Fill in the dark...

It was a dark and stormy afternoon as she arrived at the hospital.  The unsuspecting girl checked in for her appointment as usual.  She carried her sweating water bottle of ice cold water and was humming a Pitbull song to herself...Fuego, to be exact. 

They called her back into the office and took her vitals.  It seemed like all was well.  Lowest blood pressure in years.  She smiled at the thought that her health was improving because of all this good food and copious amounts of exercise she was doing.

Then they take her back into the procedure room.  The tray is not yet set up with all the goodies required for a fill.  They apologize and tell her that it wasn't noted on her appointment that she was supposed to have a fill..just that it was a follow-up.  She watches as they prep the needles.  All gigantic huge inches of them...

But having done this before she's not too worried.

They finish and tell her to sit tight because the doctor would be coming soon.

She waits.

Then suddenly the lights flash then go out. 

Darkness.

Complete darkness.

She fumbles toward the door and as she opens it a hand reaches in and touches her arm. 

She shrieks loudly...

Then the emergency lights come on and the bariatric nurse is doubled over in hysterical laughter.

Yup.  Fill #3.

Lights went out...they never did come back on in the procedure rooms...but they did have one room lit with the emergency generator and doc said although it wasn't kosher because the room was supposed to only be used for a certain thing...he was going to do the fill in there anyway...

The funniest part (other than me screaming when the nurse touched my arm) was that the exam table didn't have electricity to be raised so doc gave me a fill on a table that was about as high as his knees.

5cc's in this band now....such an adventure.

Zumba-liscious

When I was in college I decided to learn how to latin dance.  I LOVED it.  Every Friday night I would go out to a local club and shake my hips and let all these luscious rico suave latin men guide me around the dance floor. 

I learned quickly that all I really had to do was know how to shake the hips and follow.  Those expert dancers would samba and salsa me around the room and I had the time of my life.

Until *that one guy.*  You know...the one who fell in love with me...mad passionate latin love that is a hot flame, but burns out really quickly.  I'd managed to thwart any and all other attempts, but this guy was persistent.  I'd arrive to dance and he would monopolize my entire night on the dance floor...refuse others who wanted to cut in, threaten other men...it was turning into a dancing Jerry Springer episode.

So I broke his heart and told him I couldn't see him anymore.  Its actually quite comical that we only saw each other for 5 hours of latin dancing on each Friday night to start with, but what I meant is that I wouldn't DANCE with him anymore. 

So he asked for one last dance...I agreed...he whirled me away in a hot beat of dancing and at the end dipped me and LICKED MY FACE.

No...I'm not kidding you.  He licked me from chin to forehead then shouted at the top of his lungs, "SHE WILL ONLY BE MINE."

And that ended my Friday night latin dancing excursions...

But I believe that latin beat stayed in my heart...and occasionally I'd hear a little something and shake those hips a little...

And THEN...about a month ago I discovered Zumba.

BE STILL MY EVER ZUMBA LOVING HEART.

Yes, I know its been around for quite awhile, but I'd never actually taken a class.  I'd never even watched one of those infomercials that they have on tv when these things first come out and people get excited about it.  So it wasn't until I actually went to a zumba class that I realized exactly what I'd been missing.

Little known fact.  I was voted "MOST LIKELY TO DANCE AT RANDOM MOMENTS" at my last family reunion.  Its a title I hold dear to my heart and that I am very proud of.

And its true.

And Zumba...zumba zumba zumba is that sweet nectar of exercise that speaks directly to my inner dancing diva.  I'm here to confess that I've become a little obsessed with it.  I will go to zumba as often as I can. 

I started out 8 weeks ago attending Zumba on Tues/Thurs mornings for an hour.  Then I added in Monday/Wednesday evenings.  I just started up a Saturday class...

And today I found a new Zumba class they are doing at our local roller skating rink where I can take the kids and they can run and play while I Zumba.

Its a match made in heaven.

So my current exercise schedule is:

Monday
10-11:00AM - Zumba
5:45-6:45PM - Zumba

Tuesday
6:30AM - C25K (30 min)
9-10AM - Zumba

Wednesday
10-11:00AM - Zumba
5:45-6:45PM - Zumba

Thursday
6:30AM - C25K (30 min)
9-10AM - Zumba

Friday
6:30AM - C25K (30 min)

Saturday
10-12:30 - Zumba

Sunday
Recovery

What do you think?  8.5 hours/week of zumba too much? 

I'm telling all of you out there reading this...don't worry about the moves...the coordination...people laughing or anything like that...the Zumba nation (yes, I said nation) will accept you despite your uncoordinated flailing and flinging of body parts...and eventually you will figure out the routine and...

PARTY!

This blogvertisement is way better than an informercial right?

And I can honestly tell you that I have not ever...not one time...been licked at a Zumba class.  Thats enough to keep me coming back.

Cholesterol Doctors Suck.

I just stress ate 1/2 bucket of salt and vinegar Pringles. 

ARGHHHHH!

Here's my story...sad, but true.  I got a call a few weeks ago from my new doctor who told me to make an appt with this specialist guy to have my lipid panel checked.

In February when I was diagnosed with type II Diabetes I also was diagnosed with high cholesterol.  So, in addition to insulin I get put on cholesterol medications.  I hate meds.  I hate having to take them.  I hate feeling sick and thats what medication does to me. 

So, I go see this guy and he compares my first cholesterol numbers taken in February with my cholesterol numbers from 3 months ago...

Three months ago as in before the lapband surgery...before exercising or eating right...before any lifestyle changes at all.  the only thing I was doing differently was taking medication.

