Just a quick update.  Things are going well.  My weight is stable at around 150 (give or take a pound or two).  I got a slight unfill this week, since I've been on the tight side since the port replacement surgery.  I'm now back to eating still-warm food again, hooray!  

I'm leaving tomorrow to attend the World Spinning and Sport Conference in Miami, FL, and to be filmed for an infomercial on Spinning.  Who knows whether or not I'll be included in the final production, but I'm excited about getting the free trip and being able to attend the conference.  

I'm in the process of becoming a fitness instructor, and have accepted a job teaching Spinning a couple of days a week.  I just love saying,  "I'm a fitness instructor."  I certainly never thought 21 months ago that I'd ever say those words, and IT FEELS GOOD!  

FRIDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- The skeletal muscle of severely obese people is specially programmed to amass fat, researchers report.

The finding suggests the muscle has a metabolic "memory" of obesity, and it may explain why obese people have such a hard time losing weight, even when they cut calories.

The study in the October issue of Cell Metabolism also suggests that exercise may be able to override this programming and improve the ability of the obese to shed unwanted pounds.

Researchers found that the fat-building enzyme stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) is three times more abundant in the muscle of obese people than the muscle of lean people. This finding provides insight into an important link between obesity, diabetes and abnormal fat buildup in muscle, the researchers said.

"Obesity and type 2 diabetes are strongly associated with abnormal lipid metabolism and the accumulation of fat droplets in muscle, but the underlying cause of these perturbations have been unknown," study author Deborah Muoio, of the Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center at Duke University Medical Center, said in a prepared statement.

"We've now shown that SCD-1 is at least a very important contributor to changes in lipid handling within muscle and the progression of obesity," she said.

She and her colleagues plan to examine whether increased physical activity can reverse levels of SCD-1 or help neutralize its effects. It's known that exercise produces changes in muscle metabolism.

Exercise:  15" walk with dogs; 60" Body Pump class; another 15" walk with dogs.  Total:  90"

My name is Tami, and I’m an obesity survivor!   

A little over 18 months ago, I was 273 lbs., and a size 26W.  I had high blood pressure and suffered from aching joints and heel spurs.  I had low energy, and avoided shopping and social activities.  At age 47, I decided that it was time to take charge of my life and health. To help facilitate weight loss, I had lap band surgery in September '06, which helped with portion control and hunger management.  Within a few months, I had lost over 70 lbs., and my doctor told me that although I'd developed much better eating habits, if I wanted to get all the way to goal, exercise would be essential. 

I joined a gym, and started slowly, but consistently.  One day, I was on the elliptical, chatting with the person next to me about the "elite" athletes who were heading to the Spinning room, and saying how I wished I was fit enough to join them.  A guy nearby overhead me, and stopped by to talk to me about Spinning.  He had recently completed Spinning Instructor Orientation, and told me that Spinning is a great low-impact exercise for anyone, at every level of fitness, and that each individual can customize their workout by simply adjusting their resistance and cadence.  A few weeks later, my gym offered an "Intro to Spinning" course, and I decided to give it a shot.  I've been addicted ever since!  I'm very lucky to have a Master Spinning Instructor, Lisa Coen, who leads classes at my gym, and she has not only instilled in me a love of Spinning, she's taught me a lot about my metabolism and how to maximize fat burning as well. 

Since starting Spinning in February '07, I've lost an additional 54 lbs., for a total weight loss of 124 lbs.  Even better, I’ve gone off of 3 prescription medicines, dropped to a size 6/8, my heel spurs are gone, and my hips and knees no longer ache.    I now feel strong, energetic, and physically fit.  I recently came in second place in a fitness challenge at my gym!  A cloud of apathy has lifted from my life.  I’m much more self-confident, and ready to take on new challenges.  I plan to take the Spinning Instructor Orientation myself in a few weeks, and hope to share my love of Spinning with other people who want to get fit.

I feel so very lucky to have had the opportunity to recover from obesity and regain control of my health and fitness.  Life is too short not to live it!

Exercise:  
15" walk with dogs; 60" Spinning; another 15" walk with dogs.  Total:  90"

An exerpt from a post of mine on the Lap Band Forum:

When I was in weight loss mode, I was pretty strict with following the band rules and avoiding *most* simple carbs and liquid calories, but I never completely avoided them.  From my previous experiences, I'd have to say that would be *my* "road to perdition", because invariably at some point I would give in, have something that was on my "no-no" list, and then feel like a failure and that would be the beginning of the end.  

This time, I didn't want to be on a "diet" that I would eventually go off of.  So, I ate pretty normally, but way *better* than I did pre-band.  I eat healthy, whole foods...mainly lean proteins, veggies, whole grains, some fruits, and "good" fats.  But, even while losing, I'd have some wine on the weekends, and once a month or so I'd share a dessert while I was out to dinner.  

If I was out running errands, I had {{{shock}}} FAST FOOD.  But, my choices were usually Wendy's Chili, Taco Bell taco salad without sour cream, or Chick fil-a chicken nuggets 4-pack with a fruit cup.  You CAN eat fast food without going off the deep end!  

But, every now and then, I'd start slipping into habits that worried me.  When that happened, I went back to journalling my food (SparkPeople.com is great), or I'd go on a "diet" just for a few days to transition back to better quality foods.  

I had my port replaced yesterday with the low-profile port.  When I asked Dr. Miles about topping off the fill level, he said he'd prefer to wait a few weeks, and add it then, if I need it.  And, it's a good thing, because I swelled up last night and couldn't even get down water, which meant I also couldn't get down any pain meds.  This morning, I started off with warm cocoa to prime the stoma, and I still feel tight, but can get down liquids.  

When the anesthesiologist came in to talk to me yesterday, the nurse asked me about my lapband experience, and how much weight I'd lost.  I told her "120 lbs., no problems whatsoever".  A little while later, I heard the anesthesiologist talking to someone out in the hall, "She lost 120 lbs!  The band really does work!"  Hehehe

My local lap band support group is meeting today, and the topic is exercise.  I'd love to go, since exercise is my passion, and something I love to discuss, but I probably should skip it.  

I'm getting my port replaced tomorrow with the low-profile port.  I'll have to wait six weeks after the port is replaced (due to the off-chance of infection) before any plastics.  I'm not 100% sure whether I'll get *any* work done, because I kinda go back and forth on the issue, but at least having the port done in advance means I don't have to juggle getting that done with other work.  

Lisa told me they'll "top off" my fill level, too, since it's been almost a year since my last fill, so who knows?  I might even lose a few more pounds in the next six weeks!  

Tami

Quick update:

Went to NY Fri. thru Mon.  Had wallet stolen on Friday.  {{{sigh}}}  Cancelled credit cards and stopped payment on unused checks, filed police report, etc.  Oh well, coulda been worse.  

Saw Hairspray (awesome) and Avenue Q (cute).  Had one awesome meal at Tony's and fabulous cheesecake at the Brooklyn diner.  Other meals were just OK.  Weight is up a couple of pounds, but I know I'll get 'em back off within a week or so.  Felt good to get back to the gym, but can't Spin for now because of a bruised tailbone from a fall.