Body Changes

Happy Friday Everyone!!

I am taking a break from writing this sociology paper to post a couple of pics. The scale is finally moving again. I'm very happy about that. More importantly, I see changes in my body. Check out the pics below.


I took this today. The first is with the shirt loose and I must tell you this is a 2x. The second is with me gathering the shirt in the back (hence the one arm thing going on). I see the changes everyday when I shed my clothes. Especially in my stomach. I'm not there yet, but this gives me motivation to keep going. I did have some cookies yesterday, but overall my eating has been good. Haven't PB'd yet. I can stay full for about 3 hours or so and eat about a cup of food. Now when I go back to Dr. Woodman the question he will ask is if I allow myself could I eat more and the answer is yes, so I haven't hit my sweet spot yet, but I feel I'm very close. I don't want to go to the line though and start PBing. As you can tell I got a phobia with that one.

Anyway, Happy Friday!! Enjoy your Weekend!

A post just for me

I am posting again mostly for myself so I can look back at this.

1st - I am full from a 1/2 cup of Cream of Mushroom & Chicken soup. After all that drama this morning. I am finally full from a little bit of food. HALLELUJAH!! Now whether this is my sweet spot, I have no clue, but I am going with it.

2nd - one of the nurses who assist my A$$ of a doctor during surgery also had the Gastric Bypass. She gave me a suggestion before I saw the doctor. She said: "do a crossword puzzle while eating. Find a word in between each bite. It will slow you down and you will get full." I told her I would try it with the Find-a-Word puzzle. I did and behold....I stop eating because I couldn't anymore. I felt myself sigh and know that is one of my signs. Just think that fool of a doctor threatened to not give me a fill.

3rd - I cried a bit more during and after my conversation with my friend Margie. Margie is only about 4 months out and is so smart. She can't stand the doctor that we have. She is forming a support group so that we can help each other because the one the bariatric clinic has is not engaging. There is always one person who hogs the sessions and no one gets to talk or ask questions.

4th - I am not defeated. I feel better and am so thankful for this forum. You ladies that have commented are so encouraging. I always see your progress and marvel at the inspiration. Thank you. If I name names, I may forget someone, but thank you.

♥♥♥
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UPDATE @8pm: I received a call on my cell phone this evening and you will never guess who it was from....Dr. Woodman - my bariatric doctor. He said he was calling to check on me and see how I was doing. Said he wanted to make sure I was okay. O_O

I am totally shocked. I sent his staff some flowers today and told them on the card that I appreciated them and thanks for being so encouraging. I guess he must have saw them.

Also, My dinner tonight consisted of Grilled Tilapia (on my George Foreman grill) and 1/2 cup of Tomato soup. OMG 1st, I have never had Tomato soup. It was so delicious! B (I just had a Amy W. moment, LOL), I am totally satisfied. I think I can make a go of this y'all. I did my Find-a-Word puzzle and feel great.

Angry Face!!

Hey everyone!!
Just a quick update. School is going great. I have an A in all my classes. Swim classes are going well too.

I just came from my bariatric doctor, Dr. Woodman. Have I mentioned that he is an a total ASS!!! Sorry for the language but this morning. He took me there, I pride myself on trying to be as positive as I can. I don't need stress or negativity in my life. Well Woodman gave me a fill, but not before trying to give me a lecture about not complying with the rules. Well let me tell you that I didn't let him go there without me saying a few words. Long story short, he said he WASN'T going to give me a fill. I said fine then you are wasting my time and I am about to be late for work. I was just about to ask for my co-pay back when he recanted and said that he would, but then started in on me. He told me my attitude was the reason why I haven't been successful and I proceeded to tell him that his attitude is the real problem as well as his delivery. He ended up giving me a fill, but not before I think everybody in the office heard our argument. I told him he wasn't helping anyone one with his harsh delivery and that he never gives anyone praise even when they do well. He said he would if I was successful. Oh I let him have it.

It was not pretty y'all. Just to let you know I have only gained 1.6lbs in 4 months and he was b!tching about that. When he leave I did cry, but it was because I was so angry. He didn't want to hear, although he asked, that I was working full time, a single mother, back in school taking 9 credit hours and a caregiver for my mom. He told me that he has patients that work and go to school and that they have been successful. I told him I'm sure and that I applaud them, something he never does. When I got ready to leave his staff, who are so wonderful by the way, asked if he gave me a fill and if I was okay. I told them I was and that they were saints to put up with that fool.

When I got to work, I called a friend of mine who also had the surgery through him and she talked me down. She told me that he has no personality, he is rude and that he must be an unhappy man to say the things he does. That made me feel better in that I was able with her help to put things into perspective. I refuse to let him and his negativity take me there again. I don't have the money to switch doctors and to be honest I wouldn't let him drive me away because he doesn't have any sense. My friend did tell me that she found out that the doctor had gastric bypass, which I found shocking. He was once FAT....hmmmmmm! So he is flawed after all.

