Cooking with Catherine Part V

I haven't posted a recipe since April, and thought it was high time I do another one! Yesterday, I made a really delicious soup, based on a recipe from Rancho La Puerta that a friend had given to me. I made a few changes, including adding in chicken breast, since it is so important to get enough protein.

Delicious Spicy Soup with Chicken and Vegetables

Olive oil (about a tablespoon)

1 medium onion, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 medium boiling potato, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 yellow bell pepper, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 fresh jalapeno chili, cut lengthwise into fourths (use a small one or half of a medium sized one if you don't want it to be really spicy)

2 tbsp minced fresh oregano leaves

2 medium zucchinis, cut into 1/4 in slices (or 1 zucchini and 1 yellow squash)

6 c chicken broth (6 cups = 1 1/2 of the containers shown in the photo)

1 c fresh corn (cut from about 2 ears)

1 c fresh cilantro, minced
1 chicken breast, sliced

Put a bit of salt and pepper on the chicken breast and sauté it in some olive oil for about 5 minutes (you don't want it to be raw inside). Then, put the chicken aside and, later on while the other ingredients are cooking, cut or shred the chicken into bite sized pieces.
In 4-quart pot (I used my big wok), heat the rest of the olive oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté onion, celery, carrot and potato, stirring until onion is golden. Add bell peppers, garlic, jalapeno, oregano, zucchini and yellow squash and sauté, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add broth and heat it to a simmer. Let it simmer until the potato and carrot are tender, about 5 minutes.

Puree the soup for a few seconds (maybe 5-10) in a blender – remember to leave the lid open a bit (otherwise, it will pop off and hot soup will go all over). Just pulse until the soup is a coarse puree, then return it to the pot. Stir in the corn, chicken and salt and pepper to taste. Then, simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Stir in the cilantro after you take the soup off the heat.

Not sure how appetizing this looks, but it smells and tastes wonderful!

Great Movie -- The September Issue

The movie The September Issue opened yesterday, and my friend Marjorie and I went to see it last night. If you saw The Devil Wears Prada, this is essentially the real life version -- a documentary about the making of the September 2007 issue of Vogue. Here is a link to the trailer.

I've been reading Vogue since my early teens and really love fashion. . I read WWD every single day, without fail. And, while my size has limited my access to serious designer clothing for the past several years, I really admire beautiful clothes and great style. With that said, I loved this look into the creative process at Vogue and the business of fashion. And, it was fascinating to get such a close look at the impenetrable Anna Wintour!

An added treat was that André Leon Talley (larger than life editor-at-large of Vogue) and R.J. Cutler (the director) were at the screening, and took questions afterwards. We didn't realize that this was going on until after we got to the theater, and it was such an unexpected surprise. Really made our night, and it was a lot of fun to be a part of this!

I know the movie is coming out in limited release, but if it's playing near you and you are at all interested, it's definitely worth seeing.

The Sisterhood Strikes Again!

I was so happy yesterday because I was catching up on Mary's blog and saw that she posted photos of herself in a dress that I sent her! This is such a cute dress, and I never actually wore it, so I am especially thrilled that it looks so great on her and is something that she likes!

Mary's New Dress

This makes me so happy! Thanks for sharing, Mary!

I'm also going to include a link to Angie's blog and the post she put up several months ago when she received the first bandster care package that I ever sent. I love this post. :) I hope this motivates everyone to share their old clothes with other bandsters!

Update. . Angie just sent me this great photo of her wearing the dress! I thought it was so cute that I had to include it in this post.

In clothing-related news, I was thinking about what to pack for my trip to Palm Springs (CA) next weekend and realized that many of my summer dresses are too big! So, I took two of them to the tailor for quick alterations so that I can wear them on the trip. That should hold me over just fine.

*October 2009 Update*

I wanted to include some more links to others wearing clothing that I sent to them, so here goes. . . Here is. .

Mary in a pair of black pants from me!

Sarah sporting denim Gap capri pants, which she got via Amy, who got them from Angie, who got them from me! These may be the best-traveled pants of the bunch, so far!

Sarah getting ready to work out in some Adidas workout clothes that I sent to her

Jen looking fab in some jeans and a sweater from me, after our fun day together of shopping in my closet!

And -- one of my very favorites because this piece of clothing finally got to have a shining moment in a major accomplishment of physical fitness!! Here is Sarah, looking amazing doing her first ever 5K (!!) in an Adidas top that I sent to her.

I love it that so many of you are sharing your clothes with other bandsters, and that a few things I've sent out have made it to two or three people already. This really is such an incredible network of support and positivity, and the traveling clothes is just another aspect of that!

Dating in the Internet Age

Now that I finally have the whole PP/wedding situation behind me, I've been thinking that it is high time for me to kick dating-mode into high gear. So, earlier this week, I joined Match.com. Despite some reservations I have, this really is an easy way to get back into the whole dating thing.


