Down Down Down...

I am happy to say this morning's weigh in continued the downward trend of the past few weeks, and was 231.4. I was hoping for 230-ish, but I guess they can't all be 3 lb weeks....especially because I don't feel like I did much "work" for it this week. I was kind of naturally not that hungry. I was supposed to have a fill appt on Tuesday, but the office called me to reschedule, since Gaspar had to go to a conference or something. My new appt is July 11th. I don't know if I need one or not.

I didn't make it to yoga last weekend...what a shock! I am off all weekend (4 day weekend, woohoo!) from both jobs, so I am going to try to get there this Saturday.

I impulsively booked a flight to London in a few weeks, to see my favorite artist who is playing a solo show. I haven't seen him since October (right after surgery), and before that was last June. I'm excited to show off the new me. We've become friends in the years I have been a fan of his, and he's always been wonderful and supportive of me.

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!

Holy Crap!

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I last posted! Jeebus! Let's see...lots has happened in that time. I lost weight, I gained weight, I lost the same weight, and as of Thursday morning was sitting at 233. I took a peek this morning, and was at 231.8....could I finally be moving on the scale?

A few weeks ago, I had a little fainting spell, and therefore did not get my fill I was hoping for. I have been taking my vitamins/meds faithfully, and always drink a ton of water. The dr chalked it up to exhaustion due to stress and anxiety, with a heat wave cherry on top. I'm hoping it was just an isolated thing - I took some time off work, and have been working less at the night job. I also went away on a mini-vacation for a few days. Who knew exhaustion wasn't just a code word for "celebs going to rehab"???

I have been making a concerted effort to be more active...walking home from work with my cousin whenever our schedules line up and it's not too hot...going to the gym (not as often as I'd like, but I did go on vacation, which I should get extra points for!)...and I am FINALLY going to Bikram for the first time tomorrow. I know, I know...I've said that a million times before...but I'm really going this time. I plan on going 3 times a week (4 if I can work it into my schedule) for the entire month I have the unlimited pass.

Restriction-wise, I think I'm a little looser than I was - I was able to eat a double double WITH bun in LA (very small bites, and it took me about an hour, but I was determined!!!) I haven't been having much trouble with food, and I've been less snacky and have had less cravings for "bad stuff".

I did discover a new thing to have for breakfast while I was in LA...the friend I was staying with eats pretty healthy, and she had Kashi Hot Cereal. Basically like oatmeal, but from Kashi, so multigrains, fiber and all that jazz. It's 150 calories for a packet, and 8 grams of protein. Pretty yummy! I had tried the high protein oatmeal and didn't like the taste, so I think this is a pretty good alternative. I ordered it on Amazon for a really good price too. Can't wait for it to come - I think I am going to try to seriously cut down on my chai once it does :( It'll be hard, but it's so much money!!!

Other than that...not much new to report. I've been reading faithfully, but haven't had much to say. I am keeping up with everyone though! Now that I am coming back out of hibernation, I promise to start commenting again :)

BYOC/NYC Brunch?

First, it's Friday! That means it's time for BYOC. I don't always participate, but always have fun reading about everyone else. This week, I decided to play :)

1. If you could pick any name on Earth for yourself - would you change yours and what would it be?

Ironically, if it wouldn't make my mother very upset and angry (and wasn't expensive!), I would legally change my name to Liz. It's technically Elizabeth, but that's very old fashioned and formal to me...something I am very much not. I like Liz, it works for me, but Elizabeth...not so much! Although when I was 5 or so, I went through a phase where I decided I hated my name, and was changing it to Donna, and then Crystal. I would only answer to these names for about a week each. Then I got over it.

2. If you're a worker-outer...what time do you partake in such activities? There are SO many theories about when it's best and not best to work out...like the morning is better since you have an empty stomach or the night is not good because you won’t be able to sleep…etc, etc. – so I’d like to hear your theories.

Umm...I'm not the best worker-outer. But I am SOOO not a morning person, so that's out. My gym is at work, and I like to go either in the afternoon (but hare having to take a shower before I come back to my desk, adds so much time on) or after work.

3. If you drive a car – what kind is it and if you could drive any car – what would it be?

I live in Manhattan, so I don't currently have a car. My last car was a 2008 Honda CR-V and and I LOVED IT. It was my 2nd CR-V, and I will probably buy one again when it's time for me to get another car. I really like driving smaller SUVs, so everything I like is in that range...I do really like the VW Tiguan and the little Audi SUV, too.

