Cankles??? Seriously????

Sooooo....I've lost 26 pounds - scale hasn't moved YET - and now I have cankles??? I am retaining water like my body thinks I'm a camel!!! Does anyone else have this problem?? How do I fix it?? I drink 3-5 bottles of high quality h2o a day. Argh!!! Of course, Aunty Flo is currently visiting...which is another NSV....one of my problems with being overweight has been PCOS....we are hoping weight loss will help us get pregnant. But I'd rather not have cankles!!!

This week started out rough. My wisdom teeth decided to rear their ugly heads and become infected so I had to go to the dentist Tuesday. They prescribed me some NASTY liquid antibiotics....they are helping though. The wisdom teeth MUST come out....but I think I will wait until Christmas vacation. If I can handle it that long!!!!

My first fill is Monday. I'm super excited!!!! I can't wait until the scale starts moving again!!! We upped our walking to 3 miles this week!! AND I haven't died - yet!!!! One more week of 3 miles and then I may try 4....maybe!!!! I even jogged a little bit on Thursday...that was a bit painful, but I did it!!!!!

I need to get my booty off the computer and do laundry....my DH is out of underwear =)

Toodles!!

My first NSV(s)

Ok, the scale is still stuck. BUT I am sticking to my guns....walking 2 miles every evening. Waiting patiently for my first fill on the 19TH!!! I dreamt today that I had to go to Houston for my first fill and on the way we stopped at Olive Garden to eat. I completely forgot about the "liquids only" diet on fill day and when we got there I couldn't get a fill!!!! I guess I am pretty excited for that first fill!!!
But anywho....yesterday I spent the day at the creek with my mom. It was so nice to relax with my toes in the cool water. My parents really enjoyed watching me eat....so weird!!! They just watched me chew, chew, chew!!! We were sitting on the front porch and Mom said, "I think your boobs are getting smaller!" I had noticed it myself but wasn't sure....so when I got home I tried on a bra that I have had for a while that was waaaaaaay too small!! I have been wearing a 42DD and this bra is a 40D....so I tried it on and it was just a smidge too small...I think I may be a D and half....but I was super excited!!!!!
Today was house cleaning day. I've really let the housework go since my surgery. I've been telling myself that I couldn't sweep because I might rip a stitch...LOL!!! But I cleaned like a mad woman and actually had ENERGY!!! It was wonderful!!!!
YAY FOR NSVs!!!!!!

My progression

I thought I would post a few pics from this past school year....I can look back now and see me packing the weight on!!! I blame it on a great front office that was ALWAYS feeding us...and my close proximity to a COKE machine!!! Three years ago I quit cokes - COLD TURKEY!!! But, this year I fell off the wagon!!! I am now 3 weeks sober!!!

This pic is from 2008. I was probably the smallest I've been since high school here. I had been going to a "fat doctor" at the time....of course, once I stopped going...BAM..gained almost all of my weight back!!!


This is me with some of my students...September 09




I vow to be able to wear a jersey COMFORTABLY this year!!!


This last photo is a real eye opener!!! This was taken at Prom - May 2010. Can we say BEACHED WHALE??? It that's not motivation, I don't know what is!!!!

Ok, I get it now!!

I felt like I was very well prepared for life as a bandster. I've searched and researched and thought, "this is going to be a piece of cake!"
OOOOO CAKE!!!
Yeah, so a little over 2 weeks out and the scale is stuck!!!! I'm following all of the rules...why isn't the stupid scale MOVING???????
I read about "bandster hell" and thought....nah that won't happen to me!!! I will just truck along and lose lose lose.....HAHAHAHA!!!!! I'm still 2 weeks out from my first fill...I want restriction!! I want to PB....I want all of the experiences that let me know my band is actually there!!!!
I guess I'm being a whiny baby....but by golly, I went through this surgery...I took the step to be successful at weight loss...and now I'm feeling like a failure!!!
*sigh*
I have a goal to lose 40-50 pounds by August 23....after losing 26 pounds in 2 weeks I thought I was cruising along....maybe afer July 19th the scale will smile at me once again...

2 Week Bandiversary

It's been 2 weeks since the glorious day I was BANDED!!!! So far - knock on wood - it has been smooth sailing!!! I've followed the doctor's orders and am now up to mushy food and soft fish. Tonight for supper I had 2 small fish filets and a spoon of mashed potatoes. It was wonderful to be able to chew!!!! I've also had some watermelon. It was delicious.
I go for my first fill on July 19th. I'm excited to move on to the next step of my Lap Band journey.
I had to go back to work for 2 days this week and my coworkers could already see a difference in me!! It was so exciting!!
I am so glad I made the decision to make this change in my life!!!

Banded @ last!!

Thursday was the big day. I didn't get nervous until I got to the hospital and walked up to the nurse's station to sign in. We had to wait about 30 minutes for a room. Once I walked into the room and had to put on the stylish gown the tears started to fall. The nurse had to wait a while to check my blood pressure!!!! I calmed down and was actually able to nap off and on.

I had to be at the hospital at 7AM!!! I wasn't taken back for surgery until after 2!!!!!! Needless to say it was a loooooong and stressful day for me, mom and Chris.

Finally, they wheeled me away to the holding area. When the anaesthesiologist came to introduce himself the waterworks began again!! All of the staff were super friendly and made me feel comfortable!! I want to say a special thank you to "Lady Gaga" for making me smile right before I went night night!! Before I knew it I was waking up in recovery.

I had a problem with my heart rate while in recovery but after what felt like forever I returned to my room. Once I got in my room all I had to do was pee, walk and eat a popsicle and I was on my way home!!!!

The ride home was a kind of a fog...but I made it =)

I am now on Day 4 of being banded and feeling much better. I have a little bit of discomfort but nothing that I can't handle. I have been sleeping in the recliner but I think I am ready for the bed tonight!!!

I am glad to have the hard part behind me and am ready to get on with the rest of this journey!!!!

The Final Countdown!!!

Well, last Monday I went for all of my pre-op stuff. It was a long day but nothing too terrible. The worst part was the super long line at the lab to get my blood drawn. During my doctor's appointment, my case worker was surprised that I didn't have many questions. I feel that I have done so much research on Lap-Band that I could teach her a thing or two!!!
I still have 24 hours to gorge myself - I do not start my liquid diet until Wednesday. I know a lot people have to go on liquids up to two weeks before surgery. I guess it just depends on the surgeon and the patient. I only have to do 24 hours of liquids =) I plan on going out to eat Mexican food tomorrow night as a "last meal."
I am not dreading anything about my surgery - except the moments before I go into the OR. I've never had surgery before so this is going to be a new experience for me. I was hoping that I would not have to stay overnight, but it looks as though my insurance is requiring me to!!! This poses two dilemmas: having to be away from my babies for a night AND the question: do I bring Snott - my dilapidated baby doll that I have slept with since I was a baby. Chris thinks it would be super embarrassing for a nearly 30 year old woman to bring a baby to the hospital...I think she may stow away in my suitcase - Just in Case!!!!
72 hours from now I will officially begin my new life!!! I can't wait!!!!