The first day, I was really encouraged because a REALLY gorgeous guy e-mailed me saying "You are beautiful. Let's make a plan to get together." Wow! I was like -- I am so on the right track! And then I read his profile, which made much ado about him being "Ivy League educated" (whatevs, I have some fancy credentials of my own) . . and THEN, mentioned that he's been told many times that he has a great @$$ and also said something about getting compliments on his "package" (yes, it was mentioned just like that. . in quotes and all), and how only certain types of girls need apply. Barf. Clearly, I shut that guido down and put an end to that.


Since then, I've received so many messages -- it's very flattering. Heck, that alone was worth the sign-up fee. Well, until I see who they are from, at least! 99.9% of these guys are not anyone I'd be interested in dating. Lest you think I am a snob (not that you'd be wrong. . hee hee), I was IMed by someone named "SuperSoaker69" earlier this evening. He asked "if your life was a movie, would it be a drama, a horror movie or a porno." I was like, "you had me at 'SuperSoaker69,' when can we meet?!" NOT!! Gosh. I can't understand why he's single. (Meanwhile, he's probably married with children. . . quelle cochon.)

There are some cute, nice-seeming guys on there though. And, God knows I'm not meeting them on my own, so I'm willing to give this some time. What happened to the whole Prince-Charming-Riding-Up-On-White-Horse strategy?? Whoever sold me that line was totally full of it (sorry, Mom -- I love you anyway!). :)

But, I do remember how amazing it is to be in love with someone who you just can't wait to be around. And, I want that again. I know there isn't just one person for everyone -- and, especially with all of the hope and positiveness that my great experience with the band has left me feeling -- I am feeling like it is possible that I might feel all of this again. And, I'm hopeful that it will happen before long.

Dinner and (unrelated) Dilemma

I had a great time at dinner with Linda the other night. It was so nice to catch up with her -- it had been six years. Not sure if I mentioned this before, but I'm actually heavier NOW than I was when I last saw her, darn it! Only by about 10 pounds, but still!

I still struggle with my decision to keep being banded private from people at work. Actually, it's not a struggle in a global sense -- I really don't want everyone gossiping about this. But, there is a woman there who I really like who has been struggling with her weight for a long time. She and I talk about it sometimes, and she has been very positive about my progress and how I am doing. Yesterday, she was telling me how she wants to go back to the gym, and that she's been feeling badly about her weight.

On some levels, I really wanted to tell her about my surgery and to encourage her to get the band. BUT, I also know that a juicy piece of information like that doesn't stand much of a chance of staying private at the office. I have to put my privacy first here and remember that there is plenty of information about the band out there that she could find on her own. Although the decision about whether to tell her or not is clear to me, I do feel badly about not being able to share this information and possibly help her. :(

Fun with OCD . .

Just kidding about the title -- but I did go to town on my linen closet today! Not the most thrilling way I've ever spent a Sunday afternoon, but it has gone from disorganized to neat & tidy.

I may not have lived out an episode of SATC today,
but that closet looks gooooood! :)

I also made time to get in a 2 mile run at the gym. No problems with my hip this time, happily! I also finally went over and picked up 50 lbs worth of dumbells -- a 20 and a 30. I could not believe how heavy it felt!! It is hard to understand how my body was able to walk around carrying that much extra every day, since I would not have been able to walk far with those weights in my hands. Interesting. . .

Now I am waiting for my friend and former client/boss Linda to get in from the Bahamas. Should be a fun dinner tonight!

Thoughts and Comparison Shots (Before. . During. . and Still During. . .)

The first photo was taken in Germany in May 2008, five months before I was banded. I am wearing size 20 jeans, which I kept for comparison/archival purposes.

The second was taken here in NYC on April 18, 2009, about six months post-op. I am 36.8 pounds down, wearing size 18 jeans (which I have since sent to another bandster -- these may be the ones I sent to Mary this week).

The third is the photo from yesterday, also taken in NYC. I am just over 10 months post-op, down 55 pounds, and have lost nearly 30 inches (29.65 . . I finally counted my inches from my arms and legs twice, since I have two of each after all. . .). The jeans are a size 12! (I know. . I know. . . I posted this already, but I'm still thrilled!) BTW, if you click on the photo, it gets bigger.

As of right now, I have about 20 pounds to get to my goal and to get me to the high range of the "ideal" BMI for my height. I also realize, looking at the photos on my blog, that I have definitely gotten plenty of use out of my YSL Muse bag, since it's pretty much in every photo! :) I swear. . I really do have other handbags. . .

This change has been so gradual to me that it's hard for me to understand how big of a difference there is in my appearance, unless I put photos next to one another or try on my old pants. I also don't feel like it's been especially difficult to make the changes that I've made so far or to adjust to eating like a bandster. I don't feel deprived of food, have any problem going to any restaurant I want to go to, and I am more comfortable in my skin then I can ever remember being.

Another thing that I noticed is that the last 20-25 pounds I have lost made a bigger difference than the first 30-35. For example, during the first 6 months post-op, my pants changed only from a 20 to an 18. But during the last 4 months, I've gone from an 18 to a 12. As I mentioned earlier, my number of inches lost during the first 30 pounds was nearly the same amount that I lost in the following 20.

