Star Jones

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Well it's been (countin on fingers) a year and five months since surgery and life is GRAND!!

I had fallen off the exercise wagon but now I've got a partner and we're back on it. This past Sunday I ran my first race of 2010 a 6K to benefit water for Haiti. I'm not gonna discuss the time lol Def my worst ever, but hey, it's a start. I also started taking rollerblading lessons on Thursdays. There's this park in DC, Haines Point, and people run, walk, bike, and rollerblade. Well honey, the rollerbladers look like gizelles in my eyes. And thier thighs are like ROCKS. I want rocks!!! I need something to keep my interest so last year I was determined to be a runner (check). This year my goal is to be a rollerblader. I also started P90X. Woooowsers. It's only week one but I feel better all ready. I'll keep you posted.

Eating wise I've set myself some limits. No starchy carbs after 7P. No more than 2 drinking days a week. Nah, I'm not an alcoholic, just extremely social. Clubs on the weekends, happy hours and dinners with the girls during the week. And lets not start on me and hubby's new found love for frozen margaritas that I make at home. Tequilla, Gran Marnier, frozen tropical fruit, pineapple juice, sour mix....GOOD! Let me get off this subjext cause I sho do have all teh ingredients handy LOL  I'm drinking a mandatory 2 protien shakes. Tryin for 3.

My weight stays between 168-172. I think I'm gonna get it to 160-165. We'll see how I do on the P90x. although I haven't gained any weight it def shifted. My gut is def bigger than last year lol. I made the mistake and put on my official running clothes and drove to the park without looking in the mirror. Honey, while walking to the trail I caught a glimpse of myself in another car's window....(gasp) Spandex don't lie!!!!! So we're gonna work this thing out.

I'm so excited for my plans this year. Going to Vegas with the girls this month, then Miami with the girls in July, then a cruise with the hubby in August. Costa Rico in October with the girls. I'm sooo excited about going on all of these trips wearing cute outfits, layin on the beaches and not wondering if somebody's about to throw me in the ocean, and pigging out on the cruise and not worrying about people giving me the " she know dayum well she don't need all that food" look. LOL

Well that's all that's new.  I'll post my 30 day P90x pics when I get to that point next month. I WILL finish this. Got to. And since I've told my "imaginary friends" online, I have to LMAO

See ya when I see ya!

One year........and man has it been a rough one! Maybe rough isn't the right word. Well if I think about all my ass posts on the DS board, YEA it's been rough LOL If you can't laugh at yourself, get the stick outta your butt! Obviously that's my motto.

This all started because I was fed up of being fat. Even though back then I would never say that I was fat, I was thick....chubby.....plump.....shoot I had more cushion for the pushin! But now I look at the old pics and I'm like, DAYUM I was big as a house. I always had high self esteem, which was good, but I was def in denial. Even though at surgery I had no health problems they were destined to come my way.

I started out at 262 lbs. The heaviest I had been at in my whole life. At consult I was 250 and at 5'6" Dr S was a lil weary about giving me a DS, but he decided if I got the 150 Common channel he would do it. I agreed. I've been complication free since surgery. Well besides me almost shittin myself a few times in the beginning (PSA never eat a whole bag of chocolate covered almonds one night and go to work the next) to not pooping for 4 days and getting da roids for the first time in my life.

I'm happy to say that me and my DS are now as cool as a fan! I got my constipation taken care of. I take a stool softener with each vitamin dose and at the first sign of any stool firmness I take a dose of Miralax. And thanks to Vitalady's suggestion instead of paying $20 I got a prescription for it and pay $1.50. Wooohooooo!

This morning I weighed in at 168 pounds. For now 170 is my uh-oh number. If I see it go over that I know to get it together. I am soooo happy at my size this very moment. I wear mostly 10s and some 12s depending on the store. I really don't want to lose another pound. I have no interest in a normal BMI. Some might think that's short changing myself but, any smaller and I would be crackie LOL

I have this whole time and still do eat whatever I want. I eat dessert almost everyday. I was never a low carb fan and rarely lasted more than 2 days. Can this work for everybody, prob not. But so far it has for me. I was also an excersise Nazi! I went to the gym 6xs a week then I started running. The weight started falling off then. I remember my first race EVER with Tom and G-Ann. I was sooooo nervious. But I have to tell you, the sheer pleasure I got when G-Ann pinned that number on my shirt.............I can't even explain it. I always wanted to be one of those skinny bitches running on the treadmill with thier coordinating outfits, ipod on thier arm strap, just a hint of perspiration on thier brow, and looking like they were made to run! (Yes I was a hater......I can admit it. I always hoped one would loose thier footing and fly off. All this while I eviously gritted on them from the elliptical machine as my heart was about to bust outta my chest) But NOW....THAT'S ME on there with my cute outfit and Nano on my armband. It doesn't get better than this.

