Six months plus out

I have been down to 172.2 since this picture, but it still feels so great to be inching towards the 160's!!! Over 42 lbs. lost in six months! Not the fastest weight loss in history, but I'm losing. I really have not gained over that time, just had plateaus. I feel good that I have been pretty much able to eat anything I want, just small portions. The only food I have ever had a problem with is Chinese food. I don't know why, but anytime I have Chinese food I have sliming incidents. It has happened over a half dozen times, so it is not a fluke!

Six month update
42 lbs. lost
32+ inches lost
8" from hips (that does not seem possible)
5" waist
4" bust
4" thigh (my thighs are now 22")

It is interesting how my body proportions have changes with age and children. Most of my weight is in my upper body still. I wear a size 12 pant, but generally need a large for my tops.

I'm over half way to my weight goal. I hope to lose another 40 lbs. if possible. It is funny how very few people noticed when I lost the first 30 lbs, but when I reached 40+ I always seem to get comments. It is surreal to go shopping and try on smaller sizes. Sometimes I see myself in the mirror and I do a double take.


Here is a picture of my husband and I a few years before my surgery. Hard to miss that big old double chin! Argh! Notice how I tried to camouflage and distract with the scarf near my face. Hoping to pull the eye up and away from my body. :)

Picture of me today, six months after surgery! Life is good!

I got approval for my surgery right before Christmas last year. I remember how excited and nervous I felt. I didn't have surgery until the end of the school year and I have not regretted it for a moment!

Thank you to all of my band buddies for your love and support! It is fun to celebrate each other's successes!

I'm Still Here

I can't believe that it has almost been two months since I have last posted. My new job, while wonderful has kept me VERY BUSY with 12 - 16 hr. days...then I have the second job as well. Working on the balancing act. Plus I have the sr. in high school (college visits) and a 13 year old who is in traveling cheer. I should be skinny just from all of the running alone. I have been trying to peek in every few days and read a few blogs. Looked like the BOOBS event was a great time!!!

I'm now down to 175.8...almost at the 40 lb. lost mark. My dog in the picture weighs 33 lbs. It is hard to believe I have lost more than one dog. :) On Oct. 25 I will be at the five month mark for my surgery. It is coming off slowly, but all that matters is that it is coming off. :)
I now wear a size 12 in pants and a medium in tops. People regularly ask now if I have lost weight. It is kind of fun to hear their comments. :) I had to break down and buy some new pants because I could take them off without unbuttoning or unzipping them. I bought two pairs of skinny jeans. Who would have ever thought! Sometimes it seems surreal when I go to try on things or I do a double take in the mirror.

We joined a local health club at a wellness facility. It is more like a spa/resort. LOVE it! They did a health check when I joined and I'm not in too bad of shape. My cholesterol has come down about 25 points since I lost weight. I have a two hour round trip commute each day and have been using the time to do calisthenics in the car. (tummy squeezes and butt crunches). Who knows, I may even shoot for a tankini next summer! Maybe. :)

I do not feel like I'm on a diet at all. I eat anything I want, just not that often and in smaller portions. We had a cheer competition yesterday and I had nachos and cheese and popcorn later in the day. I did not feel guilty about it and stress like I would in the past that I was ruining my "diet." This is a much healthier relationship with food. Later in the evening we stopped at a family restaurant during our long drive home from the competition. I had roast beef, veggies and coconut cream and pumpkin pie (small bites). Such a better way to live when you are not thinking and obsessing about food all of the time.

I'm very thankful for Bogart the band and the positive changes he has brought into my life.

Promise to update, read and post more often. At least once a week, instead of once every two months. :) Good luck and congrats to all the new bandsters out there. It is a good journey!

Getting Close

My birthday is tomorrow and I was hoping to be in a new decade (weight wise:). My weight this morning was 181. I was hoping to be at 179.8 tomorrow. That would be a good present!

