Memories of BOOBS past and BOOBS present.

It's been an eventful couple days... I knew that I was only here for a few days before flying to Philly tomorrow... i am about to see my sweet angel nephews. I am very excited. i got to spend some quality time with Amy(Babbles of a Bandster), & Amy W.(Once upon a time...In the land of Cheese and Sunkist) and I even got to meet Heather (Amy's girlfriend)... It was a wonderful chance to re-boob after days of BOOB withdrawal. I look forward to hangin' out with Rani(A brand new Roo) while she's here too in the next couple weeks. I highly recommend Mini-Boob outings... intimate gathering gives you the chance to chat and really get to know each other. As you know, I had an incredible time in Chicago with the BOOBS. It went by so fast though and I thought I was going to get a chance to talk to everyone at one point or another but the weekend got away from us. i am so glad that I got to spend time with as many BOOBS as i did but i would have liked to chat with more of you... and I really missed the BOOBS who couldn't make it. It was fun hanging out in each the Bama girls' room like a slumber party, getting stuck on deep dish pizza, sniffing the expensive air in the Coach store, walking on air on the skydeck... (Willis/Sears tower), trying caviar for the first and last time, the talking in my sleep causing the giggling in theirs... It was an incredible weekend full of great memories.

Lady Lap Band Giveaway!!!

Lady Lap Band is having an awesome giveaway of the Biggest Loser food scale... i am entering and thought you would like to as well. Check it out at http://ladylapband.blogspot.com/2010/09/giveaway-find-out-how-to enter.html?

Hello? Is anybody out there?

Worn out... Exhausted... Sore all over... Slowly coming down from a friendship overload. Too tired to think... BOOBS... Will post later. A Picture's worth a thousand words... right?

Boobies.... Answers!

Hi all the boobie girls! Someone much more organized than I am thought it would be fun to know more about you, and she enlisted me to think of some crazy questions…so…this is sort of a Gillyified version of Drazil’s BYOC. Knock yourselves out.

1) You’re trapped on a desert island and you can bring only 3 of your favourite foods along. What do you bring?

Only 3 foods.... wow! Which 3 would it be? Well, This made be a different answer if you asked me tomorrow or yesterday but, i need dark chocolate for sure... and the other 2 would be... Blacked Chicken Salad from TiJuana Flats and Pecan crusted baked salmon from Boma(Animal Kingdom Lodge)...
2) If you could meet any 3 people, living or dead, who would they be and why?

Gene Simmons-I think he's an amazing businessman and manages to balance business and a happy family life... Plus, I want to RockNRoll all night and party everyday!
Bill Clinton-i think he was the best president we've ever had and he did more for women and single mothers than any other as well... We all know he is passionate about women. Ellen DeGeneres-I think she's hilariously funny and so warm and genuine... She is so charitable and has a amazing gorgeous wife.
3) What is your stripper name? (take the name of your first pet and the name of the street you grew up on)

April Lamport(April might have worked but lamport... not so much)

4) How old were you when you lost your virginity? Alternative question if you don’t want to answer this: What is your LEAST favourite part of your bod since losing weight? Your MOST favourite since losing weight?

I was about 18 when I lost my virginity, I hate my saggy waggy arms, and I still love my boobs... even though they're saggin' and waggin' these days too.

5) Do you believe in ghosts or evil spirits? Would you be willing to spend a night alone in a house that is supposedly haunted?

I believe in demons and that they will mess with us so that we think they're ghosts and don't believe in an afterlife, pulling us farther from God... No, I wouldn't stay in a haunted house... even though I don't believe in ghosts... something must be causing that rumor/legend.
6) What is your natural hair colour? If you dye it something completely different from what your momma gave ya, how come?

My hair is red, it used to be lighter like dark strawberry blonde but it is all red now, I get it highlighted now with golden highlights... it just looks more "Summery" that way...

7) Boxers or briefs? Alternatively…bikinis or granny panties?

I like Boxer briefs on hubby, I like hipsters for me.
8) If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? (Trilogies do not count as one movie, cheaterpantses!)

Steel Magnolias, it makes me laugh, cry, scream, cheer, and sometimes sing and dance.
9) What is your guilty pleasure (feel free to go straight to the gutter with this one if the spirit moves you!)

Chocolate... any kind but especially dark chocolate (Milky Way Midnight, Snickers Dark, Godiva Dark Chocolate raspberry filled)
10) How many pounds gone forever are you celebrating?? :)

89... so far.

Near Death Experience!!!

