111 Guinea Pigs...

Remember this game?


Right now I am down...

111 guinea pigs
or
2 bales of hay and a housecat
or
An elephant heart and penis and a guinea pig
 or
A two month old horse and a houecat


I love this game.
1 pound = a Guinea Pig

1.5 pounds = a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts

2 pounds = a rack of baby back ribs

3 pounds = an average human brain

4 pounds = an ostrich egg

5 pounds = a Chihuahua

6 pounds = a human’s skin

7.5 pounds = an average newborn

8 pounds = a human head

10 pounds= chemical additives an American consumes each year

11 pounds = an average housecat

12 pounds = a Bald Eagle

15 pounds = 10 dozen large eggs

16 pounds = a sperm whale’s brain

20 pounds = an automobile tire

23 pounds = amount of pizza an average American eats in a year

24 pounds = a 3-gallon tub of super premium ice cream

25 pounds = an average 2 year old

30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year

33 pounds = a cinder block

36 pounds = a mid-size microwave

40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of water or an average human leg

44 pounds = an elephant’s heart

50 pounds = a small bale of hay

55 pounds = a 5000 BTU air conditioner

60 pounds = an elephant’s penis (yep, weights more than his heart!)

66 pounds = fats and oils an average American eats in a year

70 pounds = an Irish Setter77 pounds = a gold brick

80 pounds = the World’s Largest Ball of Tape

90 pounds = a newborn calf

100 pounds = a 2 month old horse

111 pounds = red meat an average American eats in a year

117 pounds = an average fashion model (and she’s 5’11”)

118 pounds = the complete Encyclopedia Britannica

120 pounds = amount of trash you throw away in a month

130 pounds = a newborn giraffe

138 pounds = potatoes an average American eats in a year

140 pounds = refined sugar an average American eats in a year

144 pounds = an average adult woman (and she’s 5’4”)

150 pounds = the complete Oxford English Dictionary

187 pounds = an average adult man

200 pounds = 2 Bloodhounds

235 pounds = Arnold Schwarzenegger

300 pounds = an average football lineman

400 pounds = a Welsh pony

Moving in on a year....

Here it is almost the end of April. I cannot believe how quickly the last year has passed...and don't even get me started on how quickly the beginning of 2011 has zoomed by!


So, let's play catch-up.

My husband had his gastric bypass in January. He developed a bleeding ulcer and had to have a transfusion in March. (Lesson- if your surgeon prescribes antacid medication, take it) He is doing great now and is down 75 lbs. Since January. Seriously. Yes, I am a little jealous.

I also had a little complication of my own recently...gall stones. Although my surgeon had given me the chance to take my gall bladder out when I had my bypass, I declined. I was weirded out about arbitrarily taking out an organ- whether I needed it or not. I had never had issues with it so I willing to take the chance. A couple of weeks ago I had some TERRIBLE stomach pains and through blood work and ultrasounds I was diagnosed with gall stones. So, last Thursday, my surgeon when in and yanked that sucker out. I am still pretty tired and sore, but definitely on the mend.

We are both getting so excited for the Vegas Meet and Greet coming up next month. Okay truthfully, I am getting excited....the husband is just tolerating my excitement. I can live with that.

For those of you who don't know what the Meet and Greet is, here is a link to the Weigh Loss Surgery Foundation of America Website who hosts the event.
http://wlsfa.org/

I am most excited about meeting all my support chat friends. I have been on the BTV forum for a year and a half and cannot wait to meet everyone in person.

As for my weight loss, it has completely stalled out at 177ish. 111 lbs is a great loss, don't get me wrong, but I am still 42 away from my goal. I am a bit discouraged by that, but I know that I control whether I get there or not. With me starting my triathlon training next month, I know that I should see some movement on that scale.

Yes, I did say triathlon. On September 25th, my sister, my best friend, and I will be participating in the Charlotte Rambling rose triathlon. I am excited and scared as hell :)
http://www.ramblinroseevents.com/

I promise to post on my progress as we get closer.

8 months out...

I am 8 months out and 99.8 lbs down.  The thing that has shocked me the most is that I have lost over 60 inches!!  Seriously.

The only thing I can't figure out is why I make such weird faces when I am having these pictures taken. 

6.5 months out....

88 lbs lost

Progress Picture.

From today... down 80 lbs!

Fiery Chicken Chili

Okay, this was AWESOME...but not so fiery.  We served it with crushed up tortilla chips, avocado, sour cream and cheese.  By the date, you can tell how behind I am on trying recipes I have flagged in magazines.  ahem.
Regardless, I loved it and will make it again.

Fiery Chicken Chili
November 2007- Rachel Ray Magazine

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 onions, chopped

4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

4 teaspoons dried oregano

2-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon paprika

1 large chipotle chile in adobo sauce, finely chopped, sauce reserved

3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, thinly sliced

Two 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes with their juice

Three 15.5-ounce cans pinto beans, rinsed

Chopped avocados, cilantro leaves, grated cheddar cheese, chopped scallions and sour cream, for serving

Directions:
In a large, heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt and paprika and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and the spices are fragrant, about 7 minutes. Stir in the chipotle and 1 tablespoon adobo sauce. Add the chicken and cook, stirring, until the meat begins to turn opaque, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and beans and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat and simmer the chili briskly, stirring often, until thickened, 25 to 30 minutes.

Your to-do list for weight loss success...

According to Dr. Connie Stapleton:

1. Make consistently healthy food choices (protein, veg, then fruit/if it is white don't bite)
2. Maintain portion control
3. Exercise
4. Water all day (except during meals 30/30 rule)
5. Plan your meals
6. Food diary
7. Exercise Diary
8. Sleep
9. Support system
10. Personal counseling

So let's get honest...how many of these am I doing?

1. Good Choices-Adequate 
• I have a bit or two of bread occasionally but I am not getting in enough protein. 
• ACTION: up my protein
2. Portions-Good  
•  I am very aware of when I need to stop eating.  However, I am not measuring my portions. 
• ACTION: measure my food for a couple of days to make sure I am still seeing my food portions properly.
3. Exercise-Poor
• I have been using activity as exercise.  They are not the same thing
• ACTION: Create an exercise routine for the week
4. Water-Unknown
• Honestly, I have no idea.  I haven't been keeping track of my water
• ACTION: track my water for a few days to see where I am
5. Planning-Good
• I usually know what I have in the house that will be a good choice for me.  However, I have not been planning dinners
• ACTION: start planning dinners for the family
6. Food Diary- Poor
• I haven't been keeping track for months
• ACTION- I have already started tracking again.
7. Exercise Diary- Poor
• I can't track what I am not doing
• ACTION: DO IT!
8. Sleep-Okay
• I haven't been using my CPAP since I sleep worse with it on.  Is this okay?  I am not sure.
• ACTION- start going to bed earlier and try the CPAP for a couple of days.
9. Support- Good
• Word to my bariatrictv peeps and my family 
• ACTION- stay honest with my support system
10. Counseling- Good
• I have been seeing my counselor for about a month now
• ACTION- keep it up!

I have some work to do.  But I can do it :)