I am not perfect at following the rules of eating for bandsters. I have never gotten the hang of not drinking during meals. I also let myself have wine on a regular basis, despite the calories (some things I enjoy enough that I don't mind if I lose slower than others). And, once in a while, I even let myself have things like ice cream or chocolate -- though I don't see any reason not to do that with the band, as long as it's not a regular thing. A girl has got to live, after all!

Quick Update

Today I went to have my hair done, then had brunch with my friend Marjorie, followed by shopping in Soho. And, I could fit into things! I was able to ask for my size without being embarrassed or knowing not to ask because there was no way they would have it! I bought the cutest shirt at The New York Look (great store. . terrible name). Will post a photo soon.

On my way home, I had a tourist take my photo so that I could show you the size 12 (!!) jeans! Here they are. . . (I wish I'd let go of my shirt before the photo was taken!). . .

NSV and Seeing Old Friends

I mentioned earlier that we had a jeans day at work on Friday. Well, I put on the size 14 jeans that I'd been so happy to get on the day I hit 50 and. . guess what? They are too big already! They still are wearable, but they are definitely on the baggy side. Sooooo. . . I popped over to The Gap during lunch and bought a new pair. . in a TWELVE! And, they fit! I also bought a pair of grey pants in a 12 (in view of my shortage of work clothes). They are a little snug, but should be fine in a pound or two (if the scale would ever move again. . )! :)

I went back to see if I could find an old photo on my Shutterfly account from 2000 or 2001, but I don't have any that old on there. I did find my favorite photo of me with my niece, Grace, from August 2004! She has the sweetest look on her cute little face! :)


On Sunday, my friend and client who I worked with every day from September 2000 to October 2001 (in the Bahamas! Best assignment ever!) will be in town. Her name is Linda. Linda and I have plans to have dinner that night. I've been back to Nassau a few times since I lived there, but once I got very uncomfortable about my weight, I stopped going. There were just too many people who I didn't want to see me that way.


Funny thing . . I can't remember for the life of me what I weighed the last time I saw Linda (who is built like a model/athlete . . tall and thin, wears gorgeous clothing and accessorizes like a dream). I wonder if I will look the same to her, or if she'll think I've put on weight! This time last year, I would have probably made up an excuse not to see her because I would not have wanted her to see me at my then-current size. Or, I would have been really stressed and dreading it. But now, I just feel good and am excited to catch up with my old friend. This is a huge NSV, and I feel very free from the burden of feeling bad about my weight! In fact, I feel pretty darned good!

Fashion Emergency Follow-up!

Again, I have some seriously unflattering lighting in my apartment! I promise that the circles under my eyes don't look like this in real life! :)

Fashion Emergency.

This morning, I went about the business of getting ready for work, as usual. So far this week, I've already worn the dress I posted photos of yesterday, the size 14 dress from Tahari that I posted a photo of on July 2nd, and a grey and white pinstriped skirt from 2004 that is a bit big, but is still wearable.

I only bought one outfit during the shopping trip last week, and my office dress code is business attire (read: suits or dresses of similar formality). So, this morning, I tried on about 30 outfits to see if there was anything else I could wear. My lighter-weight suits are all huge on me at this point, and I'm trying to wait to get them tailored until I get to goal. I also tried on some old pants from the 2003-2004 era when I was wearing 12s and 14s, but the skirt lengths and pants styles are outdated and do not look polished enough for the office.

I must have tried on 20 different outfits. And every single one of them was either hopelessly huge, horribly dowdy, or too casual. I literally did not have one thing that I would have been comfortable wearing to the office. That is a first.

I am so frustrated and annoyed with myself for not realizing that I was so short on wearable things for work. I just went shopping last weekend and thought the one dress I bought would tide me through this period. But, I hadn't factored on all of my staple work clothing suddenly going from a bit loose to unwearably baggy. I guess that last 5 pounds was the turning point.

So, today I am taking a personal day. Tomorrow we have a jeans day (we do this from time to time to raise money for various charities -- you can wear jeans if you donate $5), so I'm all set with an outfit. But this weekend, I am going to get a few things to tide me over.

While, on the one hand, I'm thrilled about what this says about my progress, I am upset, frustrated and annoyed to find myself in this position, especially since I expressly went shopping to avoid this exact problem. Well, this is the last time that I'm letting that happen. I've been conservative in shopping because I don't want to waste money (particularly in this economy) on things I will only wear a few times, but it's clear that I've been a little too conservative. I'm going to try to find one or two more dresses this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

New Outfit!

I am so happy with the dress I got this weekend that I took a quick photo before work. I have a grey knit shrug to wear over it so that I'm not too arm-y (or freezing) in the office. . . Here it is with the shrug. These are hugely oversized (Banana Republic is selling them right now), so I had to buy a small. While I know it doesn't mean anything given how these sweaters are cut, it was a total novelty to me to buy a "small"!
A year ago, it would not have occurred to me that I'd be able to wear an outfit like this today. Go, band!

