Memorial Day on Fire Island!

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Steve and I were out on Fire Island over the weekend with a few friends and got back last night. The weather was supposed to be pretty dodgy, but we lucked out and the sun came out for us a bit!

This weekend, I experienced a pretty huge NSV.... I wore my first -- ever -- string bikini. And, thanks in no small part to my adorable boyfriend, who pretty much didn't stop talking about how much he liked it from the time I put it on until the time I took it off, I felt pretty fantastic in it! (Er, not so fantastic that I didn't crop this photo so that my thighs wouldn't be on display on the Internet, but pretty darned fantastic anyway!)

She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weeny lime green Lily P bikini....

The cutest fire engine in the world...

Steve, playing guitar, and Marjorie sings along
It was a really wonderful weekend, and I enjoyed every minute. I also thought periodically through the weekend about what this weekend would have been like pre-band. It was so nice to be able to appreciate things like (1) being comfortable wearing a bathing suit (not to mention, a SKIMPY BIKINI!); (2) walking up to the water in my bathing suit and feeling good, not self-conscious; (3) not having my legs rub together!!!!! (This should be no. 1! OMG, I don't know at what point that stopped, but I am so glad it did... has completely changed my enjoyment of warm weather; (4) being able to enjoy an ice cream in public; (5) believing my boyfriend when he tells me that he loves how I look in my swimsuit; and (6) going on a bike ride with Steve for exercise and knowing that I'm going to enjoy it and not feel the least bit over-exerted (thank you, spin!). Wow. What a world of difference this whole process has made.

New Blog to Check Out!

One of my bandster friends is a fantastic girl named Nora, who I met through my blog and have had dinner and lunch with several times, since she gets to NYC fairly often. Nora lives in Europe (I'll leave it to her blog to reveal more details), is down about 60 pounds, and is roughly five months out from her surgery date. She is a very warm, fun, interesting and well-traveled person, and .... has just started a blog!

Hope it's OK, Nora... I took this one from your blog.... love the photo!

I hope you will all take a minute to check out her blog -- here is a LINK -- and welcome her to the bandster blogosphere! She is constantly traveling, so her journey with the band is sure to take her -- and it -- to lots of cool and interesting places. Am looking forward to reading all about it.

Wainscott Weekend

Last weekend, Steve and I went out to Wainscott with a group of friends to stay at one friend's house out there. Our friend has a really beautiful house with a pool (am so envious! Thank goodness he shares his house!). :) On Saturday, we wound up having a cocktail party to watch the Preakness, and a bunch of people came over to enjoy that with us -- I think we were about 15 or so people, then there were nine of us for dinner.

Post-Preakness Party...

For dinner, we grilled steak and swordfish steaks, had a gorgeous arugula salad, roasted tomatoes and asparagus. All of those foods (save for the steak, since once in a while, I get a bite that I can't chew enough and must ... er, discretely put in my napkin...) work just fine with the band. I can't eat that much of the salad, but can have enough to enjoy it and feel like I'm getting in some veggies. I really prefer family-style serving when I'm eating with people who don't know about my surgery (no one other than Steve knew among the Wainscott crew), since I can just take a small portion and eat most of what I put on my plate.

Prepping for dinner....

My band has been pretty easy to keep at a good fill level -- it's not so tight that I can't eat well, and not so loose that I eat too much. I've been lucky about that. I actually have a smaller balloon than most of you because I've got a 9.75 cc Inamed band (Inamed is now part of Allergan) with a 5 cc balloon. The Inamed band also is likely an older iteration of the band than most of our newer bandsters have. But it works really well for me, and I've been happy with it so far.

Cutting up the leftover roasted tomatoes to put in the eggs for breakfast... so delicious (just cut plum tomatoes in half length-wise, sprinkle some diced shallots, rosemary and a wee bit of sugar on them, and roast at 350 for around 30 minutes... so yummy.. and band friendly!)

Steve gets the eggs ready...

I loved Gen's comment on my last post about wearing white pants being a big NSV. I got my first pair -- ever -- last summer, and loved being able to wear them and feel good. This summer, my NSV is that I had to get a new pair because the ones from last year are too big! So, I am now wearing not only white pants... but white pants in a size 8! (OK, it's a Gap 8, but I'll take it!!) By the way, the Gap has the best white pants... with the bonus that they aren't that expensive, so you don't have to freak out when you spill something on them... like red wine... or sit on a raspberry that someone's gorgeous child accidentally left on your chair. (Both have happened to the new pair... thank God for Oxy! It gets out everything!) :)

Finally! Some Napa and San Fran Photos...

