Lapband update 020810

Just got done making some protein bars, per suggestion from my GGF Biggest Loser Personal Trainer. Sittin watching The Who Superbowl Half Time Show trying to figure out why they always have the old farts perform. Love the music, don't get me wrong.....just don't get it.

Anyway. i'm working harder than I ever have at this get healthy weight loss life style and i'm gonna be honest. I'm frustrated, but refuse to let it screw up all i've worked so hard for. I will press on, and I will continue to try harder than I did last week. Haven't lost any weight yet, starting our 4th week tomorrow. Well....lost 3, gained 1 so i'm still 2 pounds down, but that doesn't really mean anything to me at this stage of the game.

Press on!
Kerri

lapband update 011210

I find that I spend a couple days thinking about what I should put into words in my blog and the thing that keeps going thru my head is.......no matter what, the weight loss journey is difficult and it takes commitment day in and day out. We are kicking off our Greater Grand Forks Biggest Loser contest at work with Center Court Fitness and tho I'm not in it to win, but to help others be a winner by losing I can't help but feel I need to figure out what is holding me back from losing body fat/gaining muscle and getting healthy.

I have a cool application on my Ipod touch called tap and track. It keeps track of what I eat, calories, carbs, fat, protein, shows pie charts, will lower my calorie intake if i'm not losing weight, keeps documentation of my exercise! i'm loving it! I'm realizing I wasn't eating as good as I thought I was.

But even so, dang it!!!!!........I spend alot of time working out and I really can't overeat(lapband won't let me) so why in the world can't I lose??? It's very frustrating. But it's great to know that thanks to the contest, I will be training with Tyler at Center Court and I believe he will help me achive my goals. Many times i've wanted to say "forget it", but that's not the right thing to do, there's no benefit to that!

If you are struggling with your weight, there are two things you need to do if you are not.
1. JOURNAL food intake and exercise, heck even your moods
2. EXERCISE at least 30 a day.

Goodnight!
Kerri

Lapband Update 010510

Happy New Year!

I said to my hubby the other night. "Maybe I should get a fill"? Because I feel like i've been eating too much junk food that I shouldn't be eating. It stinks that some of the unhealthiest foods, do not get stuck. GRRRR

Anyway, he said, "sure, cuz that's what I want to listen to...my wife gagging all the time, choking up food that's stuck". The next night, which was last night. I ate cooked cauliflower and chicken and it GOT STUCK bad. It hurt and I ended up in the bathroom forcing it up because it was soooo stuck. I forgot cauliflower is bad! Gets stuck everytime! But it was a reminder that I need to focus and remember the things i've been taught over the last couple years since my lapband surgery.

Biggest thing...journal everything you eat and your exercise. I have an Ipod touch and found an excellent application. It's called Tap and Track.

http://www.livingafterwls.com
That is an excellent website!

97 KYCK is gearing up for a Biggest Loser contest and that is a huge benefit. I am very excited to help others reach their weight loss/health goals and I hope to inspire.

I have to go to bed! Good Night!

Kerri

Lapband update 121309

Was talking with a very dear friend of mine at the UND hockey game last night and she asked me why "they" quit posting my blog. I chuckled and said that....well...."they" is actually ME and i'm the one who has not kept up with my blogging.

I also chuckled and laughed and said nobody reads it anyway.......but that really true and I know that.

I overheard someone make a comment last week, it was something like ...."she had surgery". THE conversation was relating to someone I know needing to loose weight and the reason I have is because I HAD SURGERY. While this is true, it does bother me when people say that because with Lapband surgery, it's not a magic surgery that makes it EASY to loose weight.

I have worked really hard to get to where i'm at right now, AND I still have a long way to go. I have exercise, I have to eat right(trust me, I still don't). I can't eat as much, with the lapband, but I still struggle with eating right.

97 KYCK is teaming up with Center Court in Grand Forks in January for a Biggest Loser competition, if it's something you are serious about, make sure you listen for info on the competition!

Oh, i'm up to 4 miles now. I'm not running everyday, 3 or 4 times a week. Also working out too! EVEN during the holidays!

Remember, YOU can do it too!

