Hollee's Weight Loss Success Story ((in progress))

Being young and dating can really suck. If only I could have a crystal ball to see who I shouldn't waste my time on. The first time Robocop and I broke up should've been the only time. It should've stuck. We were only broken up for 5 days the first time, but he broke up with me a second time only 3 weeks later (that break up lasted 4 days). He never treated me right after that first time though. I felt like he didn't respect me or care for me at all. He told me he loved me three times, but all were alcohol induced. I kept holding on and trying to be patient because that first month was just so good. In that first month, we were head over heels for each other. I felt like I'd made a new best friend. We did everything together and he wanted to see me and take me out all the time. Then everything changed. I thought after my time in Europe he would realize he had missed me and everything would be better, but it really wasn't. I got home Tuesday and he stopped

With My Mom on Thanksgiving My mother is a beautiful person...inside and out. She's 45 years old and can be the nicest person you have ever met, or slice you in half with her words if it is deserved. I always take it as a compliment when someone says I look like her, unfortunately I don't think I'm very much like her as far as personality. In December of 2011 my mom had a pretty serious health scare, that resulted in a bad blood infection and a diagnosis of Type II Diabetes. I never would've thought my mom would have diabetes so young, she eats fairly healthy, and compared to my dad, she should be the healthy one. Unfortunately all 4 of my grandparents have/had diabetes so in the end I won't be surprised if both my parents and myself have it. But the surgery is a great prophylactic against getting it for me. When I was doing research on the surgery, I read the statistics of Type II Diabetes cure after Lap Band is around 70 percent! That was mind blowing to

Now that I've had time to rest, I feel more up to writing to tell you all a little more about my amazing Adventures overseas!! First, let me say this is the most independent thing I have ever done in my life!  I was honestly terrified.  I'm 24 and some places are just not very safe for a female to travel alone.  Honestly, if I'd had the choice, I definitely would've felt safer traveling in Paris with someone!  Nevertheless, I survived so it is okay! AACHEN, GERMANY I arrive in Germany on Steffi's 26th birthday...It's the first time in 10 years that we've ever celebrated a birthday together, so it was kind of special for me.  After dinner, her friend Lukas came over and it was my first test of how good my German was.  I took German class for 3 years in college, and I actually understood a lot of what they said when they weren't speaking English, it was just really hard for me to communicate my wants/needs/feelings back.  The next morning, when I

Loss of .8 pounds since the last post for a total of 71.2 pounds lost! I'm supposed to have an adjustment tomorrow but they called to cancel. My last fill was 5 weeks ago so I really need one. My other option was to go to the Durham hospital to have it done for a $1100 bill. Hell no!! So I begged them to try it in the office Friday without fluoro. The nurse scheduled it but I don't know what will happen. My port is easily accessible but my Dr is very against doing adjustments without the fluoroscopy machine...

Since I blogged from Aachen and Paris, it seemed fitting that I say a quick hello from London as well. Today I'm seriously paying for the Eiffel tower climb yesterday. I woke up feeling a bit flu-like because my muscles are so sore. I took the train early this morning back to London, dropped my things at the hotel, and bought an oyster card for the tube. I took the tube to London bridge and then walked to the London eye from there. If I'd known it was almost a 3 mile walk I may have made another choice considering the miserable cold and my sore muscles, but I made it. This band is quite fickle...yesterday I finished my 3 egg omlet and today I Pb'ed after 2 bites of chicken selects from the McDonalds across from my hotel. I'm quite hungry but too exhausted to care at this point. Can't wait to be home with my own food, my bed, my scale, and Robocop....yes I know I hadn't mentioned but he is still around. I plan to leave extra early for the airport in the morni

Bonjour!!!!! It's very cold out and I was walking outside for 8 hours so now I'm back at the hotel warming up and I need to shower. Huge NSV today.... I decided I would walk to the top of the Eiffel tower instead of taking the elevator. This was a great idea until I remembered my fear of heights. And how much effort it would take. I got in line one time and got too scared. Got out of line and decided to buy some water and try again. I started the journey up a little after 8am. After much fear and struggle, I reached the top around 10am. Luckily it was early enough that not many other people were attempting it so I could sit on the steps to rest. Honestly sitting was almost more uncomfortable than standing because the steps were so small I thought my ass would fall off and you can see down so the height made me feel nauseas!! But I made it! When I got to the top I was so gross, sweaty and red from the cold that I decided delete the awful pic I took. It was also too foggy today

