I've gone a few days with writing, mostly because just about nothing is going on in my life. Kenny is in the Middle East for work this week- he has already left Kuwait, is now in Bahrain and will finish up in Abu Dhabi before returning to London on Thursday morning. In preparation for this trip he spent the weekend working, but we still got to hang out and spend some time together. I am a very agreeable wife:)
I met a girlfriend and her boyfriend for dinner and drinks last night. She is Italian, super petite, very pretty and always perfectly put together. She came in, gave me a hug and kiss and immediately commented on how I look like I have lost a lot of weight. I still smile on the inside- and on the outside- whenever people notice that I have lost weight and say that I look good. It never gets old! I have been getting a lot more compliments recently. I guess I am finally at the point with my weight loss where you'd have to be blind to not notice such an obvious change.
In other news, we are definitely staying in London a bit longer than we initially expected. I was 100% opposed to moving to London and made Kenny swear that we would move back exactly two years after our move... meaning that we would be stateside on the afternoon of November 1, 2011 (not like I'm counting or anything). Well, this is no longer the game plan. Neither of us wants to be here for too much longer, but we have agreed to stay on for one additional year. It makes sense for Kenny professionally. He has a good position here, and it will take him some time to find the correct next step back in the States. This gives him more time to start moving in that direction. Again, how agreeable am I?
Because our initial contract was for two years, we have to get new visas. The UK is getting very strict with visas though, so we have to go through the entire application process from scratch. We've filled out TONS of paperwork and have an appointment for our biometric data scans on Friday. While this should be a 15 minutes process that takes place in London, we have to go all the way to Sheffield (over 2 hours away) to handle this. Rather than sleeping until the sun rises (which I like to do daily), we will be leaving our flat at about 5:45am to catch a 6:37am train... for a 10am appointment. We will have stay there until at least 3pm so that we can return home with our passports. It will be a very boring day, groan.
Our other minor issue with staying is that our landlord initially wanted to raise our rent by 42%. We have been negotiating with the group for the last week or two, and it looks like they will accept a 10% increase- still a lot of extra money to be paying, but at least we probably won't have to pack up our flat and move. We shipped all of our American furniture from the States, so some of our pieces don't fit through a standard English door. Avoiding a move would be a very good thing. We are settling on some details of the lease, but I hope we will have clarity by the end of the week. I will update when we find out.
Off to the gym- happy Tuesday!
November 26, 2010-present weight loss
2012 weight loss
2012 weight loss
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
BOOBless In Britain
So few posts today! Not surprising considering that the entire blogging community is either in, or in transit to, Chicago. I find it funny that I, the woman who travels on a near-weekly basis, is spending the weekend AT HOME. Everyone enjoy Chicago and post pictures!
Valencia And The Visitor
My girlfriend and I came back from Valencia on Wednesday evening, and she returned to the States yesterday. I am always happy when friends are willing to fly over to visit us, frequently at considerable expense, but I am equally happy (and relieved) when these visits come to an end. Entertaining somebody for several days is a lot of work and is tiring. I now know that adding a trip elsewhere during a visit probably doubles the stress factor.
I love Spain and expected that we would enjoy Valencia. I knew that it was the third largest city in Spain but was still surprised by the size of the city. It has several museums, a lovely cathedral and the largest aquarium in Europe. I only got to see a small fraction of what I would have seen had I been traveling with Kenny though. While I like to see a lot, hop in and out of museums, eat local food, and stay on the move, my travel companion was less interested in doing these things. I did talk her into visiting the cathedral and aquarium, but she preferred to 'experience' the city by browsing stores and wandering aimlessly rather than mixing in a bit of culture on our adventure. It drove me a little nuts, but she was probably exasperated with my preferences as well. This little trip really reinforced how good I have it with Kenny. Travel can be challenging, and he and I make it effortless. We are perfect partners in crime!