Merry Christmas,
Kerri

Lapband update 112409

Hmmm, what to type. I'm proud of my accomplishments on one hand, then on the other, I'm frustrated with my lack of will power. I've been running pretty steady now for the last 2 months. A friend of mine encouraged me to run farther, not faster. Great advice! This week, I've started running 3 miles instead of 2. And I was so proud when I ran 3 miles without walking.
Then on the other side, I seem to have no problem eating a half a bag of M&M's, chocolate, sweets, whatever is what I am really struggling with. I have got to try harder, change some things in my life. I put so much into exercise and i'm not reaping the benefits of it because I can't stop eating crap.

One habit that I decided needs to stop tonight is eating before bed. I jump in bed after a long day, turn on the tv, power up my laptop to do some work I didn't get done and eat. Stops tonight. and If I do, it'll be something healthy.

Healthy eating is not easy, nor cheap. That's what makes it hard for me. But, I need to make some changes for my family, my husband, daughter and myself!

With that said, my eyes are burning because i'm so tired and it's 8pm. LOL

Happy Thanksgiving!
Kerri

Lapband update 110509

Good Morning,

I'm feeling good about the fact that i've been running 2 miles everyday. Well, Monday thru Friday anyway. I take our dog out on one of our back roads, and run 2 miles. I'm pushing myself to run longer stretches of "faster", rather than "longer" distances.

I've been asking myself if I should attempt the Fargo 1/2 marathon. I'm a person who has to keep goals out there in front of me and that would be an excellent goal. and a BIG one!

I never understood it when runners would talk about running being addicting. I'm starting to understand that now!

eating is going ok, I really need to cut back on sweets. That is my biggest struggle right now!

Food hasn't been getting stuck, which is great.

Have a great Thursday!
Kerri

Lapband update 102209

Seem to be having troubles the last couple days. Don't know why I was thinking I could eat ground hamburger and noodles. VERY DUMB! Pain, and I had to hack it back up. So, I spent a good 1/2 hour hanging over the toilet.

Got home late last night night, tired, ate some potato chips, they NEVER get stuck. WRONG! I was in so much pain, and too tired to get up so I spent a couple hours "trying" to sleep, thinking I should get up and finally I did. I ended up over the toilet 3 or 4 times until I finally got UNstuck.

I think food gets stuck worse at certain times of the month.

I can usually eat popcorn, thought I would try some today, LOL...it's stuck! and it sucks! Off to the toilet I go!

Enjoy your day!
Kerri

yes, i'm crabby cuz I didn't get much sleep last night AND the night before!

Lapband update 101509

Howdy,
Things are going pretty good, wish this crappy weather would stop so I could run outside with my dog! I'm making it to the gym 4 times a week, shoot for 5, settle for 4. Eating has been pretty good, much easier to eat healthy after my adjustment.

I'm STILL amazed at how some days, food gets stuck bad and other days, I can eat any and everything and nothin gets stuck. It's crazy!

I still have those sweet temptations, like peanut butter M & M's. I shouldn't have bought a big bag yesterday. it's gone!

I'm trying to be "mindful" of my night time eating, that's something i've struggled with my ENTIRE life! So for me, that is something i'm working on!

I have free ZUMBA passes at Center Court Fitness center, it's so fun! Latin style aerobic work out! Let me know if you want to go!

Have a fabulous week end!
Kerri

Lapband update #2 092109

OK, so I went to the gym to work out, which BTW, I had an excellent W/O! Man it felt so good! I always ask myself why I allow myself to get out of the habit of exercise.

Anyway, I know i've lost muscle from not working out, but to my surprise, after months and months and months, heck about a year of not being able to get any weight to come off the scale, I've lost 3 pounds! So here's what i'm thinking.......maybe, just maybe my band is adjusted to where it should be! Gee, imagine that!!!!!!

I am eating more, because I can...i'm also eating healthier!

I'm feeling much better! I'm actually not even hungry. Not like I usually am. That's because I was able to eat a healthy lunch!

LOVE IT!
Kerri

Lapband update 092109

Eating is much easier, and that is a good thing and a bad thing. I'm really struggling with this whole deal. GRRRR, I'm frustrated, either food gets stuck or i'm able to eat food I don't want to eat.

