Up and Running

THIS IS HOW I FELT AFTER MY RUN

I've been struggling with eating lately and have slowly been getting it under control. But it's a process. I realize I will struggle with this for the rest of my life... that's been a hard concept to accept since having the lap band done. I (foolishly) thought my eating problems would be solved once I had the band put in. I was hoping they'd magically disappear. That is hardly the case. My eating problems are still there, but I've become more conscious of them. I like food. I like the taste of good food. I enjoy cooking. I enjoy cooking good food. And I need to be careful about what I put in my mouth!

So while working on the whole issue of food, I've been thinking about exercise. Yes, thinking. I know I should be actually doing it rather than thinking about it! I've been thinking that I want to be a runner. I used to run in the Army, and I was good at it. I could run fast! I could max my run on my PT test! I could run in the fast running group and I could run with the men! However, that was different. For one, I was 15 years younger and for two, someone was always yelling at me to run faster! I was running away from the drill sergeants who were yelling at me! One of my cousins is 6 weeks older than me...she recently ran her first marathon. I thought, "If she can do it, I can, too." And so this morning, I dusted off the treadmill. Initially, it wouldn't work...I couldn't get the darned thing to turn on. I almost gave up, but since I was already dressed in my running best, I fiddled around with it and figured out why it wouldn't turn on (I forgot to push something called the ON/OFF switch.) And I ran. I ran 1.5 miles in 21 minutes. Jacob plugged in the fan and told me my hair looked funny because it was bouncing up and down. Somehow, he thought that would cheer me on. By the end of one and a half miles of hell, I was hot, sweating, my face was red, my legs hurt, my lungs hurt (my legs still hurt) and my hair had bounced up and down and looked terrible. But. I. Did. It.


And tomorrow, I'll add more footprints to the dust that's still on the treadmill.

THIS IS HOW I FELT BEFORE MY RUN

New Pictures and an Update

It has been a while since I've blogged. We've had quite a few changes within the past month or so and all of my free time has suddenly vanished! In August, Jeff deployed to Iraq for a year. At the same time, I changed jobs and have gone back to school full time. I am currently teaching 2 sections of Language Arts methods...I'm teaching seniors how to teach elementary Language Arts. The seniors take this class (along with Reading and Social Studies methods) right before their student teaching. That keeps me very busy... I'm also going to school full time. I'm working on my doctorate in Literacy Education. Busy, busy, busy!

I've really struggled within the past month. I had my 2nd fill 5 weeks ago and have a difficult time eating meat. I have thrown up a few times from eating meat, so I've cut back on meat and have been eating softer foods. Well, I can eat a larger amount of softer food than "regular" food, so I've gained 5-7 lbs. It goes up and down hourly! Also, since I've been so busy, it's easy to grab something on the go, so I need to focus on sitting down to eat a meal instead of small snacks. Toss in lack of exercise, too! I've been so busy that I haven't been exercising regularly. During the past week, I've walked 4 times, so that's a step in the right direction (haha...what a pun!)

I feel like I'm finally getting everything together...the exercising, I'm planning meals (not snacks) and I'm getting the eating under control. I'm down 44 lbs and feel so much better. I dragged out the jeans yesterday and had to give away a couple of pair since they were too big (one pair even had tags on them!) I wore a size 18 jeans today...a little snug, but doable. And I've even shopped in the "regular" size clothing...and no one kicked me out or gave me funny looks! :)

My Pants Are Falling Down!

This picture is not of me...I'm a girl, I'm white and I'd never look at a car engine... (I wouldn't know what to look for! Oil, where does that go? Carburetor? What's that? Spark whats?)

I was at work yesterday and I got a little embarrassed. While I was walking up the stairs, carrying 2 boxes mind you, my pants decided to slide down. I knew when I put them on in the morning that they were too big, but I wore them anyways. And with my hands full, it was difficult to grab them before they slid all the way off! Luckily, I was in the stairwell and classes have not started yet, so there wasn't a soul around to witness my mortification! I'm just hoping there weren't any video cameras in the stairwell...otherwise, I might have given the security people something to laugh about! :)

Here's an interesting blog about the baggy pants fashion statement http://bizarrocomic.blogspot.com/2009/07/one-mans-pants-another-mans-pariah.html It's kind of funny!

And while I was searching for images to use for this post, I came across several items to help with the pants falling down...and it's not called a belt.