At last! I am finally getting to do this post. Seriously... my juggling act is out of control, and I've already been out of town again (to the Hamptons) since I was in Napa two weeks ago. But I digress... this is what I wanted to tell you about the trip.... :)

The weekend before last, I was out in San Francisco for some client meetings, and Steve joined me out there. My meetings only took up about four hours on Saturday and on Sunday morning, so we had the rest of the time to enjoy ourselves ... and to do a day-long trip out in Napa Valley!

Maybe I shouldn't have planned my Sunday morning meeting for a spot that overlooked the Bay to Breakers Race.... but then I would have missed seeing the costumes... including a totally naked guy wearing a Valkerie costume... (Downside: I didn't get a photo of him. Upside: you won't have to gouge out your eyes! LOL)

The Napa part of the trip was really pretty wonderful. Steve surprised me by getting a convertible for our trip, which added to the fun. We started out to St. Helena at the home of a good friend of his from a study abroad program, her husband and adorable daughter. They had a beautiful home -- tons of fresh flowers, beautiful garden, and served a very simple, elegant meal of two kinds of quiche, a gorgeous salad and fresh berries. Martha Stewart would have been proud! (Bandster note... I was served a bit too much, so I was worried that she thought I didn't enjoy the meal, which was amazing.... I just feigned "big breakfast," and all was well).

After that, we went out to a vineyard where we have a personal connection with the winemaker and they did a special tasting for us. It was really wonderful, interesting, fun and delicious!

Me, in front of the winery

Tasting wines with Steve.

This was one of the few times where I wished I didn't have a band so that I could overeat a bit! We had dinner at Bouchon and, after enjoying some pretty decadent appetizers (beer battered mussels... and escargot en croute with a cream sauce... hello, fattening!), changed our entree orders to go with something lighter. Of course, "lighter" for me was a salad of glazed pork belly with pickled cherries (which were amazing... I thought they were cranberries.. the flavor was so unique), and an egg yolk confit... in warm bacon vinaigrette....

My yummy "light" dinner.... er, at least it was a salad?Steve and I stayed in a really cute bed and breakfast in Yountville, just a short walk from Bouchon. I definitely recommend it. It's called the (spelling weirdly because of Google Alerts..) L-a-v-e-n-d-e-r I-n-n, and was seriously adorable, complete with an outdoor hot tub and a fireplace in the room. So wonderful. And one of the best things about the weekend was that Steve had brought me two cards, in which he wrote some very sweet things, and he hid each in my bag at a different point in the trip so that I would find them. Love!!

Back from San Francisco and Napa!

I got back from a very quick trip to San Francisco and Napa Valley last night! I was there for work meetings, but Steve came out with me and we made a fun weekend of it. The meetings went really well, I saw a few people who I hadn't seen since before my surgery (which is always a little weird... but so much better than running into people after a big gain, at least!), and Steve and I did a quick day and night in Napa for a bit of wine tasting and fun.

I'll post more, but wanted to share this photo with you, which is from a casino night benefit for an organization that trains guide dogs for the blind that we went to earlier this month. I just like how hugely we're smiling in this one! I hope all of you had a great weekend! Back in touch with a recap of the San Fran/Napa trip soon!

Picking Your Hose...

Last June, I posted about accidentally wearing some pre-weight loss undies.... and spending the day tugging them up, since they wanted to migrate southward.... with a vengeance! After that, I cleared out my undies drawer and got rid of anything that wasn't the right size.

Thing is.... I never went through my hosiery. So, occasionally, I'll wind up stuck with a pair of hose that are in a "Tall" ... which is at least a size bigger than I need. They bunch up, don't look particularly good, aren't very comfortable.... and have me saying the tag line from some TV ad I heard when I was little.... "That's [me].... the one with the baggy pantyhose!" I really need to clean out that drawer.....

In other news, I want to give a shout out to an anonymous newbie-ish bandster friend of mine who I had dinner with at Artisanal last night. She is down about 60 pounds and looks absolutely fantastic!! Woo-hoo!