4. Can you be totally honest in answering this next question and tell me what you think of tattoos? More importantly – what do you think of the people who have tattoos – specifically women?

Well, I have 12 tattoos, and I am a woman, so I am clearly pro-tat! :) Mine are all easily hidden...and if I don't want you to know I have them, you won't. I have no plans to change that,even with others I get...even though the more I do get, the more visible they become. I don't have any trouble with this, and no one I work with (I work for a Fortune 25 company) has ever said anything regarding them other than asking me what they mean, etc. That being said, most of my tattoos are well done and tasteful...we've all seen those that aren't, and that can lead someone to form an impression.

5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in blog land and in real life.

In blog land, I've posted quite a bit! I am making an effort to really put myself out there a bit more, and ask for support when I need it, and cheer myself on when I do well. I've also been able to comment again, hallelujah!!!

In real life, I've been a bit lazy and a bit productive, ha! I haven't been working the night job, and so therefore have had a "normal life". It makes me feel lazy, and so therefore I ACT lazy. I did go to the gym on Tuesday, and have been trying to be a bit more active. My eating has been shit...I am not used to being at home so much! I am back to my normal (read: crazy) schedule as of tomorrow. Hopefully not being at home for so many hours at a stretch will curb the temptation.

So anyhoo...since Miss Jacquie will be coming up to visit at the end of July (?), I thought I would see if the NYC bandsters...and anyone else who would like to join us...would like to do brunch? It'd be nice to see everyone and we can talk about Chicago!!! If you're interested, please let me know and I will start keeping a list.

Anti-Depressants...

I know this is somewhat of a personal ?, but I was just wondering if anyone is on anti-depressants... My new PCP agreed to prescribe a low dose of Lexapro for the short term. Nothing came back wrong with my bloodwork, except for a slightly low Vitamin D, which has been a recurring issue in the past. No anemia, no B-12 deficiency, thyroid level is fine (I am hypothyroid). BP is perfect, EKG is normal.

I think I mentioned last week that I've been having some dizziness, lightheadedness, and stomach pain. Well, miraculously, since I saw the doc for the initial consult, I haven't had any episodes. I should add that I have been taking my vitamins religiously for about a week now.

I decided to ask her if she would prescribe a mild AD after my mom's primary prescribed one for her. A little light bulb went off in my head like "Aha! Maybe you ARE depressed - you do have good reason, dummy!" I mentioned, and after some careful question, she agreed to prescribe it, as long as we touch base on it regularly, and it's short term. If it evolves into something longer term, then I have to see a psych to continue getting the scrip. I think this is fair, as it's not something I want to be on long term.

I'm hoping this helps with the fatigue I've been experiencing lately. My mom started hers (same med, same dose) about 2 weeks ago, and I've noticed a big difference.

Anyone have any thoughts or experiences they're willing to share with me? If you don't want to post it in the comments, please feel free to email me at talesfromtheband@gmail.com.

I Can't Lie to You....

I was going to be avoid-y, and not post today. But after some deep thought on the matter, I can't lie to you ladies. You're all so honest that I feel like it's missing the point of the whole blogging community if I am not honest as well.

So this morning my weight was at 236.8 (well, it was 237.8, then 236.8, then 237.4....I waited a bit in between each weigh, and got each number twice in a row. I'm obviously sticking with the lowest here.)

"But, Liz...you were having such a good couple of days! This must be one of those unexplicible gains!" Errr...not quite. I WAS having a great few days. Tracking, exercise, water, vitamins...the whole 9.

Somewhere around 11pm last night, it all fell apart. First I ate a pepperoni/fresh mozz/pepper/onion salad I had in the fridge (lunch size portion). Then I ate about 3oz of asiago, and about 9 pita crackers from TJ. THEN, I made a sundae. A FREAKING SUNDAE?!?! Waffle bowl, 6 tbsp of vanilla ice cream, about 2-3 tbsp caramel syrup, sea salt and 2-3 tbsp magic shell (btw, this is a rip off of a cone from my fave ice cream truck in NYC....amazing!). THEN I ate another waffle bowl.

