Tests, Tests and More Tests...

Hello everyone!  Thank you so much for all of your comments on my last post!  I wanted to give you a little update regarding the removal of my gall bladder...

I have just returned from Dr. Ren's office (my band dr.) and have so much paperwork it is insane!  First, I have to get an endoscopy to make sure everything is okay with my band.  The doc for that won't see me without having a consultation first - so I have to go Friday to meet with him and then go back on Monday to have the test done.  Ridiculous!  Then I have a full day of Pre-Op testing on the 12th.  Dr. Stile, at Dr. Ren's office, will receive all of the test results the next day and will provide me with the medical clearance, which will also require another office visit.  So all in all I will have to leave work four days and this is prior to the actual recovery time!

Ugh!

Gall Bladder Wants Out

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!  How was my weekend you ask?

Well, Friday night I had the worst pain I have ever felt (EVER).  My whole chest was on fire and it spread around my chest through to my back.  After feeling this way for about three hours I realized that I needed to go to the hospital - I felt like I was having a heart attack.  I went to the ER at 11 pm Friday and was released at 6:30 am Saturday morning with the diagnosis of gall stones.  I have to have my gall bladder removed, they wanted to do it while I was there, but I just can't do it this week. I know that sounds crazy, but it is true, things are beyond crazy.  This is the worst time since all of the royalties are due Friday - there is no way around it.  I am the only person who knows how to complete royalties for our licensor.  Lame, I know.

Anyway, it got me to thinking that maybe it was good that I waited.  I mean this guy is like a trauma doctor - I am not very comfortable with him and his knowledge of the band.  I mean he just kept talking to me like a was a normal person - well, the truth is - I'm not.  So, I am followed his instructions and made an appointment for Thursday (his only office hours) to schedule the surgery.  However, I am also trying to contact Dr. Ren's office, I feel like she should know what's going on...

Has anyone else had their gall bladder removed post-band?  Please share - did a general surgeon perform the surgery or did your lap-band doc?

Thanks!

Famous Jeans...

I have no idea what size these GAP jeans are because they are Catherine's and the tag is cut out, but they FIT!  I received a box of clothes from Kristen about a month ago and couldn't really fit into much of it - too small.  Well, this morning I was feeling adventurous and tried some of them on and was pleasantly surprised!  Once I pulled the famous GAP jeans from the pile - I thought to myself "These will not fit yet, don't get upset.".  Imagine the joy as they zipped up all the way and no muffin top!

My doctor's appointment for an adjustment was this morning and the whole way in the cab I keep trying to decide what I wanted to do.  As I have mentioned in previous posts, my band is extremely sensitive, to the point where I can't handle .1 cc's in a fill!  When I got the last .1 about a month ago it was really tight - I would get stuck at least three times a day.  Then as if right on cue my trip to Chicago was great, I had wonderful restriction but no stuck episodes - not even one!!  Well, the first night we flew in was really bad - but I just assumed that was from flying.  We got in real late due to a delay and ran over to the bar across from our hotel once we dropped our bags off to our room.  I couldn't eat anything, I was in so much pain and had to run to the bathroom three times, so embarrassing!

Anyway, I am still pretty comfortable at where I am restriction wise and happy that I am not getting stuck as often, but a little tweek could be good too, right?!  When I got in to see Gaspar he said that he was very pleased with me losing 4 lbs this month and that it sounded like we should wait until next month for an adjustment.  He said that their numbers show me losing a total of 52 lbs and that if someone does that in the first year they are very happy.  So the fact that I have done that in 9 months should make me feel great.  I will take it, I really wanted to get down to 100 in the first year, but I am losing and that is all that matters.

It think it is time to think about actual goals...  Will post about this scary topic later after I have analysed my current pace, stay tuned!

Star-Studded Week!

First, I want to thank everyone for their comments on my last post!  You all really made me feel better, I truly love you!

I am now down 55 pounds and officially 5 pounds from the elusive 199!  I am still nervous, but very excited!

Catherine had posted a comment asking me if I track my progress so that I can go back and look to see if there are any patterns.  Well, I do and all the information is located on the right hand side of my page under the label "Progress Information".  If you click on the links you will be brought to my documents that I use to track my progress.  I could not live without these, they keep me in line.  If you are new to this and don't track, you really should - it is actually rewarding once you start seeing the numbers and charts showing your success!

Okay, now onto the amazing week I just had...


Dan and I have have avoided partaking in NYC Restaurant Week because we feel like you won't get the same experience as you would if you went and paid full price.  We are true foodies and don't mind paying for a great meal.  With RW you have a three course Prix Fixe menu for $35.00 pp, which often offers "safe" dishes.  Meaning dishes that pretty much everyone will like, so it can be limited.  However, in an effort to be be open minded Dan surprised me with reservations to Butter.  I was a little disappointed that this is the place he picked because I am not too crazy about the chef, Alex Guarnaschelli, she kinda gets on my nerves.  Plus I have heard very mixed reviews about Butter.   

The only reservation they had available was for 5:30 Monday night - yikes so early!  We got there around 5 and had a couple of drinks at the bar.  As I was coming out of the restroom I saw the chef preparing her staff for dinner service - that's how early we were!  Then, when I went back upstairs to finish my drink she came out of the bar area and patted us on our shoulders and said "You guys are our first Restaurant Week guests, welcome!  I feel like I should throw some confetti!"  I thought that was nice of her to stop and acknowledge us. Once we were seated for dinner my worries were put to ease.  I am here to tell you that the food and the experience were really good!  We will definitely go back again and experience the full menu offerings. 