I had an Near Death experience... where I, in a state of exhaustion dripping in sweat... breathing was a luxury i couldn't quite afford... I can sum it up in one word..... ZUMBA. Some would call it suicide, but for me it was just stupidity.. Simply, I read the gym schedule wrong and thought I was headed for a Cardio Hip-hop class... which would have come close enough to killing me, i'm sure. A few minutes in during the high-speed latin music surrounding me in a world where the beat of the drums were drowned out by the beating of my heart, I gathered up enough breath to ask the girl next to me... Is this Zumba? I could hardly hear her response because I was breathing so hard and probably had sweat in my ears... but Yes... It was ZUMBA. The music was hot and the moves were fun but alas, the body was not ready. I did make it through a half-hour... though, which is a valid suicide attempt, I think. Maybe I will revisit Zumba with a less cumbersome shape down the line. For now, Water Aerobics with the senior socialites is more my speed... but 1/2 a Zumba class is better than none.

Celebrate each pound!

I want to celebrate each pound lost since I won't be finding it again but I can't help feeling overwhelmed by the amount of pounds I have to lose... I have been stress eating and I only lost 2 pounds in the last 13 days... If I have 50 pounds to lose... That would be fantastic, but I need to keep motivated and keep up the good work to get to my goals since my journey is still so long. I went to the gym on monday and I am going tomorrow too... every little bit helps right? It is less painful each time I go since there's less weight on my joints each time... Before I got weighed tonight, I saw myself in a mirror and thought... Wow, I really have lost weight. I was disappointed by the 2 pound loss even though I expected to haven't lost at all or worse gained. I really am trying to get control of this head hunger thing... It is the hardest part of my journey. i went to a support group the other night with Amy(Babbles of a Bandster)... people think that a bra is the only thing supportive to a boob but alot of times another boob will do. The support group was on "Are you failing your band or is your band failing you?" It was a great topic... and one I needed reminding of. Anyway, I wanted to access the damage of my low exercise/high carb lifestyle(I try to eat below 50g of carbs a day most days but I am okay with 100g... but sometimes... 112 or 104 etc... I don't want to ever go above 100, that's high enough for me to have a bad day.) Most of you are aware that I don't own a scale, I am over 350 so it is hard to find one that will weigh me, I can't even get weighed at my GP office since the scale goes up to only 350, the gym scale goes to 400 but I can't make much sense of it since it is one of them doctor ones with the balancing act... I think I've become too used to the digital era. Well, 13 days ago when I had to cancel my appt with the surgeon, I got desperate and went to the ER at my local hospital to see if they would weigh me... They have the same awesome scale that my surgeon has... well, I went again today... I am making a habit of going to the emergency room for my weigh-ins... They don't mind, or charge me or anything but I think it means that I should break down and get a scale of my own... And stop stress snacking... and go to the gym more times a week... maybe even 3 times... Big goals, but maybe they will lead to big results... Cross your fingers for me ladies.

George is now the Theme park King.... which makes me the Queen of all things Themed.

Well, today is a lazy day... but I didn't mention to you all that my husband starts a new job tomorrow, at Universal Studios Orlando... It is a second job which means it will be extra money for us. We have been struggling to travel as much as we're used to because, He is a server/waiter at Disney and works for mostly tips... Well, Disney is busy as usual but tips are not as high as they have been in the past because of the economy, I'm sure... He is a great server and it is very hard work. It is still enough money to pay all of our very high bills but the little extras like entertainment, scrapbooking supplies, eating out, and traveling are stratched really thin these days. And I still shop like nothing's changed... It's a unconscious thing, I assure you... i want to continue in a living above our means style which will cause us too much debt. Well, once the Harry Potter area opened in Universal Studios... we saw that they were getting a good crowd and perhaps that means money could be made there... I know he's not going to bring home Disney level money, Universal is not Disney, but Halloween Horror Nights at universal also brings a crowd... so, fingers crossed. Halloween horror nights also means he'll be working until 2am on those nights... I miss my George just thinking about it. I am glad that he doesn't tell me to get off my lazy less-fat ass and get a job. I love the life of the Trophy Wife. Socializing is an artform for me. Lunching with the ladies is frequent, and working out and eating right doesn't have to form less than perfectly around a "Work" schedule. He is an amazing provider... and I am a very happy girl. I realize how lucky I am.... believe me. PS... Please ignore the whininess of the can't travel enough thing... I know some folks are struggling to feed their family... as you've seen in my photos, I am well-fed. We live inexpensively so we are able to travel. It is our thing. Now that I am thinning out a little more each day... I want to "Do" things. Hopefully, Chicago will be the start of a new Traveler... one who's weight doesn't stop her from everything.

