Shoe Help!

Happy Friday, one and all!
This weekend I think I am going to start trying on new shoes for exercise. I don't know what I need though. I don't have the money to buy running shoes, cross trainers, walking shoes, etc. I would like a versatile shoe that isn't too heavy.. that I can use for the elliptical, for venturing into the C25K program, etc.
Does anyone have any recommendations for me? I know everybody's feet are different, but it'd be nice to have a place to start. It's a little overwhelming for me!!
Thanks in advance for your help!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The weekend is here! My plans so far:
Friday Night - I'm going to the gym. I'll most likely just do the elliptical tonight.
Saturday Morning - Muscle Blast class, then 45-60 minutes on the elliptical afterwards.
After that - I'm going to hit the showers, and then go to the Farmer's Market again, and maybe the Middle Eastern Market that is in town. I love Mediterranean pickles and hummus and all of that fun stuff.. It'd be interesting to see what they have there! I also LOVE cous cous as an alternative to other starchy items.
Sunday I haven't planned out yet, but I have lots of projects in the works. Wahoo!!!

Hope you all have a great weekend!!
xoxo

Thursday 13 - Without the Extra Weight

Hello again... I forgot that it was Thursday 13 today as well, so lucky you! Two posts from me today! HA!!!

This week, I'm going to post 13 things that I can do easier now without an extra 160 pounds on my body. As you know, this list is truly MUCH, MUCH longer, but we're sticking to 13 for the purpose of this post.

1. I can ride in an airplane without an extender or without "spilling" over into my neighbors seat.
2. I can sit in any furniture I like without fear of breaking it, getting stuck, or again, "spilling" over... Or, God Forbid, standing up and having the chair still with me.. Yes, that's happened before!! :(
3. I can find clothes without having to go to a specialty store. It's a nice freedom to have, but at the same time, can be overwhelming with all of the choices.
4. I can exercise for more than 5 minutes without being out of breath, or feeling like my heart is about to beat out of my chest. I can easily exercise for much longer now, and actually enjoy it!
5. I can go to amusement parks and enjoy the rides instead of fearing that I won't fit.
6. I can cross my legs.
7. I can easily tie my own shoes.
8. I can go to the pool or the beach without feeling like EVERYONE is staring at me.
9. I can be IN the picture now, versus being the one always holding the camera so I don't have to be in a picture.
10. I can ride a bike without fear of making the tires go flat because of my weight.
11. I can take a bath in a normal size tub and fit comfortably!
12. I can drive my car without feeling the steering wheel up against my gut.
13. I can climb stairs with ease, and still maintain my breath!

What are some of your accomplishments?

Want to participate as well?
Head to: http://thursday-13.com

I'll Start on Monday...

How many times have you heard that before?

Yesterday was a BAD day for me food wise. I made one bad decision after another, and today I'm paying for it by feeling sluggish (more than usual!) and I just feel like my skin is disgusting.. I don't know whether that's mental or actually physical, but I hate this feeling!

In the past, if I f'd up, I'd start back up on Monday. Monday is the start of a new week, so I see the "logic". No more though.. If you allow yourself to make a mistake, don't wait to remedy the situation. We've spent our whole life starting back up on Monday, and if you want new results this time, you can't keep doing the same thing. In the past I would also let myself feel overly guilty for going off of my plan. I'd wallow in guilt, which would make me continue to be terrible in my decisions. Who does that help? NO ONE! I think it's important to remember that the only person you are hurting is yourself. No one else will feel the effects of the donut you just ate, or the the hamburger you just consumed.

So yes, I had a bad day yesterday. Today, however, will be a great day. I will say NO! to the crippling 312 pound devil that's on my shoulders all of the time.

Addiction

I am an addict. I've always had an addictive personality. I rely on something stronger than me to make it through the day. Yes, I used to be addicted to food. No - I am still addicted to food, but I usually have that very controlled. My addiction that I seem to have no control over is coffee. I don't feel alive if I don't have some coffee in my bloodstream. I did so well for quite some time after my surgery by consuming NO caffeine. That's certainly not the case anymore! I love it.. I need it! I've tried transferring my addiction to working out and other positive actions, but I still can't kick it. UGH!!!

Anyway.. that's my continuous confession. I'm out of control!