La-La-Love Land And Related Thoughts...

I didn't realize that being in la-la-love land would turn me into a bad blogger! I miss it, but the juggling act still has not been tamed to the point where I find myself with enough down time to write as often as I'd like... but I'm working on it!

Here's an interesting band-related update for you. Since I started dating S, my scale bounced up around 6-7 pounds from my all-time low. However, I've refocused on getting in my workouts (after slacking a bit for a few weeks.. which is why I gained the weight), and I've gotten off about 4-5 of it, so that's good! I feel like such a good band citizen for nipping that gain in the bud... before it became 10 pounds.

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Another interesting thing? I had my bloodwork done during my last visit to my OBGYN, and my cholesterol is on the high side. I didn't fast before I went, so it's probably not completely accurate, and I'm going to go back so that she can re-do it. Still, my "good" cholesterol was really high (which is fine) and the bad was on the high side of OK (which is not ideal).
I'm attributing the cholesterol reading to the fact that I've been eating so much cheese.. and so many eggs.. over the past 2.5 years. They are just easy food to eat with the band, and I also find them easier to cook (or, where cheese is concerned, to grab as a snack) than other kinds of protein, like beef and chicken (plus, they stay good for longer in the fridge). Um, plus I love eggs and cheese... In fact, I made S a cheese souffle with a great salad for dinner on Sunday night ... Perhaps not the best choice I could have made...

The gruyere and parmesan souffle I made. It was delicious....

Is anyone else a little... er, focused... about not getting food posioning? I've been really cautious about it since I got banded, largely because I don't want to have to do that kind of throwing up. So, leftover protein that has been in the fridge for more than a day isn't generally something I'm going to eat. I really do waste a lot of food... I try not to on principle, but I can't avoid it -- and the risk of getting sick isn't worth it to me. Plus, I can only eat a certain amount every day, and I do try to generally choose things that I'm excited about eating.

On the la-la-love land front, things are GOOD! Steve and I have a ton of plans coming up through the next several months, and have even made plans to go to Sonoma with friends over New Year's. We just have such a great time together and really just like each other so much. I love being around him, and it's probably the first time that I've dated someone who I'm totally crazy about who makes it clear that he feels lucky to be able to go out with me. I feel really loved and appreciated, and that is an incredible feeling.

On that note, I wonder how much getting my weight where I always wished it could be impacts my ability to be so happy in a relationship. They say that you can't love someone else until you love yourself... and while I don't think that means you have to be all perfect before you can fall in love, I do see that me feeling good about myself makes me better in this relationship. I'm not as insecure, I walk around starkers (and believe S when he tells me how great he thinks I look), and I just feel really good -- and comfortable in my skin. Also, that cloud of self-loathing I always felt about my weight before I had my surgery seems to be gone for good, and so life is just better and more enjoyable than it was before I was banded.

Quick Note and Some More Paris Pics!

This completely cracked us up... and horrified us at the same time!

Jersey Shore has come to France... touted as La Creme de La Creme Solaire

(The cream of the suntan lotion...)

Man.. I have got to get my juggling act under control. During the recession, work was much less busy and I didn't have a boyfriend. Now that things have picked up on the love and work fronts, I'm having a heck of a time figuring out how to do everything I want to do. Sometimes my workout schedule suffers, and most often, my personal "down time" suffers... hence my lack of blog posts in 2011...

Last night, I stayed home by myself -- just what I needed! I didn't go to the gym, I didn't answer the phone, and I didn't run any errands once I got home. I just put on my pjs and had a hot date with my poor, neglected DVR. I caught up on Glee, 30 Rock and Gossip Girl (with my cat stretched across my lap, no less), and it felt just wonderful to zone out and do nothing!

Don't get me wrong -- I don't want to do this every night. But, once in a while, it's a really nice break. I have spin tomorrow, the Philharmonic on Wednesday, a baby shower on Thursday, a black tie benefit/casino night on Friday, and a birthday party on Saturday night. It's so easy to have every free second planned up, and I really enjoy the things that I do. But, once in a while, it's just nice to veg out and watch some TV at home!