I like.... You

I am basking in the glory of another awesome award... from My Philly Sista Barb, Lady Lapband, and Ash from Seeing in Colour... I am truly honored. I am so blessed to have found this supportive, loving community and consider you all my friends and greatest inspiration... That being said... State 10 things I like: Only 10, I didn't get this fat only liking 10 things... I love life and everything that goes with it. Here goes! 1)I like George! he smells good and his smile lights up his whole face, If I didn't marry him, I would probably stalk him for life... Just Jokes but I would want to be his friend for as long as my broken-heart would allow. I could swim in his beautiful Caribbean blue eyes, too... He's awesome but that doesn't mean he doesn't cause me a certain amount of annoyance and grief. 2)I like the pride that comes from being from Philly... The ups and downs of the Philly sports fans' lives and the Brotherly love that I haven't found anywhere else... maybe except here. 3) I like scrapbooking which comes from my original love of photography... Nothing like capturing moments to relive later... So I hope all you photo phobic are over it by Chicago because I will be snapshoting it up! 4)I like Movies... especially in the theater, It seems like a romantic break from the everyday of our marriage... We hold hands and cuddle, those arms that go up are the best invention ever... It doesn't really matter what movie but It rocks if it's good... I also enjoy complaining about the bad ones... like Piranha 3D. 5)I like traveling... seeing the world, experience other cultures, riding around the country, meeting new people, Pit stops, rest stops, greasy spoons, the journey itself... 6)I like to Cruise... i know this is similar to #5 but I think cruising needs it's own spot, I love the staff, the food, the stupid trivia games, sitting on the deck watching the waves, I love sleeping with the balcony door open hearing the sound of the waves(When we spurge for a balcony), and meeting Cruise Cousins, other folks who love to cruise and give you tips and critiques of the other cruise lines... And keeping in touch with said cruise cousins. 7)I like Disney... actually I megalike Disney, I enjoy the fantasy of a perfect community, the shows, the movies, the Cast members, I loved working for them, but now I just enjoy being a Disney Spouse... It is a magical place like no other... DisneyWorld is my favorite but I love Disneyland too and hope to get to see the others soon. 8)i like eating out... restaurants and being served, the smells and the food, even fast food restaurants are more enjoyable these days... I never thought I would be at peace with food, I feel like I have been at war with it for as long as I can remember, but It's ok for me to love food, it's not ok for me to put it before everything else and kill myself with it... It will be there tomorrrow, I don't have to eat it all today. I even love watching the Food Network. 9)I like to laugh and make others laugh... I can find the humor in almost anything, including myself... 10)I like Facebook... I thought I would tire of it but it rocks... still. I like playing the games and hearing about my classmates' current lives, following your lives on there, and of course, my family's... I wish I invented it myself and I can't wait for that new movies about the creators of facebook which will combine 2 of my likes, movies and facebook... I need to nominate 10 other bloggers... and this is hard. There are so many of you that have inspired me and comforted me thru the ups and downs of my journey. Rules are rules... 1)Carmen-I'm with the Band... She's just friggin' cool, supportive and a great friend... and she sent me some amazing clothes... making me a little cooler in the process. 2)Jen-Freckle on the nose of life's complexion... Jen is like a ray of sunshine, she's cheery and sweet, and everything I want to be when I grow down. She's a gorgeous redhead... What's not to like... her outlook on life is so uplifting and optimistic, reading her opens you up to life's possibilities? 3)Amey-Does this donut make my butt look big?... Well, I am lucky enough to hang with Amey in Chicago as roommates ... She is truly inspirational, having overcome so many obstacles, and ups and downs... She is a Marriage expert since she's been married 5 times... each marriage making her stronger and brought her closer to her true love... i am proud to call her friend. 4)Amy W-Once upon a time in the land of cheese and sunkist... Amy is incredible, not only because she's lost almost 160 pounds but she's living her life to the fullest, which is what pretty much all of us wish we were doing, as we go through our journeys we look forward to the day when water skiing, kayaking, camping, etc will be a possibility for us to try... and perhaps fail but at least try... She makes me want to live a better life.... a more active life, a legendary life, like hers... and she's incredibly beautiful with a smile that lights up cyberspace... 5)Ash-Seeing in Colour- Killer looks and a unique style make Ash's blog so awesome to read... She's funny, honest, and always out on the town... Her comments are incredibly supportive and her Artful view of life is inspirational... She also takes amazing photos and gorgeous blue-eyes... 6)Grace-Grace's Fat Chance... I have had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with Grace and she's as amazing in real life as she is in her blog... She is a go-getter, she knows what she wants and goes after it, she is strong, she comes through life's trial and tribulations like it was a cake walk, and she's honest, she shows you that we all struggle with our cravings and lack of grace... Well, luckily, I never have to lack Grace since she's my friend and her support and inspiration give me the will-control(My much needed Willpower and selfcontrol combo) and poetic grace to go on... 7) Stephanie-Dreams of Skinny High Heels... Again, Steph, a fellow Floridian, who I have had the pleasure of meeting, She inspires with her honesty, and humor... Whether she is chasing a phantom pooper, or a beer... She is fun-loving and tells it like it is... which was a hard but necessary pill to swallow for me, at first but who but your real friends would flat out tell you when you're sabotaging yourself. She is so powerful in her convictions and so supportive of mine, I love reading her blog and feeling like I am right there with her through her detailing and great storytelling. She is a amazing person inside and out, and I can't wait to hang out with her again. 8)Pretty Kristen-Bringing Pretty Back... mainly because she's bringing pretty back one blog post at a time... Like a modern day Dear Abby, her blog makes you think and cherish what's really important in life, family, charity, and kindness... Her supportive comments make you feel like you are the only blog she reads and you feel special... She is the personification of Pretty... 9)Nicole-A Little Bit Less of Me... Nicole is a new blogger who will be banded September 13th and she is already lighting up the blog world with supportive comments and incredible blog posts... She is a fun and crazy cool New Yorker who is honest about her fears and excited about her progress and so friggin' supportive of my progress... I will sit indian style in a chair for her anytime... well, not yet but soon enough. Check out her blog... you won't regret it! 10)Beth-I'm ready to become the Woman I want to be for the rest of my life... Beth rocks! Literally she was named after the KISS ballad and She has rocked her band as hard... almost 100 pounds down, and gorgeous as can be, She can't help but inspire you by her sheer success.. but she is honest and thoughtful and makes you see that you can do this... Her supportive comments and the amazing conversations we have had fill me with GLEE when I realize that I am headed to Chicago and will meet her there... along with so many more inspirational women... in my life.

