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2010 (Scroll down for previous years)
March 1st, 2010
I have still been maintaining my weight around 250. Last week I realized that I need to reduce my calories and up my exercise to start losing weight again.  What a concept!!! :-)   (You would think that it wouldn't take me months to figure that one out.)
I am not liking that I need to do that.  Feelings of being deprived come to mind, but I know that they are not true.  I need to work past that.  I need to focus on God more - I am never deprived of his love, grace and forgiveness. 

Jan. 4th, 2010
I did some number crunching in regards to my exercising, weight and how many miles I have logged.  I have been tracking everything on Sparkpeople for almost two years now. 
In 2008, I averaged 21 minutes of exercise per day.  In 2009, I averaged 24.5 minutes per day.
My total mileage for 2009 was 416.94 -so that is about 1.14 miles per day.  Keep in mind that I only started recording my mileage in May, so this year will be higher!
I have been talking about how I can't figure out why I am staying the same in my weight, well, duh!  My mileage per month and minutes of exercise per month have dropped off a lot since September.  No more lieing to myself, no more excuses!  May 09 miles - 55.5, June 09 miles - 107, July 09 miles - 74.25, August 09 miles - 50.97, Sept 09 miles - 14.3, Oct 09 miles - 32.4, Nov 09 miles - 45.99, Dec 09 miles - 36.53

2009
December 13th, 2009
I have been stuck around 250 since October.  I have been slacking off, not exercising consistently, not recording what I am eating.  I did my own personal 1/2 tri right before my birthday and was able to take a couple of minutes off of all of my times.  My right foot is doing so much better.  Not sure how to get myself back on track.  Not motivated at the moment.  I have been taking a vitamin D supplement, which seems to be helping with my winter time blahs.

October 25th, 2009
I am so stink'in happy!  I am down 50 pounds.  I need to find a non-food, not too expensive way to celebrate.  The breast cancer walk was fun!  I walked three miles in one hour, which is better than my time in the 1/2 tri.  I have also decided to complete a 1/2 tri at the Kroc Center for fun for my birthday.  I haven't really had a goal to work towards to help motivate me to get off my butt.  I am hoping to improve my times.  Sounds like I may have 3-4 friends do all or part of it with me.

September 12th, 2009
I am not doing the 25 mile bike today that I really wanted to do.  Last week I felt so bad I went to the doctor and they said I was really dehydrated.  So I decided to not do the bike ride.  I am planning on doing the breast cancer walk and have talked some of my mommy friends into doing it. 
My little boy turned 3 this week.  I am so ready to have another baby.  But I need to loose more weight before that happens so I can be the healthiest mommy possible.
I have not lost any weight recently.  I just measured myself this morning and I have lost inches.  Happy day!  These measurements are comparing today to the measurements I took at the end of July.  5.5 inches off my waist, 3.75 inches off my hips, 1 inch off my thigh, 1.75 inches off my upper arm.  I also was able to do 14 push ups in a minute, compared to 7 before.  I did 29 crunches in a minute compared to 28 before.

August 29th, 2009

I did the 15 mile bike ride in 2 hours.  This old guy stayed with me and kept me company.  There is a nasty hill near veterans bridge on the Centennial Trail, I had to walk my bike up part of the hill.  I completed on my own without help.

I am definitely dong the Susan G Komen walk here in Coeur D'Alene!  So far I have talked four mommy friends into joining me.  I am considering doing a 5K walk in Spokane Valley in October and a 25 mile bike ride September 12th.  

I think I have been celebrating too much with food lately.  I don't want to use food to celebrate but I also don't want to spend much money to celebrate either, need to do more thinking on that one.

Our computer's CD-ROM is having issues so I can't play my favorite computer game - Civilization.  John was going to get it fixed, but I told him not to.  I have noticed that my sugar addiction and my Civilization's addiction come together.  I have been getting more reading and knitting done since I can't sit and play on the computer for hours.

