Sin City, A Place of Victory!

It's Monday morning... Just two more nights til I am off to the fabulous Las Vegas also known by many as Sin City. I can only assume it has received its nick name from the various "in your face" taboos. Known for prostitution, gambling, unplanned marriages and alcohol, Vegas is also an amazing place to see shows, eat great food and do things you have never done before!

This will be my second trip to Las Vegas, my first one being last May for the last WLSFA Meet and Greet in 2011. Last May, I was healthy enough to truly enjoy all the wonderful things Vegas has to offer. I was 7 months post my Sleeve and down a significant amount of weight already. I was able to walk up and down the Vegas strip without being in pain and see all the free shows. Mt biggest victory of course was riding the roller coaster at the New York, NY hotel! I hadn't been able to fit in a coaster since I was 16!

So here we are, less then 3 days away from Vegas and I am getting excited for this whole new adventure. This year I am sure a whole new set of victories awaits me. Thursday night I plan on going Zip Lining at Flightlinez on Freemont Street with some of my Bariatric Bad Girls! Zip lining is always something I have wanted to try but never could because I was always over the weight limit. NOT ANYMORE!!! I am also excited nervous ready to bust out my brand new, non plus size bathing suit and catch some sun on Thursday and Friday afternoon. Meet me by the pool and come say HI!

I can only wonder what other adventures this weekend will bring. I know some will be getting tattoos. Others will be catching a show or star watching, as I hear the MGM Awards will be taking place in Vegas on Sunday.

Personally, I am looking forward to seeing old friends, making new ones and having a wonderful and supportive vacation!

Can't wait to see you there!

xoxo
Sleeve Pixie

NYC - MY Walk from Obesity!

This weekend I invited myself to "Obesity Online", an invite only conference for WLS bloggers and vloggers. The conf was held at the Mondrian hotel in SoHo, NYC. While the conference was a room full of 20ish social media moguls, most of whom I knew in one form or another, I am not going to write about that in depth.

The things that happened outside of the conference are what matter to me. The people, the support, the community are the reasons I pushed to be at the conference.

The conference featured some of the higher-ups in the WLS professional circle. Joe Nadglowski, President of the OAC, Robin Blackstone, MD, President Elect of the ASMBS, and Melissa Lierman, a social media expert! We spent the day talking about obesity, advocacy, surgeries, social media and had a few debates along the way.

After the conference some of my friends and I walked around the city. We ate, we laughed, we got lost and found all in one day! I walked more this past weekend then I have in the last two weeks combined! The most amazing and meaningful part of this weekend for me was Yesterday... Every part of my day was both fun and meaningful.

We started our day off with a windy walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. When the cab dropped us off at the entrance on the Manhattan side, I felt both excitement and panic at the thought of this adventure. I didn't know if I was going to make it all the way across but I was excited to try. Then the panic set in and I was afraid if I got stuck half way through, there was no way out. I feared getting stuck and being in pain like I would have been just months ago.

Half way through the bridge!

The support I got from my friends, who promised me they would walk slow and not leave me hanging and push my from behind if needed was amazing! They were my cheer leaders the whole way through. The walk was actually quite easy. I didn't HAVE TO stop to catch my breathe or sit down because I hurt. We had so much fun! We took pics of buildings and graffiti and each other and just had a blast!

When I reached Brooklyn, I couldn't believe it! I DID IT! I walked the Brooklyn Bridge! 1.13 miles and we didn't stop there! We walked to Grimaldi's Pizza Place to find them closed then continued walking to Bubby's for Brunch.

After brunch we hopped the subway back to Manhattan. Another NSV! I didn't have to walk through the turn-style sideways, for the first time in 10 years!! I was amazed and on cloud 9! I think I still am! The walk continued....

Next a few of us headed over to the Museum of Sex! What fun we had!! I walked through 3 floors of exhibits, took pictures and had fun in the goody shop! Walking on...

Next, 24 hour fitness for some protein shake yumminess! I got a strawberry banana smoothie with some whey protein and man was it AMAZING! When we left there I had already walked over 4 miles and over 10,500 steps! It was only 4pm! The last leg...