Beyond that - I'm still sore from my Muscle Blast workout. I am starting to see a little definition in my arms though, and that's amazing! I only wish my wings would magically fly off on their own. As much as I want to have surgery to get rid of my extra skin, I can honestly say that it's not in the top 50 things I would do if I had that much money. So instead, I will wallow in self pity for all of you to read! :) Dontcha just love the idea of that!? HA!!

Today I have a dentist appointment. I have a dermatologist appointment in June (yes, they're booked that far ahead!) to see if I can get my rosacea under control a little better. I also have a follow up with my gastroenterologist (say that 3 times fast!) in two weeks for a follow up appointment on my last gastroscope. Everytime that I have a scope, a biopsy is done on the ulcer to make sure that it's not cancerous, and so far, so good. I will also schedule my 3rd gastroscope for the year, hopefully with better results (no ulcer!).

At work, I have a new boss starting today. My previous one resigned to start flipping houses (I'm JEALOUS!!), so wish me luck on liking her! :)

Hope you all are having a lovely day!!

Monday..

Happy Monday to you all! I hope it was a lovely weekend for you. Mine was nice.
On Friday night, John and I went to dinner with some friends. It was delicious, yet sinful!
Saturday morning, I met one of my friends at 24 Hour Fitness and we did the Muscle Blast class together. OMG... It was a tough workout!! After the Muscle Blast, I hopped on the elliptical for 30 minutes so I'd get my cardio in as well. So, all in all, a 90 minute workout.. yay for me!! After that, two of my friends met me at my house and we went to the Farmer's Market and an Asian Market. I bought a ton of fresh produce for very little money, along with 2 lbs of fresh shrimp, a bunch of different mushrooms and some rice noodles at the Asian Market. I'm going to make a hot and sour soup recipe that I found that looks delicious! I'll let you know how it turns out, and will post the recipe if it's yummy!
Sunday, I was supposed to go to the beach with my friend, but I canceled on her. I looked in the laundry room, and it was piled high. All my gym clothes and a lot of my work clothes (and John's) were needing to be washed, and I didn't want to be up all night doing laundry. Thankfully she understood, and we can go down another weekend! :) It was a beautiful day though, and it would have been great beach weather! The only time I left the house was to go get John a cherry limeade since he was working in the yard.
My DVR is getting jammed up with shows, so I've been trying to catch up. Last week I started Vampire Diaries (until last week, I had only seen the pilot)... and now I'm only 2 episodes behind. I really like the show, and am glad that I kept taping it even though I got so far behind. I love teenage shows and movies.. I'm a sucker for them. I loved Dawson's Creek and The O.C... and this is kind of a vampire spin.. haha! Plus, I love the Twilight series... Yeah, I'm one of those! heheh
Anyway, here we are, back to Monday. I forgot my clean gym clothes at home, so if I have time to make it home and back up to the gym to meet my friend, I have a class to go to tonight, and then my elliptical afterwards.
I've noticed that I've been RAVENOUS lately... I'm sure it's all the muscles wanting fuel, but damn it, I want to not be hungry! LOL

Hope you all have a great Monday... just 4 more days till the weekend! :)

Bodybugg... Talk Me Into It! (Or Out of It!)

Hello guys and gals! I'm not sure how I've conveyed this in print, but I'm an impulsive girl. I get something in my head, and if it's something I want, I WANT IT NOW! If it's something that needs to be done, DO IT NOW! Etc...
I've had in my head for 2 days (yeah, a lifetime for my personality!) that I really, really, REALLY want a Bodybugg!!

Pros:

• It tracks your steps
• Over 90% accurate on calories burned
• Only $179, with 6 months free online monitoring service
• Has a handy dandy iPhone app
• Would help me understand my own metabolism (or lack thereof)
  
• I'm sure there are many more, but I'm tired!

Cons:

• Only $179?! I'm not made of money, people! After 6 months, I have to pay $9.95 a month or $80 a year?! After I already paid $179?!
  
• It doesn't track what you put in your mouth.. that would be super cool if it did!
• You have to wear it for it to work.. It's just like the exercise equipment we all have that sometimes collects dust.. being a proud owner doesn't guarantee results! hehe

Do I need one? I know I want one. I've been very fitness minded, and it seems like an awesome tool for me. I'm wondering if it's worth it for me since I don't have much weight to lose (at most 15 pounds, and that's pushing it), but I am really wanting to get fit, toned, defined, all that good stuff...

