Good bye FAVORITE food...I'll miss you

I've figured it out. I know what gets me stuck. It is none other than my absolute favorite food. And when I say FAVORITE, I mean the food I could eat for days and days and days and not get tired of. It's none of other than french fries.

It's summer and we eat out a lot during the summer. Espcially this summer. It's been hotter than something really really hot here in the Chicagoland area. What do you get everything you order at any restaurant? That's right, fries. Delicious fries. 99% of the time, I'd only eat half of them but since being banded, I could only eat a few and I'd usually save them until the end, following at least that bandster rule.

So I've been exprimenting...getting fruit, veggies, mashed, baked, or something to replace the delicious fried taters and you know what? I haven't gotten stuck. DAMN YOU FRENCH FRIES! Why did it have to be you? I'm not sure if it's because I eat them fast or if it's becuase I eat too big of bites or if it's just that they're my favorite so they have to be the culprit but I've learned.

My great aunt died last weekend. Her wake was Thrusday. Shannon, p'nut and I got there pretty early. My dad showed up about 30 mins after us. I've talked about my dad before. He's incredibly unhealthy. Eats fast food constantly. Drinks regular soda. Smokes. Has high blood pressure. Has high cholesterol. Has diabetes. Has COPD. Has had a heart attack. Well he came walking in...more like lumbering in, sweating, breathing heavy and had to use a chair to hold himself up. He was so out of breath. I keep this picture in my head, reminding myself each time I put food in my mouth...this is what I DON'T want to be. I love my dad but I do not want to be in his position in 20 years. That will not be me!

So I will no longer be eating french fries becuase not only do they make me yarf, they can push me down the path of my father. Good Bye french fries. You've been a great friend and I will miss you. I may try to visit but we are not good for each other. I love you french fries. Good Bye.

Dream a little dream....

I know we all have big dreams. Some of us dream of being a famos actress. Some of us dream of winning the lotto. Some of us dream of just being happy and content with our lives. I dream about being a writer. I have so many ideas that I'd love to write about. Where do I find the time to write? I need to figure it out so that I can make my dream come true.

CPL and I are going to start a blog about where we eat. We both LOVE food! We love to eat! CPL (crazy pregnant lady) is actually a skinny bitch when she's not knocked up. Now, though she eats whatever she wants. I think she may birth a sombrero though, she's all about Mexican food. I don't know how many tries I'm going to take to try and eat a flour tortilla but everytime I do, I end up semi-stuck.

I digress...back to dreams. I'm a chronic day dreamer. I dream about book ideas and want to start writing but by the time I snap out of my la la land, I have to work or cook or drive or get alittle freaked out becuase I was driving and now I have no idea where I am!

What's your dream?

CPAP - when can I stop?

Who else has or had a CPAP for sleep apnea? Anyone?

Being diagnosed with sleep apnea was my breaking point for getting banded. I had played with the idea for a long time but didn't decide for sure until I was told I need to sleep with a CPAP for the rest of my life.

I'm down just over 30 pounds now and I'm wondering when I can stop using it. Do I need to go for another sleep study becuase I really hated that!

What was I gonna say?

I had a great post in mind and now I can't remember what it was about. While I was lying in bed, I was thinking about my half assed blog posts of late and had a great idea for what I was going to say today. Then I fell asleep and now it's gone. I can't remember it at all!!

So I have another idea...Confession Time!! List a few of the foods that are your weakness. Here are mine...

Pretzels - Hard ones with lots of salt.

French Fries - Whoever dug up that dirty potato and thru it is some hot grease...BRILLIANT!

Donuts - Deep fried dough? What? DE-LISH-OUS!

Tempura Veggies - again...deep fried goodness

Deep Fried Mushrooms - Deep Fried Zuccini - Deep Fried cauliflour - Deep Fried ______

Velveeta Shells & Cheese

I have a fried food obession. Someone could say, I had a deep fried piece of poop and I'd ask if it was good. And if they said they dipped it in Ranch Dressing - I'd probably go get one for myself. Why is deep fried food so good? Is it the fat and carb mix that makes it irresistable?

So my friends - how do I stay away from deep fried goodness when it's all around me? The fryer calls to me from the back of any restaurant. It says "I'm hot and ready!"

**I was searching for my picture to add to my post and came across Deep Fried Cheeseburgers. OH MY GOD!! Where can I get one of those?

Define: Hersband and other randomness

Hersband - noun. Play on the word Husband. Definition - A life partner in a committed lesbian relationship- usually the more masculine, or handy type.