We headed back to the hotel to hang out and say our goodbyes. At the end of MY Walk... I got the most amazing prize... My life! It's not promised for forever but yesterday I grabbed it by the balls!

xoxo
Sleeve Pixie

Dining Out post WLS

While I know it is probably best not to dine out much after WLS, there are occasions that call for meals in a restaurant. Yesterday I went to Atlantic City to meet up with a few post-op friends. When the time came to sit down for lunch we chose a place and began scouting the menu.

We decided on sharing an appetizer so we wouldn't have left overs to carry around. For 3 of us the bill was relatively small. I didn't think much about it then but the thought hit me later on... We probably did not leave a big enough tip!

Now that we eat so much less, I know I tend to order so much less. While that is great for my wallet, the person who gets the short end of the stick is usually your server.

Pre-WLS, think about how much you used to spend dining out with one person. Take a place like TGIFridays... a place I used to frequent before my WLS days. When I went with my husband, we used to share an appetizer, get two meals and either 1 or 2 desserts. Plus the two sodas I drank with my meal. The server has been to my table about 6 times brought us many many soda refills without being asked usually and the bill wound up coming to somewhere between $50-$60. Right? Story sound familiar?

Post-WLS, hypothetically, My hubby and I go to TGIFridays (which we do every other month or so) and he orders the 3 course meal for 17 dollars. Generally he will get the green bean fries, some type of fish and dessert. What do I order.... Nothing! We share. Why... Because I cannot eat more than 4 ounces of food in one sitting. I no longer order a soda or anything else to drink because if it's there I will drink with my meal and I don't want to do that so I just skip it all together, I will have two green bean fries, about 3oz of his fish and one bite of whatever dessert he orders, if there is still room, which usually there isn't. So this now cuts our bill in half to about $25. The server has still been to the table at least times, still brings hubby his soda refills and does a little less work.

Now we get the bill. Generally we leave a 20% tip which would amount to about $5. Is that enough? I don't think so... What do you think? the odds are, unless you have been a server at one point in your life you probably don't think much about this. I didn't either until yesterday and I have been a post-op for 3 years! I think perhaps we should start tipping as if we were eating two meals. What do you think?

xoxo
Sleeve Pixie

Another Meet and Greet! Atlantic City!!

Hey friends! I am getting a bunch of people together in Atlantic City tomorrow! If you haven't realized this yet, I LOVE meeting you! I love having get togethers and making new friends.

Tomorrow at 1pm, we will be having lunch at the Trump Plaza. Lunch is set up in the Rain Forest Cafe. We have 4 confirmed guests so far and I would love to see YOU! If you can make it please comment below and let me know you are coming!

What I love most about these meet and greets aside from socializing with like minded people, is that we get the chance to spend a couple of hours in a setting where we all "get it". We have all been there! Its also a chance to develop a support network for yourself which is crucial to success!

So common, what do you say? Have lunch with me!
xoxo
Sleeve Pixie!

Obesity Help New York Conference!!

Me with Connie Stapleton

Save $30 off of the Long Island, NY Obesity Help Conference with coupon code LEBOWITZNY11


Every year Obesity Help holds roughly 3-5 conferences around the country for people who have had or are looking into weight loss surgery. This year one of those conferences will be in NY, on Long Island on October 21-22. 

The conference features a mixture of professionals such as Connie Stapleton (psychologist - one of my favs), Chef Dave Fouts (bariatric chef), Dr Garth Davis (from Big medicine), Dr. Alvarez (the mexico surgeon - another one of my favs) and Dr. Katzen (one of the most famous bariatric post op plastic surgeons) and a few post-ops who share their stories, wisdom etc... 

Just me and Melting Mama showing some love!

One of the best parts of these conferences is ability to meet other post-ops and be in environment that is truly unique. Everyone is at a different stage in their weight loss and everyone knows what its like to be fat. Each conference is closed with a fashion show and night of fun dancing. I have been to 3 in the past 2 years and I looking forward to attending all 3 conferences this year! 

