My first lap-band fill

I went for my weigh-in today at the Brigham with the good Dr. Robinson. I lost 7 more lbs…but in 2 months. That brings my grand total to 56 lbs in just under 6 months. I knew it was time for my first fill. I’ve been able to tell over the last couple of weeks that I am able to eat much much more than I first was. While, I’m not necessarily eating bad food, I’m just eating larger quantities. Dr. Robinson wasn’t convinced I needed a fill since I did loose another 7 lbs..but I felt that it really was time. I mean who gets lap-band surgery and never gets a fill?? So, I got it AND I have the video to show just how easy it really was…see below.

Week 22 Measurement check

Where does the time go? Every Tuesday I take my measurements and every Tuesday I’m supposed to check in here with my progress and yet, some how I haven’t gotten to do it in 3 weeks – but I have been taking my measurements. Some how the numbers are still going down..but I’m not quite sure how. I have been so bad with my eating. Mainly, because I have no food at the house – when I don’t get home until 9pm every night it’s difficult to get to the grocery story but then Austin made a good point last night, why don’t we get Peapod anymore?? It was such a valuable service for us and it helped us to eat healthy and save money by eating at home. I ate out three meals yesterday! Horrible!

So the last time I checked in with the measurements was Sep. 23. They were the following:

Bust 36

Waist 37

Hips 43

Thigh 24

Arm 12.5

As of Tuesday, October 13 they are:

Bust 35 (down 1)

Waist 36 (down 1)

Hips 42 (down 1)

Thigh 23 (down 1)

Arm 12 (down. 5)

That is a total of 4.5 inches in three weeks! I guess this is good. I’m still nervous about the scale. I go back to see Dr. Robinson on Nov. 4.

Prohibiting Social Media in the Workplace..

I do not understand this concept at all. The Boston Business Journal published an article on their website today about a survey by Robert Half International discussing employers prohibiting social media. The article can be read here: http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2009/10/05/daily21.html

The article states that “54 percent of companies prohibit the use of social networking Web sites during work hours, including popular sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn” WHY??? There are a couple of points I want to make about this.

1. Why are these companies banning the sites? I wish they would have given some examples of companies that have banned it because that might help explain the rationale. However, most companies can use these sites and lead generation tools. That translates to $$$. Dear employers, notice the term for what you are banning “Networking” – this means meeting people and building contacts that might lead to business. Why wouldn’t you want your employees to get out there and network and make a better name for your company.

2. Educational reasons – there are so many free resources on these sites. Countless articles are posted on Twitter these days that could prove profitable and helpful to employees. Why wouldn’t you want to participate in a free webinar to learn how to improve yourself (back to point 1) to make more $$$.

3. Your customers are talking about you whether or not your online – so why not participate?? This is one of my favs. People are talking about your company, no doubt. If you can’t access the sites how are you going to monitor and respond to what is being said..helllllloooooo???

4. Employee Morale – instead of pissing off your employees and making them continuously unhappy why don’t you give them access and let them spend 15 minutes on facebook checking in on their friends. Is 15 minutes really going to kill you?? No, you would rather piss them off by telling them they can’t use it therefore making them unproductive disgruntled employees. Believe me, if you give them access they will still get their work done because you are giving them the access. It’s like telling a 20 yr old they can’t drink – they only want to do it because they can’t.

As someone who spends 8 hrs a day on facebook (for my job), I don’t understand this concept. Again, if I new what industry some of the companies are in that might help explain it a bit more..

Will He Hold Your Purse??

There was a great article in yesterday’s Sunday Boston Globe Magazine, titled Will He Hold Your Purse. The article by, Robin Schoenthaler was just awesome. It really made me stop and think about my relationship with my husband, Austin. Even though we go through are ups and downs and I might think he is the laziest person alive – he always holds my purse when I ask him to. He really loves me!

This should be the new way that you determine if this is the man for you. After a couple months of dating, ask him to hold your precious Marc Jacobs satchel. Will he do it??