I had a few plastics consults and I still have to send my pics to Dr Sauceda in Mexico, but I think I've going with the surgeon that is within walking distance and gave me a good price. They said they could get me in Jan, but now I'm scared lol. I got the money, I can get the time off, now I'm more chicken than before my DS. The nurse that works there is a sweetheart and she said she would walk over to me everyday and drain my drains and change my gauzes, just because. That gave me warm cozy feelings knowing I would be given that extra attention.

Dag, I'm getting like PastorDi with her long azz posts. Ok, I just want to give a shout out to all the people on this board that answered all my questions, laughed with me when I was down, broke bread with me, partied with me, and gave me advice that otherwise I wouldn't have been so successful...........THANK YOU from the botton of my (now extremely healthy) heart!

And it wouldn't really be an update w/o pics

Before



AFTER
in Miami- I shoulda put on makeup b4 the pic lol

In my diva coat and you can't tell but those are thigh high boots I have on...me in official hooker boots!  LOVE IT

Me and my girls in Atlantic City 


My first pic ever not smiling lol


and in this pic drunk and cheesin too hard lol

1) Age at surgery
30

2) Pre- and Post-op Activity level (choose one: active, sedentary, etc.)
Pre-semi active
Post- extremely active. I started the couch to 5K program at 2 months out. By 6 months I ran my first 5 mile race. It was the greatest day EVER. I work out a lot now. I need to balance out my cardio and weightlifting at this point. I need to tone more. I do cardio at least 3xs a week and shoot for 5 days. I joined a runnning club and run with them usually 3xs a week averaging 3-4 miles each time. Other workouts include gym classes: Spinning, Kickboxing, Boot Camp, and Step. I LOVE group exercise. I also go on long bike rides with my husband.

3) CC length/stomach size
I have a 150 CC, and not sure the exact size but large prob 3-5oz (48 bougie). Definitely a conservative DS.

4) Surgery weight/Highest weight/Current weight
262/262/178  (-84 lbs)

5) How far out are you from surgery now?
9 months (well a week shy of 9 months)

6) Typical menu at 3 months out/6 months out/1 year out (be as specific as you can)

I'm a regular poster on the Food & Fitness Thread so I looked in the archives!

1 month
B- bananna scream shake 34.5g
L- Mr Gorton's salmon filet 17g
D-banana scream shake 34.5g
S- 3 buffalo wings 18g

I didn't feel like eating today at all!
25 mins on treadmill

3 months
B- S&S Protien shake
S- trail mix
S2- cheddar cheese stick
L- Mexican bake
S- 6 oz greek yogurt w reduced sugar jam (anybody in this area Giant has the Chiobani? brand 6 oz containers plain yogurt on sale this week for $1....18g of protien)
D- smothered chicken thigh, couple spoonfuls of potatoe salad, couple spoons of collard greens, one bite of cornbread.........the DS is PERFECT for soul food!!!!

92g Protien, 68g carbs

6 mos
B- S&S High Protien Frap
B2- gorgonzola chicken breast
L- 4 mozz sticks
S- Salmon cake
S- carb smart bar
D- 1/2 chicken quesadilla
S- after workout Protien fruit smoothie (Nectar Carribbean cooler, 1/2 c yogurt, c frozen strawberries)

64+ oz water, Boot Camp class

7) Your basic strategy.  Did you low carb, or take a less anal path. 
The basic strategy has been see food....eat it lol. I hate low carbing it, and can rarely last more than 3 days doing it. It feels too diety like (if that's a word). I don't go extremely crazy but my carbs are rarely ever under 50g and never under 30g. I usually fall between 50-100g. I have been doing just fine with that. I eat cake, cookies, candy, and ice cream on a regular basis. I don't do too much white flour, that was never my vice....it's da sweets I love! But at dinner out, I eat a roll. When I eat pizza I eat the whole thing, not just the toppings. Luckily sugar and flour doesn't bother me too much..maybe a lil gassy if I eat a lot of it but no pains or bloating at all. I don't know if it's my 150 Common channel or just how my system is, who knows.

