My Poor Guy And His Poor Truck

Another thing that happened this weekend concerned my guy's truck. On our way to the party, my significant other (SO) stopped at Chic-Fil-A for breakfast. Against my better judgment and past (recent even) experience, I decided to get some chicken nuggets. They serve just the nuggets in the AM too. Bad move. And no plastic bag this time. Soon after the digestive process began, we were driving on a long bridge where we could not pull over, and I HAD to PB. The only bag I had was the bag for the food. I couldn't get it opened and everything out of it in time. My horrified (but very sweet) SO had stuff on his seatbelt, seat, and on me too. We had just enough napkins to clean it off of everything. But will I ever learn???

The Scales of Justice (Unfortunately)

As I mentioned, I was going out of town this weekend for a party. And I indulged!

There was all kinds of food, and worse still, there were all sorts of dips. There were two different kinds of cheese dips, a Mexican bean dip (also with cheese), a spinach dip, a chicken dip, and other dips that I can't remember but loved. I am getting hungry again just typing that! I am a sucker for many kinds of dips. And, as we well know, they aren't great food for losing weight (or at least the typical dips we see at parties usually aren't). I could eat a ton of them because they slid right on through Srta Bandita at her current restriction level. I couldn't control myself because when it comes to food and self control, I myself am a dip (hence the band). Well, there was plenty of each type of dip left after the party (and the leftover dips came with the group who was hosting me), so I ate (LOTS of) them for several snacks and for breakfast and lunch the next day. YIKES!!!

In the evenings, we went to an Italian restaurant (Saturday night) and had food off the grill (last night). Because those were the last meals of the day when my band loosens somewhat, those things came right on through my lapband friend too.

And then there was cake and dessert! We know that the band doesn't help with that. (Too, I had a lot of ice cream last week because some family members are in town visiting, and that is their dessert of choice--they leave midweek, so that temptation will be gone then). Why can't I make myself refuse these things?

Well, after all of my falling off the BAND-wagon, I got on the scale when I got back last night and gained 1.8 lbs. (so weighed in at 184.8 lbs.). This AM I weighed in at 183 even (but it is the morning, so it might be less than what my average is). Argh! I guess it's only fair though since I was a eating with a vengeance all weekend.The scary thing is that I can't even imagine what would happen if I still ate like that all the time and with all sorts of food (bread, meat, pasta, etc.) like I did pre-band! I would start earlier and end later then too. So at least that isn't the case. And maybe these couple of naughty pounds will help me learn something and move on to weight loss.

The Band Would Help That Girl!

At the risk of sounding judgmental, I was wondering if any of you ever have those times when you catch yourself looking at some stranger and thinking how much he or she would benefit from the band or other WLS? Or is that just me who does that?

I did it a LOT right before and after surgery...that was about the only thing I had to do at the airports since I flew out alone to MX. I hope that doesn't make me a bad person (???), but I am just thinking that a lot of people are depressed...or at least unhealthy...at the larger weights. I want everyone to be healthy and happy. I'm a little cheesy, yes.

But then sometimes I also wonder if those random strangers have already looked into it or are even newly banded themselves???

Any experiences with these thoughts?

Oh, and don't forget to look at the chart below and let me know how it fits you!

Weight/Height/Clothing Size Correspondence Chart

This chart was something neat I found online because I've been wondering how soon (in pounds) it will be until I get to the next size down. It fits me so far (but I don't wear tight clothes just FYI; I try to disguise as much as possible (and want to be comfortable))! :)

Actually, I posted this (following) on Cara's blog today about my current size: "I am fitting in a couple 16's and the whole range of 17's that I have. I was barely able to button the loosest 17's they have just a few months ago. The cool thing is that I have lots more clothing options because I've hoarded everything."

I am a size XL in shirts but can wear some L's okay (the looser ones). I also put on a shirt this AM that I LOVE (it's a SMALL--probably neuter-gendered though) and can't wait to really fit into when I lose a little more. It isn't anything fancy--just a black Hard Rock Cafe tee that I got out of the country and rocked (pun intended) in 2003. I was surprised I could get it on at all without it looking absolutely hideous (it still doesn't fit super great to me, but as I mentioned, I wear my clothes more loosely).

What I found interesting is that, based on the chart, some groups are not in certain sizes for very long--like 5'9's in larges and 5'5's in mediums only run for a fairly short spread of weight.

How does it fit everyone else? I am very interested to know so that I can determine whether it is at least somewhat accurate in its predictive reliability and validity.

There are a couple of bad things about the chart--it only goes up to 280 lbs for one. And it doesn't show the size conversion at every number (only at increments). :( But if it is a rough estimate that can predict, I think that's neat. What I also like about it is that it measures in kg (for Cara and Miss Dee :) ) and lbs (for the rest of us).

Please let me know if you see any others that are similar. And let me know if it fits for you.


Oh, btw, my lowest weight as of last night is 180.2. Just .3 more pounds until I'm in the 170's (well, at least my lowest weight will be in the 170's--I've still been measuring on both sides of 183). I'll be away from the scale for a couple days this weekend (going on a short trip, so that will be interesting--I'm COMPULSIVE about the scale!!!).

I can't wait to hear from everyone!