When I was reading the article, it made me smile because as Schoenthaler described the devoted husbands in the waiting room of the chemotherapy center it reminded me of all the times Austin sat and waited for me. For my first colonoscopy at 23 and just last May when I had my lap-band. He is always there with my purse.

I think we might be onto something here. From now on when a friend tells me she has met the man of her dreams..I’m going to ask “Do you think he will hold your purse if you ask him to?”

I thought this was a great article -  be sure to tell your spouse or significant other the next time he holds your purse how much you love him. If your with someone who won’t hold your purse…it’s time to move on!

The Amazing Race started again!

Oh, how I love this show. The Amazing Race is one of the best shows on television..just ask the Emmy’s. It just gets better and better. Phil, the host, seems to be even better this season. So, in a rundown of the contestants [spoiler alert], I’ll go over who I like and dislike.

Meghan and Cheyne – Not bad..they seem very fit and fun. But, not my favorites.

Maria and Tiffany – LIARS! These two are professional poker players who are telling everyone that they work for a non-profit. They get outted in the second half of the season premiere because someone recognizes them in the airport. They are super shady.

Marcy and Ron – um..not sure what to say about these two. A little spacey.I don’t give them long.

Lance and Keri – From Boston so I should have an affinity toward them..do I? NO. This guy is a big meat head (although he is a lawyer) who is mean to his girlfriend.

Flight Time and Big Easy – from the Harlem Globetrotters. LOVE these guys. They keep everything light and fun.

Gary and Matt – Interesting father/son team. They kind of remind me of the stunt little guys from last season.

Garrett and Jessica – already got booted in the second half of the season premiere

Brian and Ericka – She is a former miss USA. They are the only interracial couple not that that matters to me – but they seemed to be hyping it up a lot when giving interviews. I don’t think they will last long.

Eric and Lisa – Didn’t even make it passed the backpacks! In this season premiere the teams had to perform a challenge before they got to go on the first leg. They had to find the license plate associated with where they were going in Japan in this sea of plates. However, the hint was right at the top of the clue card and these two missed the boat. So they didn’t even get to race. How sad.

Sam and Dan – Gay brothers – pretty funny. Seem like they might be a team to beat.

Zev and Justin – friends. Zev has asperger’s but they are doing awesome. They have such a positive outlook on things.

Mike and Canaan – christian virgins. Although, they way they scream at each other isn’t very christian. I don’t give them long either.

There it is! I love the Amazing Race. I can’t wait for this season!

Week 18 & 19 measurement check

Sorry, forgot to post last week’s inches update probably because there wasn’t anything to update! Everything has been the same for three weeks Although I have fallen off the bandwagon a bit. Austin and I went to Sonic last night. Granted I had a grilled chicken wrap, I did have fries. I looked up the calories in the wrap only 380 – not to shabby.

I’ve also been feeling like I can eat a lot more than I should be able to. Maybe it’s time for my first fill – 5 months later! I think it’s because the good Dr. R screwed up my karma by making me come back in 8 weeks instead of 4. The scale will tell.

I did sign up to meet with a personal trainer at the YMCA – if someone would ever return my phone call! I’ll keep you posted on that!

Twitter and Facebook Do’s and Do not’s

So for anyone that knows me..you know I’m obsessed with social media. I’m a huge self educator and I wish that I could spend the entire day reading blogs,  twitter updates and facebook posts, etc. Right now, I have 21 blogs on my blog reader I wish I had 121! So, I decided to make a new category on my blog for “social media.” I’m always looking for things to talk about and all the lap-band stuff can’t provide a daily post, so here it goes.

My inaugural “social media” category post is on an article posted by Matt Singley on his blog. The post titled, “3 rules for social media” offers sound advice for the common person. You don’t have to be a techie to understand what Matt is saying – it’s pretty much common sense but it’s amazing how many people typically forget it.

Read the post http://mattsingley.com/blog/2009/09/3-rules-for-social-media/ before continuing to read my post.

My comments on his post:

- Cursing. So true, although I think it is okay to say “wtf?” occasionally. If you are really fired up about something it is better than saying the actual “f-word”.

