Some Days You Just Feel Like a Nutt

Literally that has been the one constant food that I don't have problems with. O and Greek yogurt. It is frustrating how many stuck episodes I have had. I chew religiously but seems that when I wait and have my first meal as lunch I inevitably have problems.

Food that was easily consumed the night before gets stuck the next day.
I am proud of the food choices I have made while at restaurants.
Yesterday my son wanted to go out to lunch before heading to the beach.
I chose grilled chicken breast no skin 1 serving brown beans and a cup of cottage cheese. I only took a couple bites of the cottage cheese and ate half the chicken and almost all the beans. Lunch calories were only 252 calories and over 40 g protein. I later ate the rest of the chicken. It was very yummy.

Woke up early today even though I was skipping Sunday School at church. Im terrible I have my own missions ministry yet I chose to stay home for SS cause our guest speaker was a missionary who wanted both the SS class and the regular service. I opted out lol my bad! Though me and my husky did enjoy a great early morning walk.

Enjoy your day and most of all enjoy your life. Its the only one you get.

Bring Your Own Crazy-Love It

It's FRIDAY so that means it's BYOC - Bring Your Own Crazy!We answer a couple of questions in an effort to get to know each other better and to give our blogging brains a break! Copy and paste and answer in your own blogs if you'd like!! ENJOY!!

1. What’s your favorite room in your house?






It was my great room; Here is a picture at Christmas


2. Picture question (or describe if you don't have a camera). Show us a pic of your current favorite earrings!
Favorite earrings now are just studs. I have 6 in one ear two in other, its hot and dont want to wear my danglies.


3. What’s your dress code at work? If you stay at home and went back to work outside the home, what dress code would you prefer?

Dress code is casual. I work with two dozen construction workers, all men. So if I dress up they think someone died :P yesterday was a short skirt and black top with sandals. If I could dress anyway to work this would be a good look lol. I could really crack the whip then. Some of the guys would like it too.





4. Summarize your week in real life and in blog land.

Real life week consists of waking u around 5-530 am getting to my office at 630 am. Sitting at a desk until 4-5 pm. Coming home cooking the family dinner and unfortunately this week vegetating. I barely get the plants and garden watered and everyday things done around here. In blog land i try and read alot, comment when I can.

Too Much

Yesterday was a busy busy day. Probably the first weekend since being banded that I was able to really do some yard work. We are having a family cook out for 4th of July. Alot of my husbands family will be here that has never been here and we have been married 20 years :( So I really busted my butt.

I used the tiller in the garden and hoe'd and raked for a total of 3 hours with a few breaks sitting in the shade. I sweated like a pig. Good for the pores :P But late that night had some pain in my port area. I am taking a break and not exercising today. Totally going to veg.

I am trying to really focus on what I want in my life.
So many hidden things to discover about why I got in this position.
Some things I discover and deal with probably wont be pleasant but at same time.
I know it has to be more than just eating bad.


Here is to self discovery. Even if it might be difficult and hard to face.

Chicken Wings Arms

I am wanting to avoid the dreaded chicken wing arms. Found this here:
Chicken Wing Arms


Overhead Triceps Extensions
1. Stand upright, with your feet shoulder width apart.
2. Hold your dumbbell directly above your head with arm fully extended. Clasp elbow with free hand for support.
3. Slowly let your elbow fold so the dumbbell is lowered behind your head.
4. Extend your arm back to the starting position. Repeat for the desired number of reps and switch arms.







French Presses
1. Lie flat on a bench. Hold the dumbbells directly above your chest with palms facing each other.
2. The Dumbbells should be just about touching each other.
3. Keeping your shoulders locked, let your elbows fold so the dumbbells are lowered down to either side of the head.
4. Extend both your arms back to start position and repeat











Triceps Kickbacks
1. Stand upright next to a bench. Place one arm and leg on the bench. Your upper body should be parallel to the ground.
2. Holding the dumbbell raise your elbow so your upper arm is parallel to the ground. Your elbow should be bent at right angles.
3. Extend your elbow so your entire arm is parallel to the ground.
4. Slowly return to the start position and repeat for the desired number of reps before changing arms





Diamond Pushups
1. Lie face down on the floor with your hands palm down, fingers pointing straight ahead, and aligned at the nipple line.
2. Place your hands in the centre of your chest and form a diamond shape with your index fingers and thumbs.
3. Your feet should be at hip width with your toes on floor.
4. Extend the elbows and raise your body off the floor.
5. Lower your entire body (legs, hips, trunk, and head) 4-8 inches from the floor.
6. Return to the start position by extending at the elbows and pushing your body up.
7. Remember to keep the head and trunk stabilized and in a neutral position by isometrically contracting the abdominal and back muscles.
8. Never fully lock out the elbows at the start position and avoid hyperextension of the low back.

Dinner Tonight

This will be a repeat. So good.

White Chili

Makes 4 servings.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch cubes

1 package McCormick® White Chicken Chili Seasoning Mix

1 cup water

1 can (15 ounces) white beans, undrained

1. Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 5 minutes or until browned.

2. Stir in Seasoning Mix, water and beans. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes.

Corn & Chicken Chili: Stir in 1 can (8 3/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained or 1 cup frozen corn kernels with the beans.

Tomato & Chicken Chili: Stir in 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained or 1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes with the beans.

per serving

Calories: 307

Fat: 7 g

Carbohydrates: 28 g

Cholesterol: 70 mg

Sodium: 510 mg

Fiber: 5 g

Protein: 33 g

First Fill

Today was my first fill. Yippie cause I was starting to have real hunger issues last few days.

