Cat225

It's been two months since I got my lap band. Tomorrow I'm getting my second fill. So far I've lost 37 pounds, 15 during the pre-op diet, and 22 since my lap band surgery. I've been to parties, and dined out at restaurants and I'm still losing. When I went out with friends last week, I brought my own take home container with me, and packed up half my dinner before I started eating it! I've changed the foods that I eat, but generally I don't feel like I'm on a diet. That's why I'm so surprised that I'm still losing weight. In the past, when I tried to eat like a normal person and not diet, I would always end up bingeing and gaining weight. Maybe it's because I've cut out my trigger foods from my diet. I don't feel deprived, though. I eat a lot of protein, and no junk food. I am hungry a lot, but I know that it's going to take a while before my band is in the green zone. I also know that I have long way to go, and a lot of weight to lose. I'm trying to focus on small goals not the the big picture.

It's been two months since I got my lap band. Tomorrow I'm getting my second fill. So far I've lost 37 pounds, 15 during the pre-op diet, and 22 since my lap band surgery. I've been to parties, and dined out at restaurants and I'm still losing. When I went out with friends last week, I brought my own take home container with me, and packed up half my dinner before I started eating it! I've changed the foods that I eat, but generally I don't feel like I'm on a diet. That's why I'm so surprised that I'm still losing weight. In the past, when I tried to eat like a normal person and not diet, I would always end up bingeing and gaining weight. Maybe it's because I've cut out my trigger foods from my diet. I don't feel deprived, though. I eat a lot of protein, and no junk food. I am hungry a lot, but I know that it's going to take a while before my band is in the green zone. I also know that I have long way to go, and a lot of weight to lose. I'm trying to focus on small goals not the the big picture.

Wow, has it really been that long since i've been on this sight? I can't beleive how much life has changed since my surgery. i've lost a total of 130lbs since my highest weight ever. it feels so great to have lost that much weight and I never want to go back. my boyfriend proposed to me Christmas Day 2012 in front of my entire family. now we are getting ready for our wedding, official ceremony to take place on Nov 21, 2014. and i'm 20 weeks pregnant with my first child. Before I started this journey I never expected to ever have a life long partner, let alone be getting married and being a mom. I could have never gotten this far without his love and support. he was there every step of the way pushing me to do what i was supposed to be doing and picking me up when i wanted to give up. My family has come around and is glad i've done it. but it was a hard struggle for awhile since none of them agreed with my decision. but i'm healthy and happy for the first time in my life. and my life is so much better for having gone through this. If I had to do it all over again I would. For all of you trying to decide if this is the decision for you, trust in your heart. Don't listen to anyone else. Don't ask for their opinions. What they think doesn't matter. Decide for yourself why it is you want to do this. Your heart will tell you if this is the right path for you. it won't lead you astray. only you know if this is right for you.

I'm less than three days away from being banded. I have been feeling hungry since last night. This is real hunger with a growling stomach. It's getting difficult to choke the shakes down. I've been online today looking for some better ones that don't cost a fortune to ship to Canada. If anyone has any recommendations let me know.
 
Thursday cannot come too soon!

A week from today, I will have been banded for two days. To say that I am excited would be an understatement. I cannot wait!
 
I've adjusted to the diet I'm on. I still dislike the taste and texture of the shakes, but I'm drinking them. The past few days I've only been able to get in two a day instead of three. My stomach has been bad, partly due to the new Metformin my doctor prescribed me last week. My blood sugar was very high at my pre-op checkup. Luckily, it's gone back down, but she wants me to stay on the pills for a while. Whatever I eat, shakes or veggies, causes my stomach to get upset. It's crazy. I've barely eaten anything in over a week. What's even left in there?
 
Overall, I'm feeling really good since I've been on the shakes. I'm estimating that I've lost between 12-15 pounds already, which is great. For the first time in many years, I'm just feeling positive about my future!

I get emails daily asking me how to I lose my weight and look so good but I must admit, things are not as they appear. I too have love handles and golf ball thighs but I don't post the pictures that show that of course. I lost a ton of weight fast but I did it with the sleeve and the gym. Ask my family where I spend my free time when I'm not at the office, I'm at the gym. Nothing is free, we must work out and sweat to get results and that is the only reason I look like I do. I also avoid carbs and sugars and focus on protein. Protein shakes and yogart and chicken is in my daily diet. You can do it too, don't give up!

A couple of nights ago I awoke at 2 am to go to the bathroom. On a whim, after I was done I stepped on the bathroom scale…to find that I have lost 100 lbs since the start of my pre-op diet; and 90 lbs since surgery on May 22, 2013. I had a hard time going back to sleep I was so excited! I want to lose (I think) about 39 to 44 more. I will be a healthy BMI for my height when I lose 20 more, so I will reevaluate then.
 
