ObesityHelp

So I went to see Dr. M last week and he was actually a little concerned...I had lost 11 pounds according to their scale since the last time I was there, which was only 4 or 5 weeks prior and he told me that is an unexpected amount of weight loss with the band and he is wondering if maybe it's too tight. I was like NNNNOOOOOOO!!!! (lol) hahahaha...I explained to him that not only did the recent minor weight gain I had give me a new resolve to step it up, but that I've been really going at it at the gym and really trying to push myself and my body and that it has paid off...I assured him that I CAN eat and that I'm not starving, and that as long as I follow the "rules" of chewing, eating slow, and small bites, I can eat anything I want.

So he said we would see how things go and I am supposed to see him as soon as I get back from my trip...we leave THURSDAY! I have SO much to do and no time to do it! Obviously with all the weight loss he wouldn't give me a fill but he wouldn't have anyway because of my trip.

I am very nervous about how I'm going to eat over there. Everything will be out of whack and I've been doing SO well lately and I feel comfortable with my routine foods...I don't want to eat stuff I'm not used to and I get the "stuck" thing a bit more now because I've become complacent with eating and not being as careful as I once was...And no gym for two weeks either??? That's gonna be really tough! Guess it's one more "test" to pass!


I went on two first dates this week too! The first one was better than the second but we'll see if anything transpires from it...I am even contemplating speed dating!!! Because the last date I went on was way too long! This way I can meet lots of people in a short period of time and quite frankly for me it's all about that initial chemistry...and if it ain't there, well...usually it just doesn't happen for me...So we'll see...maybe speed dating is in my future!

As 2009 draws to a close all I can say is it's been an AWESOME year!!! I have gotten my life back! I love exercising and being healthy and I can wear normal clothes just like everyone else, and participate in activities just like everyone else and it feels SO good! I feel like I have control of my life, not the other way around...It's absolutely FABULOUS!!!!

I don't really have time now, but I wanted to write about the party last night...It was AWESOME! The dress ROCKED! LOVED it! I also felt like I looked REALLY good too

Anyway, it was a fun night that's all I gotta say! I also lost another 2 pounds this week so all is well!!!!!!!

I lost another 2 pounds this week so I'm really hoping this is the beginning of another good few months of weight loss. The annual Christmas party @ work is on Dec 5th and I am leaving for a two-week trip overseas in mid Dec so I want to lose as much weight as possible by then! (Especially the party cuz I wanna be the HOTTEST chick there!!!). I went to Maurice's and bought new clothes for the first time since surgery!!! I had gotten a few things here and there, but now I'm finally getting into clothes and style and accessories and it's AWESOME! Before style had no bearing on whether or not I would buy something, I was lucky if it fit and if it did I had to get it out of necessity. But now I can be fashion forward and buy all the awesome, cute things everyone else buys and I love it!!!

In terms of eating and exercising I have not allowed myself nearly as many "treats," which I think helps A LOT, and I also limit the amount of trigger foods I have in my house. For instance, I love the little Russell Stover chocolate santas and I bought a couple packages yesterday. Then I made my way to the frozen foods section and saw those Mrs. Field's cookie dough bites and was like ooh I haven't had those in awhile...BUT I decided it was either the chocolate or the cookie dough--not both. So I only left with the chocolate. It works for me...I also realize now that I can eat things sparingly--that they're not gonna run away if I leave some for the next day, and the next day. So I don't feel like food has that control over me anymore.