Speaking of knitting...I have knit three scarves and one little beanie hat.  So exciting!  I even went to Micheals to browse.  What is up with that?  :-)

July 28th, 2009
I did it.  I did much better than I thought I would.  God answered my prayers for good weather.  I swam the 1/2 mile in 22 minutes.  I rode the 11 miles on my bike in 1 hour and 5 minutes.  I walked 3.1 miles in 1 hour and 2 minutes.  My total time was 2 hours and 36 minutes.  I was last in my catagory - the big girls catagory.  But I was not last over all.  I was third from last!  Very excited!
I have already signed up for a 15 mile bike ride in 3 weeks and a 5k run/walk at the end of September.  My brother was 9th in his age catagory.  My mom caught up with me during the biking and stayed with me for the rest of the time.  She really helped me get through the walking!  And my friend Hope did great!  I will probably do race the river again next year.  It was so fun to have my mom and brother come visit.  Isaac loved seeing them both.

June 28th, 2009

I am so excited!  A little less than a month to race the river.  I have been working out like a mad woman.  Swimming 1/2 mile and then biking 11 miles on the stationary bike.  Right now my times for each part are: walking - 1 hour 30 mins, swim - 30 mins, bike 55 mins.  I might be able to do this in under 4 hours!
Doing good with the weight loss too.  Consistently dropping weight.  I can keep the sugar monster at bay for longer periods of time.
My mom and a friend are going to do it with me.  I will help them get through the swimming and they will help me get through the running/walking.

June 8th, 2009
Have been busy in a good way - hiking, swimming, lots and lots of biking.  My husband bought me a bike and trailer to pull Isaac in for mother's day.  He's the best!  My biggest adventure to date was to go to Sherman Park and back - 12 miles round trip.  I was so tired!
I am eating 5 small meals a day.  I have stocked up on protein bars to help with the sugar cravings.  Doing much better, I am giving into the sugar monster less!

April 2nd, 2009
Having less in my schedule has been great, exercising more frequently.  Working on being more consistent about lifting weights.  I am still working on cutting out sugar - I do good for a while and then I binge when things get rough. 
I was able to get lap time and swim for the first time since I had menigitis.  I was not able to do a practice run on my 1/2 tri due to baby sitter and other issues. 
Here are my times for each part - I can walk 1 mile in 30 minutes, so 3 miles should take me about 1 hour, 30 minutes.  I can ride 5 miles on a stationary bike in 30 minutes, so 11 miles should take me about 1 hour 15 minutes.  I can swim 1/2 mile in 35 minutes in a lap pool.
Total time is: 3 hours 20 minutes.

March 9th, 2009
Am finally starting to feel normal after my menigitis.  In a strange sort of way the menigitis was an answer to prayer. Yes, I know that sounds wierd.  My husband had been praying for understand me better, that was answered when he had to do his job and do mine too when I first came home from the hospital.  I had been praying for God to calm me down and just be.  I can get so wound up and then want to eat chocolate to calm down.  My cravings are less, so that prayer has been answered.  Finally I had been praying that I could be less busy.  I want to do so many things, but there is just not enough time in the day.  I think I was keeping too busy to keep from eating, but the opposite was happening, I was not planning my meals so I was rushing and eating more.  I have had to pare back my schedule and I do better and am more focused on planning meals ahead and exercising more often and more consistently. 
I just walked on the treadmill this last week, building up my time over the week.  My little one has been sick with a cold, so I am hoping he will get better this week so that I can go to the gym to swim and ride a bike.
I am planning on doing my own "practice" 1/2 triathlon at the end of March at the gym.  I can't wait for it to be spring - I want to buy a bike and a trailer for pulling my little one and go to the park!

Feb. 15, 2009
I have been sick for 2 weeks with viral menigitis.  I was in the hospital and now am slowly healing and doing better at home.  All my normal acitvities will have to wait until I am better.  I am giving myself until March to get back to "normal".  I am so happy to be alive, healing and making it through every day.
I had lost 6 pounds through this whole ordeal because I was not able to eat much due to the nausea from the menigitis.  Not what I am doing better and eating better - I have gained back 4 pounds.  Am slowly doing better.  I am going to start walking on the treadmill tomorrow.  Slowly easing back into the good exercise routine that I was doing before all of this happened - and use the cool log book my mom made for me.  According to my research on the web I need to take it easy or my recovery can last longer.  Sometimes it can take months to heal!  I may not be able to train enough for my 1/2 triathlon at the end of July if it takes months to recover.  I am hoping that I can get back to normal in March.

