Off to a good start

Well today was a good day. I made time and ate breakfast. I planned my lunch. Today I had eggs and laughing cow cheese for breakfast. Derby City chicken salad/ritz crackers for lunch and then for an afternoon meal I had 7 layer salad. I had a good food day. Nothing got stuck.
The chicken salad I bought at Kroger. The 7 layer salad I made. Yummy!
 Seven layer salad
1 cup romaine
1/2 c chopped celery
1/2 c chopped cucumber, seeded
1/2 c frozen peas, drained
1/2 c mayonnaise, spread on top of peas to seal salad
1/2 c bacon, crispy
1/2 c sharp cheddar
1/2 c bacon, crispy
Mrs. Dash, sprinkled on before the mayonnaise

Layer in this order in container. One serving. Refrigerate overnight.

Tonight will be hamburgers topped with avocado. Again, yummy!!

Tomorrow I may take leftovers and another 7 layer salad. Good stuff.

My job is less stressful than the previous one so that is good. All in all I am optimistic. Still a little early to tell. If I could only get this eating thing sorted out. Yesterday I got stuck a couple of times. Today none. Here's hoping.

2nd week down...

I had a good 2nd week at my new job. I had a bad 2nd week at my new job when it relates to eating. I have been getting stuck daily. Today EVERTHING has gotten stuck. I have thrown up every thing I tried to eat. I think the problem may be stemming from no breakfast this week. With my new job, my daughter having a fractured elbow (my having to get her up and ready for VBS) and getting to work earlier I haven't had time to fix breakfast.
Lunch today was Jimmy John's sandwich. I never have problems with that. Today stuck big time! Up it came. I waited an hour and tried again and up it came again.
I had a hot dog(no bread) for dinner and pretzels. Up it came. I ended up coming home and fixing scrambled eggs with laughing cow cheese. It stayed down fine.

I need to somehow come up with a plan for breakfast. I have a sitter that watches Brie but I have to get her up and get her dressed each morning because of her fractured arm. I'm the only one that can. She can't do it by herself. So that has me running late every morning. I can't be late for work at my new job. I also need to take my lunch. I am in meetings most days all day so I need something to fix that has a low rate of getting stuck. Any ideas?

I love my new job though. I am getting the hang of it sort of. I am still not into the meat and potatoes yet but I am getting it. I hope it continues to go well.

I don't want to resort to mushies but it is getting to be that way.

Oh the PRESSURE!!

Sinus pressure that is. Thursday night I suddenly had a scratchy throat and woke up in the middle of the night with a stuffy nose. As of today I am coughing up greenish junk. Sinus infection anyone? My problem is my concern that all this drainage will clog up my stoma. I have read where someone has drainage and it becomes a solid plug(eww) and they can't eat or drink. I am paranoid about this now. I am going to try and run to the urgent care to see if I can get antibiotics to get this cleared up but with just me home with the kids right now I don't see that happening today.

I finished my first week at my new job and I still feel lost. I haven't gotten any training so to speak so I am winging it and I have found that I don't have all the necessary tools on my computer. I didn't know that until Friday afternoon. Can't wait to see what next week brings. Several IT guys got fired last week because they screwed up once. Just once! Now I am scared.

What a week!

New job started-Check!
Feeling overwhelmed--Check check!
Starting to think I made a mistake- Check check check!

I know, it has only been 4 days. I am way out of my element here. It is hard to get aclimated to a whole new career. This job is way out of my usual element so I feel lost for the first time in 10 years. I have 2-5 meetings per day. I am busy that's for sure. I work in the IT department now as a software tester. I don't have a college degree, yet. I still have another 6-9 months for my Associates degree in Information Technology but I have had ZERO computer technology classes.

Just an example, I had to validate reports asap. Huh? What the heck does that mean? They gave some vague guidelines and well...I googled it and taught myself and winged it. It has a lot of work with excel, SQL and query. I am by no means an expert in excel or any of the other stuff. Did the report validation, again not really sure what that is, and apparently it was okay because it was forwarded right on to the programmers to fix what I found. I think it will take me some time to feel comfortable with what I am doing.

I had issues with eating. I was so nervous and out of my element that I didn't eat breakfast 3 of the 4 mornings so far this week. That made lunch hard to swallow. Literally! Then suddenly today, I am enjoying a salad and suddenly my throat was scratchy and I felt like I have the flu. It hit me all of a sudden. Just what I need, to get sick. I am rarely sick! UGH!!

