Parade Day!

It's that time of the year again!

I swear, I work the worst weekends! Parade Day is always the first week in March in our area. Don't ask me why we just don't have a parade on St. Patty's Day, but there it is. It was GORGEOUS out yesterday, and I was insanely jealous I was stuck at work. Everyone usually gets up early on Parade Day and pregames. The parade itself doesn't really start until like noonish, but everyone spends the whole day drinking--so much that everyone calls it a night around four to six lol.

This is the WORST weekend to work at the hospital. Like most drinking festivals, it never ends well. My hospital just so happens to be in walking distance from downtown. We all mentally prepare ourselves for the flood gates to open up. The people started pouring into the ER around one in the afternoon. Of course, when there are crowds and alcohol--there are idiots. Young kids to the elderly getting their drink on. Lots of facial traumas and people passing out. The cops are just, if not MORE miserable than we are. I was practically running to escape when 9pm hit! Feelings super guilty for my night tech, he was just walking into a huge shit storm...the joys of working!

The girls were still out downtown, so I was all ready with a change of clothes to meet them. I only ended up staying for a few hours then went home. It started to get really bad around 11:45 or so--best to get out before it gets too horrible! Needless to say, I did have some beers. And just for the record, I've become an insane light weight from not drinking at all for almost a month. Between the girls and I, we've all decided to not drink as much or at all for a while. Going out every weekend, just for drinking gets super old. We all feel TERRIBLE the next day, and it's just not worth it. I had SO much fun last night though! Everything in moderation right? I'm going to keep chipping away at it, but it definitely is a good feeling when we're all mutually on the same page. Nikki has been keeping my butt in check, like I've asked my friends to do! It's been helping me out a lot! We've all been making choices to get on the healthy track again, and everything is a little easier when you have power in numbers!

Happy Parade Day!
P.S. I'm starting to melt away!

Those Girl Scouts aren't telling us something...

they are adding addictive illegal drugs into those cookies!

It's that time of the year again, you know what I'm talking about--girl scout cookies. When I was little, I of course participated in girl scouts. I started as a "brownie", this mid rank of this little girl club. During these meetings, we'd do all kinds of arts and crafts, volunteer work and such. When I was about eight years old, we had a meeting at my house. I picked out these really awesome reindeer pencil craft things. You basically take a decorated pencil and hot glue colored pom poms, pipe cleaners and eyes onto it--so it looks like a reindeer. I had the GREATEST idea ever! Since childhood, I've always been a jokester. This idea was sure to make everyone laugh hysterically. I decided to shove two red pom poms up my nose, one for each nostril of course! Everyone started laughing, but shit got serious when I couldn't get them out. Being a little kid, I of course had pushed them up further into my nose attempting to fetch them. My dad ended up having to take me to the ER, and they had to take them out with the "alligator"--which really is just a hemostat. Needless to say, we never had brownies at my house again.

I can't remember what rank I got up to. After elementary school, I lost interest and dived into the world of clothes and makeup. This time of the year always reminds me of my brownie days. Super fun and very competitive. You can't just BUY Girl Scout cookies anytime, you have to order them in season--from a girl scout! No online orders, no nothing. I actually had gone to the lengths a few years ago to get on their website to have a Girl Scout find me! Ridiculous...those brats didn't even e-mail me back! This year Michelle's step daughter was selling them. GOLD right? I did cave in and buy some boxes. She brought them to work for me today, and I was very excited just to have them. I didn't even open them up to eat 'em! To tell you the truth, I don't plan on eating them anytime soon. My box of Thin Mints will sit in the freezer, until I have a mental emergency and need to eat a few. the Shortbread ones are going to sit in the baking shelf. They'll make a great crumb for cheesecake one day.

I'm pretty proud of myself for not indulging. Not like I had time to at work anyway, we were SUPER busy. Tomorrow is Parade Day and I'm uber jealous of my friends that get to go. I won't feel so bad if it rains though! I'll be stuck at work, in the drunk tank all night. By the time I get out at 9, everyone will be in an alcohol induced coma. Greaaat...

Corky Ramano, lmao

5 minute cake?

Huh?

Every morning when I get ready for work, I turn on Kelly Ripa's show and listen along. It's kind of funny, because I use it to know if I'm going to be late. I usually leave the house before the first guest comes on to be interviewed, roughly 9:30am. Today on her show she was talking about a 5 minute cake recipe that's taking over the web. It's the 5 minute mug cake to be exact. 

It's just super crazy to me, because first of all you're making a cake in a MUG in the MIRCROWAVE! Of the few sites that I've seen that have this recipe, they all joke that it's dangerous because you can have chocolate cake anytime. Scary...makes me wonder how many people will try this out and continue to make it.