I had 3 cc by the time I left the doctors office.First she filled me to 4 then when nothing passed backed out of it until she settled for a 3. Hope this goes well. Watching the process of liquid pass slowly really gives you perspective on your lap band as a tool. I have to chew like never before after watching how liquid has a hard time passng.

They also have put me on a strict diet in my opinion.

Not so much counting calories but actually telling me what to eat and when.

Breakfast: either two eggs cooked with a little olive oil or pam or my Atkins bar :)

Lunch: Salad w/protein. She said no dressing except a little olive oil. I talked her into a little spritx of like rasberry vinegar or cider vinegar also.

Dinner: Protein and a vegetable.

Snacks: 1/4 c. almonds or piece of fruit.

Seems pretty hardcore :) Im already doing that but I guess being told what to do. I am rebellious and I shouldnt be.

Some interesting things was watchig my pouch expand when the fluid wouldt pass.

That was pretty awesome. Just like filliig a balloon with air.

What I hate is the liquid diet but it is necessary and useful.

Boy am I glad I had a mini omelette for breakfast :P

One Month Lap Banded

Today marks one month since being banded. I did the math because I spent almost 18,000 on WLS every pound lost equals $155.00 dollars. To me that is money well spent. Highlights this week is a three pound loss (465 dollars lol) My lumps and bumps are smoothing out. You know what I mean cottage cheese lumps on legs. I think about how I want my sexy legs back. I have awesome calves very muscular and sexy but the thighs yuk! Now they are just smoothing out. No lumps.

I have a mini skirt waiting for me :P

First day in over a week I went over my calorie limit. Not bad. I average 700 calories a day and today was 1053

Accountabilty

It Moved

Nope not talking about my bowels lol. Not this time :P Scale hasnt moved in days it seems. Havent been discouraged just figured the big ride was over and now I really had to work at it. I have been putting that sauna suit on every morning for the last three days along with a lotion that is supposed to make you sweat more and get on treadmill. I naturally dont sweat alot. So it helps. Scale finally moved with a pound loss. So yeah Im happy. Then night time s a killer for me. Always was a snacker. So I walk again for 30 minutes this time at night but outside.

Things I Dont Want to Know

After reading alot of posts on lapbandtalk.com I have come away with not wanting to know a few things.

The main thing is that I do not want to learn how to cheat the band. I do not understand wanting to cheat the band. I am self pay and that would be like burning the hard earned money to pay for it.

I have skipped over posts relating to this subject.

Something I don't want to ever experience again is a stuck feeling. I haven't had a fill and casually was chewing seedless grapes when I swallowed one WHOLE. It was almost immediate discomfort then serious pain. I freaked. I prayed. I tried to belch, burp, anything. I pounded on my chest bent over and tried to puke it up. Well it finally went somewhere, not up. Scared the living crud out of me.

I have to watch this. Also chewing gum. I have in the past swallowed. Bad idea with the band.

Some more randomness on lap band stuff:

Trying to find ways to get high protein that is not animal based, this list shows all sources of protein.

Good High Protein List

Protein

I am trying to research new ways to get more protein in my diet. Here is something I found on the Atkins website about portion eye balling your protein.

FOOD VISUAL

1 ounce meat, poultry, tofu, etc.	Small matchbox/remote car key
3 ounces meat, poultry, tofu, etc.	Deck of cards/cell phone
8 ounces meat, poultry, tofu, etc.	Slim paperback book
3 ounces fish	Checkbook
1 ounce hard cheese	Four dice

Kutting Weight and Sweet Sweat

Decided to get off my a$$ and jumped on treadmill. I decided why not try this new product I bought. It is a sweat suit. Am I crazy. YES. It was already 90+ degrees here and my treadmill is in the sun room. Also put on the lotion that is supposed to help you sweat in those places that never sweat. For me it would be arms and thighs. I looked like a bratwurst with the skin wrapped too tight. But I was determined. I only did it for twenty minutes as I was sweating like a pig a a pig roast. But goal accomplished I sweat-ed my butt off. Going to garden now to hoe :P

Weekly Recap May 28- June 3

Weekly Averages

Average Daily Calores 730

Fat 33.1g

Fat cal291

fat 40%

Saturated 7.4g

fat Cal 66

fat 9%

Carbohydrate

66.5g

266 calories

37%

Protein

41.4g

165 Calories

23%

No big losses this week. I know its probably because the majority of food has been bad carbohydrates: mashed potatoes, puddings and such. Today I got more protein today in. I decided to move onto soft foods not just mushy pureed food and seemed much more satisfied. Today I ate a half cup of almonds that I chewed forever for breakfast, tuna with a little of mayo over some fresh lettuce picked from my garden. Then at dinner I made some crappie fried :( and ate three brocolli florets with a little cheese. Todays calories though only added up to 883. I had astrange episode this afternoon though. While in my garden I was bending over and my vision went strange and I got dizzy. Had to sit but it wouldnt go away. So I laid down for an hour. Dont know what that is about. Tomorrow Im going to do light aerobics and just move. Need to get this thing on a roll :P

Bad Food Choices

I am 3 weeks post op and I am told by my dietitian not to diet yet but stay on mushy/ pureed foods.In doing that I am gravitating to not so good food choices like pudding, mashed potatoes and cereals.I'm afraid my mindset wont change. I am not satisfied and feel like eating and am eating more than just those three meals.Not sure what I should do. I haven't gained but hasn't moved either.Just getting over TOM's visit so I'm not sure if that has part to do with it cause it started aroundthe time I got the curse Wondering what others do during this stage?My first fill is scheduled June 15th.