Seriously....the flu?!

I woke up this morning sick as a dog.  I am not really sure what that saying means, but we use it alot down here in the South.  My dogs are pretty healthy...anywho...I seriously told my husband to knock me out and wake me when it's over.  I laid in bed for a while and thought I was starting to feel better....wrong!!  I was in the shower and felt some disturbing intestinal issues coming on and then all of the sudden I felt like I needed to throw up. Now keep in mind I had not eaten anything this morning.  I had a Boost and that was it.  Well....I had to jump out of the shower soaking wet get on the toilet and it was coming out both ends at the same time.  I am sorry for the graphic nature of this, but this has NEVER happened to me before.  I have literally slept all day.  My husband has been awesome bringing me popsicles and water.  I just hope this ends soon.  I hope everyone else is having a better weekend than me. 

I'm here.....

but don't really have anything interesting to say right now.  I have had a really, really crappy week.  Maybe something fun will happen this weekend.  I hope everyone has a great one!

They've lost that filling feeling.....

Yea, so I went to the Dr. earlier this week and she says no fill for you.  I only go to my Dr. every 6 weeks, so since January 11th, I have lost 14 lbs and she said she is happy with that and doesn't want to do anything right now.  At first I was disappointed, but now I realize that is is probably for the best.  I am such a worrier anyway that if she did do a fill I would be constantly worrying if I had band erosion or slip...I'm crazy that way!  I am encouraged though that where I am now with my fills is doing it's job.  I got my dates mixed up and actually went to the Dr. on Monday, so 14 lbs down on Monday and when I got on the scale this morning I had lost another 1.3 lbs.  The scale is moving in the right direction and I am happy with that!

I have had issues with protein drinks since my surgery.  I can't find one that I actually like, so in my mind I thought I just wouldn't drink them.   I mean what would it hurt, right?  Wrong!  My butt is a little smaller now thanks to it being chewed up at the Dr. for not getting enough protein.  So I went to the store last night and saw these new Boost High Protein drinks.  I thought what the hey, I'll try it.  LOVE IT!!  They taste so good, nothing like a protein shake. 

The chocolate is killer.  I know it doesn't have as much protein as other drinks, but this is better than nothing in my book! 

I also wanted to say thank you to everyone for reading my blog and the comments you leave.  This is the first blog I have ever done and didn't think anyone, let alone 44 people, would find what I have to say interesting.  It is so comforting to know that everyone has gone through or will go through the same thing.  I feel like we are some kind of fun and sometimes dysfunctional family :) 

I have a confession.....

My name is Kim and I am a reality tv junkie.  Let me say though, I only watch the "classy" reality!   :)  I love the Amazing Race, Shear Genius, Project Runway, The Real Housewives of whatever city at the moment.  As I type this I am watching this week's Project Runway!!  I don't know what draws me in....well I guess I do.  I watch it to a) take my mind off of the everyday things called life b) I really just can't believe that some people act the way they do.  It amazes me!!  I know that they are probably hamming it up for the camera, but still, it's crazy! 

On a happy note.....my husband and I were outside talking to my neighbor tonight and I needed to get something out of my car really fast.  We live on a big hill and the neighbors house is down hill from ours so I had to run up the hill to my car.  Normally I would have been out of breath and panting and turning red thinking to myself I am about keel over at any moment from a heart attack.  Tonight I did not!!  I ran to my car, got what I needed and about half way back to my husband it hit me that I was not about to die!  That was an awesome feeling :)  I am so looking forward to feeling that feeling more and more. 

You like me........you really, really like me!!

                  Beautiful Blogger Award!!!

Thank you Julie and Drazil for nominating me!! 

I have not been blogging very long, so this is awesome!

 Here are the rules:

* Thank the person who nominated you for this award
* Copy the award and post it in your blog
* Link to the blog of the person who nominated you
* Tell seven interesting things about yourself
* Nominate seven bloggers
* Post links to the blogs of your nominees

Interesting things about me:

1.  I am completely scared of clowns.  I don't like clowns at the circus, clown figurines, clown paintings.....they scare me.  About 7 years ago my friends and I went to Halloween Horror nights at Universal Studios in Orlando (not sure how they talked me into it) and what they failed to tell me was the theme for the year was demented clowns.  I went in one haunted house with them and cried the entire time.  After that I did not go on anything else with them, I sat on a bench the rest of the night. 

2.  I got married at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL.  Growing up about 30 minutes from Orlando, I was at Disney all the time.  I remember when I was little I knew I was going to get married there one day....and I did!

3.  I am deathly afraid of sharks.  I lived only about 30 minutes from the beach growing up and when my friends I would go, I never went in the water because I thought a shark would come and bite my leg off. 

4. I went to Astronaut High School.  No, it is not a school for astronauts.  No, our mascot was not an astronaut.  What do you expect when you grow up on the Space Coast of FL?!