Jan 15th, 2009
No leak has been found so far - the nurse that does my fills probably recorded what she put in me wrong.  That is a good thing since there isn't a leak, but a bad thing in that I am keeping myself from being successful.
I experimented with being very busy for a week and now not very busy for a week.  I don't eat right and tend to stress out more when I am too busy.  There are so many things that I want to do, but have prioritized and some stuff will have to go on the back burner.  Having a less busy schedule means more time for exercise.  I do get bored easily, but that I can work on.
I have been training more for my 1/2 triathalon.  I had thought I was doing fine on the swimming and then I found my calculations on how many laps to the 1/4 mile in the pool that I swim in - I am off by 30 laps.  Dang it! I am walking almost every day on the treadmill, but have not done much biking.  I am just working on completing the race, not winning.  My guess is that I will swim 1/4 mile in about 1 hour, 3 hours to bike 11 miles, and 2 hours to walk 3 miles.  I will recalculate what I think my times will be as I get close to the end of July.
"Binging on carbs is a way of deciding not to "be" as it takes over that role for you.  You don't have to decide anything.  The carbs do it for you by helping you decide to hide from life."  Life may not be what I want it to be, but I do not want to hide from it anymore! :-)

2007-2008

Dec 11th, 2008
I went for my one year lap-band check-up.  They had me stand in front of an x-ray machine and swallow some chalky stuff.  It was neat to see the lap-band and how the drink went through it.  There is a concern that I have a leak in my port - my port is where a needle can go under my skin to tighten or loosen my band.  There is a 3cc difference between a month ago and this week.  They are going to check my levels over the next couple of weeks to determine if the nurse filled out the paperwork wrong or if I have leak.  A leak might explain why I have always felt restriction and then over time I don't feel restriction.  If they determine that I do have a leak I will have minor surgery in Seattle to replace the port (no charge). 
After my one year check up I went to a support group meeting.  It was so helpful!  They had a panel of lap band people that are at their ideal weight.  We could ask them questions and hear their stories.  I am more inspired and motivated! 
"If you don't like your reality change it!", is what a friend said to me recently.  I have been running away from my reality.  I am facing up to my life and I am going to change it and bring joy back into my life.  I also need to stop being too busy, which is another way I hide from reality.  I need to trim some stuff back in my life so I can make exercise, time for myself, and things that bring me joy more of a priority.

Dec 1st, 2008
I have found my answer to why good things happen to bad people.  We all have free will and free will gives us the ability to make bad choices that negatively affect other people.  When we are free to choose to sin, people get hurt.  I want to exact my own vengance when people wrong me or when someone I love is wronged, but that is not what the bible says to do.  Romans 12:19 says - "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.  I am going to repeat this verse to myself until I am able to let go of my need to take vengance into my own hands.  I need to lean on God and trust him.  Not every wrong needs to to be "righted".

November 9th, 2008
Currently at 266 and holding.  Had a big fill of my lap-band and then had bad reflux, so I had my band unfilled.  Have been holding my weight since.  Have been very busy and not making exercise a priority.  Have improved in the last 2 weeks.  I signed up for a 1/2 triathalon in July 29th, 2009.  I am much more motivated to exercise now.  I want to make it across the finish line.  The race is 1/4 mile swim, 11 mile bike ride and 3 mile run.  Have been exercising more regularly with my friend Dawn, we take turns watching each other's kids so that the other one can exercise.
Have realized that I have been mad at God for not protecting me from a friends father when I was a teenager.  Have been struggling with the "why do good things happen to bad people?" question.  Have realized that this is not heaven, this is not God's world.  We all have free will to make bad choices.  And someone else's bad choice really hurt me and affected me.  I am working on my issues regarding that so that I can move on and keep them from affecting me like they are currently.

