So this is my nearly 4 month surgiversary (next Saturday is the actual surgiversary date). I am almost at my midpoint -- 49 lbs. lost, 50 lbs. to go to get to my ultimate goal weight of 132 lbs. That's exciting news! Exciting too to be nearly out of the 180s -- if all goes well that should be happening in less than 2 weeks.

I have been battling with some pretty awful snack cravings, which usually hit between 3-4 pm and (depending on when I eat dinner, and what's in the dinner), between 8-9 pm. I find it easier to disregard the snacking urge in the evening but the afternoon snacking urge is powerful, and most days I succumb to it. And it is almost always a crunchy, salty carb snack (lately chex mix and Riceworks Sweet Chili rice chips have been my go-to snack of choice). I was feeling very guilty about snacking because I remember Dr. Aceves warning not to do that. At the suggestion of a fellow sleever I contacted his patient coordinator to ask if I can eat more than 3 times a day, and as it turns out he will allow 5-6 small meals a day, so I translate that into meals plus a couple of snacks, as long as I'm staying below a total intake of 900 calories a day and getting in a decent amount of protein each day. Happy, happy me! I stocked up on some very low-cal snacks (dill pickles) in case I'm running close to the 900 calories a day limit and still want to eat something.

I've been pretty active this weekend with gardening chores (in fact am quite sore right now!) and I know that will help me lose weight. I actually lost more weight in April than in March (8.6 lbs. vs. 8 lbs. in March), due I believe to being more active, now that springtime is here. So I am hoping for another month of 8+ lbs. lost in May.

I gave a bunch of my old size 22's/2X/3X clothes to Goodwill today and actually went shopping in the store for the first time ever. I found a couple of pairs of capris for $6 each and a polo shirt for $4 so am happy with that ... some extra weekend clothes to wear, especially while I am gardening. I am sure I will go back as I lose weight, as it seems there are a lot more clothes in the smaller sizes than in the larger sizes. I was tempted to buy a couple of pairs of size 14 jeans, but thought better of it ... I can buy those when the time is right. I am definitely still in the size 16/1X zone and no point of pretending otherwise!

I guess that is about all for this week ... I am looking forward to next week and hopefully will be really close to 180 next week. I have a ton of garden chores to do this week and hope Mother Nature gives me some decent weather to work in ... if I can do an hour or two of gardening chores each evening after work, I will have a very good shot at being near 180 next week.