BOOBs 2011 Fun Facts

Title: BOOBs 2011 Fun Facts!

1. How did you pick your blog name?  This was a no-brainer for me.  I am the most impatient person I know and I "Can't Wait" for anything!  My first Blog title therefore, was "Can't wait to lose it with the Band"....since my revision to VSG, I dropped the "with the Band" part!
2. When did you start blogging?  I started blogging after finding Catherines blog.  I was quite the stalker for a while.....I was reading Catherine and found Amy than Sarah and the rest is blogging history.
3. Theme of blog (weight loss, family, circus clowns, sci-fi, erotica, fly fishing, doll collecting, star wars, etc) My theme if you will, is mainly weightloss with a whole lot of family, every day thrown in.  
4. Did you go to BOOBs 2010?  I sure did and I had the best time!  I was so apprehensive about it as it was way out of my comfort zone...you know, flying half-way across the country to hang out with 50 strangers I met on the internet!  Actually, by the time of the trip, it was only 40 something strangers as I had met up with Stephanie (my great roomie by the way) Sarah, Amy, Maria, Grace and a few others at different times in Florida.
5. When were you banded?  I was banded in Mexico on March 24, 2010...great experience by the way.  Unfortunately, I had such a hard time with my band.  I would finally get restriction and BAM, my body would swell and the band would clamp down.  This started a cycle of fill/unfills.  I was unfilled more than I was filled actually.  Somehow, I still managed to lose 50 lbs with my band.  On June 20, I had my band removed and I had revision surgery to Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy...VSG.  This was the way to go for me.  I was able to finally reach my goal of 150 and I am currently at 146!
6. How much have you lost?  With the band and VSG I have lost a total of 67 lbs.  However, prior to my band, I had lost 21 lbs so in total, I have lost 88 lbs!!!!!  That blows my mind.
7. What are you most looking forward to at BOOBs?  I can't wait to reunite with all the wonderful women I met last year and I cannot wait to meet new friends.
8. What/who do you hope to find/see/accomplish at BOOBs 2011?  I just want to go with an open mind and have a great time with a lot of great women!
9. Children? Pets?  I have two beautiful daughters, Mallory (she has recently started her own blog and I hope to have her join us for BOOBs 3.0!) and Jordan.  As for pets, I have my little Shi-Poo pupster, Brutus but please don't ever mention that he is a pet...he thinks he is human!
10. Who is your roomie?  I am rooming with Theresa and Vickie.  I am so looking forward to hanging with my girls!
11. What day do you arrive?  I am arriving at 10 am on Thursday and I will be meeting up with Stephanie, Dawnya and Read at he airport...how cool is that?
12. What airport/flight/time?  Midway
13. What events are you signed up for?  I am doing the walking tour at this time and will be getting in some shopping, EATING, and whatever else pops up!
14. Hobbies?  I have become a gym-rat over the past 12 months so I guess this counts as a hobby as it is something that I truly enjoy.  I am an avid Kindle reader.  I love shopping and spending time with my husband on his motorcycle and mostly, traveling.
15. Career?  In my former life, I was a Senior Vice President in Human Resources at a bank that I worked for 23 years.  Upon moving to FL, I became a Realtor and I love the flexibility it gives me for all my traveling.
16. Single? Married? In a relationship?  I am married to Steve, who also happens to be the love of my life.  To have found someone who not only fell in love with me, but who loves my daughters as if they were his own, was hitting the jackpot in my book!  We have been together for 5 years and married for almost 4.  
17. Your birthday month?  January
18. What do you want other BOOBs to know about you?  I have a very different outlook on life since May 11, 2010, the day my dad and brother-in-law were killed on their motorcycles.  Every single day I am reminded how lucky I am to have my husband with me. (he was with my dad and BIL but was thankfully unhurt)  I have learned the hard way that life is truly too short and you just never know what each day is going to bring.  That being said, I try to live life to the fullest.  I try to see the good/positive instead of the bad/negative in each experience.  Its not always easy, believe me.  

Irene chased us home early :(

Oh well, we had a great 5 days vacationing on the ocean in Duck, NC with family so I am not going to complain!  I spent a lot of time on the beach and felt good in my bathing suits for the first time in forever!  I came home 1/2 lb lighter than when I left...how cool is that?  We had an earthquake while there and Irene was approaching.  What else should you expect when there are 10 Italians under one roof?

Here are a few pics from the vacay:

My daughter Mallory, the actress, she hadn't even started to cut the onion and she was "crying"!

My baby boy Brutus and Steve

Brutus loved getting all wet and sandy!

My youngest daughter Jordan in a loving moment with Brutus...very rare!

My gorgeous nephew Eric and SIL Kevin

Mallory and Kevin

Eric & I

Steve & I

Currituck Sound at Sunset

Kevin and I

My girls!

The gang!

Jordan was braver than mama...I went shopping!

My mama and me!

My baby sister Sue, mama and me

My niece Elayna and her BFF Cathryn

Weigh-in and vacay!

So, the first week of maintenance ends with a slight loss! Yay! I am 148 this morning. I am actually trying to lose a few more just to have a little fluctuation cushion so I am pleased with this weight today.