Awwww!

I have a bunch of posts up lately about my mom, but none of my dad! That just isn't right! :) Nicely enough, my dad just called last night to let me know that he'd caught up on my blog and to say how blown away he was by my Jared-from-Subway shot (me in the big pants)! It was great to hear how impressed and surprised he was by my progress. :) I'm really looking forward to seeing the family at Thanksgiving. I am pretty sure that they will be even more surprised to see me in person!

I talk to my dad on the phone all the time, but I don't have any photos of him from this year on my computer. So, I thought I'd post my all-time favorite photo of him. It's just such a cool shot! I am pretty sure that this was taken during our Christmas vacation in Italy in 1983.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Clothes!

I got such a thrill tonight when I caught up on some of my favorite bandster blogs! I tuned in to Linda's blog and saw (!) a photo of her in the jeans I sent her a while ago! And, they totally fit her and (despite what she may say) look great!! How awesome is that?!? Here is a link: http://lindasbandwidth.blogspot.com/2009/08/things-i-did-right-things-i-did-wrong.html

Honestly, I'm totally thrilled! I wanted to invite anyone who has (or will later) received clothing from me (whether from me directly or from another bandster who received from me) to put a link to a photo of yourself in the comments to this post -- or to send me a photo at chroniclesfrombandland@gmail.com so that I can post it!

Linda, thank you so much for this unexpected wonderful treat, and thank you to anyone else who responds to this shout out to members of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Clothes! :)

Peace out, Plus Sizes. . .

Since my mom is here, I thought I'd try on a few things and get her take on what I should get rid of (BTW if you need size 18, e-mail me at chroniclesfrombandland@gmail.com -- I won't be able to send to everyone, but if you include a photo and I have things that I think would look good on you, I will send them).

These photos are of me in the pants that were getting tight when I started this process. I can't believe that they ever fit. I just bought a dress today that is EIGHT sizes smaller than these pants. Thank you, God! (And Dr. Rumbaut. . and Dr. Ren. . .and my family and friends. . . and my Boot Camp Instructors. . . and hell, while I'm at it, thank me too!!) :) :)

What a difference 10 months makes. . . .

Holy you-know-what, Batman! Check out the difference. Here is a photo of my mother and me last night. . .

Versus this photo of us the day after my surgery . . . October 24, 2008. Hm. . . something is different about these photos. Did I change my hair or something?? :) Hee hee. . .

My mom looks pretty darned great, too! Since the October photo, not only has she lost a few pounds that she wanted to get off, but she also stopped smoking more than two months ago and has really stuck with it! I am so proud of her!!

Weekend, Shopping & Such

Just a quick post today! My mom is in town for the weekend, and we're going to do a bit of shopping. In the past week or so, it seems that most of my work clothes are just WAAAAY too big. So, I need a few pieces to get me through the next 20 lbs.

Most of my suits are from St. John (read: knit suits, very expensive, but very forgiving when you gain/lose weight because the knit shapes to your body). So, I'm planning to have them tailored down. In fact, I already had one tailored a bit, but with it being knit. . it's not exactly what I want to wear on a sweltering subway platform on my way to work.

I also don't want to pay a kazillion dollars to have the suits brought down to a 14, only to have to do the same thing again in a few months. So, I'm trying to hold off until we're AT LEAST in the cooler weather of the fall.

Fingers crossed for our excursion today! Hopefully we'll find some good things. Am going to try not to go crazy because I'm heading to Palm Springs over Labor Day and plan to invade the St. John's outlet while I'm there (and Jimmy Choo. . and Gucci. . .and, and. . . OMG, I can't believe the outlets they have there!!)!

NSV Update From The Weekend

I know I'm going crazy with posting today, but since I missed a few days, I am making up for lost time!

Someone else took this photo at Adam & Erica's rehearsal dinner, just a few seconds after the one I posted earlier was taken. I thought this was a better one and wanted to post it, since I don't think I've ever seen a better photo of my body! Who knew that (with my band's help) I would see the day where I didn't feel the need to crop a photo that showed my stomach and hips! Fantastic!
Also, I had a big NSV this past weekend. I was with my friend Maria, going in and out of little boutiques and cute shops in Montclair, NJ, which is near where she lives. For the past many years, there hasn't been a thing in any boutique that I could hope to fit into -- but on a whim, I tried on a dress. And it fit! It totally fit!! (It was too short for my tastes, so I didn't buy it, but it fit!!!) I couldn't believe it. Major NSV!!

CATHERINE55 HITS 55!!!!!

WOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
FIFTY-FIVE!!!!!!

People, I am only about 20 lbs overweight at this point! I am back in 2004, weight-wise. This is so great. I'd really been looking forward to hitting the big 55 down mark, since I do love the number 5!

WOO-HOO!!!

Hip!

