Back from Key West!

Steve and I went to Key West to celebrate our wedding anniversary and his birthday.  We stayed at the Pier House and had a fantastic time.  Here are some pics from our trip!

On our balcony

Every morning we walked to this bakery and had the best breakfast sandwich!

Isn't my husband handsome?  I love him!

My daughter Mallory was so excited to see her name printed on something.  Steve wanted to steal the sign for her. Can I tell you that we could not find a T=Shirt with Mallory Square on it!  They don't exist!  I did find a hand painted sign from a local artist with it on it though so that should make her happy! 

On our Sunset Cruise

The famous Key West Sunset!

The name of the restaurant was 'Better Than Sex' and all they served in a dark, candle lit atmosphere was desserts that had the names of all things sex!  The drinks on the left was homemade Kalua topped with White Chocolate Mouse Lubrication and it was 'rimmed' with something.  The pie was Kinky Key Lime and it was to die for.  Other names of desserts were The Missionary Crisp, Peanut Butter Perversion, Tongue Bath Truffle,Team Cream, Cookie Nookie and others!  As good as the dessert was, I can assure you IT WASNT!!!!

While we were on vacation in Key West....Brutus spent a few fun-filled days with his  90 year old Grandpa who decided that Brutus should channel Toto and installed a basket on his double bicycle for Brutus to ride in!

Suffice to say that both man and dog had a blast!

The Pier House - Where we stayed...gorgeous!

We parked our car when we got to our resort and we walked everywhere we went.  We ate and we drank and we walked!  Thankfully, I believe all the walking helped to keep my weight in check and I was pleased to come home to a 3 lb loss for the week we were away! 

I have another big weekend coming up as I'm joining a few girlfriends for a fun filled few days out west!  Watch out!  

BYOC (I haven't done this in forever!)

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

BYOC - Bring Your Own Crazy!
It’s Friday – so it’s time for BYOC – Bring Your Own Crazy! We answer 5 questions to get to know each other better and to give our blogging brains a break! Copy to your own blog and enjoy!


1. Do you have any siblings? What is your relationship with them? Good, bad, ugly?

I have one sister who is 2years younger than me. We have always been very close but since the tragic deaths of our father and her husband almost 2 years ago, we have become even closer. We speak on the phone at least once or twice a week.

2. Let’s talk pizza. Do you prefer homemade or restaurant? What toppings are your fave?

I am a true pizza snob! I have my favorite pizzeria on Long Island where I go when I am there but here in Florida, I prefer to make my own! I love to experiment with toppings and it's a great way to use leftovers! Other than that, I love just about any kind of pizza except pineapple topping that I tried in Hawaii.

3. When is the last time you cried – in sadness and in joy?

I cried this morning speaking to my father-in-law. He was sad because his oldest son never calls him. I started crying and told him that not a day goes by where I didn't wish I could speak to my dad just one more time and thT someday Tom would regret not speaking to his dad when he had the chance.

Probably the last time I cried because I was happy was when Mallory got married last year.

4. Do you own a gun – one that is specifically yours? Do you know how to use it?

Nope! We have guns in the house as Steve is a retired Detective but I do not know how to use them. I don't even like touching them when I come across them. I would like to learn how to unload them or even to check if they are loaded!

5. Repeat question. Summarize your week!

I had a great week. We were in Key West for 4days celebrating our anniversary and Steve's birthday.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The truth hurts!

It is very sad to me when people blog about their failure to lose weight and then proceed to blame it on everything and everyone but themselves. This is a weightless community and while we are here to support one another, I do not condone enabling them.

I have lost 94 lbs or 40% of my body weight since starting my journey a little over 2 years ago. This loss equates to over 100% of my excess weight being lost and so far, maintained for 9 months. Does this make me a success? Maybe or maybe not. I will let you know in a few years. Does this make me an expert on weight loss? Hell no! I struggle every single day with my weight!