I had a Band-Induced-Blessing on our flight to Valencia (I don't know if it is really an NSV, but tell me if I am wrong). I took the window seat and my girlfriend took the aisle. We had hoped that the middle seat would remain empty, but that did not happen. A man sat down and buckled up, and I WAS THE SMALLEST person in our row. Now that's not saying much- but still! I. was. the. teeny. tiny. one. I was the one whose seat belt was loose and didn't have to wrestle to fasten it. I was the one who had to deal with my seat being encroached upon (only a little bit, the guy wasn't blubbery) rather than doing the encroaching. It was fantastic and was a perfect start to the trip!
I also really noticed for the first time how my energy level has increased dramatically. I have known this to be the case for some time, but Kenny is very energetic. Now I keep up with him easily, but it is not like he is a slovenly bum who can't keep up with me. But with my girlfriend I saw something else. I saw her limitations- limitations that I had just a few months ago. I saw how she really didn't want to go for long walks and complained when I pushed her to walk a bit more. I saw how she took the lift at the hotel while I took the stairs because she couldn't handle the stairs. I saw how she immediately reclined on the couch upon our return to the room (why is it that as we get fatter, we favor reclining? Is it harder for us to breathe sitting upright?). I saw how she needed to take a nap before dinner because she was exhausted. I saw the old me- a me I don't plan on reverting to- EVER!
Last week I mentioned that my girlfriend had been considering WLS. I asked her about it, and she has decided against the band. She has a lot of weight to lose, but I doubt that the band would help her. She drinks a ton and can down beers in rapid succession, and that is something the band cannot fix. She also loves eating desserts, and I don't think she will be giving them up anytime soon. Given all of this, I didn't feel at all guilty about not disclosing my surgery.
Valencia Cathedral
Outside the City of Arts and Sciences
Cool jellyfish
I still love penguins...
...and dolphins!
Friday, September 23, 2011
A Visitor
One of my closest girlfriends is arriving in London tomorrow. We met at sailing camp when she was 8 and I was 10 and have been friends ever since. We are completely different women and have diametrically opposed personalities, but we still get along very well. Because she has been to London before, we thought that staying in town might be a bit boring. London is a cool city to visit, but she's done it. So instead of bumming around town the entire time, we are going to Valencia, Spain for two nights. The hotel looks amazing and gets very good reviews. We plan to tour around in the morning and early afternoon, have a leisurely lunch around 2pm and go to the beach or pool for our afternoon siesta. Our dinners are booked for 10pm, which is not late in Spain. I am not much of a breakfast person, and not eating lunch until 2pm might present some challenges. I plan to bring little granola bars so I can munch on something if I want. And Valencia is known for its oranges, so I can always have a nice glass of fresh OJ should I need something.
My girlfriend is heavy and had mentioned that she was thinking of having WL surgery a few months back. She said that it was something newer than the Lap-Band. I assume she means the Realize band, but she made it sound like a different procedure. I don't know. Anyway, as we all know, I am in the closet when it comes to my life with the band. I feel that there are too many gossips in the world, and I don't want my choices to be scrutinized on the gossip circuit. I have not told her about my surgery. I doubt that I will tell her even if she is pursuing it-- simply because I know the information will not stay with her. It will be interesting to see if she is really considering this procedure or whether it was just a whim. She had thought about surgery a few years ago, and nothing came of it. Regardless, it will be an enjoyable visit!
My girlfriend is heavy and had mentioned that she was thinking of having WL surgery a few months back. She said that it was something newer than the Lap-Band. I assume she means the Realize band, but she made it sound like a different procedure. I don't know. Anyway, as we all know, I am in the closet when it comes to my life with the band. I feel that there are too many gossips in the world, and I don't want my choices to be scrutinized on the gossip circuit. I have not told her about my surgery. I doubt that I will tell her even if she is pursuing it-- simply because I know the information will not stay with her. It will be interesting to see if she is really considering this procedure or whether it was just a whim. She had thought about surgery a few years ago, and nothing came of it. Regardless, it will be an enjoyable visit!