Was I hungry? No. Not in the slightest. Why I was compelled to eat these things....I could not tell you. I was all set to have a great weigh in. Then I wrecked it. Each of these things by themselves wouldn't have been terrible. They just weren't allotted for in the day, and definitely shouldn't have been eaten TOGETHER. As I was eating them, I knew I was sabotaging myself. I just couldn't tell you why. Sigh.

Whew. I feel better. So far so good today. Chai at 10ish, peach Chobani at 11:30ish, and I have chili packed for lunch. I'll eat that whenever I get hungry, maybe around 2 or so. I am almost 2L of water down for the day and will get another in before I leave work. I'm walking home from work (about a mile and a half, which will take about 30 minutes, so a 3mph pace). My dinner is planned and waiting in the fridge. I don't think I will work tonight, so hopefully I can keep myself out of the damn kitchen after dinner, other than for planned snacks. If I don't work, I'll most likely do laundry and clean my apartment, which should keep me busy and burn some calories (although I won't count it).

Tickers will be updated as soon as I post this entry, and then I am moving forward. I think I did the math wrong on my goal - it was actually 16 weigh ins 'til the cruise, not 18. Which means I am down to 15...and I now have to average 2.46lb per week to meet the goal. Pretty aggressive, but do-able if I get off my butt.

Today was a good day!

I am so proud of myself today...I was such a good little bandster!

*I drank 4 liters of water
*I took my vitamins for the 6th day in a row
*I tracked everything that I put into my mouth (even the teeny tiny bites of this n that).
*I got in 95 grams of protein.
*I made the conscious decision to not eat something because I couldn't figure out the conversions to input the recipe.

and this is the big one....

I WENT TO THE GYM. You read that right...me....the exercise avoider...went to the gym.

The bottom line is that I have been hovering around 235 for three and a half freaking months now. I didn't have surgery, and make this huge change to my life, to get stuck here. I thought I could be slick, and outsmart the system, and continue to be lazy. Up until now, I've been half-assing it, and letting the band do all of the work. As we all know, that's not how this works. So it's time to take my thumb out of my ass, and get to work.

I've set a new goal for myself. I want to be under 200 by the time I leave for the cruise. That's 18 weigh ins away. I have 35 pounds to go. I can lose 2 pounds per week. I just have to want it badly enough.

Bad Blogger, Mediocre Weigh-In, and Good Hair!!!

Blogger has been driving me bananas this week...I haven't been able to comment OR post. Hrpmf. There have a been a lot of really great blogs too! I was just able to leave a comment, so hopefully I will be able to go back and comments on other blogs too :)

Weigh in yesterday was whatever...234.4...up.2 from last week. I definitely can eat too too much. I'm nervous to get another fill, because I do get PB/slime fairly regularly...but I am pretty sure that's user error! I have an appt to see Dr. K on the 8th, so we'll see. Here's hoping I don't get yelled at for being the same weight I was at my last appt!!!

I also finally made an appt to have major bloodwork done...I've not been feeling well lately...lots of stomach pain, lots of fatigue, and some dizziness/swimmy vision. I wanted to find a new primary care doc, as the one I have seen for years is also the family doc, and I have some big concerns about the care she gave my dad. So I asked Dr. K for a recommendation, and really like the doc she referred me to. We met the other day, and she actually brought me to her office to get a history and TALK TO ME, and find out what my concerns were. Then we made an appt for me to do bloodwork, and THEN, once she has the results, we're going to do a full exam. Makes way more sense to me than the approach the last doc always took. Had my bloodwork done yesterday (and for the first time IN MY LIFE have no bruise), and will meet with the doc again on Wed for to a full physical. I think I definitely have a few vitamin deficiencies (D, B-12), and think I might be anemic. I also think I am a little depressed (understandably so), so I am going to see what the doc thinks about a mild anti-depressant for a few months.

I worked 18 days in a row...and I am so happy to say....I am off from about 1 this afternoon until Tuesday morning!!! That's three and a half days, you guys! How exciting! I started the long weekend off with a bang (not literally..altho that would have been nice...)...I got a haircut! This is a big deal for me...I hate getting my hair cut. I've had really long hair for the last decade or more...it was a big deal when I added bangs in about 2 years ago. I cut off ELEVEN INCHES. (And, as a bonus, I got to donate it to Locks of Love!) I am thrilled with it...I think it's way fun and kicky. And it's freeing!!! Here is a pic for your viewing pleasure:



Yay! I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend...I know I plan to!