Could the plateau be back already??

Happy weigh in day! Sure, I know that not everyone weighs in on Tuesdays, but it's fun to think we all do.

I have had an incredibly busy week and weekend. I guess I should be happy that the scale didn't go anywhere as opposed to going up - which it very well could have done. So, I'll keep my 178. That's quite an accomplishment! I'm really excited about getting to 175 though. I've never seen 175. I guess I've had never seen 178 before either, but 175 sounds so much better. I know that it looks much different on me than I think it looks on others, but I can't wait to be there! Maybe that's why these plateaus are so painful. There are mini-goals that I'm just not getting to and it's tough.

I missed a few workouts last week, due to the training, the weekend full of parties & family, and the craziness that is my life and motherhood. I did get back to the gym and worked this jiggle into quite a sweat! Which has brought me to the conclusion that it's hard work getting half-assed!

I have decided (through much evaluation and negotiation) to keep my personal trainer (little Micah) for another 8 weeks. I think it will really pay off. I may not love the personal training sessions, but I love the insight they provide. I also love the accountability and the new/creative way of exercising that I haven't yet explored. 8 more weeks/sessions will get me within 3 weeks of my 1 year surgiversary. If things are well and I feel like the personal training touch is necessary, that may just be my surgiversary gift to myself. We'll just have to see. I SO want to be at my goal by May 22. So, all I need to do is keep on keeping on - right? And that is what I shall do!

I must admit, I'm feeling very good. I do have energy. I am sleeping a bit better. I'm still suffering from what I like to call/think of as post-op insomnia. But when I do sleep, I sleep well. So, that has to count for something.

It's good to be back and back in the routine. I can't wait to see how well I do next week!

Apparently technology has a "dumping syndrome" too!

Even though I did my weekly weigh in yesterday, I wasn't able to post my weekly report. Apparently Time Warner Cable had a huge mis-hap yesterday and we didn't have email or any type of Internet access for the entire day. Boy, did that make for a tough day!!!

So, the report is good! I was down another pound as of my weigh in yesterday. WOO HOO! So, maybe Micah is better for me than I had originally thought he would be. We're almost done with our "pre-paid" sessions and now I have to decide if I continue with the weekly sessions (which I really do think are helpful) or if I branch out on my own and take the chance. I will be putting some serious thought into this decision. I really do love that he provides me with exercises and techniques that are simple, but I just didn't think to do them. It's easier than just using the machines, but will I remember them all when he's gone? That's a tough one.

I'm actually doing pretty well, or so I think. I've been consistent with my exercise and my eating. Since my "dumping" episode, I've really been trying to watch what I put in my body. I'm making sure to get more water and protein in and I really think it's paying off. Once my body catches up with the exercise and gives me more energy I think I'll be doing pretty, stinkin, fabulous!!

I have to go out of town for training this week (Thursday and Friday). I'll be out of my normal routine (eating & exercising practices). I'm looking forward to the challenge, but I'm also nervous about being out of my comfort and forgetting things that are important (protein, water, vitamins, etc.). I guess you never know how you're going to fair until you stick your foot out there, huh?

So, here's me sticking my foot out there!!!

A dumping we will go!

Yep! It's so true! I had my first "real" experience with the dumping syndrome last night. The crazy thing is that it's one of those "delayed reaction time" dumping syndrome deals (which tend to happen with sugar and fruit sugar products - so they say) and I was NOT expecting it. Had I known that this is what it was like, I wouldn't have tried so many things to "test" the actual tolerance of my system. Now, I know what it's like and I'm pretty sure I'll be keeping a good distance from the pumpkin empanadas (at least for now).

I'm not positive that this was the food that caused this horrible experience. Nor am I certain that it was the treat itself. It very well could've been that I had too much of this treat, and had I stopped with the first half, it wouldn't have happened at all. But then, I wouldn't have this oh, so, wonderful experience to look back on and KNOW that I never want to have this again!