I also wanted to share a few more photos from the Paris trip. Did anyone see Banksy's documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop? It's a great documentary about graffiti artists, and one guy in particular. In the movie, they talk about a guy from France called "Invader," who put up all these mosaics of Space Invader characters all over Paris. I found one in the Marais.... (look way up on the wall where I'm pointing)...

Me & Marjorie at the bar at the George V Hotel. What a heavenly spot!!

Me at the Guerlain flagship on the Champs Elysee

I THINK this is my favorite photo from the trip....

Cool post detail at the Place de la Concorde.... where Marie Antoinette lost her head...

Paris NSVs....

My trip to Paris was so much fun! My friends Marjorie, C and I shopped, ate and walked the heck out of that city and loved every minute! We'd all been to Paris a number of times (Marjorie actually lived there for 3 years), so we agreed not to the typical tourist sites.

Flowers at the beyond-amazing George V Hotel.... this is not where we stayed, since it's incredibly expensive, but we did go for a drink... and I bought an umbrella at the gift shop shown on the left of the photo.

I only have a little time this morning, so I'm just going to post about the amazing NSVs I experienced during this trip. I lived in France for a year as an undergrad. I'd studied French for ten years before I went, and when I got there, my classes were pretty basic, so I un-enrolled in my study abroad program and enrolled in the law school with the French students. It did wonders for my French, and I speak it fluently to this day. That background will take us to NSV No. 1....

1. When I lived in France, I was on a seriously tight student budget, so I didn't get to shop at all. . . and, by the time I could afford to shop there during trips over, I was too big to fit into the clothing they sell. So.. this trip was the first one where I both (a) had money to shop; and (b) could fit in the clothing. Very exciting stuff for me! (Though I actually didn't really buy much!)

2. This was my first post-surgery trans-atlantic trip, and I was very comfortable in my aisle seat on the way out. On the way back, however, the woman next to Marjorie got very ill (vomiting... not festive....), so I scooted over into a middle seat and let Marjorie take the aisle. In the past, the idea of being in a middle seat on any flight would have had me so stressed out, but I fit just fine. It wasn't the height of comfort, but it was fine.

3. In a cute boutique in the Marais, a French saleswoman saw that I'd pulled a size 40 for myself (I think that's roughly a 10) and said "Oh no! You are smaller than that -- I will pull you the 38!" (Meanwhile, the 40 fit and the 38 did not, but it was nice to hear anyway!)

4. They had clothing in my size in every store I visited.

Me, at Place de Vosges

5. We had no problem at all getting into the very hip bar at the Hotel Costes on a weekend night. (I doubt they would have been so quick to let me in at my start weight, though you never know.)

6. At lunch one day, I looked at the tables next to us, and realized that there was a French person who was substantially heavier than me at each of the 2-seater tables on either side of us.

7. At a wonderful restaurant one night, the very attractive maitre d' brought us a complimentary extra dessert. When we exclaimed that it was "too much" because we had eaten so well and so much already, he said that we shouldn't worry about it because "vous avez une marge" (meaning .. "because you are all thin enough to get away with it"). Yes. A hot French person told me that I am thin enough to have a second dessert.

8. Despite that I had a souffle and/or foie gras every single day of the trip, I did not even gain 1/10th of a pound. Thank you, band. And, thank you to all that walking I did!

9. I walked around all day, every day that we were there, and my feet and back were just fine. Pre-band, they would have absolutely been killing me.

Foie gras at Cafe de la Paix.... I highly recommend going there for this!

10. I got to enjoy the food during this trip and to be a bit decadent, without having to feel guilty about it. I just enjoyed it to the fullest, and knew that if the scale was up a bit at the end of my trip (which it wasn't), I'd get off the 1-2 pounds when I got back home.

Happy Easter!

Just a quick note to say that I'm back from Paris (update to follow) and had a fantastic time! My mom is here in NYC visiting me for Easter, and we've been having a blast! We both love crafts, so we spent part of today getting crazy with the Easter egg dye, glitter and the like. :)

Last night, she met S for the first time, and gave him a rave review. Honestly, the last two parental meetings of boyfriends didn't go that well, and I was really stressed out about this one. However, it just could not have gone better. S and my mom got along really well, had lots to talk about, and we all had a great time. What a nice night ... and what a relief!! :)

More to follow about my trip and the abundance of Paris NSVs and other fun. But first.... here's one of my favorite eggs that I did today!

