Great weekend & 90 lbs gone!!!!

I had a wonderful weekend!  I went camping with my daughters Girl Scout Troop.  Hannah, Natasha, and Me!  We had such a great time!  We stayed in the lodge, had great food, great company, and the kids were GREAT!  It really helped me De Stress and relax!  The girls had a great time...No-one slept, we were all up till 4 am.  Woke up at 7 am... The adults were worse than the kids... Well, Me, Jenna, & Missy were worse than the kids!  LOL.  Up laughing, telling stories, jokin around, just having a great time!  Great company!!!! 

Missy, Me & Jenna!  Our daughters are best friends!   



I went to Weight Watchers' Friday morning since I would not be around on Saturday!  I was really bummed b/c I really felt as though I gained this week!  I feel so bloated and Ugghhh....(maybe just b/c of the week I had)!  I got on the scale and was down 2.6!  OMG Really!  WOW!!!!  I was super excited!  I finally hit the 90 lbs mark!  total of 91.4!   Wooo Hoooo!  How AWESOME IS THAT!

I guess now, I can rock this weight loss thing without my band!  I am now more confident than EVER!!!!  Thank you all for your encouragement and support!

~Mandy

Can I wake up from this horrible dream????

This past month has been rough; but this past week has been worse!  WIth everything that happen to me, being sick, removing my band, and finally getting back to myself... I thought the worse was over!

My dad has been sick, having alot of pain and thought he pulled a muscle.  Went for x-rays to check for pneumonia..Nothing!  Went back to the Dr's again...went for a CAT Scan... got a call later that night from the Dr.  Dr. told us he has a few masses on his left lung with some lesions and a tumor on his right lung!  REALLY!  REALLY!  WHY!  WHY?????  Biopsy will be done on Wed and then discussion of treatments and where to go from here!  UUuughhhhh!!!!

Then Wed night (actually Thursday morning) 4 am.. my husband wakes up with pain.  Pain in his chest!  Call mom to have her come up to watch the kids, speeding to the hospital... They brought him right in, hooked him up, blood work, x-ray, Nitro, Nitro, Nitro Patch, Heprin, The whole works... Sent him off to UMASS... I am now freaking out cause they are assuming my husband had a heart attack.  After a few hours and some more ekgs and eegs and everything else... he was diagnosed with Pericarditis.  Inflammation of the heart sac.  OMG!! THank god!!! 

Friday my mom called and told me one of her little boys passed away (from her classroom).. He was 4 years old!  He died of a high fever and seizure.  So sad!!!!  My heart melts for this family!!!  My mom thought the world of this little boy! 

Its just been a really rough week!  Hoping for better times!

~Mandy

What a week!

Well I have had an exhausting week!  I went back to work on Monday!  OH BOY!  I have so much catching up to do (Paperwork)!  I must tell you how nice it is though; I went back to work and the folks (developmentally/intellectally challenged) were so happy to see me!  They showered me with hugs and kisses!  It made me feel so good to know I make that much of an impact on their lives!  I am so happy to get back into routine and I missed work so much!  It is just great to be back!
 So let's get to business!  This pic over here on the left is me last week! I took this pic and was amazed at what I saw!  I was looking at this pic and feeling proud of all the things I went through to get to this point!  Going through everything I did... it was a HUGE eye opener!  It really makes you cherish life for what it is worth! 

I went to the Lung Dr. this week!  I have a major NON SCALE VICTORY (NSV)... I am no longer on my inhalers for Asthma!  This is HUGE!  HUGE!!!  My numbers are excellent!  My Dr. could tell I was exercising cause my pulse and blood pressure were much lower than they ever had been!  I am so much HEALTHIER!  That is all I wanted out of all this!  To be Healthy!  Guess what.... I AM!

I must tell you how much I have missed "FOOD"!  I am stickin to my healthy lifestyle though and making good choices!  I am actually eating a meal!  Not a few bites; A MEAL!  I am still trying to stear clear of the Carbs!!!  Those are my worst enemy!  Cause I love them oh so much! 

I have been walking!  EVERY DAY I walk!  I am now up to 3 miles a day!  It takes me about 45 minutes to walk!  But boy it feels GREAT!  I love the rush it gives me; the way I feel after!  It really makes me proud to know I can walk 3 miles!  Then I come home and do a bit of resistance bands for some toning!  I am getting into a great workout routine! 

