Ready to Get Back on Track.......AGAIN!

It's official.............I GRADUATED Nursing School!!! I have a job secured in a local hospital that I start next week as a Graduate Nurse. Hopefully I'll be able to take my boards by mid July and be a RN!! Woohoo!! 


I have been maintaining my weight, which is not my goal at this point, but it's better than gaining!! I'm down a little over 44 lbs, and I'll take it. Now that school's over I can focus on this weight loss more. I went for a small fill yesterday; 0.25cc, for a total of 6.25cc. I have a feeling this one may be too restrictive, but I'm going to give it a few days to see how I do. I joined a local gym that is expanding & I'm looking forward to starting. They will have  a pool, so that is very exciting! I found out a few weeks ago that I have a lumbar disc protrusion that is causing some pretty bad sciatica.......NOT good timing!! It's getting frustrating though because I can't do as much as I'd like to. Even day to day activities are difficult. 


Leaving for Vegas at the end of the month for 8 nights!! Can't wait to get away and relax with the hubby! It's been a LONG adventure in nursing school, so both of us definitely need and deserve this vacation. 


So that's my update. I hope to be on here more now that I don't have to concentrate on homework! I realize now how much of a support all of you are. When I'm not on here reading your posts or getting comments from you, I seem to lose track of my weight loss goals. So, thank you to everyone who follows me for your support! 


My goal for the day is to clean my bedroom closet and get rid of my bigger clothes. I still tend to wear some of them, but I got a comment from a co-worker the other day. She said (jokingly & lovingly)....."You need to get some scrubs that FIT!! Your pants look like MC Hammer pants!" Best thing I've heard in a long time!!

Feeling Better

Hi everyone! Just thought I'd check in and do a quick post. Since my last post I'm feeling alot better about my progress. I've managed to change some of my recurring bad habits........Just a recap:



1) Haven't been getting protein in. --Have been getting in at least one 30g protein drink in addition to higher protein foods.
2) Haven't been getting in any activity.--Still not quite there yet........
3) Been having Starbuck's too often. -- Have SIGNIFICANTLY reduced! Replace with a protein drink now.
4) Not tracking my food intake. -- Still working on that one.
5) Not drinking enough water. -- Improving, definitely!
6) Snacking at night. -- Hardly ever
7) Haven't been blogging or reading all the success stories -- Still not as much with the last few weeks of nursing school.


So that's where I stand. I am now at my lowest since banding. I'm down a total of 47.4 lbs. Do I wish it were much more, YES! BUT.........if it weren't for the band, I would probably be UP 47.4 lbs. I have a friend who had a duodenal switch shortly before I was banded and she is super skinny. It makes me happy for her but sad for me. I went into this knowing that it was a slower weight loss and it does feel totally natural, but at the same time, I can't get over the fact that she is at goal, and I still have almost 80 to go. Needless to say, I plan on bumping up all my weight loss work as soon as I graduate! I know I should be priority right now, but I have a little over TWO WEEKS until I'm a Graduate Nurse and that is my life until I take my last nursing school exam!   This is for me too. 


I wish everyone well, and I will be back full force as of May 16th! 

It's Been Awhile

OMG, I can't believe I've been away from here for so long......hence one of the reasons I've really been "off track." Again, I feel like I've really let myself slip the past month or so, into some old habits......So here I am, and I'm going to lay it all out of the table and see it in writing.

1) Haven't been getting protein in.
2) Haven't been getting in any activity.
3) Been having Starbuck's too often.
4) Not tracking my food intake.
5) Not drinking enough water.
6) Snacking at night.
7) Haven't been blogging or reading all the success stories

Wow, and I wonder how I'm not losing weight...........Please tell me I'm not the only one who has gone through a hiatus like this. I can't let all my hard work go down the drain now! I'm going to make small goals to get back on track. First 2 goals for this week: Get protein in and stop snacking at night.