September 1st, 2008
Have been stuck around 270 for over a month now.  Need to up the exercise, the lap-band handbook from my doctor says I should be getting one hour a day of exercise, I am not even close even on good weeks.  New goal is to be 240 by the new year.
Have realized recently that I have been devaluing my accomplishments.  I love me!  This may seem like a simple statement but it is a big deal for me.
Here is a list of things that I am proud of:
1) 3.8 High School GPA
2) Decent trombone/tuba player
3)Member of the USC Marching Band for 2 years - the greatest marching band in the history of the universe.
4) My mom took me to lots of places around the US that a lot of my peers and hubsand have not been to.
5) Good swimmer in high school, finished third a lot.
6) Got my B.A. in 3 1/2 years.
7) Teacher of the Year Award my second year of teaching, voted best teacher by my peers first year teaching, and math department head my second year of teaching.
8) Fast, good reader.  Book worm.  :-)
9) Silly voices
10) Good dancer with many silly dances.
11) Good, loyal friend
12) Try my best to walk the walk as a Christian instead of just talking the talk.
13) Dependable, workhorse
14) Decent cook



July 20th, 2008
I am now at my lowest weight in 3 years - I have not been at 269, since before I was pregnant.  I am actually depriving myself of food, a new habit.  In the past before my lap-band I would always diet and get to about 265 and then gain weight back.  I know that the pounds will keep coming off!  I found a picture of myself at 180-200 pounds when I was in college in the USC marching band.

June 22nd, 2008

Finally, I am past the weight that I was stuck at.  I am going to do this!  I have realized that my need to be right quite a bit, keeps me from succeeding at times.  I also realized that I have swam over 6 miles in two months.  I would not be able to run that, that is for sure.  I have been developing a new habit.  I take big swings of water before I eat, to help me not eat as much.  A lap-band mentor of mine has suggested that I plan on doing a mini-triathlon in August of 2009.  I think I may do that or I might compete in an adult swim meet sooner than that.

June 15th, 2008

I have been swimming 4000 yards a week for the past three weeks.  My foot has been improving, finally!  Still stuck at the same weight.  I just want to scream.  Had a fill this past week and have really noticed the difference in how much I can eat.  Have reduced my calories like the lap-band nurse suggested.  Have I said I want to scream?  

May 11th, 2008

I am upset with myself.  Up another pound since being home.  Saw a physical therapist about my foot.  I am getting help from him and I am to do only low or no impact exercise.  So no treadmill, bike, etc.  I am so glad I have signed up to swim laps and do water aerobics at Ironwood.  I know this is the sweets I eat.   I try so hard not to buy them or make them, but...  I think I need to have sweets only on certain days and make myself wait the rest of the time. AARRGGHH

May 8th, 2008

Trip to California to visit relatives went fine.  I am so glad that we stayed at my mom's and then at an extended stay place so that I could eat home cooked stuff.  Didn't like going out to eat, scared of what would work and what wouldn't.  My mom watched Isaac so I could go swimming a lot when we stayed with her.  Swimming is so much better for my hurt foot.  Also getting physical therapy for it starting today.  Gained one pound on our trip.  I thought for sure that I had lost weight.  I have lost inches - I am down a pant size.  Signed up with a fitness place that has a pool so I can swim laps.  I can do the hour of exercise a day that the lap-band doctor recommends if I swim.  Can only do 30 mins. of walking or biking before my foot hurts.  Wonder if all the sun improved my attitude?  Feel better about everything in general.  Perhaps I just needed a vacation. :-)

April 3, 2008

Going to California to visit family.  Lots of emotions.  Before my lap band I would have all my meals planned out when visiting.  Now I can not eat my favorite things at most of those restaurants.  At first I was bummed about that, but now I see it as a good thing.  And my favorite restaurant I can still have what I want just a lot less of it.  Not sure what I will eat on the road, most fast food is not lap band friendly.  Am bringing lots of protein bars and shakes so I have something that I can eat.  Been managing to get a little bit of time on the treadmill in the morning before Isaac gets up. Lots of random thoughts. :-)

March 15, 2008

I am at 274 at the moment.  I weighed 268 before I got pregnant with Isaac.  It will be neat to see that number again soon.  Get discouraged at times, but I am changing habits and trying to replace them with good ones - that takes time.  I have cut back some on sugar.  This is a process and when a day is rough I have no other way to cope - working on having other ways to cope - nothing concrete so far.  24 pounds total lost in about 3 months.  That is so neat

Been thinking about how I feel when I want sugar, I sure am mad or frustrated when I want sugar.  Need to figure out why.

