It's all about Balance

School started this week for the kids, so my job started to settle somewhat. The part I'm having the most trouble with is time management....when my time does not seem to be my own.  Friday we had a meeting that lasted longer than it should, then had to rush to help a teacher with orienting kindergartners to the computer lab, I was missing an Educational Services quarterly birthday luncheon to do this, but my eating choices would have been extremely limited so I had already planned on stopping at Chik fil a on my way back. The kids meal with grilled nuggets, then a diet lemon aide for later is a great fast food for me....well as luck has it, the drive through line was around the building and I just didn't have time for all that...I had another meeting/training starting at 2.  So I was ill prepared, I should always have a P3 or a protein bar on hand in case I don't get to eat.  I found a package of peanuts, so I survived. (But just barely ;-))

Exercise is going pretty good, I've been going after dinner on Monday and Wednesday...get a good workout plus my 10,000 steps...then Friday rolls around and I'm whooped.  So today I'm going to try to go later this afternoon ....depending how the day goes...today is Bill's birthday and we are going to some some of warbird/car show....I have no idea what that is....and how long it will last.  Water and vitamins are OK....not where they are suppose to be; but better than I was before surgery so I'm counting that as good.  I would like to find time for more support, there are plenty of support groups locally, but if I go to a support group I miss my gym time (plus I pay $37 per session for a personal trainer).  I'm finding on line support somewhat lacking.  One FB group of local people is pretty good, the other that spinned off Bariatric Pal...I'm having some issues....there are some people who post nothing but personal drama...talk about eating pizza, then complain when they don't lose, post weight loss on My Fitness Pal...then get on FB and say they are in a stall...haven't lost a lbs in a month.....so I'm checking in there less and less...don't need all that drama!

I'm continuing to lose at a rate of about .5 lb per day, it seems like a continual process of trying on clothes that are going into the too big pile...and finding items that used to be too small and now fits....there has been a whole lot of shopping in my closet. I was noticing this morning I now have a waist, and my last roll is almost gone.

I wanted these pictures side by side, but gave up

just showing off my progress

Working Girl

Back to school time, so I'm once again a working girl.  It's one thing to eat right, drink water, take your supplements, exercise and track all of the above when you are home, your husband is self sufficient (mostly) and you are your #1 priority...I mean there is a little housework...but that doesn't take all day....anyway I've had a few disasters since I've been back to work.  One day I forgot my breakfast, another it was late in the afternoon before I realized I hadn't had any water, forgot to take vitamins more than once and on my non gym days...I was really disappointed in my steps...in fact I've fallen from #12 to # 19 or 20 on my Fitbit leader-board.  But even with all that monkey business, I've managed to continue to loose about a half a lb a day....it's slower but still good.  I've lost a little over 35 lbs and earned this badge from Fitbit.

 

5 more lbs and I get my next Pandora bead.  And I'm into all my size 16's now too....so I'm still making progress, and I'll get the hang of fitting all these pieces of my healthy life style into my work life.  

The best news since the last post is that I got the results of my blood work back.  My Cholesterol was 185; that is the first time in over 10 years that is has been below 200....in fact last check (before surgery) it was close to 285!  Hemoglobin A1C was 5.6, completely out of diabetic range....and all the other stuff was normal (except B12 was a little high)....

So my first goals of getting off medicines and getting healthy...are accomplished...and I have about 45 lbs to go to get to goal weight.  I feel great!

Winner, Winner, Chicken dinner

We are going to the casino up the road to play and spend the night.  This will be a great test to see if I can integrate back into life a little.  We have eaten out a few times, I've done OK....mainly because I was scared I was going to eat to fast, get the foamies and puke.  I'm cheap, so eating a few ounces at a buffet would normally really bug me, but we have comps for 2 free buffet meals so that should be OK, we also have some free play and our room is complimentary.....so all we have to do is our play money....the free play is usually not for our favorite machines.  It would be great to win some big money....although I'm usually OK to win enough to keep playing.

I'm officially down 32.8 lbs, I have my 3rd Pandora bead

 and wearing size 16.

A few if the 16's must run small because they a tight, and I don't have a lot in size 16, but I need to make them work.  When I get to 14 I'll have a lot to wear....then at 12 and below I will have to start doing a little shopping.

Now that I'm on regular food, I'm getting better at water, protein and vitamins, not perfect but better.  I figure this is such a huge lifestyle change, that it will just take time and it will be something I will have to work on my whole life.

I had a follow up with my Primary Care Dr. on Friday, he was really happy with my progress...called me skinny....which at 196 I'm not...but I'm much better that before.  He halfed my B/P med....and may take me off completely next visit...he did not want to take me off cold turkey...but if I get off that I will have accomplished first goal of getting off prescription meds.  Can't wait to see what my blood work is.

I'm doing really good with my exercise, having a personal trainer is really helping, and on my off gym days I'm walking and starting to get to my 10,000 steps...I've done that twice now.

So all in all things are going well, I go back to work on Thursday, so that is my next challenge...figuring out how to make this new lifestyle work with work!

Weight Loss Journey- Taking the surgery route: I made it

Weight Loss Journey- Taking the surgery route: I made it: I weighed in at 198.8 this morning after being 200 for 2 days in a row....yes, I weigh everyday, I feel I need to so I know what is goi...