My first Sisterhood Package!

I just got my first Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants package. As many of you know, there's a community of bandsters out there that shares clothes once they no longer fit. You just have to agree to keep sending them along once you're done with them.

I got four great tops including a lovely blue button-down from Talbots and a red and white striped sweater than I just love!

Thank you Sarah!

See more about the sisterhood on Sarah's blog, Losing Weight, Gaining Tons.

Make me stop!

I've kind've been taking a break since I hit my goal on Tuesday. I had a bunch of plans that involved eating out this week and ended up eating out a whopping five times!

In general, I hadn't really eaten out post band, so that was a new experience. I didn't at all have trouble getting anything down. I've had bread and greens and rice, no problem.

I'm such a foodie that I love eating out, so I was quite thrilled to go and try new things. I'm sure since I hadn't eaten proper food in a while (beyond soft foods) I was making up for lost time!

However, the whole point of the band is that it doesn't let you overdo it, so I found that my eyes were waaayyy bigger than my stomach!

So i filled up easily and did ooookay at dinner. But the trouble came when i kept thinking about my leftovers and as soon as I could get a little more down, I finished the rest!

This happened every time almost, and I just ended up feeling gross!

This definitely can't continue. I'm eating for my old appetite. Going to try and get myself back on track by having some protein shakes again.

My other new rule is that I'll no longer be taking leftovers after a meal!

Before and After Video Blog

Check out Melting Mama for a really great before and after video blog...

http://www.meltingmama.net/wls/2009/08/lauren-a-before-and-after-but-listen.html

One more day!

It's Sunday night so only one more day until my surgery!

I really really wish I didn't have to work tomorrow, but I do. However, I have the rest of the week off after that. I did agree to work from home Thursday and Friday if I feel up to it. At least just to check in on email.

I'm partially looking forward to this week because I get to stay home! I won't be having a proper vacation for a while, so I'll take what I can get. Everyone at work is taking vacations, and after the last few very hectic weeks at work, I'm happy to have the down time. I know I wont feel the same way post-surgery when I'm in pain and bored though.

As for today, I'm just trying to get stuff done before surgery. It rained today and that seems to have been all the excuse I needed not to do a bunch of stuff!

After surgery I wont be able to lift more than 10 pounds for more than a month as at least one of the incisions will cut through the muscle (to get the lap-band and port in place), so I had wanted to refinish a table but it rained.

Originally I was told that I could call Friday to find out my surgery time, but that was incorrect. I have to call after work Monday night to get the time. So I'll email friends and fam then with details.

I've just been rereading my surgical materials this weekend. On Tuesday I can't have any fluids or solids after midnight. Then I'll begin the thin liquids diet for 10 days. At least two protein shakes a day after the first day or two.

The countdown has begun!

Food is everywhere!

Oy! I consider myself highly suggestible, so it doesn't help that food ads and food references are EVERYWHERE!

Walking the dogs today, there was a Domino's pizza guy in the street shouting about their $4.99 pizza deal (times must be tough if they've taken to the streets for advertising!) But hey, it would've totally worked for me if I weren't on this diet.

And then later pizza came up in conversation.

And now I'm watching an ad on TV for a flaky toaster strudel. Mmm... Then Sonic, which I love, but there aren't any here that I know of.

We just didn't even bother watching one of the shows we like, Cake Boss. For obvious reasons!

Now I can see why NYU doesn't recommend that we watch TV post surgery.

A new wardrobe awaits

So we took a trip over to our storage unit today, (a walk, more than a mile, yay!) and I was wowed by all the fun clothes I had stored away!

I lost some weight last summer and bought some great new clothes. However, I only got to wear them a couple of times.

I don't think they'll fit me just yet as they are one more size down, but I'm hoping to squeeze into them by the end of August. That's my goal! Actually not squeeze. That I could do now. I want a flattering fit!

My liquid diet starts tomorrow!

My liquid diet starts tomorrow, and I'm actually excited about it!

I definitely overdid it this weekend which actually just made me feel kind've gross and ready for the liquid fast. There are a few things I can have however, beyond the protein shakes. I'm listing them here. I'm sure I'll be reviewing this list when I'm starving and scrambling for what I can eat!

• Sugar free drinks
• Diet, caffiene-free soda
• Sugar free ices (up to 30 calories/day)
• Sugar-free Jello
• Low sodium broth
• Up to 2 caffeinated drinks/day with skim milk and artificial sweetner
• Up to 2 cups of vegetables (no corn, peas, potatoes, or beans)

Engagement photos

I'm getting excited about the surgery again. I was so bogged down in all the research I was doing about it, obsessing I'm sure, that I was caught up in all the logistics and details.

In wedding planning, I've come across lots of really fun, creative engagement photos. My mom also suggested engagement pics recently too.

However, Alex and I were just talking and have decided to postpone our engagement pics, and instead do them when we've lost weight. I guess we'll have to decide what the "marker" number will be. I think for me, 75lbs lost... Though of course I have more to lose (or else I wouldn't be having surgery!)

I've shared some of the engagement photos I like. Definitely not traditional, but more modern-meets-vintage that seems to be the style right now. Love them! Especially the shot in the grass above. And we'll have to include our dogs in the pics too!

Empty Fridge

I had a weird thought last night when I went to get a shake from the fridge. I actually can't wait to have an empty fridge. With nothing in it except shakes and maybe some veg and water. For the liquid fast part of the diet (since they do let us have 2 cups of veg a day).

Somehow that just seems to be symbolic of purging all the crap and starting new.

Will definitely have to plan on a good clean out of both the fridge and the cabinet. It feels rather liberating. (I say that now!)

How many calories post-op?

First of all, I'm learning that people refer to the lap-band and other procedures as WLS (weight loss surgery). Despite the various packets of info I've been given and the websites I've been sent to, I didn't have a clear sense of how many calories I'd need to be eating post-op. However, I just found the most fabulous blog post over on melting mama. She posted this info below about recommended calories, protein, fat, etc.

The ASMBS guidelines (which is where many surgeons GET their recommendations for you) state:

• 1,000 to 1,400 calories depending on the individual and activity level.
• 60 to 100 grams of protein depending on the individual and activity level.
• 27 to 47 grams of fat based on 20 to 35 percent of a daily 1,200-calorie intake.

Check out her post for more interesting info and some really insightful comments from others who've also had surgery.

A major announcement

So for any of you who've followed this blog, you know I've struggled with my weight for a long time. So recently, I've made a pretty major decision to undergo the lap-band procedure.

I've only told a few close friends, but I also plan to dedicate this blog to documenting the process. (Since I haven't given this web address to many people, only those who search for lapband or weight loss will find it.) Happy to share my story with the world, just less sure about telling work colleagues, acquaintances, etc.

The pics above were taken the day of the lap-band seminar at NYU when I decided I would go ahead with the surgery. (Goofy grin and all!) Ironically, yes, I am holding a bag of groceries in my before pic (ha!); however, it's a salad from Whole Foods if that helps at all!)