I ate 1/2 a doughnut today, I haven't had a doughnut in a year!!!!

I better go, before I run out of time to work out!

Dr. apt next week, we'll see what she says!

Later,
Kerri

Lapband update 091309

It's been about a week and half since my adjustment. My dr. took 1cc OUT. It's so nice to be able to eat healthy foods, all this time I've been eating a lot less, but not eating healthy. My brain thinks that less food is better! Not so at all!
Now I am finding that i'm eating less sugar, less ice cream! ha ha AND, excited to eat healthy.


One of my favorites was the chicken soy patties(spicy) I love them and they are high in protein! I was able to eat one on an english muffin last week and it was wonderful! Before, I couldn't because it would get stuck and the pain with it was not fun!

I love stir fry and can eat that again!

I am trying to be mindful of all that I am eating and NOT eating!

Have a great day!
Kerri

lapband update 083109

Wow, much better! I had 1 cc taken out today and I already feel much better. I actually ate 1/2 bagel for the first time (without problems), in a long time! And I didn't want to keep eating!

Had a small helping of chicken supper and was also able to eat that without that terrible stuck feeling!

Back to the Vikings/Houston game. GO VIKINGS!

take care,
Kerri

Lapband update 083009

Made a dr. apt on Friday to have some fill taken out. I'm excited I can get in tomorrow! I should have gone in a long time ago, but....It's just one of those things.

I'm looking forward to being able to eat healthy foods and i'm not scared with thoughts that i'll over eat. That was a feeling I battled for a long time!

Take Care
Kerri

Lapband update 082709

I hate this.......Stuck again, dang it. I have had a couple bad nights. Part of the problem is because It's very difficult to sit down and eat a full meal, we lapbanders tend to eat a little, do something, eat a little more, do something.. so what happens with me is I end up eating before bed and for some reason the last couple nights my food got stuck, it wasn't a stuck feeling like alot of times where I need to go and push it all back out into the toilet. (it's not throwing up in my eyes because your food hasn't gotten to your stomach, it's sitting in your esophagus)

I went to sleep and did NOT get good sleep. There are different "stuck" feelings too and it's too hard to explain the difference. I didn't feel I could make it come back up, plus I was too tired!

It hurts too, btw. Oh, I should tell you what I ate, since I figured it wouldn't be a problem. Night before last it was a small amount of chicken along with some broccoli, kinda mushy so I figured I would have no problem. Wrong. last night I ate corn and chewed alot, that ended up being a problem too.

Tonight, my dear hubby made me stir fry and so I sat here doing some computer work and ate very slow.......nope, I had to let it come back up! So then what do I do? Eat food I know won't get stuck, ice cream!

Well, I've been wondering if I should go in and have an adjustment. I'm sure you're asking why WOULDN'T I do that. answer: Fear that I'll over eat! That's why......but I think I'm going to try, I'm just not able to eat healthy. We always joke about being able to eat candy, chips, all the good food, but can't digest all the healthy food.

BTW, I did start exercising again, it feels so great.

I'm sitting here still stuck and it's frustrating. Definitely going to call the doctor tomorrow!

Enjoy your week end!
Kerri

Time Management

Hello, you want to know how many times I've told myself to blog and forget to. Too many!

I started this blog to keep you posted on my Lapband status and i've failed to do that. I could beat myself up over that, along with the fact that I haven't worked out since the Fargo 5K back in May. Along with the struggle of eating healthy. Guess what? rather than sit and feel like crap about it, I'm gonna put a stop to it! Cuz I'm tired of being tired all the time. Sure, I'm tired anyway because of my work hours, but I can not remember being as tired as I have been the last month. And it SUCKS! I end up telling myself i'm too tired to work out so I take a nap.

Sigh, I do not like this feeling of having to start over again. I will do it!

Time Management, I am going to google it now!

gotta run, stay cool!
Kerri
<><

Happy Summer!

Over the week end a few friends gave me a hard time about not blogging, decided it was time to "make time" to write a few thoughts.