Thanks in advance for your input!

Thursday Thirteen - My first Go!

I keep seeing this on Kim's Blog, and it looks like fun, so I'm now a participant!
Basically, it's an open ball game, and you just write a list of 13 things... Anything on your mind! We all know my mind is loopy, so this will be interesting for me every week!

I'll start easy this week and get myself conditioned.. Plus, it will give me a boost today that I need since I'm tired and grumpy.

Drum roll please.... Da da da! LOL

Thirteen Things That Make Me Happy

1. My boyfriend - he's a great, genuine person. What you see is what you get with him.. It's refreshing!
2. My friends - I'm blessed to have a handful of friends that I just adore. They are each fun and quirky in their own ways, and I love them to bits! I think they may love me too! :-)
3. My family - I'm also blessed to have a drama free family. I have a very large extended family and they're all crazy... but a good crazy! My immediate family is amazing as well! I just wish my sister and her family lived closer to me!
4. Coffee - Wow... I can't believe it is so high on my list.. and on another day, it may not even make my top 13, but today it certainly does! Today's selection - Starbucks Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte
   
5. Sunshine - Although I'd love to visit the Pacific Northwest.. I don't think I could live there b/c I need my sunshine. I was in a funk all winter, and duh! It's because I need sunshine to thrive! Too bad I'm such a pasty girl! LOL I think Casper is part of my family, but he has a nicer darker complexion! HA!
6. My Dog - I got my dog as a present to myself when I was going through a divorce. I was never allowed to have a dog b/c my ex husband was allergic to animals. We've been through a lot together, and she's a nutjob too. I love her, and she's a great dog usually! LOL
7. My iPhone - I love it. My boyfriend got it for me for my birthday, and it was a great present! I love playing with all the apps, and I don't know why I even liked my BlackBerry that I had for 2 years before getting this phone!
   
8. Flip flops - I love them. They're comfortable. They're summery.. I bet when people think of flip flops, part of them think of me! ha! My new favorites are the Skechers Tone Ups.. They're really comfy, and I DO feel the tightening in my quads and and tooshy! Wahoo!
9. Facebook - Yeah, I'm an addict. I love my stupid games, and I love catching up with people I haven't seen in 20 years, and making new friends through blogging. It's a wonderful thing!
10. Music - I simply cannot focus if I don't have music. I listen at work, in the car, at the gym, etc. I like many, many kinds but my favorite would probably be Indie/Alternative. I like feeling that I found the group since they're not mainstream. I know that's not true, but hey, if it makes me happy then I'm going with it!
    
11. Cooking - Wow, if you had asked me a year ago what made me happy, this wouldn't have been in the top 100! I like putting new things together, trying new recipes, and hearing John say how yummy it is! I know he means it too, because he'd tell me if something was icky! haha!
12. Austin - I love Austin. If you haven't been there, you should go! It's a fun, quirky city with strange people and strange places. I love quirky things. :)
    
13. Glee! It's my new addiction.. yeah, I'm a little late hopping on the train (what else is new!?), but I watched the DVD's for the first 13 episodes in 3 nights. Yeah - 3 nights! And now I'm completely caught up and hooked!!

There ya have it! If I were asked to do this again in a day or a week, it may be very different, but this is where I'm at today! :)

Edited: Oops - if you want to participate, visit the Thursday Thirteen Site! :)

All Caught Up! Well... Kind of!

My google reader is cleared... Yes, I did mark some as read if I was 10 or more blogs behind on some people, but it had to be done! I did make sure I read the most recent of all blogs that I follow, and there weren't too many where I was 10 or more behind on.. that was a tough feat!!! And I did it! WAHOOO!!!! Is it weird that it makes me feel less guilty? I just want to make sure that I'm taking the time to read what people take the time to write. It's a good feeling knowing that I'm catching up with everyone, and now that I'm not so bogged down with the world of blogs, I can comment with more ease... Wahoo again!!!

Yesterday I worked an 11 hour day and I am trying to do the same again today. I'm trying to make up some or all of the time that I missed from Monday's migraine. The thing that sucks though is that besides it being one long ass day, by the time I get home, the gym is kind of on the back burner. That's one of the reasons that I'm trying to get it over in 2 days. I'm not holding myself to a super regimented schedule, since that only sets me up for failure. 3X per week is my goal, and I've already gotten one workout taken care of.. and it is only Wednesday! Sigh.. ONLY Wednesday... this week is DRAGGING for me!