I cannot describe the mindf*** having reached this goal is! I knew it would be though….I had faith I’d get here, and yet I am still shocked that I got here. I’ve worked hard, but because of so many failed attempts in my past, the fact that my hard work is actually paying off this time is mind blowing. I am thrilled beyond belief and am filled with wonderment! I need to post before and after pics maybe -- just to help me wrap my head around this.
 
I can’t believe I’ve lost 100 lbs. I can’t believe I weighed 100 more lbs than I do now just 8 months ago. I still feel like me, so how can this be? I do feel SO much better. I feel totally different and very much the same – all at this same time! It is so bizarre. I feel so different in all good ways, and very much the same, also in all the good ways.
All the clothes that were once too small for me are now too big. The size 12’s I got so that I could shrink into them, now all of a sudden are too big, and I think “How can this be? What is this strange phenomenon? “ LOL
The holidays were an interesting learning experience for me. I got to “onederland” the morning of Thanksgiving, which was Nov 28. Between that day and Dec 30, a month later, I had lost only 4 lbs. Don’t get me wrong, I do see the value in losing 4 lbs, especially during the holidays, when in years past that was a major gain time. But it was a significant slow down from recent months. Over the holidays, I had alcohol, I had sweets, I had bread – no never in large quantities, but I loosened the reigns compared to how I have been eating. I also during this time did not always follow the “protein first “ rule, and I sometimes sipped a beverage with my food. I did all of this mindfully, fully aware of what I was doing, I went slow so as not to over do it, but I was definitely “celebrating” -- I was doing so to enjoy the family holiday meals and such. I knew the consequences would be slow weight loss and/or maintaining. But it was MY decision and I was in complete control. Ah, it was so liberating. I believe I have seen a glimpse of what maintenance might be like when I reach goal.
 
I feel strong, ….and I feel taller I was doing some Pilates on the living room floor the other night and my husband came in. He admired me for a minute and then said “My wife has nice long legs” and I just giggled and said “They’re getting longer all the time!”
 
Nowadays when I take the dog out for a hike, I sometimes jog for half of it. ME. I freekin jog. Unheard of! And really, aside from just being more active in general, I have not started any kind of hard-core grueling exercise routine. I don’t go to the gym, I don’t watch a clock that says I have done cardio for x minutes. I happily take my dog out & frolic a bit until my heart rate goes up, and sometimes, just because my body feels good and strong and happy, I do some Pilates-type moves on the living room floor. I suppose I may need to incorporate more formal or stringent exercise into my life as some kind of routine as I try to get closer to goal. It’s certainly not a BAD idea. But my point is, I haven’t had to break my neck to get to this point. I’ve just naturally started wanting to do more and more. And that, my friends, is what I believe is a true life style change. Hooray!
 
So yes, I am happy. And yes, I have faith that I will achieve my goals. What do I look forward to most? Getting to goal and being there long enough that THAT is my reality, not a novelty. I want people to just know my at my healthy weight in my healthy life style, and not think of me as the girl who lost all that weight. I am so ready to have this be the rest of my life.
 
Onward!

Today is my 6th day on my pre-op diet, and it has been the easiest so far. While I still find the shakes and vegetable concoctions in my recipe book nauseating, mentally I am finding it easier to get through it. I have no more sugar cravings or cravings for any junk food, which to me is a miracle. I never thought I could stop eating sweets so quickly. I am craving food, but mostly protein, like chicken and hard boiled eggs, and I would kill for some chicken broth!
 
I'm not saying it's easy now. I'm still counting the hours until my surgery. Today I feel the best mentally that I have in months. My head feels clear. I'm not in a fog. I wonder if it also has something to do with cutting out the diet soda. I am using sugar free syrups in my shakes, but that's nowhere near the amount of artificial sweetener I consumed drinking 3 or 4 cans of diet soda every day.
 
I know why I'm doing this. I have my goals in the forefront of my mind. Eight more days of revolting shakes and nothing else...I can do it!

Today is my 6th day on my pre-op diet, and it has been the easiest so far. While I still find the shakes and vegetable concoctions in my recipe book nauseating, mentally I am finding it easier to get through it. I have no more sugar cravings or cravings for any junk food, which to me is a miracle. I never thought I could stop eating sweets so quickly. I am craving food, but mostly protein, like chicken and hard boiled eggs, and I would kill for some chicken broth!
 
I'm not saying it's easy now. I'm still counting the hours until my surgery. Today I feel the best mentally that I have in months. My head feels clear. I'm not in a fog. I wonder if it also has something to do with cutting out the diet soda. I am using sugar free syrups in my shakes, but that's nowhere near the amount of artificial sweetener I consumed drinking 3 or 4 cans of diet soda every day.
 