Clearly the Luna Lullaby is for a pregnant woman, but the cartoon girl to the right doesn't look pregnant... and the picture to the right...um, I think that's a mattress/sheet thing that binds them to the bed! Maybe I should market that idea! :)

Back to a Routine...well, maybe...and some EXCITING news!

I am finally back to a somewhat normal routine... for the next week or so... Then it will all change once again!

We've had a busy last couple of weeks...softball, going away parties, doctor appointments, geocaching trips, and my Mum and Ed came to visit for a week. During the week they were here, we all stayed at the lake. We spent the time jet skiing, swimming, and just hanging out. It was a fun time. So this somewhat normal routine will last a few days...we're headed to Iowa one last time before Jeff deploys, then Jacob starts school next week, I have commitments for my new job at K State and then the following week Jeff deploys and I start school and my new job! Whew...I guess that's not really back to a "normal" routine! Once school starts and Jeff deploys, then maybe things will settle down a little! (I doubt it!)

And now for the EXCITING news! I went shopping for some new clothes when Mum was here. I didn't want to buy much...just a few things to get me by. I need to dress a little more professionally with my new job, so after trying on practically all of my clothes (and discovering I had a huge amount of clothes that were too big!) I decided I needed a couple of shirts. Well, I found 2 shirts in Sears that fit the bill. And they fit me, too! :) I found the shirts in the normal sized clothes department! Not in the dreaded Women's Department, but in the regular sized clothing! YES! You heard me, I DID NOT have to cross that isle to the dreaded plus sized clothing!!! YIPPEE!

Here's even MORE exciting news...I went to the doctor for some med refills; I only had about a weeks worth of blood pressure medication left...and my blood pressure was 110/68. I no longer have to take blood pressure medication! :) Yippee!

2 Months Out

Well, it's been 2 months since I've had the lap band surgery. I couldn't be more pleased with it. I feel better. Not that I noticed I felt bad before the surgery, but I just feel better now that I've lost some weight. I have more energy, I'm ready to go, ready to do things, ready to get on with my life!

For the first time, I am not obsessing over food...how many fat grams, how many fiber grams, how many servings of milk, how many "free" veggies, how many points. I feel like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders (hahaha...get it??? weight off my shoulders???) I'm choosing to eat low fat meals that are high in protein, but no one is saying, "You MUST eat this." It's an incredibly freeing feeling! And I'm being successful at it!

According to my scale, I've lost 38 lbs!

Here are some pictures that Jacob took of me last week. I'm happy with the changes that I'm seeing! I tried to vary the pictures...I'm smiling and I placed one on top of the blog and the other at the bottom. I'm hoping no one mistakes them for mug shots! :)

Vacation

Hello Everyone!

We've been on vacation for the last 2-1/2 weeks. Jeff has been on block leave before he deploys to Iraq. We've been here and there, everywhere and back again! We spent some time in Iowa visiting the in laws, we took a trip to KC and stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge and then "camped" in the RV at Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun for a few days. (I walked around for 2 days in public in my bathing suit!) We stayed at the lake for a few days, we took a 2 day, 800+ mile geocaching trip, we set 26 new geocaches in Junction City and hosted a geocaching event. Whew...I need a vacation from my vacation! Check out my other blog to read about our adventures of geocaching: http://www.diecast64.blogspot.com/. And http://www.geocaching.com/ to learn more about the obsession called geocaching!

So, how did being on vacation go while having my lap band? It went pretty well. I'm down another 4 lbs! :) And I feel great! Since we stayed in the RV some of the time, I was able to cook food and watch protein, fat and calories in everything I prepared. There were a few times that I didn't chew my food enough, or that I ate a bit too much...(see the steak post!) but I'm still getting used to eating "just the right amount" with the band. And "just the right amount" varies day by day. On our 2 day geocaching trek, we ate mostly fast food (so we could get back on the road in a hurry!) And, I did OK...I ate mostly chicken, but I followed the pouch rules and listened to my body and stopped eating when I was getting full!

Now that we're back to "normal" life (if that's what you call it!) I need to get back into an exercising routine. My goal for this week is to exercise 3 times before Sunday. I know once I start exercising regularly I will feel even better and will lose more weight.

So, I'm raising my water mug (with Real Lime) to celebrate vacations, good times and exercising!

A New Blog I Found

I love bags...totes, purses, make-up bags, change purses, whatever!

I have found a new blog and I just wanted to share it with you all! This site makes me drool!

http://justanotherhangup.blogspot.com/

There are beautiful tote bags on this site and even a contest to win one! Check it out and wipe the drool from your chin as you look around! :) Enjoy!