The Purpose Of The Band
It is interesting to read your blogs and see the different expectations we have of the band... and, consequently, the different ways we utilize this little device. For me, the purpose of my band is to keep me full for a longer period of time. Yes, I eat less than I did a year ago, but I am certainly eating more than 3 oz of protein per meal. I haven't overly relied on the band to make me eat less. I am able to eat large quantities if I choose but make my willpower kick in and stop me from overdoing it (most of the time). Because I know I won't be hungry in an hour or two, eating less is mentally easier to handle.
I read that many bandsters use the band to regulate what and how much they eat much more than I do. Some can't eat or drink until 2 or 3 in the afternoon, some can only eat a few tbsp at a time and seem to just puke all the time. Others feel that the band is not 'working' if they are able to eat a piece of pie or other junky items (Chinese, pizza, hoagies, etc). Some of us like the feeling of being tight and go for a fill when this feeling subsides, while others find that this tight feeling is problematic. From what I observe, those who want the band to be instrumental in regulating what they eat and how much they eat-- in addition to keeping them full for at least 4 hours-- are the ones who really desire the feeling of being tight. I have never really felt tight, and I am happy with that.
The one category of person I did not address is she who overtly circumvents and challenges the band at every possible instance, the person who thinks, 'let me buy those two foot-long hot dogs and cheese fries and see if I can get all of it in AND THEN wash it down with a milkshake'. We have all learned that we need to work with the band and be reasonable, and eating huge quantities of junk is by no means reasonable.
So I guess my question is this: What did you expect from the band prior to surgery, and what do you expect now that you deal with the band on a daily basis? Do you find that your expectations were reasonable from the start, or have you modified them along the way as you have experienced life with the band?
NB- thanks to Jacquie for giving me info on a website to create side by side photos. This makes a true comparison SO much easier.
I read that many bandsters use the band to regulate what and how much they eat much more than I do. Some can't eat or drink until 2 or 3 in the afternoon, some can only eat a few tbsp at a time and seem to just puke all the time. Others feel that the band is not 'working' if they are able to eat a piece of pie or other junky items (Chinese, pizza, hoagies, etc). Some of us like the feeling of being tight and go for a fill when this feeling subsides, while others find that this tight feeling is problematic. From what I observe, those who want the band to be instrumental in regulating what they eat and how much they eat-- in addition to keeping them full for at least 4 hours-- are the ones who really desire the feeling of being tight. I have never really felt tight, and I am happy with that.
The one category of person I did not address is she who overtly circumvents and challenges the band at every possible instance, the person who thinks, 'let me buy those two foot-long hot dogs and cheese fries and see if I can get all of it in AND THEN wash it down with a milkshake'. We have all learned that we need to work with the band and be reasonable, and eating huge quantities of junk is by no means reasonable.
So I guess my question is this: What did you expect from the band prior to surgery, and what do you expect now that you deal with the band on a daily basis? Do you find that your expectations were reasonable from the start, or have you modified them along the way as you have experienced life with the band?
NB- thanks to Jacquie for giving me info on a website to create side by side photos. This makes a true comparison SO much easier.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Curbing Critical And A Comparison
I am much more critical of my body now than I was at my heaviest. I am much more complimentary of my body as well. I think the reality is that I am more observant of my body than I had been and more willing to critique myself than when I was 300+lbs. I WAS probably a lot more accepting of my body last year, not because I was happy with what I had become, but due to the apathy that accompanies truly feeling that there was not even a sliver of a chance that I could do anything to improve my situation. Now that I am closer to looking 'normal', I notice my flaws more easily. I am a lot smaller, but I am still big. Yes, I can actually see my jaw, but even my chin/lower face could stand to be WAY more lean. I don't want to be complacent with my weight loss- I still have a long journey ahead of me! I feel that being able to look at myself and realistically evaluate my body, both the positives and negatives, will continue to be important to my success.
