80 Pounds Lost!

Yippee! The scale gave me a 223 this morning and I am officially claiming 80 pounds lost since my high of 303 in June 2009. That is 54 since surgery in December. It is so fun to keep celebrating the milestones, but I also know that I cannot get complacent.

I was watching Biggest Loser last night and realized how many of the contestants had some sort of surgical intervention to lose weight, whether it was vertical banding, gastric bypass or lapband. Yet even after that, they still struggled with their weight. That just proves the point that surgery is not the end all and be all to battling obesity. I am glad to have those reminders once in a while. I have worked hard on my head in this battle, something I think I truly underestimated prior to surgery. I think about how food filled my life before, it was such a comfort to me. I used it to celebrate, to hide my misery and to fill the hole in my lonely life. I don't think I truly understood what a crutch food had become to me. I really lost myself for a while there. I am glad to find a better me and I know that I need to work on me everyday both physically and emotionally.

Walking Update

Well, I have been doing pretty well with my walking goal. I had set out at the beginning of July to try to exercise at least 20 minutes every day. In the first 15 days of the month I only missed 3 days, that's pretty good. And most days I walked 30-40 minutes, so that was better than my goal. I can tell you the scale is showing it too. I barely lost 2 pounds last month and already as of today I can claim a loss of 5 pounds and I still have half a month to go. Who knew exercise would help...duh! Saw a new number on the scale this morning, down to 236. Awesome.

New Number

Well, the scale has been rather fickle lately, with lots of ups and downs and big swings of 2-3 pounds one way or the other. But I am happy to report a new number that I saw on the scale this morning...hello 238. Hope it sticks. I hate the ups and downs of the scale, but I just need to remember that it is the normal up and down fluctuations of my body. It's hard not to be a slave to the numbers. But I know I am eating right and I have really kicked in the exercise this month, so by all rights that should equal a loss. Slow and steady!

New Number

Well, being away on a trip to Washington DC for about 8 days wasn't too bad on the scale. In fact, even though I felt like I was eating some big meals, I actually ended up seeing 241 on the scale this morning and I think it may have included some water weight too as my rings were so tight. I did an awful lot of walking and sweating too, that ought to be worth a few pounds.

I talked to a good friend of mine and just for kicks we stepped on a scale at one of the truck stops. I was nearly shocked and amazed that I only weighed 20 pounds more than my friend--I never would have guessed that. I have so much mental work to do yet on body image and matching the picture in the mirror with this new and constantly changing shape of mine. Crazy.

New Number

I am on my usual 1 pound a week regimen I guess. I was pleased to see 252 on the scale today, Saturday, my official weigh in day. The weather hasn't been the best this week so I haven't walked as much as I should have. I got some new batteries for my pedometer yesterday, so I am hoping to give myself some incentive by keeping track again. I hope to go to the walking trail a little later as the day warms up a bit.

Hello 50!

My scale gave me a wonderful present this morning! I was so happy to look down and see 253...I am officially down 50 pounds since I have started this little weight loss trek. It's been a long time since I have seen this weight and the thought of being in the 240's soon makes me giddy. For so long the scale only went one direction...UP and it is so nice to see it going down instead. The last time I was near the 250's was in 2006 when I managed to walk off 45 pounds, but the lowest I saw then (before I managed to gain ALL of that back and more) was 255. I feel like I have broken a little lifetime plateau here, and if I can get into the 240's that will really cement things.

I was doing an event at work this past Sunday and I was wearing my favorite new skinny jeans and I was so surprised to see myself in pictures. I hadn't really seen the progress I had made until I saw myself in relationship to other people's sizes. It's weird how it takes a while for your brain to catch up with the rest of you. (I tried to add the photo but blogger is being difficult today, so I will try to add it later.)

New Number!

Hello 261! I love it when the scale is cooperating! Saw a glimpse of 261 this morning, not sure if it's ready to stick yet, but it was a joy to see it. Must be doing something right.

New Number...A Quickie!

Well, I had to fight like crazy a pound ago, now all the sudden I find that I lost another. I love those quickie pounds. Down to 262, getting awfully close to the 250's. That will be awesome. Ah...the ups and downs of weight loss. You just don't know what your body is up to sometimes. I am anxious to be able to get to my first fill, after this week's postponement. So ready for some restriction. Life is good.

40...Finally!!

Woohoo! Finally saw the magic number on the scale this morning. Boy this one was hard! I am officially down 40 pounds from my high of 303 this past summer. That's 22 since the start of my pre-op diet and 14 since surgery. While sometimes I wish it was going a little faster, I am pleased that it just continues to head in the right direction. Tomorrow is my first fill and boy am I ready. Another milestone...hope the next ones keep on coming.

New Number and an NSV!

Yippee! The scale moved today down to 264, and I am now just one little pound away from losing 40 pounds since my high of 303 this past summer. I might really have to fight for this one. Off the scale, I was pleased to squeeze into a pair of size 24 jeans that I wore when I was at my low of 255 in 2006. They are still a smidge tight, but they have spandex and that helps. So all in all, a great start to my week.

New Number...But I'm Not Sure?

Ok, so the scale wouldn't move for a whole week, then I finally claimed a pound yesterday, to 267. Now today it seems as if I have skipped over a whole number down to 265. So at least I saw it...but I am just not sure I am ready to claim it? Aw, what the heck, I can at least say I saw a glimpse of it today. I guess I will wait and see if it sticks around LOL! Getting a little closer every day to 40 pounds lost since my high of 303 this past summer. I am feeling really good about things, I am really working hard to follow the rules and I am learning some brand new eating habits that I pray will stick with me for a lifetime. I am loving the Lap-Band life!

New Number and Learning

They've been coming just a bit slower, but saw a new number on the scale this morning, 268 pounds. That's a loss of 35 pounds since I started this whole journey this past summer and 9 since surgery almost 3 weeks ago, averaging 3 pounds a week. I have been enjoying the new food choices that the mushies phase allows. Today it was some yummy chicken salad and cottage cheese. Who knew that could be so darn enjoyable!

This past weekend I had this thought of "oh my gosh, what did I get myself into?" I think I was thinking too much. Thinking about every bite of food, being completely obsessed with chewing and even thinking ahead to my first fill. All the sudden I just felt overwhelmed by the choice I had made to have surgery. The thought passed, but it was just one of those moments where I realized that as long as I have my band, I will always be ultra aware of what I am eating--and I suppose that really is the point, isn't it? I think it was also the fact that I am eating so carefully as to avoid any PB's or getting stuck that I am having to overly think every decision of what I put into my mouth.

I was also feeling a little overwhelmed about food choices and grocery shopping. I feel like I am starting at square one, wiping the slate clean and everything I used to do has to change. The old stand-by's on the grocery list just won't work anymore. I guess all that information swimming around my brain just caught up to me as a moved to a new stage--pretty normal response I would guess. Learning a new life takes time and patience!

New Number...Again!

Wow, this is really going quickly...maybe too fast? (Who would think that would be a problem?) I saw a glimpse of 269 on the scale this morning. I am eating the suggested amount of calories, so I don't think I am skimping too much. I am not hungry and feel satisfied so I guess that's good. I suppose my metabolism is catching on to the fact that there isn't more food coming in and took a look around and said..."Hey, lets use all this fat for energy instead!" I am still working on getting the right amount of protein every day, but I am getting closer to my daily goal all the time.

On another subject, my sleep has been improving the last few days. I am still tossing and turning a bit at night, but at least I am not up at 4:30 AM like I was some days. Actually slept until 6:00 AM this morning, that is an improvement. Well, this year is almost done and I am ready to start the New Year completly fresh!