I haven't been losing any more weight lately but I am not feeling hungry either. I get stuck quite often. My favorite meal right now is a grilled hamburger topped with sliced avacado. YUM!

I don't have the support of my former boss, no so much anyway. I went and bought some new clothes. Not a lot but I usually just wear jeans. So being that I am now in IT and having meetings with managers and directors I figure I can't wear jeans everyday. So I dusted off my capris and bought some new sweaters and shirts on clearance at Old Navy. My old boss said I get a new job and new clothes and now I am trying to be something I'm not. That HURT! Just maybe I am being what I always knew I could be??

Well, I have one more day this week then much needed rest. I am having problems sleeping, again because I think I am so nervous so we'll see how it goes. Maybe next week will be much better.

Getting ready for my new job

Well it starts tomorrow. As I have said, I am both excited and very nervous. Starting a new chapter as I did a year ago when I got the lapband.

I had come across a fantastic little snack a while back and have now expanded on it. Pepperoni, veggie cream cheese and tortillas. Who doesn't like a roll up? Spread the cream cheese on the tortilla, top with pepperoni and roll up. Chill overnight. Cut in 2 in slices and enjoy! Very filling and band friendly. I will be taking that each day for a snack or lunch. You can mix it up. Mix cream cheese with taco seasoning and add shredded cheese for a taco roll up. Mix cream cheese with diced ham and green onion and roll up. I make this dip for crackers but it would be fantastic as a roll up. The trick is letting it marinate overnight on any of them. The flavors are so much better. Of course the standard green chilis or jalapenos and cream cheese, shredded cheese and roll up. You could make a veggie one just used finely diced veggies and cream cheese. The possibilities are endless.

Getting my clothes sorted out. I want to look professional, well more than usual plus I am just going to have to get new clothes. I will be meeting with developers and programmers and managers. Got to look spiffy. It wouldn't do to have "repeat" clothes too often. LOL.

Going to make ribs on the grill tonight. More for the family than me cause me and pork don't get along too well. Well it pork and my band that have issues. It doesn't matter how tender it is, it still causes issues. I had a bite of steak last night and I mean a small bite. I had to chew it for 10 min before swallowing. I love steak but you know what? It so wasn't worth the chewing I had to do.

I think tomorrow I will eat my eggs, as usual. I am packing my roll ups and some guac/baked scoops. Vitamin water zero. What to do for lunch? I guess I could head out to Jason's for a salad. I will be working shorter days so I won't need a bunch of food. Instead of working four 10 hour days, I will be working M-F until 5pm. I was working until 8pm. I won't get 3 day weekends anymore but I will be getting off early every day. I haven't worked 5 day weeks in a few years. Another change...

Of course now that I will be getting off early I will have to cook every night whereas my husband cooked during the week when I worked until 8pm and I cooked on weekends. Hmm...we are going to have to split this up I think. No wonder he was so excited about my schedule change.

I went to a car show yesterday and took my food with me. Rollups of course and chicken salad. It was so freakin hot. I drank 2 Vitamin waters and 3 lemonades and was still thirsty. Yeah I know plain water is best but I can't stand it. I went home and was sooo thirsty, I drank and drank until my stomach hurt. I feel fine today. I was dehydrated obviously.

Getting ready to get ready for my new job. Cleaning house today as the sitter starts tomorrow as well with school being out for the summer. Changes all around.

I pray I am not too nervous or stressed tomorrow otherwise my band will have issues.

A decade gone...

Today marked my last day in the unit that I have been in for the last 10 years. It was bittersweet knowing that when I go back to work on Monday, for the first time in 10 years, I will be reporting to someone else. I will no longer be a team leader.
My group gave me a "going away" party of sorts. We had pizza, wings, chips, dips, veggies and dip, and chocolate cake. They bought me a few little gifts. It was very sweet of them. I didn't think they would do anything at all. I had the toppings off a piece of pizza, 3 little wings, veggies and dip. I had a sliver of cake. So nice of them.

I worked an extra hour to try and get through some things. They won't have anyone covering my desk for about 2 weeks so that is tragic but not my problem anymore.

I am very nervous to go from a job that I am considered highly knowledgeable to one that I don't know squat. Very scary indeed. I am still very excited though.