5.  I tore the ACL in my right knee when I was 17 years old coming out of Space Mountain at Disney World.  I was goofing around with my friends and I jumped up on the moving sidewalk coming off of the ride and my ACL completely tore.   I got to ride in a Disney ambulance and go to the Disney hospital! 

6.  I have a brother that is 10 years younger than me.  He is an AWESOME baseball player and one day you will see him play in the majors.

7.  In high school my dad took me on a trip to Europe that was comical to say the least.  The 2 days we were supposed to spend in Paris we spent in Detroit, MI due to plane malfunctions.  When we finally  made we only had about 8 hours to see everything.  We rode the Eurostar to London.  The first few days were wonderful, then our passports got stolen, sort of.  We accidently left them in a cab, but he would not come back and return them.  We were escorted through the airports because we did not have passports.  Good times!!!

My Nominations in no particular order:

*Kristen's Lapband Journey* 
 http://redmokr.blogspot.com/
Kristen is super sweet and so supportive.  We have the same Dr. so it is so nice to be able to talk to her about it.  Plus she is representing the Ham (and I am talking about Birmingham!!)

Something Something Something Fat Chick
http://somethingsomethingsomethingfatchick.blogspot.com/
I love Gilly's sense of humor!   She is very insightful and I love reading her blog.

One Foodie's Band Quest
http://bandstertracy.blogspot.com/
I love following Tracy's blog.  She is so open and I have learned a lot from her.

The Wonderful Adventures of Julie and Sammy
http://julie-and-sammy.blogspot.com/
Julie is so sweet!  She has not been banded yet and I love reading about the beginning of her journey.  I can't wait to hear all about after she is banded!

The Banded Blubbery Blogger
http://blubberyblogger.blogspot.com/
This was the first blog I started reading.  It really inspired me to start my own blog.  Lynn is so funny!

Once Upon a Time....In the Land of Cheese and Sunkist
http://cheeseandsunkist.blogspot.com/
What can I say about Amy?  She is awesome!  She doesn't hold anything back and is so sweet.  She will answer any questions you have and will be your biggest cheerleader.

It's Just Me, Drazil and Sheniqua
http://justmedrazil.blogspot.com/
She is just too funny!!  I love following her blog, always keeps me laughing!

Thank you to everyone who follows my blog or if you have just read it once.  I cannot believe the support and love I have gotten from this banded community!  Thank you!!

NASA Fruit

So, after reading Amy's blog the other day about fruit in a pouch, I wanted to try one.  My Publix here had the Buddy Fruits 10 for $10, so basically a buck a piece.  I got an apple & cinnamon and an apple & banana (that is all the store had for flavors).  I tried the apple & cinnamon yesterday and it wasn't bad, but not my favorite.  To me it is the consistency of thick, smooth apple sauce.  I just broke open the apple & banana......WOW...LOVE IT!!!  I am big fan of bananas so it would make sense that I like this one better!   The display in the store was pushing that they come in these pouches like the astronauts use in space....NASA fruit!  I would highly recommend these if you are having problems getting in your fruit servings for the day (pointing at myself). 

Is it Tuesday yet?

On Tuesday I go to the Dr. hopefully for another fill.  I am afraid that she is going to say no fill for you!  As I have said before, my Dr. is conservative with the fills, so keep your fingers crossed!! 

I don't really have a lot to say tonight, so I thought I would share some pictures with ya'll!

                    Joe and I at a friends wedding a few years ago

Joe and I at our wedding

I hope everyone has a great Thursday!

Blah I say, just Blah

I am feeling very blah today.  I have gained 2 lbs, I am stressed at work and I am feeling blah.  Nothing else to really say right now.  I hope everyone has a good night.

New Favorite Breakfast

I have not always been a breakfast girl, but in the last couple of years can't seem to function if I don't have something.   I like oatmeal, I like cream of wheat and grits, but my favorite breakfast used to be Chick-fil-A chicken minis.  Since Scarlett (my band) came along the chicken mini's just don't work.  On my way into the office every morning I have to pass by 2 CFA restaurants and this morning I guess I was feeling froggy and pulled in the drive through.  I am not sure exactly when I pulled in what I was going to order, but I knew I wanted something from CFA.  As I looked at the menu I saw something new.  A yogurt and fruit parfait.  I am not big on plain vanilla yogurt but with fruit and granola I thought I would give it a try.  Yep, it has become my new favorite.  I LOVE it!!  If you like this kind of thing you have to try it.  I think I am going to make it at home myself and see how that goes. 