And on that note, pictures-
And on that note, pictures-
Taken on August 4
Taken today
I seem to be the only person so technologically unsophisticated that I cannot post side by side photos. Oh well. Let's get started with the comparison. In the August photo, I am definitely a bit thicker throughout the middle. My shorts look slightly looser in today's photo. My right arm might be hanging a bit closer to my body than it was last month. Now for the critical, man- I am still pretty big. How did I let this happen to myself? The positive is that I am heading in the right direction. The scale and these pictures prove it. As long as I remain committed to the gym and to making healthy food choices, I will continue to move towards a healthier weight and life!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Back In London-- and PBing on PB
Ladies, I landed in London this morning and have spent some of today catching up on Blogland. I feel that I have missed so much, pathetic!
My trip back to the states was, as expected, great. We stayed at The Palace, which is a lovely hotel. The rooms are nicely appointed and the service is first rate. The hotel is also conveniently situated on 50th & Madison (right behind St. Patrick's Cathedral), so we can easily get around town. Because so much of my week revolved around food and drink, I made sure to walk just about everywhere. I had enough time to walk, and it made sense to burn off those extra pieces of bread and bottles of wine that I refused to do without. I also made it to the hotel gym twice. I had hoped that I would have at least 3 proper workouts, but I was active enough that I was fine. After eight days and nights of eating out and drinking more than usual, I weighed what I did before checking in on September 8th:)
In reading some of your blogs, I see that many bandsters are anxiety-ridden when it comes to travel. You are afraid of being tight after flying and of being stuck at a restaurant. Many even go to the doctor to have an un-fill before a trip. I don't understand the pre-travel un-fill, but maybe I am in the minority. Given that I travel more than twenty times a year (I don't remember the exact figure, but my band had flown around 50,000 miles between December 2010 and April 2011), I could never be successful if I were constantly going for un-fills and re-fills. I also haven't seen the need. Even in Budapest, the land of tough meats, I was able to find band-friendly dishes. Now that I am sated with smaller portions, I would never have fluid taken out of my band so that I could get my money's worth at a Las Vegas buffet.
When it comes to eating during travel, I try to make sure I consume the same things I would eat were I cooking at home. I look for fish options for both my starter and my main course (confession time, I still love starters and just accept that I won't eat all of my main). If I am craving beef, I order a rare filet mignon. If the steak comes with salad and fries, I ask for more salad and no fries. I avoid pasta and mashed potatoes. I avoid heavy sauces. I avoid things that are breaded and fried. I focus on lean protein and veggies. I only allow myself the occasional dessert. Period. These guidelines work for me and have given me the flexibility of eating out for approximately 25 of the last 35 nights WITHOUT fear of being stuck in public and WITHOUT fear of coming home with an extra 5-10 lbs. Oh, and I chew the hell of absolutely anything I eat. I'd love to hear how others handle travel and whether you do the whole un-fill/re-fill thing.
I spent enough time in NYC to catch up with friends I haven't seen since this time last year. It was funny to see how many people mentioned that I looked 'great' or that I looked 'fantastic' but that none would acknowledge the big (but much less fat) elephant pirouetting around the restaurant in a pink tutu!
With all of this going out, I really see how far I have come in 9 months. I like how I carry myself now and love being able to walk in high heels. It is so comforting to now know that I can squeeze into the inside chair or banquette at a restaurant without causing too much of a scene. Even better, I know that the best is yet to come... and won't that be fine.
Kenny and I had a date night one evening followed by listening to some of our favorite jazz musicians. I have been friendly with the guys for years, and it was just so wonderful to sit with Kenny, lean back with a drink and listen to them play. Being in NY is just so comfortable and easy, but I digress. One of the band members has been seriously overweight for as long as I have known him. Like so many people, he is a really nice guy who just battles a serious issue. During one of the set breaks, I mentioned to him that he had obviously lost weight and looked great.