There have been many that came before me and after me with the same starting weight that have blown me out the water, pounds loss wise, but I have been happy these past 9 months with my loss and know I could have prob lost more if I was more anal. But then......I would have been miserable.

8) If you're in maintenance mode now, how do you eat now as compared to while you were losing?

9) Do you have a plan to avoid regain?
I have already accepted the fact that if I want to eat the way I do I must continue to work out hard. Weight loss surgery or not the body is still working off a calorie in/calorie out ratio. I believe my large stomach and long common channel puts me at a greater risk for regain if I ever become complacent in my journey and slack off.

I also plan on weighing everyday once I get to goal. Once I see a 5lb weight increase at any given time I plan to low carb it *gasp* for a few days and get it off.

10) Tip for newbies you'd like to share

Hmmm...tips? I say trial and error your eating till you get to your sweet spot. I was a lucky one that could eat lots of carbs and still lose weight, but if I saw the scale never moved I would have to readjust my approach to be successful.

Remember that this is your journey and yours alone. Don't compare yourself to everybody else on the board. We all are differnt....differnt common channels, stomach sizes, eating preferences, exercise levels. The weight will come off, it just doesn't have to be at the same speed as your surgery twin!

Last tip, hide the scale. I never made a post about being upset on a stall. Because....I never knew when I was on a stall. The first 5 months I usually weighed once a month. Every month I saw a loss and was happy. You will save yourself a lot of worry and stress by doing it this way.

Kinda like how people say a celebrity hasn't made it till they've been called gay...........................

You're not close to goal till somebody says you look sick!!

Ladies and gents, I HAVE ARRIVED!!! I got my first sickly comment this morning from one of my co-workers. He pulled me to the side and said.....Shani, please don't lose anymore weight, you look sick!

In my head I'm thinking bout how I squeezed (oh and I mean squeezed!) into these non-stretch 12s this morning  Then it dawned on me..........I MUST be getting there. I'm all smiles for the rest of the day.

I went into the bathroom and took a pic. It's not as stylish as some of you guys bathroom pics, but hell I had to remember the day! Loving my small waist, flat stomach, and nice size thighs. With this tiny T on the girls look pretty good too LMAO. I have to buy some more work shirts. They give us an allowance once a year to order new shirts and since I've spent mine early this year I'll have to actually pay out of pocket for some. The old ones look like tents on me now. I think I'll get some schmediums.....now that my stomach is flat I like my shirts tight!!!!

I had been stuck at 191 FOREVER!!! So me and some other DSers are doing a challenge to sticlk to whatever goals we think we need to. Mine were:

Keep carbs under 50g
100 oz water
no Likka (jeesh gonna be hard)
exercise 6 days a week

After 2 days here was my post:
I have had 2 days of low carb life, and I gotta admit .......it aint so bad.

AND IT"S WORKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got dressed this morning, I always put my jeans on before my shirt so I can digust myself and see my muffin top hang out. But today something wierd happened. My stomach was flat! Ok not tummy tuck flat but no hang out. I finished getting dressed and then it dawned on me......GET ON THE SCALE. So in a mad frenzy I tore off my clothes and went to the devil himself.....my Tanita. It did not fail me today, my friends. I'm so excited! I felt like testifying this morning!

(Insert frantic organ playin in an old Baptist church and old ladies waving church fans and somebody fallin out in the pews from catchin the holy ghost) Yea....it's that serious! Halllellluyer!!! (Singing) I was once a DS sinner.........but now I am saved. The devil carbs tried to bring me down! But I picked my self up......dusted myself off.......now I'm walkin PROUD!! Anybody know what I'm talkin bout? (DS board screams) The doors of the DS righteous kingdom are now open, come join me.

Tuesday morning- 191.4
Thursday morning- 187.1 (we're gonna round that down to 187 lol)

HOLY CRAP BATMAN!!!  That's more weight in 2 days than I had in 2 months!!! So I am officially keeping it going till the end of the month.

There was a post on the DS board today by Georgina asking if anyone has changed since thier DS. Most people responded that they were more confident and other similiar responses. This made me start thinking about myself. This is what I wrote:

I was having a conversation about this the other day with my best friend. She said she always wondered if I adopted the "funny" girl personality because I was always overweight. She was asking if I still would be funny. We laughed about it but I have been thinking about that for the past couple of days. My mom said I've always been quick witted and funny, even as a child, but I've also always been overweight. Do the two have a correlation? I also have a very smart mouth and think maybe I can get away with a lot of things because of my former size, but maybe as a skinner version I may be percieved as a bitch. Who knows, I might be percieved as a bitch now to some. LMAO Maybe as a smaller Shani my personality will be toned down some. I think I've always been extra confident, maybe I've been trying to convince people of my confidence or maybe trying to convince myself.