Cooking with Catherine: Thai Green Curry Chicken

I made this really easy recipe the other night after work (it was quick & easy to do), and was really happy with how it turned out! It was at least as good as I've ever had from a delivery place! I think that next time, I might add in some bamboo shoots or some more veggies (eggplant and/or green beans, maybe) for texture.

The recipe below is just for the sauce -- I also made basmati rice to have with it, and it was absolutely delicious. The chicken was very tender after simmering in the sauce, and the sauce also helped it to be band-friendly...

Ingredients:

* 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1 inch cubes

* 1 tbs dark soy sauce

* 1 tbs all-purpose flour

* 2 tbs cooking oil (I used olive oil)

* 2 tbs green curry paste

* 2 green onions with tops, chopped

* 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

* 1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped

* 2 cups light coconut milk (I just used 1 can)

* 1 tbs fish sauce

* 1 tbs dark soy sauce

* 2 tbs white sugar

* 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, for garnish

What to do:

1. Toss chicken first in 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce, then in the flour, coating pieces evenly. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Place chicken in the skillet, cook and stir chicken until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken.

2. Reduce heat to medium and stir in curry paste. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant, then stir in green onions, garlic, and ginger; cook an additional 2 minutes. Return chicken to the skillet, stirring to coat with the curry mixture. Stir the coconut milk, fish sauce, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and sugar into the chicken-curry mixture. Allow to simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes until the chicken is tender. Serve garnished with cilantro leaves.

I used my big wok for this... I kind of use it for everything -- best pan ever!

Waist Not Want Not...

So, it seems that me being banded is having an impact on S. I'm not sure that our relationship is 100% responsible for this (maybe 75%?), but he has put on somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 pounds in the last three months. Honestly, I don't see it, but he feels like he's too heavy. The reason for this? The guy does not like to waste food -- a good thing in general, but it can be bad when you're dating a bandster who never finishes her meal... So, when we go out to dinner or eat at my apartment, he'll often do a decent job on my leftovers. And... presto change-o.... those extra calories turned themselves into about 10 pounds! Yikes!

Interestingly, I also was a member of the Clean Plate Club from childhood until I was banded. I'd often keep eating until my plate was empty, regardless of whether I was still hungry. Now that I'm banded, I regret to say that I waste a lot of food. I try not to, but I can't always take a To Go box when I'm out, and leftovers (especially steak and chicken) aren't always that band friendly. I also tend to throw out a lot of vegetables... I'll use some of what I buy, but can't always finish everything before it goes bad. I don't like doing that, but I'm not about to consume a ton of extra calories that I don't even want to avoid wasting food. I do try to buy in smaller quantities, but it's not always possible.

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On the S front, we've been talking about how to remedy his recent gain. I've decided not to offer him my food, but to let him know that he is always welcome to have a bite of whatever I am eating and that, if he wants some, all he has to do is ask. That way I can avoid feeling like a food pusher.

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We're also going to do a healthy cooking challenge.... so, on nights when we're having dinner in together, we are going to take turns cooking healthy meals... with a view to seeing who can cook the best meal. That started on Thursday night. I made a nice salad (arugula, pancetta, ricotta salata and pears with a dressing of honey, Champagne vinegar, lemon juice, fleur de sel and pepper), followed by pan seared halibut with steamed green beans, roasted tomatoes and fingerling potatoes. Here's a photo... (I tried to rotate it... and saved it as a rotated version... but it's still showing up wrong...)

Lest we go too, too crazy, I also made a tiny dessert... individual lemon tartlets that I made from scratch (we split one). This was a really easy recipe -- the crust has roasted almonds in it (I put them in my coffee grinder because I don't have a food processor), and the curd is basically fresh squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, eggs and a bit of cornstarch to thinken it. The other thing I did was to tell him that I could only stay over his apartment on Friday night if we could find a workout for me to do on Saturday near his apartment (otherwise, I'd miss my usual yoga class). That was actually really easy -- there is a yoga studio right across the street from his apartment, so I took in a class there, and also got S to go to spin with me on Sunday! I felt so good about us helping one another to be healthy and keep on track with our fitness goals. I think this is a great habit for us to get into, and am sure that it will undo the side-effects that he is experiencing from "banded life!" :)