**See, this is the benefit of being part of the fat/weight loss club. I understand how important these compliments are and how discouraged we can all get when we are working hard towards a goal without receiving any recognition.**
His face lit up, and he thanked me for noticing. He said that one of his regulars (a doctor who was out of town over the summer) had been in to see the band play the prior evening, that the regular came up to the musician with some friends, tapped him in the gut and said to my friend something along the line of "hey, weren't you supposed to lose weight this summer?". My heart broke when I heard this! He was still upset by the comment, so my words of encouragement came at exactly the right time. I was upset for him and really disappointed by this doctor. If the doctor's concern was related to health, he could have found a more productive and positive way to approach this guy. It seemed to me that the doctor was just being a bully, especially because he brought his friends along to up the embarrassment factor significantly. We were talking about how struggling with weight is one of the worst afflictions (for lack of a better term) to have because it is such a public battle. Not like I'd want to be a drug addict or an alcoholic, but at least those are problems that can sometimes be kept private- employers find out you are an alcoholic after hiring you and try to send you for counseling or rehab. They hold your position until you are well enough to return to work. If you are fat, you probably won't even get the job to begin with, because you are fat and people don't like the appearance of fat people in their place of business, don't want fat people representing their office or brand and don't want any of the negative implications of having a fat staff. If you become fat while in a role, you might be passed over for promotions or other career opportunities. It is really unfortunate and very sad! Regardless of the countless issues associated with obesity, I am happy that I felt comfortable enough with him to say something nice and encouraging.
I saw Dr. Kurian for my monthly visit on Monday. She was very pleased to see that I am down 90 lbs in 9 months:) My first consultation with her was September 17, 2010, so it was just about a year ago that I made one of the most important decisions of my life! She only gave me a 0.1cc fill, and that is fine with me. I would rather get little fills every month or two rather than have 0.5ccs at once and risk complications. I will fly back in November for my one year check up.
So now onto the PB issue. I had absolutely no food in the flat this morning but thought I should eat something before going to the market. I had peanut butter, so I mixed about a tablespoon with some raspberry jam and ate. I am on mushies today, and I assumed this would be fine. I was wrong. I somehow forgot that 10am London time is a mere 5am in NJ and that my body was still on the earlier time. Well, my body reminded me that 5am is an inappropriate time to be consuming anything other than water and that I should try again later. Not quite the welcome home I had expected, but it could have been worse.
My trip back to the states was, as expected, great. We stayed at The Palace, which is a lovely hotel. The rooms are nicely appointed and the service is first rate. The hotel is also conveniently situated on 50th & Madison (right behind St. Patrick's Cathedral), so we can easily get around town. Because so much of my week revolved around food and drink, I made sure to walk just about everywhere. I had enough time to walk, and it made sense to burn off those extra pieces of bread and bottles of wine that I refused to do without. I also made it to the hotel gym twice. I had hoped that I would have at least 3 proper workouts, but I was active enough that I was fine. After eight days and nights of eating out and drinking more than usual, I weighed what I did before checking in on September 8th:)
In reading some of your blogs, I see that many bandsters are anxiety-ridden when it comes to travel. You are afraid of being tight after flying and of being stuck at a restaurant. Many even go to the doctor to have an un-fill before a trip. I don't understand the pre-travel un-fill, but maybe I am in the minority. Given that I travel more than twenty times a year (I don't remember the exact figure, but my band had flown around 50,000 miles between December 2010 and April 2011), I could never be successful if I were constantly going for un-fills and re-fills. I also haven't seen the need. Even in Budapest, the land of tough meats, I was able to find band-friendly dishes. Now that I am sated with smaller portions, I would never have fluid taken out of my band so that I could get my money's worth at a Las Vegas buffet.
EAT ME- you know you want to!