Feb. 24, 2008

My first meeting with the counselor went well.  Was very stressed afterwards and I am not sure why.  I am very frustrated with myself this week.  I ate sugar to celebrate my loss of two pounds and my celebrating caused me to gain those two pounds back.  I can not seem to find time to get enough sleep, get things done around the house that need to get done, and find time to exercise more.  I have been talking with some of my lapband friends and the successful ones exercise one hour a day, six days a week.  I will figure this out.  In the meantime I am going to get another fill this week, perhaps a little more restriction will keep me on the straight and narrow.

Feb. 17th, 2008
I am doing better this week.  My calorie intake is the same everyday, which means that I am not stuffing my face one day and then trying to make up for that by eating too little the next day. 
I am loving my personal trainer - I can see a difference in my arms and waist from the weight training.  I am not doing as much cardio as I want to, but I am going to work on rearranging things at my house and in my schedule so that it will be easier for me to get that in. 
I do not enjoy eating at new restaurants at the moment.  I am not sure what food will work with my band and what won't.  I think that is a good thing for now - it means we are having more home cooking.
I wrote an article for my MOPS newsletter about my "stuffing" issues - it was helpful to do that.  Have an appointment this week to see a counselor, hope that goes well!

Feb. 5th, 2008
Been doing a lot of thinking and I know what I am stuffing or numbing with food.  I have some issues in my past that I thought I had dealt with.  Apparently I have been stuffing them away with food.  Now that I can not do that as much I have been easily stressed and not able to deal with things as well. 
Am going to do counseling sooner than I was planning to.  I know that if I can get my issues to where I do not need to stuff them away then I will be a better person.
Had my first fill today.  Saline was put into my band to make it tighter.   It didn't hurt at all and I can already tell the difference.  Feeling fuller sooner is a good thing!

Jan. 19th, 2008
Finished my first week with my personal trainer.  I never thought I had stomach muscles.  I thought the fat just held everything in. :-)  Very sore, but feeling better.  I did cardio and weights with her and then she tells me that I also need to do 30 mins of cardio three times a week without her.  Not sure how to fit that in, but will figure it out.

Found one more dinner meal that works for the whole family!  Yeah!  Have been recording positive and negatives for each day and am seeing that I do more positive than negative things every day now.  Another reason for my frustration is my need to achieve and have everything go perfect - I need to work on that.


Jan. 16th, 2008
I am trying to make positive comments to myself food wise and otherwise.  I am having such a hard time with this.  I have noticed how positive I am with my little boy - good job!  What a big boy you are!  But I can not seem to be positive with myself.  I focus on how I have messed up.  Had a bad day food wise yesterday and was not able to be positive about much - I did bring a snack with me to a play date so I would make a good choice.

I am having a hard time figuring out what to eat.  I am reverting to cereal and liquid protein shakes.  I can not cook a lot of the stuff I used to - I can not eat it now that I have my lap band.  to find something that I can eat and that little boy and hubby can eat too is a challenge.   My biggest probelm is lunch - can not have bread and most of the frozen dinners I can not eat due to the bread.  Need to work on that.  I have found that a lot fo the weight loss cookbooks deal more with gastric by pass than lap band in terms of receipes. 

Start with my personal trainer friend on Monday.  Wow, I am so out of shape.  Am frusterated since I know I can do more but my foot is holding me back.  Hoping that as I continue to loose weight I will be able to push myself more and that my foot will hurt less.


Jan. 12th, 2008

Jan. 5th, 2008
I currently weigh 282.  I continue to be more consistent with my exercise while babying my right foot.  I am supposed to get "filled" on Jan. 8th, but I am not sure if I should or not since I have been consistently loosing weight. 
I recently realized that I do not really have any hobbies besides updating this website.  The lap band has stopped me from having eating as a hobby.  I am working on a list of things that I want to do in the local area like museums, hiking trails, etc.  I am also considering knitting and taking piano lessons.  ( I currently play the piano, but would like to improve my skill level.)

Dec - 2007
I had lapband surgery on 11/27/07 at the Northwest Weight Loss Center in Everett, Washington. 

My weight when I first visited the surgeon was 298 pounds.  My goal weight at the moment is 180 pounds.  I have two mini goals on the way there.  I want to reach 250 pounds and then 220 pounds. 

I weigh myself once a week on Sunday morning per my surgeons instructions.  I am currently almost off my pain medication from the surgery and am going to start exercising more consistently.  I have a muscle in my right foot that swells when I over do it, so slow and steady is the name of the game.