I took last week off of Boot Camp because I had hurt my hip running the Sunday before last. During the week, I went to my doctor at the Hospital for Special Surgery (fantastic hospital here -- and this guy is always rated one of NY's Best). They X-rayed my hip, he did a few tests, and all is totally fine. He thinks it's just a muscle strain and cleared me to go back to Boot Camp this week.

So, last night was my first time back. Let me tell you -- I struggle in that class if I even miss one session -- but after a week off, I was seriously about to pass out by the time we got to the last 1/4 of the class! Today, I'm a bit sore -- nothing too bad -- and I'm going back again tonight.

This photo is of the place where I do Boot Camp -- there is a track around the outside of the room, and the obstacle course is in the middle.

I got really nervous before last night. I guess I was worried that taking a week off might cause me to slip into my old (non-gym-going) bad habits. But, going back last night and tonight will have me back on track. I felt so much better for just getting through last night.

Port Perception

Throughout this whole process, a lot of people have asked me questions about what it is like to have a port. Here are a few of the most common questions I've received (or had) and my answers. I know that different doctors place the ports in different spots, so not everyone's experience may be the same as mine.

Where is your port?
My port is 3 inches above my belly button, and about an inch to the right.

Can you see your port when you are not dressed?
No. Not at all. In fact, if someone ran their hand over my stomach, they wouldn't even feel the port unless they pressed down on it.

Does your port bother you if you sleep on your stomach?No -- I don't notice it at all.

Do fills hurt?
Not if they are done right (i.e. not by Nurse Roughstuff. . see my post from a few months ago for background). I mean -- there is a needle involved, so it feels the same as any shot. But it doesn't hurt and it's only for a second. It's a short, easy process.

Here is one I asked my doctor: Can I hurt my port if I lean on it, e.g. while I'm hauling myself over a high wall in boot camp?
My doctor said that it was very unlikely that I'd hurt my port. It is attached to muscle, rather than a bone. So, if you lean on it, the port just moves in like your muscle would. It's relatively sturdy and its ability to move when you lean on it protects it.

Do you notice your port a lot?
No -- in fact, I hardly even think about it. Since it's working fine and I can't see it or feel it (unless I'm trying to feel it), I probably think about it as much as I think of my elbow or my big toe or something.

(Studio) FIFTY FOUR!!!

As of this morning, I am down 54.4 pounds! And, since 5 is my favorite number, I'm pretty much going to be posting every single one-pound mark through this whole 10 pound series. :) Plus, how could I miss an opportunity to reference the ultimate disco?
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A few WL thoughts:

* In just 5.5 lbs, I will be in a new 10-pound range that I haven't seen since 2003-ish;

* In 10 lbs, I will be at a weight that I was OK with back in my 20s;

* In 20 lbs, I'll be at a weight that I felt great at in my 20s.

* If I can get to 30 more off, I will be at the lowest weight of my 20s, which is a healthy, reasonable weight right in the middle of my "ideal BMI" range, and one where I felt so great about my body (er, during the few months in 1997 where I was able to maintain that weight . . .).

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I went to the doctor today to have my hip checked out, and I'm fine. It turns out that I probably pulled a muscle in my hip. . nothing major at all. I told my doctor about my surgery, and about how my weight loss resolved the compartmental syndrome problem. He was very positive and complimentary, and mentioned that a woman in his office is considering getting banded, and asked if I'd mind telling her about my experience. (Hi to that person if she is are reading this!) :)

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Of course, I didn't mind at all, and we talked a bit. . I even showed her my scars and gave her a link to my blog, as well as a recommendation to read Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band -- my favorite of the various band books I read pre-op. It felt good to be able to pass this information on to someone who was interested in receiving it and may use it to change her life and health for the better!

Vlog!

I filmed this on Monday night . . . and it took some effort to get the file compressed to the right size so that I could post it. . . but here goes!

And I ran, I ran so far away. . .

What a difference 53 pounds and 9 weeks of Boot Camp makes! I went for a run in my gym tonight and did the longest consecutive run that I've ever done -- 3 miles without stopping or slowing down to a walk (save for 1 minute at the very beginning)! And to think that less than a year ago, I was unable to run for more than a few minutes without my debilitating compartmental syndrome kicking in, pinching my nerves painfully and causing my calves to lose circulation.

I had my gym mix on and was listening to a great song, and the thought of how far I've come with my band's help came into my mind. I felt so happy that I could have cried! Instead, I just kept on running.

For all of my bandster friends who are trying to get into the gym, I am going to post my current workout mix. It's a really good one and will totally get you going (assuming you like dance music). A few of these versions are remixes, so if you're going to load them up to your iPod, be sure to get the right version. Here goes:

1. D.A.N.C.E. - Justice

2. Ooh Wee - Mark Ronson, Ghostface Killah & Nate Dogg (OMG, I LOVE this song, especially the cowbell . . lots of good cowbell!)