Biggest Maintenance Concern

I've been really surprised by how easy the maintenance phase is for me. Basically, as long as I just keep on doing what I've been doing food-wise (read: following the bandster rules more often than not) and working out an average of 3 times a week, the weight stays off without me having to pay too much attention to it. I do still get on the scale every day at the same time... post-loo, pre-shower. That's my morning check-in, and it lets me know how mindful I have to be about what I'm going to eat every day. So, what are my concerns during maintenance?? Basically, my biggest worry is that something might go wrong with my band. I don't think about this every day, and I certainly am not posting this to freak anyone out. But, I do know a few bandsters (in real life and through the blogs) who have had to have their ports replaced, who have had leaks, who have had to have their band readjusted, and I also know two bandsters in person who have had to have their bands removed (one because of a hernia, the other because her stomach eroded).

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That said, I know a ton of bandsters who haven't had any problems at all. So far (knock wood), I'm 2 years and 5 months post surgery, and it has been smooth sailing. I have to give my surgeon (Dr. Roberto Rumbaut from Monterrey, Mexico) props. My port is in a great spot (you still can't see it and I'm at goal), I only have two scars, and everything seems to work just as it should. I don't have any reason to think anything will go wrong, but I do know that devices can wear out over time (though, as an aside, my mother still has the toaster she got as a wedding present in the 1960s, and the thing still works like a charm...).

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Anyway, an article that Gen posted recently made me think about this a bit more. I will say, if you read the study results, that you should keep in mind that these bandsters were among the first, they had different bands then we do, their doctors were less experienced, and they didn't have the same level of follow-up care or support. Plus, the study only looked at a small part of the group. So, I doubt the statistics are that relevant to what our experience will be, but it did make me think.

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I do wonder what would happen if I couldn't have my band. If I keep up with the exercise, my guess is that I'd put on about 10-20 pounds and have to fight like hell to stay at that weight, since that is what I did through my 20s and early 30s. I don't think I'd let myself ever gain it all back, and I think that the big lifestyle changes I've made (especially making exercise an important part of my life) would help to keep me from doing that. But I do think this is something that most bandsters think about from time to time, and it's a little scary to think about life without this helpful tool.

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What I'm going to do to help take care of my band and to make it last as long as possible is this:

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1. I am going to continue to keep my band at a good fill that is not overly tight.

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2. I will continue to be proactive about my health care and get in touch with my doctor right away if I have a problem.

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3. I am going to continue being mindful when I eat so that I can avoid PBing unnecessarily.

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I think that's it. I don't know what else I can do other than that, but I do think that will help. Any other suggestions? Also, if you have had trouble with your band, do you think it was worth it? My guess is that most bandsters will say yes.

Having Fun!

With S at a black tie event the weekend before last. I wore my hair up, for once... whereas in the past, I always used to hide behind it... (I still like it better down though..)

Hi! I have to admit that I'm having a heck of a time finding balance between all the things I want to (and have to) do these days. Work has been busier, and having a boyfriend is time consuming, too -- in a good way! :) Still, I haven't been blogging as much as I'd like. I haven't talked to friends and family on the phone as much as I'd like, too. It's a challenge to find enough time for everything I'd like to do.

I was kind of freaking out because I noticed how easy it was for me to let the gym slide to make time for other things. I'm really fighting that though, and making the gym a high priority, because I've worked way to hard to get to where I am to let it slide now. Plus, I really like having my body look the way it does now, I don't want to feel anything but good for a single second on the beach this summer, and I really love the way working out regularly makes me feel.

Being silly on Park Avenue. Why yes, S CAN pick me up pretty easily!! And I wasn't even freaking out about whether or not he'll hurt himself or think I'm too heavy. Talk about an NSV... !

Not too much else to report today! Things with S continue to go really well. I had a great visit with his parents last weekend, and they were just wonderful. He's going to meet my mother over Easter, too! Good stuff all around. Hope everyone is doing very well!

OK, finally, this little hold-out is giving some scoop!

Beautiful candles and fireplace at a friends' house in Wainscott (the Hamptons) last weekend... S and I were there with a few friends and had a great time!