Who of you have an iPhone? Any apps that you absolutely love and don't know how you lived without them before? I've downloaded the SparkPeople, SparkRecipes, AllRecipes, Monthly Cycle tracker, and many, many others... Just seeing if there's anything out there I'm missing! :-)

Hope all is well with everyone... :-) Back to work for me!!
xoxo

It's Tuesday, but like a Monday... AHH!

Well, yesterday I was home ill. The weather in Houston is typical.. Nice and sunny one day, rainy and icky the next... The rain washes all the crap in the air, and voila! I get a lovely migraine... Blah!
I'm feeling much better now, thankfully... those migraines are a bitch!! Now that I'm back at work, it's definitely a case of the Mondays.

I weighed in yesterday, and I was up 3 lbs. I'm not too concerned, because #1, I've been working my ass off at the gym, and #2, I am drinking a helluva lot more water, due to #1! LOL If you've been reading me long, you know that water and I are not good friends... Sad, but true!! LOL So, I am just thinking that my body is wondering what this foreign liquid is that's replacing the coffee! And instead of it releasing, it's just staying put... But, today I have had to make a sprint to the restroom about eleventy times! So, hopefully my next weigh in will show my efforts. I'd love to weigh in again tomorrow, but I'm too obsessive. I'll wait until next Sunday, and just weigh in once a week. I should also do measurements, as I haven't done that in MONTHS! Actually, it's probably been a good year.

I'm waiting for two packages to come in to work, so I'm excited for both of those... I placed a Focus 28 order, and I also ordered the Brazil Butt Lift... I'm enjoying changing up my routine between videos at home and going to the gym.
AND OMG - the gym... I met a co-worker at the gym on Saturday morning, and did a class called Muscle Blast.. They weren't kidding! Every muscle in my body ached for a few days.. it was actually a good feeling because I haven't had a workout like that in quite some time! I'm looking forward to making it a weekly thing.. Next time I'll bring my iPod though, so I can do my elliptical afterwards and get a good cardio workout too!

I hope you're all doing well and are enjoying the spring weather.. It's an overcast day in Houston today, but I'm sure tomorrow will be pretty! :)
xoxo!

Another Doctor Update

Good morning to all!
I saw Dr. W yesterday, and it didn't go as well as I had hoped. My iron levels are still low, and I'm borderline to becoming anemic. I've been taking my iron supplements so I'm not sure what's going on there. I'm going to try my hardest to get more iron in my diet.. we shall see how it goes!
I asked about the heart flutters, and since it hasn't happened very often, he's at a loss. My thyroid levels have been normal in the past, so he doesn't think that's it. If it continues again, he will send me home with a heart monitor to see what's going on.
I asked for my highest rate on file - and it was 312. I know it was higher but just not on record.. but wow... I've sure come a long way! WAHOO!! LOL
Hmm.. what else...
I did mention to him that Dr. A said I may need a revision to cut out the part of my intestine that keeps getting ulcers... I asked if it would be like me getting RNY all over again, and he couldn't answer that question since he's not sure how much intestine they'd be removing. So, we'll cross that bridge if we come to it, and hopefully we don't.
Oh - has anyone else gotten tingly/numb feet after working out for awhile... I only get it when I am on the ellliptical or treadmill, ie. repetitive back and forth motions... My friend at work suggested that my shoes may be a little too small for working out. I should get 1/2 size larger than I normally wear since feet swell when working out. Do any of you have input on this? Dr. W was at a loss with this one too! LOL

Ok that's it for the doctor...

On a completely positive note - I've worked out THREE times this week! I couldn't work out Tuesday because of my gastroscope.. and yesterday I took the day off because I didn't get home until later than usual with my doctor's appointment, and we had guests come over. Soo.. I'm stopping by Academy on the way home to get some 1, 2 and 3 pound dumbbells and then heading home to do the Biggest Loser Boot Camp, and then some Turbo Jam or a bike ride. I did the boot camp the other day AFTER turbo jam, and doing jumping jacks with 5 lb handweights is kind of difficult, and frankly probably a little dumb for me since I'm not at that point yet! LOL So, I'll work my way up!