Then Thursday night we flew out to Chicago.  I was going there for work and we decided to make it a little mini vacation and go together.  Both of us have been there many times for work, but never together.  I go out ever year for a conference and never get to actually see the city, so this was a great opportunity, plus work paid for my flight and two days of our hotel and food.  Can't beat it!  We had a great time, what a beautiful place...

We did the Chicago Architectural River Tour the first day...

Then we went to XOCO, a Rick Bayless restaurant.  You may recognize him from Top Chef Masters last year, but we know him from his show Mexico, One Plate At A Time.  We have been watching that for years so when we saw him Top Chef we were really happy!  Anyway, this restaurant, one out of three, serves authentic Mexican Street Food - So Good!  Dan was lucky enough to run into Rick!  It is so awesome to actually see the chefs in their restaurants!

I didn't take this pic, I just googled the sandwich and this was all I could find.  It is the Milanesa sandwich, which was crispy chicken from a local farm, black beans, artisan Jack cheese, pickled jalapeños and tomatillo-avocado salsa.  Unfortunately I had to skip the salsa as avocados and my stomach haven't been playing nice over the past few years.  Dan had some and said it was awesome though!  I ate the crispy end pieces of the bread because I was nervous I would get stuck.  It was quite interesting to eat the inside without any utensils!  Needless to say, it was a little messy, but oh, so good!

We sat at the tables outside.  The place is jam packed, in fact while you are waiting in line they offer you drinks.  Of course Dan and I accepted their offer and had two beers each before we got to eat!

The next day we went on a tandem bike ride along the lake, so awesome!  It was a little difficult to start and go on the bike - you really have to communicate with each other!  Our little ride took us to the Buckingham Fountain, which is the one in the beginning of Married With Children!

While we were walking around the city there were all of these streets blocked off because they are filming Transformers 3!  We got to see some of the sets...

On Sunday I ran into Nicko McBrain, the drummer of Iron Maiden, at our hotel.  Now many of you probably don't care - however I know that Band-Babe might get a kick out of it!  They were staying at our hotel for a couple of days while they were doing a show in Chicago.  Dan is a huge fan of them, and he was golfing at the time and was so mad when I told him!  That night we went down to the lobby and saw Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer - Dan was very start struck!  Bruce was running to the car so we didn't get a picture, however a few minutes later Nicko came out of the elevator.  Dan was like a little kid, he would not approach him, so I did and got this picture!

Our last night there we went the Cubs/Astros game at Wrigley Field.  Neither of us like either teams, but this was a Networking Event for my conference...

Dan went golfing the last day with the Director of International Sales for our company who works out of his home office in the suburbs of Chicago.  They had a great time, but I had an even better time going to Frontera Grill, yup you guessed it, another Rick Bayless restaurant!  This is a tradition that some of us have every year for the conference.  On the last day we usually wrap up around 12 and then head over for lunch!  So good!

This is the Sopa Azteca, like tortilla soup.  The presentation is amazing, they bring you out a bowl with a pile of tender pulled chicken, cheese and perfectly crispy tortilla strips.  On the side of the bowl is one lime and a few slices of avocado, again I had to opt out on the avocado, boo!  Then they come and pour fresh broth over it and you stir it all together and dig in - amazing!

Then I "forgot" that my belly is very limited in space and ordered the Enchiladas de Mole Poblano, which is homemade tortillas rolled around chicken from the local farm and covered in his famous mole sauce.  It was incredible, but way too big!  I managed to get half of a tortilla down and then just pulled all of the goodies out of the remaining tortillas and ate a little of that, soaking it up in the mole!  Yummy!

Wow, that was a lot of stuff!  Sorry if I bored you, I hope you are still reading!

That's it for now!

Jumble of Thoughts...

Let's get right into it - I have not posted for a little while because I was feeling pretty down.  There are a lot of thoughts that are running through my head right now.

The week after I hit 50 lbs down I only lost half a pound.  For the next two weeks I lost nothing!  When this happens all these terrible thoughts jump into my mind.  Is this just another attempt at losing weight that I am going to fail at?  Is this the end of the line?

Luckily this week's number was great, 207.5, down 2 lbs, yay!  I am very surprised I had such a great loss.  I have not worked out because I am lazy and my trainer is away and I have been kinda eating like crap a little.  Nothing crazy, but still not the greatest choices.  As I am eating said crap, the whole time I am thinking to myself "What are you doing?!  You are down 50 lbs - don't eat that or you ARE going to FAIL!"

I am now only 7.5 lbs away from the elusive Onederland.  I really can't remember the last time I was in the 100's, it has to be at least six years.  I am terrified right now, but why?  This is a good thing, I should be excited.  Maybe the possibility of NOT reaching this next milestone is what's messing with my mind.  I have been in this position before - stared at this same goal so many times while stepping onto the Weight Watchers scale.  Hoping and praying this is the week that brings me that much closer - but I never did get there...

Meh, sorry for the sad little post.  Just had to get some of this off my chest.  I hope you all had a wonderful 4th (those who celebrate)!