I moderated my first support group last night. That sounds so official. In reality, the group would have carried on just fine without me. Everyone had much to say. It is apparent that the group is very much needed. It is a shame that our surgeon hasn't had a lap-band specific group until now. The needs for lap-band vs. bypass are different. It is important for folks to find support among those going through similar experiences. I look forward to the future of this group. There is a wide range of experience - veterans to newbies. I am sure there is much we can learn from each other.
Marc
Friday, January 26, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Hot Coffee & Used Clothes Shopping
Just a few random thoughts for today.
I love coffee. I always have, but it seems to have changed and intensified since banding. I like to try different flavors and strengths. I like to try different coffee shops and brands. For Christmas, my wife got me a gift card to Starbucks. You can always bet that is a safe gift for me. So on occasion, not daily, I stop by Starbucks and get a coffee. I don't do the fancy stuff because most of it has way too much sugar and carbs. On occasion I get a shot of a sugar free syrup for fun. Today I stopped by and noticed that they now have sugar free cinnamon dolce syrup. Um...can you say good. I may have discovered a new favorite treat. I am savoring every last drop.
After leaving Starbucks, I stopped by the Goodwill Store, used clothing, house wares, and local employment training facility. It is in a pretty nice neighborhood and often have some great buys. Since I have blown through clothing sizes, it is where I do a great deal of my clothes shopping. Today I hit the jackpot. I've been wanting a camel hair blazer for a long time, but would never buy one because I was too big or they were too expensive. Since losing weight I have been looking at them on eBay and in other stores. Sam's Club carried them this holiday season, and I even found one a Sam's yesterday for $40. A great bargain, but I opted to buy some groceries instead. Anyway, today at the Goodwill store I found a used camel hair sports coat from a local high end retailer marked at $10, but today was 50% off day, so I got it for $5.00. I immediately took it down the street to the cleaners. By the first of next week, I will have a SUPER nice jacket for less than $15.00 total.
Score!
Marc
I love coffee. I always have, but it seems to have changed and intensified since banding. I like to try different flavors and strengths. I like to try different coffee shops and brands. For Christmas, my wife got me a gift card to Starbucks. You can always bet that is a safe gift for me. So on occasion, not daily, I stop by Starbucks and get a coffee. I don't do the fancy stuff because most of it has way too much sugar and carbs. On occasion I get a shot of a sugar free syrup for fun. Today I stopped by and noticed that they now have sugar free cinnamon dolce syrup. Um...can you say good. I may have discovered a new favorite treat. I am savoring every last drop.
After leaving Starbucks, I stopped by the Goodwill Store, used clothing, house wares, and local employment training facility. It is in a pretty nice neighborhood and often have some great buys. Since I have blown through clothing sizes, it is where I do a great deal of my clothes shopping. Today I hit the jackpot. I've been wanting a camel hair blazer for a long time, but would never buy one because I was too big or they were too expensive. Since losing weight I have been looking at them on eBay and in other stores. Sam's Club carried them this holiday season, and I even found one a Sam's yesterday for $40. A great bargain, but I opted to buy some groceries instead. Anyway, today at the Goodwill store I found a used camel hair sports coat from a local high end retailer marked at $10, but today was 50% off day, so I got it for $5.00. I immediately took it down the street to the cleaners. By the first of next week, I will have a SUPER nice jacket for less than $15.00 total.
Score!
Marc
Monday, January 15, 2007
Rough Week or So
I've had some unusual tightening in my throat over the past few weeks. It is right at my adams apple. It just feels like my throat is tight. Weird huh? I can eat and drink just fine, no PBing or anything.
I called my MD and he scheduled a barium swallow test to check my esophagus out. The more I thought about it, the more freaked out I became. I went through lots of "what if?" scenarios in my head - a band slip, esophageal dilation, throat cancer, on and on. In my panic, many of these scenarios resulted in my band having to be removed. I decided that next to having a loved one die, having my band removed is one of the worst things that could happen to me.
Well I waited on the results all day and none came. I called the MD early the next morning, as i had previously scheduled a band adjustment for later in the afternoon. The MD said their didn't appear to be anything wrong with my band and we could go ahead with the adjustment.
We did. He looked at it good, and even let me see it. All is well. He added .2 cc's. That means I have 8.2 cc's in a 10 cc. band. I only have about 20 lbs to go.
I still do not have an explanation for the tightness in my throat. It is getting better though. My MD says it could be from stress. Who knows.
I guess I could call this my first complication. If this is as bad as it gets, I am blessed.
Marc
I called my MD and he scheduled a barium swallow test to check my esophagus out. The more I thought about it, the more freaked out I became. I went through lots of "what if?" scenarios in my head - a band slip, esophageal dilation, throat cancer, on and on. In my panic, many of these scenarios resulted in my band having to be removed. I decided that next to having a loved one die, having my band removed is one of the worst things that could happen to me.
Well I waited on the results all day and none came. I called the MD early the next morning, as i had previously scheduled a band adjustment for later in the afternoon. The MD said their didn't appear to be anything wrong with my band and we could go ahead with the adjustment.
We did. He looked at it good, and even let me see it. All is well. He added .2 cc's. That means I have 8.2 cc's in a 10 cc. band. I only have about 20 lbs to go.
I still do not have an explanation for the tightness in my throat. It is getting better though. My MD says it could be from stress. Who knows.
I guess I could call this my first complication. If this is as bad as it gets, I am blessed.
Marc
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Holidays are over, WHEW!
Well, I didn't just fall of the wagon over the holidays. I jumped. I pretty much ate what I wanted, just not as much of it. I over did it twice, once before Christmas and on New Years day, and made myself sick. No fun at all.
Now that the holidays are over, I am resolved once more to climb back on the wagon and carve off the last lbs. I was planning to lose.
On a good note, I didn't gain weight over the holidays and I did manage to exercise a few times a week.
Now on to my New Years Resolution. I've never been big on resolutions, but I guess this whole past year has been about living out all of those failed resolutions over the past many years. So this year I resolve to lose more weight, more specifically to get to at least 220 lbs. I'm only 15 away from that. And, I am going to up my weight training regimen significantly so that by the end of 2007, I will be able to bench press my body weight. I would do it in High School, we'll see if I can do it again.
Wish me luck, and a big thanks to everyone for your support in 2006,
Marc
Now that the holidays are over, I am resolved once more to climb back on the wagon and carve off the last lbs. I was planning to lose.
On a good note, I didn't gain weight over the holidays and I did manage to exercise a few times a week.
Now on to my New Years Resolution. I've never been big on resolutions, but I guess this whole past year has been about living out all of those failed resolutions over the past many years. So this year I resolve to lose more weight, more specifically to get to at least 220 lbs. I'm only 15 away from that. And, I am going to up my weight training regimen significantly so that by the end of 2007, I will be able to bench press my body weight. I would do it in High School, we'll see if I can do it again.
Wish me luck, and a big thanks to everyone for your support in 2006,
Marc
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)