AnnieBandie

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Sorry it has been a while since I have checked in.  All I can say is I am still the same -- as of today I am 226.  Honestly, I feel good about that wieght.  I was on business tavel this week in Washington DC, so my food choices were limited and very expensive, but I managed.

I going to be very busy at work in April, so I am just going to see where it goes?  The good news is, I feel great fitness wise, so maybe next weekend I do measurements and see what that tells me.  Have a good week  everyone!  

It has been a while, but I felt that if I didn't have anything positive to say, why bother?  So I finally got courage to do this and face the facts.  I am still bouncing that F)(*&^% 5 pounds around - Very Angry Girl here!   This is driving me crazy!  

Checked my stats on Wii Fit, here are the numbers, today is my 64 day or working out and I logged over 36 hours.  I also work out with My Fitness Coach for about either 15 or 30 minutes sessions, 4-5 times a week.   According to WiiFit, as of this morning I am 226, with a BMI of 38-58.  Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

Have I been the perfect Bandster, absolutely not, but I have been good and am eating mush better than I was before January for when I was too tight and got a unfill.  I have been making a lot of low calorie, bandster recipes.  So much that my husband that doesn't exercise, just cut his potions a little, lost 10lbs  in two Months.  I love him with all my Heart -- but Boy is that a Huge Slap in my Face!

I know everyone says muscle weighs more than fat, take my measurements, etc., etc.  That is next and I will do a new set of measurements today. and start again from there. 

After going through this for two months, it is so easy, to go back to the old eating habits, soft food syndrome, Chips, snacks, etc.  I maintained my weight doing that.  I know, I know -- STOP -- I really have to work at this and work with this $10,000.00 Band that I self paid for.  Enough Angry Girl for now.

Good News, I will report, everyone that sees me says I look great and am in best fitness shape I have been for years.  YAY!  Honestly I do feel good, my knees occasionally hurt, but I learned in PT that I must continue to work them and keep those quads strong.  I have an appointment for an upper GI on Monday and with my Dr at Tufts.  Wednesday, I have a follow up with the Otho Surgeon, to see the progress I made on the knees.

So -- Let's hope for good news on both -- and Pray to the Lap Band Gods, that the scale will go down for Ann! 

Off to cook some great recipes from Eggface!  Yum! 

I have been bouncing the same 5 pounds around for over a month.  I mentioned it to a co-worker and her comment was, "At least it is moving."  I guess she is right, but I want it to keep moving down. 

The good news is, after my unfill, my acid reflux is almost gone.  Gee can you believe that!  I am paying more attention to the food I am eating, listening to my band and when I feel full -- that is it stop!  No more slider food, no more excessive sauce and gravy, no waiting for it to slide down to eat more.  Honestly I feel great, just wish that damn scale would stop jumping all around  

On February 10, 2009 -- 1 year that I quit smoking. YAY!  I won't go into how many time I quit, for how long, etc. but the good news it I Found another addiction -- Wii Fit and My Fitness Coach.  Since I purchased Wii Fit , after New Year's, I logged o a total of 27 hours, 43 days.  Today My stats are as follow, BMI 38.01, weight 222.7 and Fit age is 41.  Not bad, I shaved 6 years off.  Next is My Fitness Coach.  At first I really hated Maya, now I respect her and enjoy working out with her. 

Off to workout with Maya.  YAY! 

February 11, 2009 was the day I went back to NEMC  Tufts Obesity Consult Clinic for my annual check up.  Honestly I have not been back for about 2 years    We all know that story and why.  After my research, I decided to get a slight unfill, My last two fills where in 2007, my weight plateaued, acid reflux, etc. 

So, I am in the inner waiting room, waiting for the PA and the Doctor to discuss my band and unfill and I noticed on the wall, a chart for the various bands, sizes, etc.  When I was banded, there was only ONE Band.  Interesting.  The PA comes in, looks at my chart and says -- "Gee, been a long time for you."  Yeah...   I explained how I am having problem, plateaued, etc.  Her reply, "I want to do a total UNFILL now.  Who knows what shape your pouch is in?  Have you had a Upper GI?  We are scheduling one now. "     I would have loved to see the expression on my face, but my mind was saying, NO NO NO....  Regroup and let's approach this a different way.  I can eat some items, I have not been perfect, I promise to get the upper GI and will be back  in 6 week for a check up.   So, let's agree to .50 unfill.  OK.  She agreed.

We start discussing the journey of the Band, how things are constantly changing.  My biggest complaint is that their is no support groups for Banders who are about 2-3 years or further out?  I have researched, researched, researched and finally came back to OH. I mentioned that Acid Reflux and she said the band was too tight.  My reply, when I had a fill in 2007, and got Acid Reflux, the doctor said that was fine.   Well, she said -- that why it is important to come in and follow up.  That was the original thought back then, but more research showed that is not the case.  When you were banded, there was only one band -- not look (at the chart) how many bands we have.    Light Bulb Moment!

I guess it is easy to blame the system, complain there is no support groups, I am at a plateau, etc, etc.  But the truth is, I am responsible and I hold myself accountable for the decisions I make with my Band.   Learned a very valuable lesson during this visit.

Regarding the unfill, I fell great! She is right and I might need more taken out, but I feel a huge difference.  Morning coffee goes down easier, acid reflux is almost gone.  Next is to be mindful, follow the rules and listen to my Band.  I keep you posted.

"Success doesn't come to you. You go to it." Marva Collins

Yes, I am still shocked and almost afraid to type this -- But I got on my Wii Balance board for my body test and work out this morning and it said -- You reached your goal -- Congratulations!  I reached my goal a week early?  My goal was for 2 weeks  I was suppose to TRY to reach it on February 1?  Hey I am not complaining, just still in shock   As you know, I had a very rocky start, up and down, up and down, up and down.  Maybe my body is finally settling in to this new routine.