Although I'd LOVE to get to 149, I'm no longer focusing on losing weight. I'm focusing on getting fit and strong. If that comes with losing a little weight, yay for me. If not, then I know I'm healthy and getting stronger every day. Dr. W told me that I probably have 10-15 pounds of extra skin... so, with that, I'm AT my goal.. I just am carrying around a little reminder of where I came from! hehe

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend. I am going to make the most of it! WAHOO!!!

Gastroscope Update

I had another gastroscope yesterday to see if I still had an ulcer, or if it had healed up. Unfortunately, I still have one. My doctor has added Carafate back into the mix with Prevacid, and I have to go back again in a month to see if it has healed at that point. This totally sucks!
If I keep getting recurring ulcers, then I will have to have a revision done... That scares me because I'm within 10 pounds of my ultimate goal weight.. If I have to get a revision, I think it would be like getting RNY all over again. I'm going to see Dr. W tomorrow and I already have a long list of questions to ask him..
AHH!!!!

Anyway, that's what's going on with me medically... Hopefully something more positive can be said next month! :-) I'll have another update after my appointment tomorrow - whether my vitamin levels have improved, and then some answers to my other questions that I have for him!!

Beyond that, I have already been to the gym 2x this week. I had in my head that I was going to go yesterday after my nap from the gastroscope. That failed - my nap ended at 4pm. I felt SOOOO drugged up, and I usually don't after that.. ick!

When I woke up yesterday, my TV was on an infomercial - the Beachbody one for the Brazil Butt Lift... and I ordered it! OMG! LOL It actually looks like a great workout, and I'm looking forward to getting it, but shame on me for ordering from an infomercial!

I added a new box to my blog - formspring.. It's where you can ask me anything, either anonymously or not. If you have any questions - feel free to ask away! I'm basically an open book! :)

Product Review: Focus 28 Ready-to-Drink Shakes

I have officially found the best tasting protein drink! The people at focus28 sent me some samples, and I'll be reviewing more over the next few weeks. But this could not wait! I am in love with this drink, and am sad that I have to wait for some more to come in.
All you do is add water to the top of the label, and shake! The consistency is wonderful.. it's thick, but not too thick, and it does not taste like a protein drink at all. I like to put it in the freezer for about 10 minutes after adding water, and it makes it taste even more divine!
Are you ready for more details? 1 bottle has only 80 calories. 60 of those calories are pure protein! There are only 2 g of sugar, and 3 carbs total. Not bad at all! I have tried a lot of protein drinks over my 2 1/2 years post op time, and I am serious when I say this is the best tasting one.
Although I'll be reviewing more products over the next few weeks, I will also say that everything I've tasted so far has not been a disappointment.. so if you want to try anything else before my review, I feel safe saying that you won't be disappointed either! :)
The folks at focus28 were kind enough to provide me with a coupon code for all of you as well. You can save 5% off of your order by using coupon code LAURIE5. All orders over $75 get free shipping as well.
I hope you enjoy as much as I do!!! :-)

Neglect!!!!

Sorry I've been neglectful lately. Work has been a beotch this week, and I'm just now starting to recover mentally. I've been getting to work between 6:30 and 7 am ALL week (normally it's 9 am), so just that in itself is exhausting to me. I am definitely not a morning person.. never have been, and probably never will be.
Next week, I go in for my follow up gastroscope to see if that pesky ulcer is really gone. I sure hope so. Seriously, that ulcer pain I had in February was worse than surgery, worse than having tonsilitis with a 103 fever... it was bad! Leave it to me to have an ulcer on nerve endings.. AHHH!! Next week I also go in to see Dr. W (my primary care) to follow up on my latest lab work and see if my vitamin levels are better. I was low on Vitamin D (which should be dramatically improved because of my Wellesse Vitamin D find.. as well as Vitamin K and Iron.. I've been taking all of my vitamins religiously and making sure I get my protein in... so, I should have a clean bill of health. Except... I've been getting some strange heart flutters lately.. has anyone had that? I've noticed that I get them in the late afternoon, usually if I haven't eaten in a few hours... It's strange!!
Stay tuned in the next few days and weeks... I have some awesome product reviews coming up (including a protein drink that is absolutely divine!) and a giveaway!!!