Me and Dr. Alvarez

Because I have gone through OH support group leader training, OH gives me a discount code to pass out to my friends and support group members. This code is good for $30 off of the $75 price of the conference. Each person who registers under my code also receives a free OH t-shirt and tote bag :-) 




To purchase your ticket for the New York Obesity Help Conference at the super low price of $45 plus a Free OH t-shirt and OH Tote Bag Follow this link and make sure to use my discount code LebowitzNY11


Sexy in the City!
    October 21-22
The New York Conference will be held in the
Hauppauge Sheraton <- Click to book a room! 
Sheraton Long Island - $119+tax per night
110 Motor Parkway
Hauppauge, NY 11788
(631) 231-1100

If you would like more info or have any questions leave a comment below!
I hope you consider coming! 
Can't wait to see you there! 
xoxo
Sleeve Pixie

Road Trip Itinerary

Ok friends... here she is! My map of travel around the good ole USA... ok not the whole USA... Just 11 states.

Want to have a meal with me? I want to have a meal with you!! Here we go....

Feb 22 - Leave NY for MD
               Arrive in Gaithersburg, MD
Feb 23 - Family Day
Feb 24 - Maryland get together for lunch or dinner.
              Place TBA... Any suggestions, post below.
Feb 25 - Leave MD for NC
               Richmond, VA get together for Lunch
               Again Place TBA.... Suggestions, post below.
               Dinner in either Charlotte or Raleigh depending on where there is
                   more interest. Discuss Below...
Feb 26 - Leave NC for SC
                Family Day
Feb 27 - Possible Brunch/Lunch in SC if there is any interest.
               Leave SC for GA
Feb 28 - Learning Day for Me
Mar 01 - Lunch in Atlanta, GA
Mar 02 - Learning Day for Me
Mar 03 - Learning Day for Me
               Leave GA to head back up to SC
Mar 04-06 - Family Time
Mar 07 - Leave SC for KY
Mar 08 - Leave KY for WV
               Possible Early Dinner in Lexington KY
               Still Need to find a place to stay in WV
Mar 09 - Leave WV for HOME
               Possible Dinner in Philly, PA

HOME SWEET HOME!

I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible so please get in touch with me ASAP so we can finalize times and places for food! Although many of you have offered to buy my food, please know it is not necessary!

Ok DISCUSS!
xoxo
Sleeve Pixie

                                                                            

Life is a Highway... the Start of Road Trip Month!

I wanna ride it, ALL NIGHT LONG! Just got home late last night from a mini road trip with Beth (Melting Mama). I had sooo much fun! Friday morning I started off bright and early by getting my car fixed and my coffee fix :-) I was awaiting the green light to hear that Beth was feeling well enough to have some fun!

At 9:29am I got the ding on my CrackBerry. A message from Beth, "All Done. Come Play!" I finished packing jumped in the shower and left the house around 11am. On the road again... The drive was quick. I had my ipod blaring, the windows down my GPS on and away I went. Found myself some food along the way at one of the rest areas which I proceeded to eat while driving because I didn't want to waste any time... Well, wouldn't ya know... Dumping and driving is soooooo not a fun experience. Thankfully the feeling came and went pretty quickly... With my band it used to be that I was afraid to eat and drive because it almost surely meant stopping on the shoulder of the highway to hurl. Well, now the food stays down, which is nice but Dumping and Driving should be illegal!

4 hours later and 1 wrong turn, I found the Casa De Mr and Mrs. MM.

When Beth saw me she said, "OMG you so skinny!" and she was actually able to wrap her arms around my waist and touch her wrists. That was an awesome feeling for me. I can always tell when people have to stretch to  hug me and I could feel the room between my back and her hands. NSV for me! I fit in the "tinier that you thought she was in person's" hug! woohoo.

Off we went to find the nearest Starbucks to feed our caffeine addiction... then to Lowell, MA for the Diva Taunia Burlesque show... Although we got stuck in a bit of traffic and had to veer off and find a pit stop. the only one we wound required a purchase to use the John, so Beth bought a super yummy wrap that we split for dinner.

We eventually made it! Checked in to the hotel (which had a bar at the check in counter for those of us who apparently can't cope with vacation and must get loaded PRONTO) for the night and foursquare of course... got all sexified and back in the car.

The burlesque show was fun! Lots of nakedness and drunkenness for sure but we danced, transfer adictioned, took some photos and made the best of it :-)

At the show we met up with fellow Bad Girl Lynn V Sleeve (Band to VSG). It was so great to meet her and her hubby after talking to her for a the last few month on the infamous FB.