So, I'm back to a world of healthful diligence. I spent pretty much the entire weekend being exhausted, sore, head achy, and grouchy (just ask my family). I'm pretty sure that was due to the over working out (Thanks a lot Micah) and the not eating the way that I should. So, let's bring it all back to the land of what I'm supposed to be doing and following through with what I know will work for me as opposed to trying it out because it MAY not have an effect on me.

I think I may need to do a little tweaking or toning down of the workout. I think it's possible that I'm just pushing too hard in order to see results more quickly. Unfortunately, this is leading to pain and discomfort. In all reality, every little bit of movement is going to help. I don't have to kill myself just to see the scales change. So, I will take it a little easier with the weights as to prevent the injury. I will continue with the cardio - because it feels good. But I don't have to climb the highest incline at the highest speed. I'm toning that down a notch too. Just for a little while, until I can get better with my nutrition (protein & water intake).

So, I'm focused. I'm motivated. I'm feeling better and working at never having to feel that again. YEAH!!!!

It's a great day for a funny story, don't you think?

And I just so happen to have a funny story! At least I think it's funny.

So, all you C & P girls (Thank you for this term Jil - Whether your co-worker knows it or not, she's created quite a "fun" word for such a Wonderful group of people) will have to let me know if this happens to you. I'm only saying this because this isn't the first time it's happened to me.

On to the story . . . today at work I was having to clean out what I like to call the "crap closet". Well, a vendor (that usually comes by often but since we've been slow hasn't been around) was in the plant and he saw me walking by. He said to me, "Hey girl, how are you?" and at that point I just KNEW that he didn't remember my name. I politely responded with, "I'm good thanks" and wondered on my way. Then the gentleman came into the office and stopped me and at that point he remembered my name. He said, "Wow, you've lost a lot of weight!" Of course, I responded with, "Yep, I sure have." He then proceeded to tell me that he didn't recognize me outside and honestly had no idea that was me. Of course, he was being very complimentary and I accepted the compliments with a smile (which, if anyone knows me, is INCREDIBLY difficult for me to do).
Here's where the funny part comes in. He then went on to tell me that he's working hard and trying to lose weight too. He said he knows it takes a lot of work but sometimes he's too lazy or doesn't think about what he's doing or fails to follow through on weekends - and on, and on, and on as if I were his personal trainer or counselor and he needed to make up excuses as to why he hasn't lost weight. The reason this is so funny to be is because he's not the first person to do this! This seems to happen often times when I see someone that I haven't been around in a while. Now, we need to keep in mind that the people who are feeding me these excuses don't necessarily know that I went through the C & P procedure. I don't know if they would change their tune if they knew this information or not. Typically when people find out about that they say stupid, ignorant things like "you took the easy way out" or "it's easy for you" or some other bull that is totally untrue.

Go ahead. Spill it. Does this ever happen to you?

I wonder . . . if I hadn't been over 100 lbs over weight and only had about 20 - 30 to lose and did so, would I get the same response? Or, is it that it's just so noticeable and people KNOW how hard it is to lose so much weight (no matter which way you chose to save your life) so they want to feel like they can accomplish something too?

This is just something that struck me as funny and odd today. I look back to a year or two ago and wish I would've made myself more accountable when I saw the success of others. Unfortunately, at that point in my life, any expression or desire to succeed in the shadow of others was merely an expression without the passion to follow it up. I thank God every day for bringing me to that point of recognizing the desperation (so to speak) and helping me to realize that I could manage the journey, not without trial, but with love and encouragement and I'm so glad that I listened!

It moved! It moved!!!

That's RIGHT! The scale moved! YIPEE!!! I've got to say that the fact that the scale moved this morning (even though it was only one pound) was the bright spot in my day. The funny thing is that when I saw that the scale had moved, I was so excited that it didn't even occur to me that I had hit another "milestone" moment. It wasn't until I was going around updating my tickers that it hit me. Yes Sir! I have OFFICIALLY lost 90 lbs! Needless to say, that brightened my day even more.

I must admit, I have worked very, very hard for that pound! I successfully made it to the gym AND through full workouts 3 times last week, not including the Saturday afternoon roller skating, and Sunday afternoon softball tossing. I have also increased my water consumption as well as the protein consumption. Though, I still need to get more of that protein in! That has to be the toughest part of this journey for me! Oh yeah, and the carbs. Time for them to go. I let some bad stuff slip in and now I'm trying to cast those Carb demons out of my life!!