3. Right Here (Departed) [Mad Decent Right Mix] - Brandy

4. Jealous of My Boogie - RuPaul

5. Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (Dave Aude Remix Club Version) - Beyonce

6. Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas

7. Sexy Dancer - Bob Sinclair (Amy, I think you will love this song!)

8. Poker Face (Jody den Broeder Remix) - Lady GaGa

9. Rock That Body - Black Eyed Peas

10. LoveGame (Dave Aude Radio Edit) - Lady GaGa

11. Another Star - Stevie Wonder

12. Fine Without You (feat. Jennifer Rene) - Armin van Buuren

13. What Else Is There? (Thin White Duke Remix) - Royskopp

14. Who Will Find Me (Main Mix) [Edit] - DJ Shah

15. All the Things She Said (Extension 119 Club Edit) - T.A.T.U.

16. Miles Away (Morgan Page Dub) - Madonna

17. Celebration - Madonna (this was just released this weekend!)

18. Forever - Chris Brown (because I love that wedding video with this song that is on YouTube so much)

Fifty-three!

As of this morning, I'm down 53.6 pounds! I am getting excited about hitting 55! It's really amazing how much more quickly the scale has been moving since I made it through the first 6 weeks of Boot Camp. I guess it may be true that the extra muscle I built is helping me to burn more calories.

Sketch!

I had so much fun doing the cariacature of Erica for her shower and bachelorette invitations that, tonight, I decided to try to do one of myself. Here it is! Fun, right?!

I love Illustrator and my Wacom drawing tablet! It makes it so easy to make things like this!

The Rest of the Wedding Update. . .

Me with Erica's niece and nephew (they thought I looked, and I quote, "like the princess from Enchanted" so I super extra love them! I also love how their mom is looking on behind us with a big, warm smile.) :)

Other than me going up to PP to break the ice at the very beginning, I didn't really interact with him at the reception. It was weird -- the girl was gone (bathroom?) for like 30 minutes at one point, and he just stayed alone, sitting at the table by himself -- totally weird, given that all of his best guy friends were at the party and he knew a ton of people. A few people commented about that to me, and I had noticed it as well.


Toward the end of the night, he and his friend Kevin (who I know and like a lot) were standing talking by themselves, and I went up and talked with them for a minute (most of my other friends were dancing at that point). BIZARRELY, all of a sudden, PP says (as though a genius bulb went off in head. . but clearly that was not the case) "Hold on a Second!" and I look at Kevin like "WTF?"
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Then I turned my head back to PP and see that he is bringing that girl over to us. Then (FREAK!) he says "Catherine [last name], this is [first name, last name of girl]. [First name, last name of girl], this is Catherine [last name]." You should have seen my face -- I was looking at him with the most incredulous WTF?! expression. It was SO AWKWARD. She also looked mortified.

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I just extended my hand and said a very uncomfortable "Hello" and she replied "Hello" (equally uncomfortably). Then, they took a step or two closer to Kevin, and I stood frozen for a second, then said "REALLY?!" (as in "really?! Did you really just introduce me to your new girlfriend, you total loser?) probably loud enough for them to hear me. Then I walked away. Other than that, I was very well behaved, but that was just too much!! What an idiot.
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The wedding was OK though -- not as traumatizing as I thought, and I pretty much knew everyone there or got to know them during the weekend, so it was actually fun aside from the stress associated with PP and his social (and emotional) retardedness!
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I am so glad that event is past me. I feel a sense of freedom now that it no longer is hanging over my head!

Comparison Photos

Before I get back to the story, I wanted to put up some side-by-side comparisons from my pre- (or early) band days vs. last weekend.

Here is a photo of me from Halloween 2008 (my surgery date was 10/23/08) next to one of me at the wedding last weekend (I don't love this photo, but it's the only full length one I have).
Here is one of me at my friend Sharon's wedding in Tuscany in September 2007 (I cut PP out of the photo) :) -- next to the one of me at the rehearsal dinner last weekend. And, here is another one from Sharon's wedding, so that you can get the full idea of how I looked (since I was hiding behind my bouquet in the other one. . . ).

Me, Sharon, Nadia and Li (three of my closest friends)

What a difference 50 pounds makes. . . Not to mention that at Sharon's wedding, my feet were KILLING ME. . whereas I wore those heels all night at the rehearsal dinner and didn't even notice! NSV!

The Big Event. . .

Self-portrait with the bride and MOH (her sister) at the house before the ceremony. This took about 7 takes because they are both at least 4 inches taller than me!

The wedding was really beautiful, and the weather could not have been better. I got up in the morning, played an hour of tennis (loved it!) with a friend, then showered and sat pool-side for two or so hours with Becca (the MOH -- maid of honor) before we went over to Erica's house to get ready with her for the wedding.

Because PP didn't show up at rehearsal dinner after party, the first time I saw him was when I was driving up with Erica and Becca to the outdoor chapel where the ceremony took place. He and the new girlfriend were walking over the hill, down to the water where the guests were seated. My heart lurched, and I felt a little sick. I did my best not to react (other than to say that I could see him), since I didn't think it would be fair to Erica to take the focus off of the event that was about to happen.