Soooooooo.... I've been M.I.A. lately, but not for the usual bandster reason! I'm still on track, holding fast at 147, which is where my body seems to want to stay. I'm still going to spin class and yoga regularly, too. That seems to be very key to my maintenance, since I tend to eat some kind of cr*p every single day... nothing huge, but I do tend to have some kind of chocolate or a cookie every day.

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In Wainscott, I went outside to get a photo of outside, but the scene inside really made for the best photo.

When summer gets a little closer, I'm planning to cut out the treat (read: not have one every single day... just occasionally) and to try to get in an extra workout (a solid 4, instead of 3-4... with 3 being the usual number). I'd like to drop three or so more pounds, just to get in fighting shape for bikini season. What a freaking luxury. I can't believe that I am at a place where I actually think losing five pounds might make me look just a little too thin. Bizarreness. And I'm actually excited about going bikini shopping. And I have a boyfriend who is thrilled at the prospect of me being by his side at the beach in said bikini. --Somebody pinch me. I didn't think this could be my life.

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S, playing guitar in the sun out in Wainscott this past weekend.

Sooooooo.... speaking of S, things are going really well!! I am absolutely crazy about him, he is a complete sweetheart, and we get along like a house on fire (why is that an expression?!)! I'm trying hard not to put all the personal details on my blog out of respect for his privacy, but I think I can tell you this one thing.... The "L" word was spoken last weekend!! Aaa!! :) Exciting stuff, and I'm really happy about it!!

Shout-Out to One of My Super Fit Bandster Friends!

I'm bursting with pride for one of my oldest bandster friends, and wanted to share it with you. You may remember me mentioning my bandster friend, Peter, in earlier posts (like this one), and a few have met him at early bandster brunches here in NYC. Well.... guess what he did this weekend?!? He ran the New York Half Marathon!

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Peter has lost more than 80 pounds since he was banded about 2 1/2 years ago, and he's the first bandster I know who did the C25K (Couch to 5K) running program. That program got him started on a course that he's been following ever since, and he is now a real runner. It's amazing to see so many fellow bandsters go from being obese to being in the best shape of our lives. So, a big congratulations to Peter on this incredible accomplishment!

Comparison Shot!

A friend sent me some photos from a birthday party I went to last weekend, and I was really surprised to see how I looked in them. In particular, there was one of me with a group of friends -- all of whom are thin, and I looked like they did. I was actually surprised to see myself in relation to them and to see that I didn't look any bigger than they did. I'm not sure why I didn't have that realization with other photos before now, but I didn't, for whatever reason. Anyway, that inspired me to do another comparison shot.

Here is the photo I was talking about. The girl directly to my left is the tiniest of all four of us, probably a size zero or two. I am shocked that I look of a comparable size (at a size 8) next to her.

What Next?

At the start of this third year of banded life, I wrote that I thought this year would be about living my life to the fullest. So far, so good! I'm still going strong on the workout front, have been having a blast in my personal life, and I'm excited to be in a new relationship with someone who I am crazy about and who makes me very happy. And, with the Adirondack trip, I already hit my goal of doing a trip that was physically demanding enough that I wouldn't have done it at my start weight!

At a wine tasting event in Brooklyn on Thursday. My friend Jonny is on my left.

I'm definitely in the maintenance phase now. My scale still bounces around a little from day to day, but as long as I'm under 150 (which I have been consistently for a few months), I don't stress about it. And yes, I do still weigh myself every morning -- post-loo, pre-shower. That keeps me on top of my weight and keeps me accountable. If the scale is up a little, I try to make better choices, if it's fine, I don't worry too much about it. Working out a lot definitely makes it so that I can eat what I want within reason, and within my band's limitations.

OK, so the weird part?? Don't get me wrong -- I am THRILLED to be at goal. Seriously, I absolutely love it and wouldn't want it any other way. But.. I kind of miss the thrill of losing! That was such an awesome part of years one and two. I especially loved the feeling when I finally hit a new 10 pound marker (not to mention searching on-line for things that weighed that much.... my all-time favorite was Snooki!)

I do think... so, what next?? I've been moving to this place where I am now, slowly but surely for more than two years, and was focused on my weight-related goals every day during that time. It's kind of weird to have that part of the journey be over. It feels kind of like finishing a great book. So, I'm psyched to have read and enjoyed it, but it's a little bittersweet that it's over.