A better attitude and baggy clothes

I have been feeling kind of down lately (you can tell from my past posts) about my weight loss progress.  I was talking to someone close to me who has also had the procedure and he told me something that never really occured to me.  I had the surgery done 7 months ago and have lost 20 lbs.  However, my Dr. is SUPER conservative with fills and won't just let me call up and come in when I think I need one.  He makes me wati 6 weeks in between.  Anyway, this person told me that I had not really been reaping the rewards of the surgery until just 4 weeks ago when I finally felt restriction.  I had lost weight right after the surgery when I was on liquids, but nothing since.  I am now on the downward slope (yay!) but was still kind of down about it.  But when I put into perspective with the time and everything else, I think I am doing pretty good.  I know I need to exercise more, but that is something I can change and I will! 

I have definitely noticed some changes in my clothes lately, my jeans especially.  They are getting really baggy in the booty.  Last winter my mom bought me a winter jacket and it fit really well.  Today we went to the Univeristy of Alabama A Club Football BBQ Cook-Off and it was cold!!  I wore said jacket above and it was kind of baggy on me.  I was happy!  It still looked good, but I know that this year will the last time I will get to wear it.  Here are a couple of pics from today.

Me and my husband Joe

Better attitude = Better Kim

As I have looked back at my last few posts I noticed something....I seem to be complaining or kind of down.  I have decided tonight that I am going to have a better attitude and hopefully that will change things.  Instead of being pissed off and stressed at work, I am going be to grateful I have a job and think of it has job security.  I am not going to get down on only losing 20 lbs so far,  I am going to think that I am 20 lbs lighter than I was 6 months ago.   Hopefully, if I can start thinking like this all the time I will become a happier person. 

Thank you to everyone for the support, ya'll are awesome!

Debbie Downer....maybe?

Why does my mind always go to the worst possible situation? 

I had my last fill on January 11th and the restriction was great.  I have found though over the last week that it has not been as tight.  I have had a few times where I have eaten too much too fast and had to bring it back up.  Of course my mind goes straight to my band has slipped or something is wrong with it and it's going to fail and I will be fat forever.  Of course I know this is probably not the case, but why do I immediately go there?  I called my Dr. office and they said not to worry about it and that my band is just probably getting adjusted and come in for my regular appointment on the 22nd.  I just need to simmer down now and not freak out, but it's been a week from you know where. 

I am getting really excited though about this weekend!!  My husband, dad, stepmom and I are going to over to the University of Alabama for a BBQ.  They are going to be former players there from the 50's up to the current National Championship team.  My dad played in the late 70's under Bear Bryant and won 2 National Championships in '78 and '79 so we get to be there 2 hours before the general public can come in and take pictures and stuff!  I am really looking forward to it.  See, I'm happier already! 

Bad News, Good News

Let's play a little game of bad news, good news.  Bad news this morning.....had to have a root canal and the left side of my face is numb.  Good news about having root canal.....can only eat mushy food for 2 weeks so probably will lose a good amount of weight!

Why can't my outside match my inside?

That is what I have been pondering lately?

I have very low self-esteem.  I am a very sensitive person but this has gotten better as I have gotten older.  I am also working on my self-esteem.  I know that I can be outgoing and fun but I think it's really hard for me when my outside does not match my insides.  On the inside, I feel cute and outgoing and fun, but on the outside I am fat and not so cute.  I know that this surgery will help with this, but I am worried at times that I still won't be able to see it.  My family tells me all the time that I am funny, but am I funny because I am the funny fat girl or because I am really a funny person? 

I want to dress better.  As we all know there is not a lot of "cute" big girl clothes out there and that upsets me.  I always feel like I am dressed sloppily. I try and pull off what I think is nice looking, but always end up looking not put together.  I want to look how I feel.  I am so self-conscious about how I look.  I wish I could be one of those people that just didn't give a rip and be myself, but I alas I am not.  It is a problem for me.  I worry about what other people are thinking of me it has held me back so much in my life.  It is something that I am constantly worrying about.  I always think people are judging me on how I look and not me.  Honestly, that is why there are no pictures of me on my blog or numbers.  I am too scared of what everyone will think of me.  Isn't that crazy?! 

I am hopeful though that I won't be like this forever.

Getting to know me.....again!

1. What is your occupation right now? EDI Enrollment Specialist for a medical software company

2. What color are your socks right now? I am barefoot at the moment

3. What are you listening to right now? NCIS

4. What was the last thing you ate? hummus

5. Can you drive a stick shift? yes

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Joe

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? yes

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on tv? college football

10. What is your favorite drink? water

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes

12. Favorite food? Italian

13. What is the last movie you watched? Mean Girls

14. Favorite day of the year? Christmas

16. What was your favorite toy as a child? I'm not sure

17. What is your favorite season? Fall

18. Cherries or Blueberries? cherries

19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? yep- it would be fun to learn more about my fellow bloggers.

