Moving Up is Making it Harder to Move Down!

So I guess this weight loss thing isn't so easy after all. After dropping 23 lbs prior to surgery and then 21 lbs in my first 4 weeks after surgery the weight loss has definitely slowed. Expected yes...but a little frustrating to have the weight loss slow to only 1 or 2 lbs. per week. In my 2nd month after surgery I am down another 10 lbs which makes it a total of 54 lbs and 31 in my first 2 months since surgery. As if the natural slowing of weight loss wasn't enough, a new wrinkle has been thrown into the equation, a promotion and a job relocation back to my home town...I'm scared!

I have gotten into a pretty good routine in my day to day life with bringing lunches to work, little to no drinking of alcohol, and very healthy dinners and weekends eats. I am going to be moving back to my hometown this Friday and will be there, without wife or son for approximately 2 months before they join me. I have a ton of friends in town and many of them like to...um....party. Or at the very least partake in throwing few back and unhealthy eating at times. Also, my work life will change. Going to lunch and dinner is not an expectation as much as it is a requirement.  Business is had over these chow down sessions and I will be expected to partake. Not sure how they would take it if I brought a bag lunch and spooned myself Greek yogurt and chowed on turkey roll ups while discussing marketing endeavors.

So this is my dilemma as I need help! I do not have a solution right now. Sure, it's easy to say order the typical salad with dressing on the side, have everything grilled, stay away from alcohol, etc., etc. But sometimes these solutions just aren't easy to come by. I welcome all comments and solutions!!! In the meantime my will power will just have to keep me going as I only have 3.5 cc's in my 14 cc band and am still not feeling much restriction. I can do it...I just don't know for how long!

Life After Fifty!!!

Life after Fifty....ROCKS!!! Yep, I just passed my first 50 lbs down! Started at 330 lbs and got on the scale yesterday and it read 276.7!! That is 53.3 lbs lost...Holy Smokes!!! I'm feeling great, sticking to the new lifestyle and just trying to keep going in a positive direction.

When this all started I never thought I would even get this far! I've got a personal goal now of 269.9 by Turkey Day which would be about another 7 lbs in the next 3 weeks...well within my reach. I have 2cc's in my 12cc band and go back for another fill on the 17th of this month...hoping for another 2 cc's. But there is danger looming in the distance...

I just recently got promoted and will be moving back to CA. In prep for this move I have a business trip to CA next week and this trip will consist of dinners out, happy hours at bars and much, much temptation. I think I will be okay, I just have to stay prepared. I find preparation is the number thing that has kept me on track since I was banded 6 weeks ago. So if you have any tips of how to eat right on business or road trips...I'm all ears!

Hope everyone is well!

1st Month...1st Fill...1st 44 lbs.!!!!

Well the first month has come and gone and I have to stay it was a success!! Here are some cool things that occurred during the month:

• Down 21 lbs. since surgery date of 09.16.10. That coupled with the 23.3 I lost prior to surgery has me down 44.3 lbs! Weighed in at 285.6 this morning...the lowest I have been in over 3 years!!
• Down 2 pant sizes! I started out in a 46 and am now down to a 42....lots of pants being handed over to Goodwill!
• No longer a 3XL in shirts! I fit into all of my 2XL shirts now and have even bought a few new ones!
• Down 3 notches on the belt! Suit pants getting a little "bunched" up so will have to have them altered soon but using new notches on the old belt feels great!
• 4 guys at work have all jumped on the weight loss bandwagon and we are down a combined 90 lbs. none of them have the weight issues I do but fun to see I am inspiring some folks!

So a pretty cool month! I went in for my fill today as well and based off of my wife's fill by the same doctor thought I was gong to have to kick and scream just to get a fill as he gave her 1cc after she complained when he said he wasn't going to give her any on the first fill. Well, with no complaining he gave me 2cc's. I do have a bigger band but was happy to see he was being a little aggressive with me. Not sure of any restriction yet as have just been on liquids this afternoon but pretty uneventful fill...phew!

So this thing is off an running! We will be visiting family and friends in November for Turkey Day and cannot weight...err...way to see them! Hoping to be down another 10 - 15 lbs by then...we'll see?!?!

Take care all and keep posting...soooo inspirational!!!

Here is a shot of my wife an i on our recent "date night". Saw a great movie and the strange thing was we enjoyed just as much even without buttery popcorn and candy!?!? Weird!!!

Add caption

The 1st Week and my trip to "Two"derville

Well, week 1 is in the books and I am down about 31 lbs total and about 10 lbs. from surgery date. Not a bad week...that is unless I actually wanted to eat solid food. Yea, the liquid diet blows but it is what it is. Here i will give a brief recap of Week 1;

Day of Surgery - Nervous! But surgery goes well and I am up and walking around soon after. I did a lot of walking o never experienced those bad gas pains that some do...PHEW! Relatively pain free except for the incision where the port was...that kind of hurts.

Day After Surgery - Sore. Not horrible pain but definitely sore. I am not a big pain pill guy so only took the Oxycodon prescribed right before bed. I slept in the Lazy-Boy, very well I might add, as to lay completely down hurt. Minor pain in chest from restriction from band...but only when drinking.