So, what next?? There isn't too much more for me to do on the weight loss/body front, beyond what I'm doing. I could stand to forgo some chocolate (seriously, I have a treat every day -- but a small one), but other than that, I feel like I have a very respectable workout schedule, and decent eating habits. I generally do 2-3 spin classes (which includes an upper-body workout with weights and an ab workout) and a yoga class. I don't feel like I need to do more than that, or want to make time for more than that. And, slowly but surely, my body is tightening up, and my legs, butt and arms are looking better all the time. It seems like the next phase is really just what I thought it would be -- it's about enjoying the benefit of the first two years' work, continuing to follow the bandster rules more often than not, and just living life to the fullest.


I love this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt and wanted to share it...

Adirondack Weekend

Making snow angels after hiking to the top of a snow-covered mountain! (No, that is NOT photoshopped!! This city girl actually did that!!)

I had such a great weekend up in the Adirondack mountains with S and a group of other friends. We went to S's family's mountain house, which is a really great, cosy spot (and the spot where we first got together over New Year's weekend). The weekend was just filled with great company, really good food (all of us love to cook and love nice wine). S's cousin and his two boys were such good company too -- the boys (ages 7 and 9) were seriously adorable and very well behaved. And, spending all that time with S was pretty wonderful, too.

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Adirondack Packbaskets in S's mud room

Our friends all went downhill skiing on Saturday, and S and I decided to spend the day together instead. So, after a lazy morning and a delicious breakfast, we went on a seven mile hike (in seriously cold temperatures, I might add!) up a mountain road on his club's property that takes you to a beautiful frozen lake. The walk wasn't that challenging, and thankfully, S bundled me up in plenty of gear, so I was much warmer than I would have been otherwise.

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Hmm... not exactly a selling point....

On Sunday, our whole group did a 3 1/2 hour mountain hike through the snow. As in, lots of snow. As in, some steps, you'd find yourself up to your knees! And on others, we were walking up a steep incline, digging in our boots and scrambling up rocks and ice. On the way down, we butt-slid through the snowy inclines (when it was relatively safe) like penguins, which was just a complete blast! And, eventually, I put on crampons, so I was able to walk down steeper inclines without being afraid that I'd slip and break my leg!

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In addition to being a ton of fun, and a great bonding experience with S and with our group as a whole, this weekend was a huge NSV for me. I never would have gone on a weekend like that at my highest weight. First of all, there is no way I would have enjoyed the 7 mile (largely uphill for the first 3.5 miles) walk. Second, I wouldn't have been able to borrow appropriate winter clothing, in all likelihood, since their gear all would have been too small for me. And third, there is no way I would have been able to do -- much less enjoy -- that 3 1/2 hour hike up a mountain, through the snow, if I wasn't in good shape. I thought about all of those things while I was enjoying these activities, and just felt so grateful about how many different things my band, and my working with the band, has made it possible for me to do.

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Four from our group on top of the peak we climbed on Sunday!

Kissing in Manhattan....

Did any of you ever read that book? Kissing in Manhattan by David Schnickler? There is a great quote from it that some friends of mine used in their wedding invitation: "It can happen like that sometimes. The city can tilt its hand and let two people fall for each other...."

Honestly, the book was OK, but the quote has stayed with me for years. And, now that I've been engaging in a substantial amount of kissing and general schmoop-i-fying in Manhattan, I'm reminded of it once again. :) If you're thinking from this that things are going well with S, you are absolutely right! We've been spending a lot of time together, both with friends and without. Next weekend, we're doing a trip back up to his family's house in the Adirondacks with a group of friends that will include Marjorie, two other friends, and one of S's cousins (divorced guy, about our age) and his cousin's two boys, ages 7 and 9. And tonight, he's coming over to cook a Valentine's Dinner for me. I am psyched.

I love it that I've been able to be open with him about my band surgery, so I don't have to make excuses for what I eat, so that he can purpously make me a small band-appropriate plate when we're having dinner with friends (like we did on Saturday), so that he's taken the trouble to ask me what I can and would like to eat before he cooks tonight, etc. Also, he's just so darned appreciative of the work I've done with my band... and in the gym, which really makes me feel fantastic.

So, I'm in a celebratory mood today! Just wanted to wish all of you a very happy Valentine's Day, and send you best wishes for much love, happiness and success. xoxo