I still believe that I experience "dumping syndrome" and so far I have narrowed it down to a few things:

1. Ice cream - I am talking 1/2 cup of real ice cream, with sugar. WW ice cream is no problem,

2. Pudding - I made steve a banana pudding and it was a no go for me.

3. Chocolate chips, milk chocolate to be exact.

I am thinking that liquidy sugar in high concentrated doses is the problem! What an epiphany! Too bad I didn't figure this out 20 years ago, huh! I am being sarcastic just in case you think I am serious. I am a little late to the party with this but I am here and
that's all that matters. Since my vsg surgery, my body is letting me know some things that don't flow anymore. Well actually, it does flow and that's the problem! Once again though, the rest is up to me....I can just about eat anything just in 2- 3 oz. amounts.

Steve, Brutus and I will be on the road again tomorrow morning at 4am on our way to Duck, NC for a week at the beach, in one house with my family! Yes, my husband is a saint! Actually, while we are all looking forward to the week, it will be another first for my family as it's the first time we will be vacationing on the OBX without Jimmy and my dad. Also, this Sunday
is Jimmy's birthday. So, while I am sure that we will be doing a lot of reminiscing, we will also be making new memories.

In fact, this is the first time that my new son-in-law Kevin will be with us! Boy is he in for a treat! When Mallory laid out the drive down for him (my sister in one car with 3 passengers, my nephew in another and than Mallory, Kevin and Jordan in another) she explained that they had to be at my sisters at 5 am, than they would stop at 7/11, than go to my mothers house to pick her up! Kevin said something to the effect of "why can't we just meet them in NC?". Fair question if you don't know my family! Mallory was shocked and just told him that
they are driving down together and to suck it up, he was going to be living with all of us for a week so this was the least of it! Kevin is a rookie to the family but I suspect he will become a vet after spending a week with everyone...especially my mother and all her Bunny-isms!

Wish him luck and have a great week, I know I will!

NSV....from the Hubs!

"You are really skinny!"  That is what he said as I was standing at my kitchen counter yesterday.  He than said "turn around" of course I turned the wrong way as he was interested in looking at my ass!  He said it again "you are really skinny".  Music to my ears but when will my eyes see what his do?  I look in the mirror and still see fat thighs, wide hips and fat ass.  Obviously they have gotten smaller because if they were the old size, I would never be fitting into size 8 pants, but still.

Will I ever be happy with what I see?

Our newest addition!

Steve's New Toy

It looks like a Matchbox car, right?  Men and their toys...that's all I'm gonna say.  He seems to be enjoying himself though...he spends a few hours every day in the sweltering Florida heat, in a metal building, under the blistering sun, putting a motor in his baby.  I won't get even remotely interested until the day he pulls up in our driveway with it and says "lets go for a ride"!  

Our Saturday night plans were a total washout.  We went to Daytona and had "dinner" at Bubba Gumps.  Just horrible but I should have known better.  I very rarely do chain type restaurants when its my choice.  It wasn't just me though, Steve said his burger was the worst too....very disappointed.  After dinner we were going to hang out at the beach for a concert but Mother Nature had different ideas.  It was pouring and lots of Thunder and lightening.  No concert for us!  Oh well.

Dinner tonight will be Tuna Steak on the grill for me and Tube Steak (AKA hotdogs) for Steve.  At least when I cook I know that I will love it!

So far maintenance is going fine....weight is holding steady at 149.  I would like to lose a few more pounds to have a little cushion though.  We'll see.

I am at work today but than that's it for me until we get back from the OBX.  Yay!  I will have 5 days before we leave  and not have to worry about working!  Brutus is ready for the beach too and just had a visit to the beauty parlor for his haircut and pedi!  He can't wait to spend a week with his grandma!  The Italian grandma who is always feeding him.  Oh, yea, he is gonna be in puppy heaven for a week!

This time next week....

We will be well on our way to the Outer Banks of NC where we will be meeting up with my family from NY!  We will be spending the week at the beach, yup, you heard me, the beach!  This means that I will be spending a week in my bathing suit!  I am not even getting hives as I wrote that.  I am very comfortable this summer in my bathing suit although my thighs will be on show in all their deflated, fat glory!  Whatever, it is what it is, right?

We have a lot of plans for the week (horse back riding on the beach, parasailing, etc.) but first and foremost, relaxing is #1 on the list. My family has been through hell during the course of the last year + and we really deserve a break. 

Here is the house we are renting in Duck, NC next week!

Actually, we had a break of sorts yesterday.  I was going about my business, waiting for Steve to get home and my daughter Mallory called me from work. 

M:  Mom, have you spoken to Jordan?

Me:  No, why?

M:  She is ok, but she was held up at work.

Both of my daughters work in a bank....I worked in a bank for 23 years.  Being "held up" is in the back of your mind all the time but until it happens to you or your child, you just don't know how you will react.

I froze for a second and asked if there was a gun but Mallory didn't know anything other than that her baby sister called her to let her know what happened to her, said she was ok, the branch was in "lock-down" and she was with the police but she would call us as soon as she could.  She called because she didn't want her sister to worry if she heard anything before she had a chance to call.