There was a recent study done in the area that was in the paper the other day. Pretty much saying that the city I live in, has the second highest obesity rates in the U.S.! Cracks me up, on their website where I found the article--was a BIG advertisement for FREE PANCAKES at IHOP for National Pancake Day! Although I find it hard to believe...considering I'm pretty sure some place like Arkansas or Texas aren't too healthy. I got thinking about it, and then it all started to make sense. Diabetes is a growing disease that takes over lives daily anymore. My area in particular, is BOOMING with new diabetic care clinics and dialysis facilities. Makes you kind of wonder. Not all diabetics are overweight, but most I would say are. 

I've been obsessed with watching that show on TLC, My 600-lb Life. It is literally insanity. They follow people for seven years and their journey through gastric bypass. There is only one doctor that is known to perform bypass on patients this large. Normally, patients are required to lose weight before the procedure. There are major factors to consider, such as the size of your liver. When you have a larger body habitus, your organs tend to stretch out. Because the liver is a vital organ, they have to make sure it is SAFE to have an invasive surgery so close to it. This doctor has actually MADE and branded his own tools to do this. He's had equipment designed to be longer, so it can reach the areas of need. It's super risky. It's amazing how these people lose the weight. Some keep it off, and of course some put it back on. I think it must be some kind of phenomenon for people with gastric bypass---to gain their weight back! HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?! Speaking for myself strictly, no amount of food is worth potentially rupturing my stomach and dying. But alas, it does happen. One guy started out at like 625lbs, got down to 200lbs then shot back up to 545lbs. Ridiculous.

Fear of gaining any of my weight back, I will most certainly NOT be making this mug cake. But for all my foodies out there that want to try it, knock yourself out! I don't discriminate against people who like to eat lol! Until tomorrow--have a good night!

LEAP FOR JOY!

Happy effin' LEAP DAY everyone!

Aviva for weigh in today! I wasn't really sure how much I had lost. My scales are on the fritz again, so it's been hard to estimate. It was a sleety slushy mess this morning as I headed out the door. Totally forgot my beanie, but that's okay my hair dries quick. I rolled up in the office and did my usual thing. Checked in and sat down in the waiting area. Aviva is a really beautiful office. Dr. Cusimano picked out all the decorations and interior set up for it, and it really feels comfortable. She has a bit of a Home Goods obsession, so that's where she gets all of her furnishings and such. There was a gentleman sitting across from me, and I noticed his binder. We all have binders we bring to every appointment. It logs our weights, blood pressure, lab work etc. He struck up a conversation with me about the program. I'm super happy that more people are discovering her office, and making the effort to take care of their health!

Ruth was back in the office today, and as much as I hate to say it--I was REALLY hoping she wouldn't call me back to the exam room. Last time she took me, I was there for like two hours. Luckily Ciarra popped her head around the corner and took me! I hopped on, wondering how I did and bam! I melted away another two pounds! I was SO excited! When we got back into the room, she asked me why I thought I gained. Mostly because it's that lovely time of the month, and I was feeling like a beluga whale! I am officially back down into the 80's, 188 to be exact! YAY! Two more pounds until I hit my first 20lb mark! I couldn't be MORE EXCITED! Don't forget, I still have my goal of another 20lbs to lose by May 7th.  


I'm super confident that I can lose probably another two to three pounds during this week. It's such a great feeling! For me, it's a little OCD. Once I get out of one range, I promise myself to not see it again on the scale. The lower my numbers get, the further away I am to relapse. For the first time, I myself, noticed my face is thinning out! Everyone kept telling me that, but when you see yourself everyday...you just don't notice! It's really strange to see you melting away in front of your mirror. Super rewarding. Leaves me with that extra umph to know, I can do anything I put my mind to! 

*

Another stroke of great news, Hanny sent me the link to her new blog she's writing! This is one girl, that loves to eat! Han is very small and healthy, she's not overweight by any means...for this I am insanely jealous! She's been living in LA with her fiance Jason for about a year, and those two are always on an adventure! She did mention how her blog was the complete polar opposite of mine, but I don't mind at all!

Blogging is all about writing what you know. Rhonda inspired me to begin to blog about my weight loss journey, and now I've inspired Han to write an adventure of her own! Not only did I want to keep myself in check, but I was tired of scouring the web for information on VHP (very high protein) shakes, success rates with these programs, tastes, costs, even find another patient of Dr. Cusimano's with a REAL story. So I decided to write my own. So people would know that I keeps it real! Jules also has a blog, that is completely wonderful. She's been blogging and actively writing for years now, and I can't help but keep checking back for her posts. I don't get to see Jules as often as I like, but I feel like I'm so much closer to her through her blog. It's been a really great experience blogging on here.

Like Maggie Mayhem said in Whip it:

"Throw on your own skates, and be your own hero."

Be your own kind of bad ass, and make sure that the life you were given was worth it! Sharing what makes your world go round, your passion, your favorite things is awesome. The great thing about blogging, is that you have a record essentially of your days and life. And it's totally not like fb timeline lol. I share things with the world on here, that I don't normally spit out. Like how much I weigh for example. I gots to keep it real somewhere right!? I tip my hat to any blogger, hell any author for that matter that is brave enough to bare a little soul for the world to know.

