Updates

How's that for a witty blog title?

I'm struggling.  I'm frustrated.  My restriction is worse than the up and downs on a roller coaster. One day I can barely eat anything (meaning everything either has a hard time going down or as soon as it goes down, it gets stuck), the next, my restriction feels pretty normal.  Things I was able to eat a week ago, I can no longer eat...Is this normal (it's been 4 weeks since my last fill)?  I have an appointment for a fill on Thursday.

So here are some things on my "off-limit" list:

• bread (any kind unless toasted)
• rice
• leftover chicken or chicken that is not moist (by the way, moist is perhaps the worst word in the English language, don't you think?)
• steak
• skin on potatoes
• asparagus

Also - I was wondering about peanut butter.  This is one of my go-to snacks.  Just a spoonful right out of the jar.  It goes down easy and really satisfies.  But I noticed in lap band forums that other bandsters report this as being a "stuck food".  Does anyone have trouble with peanut butter?

I am also struggling with bite sizes - I think for the most part, the reasons I get stuck are because my bites are too big.  Any tips for this?  I did pretty good at Easter dinner yesterday - cut my ham into tiny "toddler" size pieces and ate my salad one leaf/vegetable at a time.  Definitely need to focus and get better at this.

On the up side, I've dropped 2 pants sizes and 3 shirt sizes.  Still trying to only buy a few things here and there.  I got this really cute cardigan from Banana Republic the other day:

 Normally $54 - on clearance for $9.99!  I love a good bargain!

You Would Cry Too If It Happened To You

I had chicken coming out my nose.  Yes you read that right.  I had MAJOR stuck episode today at Pei Wei.  Was it the rice?  Or the chicken?  I don't know, but I had to make my way to the bathroom after just 3 bites and up it came via normal routes and then it took a detour through my nose.  Never in my life have I had that happen.  Nor do I wish to experience it ever again.  Major YUCK. 

I am really struggling with what I can/can't eat...Previously I was able to eat the same thing at Pei Wei with no problems.  Now, not so much.  At first I thought it may be because of the size of bites I am taking, but even when I pay close attention, there are just some foods I was able to eat a couple of weeks ago that are no longer on the safe list.

That's all for now...just a quick update!

This Week in Band Land...

I have never been this busy in my life!  This new job is crazy (good crazy, but still crazy)!  By the time I get home from work, I am exhausted.  But I have been walking approximately 3 miles everyday and it is definitely showing on the scale.  I am down 43 pounds overall.  My restriction has been pretty good the last 2 weeks.  It has been a bit weird, though.  Like this past Sunday, I definitely had to pay attention to portions because I felt pretty hungry.  But on Monday?  Forget about it.  I could hardly get down a few bites of chicken at lunch and then for dinner I made a small frozen pizza (180 calories for the whole thing - I found them at Trader Joe's) and I could only manage to eat half the piece.  I only got in about 500 calories for the day - which I know is not good, but hey, what can you do? 

On an unrelated note, I thought I would just throw it out there that opinions are like bellybuttons (or other parts of the anatomy - trying to keep it family friendly here folks) - everyone has one.  But you know, they don't always need to be shared.  This comment is just a byproduct of the week I have had.  Totally not related to anyone who comments on my blog!                                                                                                                         

So...Here's Where I Am

MY FILL THAT I HAD A WEEK AGO? DEFINITELY WORKING...EVEN TOO MUCH ON SOME DAYS.  LAST THURSDAY I EXPERIENCED A TWO AND A HALF HOUR STUCK EPISODE, PART OF WHICH WENT ON THROUGH A MEETING A WORK.  LUCKILY THE LADY I HAD THE MEETING WITH WAS WELL AWARE OF MY SITUATION AND I COULD BE HONEST WITH HER.  THE CONVO KINDA WENT LIKE THIS - "I'M SORRY, I NEED TO EXCUSE MYSELF AND RUN TO THE BATHROOM.  AGAIN."  NEEDLESS TO SAY I WON'T BE EATING LEFTOVER FAJITAS FOR BREAKFAST ANY LONGER.  THAT WAS JUST PAINFUL.  THEN THERE WAS THE EPISODE AT IHOP ON SATURDAY.  NICE.  ALTHOUGH MY CLASSINESS PROBABLY FIT IN PRETTY WELL WITH THE REST OF THE CLIENTELE.  OTHER THAN THAT, MY RESTRICTION HAS BEEN ADEQUATE.

STILL TRYING TO GET IN MY EXERCISE EVERY DAY...DOING BETTER LATELY, JUST NEED TO KEEP IT UP.

BEEN TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH EVERYONE'S BLOGS -  I STILL READ ALL OF THEM!  I NEED TO MAKE TIME TO COMMENT TOO!

I HAVE TO DO SEVERAL INTERVIEWS THIS WEEK - THIS IS PART OF MY NEW POSITION AT WORK.  I'VE NEVER INTERVIEWED ANYONE BEFORE SO THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING...CAN I ASK IF THEY ARE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN??  NO, I GUESS THAT WOULD BE SLIGHTLY INAPPROPRIATE (EVEN THOUGH I COULD PICK THE "WINNER" BASED ON THAT QUESTION ALONE).  WISH ME LUCK!