Thank God, there was no gun, just a note.  Plus, she was called back to the police station later in the day (her sister took her) because the police had him in custody and she picked him out of a line-up.  She does not have to worry about him for a while...hopefully, he will plead and she will not have to participate in a trial.  I am so proud of my baby girl.  She sounded so shaken up when I first spoke to her but by the time I spoke to her later, she really sounded ok.  She is back at work this morning and hopefully her day is going well!  I can't wait to give her a mama-bear hug when I see her next Saturday.

Once all the drama from that was over, Steve and I went ahead with our plans and saw the movie "The Help" and I have to say that this is the first movie that I have ever seen after reading the book that was as good as the book!  I laughed and cried.  Steve laughed and took a little nap.  He has been so busy everyday going off to his airplane hanger, with lunch I prepare for him thank you very much, to work on his little sports car that he is building.  Brutus and I stopped by to visit yesterday and now I understand why he comes home soaking wet every day....it is so hot in that building!  Not for me at all.  I will just wait for him to finish the car so I can go for a ride when its all done!  I'll post a pic of the car soon!

Tonight we are going to Daytona Beach where they have a free concert planned for the bandstand right on the beach and we will probably get dinner while we are there.  I'm working to 1 and have to do it again tomorrow until 1....

Have a great Saturday!

I finally hit my goal!

Actually, I am 1 lb under at 149.  I won't lie, I was in shock when I saw those numbers on the scale.  I cannot remember the last time I weighed in the 140's although I would have to guess I was in my teens.  I was frozen, naked, on the scale.  Total disbelief that I actually did it.  I got off the scale, back on, off, back on.  Very surreal moment in my life.  I even cried.

My first thought was that more than anything, I wished my dad was here because I so wanted to call him and tell him that I did it.  He has been gone more than a year and I still can't believe how much it hurts that I can't share things with him anymore.  He was so supportive of all my efforts to lose this weight...I would give anything to be able to tell him.  Oh well, I guess I just have to keep believing that he knows and is proud of me.

My whole family is meeting up in Duck, NC on the Outer Banks in a week so I will be sure to take pictures as I don't have any pics of me taken since I've lost the last 20 lbs.

I also want to thank EVERYONE for all the support that I get here....it blows my mind all the wonderful friendships that have come from these blogs and I am so looking forward to seeing many of you next month in Chicago.  Those that aren't going will just have to come to FL at some point to visit!

That's it for now as I am really feeling very emotional and can't see through my tears.

Great Saturday!

I had a very busy day today.  It started out with an hour at the gym which kicked my butt!  We did 30 minutes of step with weights and 30 minutes of ABs. Oh yea, I have ABs...I know this because I am feeling them big time tonight.

Once home from the gym I made my hubs a pound cake.  This has got to be his favorite dessert lately!  I make them, cut them up and than freeze individual slices for him so they are ready to go whenever he wants them!  Yes, I was a good wife today!

Later in the afternoon, we met our friends, R & V at the Ro.cke.fella Gar.dens for a little Carribean concert in the park.  We did that for all of about 1/2 hour as it was hotter than HELL!  We walked over to Bill.ys Tap Room for a very nice dinner.  I had a piece of Swordfish Caprese'.  So delish.  I ended up eating maybe 3 oz of the fish and gave the rest to my friends husband as my hubs does not do fish!  We spent a good about of time in the dining room and then moved the party into the bar!  We have such a good time with this couple.  Steve is actually going to Las Vegas with V in September for a few days.  I declined the trip as I have too much going on with work and I will be going to Chicago at the end of the month.  I am sure the guys will have a great time.  R and I will get together that week for some shopping therapy in St. Augustine and Orlando!  Good times.

Tomorrow is a working Sunday for me in the a.m. and than we have the afternoon to ourselves.  Not sure what we will be doing but as always, I am thankful that I will be doing it with my husband!

Happy Friday!

This was some long week for me....I have been working on a short-sale for 18 months (yea, 18!) and its finally going to close on Tuesday!  I cannot believe it!  Every single day this week has been a fire-drill trying to meet deadlines to get us to today and we did it!  So many days I question why the hell I am doing this real estate crap.  I don't have to work but I need to do something to keep me busy and out of trouble.  Also, I need to be able to pick up at a moments notice and leave FL to go home to NY to be with my family so a conventional, 9-5 job is out of the question.  Than, finally, I get to close on this property and it makes it all worthwhile.  This was a situation where there was a divorce....husband re-found an old flame on Facebook and walked out.  I got very close to the wife during this period and I am so happy for her that she will be able to close this chapter and look forward to a better life ahead!

On the weight-front....still holding at 151.  One more lb until I hit goal!  Some days I wonder if I'll ever get there!

We have a busy weekend again!  A concert and dinner with friends tomorrow...no ice cream for me thank you very much!  Sunday I have work in the a.m. and something in afternoon although for the life of me, I can't remember what it is!  Oh boy...I better call it a day!  Have a great weekend!