I went to see a physical therapist last week about my knee and he gave me a whole laundry list of problems I have lol... 1)I have a high arche so when I do high impact sports like running my feet don't cushion the impact as much as they should 2) I have what he called "runner's knee" which basically means my knee caps move around too much and cause pain and irritation (explaining why I sometimes have pain on my knee caps) 3) When I stand and walk I hyperextend my knee causing added stress on the knee complex and 4) My thigh muscles are very weak and so they are not supporting the knee as much as they should be. The last one was the hardest to hear...I've been running 12 miles a week and I have weak leg muscles????!!!! WHAT??!!!!! But I started to look at it from another angle: How much worse it must have been BEFORE the weight loss! I wasn't having knee pain then but when I think back on it my feet and ankles would KILL me everyday. I could hardly stand without pain, so the running just brought my weak muscles to the forefront. I was very nervous that I wouldn't be able to do aerobic activity but I was told no running for at least 2 weeks, but I could use the elliptical, rowing machine, bike, and especially the leg press. I was also given strengthening exercises to do at home. I went back a second time and had a different guy and I LOVED him!!! No ring, SUPER cute, funny, and nice. I think I need to find out if he's single hahaha. But anyway, he was awesome...can't wait to go back! They have not yet ruled out the possibility of a stress fracture, but I'm not even going to entertain the idea until I give this a shot and really work on strengthening my legs.

So the exercising has also gone well despite my knee issues. I did the elliptical three times last week and it seems to work just fine. I almost feel like my knee started hurting on purpose because I had gotten into such a routine and was too stubborn to change it that my body forced me to change it and now I'm challenging it again and the scale is moving down again...Because truth be told the running was a great workout, but my body was very used to it. Now that I'm doing the elliptical and the rowing machine and the bike etc.. I'm confusing it and challenging it again. So far, it seems to be working.

At 187 this is the lightest I've been since the year 2000 when I dropped a good 60 pounds my senior year of high school. I want to be down to 185 by the party and HOPEFULLY closer to 180 by the time Germany rolls around. Mentally I am definitely on my game and I think that's half (if not more) the battle!

So I saw Dr. M and he put another .1cc in my band and I am very pleased to say so far, so good. I am below 190!!! I had significant pain in my knee this past week and was only able to go running on Sunday the 8th and Tuesday the 10th. I was able to do a couple workout videos at home, but it's just not the same as running. Yesterday I went to the gym and did the rowing machine for 30 mins and the elliptical for another 25 minutes and it was a decent workout, but I've realized that in terms of cardio running is by far the best thing for me. I actually went running today and my knee is pretty good, but I'm still gonna keep my appointment at the physical therapist's office on Tuesday. If nothing else maybe they can give me stretching exercises and stuff like that to really strengthen my knee.

I'm going to really amp up the exercise and try really hard to eat well over the next few weeks because our annual holiday party is Dec. 5th and then on the 17th I leave for a two-week trip to Germany...It's gonna be tough but I have almost 3 full weeks before the party and would like to be at least another 5 pounds down, and then another couple weeks before Europe to lose even more. I also have another appointment scheduled for the 9th I think and if he puts in another .1cc that should help too...

A part of me never thought 160 was actually an attainable goal, but I'm less than 30 pounds away now and I can taste it! I am almost 100% sure I will reach my goal! I struggled for a month or so, but I'm back full throttle and nothing's gonna stop me now!!!!

So things have taken a different turn over the past several weeks. I did indeed make it under 191 but have since gained 6 POUNDS! I have scheduled an "emergency" meeting w/ Dr. M because I need to take care of this before I gain any more...Last week life got in the way and as unable to exercise AT ALL but come on!!??? So does that mean every week I can't workout I'm gonna gain 6 pounds???!!! I'm roughly 196 right now and NOT liking it.

My biggest fear is that Dr. M will tell me that this is as low as my body is willing to go...I set a personal goal to lose 100 pounds, something I desperately want to achieve. Granted I'm thrilled with my success thus far, but it feels unfinished to me. I am really hoping he can help me. Whether he gives me a fill or not who knows but I have tried to be REALLY good food wise this week and have worked out everyday so far this week and still haven't lost anything.....ugh!

When I lost a bunch of weight 2 years ago I was at this exact same weight and plateaued there for a couple months and finally said to hell with it and re-gained all the weight...That just CANNOT happen again...We'll see what happens tomorrow...I'm really frustrated at the moment...