I don't care what someone's beginning weight is though, the formula to lose is the same. Eat less and move more. We all do it using different tools, VSG, LB, GB, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, exercise, jaw wiring, whatever. These are all just tools. We know what we need to do to lose the weight, we have all done it many times. The bottom line though is, if our head is not in the game, we can kiss weight loss goodbye! How many times have we heard someone say that if only they can make a band for our head, we would all be ok? Too many times. All the weight loss surgery in the world will not stop ice cream from slipping down our throats.

I am a very supportive person but even I have my limits. Sometimes I feel compelled to point out the obvious to someone who is "struggling". If someone is addicted to sugar, uh, stay away from it.....period. If someone is addicted to crack, you don't do it only on special occasions, do you? No difference. Sorry.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Did I mention I've been busy?  It's all good though!

Major decorating changes at our house.  We have lived in our home for 4 years now and I have fought Steve on adding a TV over our fireplace in the living room.  Really, we have a media room with a TV the size of a movie theatre screen so I just didn't see the need to add one over the mantle as I felt it would detract fron the beautiful molding.  Not to mention we have a TV in the kitchen which buts up to the living room!  (plus we have one in the  media room, one in each of the 3 bedrooms and 1 in my office....enough TV's you think?)  Anyway, after much thought, I decided that a TV really was needed in the living room as there are times we want to watch TV downstairs and the little TV in the kitchen just doesn't cut it.  The following are a few pics of the living room before and after TV!

For all you Disney fans, we now have our own 'Hidden Mickey'!  

TV looks small but its a 50 inch!  Notice Brutus on the couch?  We have invaded his space!

My sister and niece were with us from Friday until Sunday and then they headed over to Disney for the week.  I was on the fence about whether to join them for a day or so but every time I spoke to her she told me how 'packed' the parks were due to Spring break.  That did it!  I love me my sis but I hate, hate, hate the crowds at Disney during holiday weeks!  She is a teacher and has no choice.  I am not and I have a choice!  I will be seeing her in a few weeks anyway so I'm ok with not visiting more at Disney!

We spent Easter with Peggy, my late fathers companion, and her family.  I didn't tell Peggy that Sue and Elayna would be joining Steve and I so she was so shocked and happy to see them at her door!  We had a lovely day and I enjoyed all sorts of Southern food specialties:  fried okra, fried creamed corn, ham, some kind of pineapple salad and let us not forget the mac and cheese.  Dessert was my Carrot Cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and Peggy's absolutely out of this world Coconut Layer cake.  Oh.My.God!!!!  Nuff said on that!

Steve and I love having our family visit us but its also nice when we put the house back together again after one of our Italian invasions as I call them!

This Sunday we are heading down to Boynton Beach to visit Steves dad and than on Monday, we are heading to Key West for 4 days!  I am so excited as I've never been there!  I am so looking forward to doing a little sightseeing but than just relaxing at the beach and pool at our our resort.  Can't wait!

On the weight front, I am still holding steady between 137 and 141.  I am back to my routine at the gym and I've added two 1 hour sessions a week with a trainer to help me focus on weight training.  I am focusing on toning my body.  I've been with Melissa for 3 weeks and I can already see some muscle tone in my arms!  Yay!

2 Year Anniversary!

It's hard for me to fathom that's it's been 2 years since I had my LapBand surgery in Mexico!  So much has happened since than weight-wise not to mention, life-wise.


I have had my band removed and revision surgery to VSG and all toll, I am down 97 lbs!  More important to me than how I look is how I feel and i feel like a million bucks....maybe even 2 million with inflation!  I look in the mirror some days and cannot believe how far I've come these past two years.  My only regret is that my Dad is not here to share  in my happiness.  I know he would be so happy and proud that I've accomplished all that I have.

Some pics:

The one person who truly deserves a medal is my sweet husband Steve.  He has been my rock since the day we've met.  He pushes me when I don't think I can do any more but mostly, he just holds me tight and let's me know that I have his support in everything I do!  Knowing I have him by my side and that he has my back, makes everything better! 