Now, it's important to this story that you know one of my big goals is to get off insulin and cholesterol medications...so I ask him about all the changes I've been making and he completely poohpoohed the idea that I would be able to go off these meds.  He essentially tells me that diet and exercise help, but only to reduce my cholesteral about 20% off my baseline (and the baseline is the high cholesterol that I originally tested with in February when I was diagnosed.)

Then he tells me how medications can reduce high cholesterol 30-50% off the baseline and because I'm considered a diabetic the levels that I am supposed to work toward are even lower than what a normal person should have for cholesterol because I'm at a higher risk for heart attacks/strokes/etc.

Normal - Under 200
Diabetic - Under 160
Me with medication only- 145

Normal LDL - 130-160
Diabetic - Under 100
Me with medication only- 124

He said it all so flippantly and nonchalantly...he tossed away any of my concerns about liver issues from taking a statin drug...he waved away my suggestion that going from 0 days/week to 6 days/week exercising...eating crap to eating right might have a bigger effect than what he was suggesting.  Then he said to just get used to taking the meds...it was unlikely I'd ever be able to go off them and then tells me about the lady who came yesterday who was a diabetic with managed bloodsugar levels and managed cholesterol levels who had a heart attack ANYWAY.

I don't think I could have gotten any more depressed than I was at that moment in his office considering my fate at age 39 just waiting for my heart attack to happen DESPITE all the hard work I've been doing.

And I left his office and I went to the store and I bought Pringles and ate 1/2 a bucket before I talked myself out of that depression.

And now I want to go in his office and KICK HIS BUTT.  And I want to tell him that while he may have years of experience watching people do XYZ he doesn't KNOW ME.  And if he EVER tries to bring me down again I'm going to open a can of WHOOP ASS on him.

The ONLY bright moment in this story is that I NEARLY bought a package of Dream Cakes (those fake twinkies...) I could have eaten the entire box before I managed to talk myself down...which I think would have wiped my 450 calorie Pringles binge eating out of the water.

And here is my final parting thought...

Fat Tuesday Weigh In

I love round numbers...227.0

Starting weight - 264.4

Today's weigh in - 227.0

Total loss - 37.4 pounds 

It's not optional.

My whole life dieting has been optional.  Eating right?  Optional.  Exercise?  Optional.  Weight loss? Optional.

It's not optional.  Not anymore.  Type 2 diabetes makes this journey no longer optional.  I have talked to a few people who think that this is just about not eating sugary foods...they couldn't be more WRONG.

My youngest sister was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 4 years old.  Way back in the 80's when they didn't have some of the improved testing and insulin equipment they have now.  I grew up watching her cry and hide when it was time for her insulin shots...I've watched her have extended hospital stays after her baby's births because of the complications her diabetes causes...this is all because her body is impaired in being able to make insulin....

Me...I did this to myself.  I hate saying that, but its true.  I went YEARS of feeling like my health was optional.  I could eat this...no big deal...I can do that...no big deal...I don't need to exercise...no big deal.  Well, its now a big deal.  I'm having to have serious talks with myself these days to remind myself and educate myself on what I have to lose if I make things optional.

My eye sight.

My feet.

My hearing.

My sense of touch through nerve damage.

My brain.

My life.

This isn't a scare tactic.  My uncle in law just passed from a stroke attributed to type 2 diabetes.  This was after he had both feet amputated.  I've seen first hand how this disease will kill if left unmanaged.  And he wasn't overweight either...this was just pure lack of interest...in thinking taking care of his health was optional.

I needed this reminder this weekend.  Weekends make me want EVERYTHING to be optional.  But I really worked at making sure I stayed in line.  I didn't always succeed...I ate too much dark chocolate and I didn't exercise today, but I also did a 90 minute zumba class on Saturday and made sure my meals were protein vegetable oriented.

I know its a process...I won't be perfect right away...but when or if you hear me complain...please remind me about how this is no longer optional.

Picture Day!

So I had my first, "woah...have you lost weight?" comment and I cannot tell a lie.  It totally boosted my ego and made me feel pretty dang good.

So, I started looking at photos...and check it out...focus on the chipmunk face...the poochy cheeks, the threatening double chin...And you can ooh and aah over that little munchkin of mine too.  That was when he was just a few months old!  I always lost weight on my pregnancy...so I'm probably around 240 here...about 15 pounds ago.

 

I actually thought I looked pretty skinny in this photo.  But those cheeks are still there and note the downward angle of the camera to keep the fatty face looking thinner....Definitely at least weighing 260 here.

And then without the downward angle its a full round face.  This was a couple of summers ago...at my "normal" high of 265-270ish.

 

And this last one...I took about 2 weeks after surgery.  I was at about 250.  We went hiking in the Smokies...

 

 

And then I took a photo today with my phone and couldn't believe how different I looked!  At least I thought I looked different...am I dreaming it?  I'm not looking down.  It was a straight on selfie.  I'm not smiling, I guess...that would pooch those pinchable cheeks some, but even my chin is more defined.

 

 

And this is just a little something fun I took at a fun house...can't wait until the fun house photo is closer to my reality!  (I'm in black with the camera!)

 

 



Fat Tuesday Weigh In

I wish I could spice up every fat tuesday post with mardi gras beads an a mask.  Instead today you get a miserable looking pedicure and my bathroom floor which I may or may not have mopped this week.  I'm not telling.

So my weigh in started with this... a 0.2 gain from last week...

Then I stepped on the scale a second time and it said this...a 0.4 loss for the week...

And because we all know the imperfect nature of scales I'm calling it a wash...no gain...no loss and I'm perfectly happy with that considering I feel like a bloated water buffalo right now...poor water buffalos that get so much bad rap.  The reality is something a little more like this...