This week was my first week really doing this on my own again!  Back to Weight Watchers!  So I really thought I would have gained because of the amount of food I had been eating!  I lost .6 this week!  I keep thinking to myself it is better than NOTHING!!!  But I guess because I was so used to the big weight losses every week, I was a bit bummed!  I feel good though! I am proud of myself!  A total of 89.4!!  Wooo Hooo

Well I hope everyone is doing well!  I have been so busy I am really falling behind on blogging!  I haven't read blogs in about a week!  Shame on me! 

Well till next time!  Take care and stay healthy!

~Mandy

Dr's Follow up & Shopping

Hello Everyone,

Hope everyone has enjoyed their week and looking forward to the weekend!

A few Updates...Today was my follow up with my surgeon, I am happy to say I will be going back to work on Monday! I can resume all activities (nothing to strenuous) Also, he finally took out my JP Drain. It was really painful! I could feel it coming from my stomach and dragging its way down through my insides!!! It freakin hurt!!! I must say I am so relieved this is all over with! No more visiting nurses, changing dressings, emptying my drain, and walking around with a hand grenade attached to my body! (That’s what the drain looks like)!

When I left the Dr's office and got into the truck I cried! I wasn’t crying because I was sad; I was crying because I was relieved! Tears of RELIEF! This was a great 5 months (with my band) I tried it out, lost almost 90 lbs and now IT IS OVER! My Body will get back to Normal! The band gave me the JUMP START I needed! I have not been 180 lbs since I was full term with my daughter Hannah back in 2000! 11 years ago I was 180! At that time I was not comfortable with my body. Today I am comfortable, I don’t even care if I lose the last 20 lbs.. As long as I can MAINTAIN the 180 I will be happy!

I went shopping the other day! I have been on the search for jeans…I am sooo picky about jeans! I went to JC Penny’s, Sears, Old Navy, Fashion Bug, and back to JC Penny’s! I found 2 pairs of jeans…size 14!!!  I first tried on the 16’s and they were a big baggy and saggy in some areas. I did

n’t want to buy them cause I didn’t feel comfortable in them. I tried the 14 and the fit PERFECTLY! I can’t believe size 14 fits! I was glowing! My mom was so happy and said “Look at you, did u ever think you would be wearing a 14 again”? AMAZING!

Saturday we are going for lunch all the Mothers’ in my family! My Nana, My Aunts and Me! We usually do breakfast! Breakfast is not my best meal, so we will do Lunch!

Well Happy Mother’s Day to all you BEAUTIFUL MOTHERS! Enjoy your day!

~Mandy

I want to change my title (life after LapBand Removal)... any suggestions?????

New Day

Good Morning! 

Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend!  It was beautiful here in Mass...

Saturday I went grocery shoppin with my mum!  I still can't drive, so she drove us to the stores and helped me lift the things I can't! Then when I came home my husband cooked on the grill!  I must say, I realized how much I missed Meat!!!  We had pork chops and chicken and steak!  Now mind you, I did not eat them all!  In fact I only had a few bites of pork chops and steak!  Oh How I missed Pork Chops and Steak! 

Sunday I took the kids outside and brought them for a very short walk up the street!  Just a few houses up.. since I don't have much energy to get a full work out yet!  The kids were happy to get outside and enjoy the weather and ride their bikes! 

So this morning I decided I would get on the scale!  I usually weigh in at Weight Watchers, but I am not going til next week!  I had to see what the scale said!  I was scared.. 

I don't know why.. I lost 6 lbs...!!!!!  Now I know I have been sick... but to weigh 181...yeah 181!!!!!

I was scared I gained.  My husband kept tellin me I lost!  I am skin and bones (except the belly region)!  Ha ha ha.. Maybe LOOSE SKIN AND BONES!!! LOL! 

I am started to feel a bit better!  Last night I made Tacos!  This was our Sunday dinner (forever)...but the past few months with me not feelin too great to eat.. I hadn't made them in a while!  Well, the kids were happy I did.. and So was I!!  I had 1 soft taco and boy oh boy it tasted so good!  My Hannah Banana kept asking if it was ok for me to eat it!  "Mom, can you eat that taco"?  "Mom, are you able to eat"???

Well, I am now able to eat!!!  I will now be really watching the Portion Sizes and Protein First!!  I will take everything I have learned with the LapBand.. and keep on movin!!!

This morning - 1 slice toast w/ p.butter and 1/2 banana!  Mmmmm... it was yummy!

Well my follow up with th Dr. is on Thursday!  Hoping he will remove the JP Drain and let me get back to work! I miss work! 

Take care,

Till next time!

~Mandy