Can you believe I graduate next month?!? I've been totally dedicated to my studies and have left "me" get into a slump. I'm very frustrated.

Any good ideas for stopping the night-time munchies? I thought maybe I could drink a protein drink or something later in the evening. What works for you guys?

The words I will tell myself:

Help the MS Society!!

I know I haven't been updating lately, but school has been CRAZY!! I wanted to hop on here and ask a favor..........if you are on Facebook, please see this:

http://www.facebook.com/officialpureprotein?sk=wall

Just one click will help bring us one step closer to a cure for MS!! This is something I struggle with every day.....in my weight loss, in my nursing school, at work.........in everything I do. Please help!

Thank you!!   :)

Back on Track

Finally! Lost 2 lbs. last week!! Still a bit above my lowest......about 1.5 lbs, but I feel like I'm in control again. That is a good feeling!


Friday I had my 4th fill for a total of 6 cc. I didn't realize the last time I had a fill was a few weeks before Thanksgiving, so that may help explain my increased food intake. When I ate yesterday I definitely felt the restriction more than I have in awhile, so that makes me feel more secure. I asked about the "first-bite syndrome" and the PA says quite a bit of people have it but they have no explanation for it. I'm going to try eating a few crackers or something before my meal....we'll see how that works. 


The hubby and I have booked our vacation to Vegas for July! I'm so excited and it's going to be a GREAT reward after graduation from nursing school! 8 nights, 9 days of pure relaxation and freedom from reality! That reminds me, have any of you flown since you were banded? Do I need to get something from my doctor or from Allergan saying I have this device in my body? Also, I'm wondering if there's something I can get for discounted buffet prices in Vegas, seeing as I don't eat that much. Any ideas about either subjects would be helpful!!


Now that I'm back on track I can't wait to weigh in on Wednesday! 


I hope all of you are getting back on track since the very challenging holidays!! My next challenge = start moving!! I hate exercise, but I have to start. 


Have a great week everyone!!

Out of Control

I need help getting back on track. I've been eating like crazy the past 3-4 weeks. Not counting calories, not exercising, not getting my protein in, not getting my vitamins in, not even feeling good about myself, and I don't know how to get back on track. I feel like a pathetic loser. People keep asking me how much I've lost and I've been saying 30 lbs. for what feels like forever! I don't want to fail! 
I need help and I don't know where or who to turn to. I don't even know if I need a fill or not. Like I mentioned in my last blog, I get stuck with my first few bites, and then I can eat pretty normal! I don't feel restricted at all after those first few bites. Every night I say I'm going to call and make an appointment for a fill and in the morning I'm super restricted so I back out of it. 
Please tell me I'm normal to be going through a regression............that I'm not the only one that has felt like a failure..........I need all the words and advice I can get at this point!

Need to Get Back on Track

I know, I know......long time, no blog; BUT I'm done with the semester now until Jan. 19th.....then my final semester before I become a registered nurse!! How exciting!!

OK, so the past 2-3 weeks I have had some serious eating issues. I feel like I have a goofy situation, but here goes.......

1) I'm really restricted in the morning......which the dietician said is perfectly normal, so I'm not worried about that part.

2) Whenever I eat, the first 5 bites or so always seem to get stuck. So I sit there for about 5 minutes or so waiting for them to either go down or come back up. The weird part, is after it comes up (cuz that's usually what happens) I feel much better and then I can eat normally. And when I say normally, I mean, I can eat quite a bit. Not what I used to eat pre-band, but definitely more than I have been able to eat 6 weeks ago. For sure more than a cup and a half. So, do I need a fill? I would say I do, but the part that makes me doubt it, is the fact that the few first bites get stuck EVERY time! Any suggestions?

That's the whole "weird" situation. The other part is all my fault. I've been snacking, I haven't been getting in my protein, and I haven't been taking my daily vitamin. I feel like I'm slowly going back to my old habits and I'm scared to death. How do I get back on track???