I've had a lot of ups and downs with food, exercise and weight. I grew very frustrated during training for the Fargo 5K. I felt like no matter how hard I worked out and did cardio, it just didn't help. I've questioned my weight almost every day over the past year. I've stayed the same weight but have lost body fat. Sure, that's what I want but it's still a mental struggle.

I beat my 5K time by a couple minutes, that was my personal goal and I reached it. Since the Fargo 5K i've really struggled with having time and desire to go to the gym and work out. It's been over a month and i've only worked out a handful of times.

I have too much going on, it's not an excuse a fact of life for now. I will get back in the routine and am happy I haven't gained any weight.

As far as eating goes, there has been several times i've thought about going in and getting some fill taken out. It's frustrating because I hoped to have lost more weight at this point but it seems not matter what, I'm stuck......ha, that's funny....cuz food is always stuck too!

thanks for taking time to read my blog and enjoy summer, it goes far too fast!

Kerri
<><

1 year ago today. Caitlin Calgaro

It was a year ago, about this time (6am) my dear friend Sarah called to tell me Caitlin was involved in a car accident and taken to be with her heavenly Father. Not a day has gone by that I have not thought about Caitlin and her family! Please pray for Loni and John her mom and dad, mostly Loni because she is one of my best friends and I love her dearly!

A Prayer at the Well! It's night, O Lord, please hear my call;
I know You want my very all.
But wells are deep; how can I give
The wordless pain in which I live!

It's night, O Lord, be swift to hear;
To bring relief for falling tears.
Needless pain, don't let it be;
But healing pain, to set me free.

Be still, My child; My whispers hear.
Lean hard, My child; come very near.
This well so deep with suffering filled
Must empty first, till all is still.

I'll take the hurt; I'll take the strife;
In Hands so strong I'll hold your life.
I'll fill the well with heaven's gain,
When you, My child, give Me the pain.

I'll take it, mold it, make it Mine;
Transform it then to love divine.
Turn sorrow into fullest joy
Far greater than earth's brightest toy.

For toys of earth cannot compare
With Christ your Lord, so real, so fair.
He, Christ alone, demands your all
Give Me that pain, He softly calls.

I shrink, then reach with outstretched hand;
Dredged of self, alone to stand.
Then from the depths of Love so true
The well is filled again, anew.

This time it's not with pain and me,
But Christ my all, my joy to be.
To depths before unknown I climb
His peace, His joy, His life all mine.

For pain so deep, felt all alone,
Is fertile ground for Love--His own!
Love that fills and meets life's need;
O deep, deep well, I'm rich indeed.

Filled up with Him, His love alone;
His way revealed; His glory shone.
O well of deep, dark yesterday;
Embrace the joy He gives today.

O, night, no longer fear your dark;
He stills the aching, struggling heart.
And from that heart--life's deepening well,
Comes love to share; rich joy to tell.

O, night, give way to endless day!
I've found His depths, His highest way!
O, night, give way to morning's dew;
The well is deep; the source is You!

Spin Class was awesome!

I would suggest everyone try it out! Sure, it was a heck of a work out, but you CAN go at your own pace, set your own tension. Sit if you need to. I did a couple times! Boy did I sweat buckets!

It's a 6 week class you have to sign up for, at Center Court is where I go. Twice a week! I'm hoping and praying this will help me get over this plateau i've been on!

Give it a try if you get a chance!

3 weeks until the Fargo 5K! yeah!

btw, I absolutely HATE running!

Kerri

Spin Class tonight

Alright, I am pretty nervous about doing this spin class at the gym tonight. I've seen them spinning and it looks very tuff to me!

Here's my point, tell yourself you can DO IT. For so long I told myself I could NOT do this spin class and thanks to a friend/listener. Dorothy Kellog. I AM DOING IT!

You can too!!!!

Kerri

Emotional Eating

I'm in a bad mood, I hate it!

It's times like these that I realize that I DO participate in emotional eating. Just ate 8 mint Girl Scout cookies to a tune of 160 calories for 4. So that's 320 calories! Isn't that nice.

Apparently that's not enough so why not sit and eat Jalapeno Cheetos!

Frustrated. I need to go home and go to bed