When it comes to eating during travel, I try to make sure I consume the same things I would eat were I cooking at home. I look for fish options for both my starter and my main course (confession time, I still love starters and just accept that I won't eat all of my main). If I am craving beef, I order a rare filet mignon. If the steak comes with salad and fries, I ask for more salad and no fries. I avoid pasta and mashed potatoes. I avoid heavy sauces. I avoid things that are breaded and fried. I focus on lean protein and veggies. I only allow myself the occasional dessert. Period. These guidelines work for me and have given me the flexibility of eating out for approximately 25 of the last 35 nights WITHOUT fear of being stuck in public and WITHOUT fear of coming home with an extra 5-10 lbs. Oh, and I chew the hell of absolutely anything I eat. I'd love to hear how others handle travel and whether you do the whole un-fill/re-fill thing.
I spent enough time in NYC to catch up with friends I haven't seen since this time last year. It was funny to see how many people mentioned that I looked 'great' or that I looked 'fantastic' but that none would acknowledge the big (but much less fat) elephant pirouetting around the restaurant in a pink tutu!
Hi, I am an elephant in a tutu, and yes, I am dancing in a restaurant...
But seriously, DON'T LOOK AT ME!!!
But seriously, DON'T LOOK AT ME!!!
With all of this going out, I really see how far I have come in 9 months. I like how I carry myself now and love being able to walk in high heels. It is so comforting to now know that I can squeeze into the inside chair or banquette at a restaurant without causing too much of a scene. Even better, I know that the best is yet to come... and won't that be fine.
Kenny and I had a date night one evening followed by listening to some of our favorite jazz musicians. I have been friendly with the guys for years, and it was just so wonderful to sit with Kenny, lean back with a drink and listen to them play. Being in NY is just so comfortable and easy, but I digress. One of the band members has been seriously overweight for as long as I have known him. Like so many people, he is a really nice guy who just battles a serious issue. During one of the set breaks, I mentioned to him that he had obviously lost weight and looked great.
**See, this is the benefit of being part of the fat/weight loss club. I understand how important these compliments are and how discouraged we can all get when we are working hard towards a goal without receiving any recognition.**
His face lit up, and he thanked me for noticing. He said that one of his regulars (a doctor who was out of town over the summer) had been in to see the band play the prior evening, that the regular came up to the musician with some friends, tapped him in the gut and said to my friend something along the line of "hey, weren't you supposed to lose weight this summer?". My heart broke when I heard this! He was still upset by the comment, so my words of encouragement came at exactly the right time. I was upset for him and really disappointed by this doctor. If the doctor's concern was related to health, he could have found a more productive and positive way to approach this guy. It seemed to me that the doctor was just being a bully, especially because he brought his friends along to up the embarrassment factor significantly. We were talking about how struggling with weight is one of the worst afflictions (for lack of a better term) to have because it is such a public battle. Not like I'd want to be a drug addict or an alcoholic, but at least those are problems that can sometimes be kept private- employers find out you are an alcoholic after hiring you and try to send you for counseling or rehab. They hold your position until you are well enough to return to work. If you are fat, you probably won't even get the job to begin with, because you are fat and people don't like the appearance of fat people in their place of business, don't want fat people representing their office or brand and don't want any of the negative implications of having a fat staff. If you become fat while in a role, you might be passed over for promotions or other career opportunities. It is really unfortunate and very sad! Regardless of the countless issues associated with obesity, I am happy that I felt comfortable enough with him to say something nice and encouraging.
I saw Dr. Kurian for my monthly visit on Monday. She was very pleased to see that I am down 90 lbs in 9 months:) My first consultation with her was September 17, 2010, so it was just about a year ago that I made one of the most important decisions of my life! She only gave me a 0.1cc fill, and that is fine with me. I would rather get little fills every month or two rather than have 0.5ccs at once and risk complications. I will fly back in November for my one year check up.
So now onto the PB issue. I had absolutely no food in the flat this morning but thought I should eat something before going to the market. I had peanut butter, so I mixed about a tablespoon with some raspberry jam and ate. I am on mushies today, and I assumed this would be fine. I was wrong. I somehow forgot that 10am London time is a mere 5am in NJ and that my body was still on the earlier time. Well, my body reminded me that 5am is an inappropriate time to be consuming anything other than water and that I should try again later. Not quite the welcome home I had expected, but it could have been worse.
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