Putting on my Big Girls' pants!

Here I am in my Big Girl Pants ........ Since I am now in Sweet THREEDOM... and I have lost 85 pounds on my journey along the way... I thought it was time for me to put on my biggest pants and see the difference... I know it's cheesy doing the "look how big these pants are on me now" but TOO BAD! These pants are huge on me now and when you signed on to ride this journey with me... there was a cheese clause, that allows all over the top displays of goofy "jump in one leg and smile big" or "jump in one leg and let hubby jump in the other" well, we are not there yet... but we are definitely on our way... Look How enormous I once was!

BTW, please no emails yelling at me for my shirt... it does say "I get enough exercise pushing my luck"... And it is a joke... It is actually one of my workout shirts... Did I tell you my hubby got me Just Dance for my Wii? Gilly loves it and I mentioned that maybe I would like to workout with that once in a while too. I got the Wii for my birthday and love the fitness games I have tried, but I keep adding more. Anyway, thanx to Gilly and her awesome blog, I am a dancing fool too and man, is it a workout... Fun though! I wanted a small reward for hitting sweet THREEDOM... but my bigger reward with be when I hit 100 pounds down, I am still thinking about that one. But I did have fun putting on my big girls' pants!

Answers to unasked questions....

I am trying this new questionaire that I saw on Amy's blog... Here it goes... A
- Age: 41
- Annoyance: Indifference and tourists who think the world revolves around them...
- Animal: I love my dog, Q but I have always loved Koalas too.
- Actor: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogan, Jason Segal, and Steve Carell... I told you i love to laugh.

B
- Beer: No thank you...
- Birthplace: Upper Darby, PA( I went to high school with Tina Fey-remember Mean Girls... based on my high school, can anyway say Defense Mechanism)
- Body Part on opposite sex: Eyes
- Been in Love: Still am, for almost 19 glorious years.
- Been bitched at: I have a mother... don't I?
- Believe in yourself?: Hell Yeah!
- Believe in God: Sure do...
- Before weight: 475 lbs.

C
- Car: Dodge Caravan(Interesting choice for a childless middle-aged couple, huh?)
- Candy: Milky Way Midnight
- Color: Blue
- Cried in school: Hello? I said Mean Girls was based on my high school, you don't listen well.
- Chocolate/Vanilla:Chocolate... of course.
- Chinese/Mexican: Chinese
- Cake or pie: Cake
- Country to visit: Japan, Germany, Italy, China, Egypt... since you're asking.
D
- Day or Night: Night
- Do the splits?: Huh? That sounds dirty... hehehe

E
- Eggs: Scrambled with cheese
- Eyes: Dark Brown, hazel, golden Brown... depends on the day and the moment...
F
- First crush: Shaun Cassidy, I was going to marry him in grade school.
- First thoughts waking up: WTF, already?
- Food: I love Spaetzle and soft pretzels but my band hates both.