Tuesday night, Shannon, my hersband mowed the lawn while the p'nut and I played in the puddle (we have a small pool, one of those cheapy ring pools) It was hot. She mowed. We played. She's the world's best hersband.

My mom had foot surgery last week. Had some bones in her foot fused. She called yesterday to see if I could deliver her prescription. I was home with a ear infected, feverish p'nut so Shannon did it. She's a good daughter without law or Daughter Outlaw as I like to call it.

My eating has been better. I'm following the rules more and couting my chews. I'm getting alittle obssessive about counting but it seems to work. I haven't slept well lately and I think that's why the scale isn't moving. I'll blame whatever I can when the scale doesn't move.

I feel like I got hit by a truck. My body is tired. Volleyball whooped me last night. I actually ate some sand...not tasty, pretty gritty.

I really really REALLY need to win the lotto. I don't want to work anymore. I don't mind the working part, it's the getting up and driving here part that I loathe. I don't understand the tollway/freeway/expressway when it backs up. We're all moving in the same direction, who the heck slowed down? Verticle peddle on the right people....Let's move!!

I want to wake up tomorrow as a size 8. Wonder if I can "The Secret" that into reality? If I just start wearing size 8 pants, maybe they'll magically fit one day.

We're moving. Did I mention that? We went thru some financial crisis over the last year. Just like everyone else, the economy has killed our home value and blah blah blah. We found a place not far from our current place. I'm SO SO SO SO excited to move!! I can't wait. It's bigger and the basement is finished and there will actually be a place for a treadmill! WHOOP WHOOP!! Shannon wants to buy a stationary bike too. How do we keep the p'nut entertained while we work out? Do they have work out DVDs for preschoolers?

I think that's all the randomness I have for right now. If I'm falling asleep later, I may post some more randomness just to keep myself awake!

Sliming. Getting Stuck and Learning!

I like to think I'm a quick learner. I've been proven wrong again! We went out for breakfast on Saturday morning. We were between gymnastics and swimming lessons. Shannon was going to take p'nut to swimming while I ran to the bank but we met for breakfast in between.

I was good, or so I thought. I had coffee, scrambled eggs with cheese and mushrooms. Food came...I started to eat. P'nut started to be a brat so I was forced to enhale a few bites before removing her from the table for a little talk in the bathroom. I knew I was a bit stuck when I got back to the table. I took another bite anyway because I guess i'm just a glutton for punishment. I requested a take home container then. I'd eaten maybe 5 bites of my breakfast.

I excused myself to the bathroom which was full of old women. Slime and spit are just pooling in my mouth. After then all left I finally got a stall and started trying to get the egg out. I took 25 minutes for me to finally get the food up. It was awfule. Easily the worst episode of stuck I've ever had. It was violent and LOUD and I got the ball of goo out.

Shannon came to check on me while I was in there and I was in tears. I promised I'd call the doctor for a slight unfill. I haven't gotten stuck or had any problem since. I really think the getting stuck is me. I'm not following the rules and I'm learning the hard and annoying way.

I think I may have finally figured it out. I ate chicken salad yesterday and had no problem. Chicken salad was somthing I had a problem with even before my big fill. I had chicken for dinner last night too and had no problem. I think I really may have figured it out.

Shannon still wants me to go get alittle taken out but I feel like i'm so close to the sweet spot....

Playing Catch Up

I'm trying to get caught up with everyones blog, but there's been so much going on with all of you!!

I weighed in this morning..lost a pound and a half! WOO WOO!!! I'm LOVING this fill!! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE! Not to mention, I played volleyball last night for the first time in a while and I sweat my ass off which just make me feel fantastic. I'm a bit achy today but I like it. It means I really worked.

I've also got a headache, which is annoying the shit out of me. And evidently I have a potty mouth this morning. Sorry to those who may be offended by my trucker speak.

CPL (Crazy Pregnant Lady) is doing well. She's a nice round 6.5 months pregger and is getting to the point of being uncomfortable. The good part is that she can't eat as much which means we can go back to splitting meals and I won't feel compelled to eat the whole thing, not that I could anymore anyway. Did I say I love this fill? LOVE IT!!

I've been bad!

I've been a bad blogger
I've been a bad bandster
I've been a bad weight loser
I've been a bad eater
I've been a bad excersiser
I've been a bad girl!