I got in the habit of weighing myself on Sundays and recording it during the Summer Melt Down challenge. I decided to continue and put it on a spreadsheet. It really helps to see that I'm making progress. I lose weight so slowly, that sometimes I know I lose sight of the BIG picture.

I've lost an average of 1.6 lbs a week. I have only had one week where I gained weight and that was .2 lbs. I can definitely see a pattern of loss right after that TOM. Generally it is a drop of 3 lbs for the week. At this rate it takes me about 6 - 7 weeks to lose 10 lbs. I'm very happy with that pace.

Yesterday was my husband's bday and I asked my 17 year old to take a quick picture of us together. She responded, "Oh my, is my mom actually asking to be in a picture????" :)

Also, I have posted a picture of my toes. I had outpatient surgery to remove ingrown toenails from both sides of my large toes two weeks ago. They cauterize the nerves in that part of the nail bed so that part of your nail will never grow back. I share this only to say that I think this little procedure has a longer and more painful recovery than lapband. :) The smiley faces on the toes were just because I was bored one day.

Another NSV...our school district had a team building game of Waffle ball (similar to baseball with a plastic bat and squishy ball). I actually played and even hit the ball each time I was up.
LIVING LIFE and not sitting on the sidelines, that is what lapband gives back to you.

Happy weekend everyone!

Back to School Time

I have included a picture above of one of my favorite stores, *Soft Surroundings*. Their clothes seem so romantic and peaceful!

Crazy time with getting ready back to school! Good time...just crazy getting ready for my 4th grade classroom. I started with in-services today, so the balancing act begins. :)

The beginning of the week I was losing about .5 lbs. a day. Then the second half of the week I gained about .5 lbs. a day. Ended the week with a .4 lb loss, so not the end of the world. Just lets you know how fickle weight can be some time. My lowest weight this week was 182.6. I set a goal to be in the 170's by September. That is just exciting to say...can't even imagine!!!

I had my third fill scheduled last week, but my dr. said that I could cancel it if I felt I didn't need it. My second fill was just two weeks prior. As a teacher the next day I have time off that coincides with the dr. is Dec. 22. I feel comfortable now, not too tight or loose. If I eat too quick I can tell, yet I can pretty much eat anything. I haven't found any foods I can't eat. I'm losing about 1.5 lbs a week, so I feel this is a good place. We will see where I'm at in December; my goal is in the low 160's.

PS-I need to thank my 17 year old who fixed my blog. I told her I would give her $20 if she could remove the Photobucket box within 24 hrs. She had in done in 20 min. Money talks! :)

Happy Monday!

Help... I Need Somebody

I have been back from my trip a few weeks now and I still cannot figure out my blog issues. :)

When I came back my blog background was gone and I have this box that says "Image or video has been deleted...Photo Bucket." I kept thinking if I put a new background in, it would go away.
So far, the blog will not accept a new background. So if anyone has experience similar blog issues or has any suggestions, please let me know. THANK YOU!!!! Meanwhile, it is driving me crazy!

Back to the weight loss front, 1.2 lbs this week. I had not lost any weight, and then we went out for Mexican food and I lost .6 lbs the next day. Last night we celebrated my father in law's 90th birthday. I had cake, a brownie, a skinny hamburger (no bun)...and lost another .6 lbs. Sometimes I feel like I lose a little easier when I eat more. Wishful thinking on my part! :)

The pics above are of me and my oldest daughter at the party. Again, so nice to be in pix and not delete them immediately. The other picture is with my sister in law who said she could really see my weight loss. She lost 90 lbs. with Weight Watchers a few years back and has kept it off, so she is very supportive.

Happy rest of the weekend!

It's Friday

It's Friday...my most favorite day of the week! I'm getting ready to go back to school and we have had a couple days of in services. Our coordinator made a delicious lunch the other day that was probably the best I have ever had. (or maybe I just appreciate food more :) She made a whole wheat spaghetti casserole and *Doubletree* hotel cookies. OMG...to die for! I had one...it was divine!