- Public Life/Private Life. This is hard for me – because everyone knows what a blabber mouth I am. I think when I do have kids I, like Matt, will be cautious in what I broadcast about my children. Right now, I am cautious in what I put online about clients (do we need to revisit the Ketchum Incident, business associates, etc. But, in terms of my personal like (i.e. mostly my lap-band journey) I tell everyone.

- Stay Positive – Like Matt, I have had some trouble with this. I get in these moods and just can’t shake’em.

I really appreciated Matt’s post, sometimes it’s the not so complicated things that you learn so much from.

R.I.P Patrick Swayze

The latest celebrity to lose his life is Patrick Swayze, 57. What a sad, sad day. I could quote all the Dirty Dancing lines you want..but “Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner..” – but let’s not forget about Point Break, Roadhouse, and GHOST – OMG! I never cried so hard in a movie (well maybe in the Notebook..). He was so great. He kept to himself, did his work and led his life. That’s it.

I some how feel connected to him because my last name is Sweazy. Anytime I introduce myself, people say “Sweazy, like Patrick?” I wonder if they will say that to me. I hope so.

I just don’t understand what is going on in Hollywood. The year just started off bad with the death of Jett Travolta. Things were relatively quiet until we lost Bea Arthur in April. In May, Dom Deluise passed and soon after him was Exodus Tyson, 4 year old daughter of Mike Tyson. Then you can basically say that the shit hit the fan in June. Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and Billy Mays. July took the life of a news great – Walter Cronkite. August was a big month for Bostonians with the death of Eunice Kennedy Shriver followed quickly by Senator Ted Kennedy. August also included DJ AM. Now we start September with Patrick Swayze.

The thing is most of these deaths were health related. Cancer, Kidney Failure, other health issues, etc. It’s hard to notice any sort of correlation between these tragic and horrible deaths. If they were all drug related it might be easier – but they aren’t. I always wanted to be famous but at this point – I’m glad I’m not. It seems there is some sort of Karma floating around. But even that is hard to believe. McMahon, Fawcett, Swayze, Kennedy – all were good if not GREAT people. Something to ponder for sure.

“Fear causes hesitation. And hesitation causes your worst fears to come true.” -Point Break, 1991

Week 17 weigh in!!

So, I went to see the good Dr. Robinson yesterday, I won’t lie – I was scared. I had taken some liberties with a few pieces of wedding cake (at different weddings!), some ice cream, and a few other things. I would say I did have them in moderation..but I was still scared to get on the scale. But I got on and…I lost another 8 lbs!!! I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was in shock.

That brings my totals to: 49 lbs in 17 weeks!!! An average of 2.7 lbs per week. I can’t believe it. And the best part of all — I’m in the 100’s club which I think is amazing.I’m wearing a L for the first time in a long time and I’m in between a 14 & 16 in pants. The only thing I find very frustrating is sizing. When your a size 20 at least everything is a size 20 – across the board. It’s not different from store to store or designer to designer. When you are in lower sizes a 14 can fit from the Gap but at Macy’s you wear a 16. And I bought a size 12 dress the other day. So currently, I’m wearing sizes between a 12 and 16. Strange.

Here is my inches update:

Bust 36 ( no change)

Waist 37 (no change)

Hips 43 (down 1 inch)

Thigh 24 (no change)

Arm 12.5 (no change)

Week 16 – Checking in

So here we are at week 16!! The time has flown by so quickly. The diet has been getting harder and harder I think because my life has been getting busier and busier. Everynight of the week it’s something else! But I’m super excited because on Friday Austin and I are going to see the taping of “Wheel of Fortune” here in Boston. Obviously it would be better to be a contestant on Wheel but seeing Vanna White and Pat Sajak in person will be just as cool!

Here is the inches update:

Bust 36 (down 1 inche from last week; 8 inches total)

Waist 37 (0 change from last week; 9 inches total)

Hips 44 (0 change from last week; 9 inches total)

Thigh 24 (0 change from last week; 7 inches total)

Arm 12.5 (.5 from last week; 2.5 inches total)