Anyway, I am looking forward to Chicago! I want to say thank you again to all of you who read my blog and to all who have either forged a path for me or are walking it with me. Thank you just for being you.

♥♥♥
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Quick Post

Hey Everybody!!!

I just had to post quickly because I'm in the middle of studying for an exam. I am doing good and trying to kick the cookie habit. I think the spirit of Cookie Monster has taken over my body. I crave cookies. My co-worker slick sabotages me by bringing them in or someone else does. It is murder I tell ya!! Then I get home the other day and have a gift of freshly baked Oatmeal Raisin cookies. Ugggggh!!! WHYYYYYY!!! Anyway, I think I am battling it as best as I can.

I have though started taking swimming lessons. I never learned as a kid and decided that this would be a great form of exercise. My first lesson was this past Tuesday. I had so much fun. More fun that I thought I would. I learned to float, to kick and to blow bubbles and that's saying a lot for me because 1) I'm goofy, 2) as a child you could sprinkle water in my face and I would think I was drowning and 3) I almost drowned at 16 yrs. old. I have a private instructor at the rec center here at my job. She is mad cool and understands that it may take me a minute to get the hang of it. I'm taking them twice a week for six weeks. I hope to be a strong enough swimmer to do laps in the pool. Fingers crossed.

Anyway, I hope you all are doing well. Can't wait until September, but right now I need to get back to studying. Isn't it great to have a job where you can do what you want and still get paid for it.

BYOC - Getting back to Blogging

1. What day of the week do you love and what day of the week do you hate?
I love Saturdays. That is my lazy day. I don't comb my hair and I just lay around the house. I don't care for Monday's at all.


2. What is your middle name and is there a meaning behind it?
My middle name is Elaine. It means LIGHT. Don't know why my mom picked, but I do know for a while during my childhood I struggled with it's spelling. I couldn't figure out if the i went before the a or not. I felt like a dunce.


3. Since Draz is dreaming of her next tattoo, do you have any tattoos? How many? If you don’t have one – what would you get if you did have one?
I don't have any tattoos, but I thought about getting one once, but decided against it.


4. On that same theme of dirty little secrets…how many piercings do you have? Any you wish you had?
I only have my ears pierced. I have never thought about getting pierced anywhere else cause I can't even imagine the pain. Especially folk who have their nether regions or nipples pierced....OUCH!!!


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

Blog Life has been off. Until Joey mentioned it I didn't realize that I would only blog when things are going good. I have to do better. I'm so glad that Stephanie contacted me on Facebook and let me know about BOOBS 2.0 cause I missed the first one, but I DO NOT plan on missing this one. I even have roommates, and I'm so excited!!!

Real Life is going good, I'm stressed, but it's a good stress. I'm in 3 classes and have good grades. I think that I'm obsessed with these classes. Things are getting interesting for one class as my professor is kinda nice looking and seemingly paying me some attention. Don't worry though I'm not going there cause to be honest I'm enjoying being single and I need to stay focused. I don't want to get all off gazing up into some dude's face when I should be studying.

Happy Friday!!!

All is Well

Hey guys!!!

I have to do a quick post and say HEYYYYY!!!

I am in school taking 3 classes (9 hrs) and am LOVING IT!!! It is amazing and scary at the same time. I am always on pins and needles to do well and I am doing very well in my classes. A colleague was shocked when I told her I was taking 9 hrs. She couldn't believe I was doing that and working full-time. I guess I go hard in the paint ;-).

Weightloss is going. I am at a plateau, but at least I haven't gained. After I finish my protein shake I am going to exercise and then get ahead on some reading & classwork since I am snowed in. YAY!!

I have to say a BIG THANK YOU to Stephanie for alerting me to the BOOBS trip in September. On my way to the page now. Thanks again Step!!

Weird Shoulder Pain

I just had to make a quick post and ask this question.

I have noticed that when I don't eat I have this nagging dull ache in my left shoulder. I sometimes don't pay attention to my body, but I noticed yesterday while I was waiting on my son that my shoulder was hurting. I knew I hadn't eaten since about 5 (2 cookies) and it was now about 9:30. We were going to dinner so I didn't want to eat something and not be able to enjoy. As soon as I began to eat the pain decreased and soon went away. Same thing happened just now. I am having lunch with a colleague down the hall, but it won't be until 12:30. I haven't eaten anything since my protein drink this morning about 7:30. I have had water, but the pain goes away after the water stops being satisfies my thirst. I popped open a 2 oz can of tuna and mixed it w/mayo and have some wheat thin crackers and pain goes away.

Has anyone else had this problem? I call it weird because the shoulder pain I have heard people speak of with regard to having a band is when they have eaten to much. Mine is just the opposite.