Day 2 - 4After Surgery - All about the same. Feeling better each day. Sticking to liquids and relatively pain free by day 4 or 5. Resisted weighing myself up to this point.

Day 5 - I had to weight myself to see...down 5 lbs...WooHoo!!! Slept in bed for first time this night and boy did it feel goooood! No real pain and getting liquids down pretty well now. Tried soup broth this night and was a nice change of pace from the Protein shakes and water.

Day 6 - Back to work and did okay. Key to succeeding at this at work is going to be preparation. Work life is not concussive to any diet let alone this new lifestyle....is going to be up to me to prep for the days in the office and on the road.

Day 7 - Dropped below 300 lbs for the first time in almost 2 years!! A friend (The Little Bandit) told her husband about breaking into the 200's and said I was in "Two"derland...he thought she meant "Tooter"land and just thought I was having gas pains...hilarious!!!

Day 8 - Bad day! Developed rash around each incision which doctor says was allergic reaction to the "glue" they used to seal off incisions. It itches soooooo bad! Had to take Benadryl to make it through the night. This sucks!

Day 9 - Rash pretty much gone but still there...itches a little bit but not as bad. Today got on the scale and it read 297.1 lbs. which put me down 32.9 total and almost 10 since surgery. I am feeling great, and the weight loss makes the rash worth it. Have my sites set on 279.9 which is my goal for when we go to California to visit family and friends on November 19th. Can't weight....err...wait!!!

So, that was week one...really not bad. If this gets me to my end game of around 200 lbs. then all the pain, rashes and liquid diets will totally be worth it!!! Hope everyone is doing well!!!

Banded Dad....doing it for Dad...

When someone finds out that I having Lap-Band surgery it is usually followed with a comment like, "Make sure you are doing it for you." Well, I am doing this for me, however I would be lying if I was to say I was not inspired by others. The easy inspiration is doing it for my wife and son. My wife Jaimie ('Banded Together') inspires me every day and I cannot wait to begin this journey on my own and join her on her journey. My son, well, that's also easy. Nothing brings me more joy in my life then when I see him or hear the words, Dada...tugs the heart strings every time. I want and will lose the weight to ensure I can enjoy him in my life for as long as possible...this brings me to my father.

A year ago today my father passed away from complications from a hernia surgery. His weight and the fact he was a smoker for the majority of his life were leading contributors. However regardless of the cause...he isn't here today. I still have not taken his number out of my cell phone, my mom still has his voice on her answering machine and I still have his stories and jokes ringing in my ears. The pain I felt the day I knew he passed was indescribable...while I know someday my son will feel that pain I felt that day...I do not want it to come any sooner then it has too. So while yes, I'm doing it for my boy, doing it for my wife and of course myself...i feel I owe it to my father to learn from his mistakes and in the end...I'm doing it for dad.

The pics below are of me and my dad on the day I graduated college, 2 days before he passed last year and the above is the tattoo I got on my back in his memory..."The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was his favorite song...

7 More Days & "The Last Supper"

Hey all!! Got some great news to share as well as some crazy thoughts running through my head.

First off, my surgery date has changed. I was to be banded on the 21st of Sept. and that date didn't work as I am going to school for my Master's degree and I just cannot miss a night. So...I was able to get it changed to a SOONER date...woohoo! So now, I am going to be banded ONE WEEK FROM TOMORROW!!! I cannot believe it is now only a week away. This is going to be a looooong 7 days! Which leads me to my next issue..."The Last Supper".

So as the date draws nearer I can't help but think..."What will my "last" meal consist of?" As if I am never going have another "normal" meal again!? I find myself thinking of certain foods that I may never be able to have, tolerate, or enjoy again. Foods such as breads, rice, or...oh my gosh....Coca-Cola!!! Now the realistic me realizes these are all culprits that got me to where I am at today...but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy devouring them!! My wife Jaimie asked me tonight what I wanted before I got banded next week and while my answer should have been, "I wanna drop another 5 lbs. before next week." my answer was...

"For my last meal I want the following..."

Appetizer
Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich on fresh White Bread...Skippy Peanut Butter of course.
Glass of COLD 2% Milk

Main Course
1 Chipotle Barbacoa Burrito w/ side of chips & salsa
2 Slices of Pizza Hut Pepperoni Stuffed Crust Pizza
1 Mexican Roll Sushi
Double Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese

McDonalds...must be McDonalds...Coca-Cola...a big one!

Dessert
3 Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Easter Eggs
Chocolate Cake w/ Chocolate Frosting
3 Freshly Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies

So as you can see, I haven't given this much thought...ha! While I know I have eaten my last of many of these things I do think I will enjoy one more Coca-Cola during my last week. You know...just to bid it a proper farewell.

The Final Countdown!!!

Not just another catchy song by Europe anymore. Now it actually carries some meaning as I have received my surgery date and it is about 2 weeks away! I am due to be banded on Sept. 21, 2010. My wife "Banded Together" was banded about a month ago and is doing GREAT! I can't wait to join with you all! I will post more latter but along with posting a blog on this site I also post video blogs on You Tube under the sign on JayBand22. I have 7 or 8 so far all pre-op. So follow me there if you are so inclined. Great to be on hear and will post more of my vital stats later.

Jason