On that note, My goal weight was 150 and I am bouncing between 137 - 140 so I've officially changed my goal to 145 and that is the number I am using not to surpass.  


I was given the ok to start exercising again last week from my doc and let me just say I AM BACK!  I even started a two day a week weight training session with a personal trainer to complement my 4-5 times a week cardio program.  The cardio is going great but dear, sweet baby Jesus...I am frickin aching from the weights!  But, you know the saying..."what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger".  I feel so much stronger already...at least thats what I keep saying every time I try to stand on my 'squat weakened thighs'.


On the life front.....we spent this past weekend visiting our friends on Hilton Head Island, SC.  We had a lovely time.  Ate too much, drank too much and laughed a lot!  Good times!  We drove home via Savannah, GA and had a nice lunch before continuing our drive home.  We will be back, y'all!


My sister and niece are heading down for a visit during their Easter break and I can't wait to see them.  Although I got to visit with my niece last month when she was here, I haven't seen my sister since mid-January.  I can't wait.  I never get enough of having my family visit with me....I feel like I am always disrupting their lives with my frequent trips up north, so being able to reciprocate is something I live for! 


I am in the process of planning a short 4 day getaway to Key West next month for Steve's birthday and I am really looking forward to that!  Any of you who have been there and have restaurant suggestion, please email them to me.  I plan on surprising Steve with a visit to a Drag Show one night!  Should be fun. I have already started shopping for new clothes to wear.  I will say that shopping for clothes is a gazillion times better than when I was 97 lbs heavier.  When I think of all the tears I cried while shopping in the past, I vow to myself that I will never disrespect myself like that again by gaining the weight back.  

Today is the last day of Bike Week 2012

Thank God!  As of last night, there were 7 bikers dead.  With the exception of 2 bikers, who lost control of their bikes and crashed, all the others were hit by cars who "didn't see them".  I came upon the remains of one of these fatal accidents Friday morning on my way to work.  Just seeing the crumpled motorcycle, I knew he didn't make it.  I was right.  Later that same day, Steve and I were heading to a favorite lunch spot on the beach and there were police, Sheriff and Troopers (not a good sign at all) all over the place as a car decided to do a u-turn and slammed right into a biker.  Dead!  Next year, instead of having signs that say "Look Twice, Save a Life"  I am suggesting we plaster these signs all over:

On a much nicer note, Steve and I enjoyed a gorgeous day yesterday out on the motorcycle enjoying the sights of Bike Week...and oh, the sights that were to be seen!  You truly have to see it with your own eyes.  

Main Street Daytona beach from the back of Steves Bike:

What a biker bitch I am!  You should have seen my T-Shirt....it had a little white puppy on it...I fit right in with the rest of the biker bitches I assure you!

The Famous Budweiser Clydesdales were in attendance too!  They are spectacular!

We had a really great day which even included an ice cream cone for me!  We got home safely, which is what I pray for every time we go out on the motorcycle and had a very nice Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner which was cooking while I was gone!  

Today we are meeting some friends for lunch and than just chillaxing the rest of the day!  Nice Weekend!

New Low, New doo

New low:  137!!!!  Unbelievable really as I am not actively trying to lose weight.  I'm thinking its a combination of not exercising (that will be rectified in a week or so) and continuing to eat 1200 or less cals a day.  Now that I am in maintenance, I should probably try to increase my calories but I am so afraid of gaining.  Maybe when I go back to the gym, I will add in another protein shake a day which will bring me to about 1400 calories a day.  

I am very comfortable at 140 so if the formula of multiplying your weight by 11 is correct to maintain that weight, 1540 calories a day is the number I would need to not go over in order to not gain weight.  Hopefully, when I start exercising again and start building up my muscles I will not be having this problem of losing and I will be able to maintain without adding too many calories.

I have been kicking around the idea of cutting my bangs and then my niece Elayna showed up with hers cut.....and I loved them!

Elayna, 2nd from right:

Than, Mallory got hers cut:

I got mine today!

And than it hit me.....we all look like my sister Sue now!!!!!

GO FIGURE!