Ok now I'm rambling LOL Just some things I've been thinking about.

The things that roll around in my head

I wanted to put this in my blog to reflect back on one day and see how I turned out.

OK...back to the regularly scheduled Shani LOL

Well folks, it's been 5 months since D-day....and boy have we had a time so far! Let's start from the beginning, people that have known me from the beginning might remember these. We have the day I was conquered by the evil Swiss Miss, the day I left a surprise box on the side of the highway for whichever work release cleanup crew would pick it up, the day I plotted my husband's demise for his evil scale dictatorship, and lastly the day I thought I had been anally taken in my sleep but alas it was my first case of roids. Whoa.....a rough 5 months.

But there's been good times too. All my new friends I met on here, drank, laughed, shopped, support meetinged, ate, ate, ate some more, and partied with. Tiff, you still on punishment? LMAO I love my MADS group and don't know what I would have done without you guys and them.

Quick story. Hubby's friend said he was smart. I said how so? The friend had the nerve to say he got me as a big girl and made me into a trophy wife. Yea....he really said this. Hubby responded- Dude, do you know everytime we went out when we were dating, guys tried to talk to her. Trust me, she was already a trophy.  I got a good one!

Enough sappy, on to the nitty gritty

I've been eating everything and anything. I can eat flour, sugar, milk, shoot anything and not have any pains, maybe some gas but not bad at all. Maybe I'll take some of these probiotics I have in the fridge if it gets really bad. Still taking my protonix everyday and heartburn's still at bay. Hair all still here (knock on wood). I still have my Shani & Steph protien drink everyday for breakfast and I usually get in my 100g a day of protien with no problem. We're not gonna go there with the carbs.

Since we're on my downward spiral....haven't worked out in at least 2 weeks. I'm going through the most stressful time I have ever had in my 30 years. I haven't been online as much, my head spins around these days a mile a minute. This economy is a trip!!! Hubby and I have had some setbacks at the worst time. We're supposed to go to settlement on our new place 4/22. Not much time left. One good thing today I found a renter for my current house and have sold half my furniture. Can't be in my swanky place with old furniture lol.

I weighed in today at 197.4........so that's 64.6 lbs lost. I think I might redo my goal. I don't think I want to lose much more weight. The jeans in the picture I have on are a 12. YES A 12!!!!!! Well, I had to lay down on the bed to zip them, and there's a lil azz crack hanging out in the back...but I'm still claiming a 12.  I think a size 10 will be my goal. I go to the plastics seminar this weekend so I'll see what Dr. Kuster thinks. Don't think I'll need a tummy tuck, but I need a phat booty and perky boobs, maybe arms too who knows.

To all the pre-ops, this surgery will work. I have been less than a perfect DSer but I still manage to see loss every month. This has been the best thing I've ever done for myself and I'm having a ball! Shoot I shoulda been this size in my 20s.......nah I woulda been more off da hook then I was LMAO

 Big boobs on parade at 262!

 Blurry pic, but that's me with more proportionate boobs! How ya like me now!

LOVING MY DS!!!!

I have to start off watching the last 5 mins of each episode to see if she got off, those are the note worthy ones for sure!!!

Me and Kerry are racing to Onderland and he will surely beat me if I only weigh in on the freakin 6th of the month. I've been eating especially well and after laughing at dinner with Gina, Jill, Ann, and Nicci last night about the race I was pretty pumped up this morning. When I woke up my eyes popped open and I thought to myself....I wanna weigh in, so I get up, go have my poop (TMI..but I wanted it to be real low lol), and shower. Now, I'm standing buck naked in the hallway having the most frustrating conversation of my life!!!!!!!

