Less neck!

I have had an interesting month. Had a fill to 6.7cc on 12/19. I felt pretty good leaving the nurse, but within days I was having trouble holding food down. Even yogurt! I pb'd every day for two weeks. The 23rd and the 1st were the worst days. I had an unfill to 4.5cc on 1/2/08. I am soooo much better now.

I've lost nearly 50lbs now. I'm sure I'll gain a little of that back as those last few pounds lost were due to the inability to consume nourishment.

My hair is falling out. I am not amused. Apparently this side-effect of weight loss is common and it will grow back. I had a trim today and my hairdresser is doing her part to keep me from going bald. Nioxin shampoo is supposed to help, and she got me some. Here's the good news: when my FABULOUS hairdresser, Krys, put that plastic cape thing around my neck and shoulders and suddenly stopped...

She's been cutting my hair forever and I'm sure there's some "auto-pilot" stuff for me because I've been the same size forever--but this time she had to bring in the little velcro closure tabs on the neck portion of the apron a good 2 inches. I've lost 2 inches around my neck! TWO FREAKIN' INCHES!

I am happy to be banded, baby!

Darr

-44 lbs

Got weighed today during my "annual exam" and I couldn't believe the scale. I'm down 44lbs! I was banded on 9/19. I lost 16lbs before surgery (8/1-9/19). I get my third fill tomorrow and hope *that* scale is as kind as my GYN's scale!

Darr

"Amazing"

I wore a button-down shirt on Sunday. My daughter took one look at me and said, "Mom, you look amazing."

Did you hear that? I looked amazing! In a shirt I bought awhile back, but had never worn because it didn't fit "right."

And today at the day job, one of the staff said, "You're wearing a button-down shirt! Wow! Feels good, doesn't it?"

My efforts are starting to pay off in compliments. Oy vey. Such a treat!

Darr

Mirepoix rocks

My new best friend is canned tuna.

White meat chicken gets "stuck."

I do OK with dark meat, however.

Must be the "moistness" of dark meat over white.

My current favorite dish is mirepoix (ready made at Trader Joe's)with lentils and tuna or smoked trout and some crumbled blue cheese. Everything is already chopped very tiny and nothing gets stuck.

All I can say to that is: hooray.

Darr

A second trip to the filling station

I have now 5cc in my 14cc band. It took three pokes, too. My "port" apparently has a "bubble" around it which my body will "absorb" eventually. Ewwwww...

I'm on soft foods for a few days. The nurse gave me some input into my difficulties eating meat. Use sauce! A little gravy. A little BBQ sauce. A dash of ketchup. Anything to help smooth the protein down my gullet.

My hormones have been totally whack lately, and she says that is also a normal reaction to being banded. Hooray.

She said once I start losing belly fat (Oh, God...please...) my port will be easier to find and I won't have to endure so many needle sticks to find the little sucker.

My clothing is getting large--though I've lost only 37lbs.

Today, I get to have the rare treat of smashed potatoes for lunch! I generally avoid spuds, corn, bread, rice and pasta. But today is a "soft foods" day. Such a treat. Oy vey.

Darr :)

My ad at The Romance Studio this month :)

I actually have two. One for my books and one for the readings I do.

Darr :)

Am I chicken to eat chicken?

Cooked some lovely chicken thighs this morning, all nice and chopped up...

Popped a piece in my mouth as I packed a cup of it away for lunch. Yummo!
Popped a second piece into my mouth, swallowed, and PB!

Ate too fast!

Darr