Banderflies In My Stomach

I have been in several romantic relationships over the last 15 years. Some have been short term, and some have been long term. The consistent thread was that I would always get anxious (resulting in a lack of appetite and some nausea if I ate too much) in the first few weeks (or even months) of those relationships. It was during that period of wondering whether my feelings were reciprocated by the opposite sex that I would be in the greatest state of emotional uproar, which led to the physical side effects.

I would always lose a little weight. In fact, around 2002-2003, I lost a pretty good bit of weight because I was changing men at the rate I changed my oil (probably a lot more actually since I wasn't into vehicle maintenance at all). But since this weight would always pile back on three fold and since I am now with my future hubby (he probably wouldn't approve of my going after random men), I really can't rely on that sort of inconsistent weight loss.

HOWEVER, one thing I've noticed in the past couple of weeks is that this level of restriction (at least for the time being) is making me physically feel like I did when I was freshly dating in that I'm not thinking of food nearly as much. In fact, I have wondered a few times over what is causing me to feel like that because there is no new guy in the picture; I promise, Honey! :) (Actually, he doesn't read my blog because I post my weight in it. I'm not comfortable with that yet). There was the 5K I could be a little anxious over temporarily (I signed up for it just a few days before the event), but I felt the same way after it ended. I have some job stress, but it's been going on for a while--and I didn't feel anxious with physical effects until after this fill. It's not a sleep-depriving anxiety or anything bad, but it is a somewhat fluttery feeling that keeps me from going nuts when I'm eating and keeps me from thinking about food all the time (with some exceptions--like the OG indulgence this AM).

So do butterflies in my stomach translate into restriction? Do I have banderflies? :) If so, I am happy about the lack of appetite this time around because I am hopeful that this weight will come off and stay off! And I have a great guy to boot! Well, not to boot but to keep. :)

Don't Forget The Bag

First of all, I have traditionally eaten ANYTHING I want to eat in the AM's. That includes fish, pizza, pasta, pork, beef, steak, etc., etc. Last year before I was banded, it wasn't uncommon at all for me to eat two Lean Cuisine meals of different types before lunch (and then a big lunch from a local restaurant or fast food place). My co-workers thought my AM eating habits strange.

This AM, I REALLY wanted some leftovers from Olive Garden from the night before last. I know OG is not authentic Italian and it's not my favorite Italian restaurant, but I LOVE Italian. It's one of my fav types of food. The OG dish I had was a special, and it was good too. (Just fyi: I have actually been NOT eating breakfast most mornings as Catherine's doctor suggested (she has an interesting post about that on her site that I would recommend everyone read!), but this AM, OG was calling my name! Evil, evil leftovers.

Well, with my new restriction, I cannot eat whatever I wish in the morning evidently. I am SO glad I had a plastic bag in my car because out the OG special came (and I hardly had any) as I was facing cars in a busy intersection (my luck!). :( I guess I'll have to stick with grits or cereal from here on out if I decide to eat in the AM.

Geographical Differences in Getting Filled & SLEEEOOOWWW Fills

I posted this on Brooke's site just a minute ago and wanted to re-post here because it tells a little about my fill experience and what I believe is a different approach to fills that has a relationship to geography (from those doctors I've spoken with when I was trying to get scheduled for my first fill--several--and the other posts I've read, doctors in my part of the country are slower with the fills). Also, I was curious if anyone knew much about stretching the pouch. I haven't really talked about that much with my surgeon. I don't want to do it if I can help it.

Here's the post: As far as fills go, it seems like the doctors all vary. My surgeon who installed this puppy would have filled me up all the way in about six weeks (after surgery). He and his staff told me so and said that there was no reason to 'inch me up' to an appropriate level of fill. I have read from others' posts that many other doctors in many other parts of the country have this approach or are at least willing to give quick fills up front to get to the sweet spot ASAP.

However, my fill doctor (I don't live near my surgeon though my fill doctor is, of course, a bariatric surgeon) only rations out small portions at a time because he says that it is better to prevent slippage and problems with the band later. I don't want problems and don't want to have to go through another surgery (yikes!), so for me it's best to be more cautious just in case my fill doctor is on to something. And what choice do I have really?

The bad part is that it is taking sooooo long to lose (and yes, I've been able to and have eaten a lot more than I thought I would/could after being banded until JUST recently) and that it is probably costing me more--$150 a fill for more fills. Is there a hidden agenda for some surgeons to make easy money off of fills? I've wondered that, but, again, I have to trust that he has sound medical reasons to treat me the way he is. I also don't want to be overfilled. I've read about how painful that is. And I can't imagine not being able to drink!!!! That would be terrifying!

But whatever course you take, I think a lot of it depends on what your surgeon WILL do--probably moreso than what you want. Although I could be wrong, if they will fill you immediately or not is probably their call. You could shop for a doctor though. You may find another surgeon like Amson who is willing to take the same path he does.

As far as eating solids right after being banded, I would probably worry about throwing up too soon like Amy mentioned. I've also heard people talking about stretching pouches. Someone else might know more about that.

Either way, it sounds like this Amson guy has had good results. He probably knows what he's doing. I'm no medical doctor; that's for sure. I just thought I'd share my experiences so you'd have some more 'food for thought'--good one, Amy! :)