Since my injury, I gain 7 pounds. I'm mad but I'm back on the wagon. I've lost 2 of those in the past week

I went for a fill last week. A fill with upper GI. I have a 4 second delay now and man can I tell. I can't even make it thru 2 eggs before I feel stuffed. I can eat ice cream to my hearts content though. I really need to get that shit out of the house. But it's so delicious and it's summer. Stupid stupid slider foods. Why do you have to be so yummy?

So I'm back. I've been too mad at myself to blog and didn't want to admit i'm a big fat failure. I have to remember, there will be set backs...this isn't a quick fix!

You have to be kidding me! Torn Achilles

So...I over did it. I started having some pain in my foot 3 or 4 weeks ago. I thought it was from wearing really flat sandals. So I bought new shoes! What else is a girl to do? When that didn't work...I bought another cute pair of sandals. Nope, still hurts. So I bought a pair of Birkenstocks. OH MY AWESOMENESS! Love them. Foot pain eases up! Woo hoo!

Yesterday morning, my Achilles started to ache. I ignored it, put on my birks and went to work. It ached pretty much all day. I walked my normal lunch stroll. Ache, pain, I pushed thru. I had Volleyball last night. I played. It ached.

I woke up with morning, got out of bed...OW! HOLY CRAP! The freaking hurts! Who just smacked me in the heel with a ruler? Son of a biscuit, that hurts!

I made an appointment with a Foot and Ankle specialist. I've partially torn my Achilles. No walking, running, jumping, swimming or physical activity for 10 days, at the least! Probably more like 3-4 weeks.

ugh! I'm aggrevated!

Why do I always have to be the happy one?

I'm surrounded by a bunch of crab asses. WTF people? A little bit of a smile wouldn't kill you!

Shannon's got killer PMS. It happens every month...I spend 3 days questioning our relationship and wondering if she's really happy becuase not matter what I say or what I do, she's pissed off! I think i've finally figured out that it's PMS and not me. I feel better this month knowing that it will go away.

CPL is incredibly cranky too. She's been cranky forever though. If she's not eating, she's angry. Ugh!

I feel like I'm always the happy one trying to cheer everyone up.

My birthday cake

I nearly peed in my pants when they brought this out!


Delicious yellow cake with fresh strawberry filling and whipped cream frosting. it was FANTASTiC! Thank God I only ate one Fajita! We ended up at Chili's not BWW.

I say it's my Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me! Happy birthday dear MEEEEEE-EEEEEE!!! Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeeee!!!!

You know what that means...FOOD DAY!! And 2 bitches brought me donuts! Really? Really people? No one believes in veggies or fruit or nuts or something better for me than donuts? I LOVE YOU DONUTS but Frida does NOT like you at all!

P'nut's favorite song is Happy Birthday. She sang it to me about 20 times this morning. She's just too too cute!

We're going out for dinner tonight with CPL (crazy pregnant lady) and her baby daddy, my mom and sisters and brother in law and my nana and papa...we're going to Buffalo Wild Wings. I'm not sure what to eat there...any suggestions?

Love and Kisses!!! :)

When will I ever learn?

I think I've learned an important lesson....DO NOT DRINK WHILE EATING!!! Yes, I have been banded for 4 months and it has taken me this long to truely understand the ramifications of mixing liquids and solids! Is it because I have some restriction now? I'm thinking yes....

So Saturday no wait maybe it was Sunday...it was Sunday, Shannon and I fruitlessly tried to start our lawn mower for 45 minutes. It's broken. We went to buy a new one. P'nut spots the Golden Arches and I ask Shannon is she's hungry. We pull in to the drive thru. I order my 4 pc kids meal with a large iced tea. We pull in to the adjacent Wal-Mart parking lot and I take a bite of my McNugget then a swig of tea, not thru the straw. OUCH. Oh that's not good. I try and bite of nugget because I'm a fat kid and I want more food. Nope...Not moving. More tea...oh that's really bad. The slime starts. SLIME SLIME SLIME SLIME SLIME SLIME. I've wasted of the napkins. I get out and walk around. I think I'm a bit better. I put the food away and get on the road. 3 miles later...I pull over.

It's 95 degrees outside. We're on a 4 lane road. I'm standing behind the truck (GMC Envoy) spitting yuck into the weeds. I'm next to the exhausted and my feet start to burn. I walk around and spit some more. Then get back in the truck. It's only a couple more miles to Lowes. I can make it. I think. We pull in the parking lot and I hope out of the drivers seat in the middle of the lane waving to Shannon. I can't talk. I've got too much goop in my mouth. Spit, spit spit spit spit spit spit spit spit.....walk walk walk walk walk walk walk. RELIEF. It goes down. The rest of the day is without incident. I stick with mushy foods.