G
- Greatest Fear: Losing George
- Goals: Travel the World
- Get along with your parents?: My Mom is my best friend and my worst enemy...LOL
- Good luck charm: Without Bad Luck, I'd have no luck at all.

H
- Hair Color: Red, with blonde highlights and moments.
- Height: 5'9"
- Happy: Usually
- Holiday: Christmas... The lights, sparkling and shiny things...singing carols, family... everything.
- Health freak?: Not so much...
- Hate: Hippocrates and indifference.
I - Ice Cream: Mint Chocolate chip and chocolate peanut butter... depends on my mood.
- Instrument: Piano lessons, flute... voice... Jack of all trades, master of none.

J
- Jewelry:Rings... anniversary bands, wedding band, engagement ring... etc.
- Job: Trophy Wife, Social Butterfly, Arm Candy, LadyOLeisure.
K
- Kids:I love my nephews and my niece... but I also love handing them back...
- Kickboxing or karate: No thanx.
- Keep a journal? Blogging is a journal... of sorts.

L
- Longest Car Ride: 17 hours from Orlando to Philly, several times a year.
- Love: My George
- Laughed so hard you cried: Oh yeah, I've also laughed so hard I peed a little.
- Love at first sight: I'm a believer...
M
- Milk flavor: Chocolate is yummy.
- Movie: Steel Magnolias, is my fave.
- Mooned anyone?: Not yet, but you keep asking these dumb questions.
- Marriage: Married for 15 years, been together for 19 years.
- Motion sickness? No
- McD’s or BK: neither, I like Chick Fila... but if I had to pick I guess BK...

N
- Number of Siblings: 2 Younger Brother Dave and a younger sister Lisa(Deceased)
- Number of Piercings: 2 in each ear, I think the 2nd may have closed.
- Number: 2

O
- One wish: Contentment

P
- Place you’d like to live: Maui or Ohahu...
- Perfect Pizza: Crispy Thin crust with BBQ sauce and grilled chicken.
- Pepsi/Coke: Pepsi, but I don't drink any Carbonated or anything with calories anymore...

Q
- Questionaires: Yes, please.

R
- Reason to cry: Many
- Reality T.V.: Dancing with the Stars, & Gene Simmons Family Jewels,
-Roll your tongue in a circle? I don't know let me check....

S
- Song: Hey, Soul Sister by Train is my theme song and it puts the Bop in my day.
- Shoe size: 10, now... used to be a 10 1/2
- Salad Dressing: Ranch
- Skipped school: yes
- Smoking: No way, Jose.
- Sing well?: I love to sing, but I'm no Kristen Chenoworth
- Strawberries/Blueberries: Strawberries=Yum
- Time for bed: 3ish
- Thunderstorms: love them, but I've never been struck by lightening.
- TV: Glee, Dexter, True Blood, Lie to me, L&O SVU, DWTS, the list goes on and on...

U
- Unpredictable: Incredibly!

V
- Vegetable you hate: Onions, Mushrooms(not really a veggie), tomatoes, peas, lots more.
- Vegetable you love: Green beans, carrots, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage
- Vacation spot: Anywhere the cruise ship takes me.

W
- Weakness: Chocolate
- When you grow up: I don't plan on growing up...
- Which one of your friends acts the most like you: I haven't met her or him yet.
- Wanted to be a model?: not so much...

X
-X-Rays: several

Y
-Year it is now: 2010
-Yellow: sunshine

Z
- Zoo:Philly zoo, Toronto Zoo, Zoo Atlanta, San Diego Zoo, ....i love animals.
- Zodiac sign: Cancer on the Gemini Cusp.

I'm skinnier... and Thousand Word Thursday...

Well, I am smiling... Because I am finally in THREEDOM! I lost another 11 pounds which lands me securely at 390, and 85 pounds down from beginning Pre-op diet(475) and surgery(452). I am thrilled because I haven't been making great food choices all the time and even though I am walking alot, I'm not really exercising. I got a 2nd chance... well, a 48th chance to turn myself around, a little. A little more exercise and a little less chocolate, and I will continue my downward tread. Yippee!!! As for my Thousand word Thursday Photo... Since I can't stop smiling and I am always told that I have a great smile. I know my eyes sparkle and light up when I smile and my smile hasn't changed in all my years... although I went thru a bitchy sultry phase where I played up my bedroom eyes and didn't smile... but I was too happy and loved to laugh so, I snapped out of it quickly...