I checked my inches the other day for 2 months out. I have lost:
*about 4" from my hips/stomach area

*3" from my waist

*2" from my chest

*2 1/2 from each thigh

All in all, I think it was about 16" total. Good bye and good riddance!

My favorite new treat is lowfat club house crackers (qty 5) and a wedge of Laughing Cow (garlic & herb cheese spread). That just tastes decadent!

I'm turning into the food Nazi at my house. It is not a pretty picture...the natives are getting combative. :) I make comments to my husband about the portion sizes on his plate. I tell my daughter that she doesn't need to eat three cheese sandwiches when she comes home from cheer before she goes to bed. Then I hide "my food" so no one else can get it. My dh had been eating my protein bars. Grrrr...I'm sure this too will pass and I will quit policing what everyone else eats. Right??? Yeah, right! :)

Happy Friday everyone!!!

Don't you love my spray tanned orange toes??? Not! :) This was my final weight for the Summer Challenge, 185.6. I started at 199.0. That gave me a total loss of 13.40 lbs. in 8 weeks (1.68 per week). Slow and steady. I don't feel like I'm dieting or starving. I would say the biggest change for me is portion size. If I lose an average of 1.50 per week, it will take me 33 weeks to reach my goal. I know my weight loss will slow down, but still it is so nice to see light at the end of the tunnel and believe it is possible!

I don't track my food everyday, but about once a week to make sure I'm staying on track. I'm pretty boring eating the same ole, same ole...so most of the time I know the counts for what I'm eating.

A copy of my food diary for today is below.
I may skip the protein bar and/or pudding if I'm not feeling hungry

Breakfast & Snack:

Bariatrx - Protein Drink, 1 scoop (I have this about 7 am with the milk)
85 calories
Yoplait - Light Fat Free Yogurt - Harvest Peach, 6 oz. (I have this about 10:30 am)
100 calories
Milk - Nonfat (fat free or skim), 1 cup
86 calories

Lunch (Have this around 1:30 pm)
Beef - Ground, 80% lean meat / 20% fat, crumbles, cooked, pan-browned (hamburger), 1 serving ( 3 oz )
231 calories
Daisy - Low Fat Cottage Cheese, 1/8 cup (I mix a spoonful of cottage cheese & shredded cheese in with the hamburger)
23 calories
Shredded Cheddar Cheese, 0.0625 cup
28 calories

Dinner & Snacks
Atkins Advantage Protein Bar - Chocolate Chip Granola Bar, 1 bar (This is if I get hungry and right now I am aok, so I may skip this today) - Generally around 3 to 3:30
200 calories
Ling Ling - All Natural Pot Stickers, 3 pieces (145g) - These are to die for!!! My fave!!!!
156 calories
Soy sauce, 1 tsp - Dinner about 6:30 pm
3

Snacks (If I'm still hungry I will have this around 8:30 or 9:00)
Jello Sugar Free Pudding - Vanilla Pudding Snack, 1 snack (106g)
60 calories
Cool Whip - Whipped Topping - Lite, 2 tbsp
20 calories

Totals
992 calories if I have everything above.
77 gms of Protein

Plus I drink about 12 oz. glasses of Crystal Lite Lemonade mix with water throughout the day

It was amazing to see how skinny all of my followers got during the one week I was out of town. Many of you have new profile pix up and I hardly recognize you! Way to go!

If I'm not following please send me a quick post with your blog link. I follow a little over 100 blogs and it is not always realistic to get to all of them by the end of the week, but I try to get to at least half of you. I read the blogs of my posters :) first and then get to the most recent updates of the blogs I follow. Most of the time I try to post a little something. It is such a blessing to have this group to come to and connect. No one can relate to what we are going thru as much as each other. Plus the fact that we are all charming, witty, funny and gorgeous doesn't hurt! :)

On a quick side note and NSV (NonScale Victory for the newbies) I'm no longer taking my heartburn meds. I used to take them daily for about ten years.

Happy start of a new week everyone!!!