Upgraded Me!

I just got home from my first fill, and I feel great! The surgeon's PA usually does fills, but he had the afternoon off. Dr. Krahn did my fill himself, and I was so happy! He's got a great manner about him. In fact, I fell in love with him when I went to my first seminar.

By their calculations, I've lost about 25 pounds since my first visit. That sounds about right, but the actual number is slightly more than that, because I gained a little weight between my first visit and my pre-op diet. So let's make it almost 30. Whatever it is, I'm thrilled with it since I have had such a difficult time this past month. I've been up and down two or three pounds each week. It's been very frustrating, to say the least!

I told Dr. Krahn that I wasn't sure I even had a band; he told me a story of one of his colleagues who went to do a fill on a patient, but it turned out the patient didn't actually have a band at all! Abdominal scares, yes; a band, no. The patient had supposedly been banded in Mexico. EEK! He also told me of a patient of his that has supposedly had some long-named procedure and when Dr. Krahn followed up, it turned out that the procedure hadn't been done -- but, again, the patient had a scar! Scary stuff!

He did my fill with me standing up. Boy, was I surprised when the nurse told me about that! Did I know this? I don't think I did. Anyway, there was a little solution in the band from surgery and he filled it up to 4 ccs. When I asked how much he'd put in the band, he jokingly told me that he didn't remember! His way of making sure that I understood that the amount of solution isn't what counts, but it's effectiveness.

He had me drinking water while he gave me the fill. At one point, it seemed a little tight, so he pulled a tiny bit back out. I'm to come back in six weeks.

Oh, and I've been cleared for belly dancing! Won't that be fun exercise?!

First Fill Today

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm getting my first fill in a few hours. No eating or drinking for four hours before, so of course, I'm both hungry and thirsty! LOL! Oh well, I'll manage!

I haven't been posting for awhile for a couple of reasons. For one thing, I'm insanely busy creating art for three upcoming shows/fairs; needless to say, I'm spending more time in my studio and less time on the internet. The other reason -- and probably the more important reason -- is that I didn't feel as though I had anything to say. I'm tired of saying the same ol' things, even though they may be valid. All I do is complain about Bandster Hell!  I know it's something that almost everyone goes through, but talking about it incessantly doesn't serve me. Or would it? I don't know.

I'll let you know how my first fill went. I'm expecting it to be strictly routine.

Love you guys!

Starting Over ...

I know it's not even noon yet, but today hasn't been too bad. I've decided to look at staying on my plan (what I eat and exercising) not as something I "have to" do or "should" do, but as a way of showing myself love. While it may not be fun in the moment, taking care of my body/health is a way of staying true to my higher goals. It's a way of making my life better.

I'm going back to my pre-op diet for now -- two shakes and a sensible meal. I'm going to try to bump up my exercise a bit, too. I now walk each evening. I'm hoping to add morning walks, too. I can't go very far at a time, so going twice a day seems to be the right thing to do. I'm also writing down what I eat again. I'm not counting calories or carbs, I'm just keeping track of what I eat. No judgments, just facts.

Thanks so much for all the kind words on my previous post. I'll be blog-hopping this evening, so I'll come visit you all then.

Renewed Commitment

I won't bore you with tales of where I've been -- physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Suffice it to say that I'm back! I've had really crappy weigh-ins the past few weeks, which shouldn't surprise anyone (including me), and I'm expecting another crappy one on Tuesday.

This has been so much harder for me than I expected it to be. I'm still waiting for my first fill (30 Sept), so I can eat just about anything ... and I do. I've gotten stuck a few times and had a couple of PBs. It seems I can't eat rice, even though I can eat everything else (pizza, anyone?). I need to get back to some kind of plan, and write everything down (yawn) that I eat. I am exercising every day (walking each evening), and am about to kick it up to twice a day, since I can't go very far/long at a time. I'm generally feeling okay about myself, but could always feel better.

I was doing dishes this evening and I remembered reading on someone's blog (no idea whose. sorry.) about the correlation between blog posting and success. I want to be successful at this, so I'm going to make a commitment to blog at least three times a week -- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I think it will help keep me honest and feeling as though I have some kind of accountability and support. The people who love me are doing their damnedest to be supportive, for which I'm grateful, but sometimes I need the support of people who have either been where I am or are here now. Besides, I've missed you all!

See y'all Monday!