When I walked down the aisle, I tried not to look at him, but I did catch a quick glimpse. For a few minutes, I thought that the new girlfriend was totally gorgeous (didn't have my glasses on and only saw her for a split second). Brace yourself. . . it's petty time. . . But, after I got a closer look, I saw that she was NOT that pretty and was, in fact, more than a bit horsey. I know. . . that's mean, it's not her fault, blah blah blah. . . but it did make me feel better that he didn't trade me in for a Ferrari. :)

At the reception (on a lawn overlooking the water). This girl is the friend who set me up on the blind date with the writer.

Adam, Erica and Adam's dad, doing a welcoming toast

We didn't do a receiving line after the ceremony, so there was no encounter there. It wasn't until we got to the reception that I felt really awkward. Fortunately, all of the girls were awesome backup, so when I had to walk past them to get my seating card, Emily went with me and we pretended to be engrossed in conversation. . .

Emily and Lauren

Then, a few minutes later, PP was standing talking to a guy who I know and like, so I decided to go up and say hello and just get it over with. It was a bit bittersweet. Clearly, we really care about each other and still have a great connection, but he just can't move forward in life for some reason. Anyway, he was definitely blown away by the change in my appearance, and told me how great he thought I looked several times. I thanked him, and told him that I was feeling incredible, much healthier and stronger than I've felt for as long as I can remember. After a few minutes, I excused myself and went to talk to other friends. It was a relief to have gotten the encounter out of the way.

I have more to write, but have got to leave for work! More soon.

I'm a Surviva!

So, I made it through the wedding weekend with my dignity intact! I did not karaoke Alanis Morisette's "You Oughtta Know" while wasted and glaring at Peter Pan! (A friend and I made a pre-event game of thinking up worst-case scenarios . . that came in Second Place, just after "showing up and seeing his new girlfriend with an obvious baby bump and a big engagement ring. . "!) Not to worry -- none of the worst case stuff happened!

I'm exhausted right now, but wanted to at least post a bit. I'll tell the ex-encounter story next time. For now, I wanted to at least say that (thank you, Band) I felt confident that I looked much better than when PP (Peter Pan) and I were together, and I really loved my dresses. Funny enough, my inexpensive Victoria's Secret dress for the rehearsal dinner made me feel even better than the very expensive Badgley Mischka dress I wore at the wedding.

The bride, MOH and me at the rehearsal dinner. . .

Major NSV. This is the first time (almost ever) where I saw a full-length photo of myself and was really happy with it! I didn't want to instantly delete it at all! On the contrary, it made me wish that PP would have shown up at the post-rehearsal dinner festivities because I know he would have loved this dress on me.

Unfortunately-ish, he didn't show up -- despite that his host (he stayed at the house of a mutual friend) texted him a few times to get him to go. I am absolutely sure that he did not come because of me, and that's OK. I just wish I would have known that so that I wouldn't have been a bundle of nerves, anxiously watching the door the whole time.

I wonder if his guy friends told him how I looked at the event. Most of them haven't seen me since the engagement party (about 20 pounds ago), or even earlier. One of them was like "Hi! You look great! Did you change your hair?" They were clearly not sure about whether it was OK to say anything about the weight loss, but it was nice to see that they noticed.

More to follow tomorrow!

Packed up and ready to go. . .

Dress. . check
Straightening Iron. . . check
Industrial-strength Spanx. . check

Looks like I'm ready to go! :) I'll definitely post about the wedding weekend (and how the ex-encounter goes) and put up photos when I get back.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Sympathy Silliness

Last night, I went to Boot Camp, came home, showered and poured myself a glass of wine. Very civilized! I called up my mom, and we wound up talking for quite a while. One of her good friends had an accident -- she had slammed her pointer finger into a door, and partially severed part of the tip (they will be able to fix it).

Well, over the course of the conversation, I poured myself another glass of wine, and suddenly got an idea! Hey -- let's send her The Pointer Sisters' Greatest Hits . . . in honor of her pointer finger, of course! So, my mother and I ordered the CD shown below, and sent it to her with a card that says. .

Dear J,


We are very sorry to hear about your pointer, sister. We hope that this little gift will cheer you up during this difficult time.

With love and affection,

K and Catherine


My mother and I practically killed ourselves laughing at this silliness and thinking about how much J will crack up when she receives the gift tomorrow. Happily, she has just the sense of humor that she will find this really funny, too!! (Er . . at least, in the light of day, I am now hoping so!!) :)

Fifty-two!

Wow! I am down 52.2 as of this morning! Once I got past the hurdle of the sixth week of Boot Camp, I feel like my weight really started moving again! This is great. My 8 week session is over, so I signed on for 36 more sessions.

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Honestly, it's really doing the trick. Last night, I tried on the dress I bought to wear to my friends' rehearsal dinner (this Friday night. . . yes, the dreaded ex-encounter will finally be over by this time next week). Anyway, the dress really looked great -- it is flattering, fits perfectly, and my body (my formerly much thicker and heavier body that I never would have thought this about) looks great in it. Amazing -- thank you band!

