10 Things Thursday - it's been awhile!

1.  Remember when our blog feeds would be FILLED with 10 Things Thursday posts? I miss those days.

2.  March Madness starts today. For me, it's like Christmas. The.best.holiday.ever!  I joined 7 pools which is going to be a little hard to manage. I only paid for 4 so the others I probably won't look at too much. of course those will be the ones I win!

3.  We went to AZ this past weekend for Spring Training. Had so much fun!  Was really packed with lots to do, so I feel I may need another more relaxing vacation soon! Got to see some of my faves and Mac got to be reunited with his first love Kennedy!   Some pics:

4.  When I was in AZ, I was telling some of my girlfriends about my upcoming band removal and how I'm in the process of approval for the sleeve. One of my friends asked, "don't you think you can do it on your own? why do you think you need another surgery?"  Another friend here in Chicago asked me that last week as well.  Truth is, I don't think I can do it on my own. I still don't think after 5 years of losing weight, that I won't fall back in to old habits. so sad, don't you think? I'm terrified that after next Friday, I'm going to magically gain all of my weight back in weeks.

5.  So, I have a plan. I've been pretty good about working out (not lately but that's number 6) so I plan to continue doing that every day.  I'm going to go back to watching and counting my calories. May join WW again as well. My workouts have been varied since I joined ClassPass:  I've been doing combos of Body Pump, Yoga, Reformer Pilates, TRx, Zumba and walking and elliptical. Trying to cover all my body parts!! :)

6.  So, about a month ago, I started doing the PIYO workout (from Beachbody)  I did about a week of it and it's pretty intense. I noticed my back was hurting so I stopped for a week.  Started up again the following week after I started feeling better.  Well, by Friday, I could barely walk. By Saturday, every time I took a step, a sharp shooting pain went up my leg and I almost fell over. By Sunday, I couldn't feel my toes on my right foot. I went to Urgent Care to get something for the pain and they confirmed what I thought it was - sciatica.  I was given a large amount of pain-killers, pain patches, muscle relaxers, etc.. and sent on my way. I started feeling better last week and even when we were in AZ, but I still can't feel my toes.  My hip hurts sporadically.  So, I am going to see an Ortho on Friday who I'm assuming will do an MRI and get to the bottom of what nerve issues are going on that I can't feel my foot.  It's really annoying. I went to Hot Yoga the other night and couldn't do anything on my right leg for fear that I would topple over.

7.  I'm a mess. I wish I could just get everything fixed next Friday in one surgery: take my band out, do the sleeve, fix my back and then maybe a mommy makeover while they are at it?? :) One can dream!

8.  I have my insurance mandated visit with the Psychologist today!  I remember when I had to do this for the Band and I felt like it was so stupid.  I don't feel much different about the whole thing  today except that I'll be $200 poorer.  This guy better be GOOD!

9. I haven't mentioned Mac in the last two blogs.  The kid is awesome.  While he still is a lunatic sometimes, I think we have reached the magic age - he's 3 3/4. He traveled so well this past weekend. did not have one meltdown.  only lost one superhero b/c he was flying outside the window of the car and he accidentally dropped him on the freeway!  He says the most hilarious things that I should really be keeping track of.

10.  I'm having a serious hair crisis.  I usually love my hair but it's become so course and frizzy lately. I've tried everything to figure out what's happening - new hair brush, new shampoo/conditioner, new product, new hair dryer, etc.  regulated my thyroid meds and nothing is changing.  I hate to be so superficial but I LOVE my hair and lately, it makes me want to cry.

That's all I got. Hope you all have a great weekend!
xo,js

So Long Antonio!

Hate for my first blog back to be bad news but that's the reality.  Antonio "Band"eras is hitting the road at the end of this month. I've been having stomach issues for quite some time and back in October, could not eat or drink anything for about 5 days. I ended up in the ER and they diagnosed me with GERD, sent me on my merry way with some super high strength Prilosec and said Good Luck.  I ended up going to a new (to me) Band Dr and having about 3ccs taken out and immediately felt better. He said the band looked good, position was good, it was just too tight.

Fast forward 3 or so months and my stomach issues start again.  I had since gained back the 13 lbs that I had lost since the fluid removal and had just gotten my band tightened a little.  Again, band dr. said everything looks great, etc.  I decided to go to a GastroEnterologist on the recommendation of a friend and my primary care. He did an Endoscopy and when I came to, said "it's your band, it's migrated into your stomach and needs to come out".  Needless to say, pity party of 1 started that minute.  I've had my band since October, 2009, have never had it easy with losing weight, have worked for every pound that has come off. I've never had a point where I've gained, I've either been losing or maintaining for years.  Granted, I still have about 50lbs to go, but shit. The thought of gaining all this weight back scares the crap out of me.  I work out at least 5-6x a week, and eat pretty well, but I know myself. Once I know I can eat a cheeseburger, I will do it. And then keep going.  It sucks.

BUT, the good news is I'm already working with a new Band Dr (one I tried to get in with back in October but wouldn't see me b/c I didn't have my band placed by them) but apparently now that I'm an emergency situation, they want me as their patient!  Turns out he's the best in the city so I'm happy with that! He's going to remove the band on March 27th and I've already started the insurance hoop jumping for the Sleeve. So, barring any major insurance issues, I should be able to get that done by the end of the summer. I'm super hopeful that that will get me to where I need to be. I've talked to a few people that this has happened to and they give me really great positive feedback and most of all, HOPE.  I hope I can maintain where I'm at until then, just have to keep working at it I guess.

Sorry, post is all over the place. I need to get back to blogging. I still check in every day and see who's blogged (and it's not very many of you! :( )

Til next time,
xo.js