Yesterday, CPL (crazy pregnant lady) and I head out for a shopping excursion. I have the p'nut and she wants a hot dog. Ok. I can eat a hot dog. Again, I order a hot dog and an iced tea. Two bits in and I'm stuck again. Yeah, I drank so tea too. DAMN IT! This time it's worse. I'm in the bathroom when are slimy ball of food finally come up. SWEET relief. I think it's over. We pack up to go. In the parking lot, the slime start again. WTF? I thought I just PB'd this stuff up? 30 minutes of spitting later the food goes down.

Am I too tight or am I getting stuck because I'm breaking the no drinking rule?

at the drive in with my new phone!

Pools and Sunburn and sweat..Oh Yeah! Summer is HERE!

Spent the whole day and I mean the WHOLE day in the pool on Sunday. I know you all are thinking I must have this great big pool...hahaha, I don't! It's a kid's pool but it's not a bad pool at all!

We filled up the pool at 8 AM on sunday and Riley was in it from 8:30 until after 6 in the evening. I had one wiped out kidlet! I was in and out of the pool but got some nice burn! I was religious about SPF'ing the p'nut but not so good about putting even a dab on myself. But I was in the shade at some point too. It's ok, I got good color.

I wore my bathing suit in the backyard and my neighbor comment "Hey, Michele. I don't think I've ever seen in you in a bathing suit." Ummm..you definitely have not because we don't have whales in Chicago! I had some confidence in my suit but not a lot.

Anyway...I stepped on the scale. I nearly cried but instead got really really PISSED OFF! I gained. I knew it. DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN! 6 pounds. WTF?!?!?!? My appointment is today at 4:15. I know I beat this weight monster and meet my goal. I just need to know that there will be ups and downs. I need to focus on the downs and keep fighting! The best part is, even though it's only 30 pounds lost, I feel better and I'm more active with my daughter. That was my number 1 goal and I've done it. I just want more. I want to be more active and to do that, I need to lose more weight. I CAN DO THIS!

87+ degrees in May? In Chicago? WHAT???

I may break out the bathing suit. It will be the first time I ever wear a bathing suit in my own back yard. We're filling up the p'nut's pool right now. It's a pretty big pool. It's only 18" deep but it's 6 feet around! I think I may just sit in it and feel the burn!

I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures to post!

Happy Sunday!!

GoWearFit - BURNING...No it's really burning me!

I think I'm allergic to it and that make me so sad!!

I got my GoWearFit yesterday from Amazon. I payed for 2 day shipping so I could have it before the weekend. I charged it up and wore it to bed because I so super excited to try it out. P'nut slept with me last night so, my sleep was not the greatest but I also couldn't tell this thing was BURNING!!!

I'm trying it on my other arm today because I want it so bad! I'm so exited to have this thing and so sad that I like I might be allergic to it.

Completely off topic of Banding. My friend Mike...

One of my closest friend recently donated his kidney to a co-workers wife. It's just amazing.

Mike and I used to get in all sorts of trouble together. We had fake ID's and bar hoped when we were in our teens. We drove drunk and ended up in opposite jail cells at one point in time. We were crazy, STUPID kids!

Here is some proof of how much we all can grow over the years. He is now a generous, responsible and incredible man. I am so proud to call him my friend.

If you need some inspiration or need to inspire someone, share this incredible story.

Fill Scheduled...Time to get back to work!

Volleyball starts tonight. Praise Buddha! Exercises for my lazy ass! Maybe I'll see some loss. I'm back on the wagon. I started this morning with a Sugar Free Carnation Instant Breakfast at 6:30. I had small veggie omelet at 9. I still want to snack but I'm not going to! I need a fill. Frida is not working and she just keeps making me hungry.

How do I ask for a bigger fill? I know he's only going to want to do half a CC. How do I ask for more than that? Can I tell him I want at least 1cc? Do I say, I dont' mind coming back if it's too much? How do I get him to do more?

Celebrate with food!

I am such a fat kid! It's food day AGAIN here in the land of cubicle dwellers and I have eaten everything! It's not even 11 AM and I think I've consumed a week worth of calories and i feel like I might explode!

I'm calling today to schedule a fill becuase I know I'm not losing. I haven't stepped on the scale and i KNOW it's going to say I gained. I can feel it. I've gained. I'm sad. I need to get back on the wagon.

Schedule Fill and get back on track.