Me: Hey I need you to get my scale out of hiding.
DH: But it's not the 6th.
Me: I know, but I'm racing somebody to Onederland
DH: WTH is Onederland?
Me: First person to get under 200 lbs wins
DH: Wins what?
Me: (getting frustrated) Wins nuffin...just give me my dayum scale!
DH: Who are you racing? One of the Virginia girls?
Me: No, a guy online
DH: Oh one of your imaginary friends
(he thinks I make you guys up)
Me: Yea yea.....gimme my scale
DH: (confused look on his face) Is this a trick? Is this like the Nutrisystem thing?
(lil background....summer of '07 I went on Nutrisystem and forbid DH from letting me eat anything besides the NS food. I lasted 2 weeks and then had enough. When he asked me why am I eating shrimp alfredo I went OFF on him)
Me: No I promise this is not a trick!!!!!!!!
DH: What if you get on the scale and it doesn't say a low number and you get mad at me for giving it to you
Me: (about to pull my freakin hair out) GIVE ME THE SCALE!!!
DH: (still thinking) Let me get this straight....you BEGGED me to hide the scale from you, even though I thought it was stupid, NOW you're telling me you want it back?
Me: Once I get to Onderland you can have it back!!!!
DH: (thinks some more) Nope, I think you should stick to your first plan.
Me: ARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At this point I realize I'm about to say something I'll be sorry for and walk away!!! Our couples therapist would have been so proud of me!!

I think the worst part of it is, it's MY scale!!! Well, today I'm going to go to Walmart and buy a new scale. So in my house there will be two scales.....one he's hiding from me AND one I'm hiding from him!

(Back to planning his demise )

Hmmmm....where do I start? lol

Well today marks my 3 month surgiversary (who da hell came up with that word). Anywho I am feeling better than ever, looking fantastic, tremendous energy, folks....I have this DS thing DOWN!!! Ever since I've added SF Kool Aid to daily drinking I've been knocking the water consumption out the park! Thanks Jillian. Now if I would only up my exercise a lil it would be all good.

Now mind you, I am by far not a perfect DSer. I could def have lost more weight by now. But hey, I'm gonna do this thing my way. I eat more carbs than most in the weightloss phase. I post on the F&F thread pretty regularly and I usually am between 40-80g of carbs. I did go to SF caramel in my morning shake which brought me lower in carbs, but it just doesn't taste the same, so I went back to regular caramel. I love my trail mix w M&Ms and eat it daily. White flour doesn't bother me, I can eat a lot at one time, and I'm hungry often. So I'm relying on my will power to save me from these things I've uncovered.

I'm getting used to other people's reactions. I STILL don't see a difference when I look in the mirror but everybody else falls out when they see me. I get the same response from everybody....."You got a breast reduction" Granted, the girls are MUCH smaller. I was telling Starry last night that men actually look me in the eyes when they talk to me now LMAO. Funny boob story- Ok, I have a birthmark like right above my stomach on the left side. Noticeably darker than my incision scars. Hubby has been insisting that the girls are very saggy (oh trust me he was in the dog house). I on the other hand was in complete denial about it lol. I've been rubbbing Mederma on my scars to possibly lighten them. I walked past the mirror one day, naked, looked....then back tracked. Where's my birthmark??? Maybe the Mederma made it go away......NOPE my saggy azz boob was just covering it and I can't see it anymore

Now the stats. I've got excellent news. I had my 3 month Bone density scan on Tuesday. From the one month scan to now I have GAINED muscle and lost bad fat!!! So they told me whatever I'm doing keep at it. I was lifting weights 3 days a week. I haven't done it in 2 1/2 weeks but that has put a fire under my azz to get moving again since its working. I weighed in at exactly 50lbs lost, right about halfway to goal. Not bad for 3 months. I'm wearing 14s and 16s now depending on the vanity sizing lol. I just wish I was in Onderland too....I had to put aside my envy and be happy for Ericka LOL

(Infomercial voice)
Do you like Starbucks? Do you have to drink protien? Do all the protien shakes taste like monkey butt to you? Well do I have a shake for you. Steph and Shani's high protien Frappachinos. These can be made with or without ice and with any sf syrups you like. Lemme know if you come up with a new combination!!!!

My version: High Protien Caramel Frap

Scoop and a half vanilla protien powder
4 ozs half and half
4 ozs water
tsp instant coffee
tsp-Tbsp of sf caramel syrup
ice
I pulse in the blender and whah-lah.....caramel frappachino

Steph's version: High Protien Hazelnut Frap

2 - 3 oz. Cream (less carbs than 1/2 and 1/2 and it makes it's really creamy and rich)
6 oz. Decaf Coffee
1 tsp. Sugar-Free Coffee Syrup -- I use Hazelnut
1 1/2 Scoops Protein Powder -- I use Champion Chocolate Whey
1 C. Ice

I blend mine in the blender on ice chop for just a few blasts.
This drink is just as good as a Starbucks Frapp! I am not a morning eater and this is a great way to get my coffee and protein in the morning.


Ta-da! There it is.... the DS Frap!!!