extra hand full of nuts last night - I was so danged hungry even water didn't quell the grumbling tummy.  That worked though.  I'm already getting sick of brown rice and will have to change things up with a potato today for dinner.  I also think I'll use some shrimp instead of fish. I don't think there would be a problem with that. Anyone else think so or does fish specifically have something I'm supposed to get that shrimp won't have?
 
Well, my job is insane right now and I hate it desperately.  Even more than normal. They are threatening to make those of us who work in the office to start working part of the week in the warehouse.  Let me tell you, that damned warehouse is hot misery.  Add that to 8 hours of bending to lift boxes and standing on concrete while leaning over a table all day putting stupid price tags on sacks of underwear and it makes for a VERY BAD BACK. (Especially when you have 4 ruptured discs and 4 annular tears on those discs!) Jerks!  They've also talked about making us work mandatory on the weekends.  Well, anyone who knows me knows my weekends are booked with my kids and their activities. When I took this job it was an office job. I wear nice clothes and sit behind a desk.  Well, week before last week I had to work in the warehouse in my dress clothes - and I was even in a skirt! I spent that night and half the next day in bed with my back nearly out because of bending and lifting so much. They don't care. 
 
So my prayers are that a new job will come from my applications.  I have to get something that won't require that kind of work from me and that pays more money.  Again, this kind of thing is usually what pisses me off and makes me want to shove food in my mouth, but I'm behaving. I'm not letting this battle go - and it truly feels  like a battle for me right now. I so want to eat whatever I want...especially chinese food - and a bunch of it! LOL So last night I threw all my stuff together to make something of a stir fry instead of eating each thing separate.  Guess I was hoping to trick myself...it sorta worked! ;-) Crazy, I know!!
 
I've gotten my intake of water up again and haven't had a soda since Sunday.  I think the hard part of that is over at least! :-) So I've made some ground...even if it's just giving up one of my many bad habits!
 
Hope you are all doing fantastic today. See ya soon!

Posted By: Luzenit Add Comment | Comments (4) Top
06/22/2010 21:20

Day 2, Cycle 1

So far so good!
 
Eating is on target for tody and I remembered to grab ALL of my food to eat while at work - yay! I will admit...got hungry last night about 10pm, but I just drank a glass of water and talked myself out of it. That's the kind of thing that would normally throw me out of balance.  Also...I was completely able to bypass the sweets at the meeting last night and happier for it, but man TOM is so messing with me to make me want sweets. I moved my place to stand to the back of the room - the furthest point away from the food! LOL It worked though!
 
We enjoyed about a 40 minute bikeride last night.  I had Hayden and two other neighbor kids with me.  It was nice, but OMG my A$$ hurts so bad today! It reminded me of how it was after that 30 mile ride in October! I used Carrie's bike so I'm just going to have to find a bike of my own and get a fat a$$ seat for it.
 
Today's eating is on target and I am debating on the form of exercise tonight...I had promised the kids another ride, but I suppose it depends on how my butt is when I get home! If the seat just didn't go right between my butt bones I'd be fine. With this much padding you wouldn't think it would harm me! LOL
 
I was terribly excited this morning to see pics of the church kids posted on FB from camp. I miss my Carrie! I hate it when my kids are gone and it's almost worse having one at camp while the other mopes around!  Next year I'll be all alone! Is that good or bad?
 
Have a great day and hope you are all losers!
 
 

Posted By: Luzenit Add Comment | Comments (1) Top
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