I fell I am really paying more attention to the food I eat, but I really do think I need an unfill. I am definitely in the Soft, Slider food category and I have a very hard time trying to get  "regular" food down.  Also, I am not eating nearly enough  correct calories and protein.   

If I haven't mentioned it -- I LOVE my Wii Fit!   I am hooked!  So far I have been doing it 20 days, for about 45 minutes to an hour a day.  I usually start with 10 minutes of balance, which is not my strong suit, then I go for 30 minutes of Aerobics, (step, hula hoop, running), then finish with 20 - 30 minutes of Yoga.  I  YOGA!  Who would have thought!

By the way my 1 year anniversary for quiting smoking is coming up soon -- February 10!  I guess I found a new addiction -- Wii Fit

Today is my two week goal I set in Wii Fit.  Learned a lesson here, don't set very high goals.  

According to Wii-Fit, I have 9 hr and 10 min total fit credits for 2 weeks.  Which comes out to about 40 mins a day working out with Wii.  I do enjoy it, but I definitely need some more positive feedback -- Like the scale going down...

Today my weight according to Wii Fit is -- 223.5.  So I did trend down, but not as much as I wanted.  I set my new goal for 2 weeks, 1.5 pounds.  Now I begin to work to that one. 

Brrrrrr.. Cold here in the Northeast, a high of 18 today with negative temperatures this evening.  Staying warm by working out with my Wii Fit.  BTW -- I love it.  Balance needs work which is expected since I am currently in Physical Therapy for my knees, but everything else is great.  I love Yoga, Step Aerobics and Running.  Right now I am working out with Wii 45 minutes a day, trying to do 15 - 20 minutes Yoga and the remainder on Aerobic.  So far so good.

I read an interesting article today on Obesity Help home page entitled Life with Adjustable Gastric Band - How tight is tight?http://www.obesityhelp.com/ohblog/mode,content/cmsID,14510/  Wow this opened my eyes!   As you all know and read in my blog, I have been at a stall for awhile.  Now that I am back on Track and eating correctly, I have one hell of a time getting my food down and PBing a lot.  Gee -- am I in the Soft, high calorie, slider food category?  Absolutely!  I have been doing this for about 2 years.  BAD BAD   Amazing the habits we adopted and accept.

So, I called Tufts and my surgeon, made an appointment for my annual blood work and a possible unfill.  Also I received the history of all my fills. 

March 2005        First Fill  1.25cc in a 4cc band
April 10, 2005    Second Fill .5 for a total of 1.75 cc in a 4 cc band
April 27, 2005    Unfill of .25 for a total of 1.5cc in a 4 cc band
Sept 22, 2005    Third Fill . 25 for a total of 1.75 in a 4 cc band
Feb 16,  2006     Fourth Fill .25 for a total of 2.00 in a 4 cc band
Sept 13, 2006     Fifth Fill .25 for a total of 2.25 in a 4 cc band
Jan 26, 2007       Sixth Fill .25 for a total of 2.50 in a 4 cc band
Feb 16, 2007      Seventh Fill .25 for a total 2.75 in a 4 cc band

My last fill is when I started getting acid reflux, etc.  Just figured that was something that developed.  

This month will be a good test if I need an unfill.  Now that I am eating properly and NO MORE Slider foods, gravy, etc.

My appointment is scheduled for Feb 11, 2009.  I will keep everyone posted.  Back to work.  Ann

Well I guess the 5 day pouch test was too good to me when I did it before New Years, I lost 4 pounds and was Psyched!  Back on Track last week, watched what I eat, and also made a ton of recipes posted by Shelly at
Recipes, Rambling and Food Porn  www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com 

I love her Blog and she gives me so much inspiration!  Thank You Shelly and I truly appreciate you staying up late at night figuring out great, easy to do recipes, that are weight loss friendly.

Also, last week, I logged in 5 hours on Wii Fit, splitting the time between Yoga/Balance and Aerobic.  I will get all Perfects one day on the Step Aerobics. LOL.  Also I love the run. 

Did I dance around this long enough --Well here it goes -- I GAINED!  4 Pounds! There I said it and made it public.

How -- I don't know? But boy is that a slap in the face.  I t is really easy to be discouraged, but I will not allow that to happen.  I am going to fight it.  So, just exercise a little longer, be more careful in my choices and see what the scale says next week.

Stay Tuned.  If it is not good, I may have a Wii and Wii Fit for sale on E-bay  

Jan 4, 2009, Sunday Night

Back to work on Monday after a long Holiday week off.  Honestly I am looking forward to going back to work, have my lunch packed, and plan on going to the gym before I get into the office for a quick workout. 5:30am is early (I get at 4:45am), but it is worth it.

Today,Jon and I got up early and went to Walmart to get Wii and Wii fit at 6:00am. Figure it was a practice run for work.  Anyway, one Walmart did not have it so we went to another one 10 miles away, got it.  As soon as we can home, we hooked it up and created our avatars and did our base line.  It is so cool!  I love it and it just cracks me up   Anyway, the good news is I have the fitness of a 38 year old!  I am 47!!!  But the bad news is, I am still obese and have a BMI of 38.  But I am so looking forward to working with Wii -- it is Awesome.  Have good week everyone...

I am so excited!  I cleaned up one of the spare rooms today.  Positioned by treadmill better so I can watch TV when I work out, cleaned up and little and -- Ta Da -- I created my own little Exercise Zen Room.  I am so excited, I just had to post.  

Plan to go to Walmart at 6:00 am on Sunday to get a Wii system and Wii Fit.  That will just complete it.   In the future I plan to painted it, but for now it will work just fine, I even added some candles.  I love it!