Two NSVs This Weekend

I was walking through my old neighborhood (West Village) on Saturday with a friend, and stopped by my dry cleaner/laundry to say hi to the proprietor (I sent my laundry there for 5 years, so we had a lot of interaction). It hadn't struck me that she hasn't seen me since I was banded, so I was really surprised to see her do a double take when I came in. She is an adorable Asian woman, very warm and nice -- and gave me a big hug. She seemed so happy by my weight loss that she looked like she might tear up! She said that I look like a different person and much prettier (nothing like being direct. .), which I take in the positive way it was intended. It was a nice surprise to get such a big reaction!

Later that day, I saw a woman from my yoga class (I haven't been for months) and she said the same thing -- that I look like a completely different person. This is a funny reaction to me, I mean -- I still look like myself, just a thinner version. I guess that may be how people relate to big weight changes. Anyway, it was nice to get this positive feedback!

What a difference 15 pounds makes. . .

I thought it would be interesting to show the difference between me being 51 lbs down vs how I looked in April when I was 36 pounds down. It's only a 15 pound change, so it's still a bit subtle. But, fortunately for comparison's sake, I tend to wear the same outfit a zillion times if I like it, so both photos are in the same dress!

Here is a photo of me from Saturday at the High Line (BTW, this dress is from Garnet Hill -- it is so comfortable). This isn't the best photo ever, but it is a rare full-length one, so I thought I'd post it anyway:

And, here is me in the same dress in April (I wish I knew how to post them side-by-side. . does anyone know how to do that?):I really see a difference in my hips here. I guess that makes sense, since they are 2 inches smaller now than on the day that photo was taken (I am SO glad I have been taking my measurements! I like being able to figure out things like this). Also, my waist is 3.8 inches smaller now than in the April photo, and that seems to make a difference too. It's interesting for me to see this progress.

Funny though -- I still feel like this dress makes me look bigger than I think I am! Maybe it's not as flattering as I think it is after all!

Visiting The High Line

Yesterday, I had a really great day. I met a friend of mine at The High Line at around 11. The High Line is a new park that was created on the raised area where freight trains used to run in Manhattan (to keep them off the streets because they were dangerous). (See http://www.thehighline.org/ for more info.)

The park is just beautiful. It's a great mix of nature and urban beauty! Here are a few more photos.

After visiting The High Line, I had brunch with three friends, then spent the rest of the day with two of the three getting some sun on the terrace of my apartment building. When we came down, I had a message from a friend from high school who I really like, and we wound up meeting up with her for dinner. What a great day!

This area was really cool -- there are glass windows looking out on to the street, and the way it is staged makes you feel as though you are watching a movie of cars going by!

Watching the cars go by. . .

Motivated Mom!

I wanted to take a minute today to give major props to my mother! Not only has she done really well on her own diet (she lost 20 lbs), but she also quit smoking!! After smoking for most of her adult life, she has now been sans-smoke for what must be nearly 2 months now. I am so proud of her!!!

She also just got back from a trip to Egypt with her BF, which is also very cool! I am especially impressed and awed that she -- a person who is not that comfortable with big animals -- got up on a camel to take this awesome photo!

All of you who have read my blog from the beginning also know that my mom has been a huge supporter of my decision to get the band. Actually, everyone I have told in my family has been really wonderful. But, my mom does get special props for being not only a great source of encouragement, but also for coming to Mexico with me when I had my surgery and even sleeping in my hospital room when I had to stay overnight. Go mom!!! Thank you for all you do!!

I will add that she is a regular follower of a bunch of other bandster blogs. I know that she reads Sarah's (Losing Weight, Gaining Tons), Angie's, Cara's (The Dash) and many others. When I talked to her a few days ago, she was very empathetic about Lise's unfill situation and is always really happy to see how well everyone is doing.

More Data on My Rate-a

I did a little math yesterday to see how my rate of loss (in pounds per week) during the past 8 weeks of Boot Camp has compared to my overall rate from surgery through May 21st. I really wanted to see what building more muscle meant in terms of scale numbers, and thought others might be interested in this as well. So, here are the stats:

Up to May 21st, I was averaging 1.43 pounds per week. Then, during the first four weeks of boot camp (when I was building a ton of muscle), I only dropped 2.2 pounds -- and during that time, there was a 17 day stretch when I didn't lose an ounce! Then, during the last four weeks, I've dropped 5.4 pounds -- which puts me back around 1.35 pounds per week for the 8 week period. Here is how the weeks break down:

Weeks 1-4: .55 lbs/week (with zero lost for 17 days in a row during that time!)
Weeks 5-6: .5 lbs/week
Weeks 7-8: 2.2 lbs/week

So, it looks like I just had to get through about 4-6 weeks of muscle-building to get back to losing. And, it seems that with all that extra muscle, I may have amped up my metabolism a bit! Very encouraging!!

BTW, I saw the new Harry Potter movie last night. Loved it!

Fifty-One!

I didn't expect anything more from my scale this morning, after yesterday's wonderful news. But, it's down another pound already (51.4 in total)! That is fantastic!! :)