After the show I was hungry so I starting looking for some food to take back to the telle. Chili's - closed, outback - closed, 99 - closed..... ugh!!! Fast food - Cha-ching! Thank goodness for the dollar menu lol.

Back to the hotel had me a few bites of food and got sick as a dog! Fell asleep dumping... that's always fun!

I don't dump often even though it sounds like I do... but I still haven't figured out exactly what it is I dump on.

Day 2... Woke up early in the morning, around 9:30am and started to get ready for day 2. Day two we will call Transfer Addiction road trip. I am not ashamed to admit that I am a smoker. I have been since the age of 14. It is a habit I have tried kicking several times over but right now I feel it is much more important to work on my food addiction that my smoking one. All at once is just too much for me. Thankfully, like the amount of food I intake, the amount I smoke has decreased drastically since my VSG. I used to smoke a pack+ daily and I am down to a pack every 3 days. *pats self on back :-)

Considering a pack of cigarettes is $10 here in NY I
dragged Beth up to New Hampshire where they are half the price. But for some reason we couldn't find them anywhere!!!

Our travels led us to Nashua Nutrition, where we got some "pouchworthy" products as MM calls em. Best $20 I ever spent :-) I love love love their protein bars. It tastes like candy :-)

Our travels led us to a nice big liquor store, where we found some perty bottles.*

Beth enjoyed the pink tequila....

         

...While I enjoy the clearer, smother Don Julio!!

Our travels led us next to a smoke shop that I almost got thrown out of for telling the sales guy that his incense smelled like pot residue. Ugh, lets keep it all hush hush because no one knows that folks who walk into a "smoke shop" use all your glass blown pieces and "water pipes" for POT/WEED/MARIJUANA!! Seriously...

Finally we found what I went looking for and started to head back to Massachusetts. We bumped into Mr. MM on the ride home and before we knew it we made it back to Casa de Mr. and Mrs. MM. It was time to say goodbye (too soon - I contemplated stealing Beth and bringer her back to NY) but I had a looong trip still ahead of me. I got home at about 9:15pm and after a little facebook lovin' went to bed!

I look forward to my WLS Road Trip Part 2, which will begin Next Tuesday! Check in tomorrow for details because I want to see you!!!!

*** NOTE: No Alcohol was harmed during the making of this film :-)
Thanks to Mr. MM and family for loaning Beth to me for 24 hours! Thanks to Beth for making it so much fun!

xoxo
Sleeve Pixie

WLSFA - Have you bought your tickets?

WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA

Mother of ALL Meet & Greets!!

I just bought my ticket.. Have you bought yours?? Tickets are selling fast and so are the rooms.. Come to Sin city and party with the baddest while learning from some of the 

best!

With speakers like Connie Stapleton and Dr. Katzen how could you say no!! Ok Ok Ok... I know you don't go for the speakers you go to these things to see what crazy thing I will do next :-P I have been known to dance with the WLS greats, show up in sexy Alice in Wonderland attire, sticker my face in lieu of vendor bingo, Have Mary Jo Rapini and Connie Stapleton sticker my "not face", take and partake in loads of pictures, force people to participate in the fashion show, hang out at the registration table and (in the pre-sleeve days) go shot for shot for shot with patron and the best of em. Who would want to miss that??? Not me!!

Tickets are discounted for the next week and a half!!!

DISCOUNTED EVENT TICKETS ON SALE NOW $40 Each UNTIL FEBRUARY 1 2011. 

After that date event tickets will go up $10 to $50 per ticket so buy early!

All money raised will benefit the WLSFA! and our WLS Community!

Purchase Description

Full access to the Mother of All Meet & Greets Conference at Palace Station Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, Nevada!!

Event from May 13, 2011 to May 15, 2011. This includes Friday Opening Reception and Saturday Sit Down Lunch

Your pass gives you access to all scheduled classes, talks, awards ceremonies and entertainment hosted by the WLSFA.

 To purchase your tickets please click here!

I look forward to seeing you at the WLSFA Meet & Greet in Sin City!!

xoxo,
Sleeve Pixie