Kathy S.

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July 4 is over, so the mid-summer holiday is past and we're moving on toward Labor Day. The picnic went well. Thankfully, it didn't rain, but it had rained all night and morning, so we had to hold the picnic under the carport and in the front yard rather than using the field down by the river. Still, it was a great day with about 55 family members gathered together representing 4 generations.

I made good food choices and ate a slight plateful and a piece of cake. (I did eat a few bitefuls too much and coughed up those bites, but otherwise did great.)

Yesterday we spent the day with friends from E'town and had lunch with them. I had some barbeque, part of a tortilla, 2 bites of pasta salad, some watermelon, and 3 bites of apple crisp. We hadn't seen them for about 18 months, and they were very pleased with my continuing progress.

I've also accepted a July Exercise Challenge to exercise at least 930 minutes during the month, so I've challenged myself to clock at least 1000 minutes. I just finished my workout for today and have 185 minutes for the first 7 days of the month.

For the second day in a row, I weighed under 180, so it's not a fluke (as it was in April).  I was 179.6 this morning. 

I had a fairly normal meal the day before (after 24+ hours on liquids after a fill the day before), and I've eaten normally today.  I have restriction, but it's not unreasonable as I had feared it might be.  I think I'm in a good spot.  I need to be careful and make smart choices, but I'm pretty happy with how this fill is settling in. 

I was at 178.8 this morning.  This is a new low for me, and I bypassed my previous low of 179.8, jumping from 180.2 to 178.8.  I was on liquids all day yesterday after a fill, and I spent 500 calories last night walking 2-3/4 miles.  I felt this would jumpstart my losing, but I didn't realize how effective it would be. 

I just signed up for Prek-3's July challenge to exercise at least 30 minutes a day (for at least 930 minutes).  My goal is 1000 minutes for the month (changed to 1500 on 7/12).  I did it in February; here's my change to get back in the exercise habit.  Focused exercise with my new restriction is just the key to get me losing again.

1st -- 45 minutes
3rd -- 60 minutes (total 105)
7th -- 80 minutes (total 185)
8th -- 75 minutes (total 260)
9th -- 30 minutes (total 290)
10th -- 40 minutes (total 330)
12th -- 100 minutes (total 430)
14th -- 70 minutes (500 total)
15th -- 100 minutes (600 total)
16th -- 55 minutes (655 total)
17th -- 35 minutes (690 total)
18th -- 45 minutes (735 total)
19th -- 90 minutes (825 total)
20th -- 150 minutes (975 total)
21st -- 45 minutes (1020 total)
22nd -- 75 minutes (1095 total)
23rd -- 45 minutes (1140 total)
24th -- 60 minutes (1200 total)
25th -- 45 minutes (1245 total)
28th -- 60 minutes (1305 total)
29th -- 60 minutes (1365 total)
30th -- 72 minutes (1437 total)
31st -- 70 minutes (1507 total)

Woo-hoo!! I met the goal!

I got another fill this morning -- .1 cc, which brings me up to 4.2 cc's.  I asked the NP to draw out the fluid to check that I was maintaining my fill level, and she drew out 4 cc's.  Just withdrawing and refilling the fluid irritated my stomach enough that I feel really tight.  I've been sipping on water all morning and am able to get it down, but I'm tight.

I weighed 180.5 on the clinic scales, down from my May 27 weight of 183.5 and my April 22 weight of 182.5.  

This fill should kick-start my losing again.

Vacation was great.  Two full days at Virginia Beach with an additional evening and morning there.   The water was wonderful, and there was a constant breeze that kept us feeling comfortable (and sometimes cool) despite the heat.  We even went out after dark one evening and swam in the ocean for awhile.  The whole time was very relaxing and refreshing.  Our meals were all enjoyable, and I made good choices throughout our time there.  We also held hands and walked up and down the beach and the boardwalk every day.  It just really was a great trip.

I was happy to weigh 181.0 the next morning and 180.2 this morning.   Jason and I agreed that we both need to watch more carefully what we eat and cut down on our sweet treats, a weakness for both of us.  So yesterday was a perfect day, and today will be as well.  I also walked 3 miles on the treadmill this morning, burning almost 500 calories.  