I have lots to do this weekend. I will have to precisely plan meals until I learn their routine. Better to be safe then sorry.

Wish me luck...

Been awhile...

I still haven't posted my 1 year pictures yet. I just haven't had time. My life is changing so much and I have had a lot of animosity to deal with at work. You would think people would be more accepting and proud of me rather than keep telling me I am ditching the unit. I am just trying to better myself and move forward in the company. This is a good promotion for me but why do they make me feel so guilty? I am to the point now that I am just letting it ride and biding my time until June 6th when I start my new job. I will still be working with them but I will be a software tester for them. 

My weight has been staying constant. I did go up a few pounds and I attribute that to swelling with the heat and probably too much salt. It has taken a week or so but I finally got my weight back down to where it has been. I stopped eating avocado for about a week and my weight creeped up. Strange huh? They are expensive. I was getting them 3 for $5 now they are $2.19 each. I still buy 7 a week. Pricey but I am worth it.

Speaking of avocado, I grilled hamburgers tonight. I made me a stuffed burger. I stuffed it with cheese and bacon, seasoned with Cajun seasoning. I topped it with sliced avocado. Can I say YUM!!! It was protein loaded. I have fallen in love with a salad at Jason's Deli. It is loaded with fat and protein. You know it does. I am not about low fat if it is high protein. I think it evens out. It works for me. Again it is my preference. I know others don't agree. I do eat low fat for the most part. I choose low fat when possible but if it is high protein, like around 58g, then I don't worry about the fat so much. Anyway, the salad has romaine, iceberg, southwestern grilled chicken, avocado, bacon, cheddar and asiago cheese. YUMMY.

Lately I have been eating more salads. Almost everyday now I have salad for either lunch or dinner or sometimes both. It doesn't stay with me for very long even with protein on it.

We started our garden today. So far, I have planted tomatoes, cucumbers and honeydew melons. I am getting broccoli and cauliflower tomorrow, hopefully. Maybe lettuce too, I don't know.  I also bought strawberries in planter boxes for my deck. They do really well up there. We fenced in the garden because my dogs, jack russells, will tear it up. The little beasts!

Well I just wanted to do a quick update. I don't know if I will be able to get back on here this week since it is my last week in the unit. I have a feeling my boss is going to wear me out. She keeps giving me things to do saying, you do it because you are ditching us. Whatever!!

A New Beginning

Things are chaning for me at work. There is a job at work, QA Application Tester, that I have applied for twice already and each time it was down to me and one other person. Obviously the other person got it each time and the last time I was told I had it and didn't get it. I was absolutely bummed and was determined NEVER to apply again. And I didn't. That was 2 years ago. Friday they posted this job again for the 2nd time in a week. I was sending that manager some issues we had with software and hinted that she needed to hire a tester for our client. She responded back asking me to interview for the tester job. I pointed out that I had before and got screwed over. Well not in those terms but I let her know I was not happy. She said she would have her manager interview me and if she gives the okay then its mine. That was fair. Now my current job is a grade level 30. This new job is a grade 32. I would be stupid not to try. I told her I would think about it over the weekend and let her know on Monday. Monday I came into work and had an email from her asking if I had thought it over. I said sure I would like to interview. I met with her Manager on Tuesday afternoon. It only lasted 10 min. I had the sinking feeling it didn't go well. About 15 minutes later I was offered the job. WOO HOO!! We discussed salary and I told her I would talk about it with my husband and let her know on Wednesday(today). Now, I really didn't need to think about it. I was taking it.
I accepted the job today and start on June 6th. I am going from a stressful job that has a monthly/quarterly monetary goal, handling 800 files, negotiating with attorneys and adjusters and being team leader of a unit of 13 examiners and now will be testing software. Wow big difference. I will have new challenges and new things to learn. I am about 6 months away from my associates degree in Computer Technology. I hope to continue that and get my degree.
One of the reasons I got this job over the other person, yeah it was down to me and another person, was because of my outgoing personality. Me? This is my tribute to the band. I have a new found self esteem that I have not had in the last 20 something years. I attribute this to my weightloss.
Today was a little extra stressful. I bring this up only due to the weightloss. A while back I had my 1st mammogram since I turned 40. I had to go back for an ultrasound and 2nd mammogram. I have many cysts but they couldn't feel them and  they were just going to watch them and I was to go back in 6 months. A week ago last Sunday, I was getting dressed and looked down and saw a bulge on my right breast. It was a large lump, several inches in size. I called my doctor the next day and they scheduled me an appointment to go back for an ultrasound and aspiration. That was today. Needless to say I have been very nervous. They removed 10cc of fluid from the cyst. They said it was okay and no need to send it off for labs. Thankfully. No cancer.
On with my new life...I am so excited. I have been in my current job for 10 years. This is like starting over but I am very excited.