20. Who is the most likely to respond? don't know?

21. Who is least likely to respond? people who don't read my blog :)

22. Living situation? with my husband, 2 dogs and cat

23. When was the last time you cried? today

24. What is on the floor of your closet right now: Joe's shoes and a suitcase

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to? ??

26. What did you do last night? laundry

27. What are you most afraid of? someone I love dying unexpectedly

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? cheese, but I don't really eat them much

29. Favorite dog breed? great dane

30. Favorite day of the week? Friday

31. How many states have you lived in? 2

32. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds

33. What is your favorite flower? roses

New Favorite

I love chocolate pudding.  I remember when I was a little girl going out to eat with my grandparents and always getting chocolate pudding for dessert.  Probably why I am in the boat I am, but whatever.  I have tried those fat free, zero calorie puddings and thought they tasted horrible.   However, Joe and I were grocery shopping and he saw these Jell-O Mousse puddings that are only 60 calories.  I was hesitant at first but thought I would try them out.  They are my new favorite pudding!!  They do not taste like they are only 60 calories and they are moussey, so you get a feeling of eating a much more decadent dessert than a pudding cup.  Just wanted to share!!

(I had to take the picture with the pudding cup on my computer keyboard)

New Scale

I finally got a new scale yesterday.  I love it!!!!  I don't have to move it around the dining room for an hour and step on it 47 times to get my weight. 

My scale loves me again.....for the moment

So you know the problems that I have with my scale....step on, it goes blank, move it a 1/2 inch, step on, it goes blank, etc, etc.  It is is in my dining room because I think the floor is more level there than in my bathroom (our house was built in like the 20's or something, so it's settled alot).  Anyway, I was on my way to the kitchen and thought what the hey, I'll step on and see what happens.  To my amazement I look down and do you know what it said?!  It said, you....Kimberly, have lost 5 lbs!!!  I am so excited!!  I have really been  making good food choices and drinking around 110 oz of water a day and exercising regularly....I am FINALLY starting to see the rewards of this surgery.

I have to admit that I was bummed when I read some other blogs and people who have had the surgery around the same time as me or after me and have lost 50 lbs already.....I am happy for them and it is great, but kept asking myself why am I not that way.  I now realize that it was me not putting 100% into it and finding out that my Dr. is super conservative with fills, so just in January I have really felt major restriction.  But you know what?  Everyone is different and everyone has their own journey.   I am happy that I am getting healthy!

Why do you torment me Scarlett?

That is what I have been asking her the past few days.  First I couldn't keep anything down, now it seems like I am able to eat more than I should.  Of course my mind immediately jumps to I have done something horrible to Scarlett and will have to have it taken out or another surgery or she has slipped.  I know that is probably not the case, but I wonder.  I think she having some mood swings.

Scarlett

That is what I have named my band.  I know it has been almost 6 months since my surgery, but I am tired of calling it "my band."  What is so significant about Scarlett you ask?  It doesn't have a huge Dr. Phil deep kind of meaning or anything.  I am from the South and Gone with the Wind is my favorite movie and I think Scarlett and I would have been great friends back in the day!   This journey is an up and down roller coaster, but I am enjoying every part of it!

As my good friend Scarlett once said...."After all... tomorrow is another day. "  

The Finger

I was sitting at my desk this morning typing and looked down and saw a bit of cuticle that needed to be trimmed, so I grab my handy dandy cuticle nippers and take care of it.  Well apparently I cut a bit to much and started bleeding.  I tell you all of this because as I am holding the tissue against my injury (yes, I am classifying this as an injury) and start putting the band-aid on it I realized that I am starting to get "skinny" fingers!!!  I am looking at them right now and they seem to have gotten longer and prettier...yay!!  I no longer have sausage fingers!  My rings are getting loose and I am loving it.  I will gladly pay whatever to have my rings re-sized.

And crazy as this sounds, I think my nails look prettier.  I guess it is helping that I am starting to take care of them better.   My theory is before the surgery I had sausage fingers (everything on me was fat) so why take care of them if no one is going to look at them.  Why would I be good enough for someone to look at my fingers and nails?  But now I know better....I am doing this for me, not for someone else to look at them.  And I am pretty dang excited for my skinnier fingers!! :)

Weekend

I had a pretty good weekend, very low key.  Joe and I had a meeting at the bank on Saturday morning, it went well.  After we got back to the house on Saturday morning, I never left the house again all weekend.  I spent a good amount of time in our closet today cleaning it out.  Not just clothes, but we have accumulated a bunch of crap, I had no idea how much! 

On Friday I was feeling a little sickly, but didn't think much of it, but over the weekend it seems as though I am developing a cold.  I think that is contributing to my food not staying down.  I have been coughing alot and have a lot of drainage.  The scale hasn't really moved in a few days, but that's ok.  I am just grateful it's not going up! 

I hope everyone had a great weekend!