I can't sleep. My flight was great. The in flight meal was a perfect WLS size haha. I heard several other passengers request seconds. I had chicken, mashed sweet potato, green beans, and a salad. I bought a half bottle of chardonnay but it knocked me out before I could finish it. Perhaps unfortunately, I have not experienced this mystery band tightening I've heard so much about due to flying! I'm actually starrrrrrrving as I write this blog! I landed in London just before 6am, took a train, saw the London eye, London bridge, and then checked into a hotel for just a few hours so I could leave my luggage during breakfast, then shower and nap. For breakfast I had porridge--how British haha. In the afternoon, I caught the train to Aachen, Germany, where I met my foreign exchange sister, Steffi, at the station and met her soon-to-be husband, Chris, for the first time. I really like him and they seem perfect together. We went for Chinese for dinner and the portion of food was

It's amazing... My seat belt buckles with inches to spare! There were literally tears in my eyes as I heard it click. Goodbye USA... I'll see you in a week!!!

The red dress lost 10 inches, black dress lost 6. Which should I wear to the wedding Friday? Sorry I'm looking rough in the pics...

I wasn't planning in going anywhere this weekend. I thought I would stay home, rest, and try to get better before my flight Tuesday...yes I am STILL freaking sick! But then I remembered I hadn't taken my dress for the wedding I'll be attending in Germany to the tailors yet. So I woke up bright and early, went in my closets, and couldn't choose between two dresses. One is the dress I wore for New Years Eve this year, the other a red dress I haven't worn in over a year. It felt good to realize they're taking about 5 inches off each side of the red dress! That's 10 inches total! Can't wait to see what the two dresses look like! Now for the rest of the weekend...time to get better!

1.8 pounds lost since last week... That makes a total of 70.4 pounds lost!  I'm still not feeling well, so I will write a proper blog later. Happy weigh-in Wednesday!!

Aside from STILL being sick, I had a really great weekend.  It consisted of sleeping, eating, and friends. I went to the doctor last Tuesday and my strep test was negative, so she sent me home with nothing more than some numbing prescription mouthwash.  By Friday, I was feeling so miserable, I couldn't go to work.  A call to the doctor resulting in her calling in a Zpack and some prescription narcotic cough syrup. I don't ever remember eating on Friday.  I slept most of the day instead of going to work, and in the evening my best friend stopped by unexpectedly.  She lives about 2 hours away so I woke myself up long enough to see her and went back to bed after she left. Saturday several friends from my hometown came to visit to watch the UNC-dook basketball game (we're not going to talk about how horribly that went).  Even though I was still feeling bad, I put on my makeup and pretended to be okay for a few hours to spend time with my friends.  I had 3 chicken tenders

1.4 pounds down since last week. Honestly I'm pretty shocked because I've been sick and feel like I'm eating everything under the sun.

I always pay attention to bruising, because at some point in my life, I was told it could be a sign of medical problems (like cancer). 2 weeks ago, I noticed 2 or 3 small bruises that then turned into 5 (on my arms and legs).  I didn't mention it to anyone, although I was unsure of where they came from.  Then Sunday my hip began to hurt.  At first it looked like a small bruise, but by today it has grown into a much more significant one.  I wish I could post a picture for you all, but I tried to take one and they all look inappropriate.  The bruise starts from the top of my hip and wraps around to my lower bottom. So I googled weight loss and bruising, and came up with this article  from livestrong.com.  If you don't want to read it, basically it says that weight loss that results in malnourishment can be linked to bruising.  Unsure if this is something I should be concerned about or discuss with my doctor?  Maybe it's normal and just not something I've read about? 

As you can tell from the title, I had a great weekend. It was my little cousin's 24 birthday so there were some birthday festivities. NSV #1: At cousin's birthday dinner, I saw her brother for the first time in what had probably been 2 years. At the end of dinner when he hugged me goodbye, he mentioned how much weight I've lost, said he almost didn't recognize me, and that I look great. He said he was proud of me and that felt so good to hear. Most of the time when I look in the mirror I don't feel that I look different at all...I only feel different when I look at pictures. So it was nice to be recognized. NSV #2: I went shopping at Guess for the first time EVER! I bought a shirt (size L).... Pic below :) NSV #3: I can GET LOW!!! So I love to dance, and for the first time I can get low, all the way to the floor, and easily dance back up. I may or may not look good doing it, but its easy now LOL ;)