MY ONE YEAR BANDAVERSARY

On this day, one year ago, I was embarking on the biggest adventure of my life. Little did I know just how much it would change my life. I hoped it would but really had no idea of what I would accomplish.

So many things have changed in my life since that day. No more soft drinks for me. Anyone who knows me knew that Big Red and grape soda were my passions.
I can now sit in a seat at the movie theater and not be wedged in there plus I don't have to sit a seat apart from people because of my size. I can sit in a booth at any restaurant and not have my stomach sitting on top of the table or it being shoved up in my throat.
I can get in and out of my car with ease. I can walk from far out in the parking lot into work without stopping to breathe heavy.
My feet don't swell everyday like before. I can wear cute shoes and not have pudgy feet. Hey, some things are important.
As I have said before, I can use the regular stalls in the bathroom at work instead of the "luxury suite" or handicapped stall.
The biggest thrill for me is being able to cross my legs. I can sit like a lady again.
I have dropped a multitude of sizes. Gone from a tight size 28/30 possibly larger(30/32 in some things), to 18/20. More 18 than 20. I can buy off the racks now at regular stores and of course Old Navy is my favorite right now. I haven't taken my measurements in a long long while so I will update that on a later date as soon as I find my measuring tape.
My health has dramatically improved. Blood pressure is no longer high. Cholesterol is normal again. Was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes December 2009 and no longer take any medications and blood sugar is normal. I had a mini stroke in 2008 but now my risks are lowered for a full blown stroke. I have APS(antiphospholipid antibody syndrome) but my clotting risks are lower due to the drastic weight loss. Edema is mostly gone now. Reflux is mainly gone. I rarely take meds for it.

This has been a hard journey. It takes a lot of work and effort. It's not the miracle cure some people hope for and others (non banders) think it is. I have a lot of sacrafices with the band. I still have bumps and curves in my journey because of the band. Things get stuck even a year later when I am an expert on what I can and cannot eat. It's always a learning experience every single day.

My BIGGEST accomplishment?? I have lost....DRUMROLL PLEASE....112.5 LBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Am I happy with the surgery? You bet I am! Would I do it again? In a heartbeat! Do I have any regrets? Not a one! Would I do anything different? Yes, I would have done this sooner. Do I recommend it for others? No. Now I know you are thinking what do you mean No? I could never recommend a surgery for someone. This is such a personal decision to make. It is a huge investment not only for you but your family. This isn't for everyone. You have to be in the right frame of mind to do this because there are some psychological stresses on you when you have this surgery. It's not like a diet that at some point you can give up and go back to what and how you were eating. This surgery is adjustable so you can "give up" to a point but it's not going to fully go back unless you have it removed. You can control just how restrictive the band is by getting adjustments. Could it work for you? Yes it could. Would it work the same for you as me? Absolutely NOT! We are all different and unique so is our weightloss journey.

I had hoped to have pictures ready to post today but of course I don't. I will get those together soon and get my one year pic posted.

Thank you everyone for your love and support as I continue my journey.

I look forward to the next year. I am excited to see how my life continues to change.

Avocado, the perfect fruit. My new obsession

My new obsession is guacamole. A very simplistic yet yummy recipe.

Mashed avocado, 1 large or 2 small
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp garlic powder
Mix well, put the seed in the guac and enjoy.Yes the seed keeps it from turning as quickly. Check my recipes for one with minced garlic instead. I use Baked scoops to "scoop" it up. I seem to crave it daily. Of course you can add chopped tomatoes, minced onion, jalapenos, cilantro etc. I personally don't like that in my guac.

So, I did a little research online. Did you know that avocados are a complete fruit? It is very useful for lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, regulating blood sugar. It helps with blood clotting among other things. What a wonderful little fruit! I am addicted.

Yes they are high in fat but it's the good fat, monounsaturated. High in fiber, 9.2g. It is very filling too. Even though it is a "mushie" food, with regards to my band, I still feel full after eating my guac. Yummy stuff.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1844/2