I have a fill appointment next Tuesday, July 1, and I want to be below 180.  I also think I need a little fill because I don't have nearly the restriction I should.  I've enjoyed being able to eat more than I should, but I know I need better restriction to start losing regularly again.   I've eaten pretty normally recently--smaller amounts, of course, burt normal types of foods.  It's time to feel greater restriction again and relearn how to listen to my band.

Geesh!  I can't believe it's been a month again since I've posted.  I taught a 6-week class from May 6-June 17 and spent an unbelieveable amount of time on it.  Now that's it's over and my grades are submitted, we can head out of town for a few days to recuperate from our school year.

I'm still floating up and down between 180.2 and 181.8.  I haven't exercised as regularly as I had intended, and I've snacked on too many sweets.  But I have good restriction and haven't had any problems with my band.  I hope being away for a few days, being away from snacks, will be a good thing. 

I hit 179.8 this morning.  I had weighed that on April 3 (after having been sick for several days), but I hadn't seen it since then.  But I'm back on track this week--exercising, tracking my eating at fitday, and really paying attention to my choices.  So far, I've lost only 5 pounds this calendar year, and that's not good.  I feel as if I've plateaued as my body has been adjusting to losing 65 pounds, but it's time to break that plateau and start losing regularly again.  

It's May 29, and this is the first May post.  That's a pretty good indicator of how dedicated I've been recenlty.  But the school year has ended, summer is on its way, and I really feel ready to put my heart and head back into a more disciplined life.  August 16 will be 2 years since my surgery.  I'm down 65 now; I wonder if I can drop another 10 pounds by then??

I want to lose another 40-50 pounds to be where my doctor wants me weight-wise.  I feel so much better already.  I know my body will only continue to respond positively to additional weight loss.

Tonight was the fourth night in a row that I've exercised, and I'm darned proud of myself.  I'm using a workout from Prevention magazine that tells me exactly what to do each day.  It's designed to be done 6 days in a row with the seventh off.  The first, third, and fifth days are identical (about 50 minutes long), and the second, fourth, and sixth are similar with variations on the length of different segments (about 20 minutes long).  Each week there are different--albeit similar--workouts.  The plan is designed to be a "fat buster" workout.

It seems strange to have short workouts when Ive been in the habit of walking for 50-60 minutes most evenings.  But it feels good to be mixing things up.  I feel as if my muscles were in a rut and weren't responding to the walking the way they used to.  I'm trying to break my plateau and get into the 170s, and I feel this will help.

I was at 182.5 on the clinic scales today--after having weighed 185.5 since December (and 186.0 in March!!  Good grief!).   So i'm finally back in the losing business.  I wasn't able to schedule my next appointment because the front office person had gone home sick, so I'll call tomorrow and schedule for 4-6 weeks from now.  By then, I'll CERTAINLY be below 180 on their scales.

I've done real well this last week with my invisaligners and my eating.  Not wanting to take them out any more than necessary has kept me from snacking since last Wednesday.  So I've had a light breakfast (such as 1/2-cup of Kashi cereal and 1/2-cup of skim milk), a light lunch (such as a 3-ounce can of chicken or tuna, some mandarin oranges, and a 100-calorie pack of chips or crackers), and a reasonable dinner.  if I can keep eating like that, the weight will continue to drop.

I also got a .2-cc fill today to tweak my fill level.  I've been feeling hungry mid-afternoon, earlier than I should, so I felt I was due a tiny fill.  I had a good dinner tonight (7 ounces of Kroger Chili with Beans, a 100-calorie pack of Pringles, and some mandarin oranges) and didn't have any trouble at all.  

I've also been exercising each night this week using a set of workouts from Prevention magazine that includes walking and power exercises using an exercise band.  I'd gotten too accustomed to the treadmill and felt I needed to shake up my workout.  This seems to be doing the trick.  My thigh muscles have been SO sore since Monday!

I'm ready to see 1-7-9 on my scale again!  Maybe I can be there by the weekend??