Thank you so much for your support, suggestions, and ideas. It's so much easier to NOT get discouraged when you know that there are people out there that have experienced the same thing and can offer suggestions as far as what they do. I can't tell you how much the "blogging" community contributes to my success! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Now, if I can make it through a torturous day at work, I should have a good evening. I have another session with little Micah, my personal trainer. I'm hoping he'll provide me with some more great tips and give me some good exercises to firm the jiggle. Here's hoping we all have an incredible week!

Maybe I'm crazy?

No really, that must be the explanation to my most recent trials.

First, I've ventured into the online dating scene. I hate dating. I do, I do. And, sadly, it's not getting any better. Where is that perfect guy? Not "THE" perfect guy, so much, but the "perfect guy for me"? I'm looking and so far, I think he must hate dating as much as I do because he's not come out of hiding yet.

So, I'm doing the online dating thing. For those of you who are not familiar with the way this works, you typically get guided (through various ways) along the lines of communication. Email, questions, short answers, etc. But, you have to express interest first. Most of the time I'll express interest just because you never know who's out there until you really meet them, right? Well, not all of them express interest back. And those that do, basically drop off after the first round of questions. This leads me to my most current question. What in the world am I doing that turns people off before the first meeting (and sometimes before the first real email)? Sure, it's probably best that they weed themselves out because I'm not sure I could handle 10 dates a weekend, but what if one of those was a "good catch"? Then they just swim off down stream without even a chance to meet me. What a shame.

I actually do think it's a little comical, to be completely honest. I am so not into finding the "soul mate" or looking for someone to "complete me", but I'm looking for fun, easy going, exciting people to have a friends and if more blossoms, then great. But if not, then we still can be friends - right? Besides, I don't need a mate to complete ME as a person, but I'd like to have someone to share ME with and I'd share HIM as well. Well, I think I'm quite possibly the only one who thinks that way. A lot of these men are looking for that "soul mate" and if the chemistry isn't there or if I'm not giving them the vibe that I'm going to marry them next week - they like to move on. It's interesting.

What a journey. It's a crazy life, but someone has to live it. And I just had to get that off my chest so you get to read about it and be a part of the craziness too!

How's that for a Valentine's Day story?? :-)
Lots of love to you on this Pre V-day Friday!

A woman on a mission!

Yes siree! I am on a mission to make this journey work for me!

As I shared yesterday, I had my first "personal training" session with cute little Micah at the In-Shape city. I call him cute, little , Micah because he's probably about 18 - 20 and has NO CLUE what life in the "real world" is like. All he has to worry about is exercise and going home to play with the boys. Ok, I'm being a tad dramatic, but it didn't seem like he had much knowledge about life experience, but he did have some good ideas from a muscular stand point. Sure, it almost killed me, but beauty is pain - right?

I shared with him that I had gastric bypass in May and had lost nearly 90 lbs (yes, I'm still pissed that I don't get to claim that officially yet). He said that he has another post WLSer and he's got him on a diet of 300 grams of protein. REALLY (thoughts of disbelief are running like a rampage in my head)? I don't believe you! AND I DON'T!!!! I struggle with getting 70 grams in and I TRY! So, unless this guy is getting protein intravenously fed into his system, I'm not buying that one. But, little Micah can dream, right? He just wants me to know that he can help a WLSer just as much as anyone. And, I will give him the chance to help me take away the sag and unwanted rolls - as long as he doesn't annoy the snot out of me.

Last night, we started slow -but it still kicked my butt, and abs, and thighs, and quads. We didn't work out for more than 30 minutes, but I seriously had legs of "jello" when we tried to walk down the stairs to leave. Um, I guess just an elliptical/cardio machine isn't enough for me.

So, off I go into a new world of weights and trainers. I'm just hoping and praying I see results before I pass out from over exhaustion and dehydration. I'll definitely have to work on that! Here's to a happy, healthy, hearty and now muscle bound "Heather".