I know why I'm doing this. I have my goals in the forefront of my mind. Eight more days of revolting shakes and nothing else...I can do it!

Today is my 6th day on my pre-op diet, and it has been the easiest so far. While I still find the shakes and vegetable concoctions in my recipe book nauseating, mentally I am finding it easier to get through it. I have no more sugar cravings or cravings for any junk food, which to me is a miracle. I never thought I could stop eating sweets so quickly. I am craving food, but mostly protein, like chicken and hard boiled eggs, and I would kill for some chicken broth!
 
I'm not saying it's easy now. I'm still counting the hours until my surgery. Today I feel the best mentally that I have in months. My head feels clear. I'm not in a fog. I wonder if it also has something to do with cutting out the diet soda. I am using sugar free syrups in my shakes, but that's nowhere near the amount of artificial sweetener I consumed drinking 3 or 4 cans of diet soda every day.
 
I know why I'm doing this. I have my goals in the forefront of my mind. Eight more days of revolting shakes and nothing else...I can do it!

Today is my 6th day on my pre-op diet, and it has been the easiest so far. While I still find the shakes and vegetable concoctions in my recipe book nauseating, mentally I am finding it easier to get through it. I have no more sugar cravings or cravings for any junk food, which to me is a miracle. I never thought I could stop eating sweets so quickly. I am craving food, but mostly protein, like chicken and hard boiled eggs, and I would kill for some chicken broth!
 
I'm not saying it's easy now. I'm still counting the hours until my surgery. Today I feel the best mentally that I have in months. My head feels clear. I'm not in a fog. I wonder if it also has something to do with cutting out the diet soda. I am using sugar free syrups in my shakes, but that's nowhere near the amount of artificial sweetener I consumed drinking 3 or 4 cans of diet soda every day.
 
I know why I'm doing this. I have my goals in the forefront of my mind. Eight more days of revolting shakes and nothing else...I can do it!

Today is Day 5 of my pre-op shake diet. I'm really growing to dread "meal time". I guess it doesn't help that I've also been sick the past few days. All I want is a little soup. I've been eating my vegetables for dinner. I never thought I'd ever be looking forward to eating asparagus and cauliflower!
 
I'm doing this for a reason. It will all be worth it when I start dropping pounds. This is the first time in years that I actually have a chance to get down to a reasonable size. Right now my first goal isn't even getting out of plus size clothes sizes. I've been shopping in plus size stores for so long! It really doesn't bother me. My first goal is to be able to shop in the regular section of stores that sell XXL like Old Navy or Target. I guess that would make my first goal a size 18. From here at 4X, that seems like a long way off, but I know I can do it!

Today is Day 5 of my pre-op shake diet. I'm really growing to dread "meal time". I guess it doesn't help that I've also been sick the past few days. All I want is a little soup. I've been eating my vegetables for dinner. I never thought I'd ever be looking forward to eating asparagus and cauliflower!
 
I'm doing this for a reason. It will all be worth it when I start dropping pounds. This is the first time in years that I actually have a chance to get down to a reasonable size. Right now my first goal isn't even getting out of plus size clothes sizes. I've been shopping in plus size stores for so long! It really doesn't bother me. My first goal is to be able to shop in the regular section of stores that sell XXL like Old Navy or Target. I guess that would make my first goal a size 18. From here at 4X, that seems like a long way off, but I know I can do it!

Today is Day 5 of my pre-op shake diet. I'm really growing to dread "meal time". I guess it doesn't help that I've also been sick the past few days. All I want is a little soup. I've been eating my vegetables for dinner. I never thought I'd ever be looking forward to eating asparagus and cauliflower!
 
I'm doing this for a reason. It will all be worth it when I start dropping pounds. This is the first time in years that I actually have a chance to get down to a reasonable size. Right now my first goal isn't even getting out of plus size clothes sizes. I've been shopping in plus size stores for so long! It really doesn't bother me. My first goal is to be able to shop in the regular section of stores that sell XXL like Old Navy or Target. I guess that would make my first goal a size 18. From here at 4X, that seems like a long way off, but I know I can do it!

Today is Day 5 of my pre-op shake diet. I'm really growing to dread "meal time". I guess it doesn't help that I've also been sick the past few days. All I want is a little soup. I've been eating my vegetables for dinner. I never thought I'd ever be looking forward to eating asparagus and cauliflower!
 
I'm doing this for a reason. It will all be worth it when I start dropping pounds. This is the first time in years that I actually have a chance to get down to a reasonable size. Right now my first goal isn't even getting out of plus size clothes sizes. I've been shopping in plus size stores for so long! It really doesn't bother me. My first goal is to be able to shop in the regular section of stores that sell XXL like Old Navy or Target. I guess that would make my first goal a size 18. From here at 4X, that seems like a long way off, but I know I can do it!