If you guys have a bit of time, check out these blogs from my girls!

Girl Eats World

Silver Lining

Rhonda is Losing it

Munchies came to haunt me...

This cat's facial expression, says it all. Everyone gets those insane cravings for really awful food. Like aerosol cheese from a can and crackers, chips with french onion dip, a big sundae the size of a Vermonster! Y'all know how it goes. I haven't noticed any like super real cravings until it hit me like a ton of bricks Tuesday. I WASN'T hungry at all is the weird part. I wanted something super salty and delicious, kettle cooked salt and vinegar chips to be exact. It was like some kind of crazy frenzy washed all over me and I was like I NEED THEM, MUST FIND THEM! Like I'm some kind of a crazed drug addict! 

You know how people have that theory about quitting smoking? You only supposedly crave a cigarette for the span of ten seconds? Like you're supposed to count to ten when you have one and it magically goes away? Yeah well that's kind of how this was. I'm not really sure what happened, but one minute I COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT THEM, and the next minute I didn't even know why I wanted them! Strange right? I think I've figured out. When the munchies come back and try to take me to junk food hell, just be lazy and don't move. THAT'S RIGHT, I TOLD YOU DON'T MOVE! Moving during one of these cravings is likely to lead you to a midnight store run, once you're at the store you'll find other crap that you just gotta have, you'll BUY all of these and take them home. Then you'll park it somewhere comfy, open up your treats and let the munchie goblins lead you STRAIGHT TO THE BOWELS OF HELL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG! Then you'll wake up, like it's a bad dream...and you'll have nothing but crumbs all over you AS PROOF!

Dramatic, I know. But seriously, that's how it is! Crazy! It's taken me a while to get the knack of how to curb my cravings, and not take munchie goblin's hand to lead me into a dark alley where I for sure will be shanked! Even when I have given into the little bastard, I ALWAYS feel horrible about myself--so why bother doing it right? Anyway, I hope my little horror story inspired some of you readers to deal with cravings. It's something that you'll eventually adapt to, and when you get there it'll be so rewarding!

Nonchilada...

Just tacos please!

There wasn't too much going on Monday that I did. I've been increasingly tired lately and I'm blaming it ALL on the Bactrim. UGH. Definitely not taking that antibiotic again, it's kicking my ass! Okay, okay...I've posted more than enough about how I HATE taking this antibiotic I need to put it to rest! I'll proceed to ZIP it now! :)

The weather here has been so crazy! It'll be cold and snowy and then out of nowhere jump to like 50 degrees! Thank you global warming I guess haha! I took my first stab at trying to eat and enchilada today. SO NOT A FAN. Mexican food is not my favorite. There's a big difference between Taco Bell and authentic Mexican/Southwestern food. I'm a taco and nacho girl. The only real burrito I've ever had, was a cheesy gordita crunch from T-Bell lol. Not REAL at all! I do appreciate the spices, and I REALLY want to like Mexican food...but alas no mas. It was half of a vegetarian enchilada, filled with cheese and spinach. I probably would have been cool with it, but then the sauce on top. I feel the same way about Mexican food, as I do hot sauce. Love the smell, but I can't stomach the taste. They say your taste buds magically change every seven years (or is that how long gum is supposed to digest?), maybe someday down the road I'll like it. But for now, if I do Mexican I'll be going straight to Taco HELL lol.

Haven't had much of an appetite lately, not really sure why. Maybe my stomach is shrinking. I am noticing I'm getting full A LOT faster! Like a few bites, not even half of my plate of whatever I'm eating and I'm done. Viola! I do believe I've concord one of the biggest problems people have with food: knowing when you're full!

Don't walk out in front of that bus!

What do you do,  when you see someone you love

headed down a path of destruction?

YOU SPEAK UP AND SAY SOMETHING!

As I get older and into my adulthood, I'm starting to understand (I think...) people a little bit more. Maybe it's my experience, maybe it's just all from learning--either way I've grown. It is incredibly difficult to watch someone you love and care about, keep themselves in scary circumstances. We all make choices for OUR lives, we are the only ones living it. Although I feel like I definitely respect every one's choice, I can't help but want to literally whisk them out of the road so they won't be road pizza!!!

Part of being a good friend, is caring for each other. A good friend tells you when you're being an asshole, calls you out on your shit, and backs you up all the way. I consider myself a good friend. I'll support YOU no matter what, but I don't have to support the people you choose to have in your life. It's super uncomfortable to bring up certain issues and to understand where people are coming from, but my ears are always up to listening. I love my friends enough, to be mean to them...when I have to be!

All I'm saying, is don't be afraid to be a good friend. Because I can promise you, that standing by and watching idly is a dangerous thing.