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Okay, I finally took another picture of myself. I don't see much change in my appearance but I realize we don't always see ourselves realistically! So here it is: 

Went shopping yesterday and feel very good about what I bought: as I'm currently living in a motel and started with only a microwave for cooking, I'm now in possession of a toaster-oven, an electric kettle, and a crock pot. (Do not tell the management . . . ) Tomorrow I'm very excited: going to make beef stew in the crock pot. Most of the food I bought was good, too: deli chicken and ham, some mashed cauliflower,  a pineapple to go with my beloved cottage cheese . . . what I haven't bought, but might next trip, is a scale. Of course, I have a fine scale in my storage locker (just like I have a crock pot and an electric kettle in there, too), but getting there and finding those things? Not happening. Maybe I'll get an apartment soon, maybe it'll be a while . . . whatever happens, happens. But at least I feel a bit better able to eat correctly now, so that's something. The clock is ticking on my "honeymoon" period . . .

Minor update: It's been a bit of a journey--up ten pounds and then, finally, got rid of those ten (again) and am again making some slow progress downward. I'm very excited at the prospect of breaking the 300-pound mark and having my weight begin with a 2 instead of a 3 for the first time in--decades? I'm not even sure how long it's been, but a long, long time. Wow. Don't know whether I'll ever make it to onederland, but every step downward is a victory of sorts. Yay. 

One weird thing about this journey for me is how chaotic and difficult my life has been during most of it. I've lived in four or five different places in the past six months and I'm about to move again, most likely back to a motel that will, I'm hoping, be temporary. Sheesh. Back to all my cooking being done in the microwave and toaster-oven . . . I'm not thrilled by that. However, I'm finally on the list at a senior/low-income apartment complex, and I've been told vacancies are coming up (how soon? don't know; where am I on the waiting list? don't know), so I don't really want to sign a lease elsewhere. Please God I get an apartment of my own with a real kitchen soon.

Well . . . I managed to gain 10 pounds during the three weeks I lived in a motel without my scale and cooking only with a microwave--not quite sure how that happened, but ugh. Have now stayed with a friend for a few weeks and lost it, and am back moving in the right direction. Total lost is 76 pounds. Would like to double that at least! Though, to be fair, the saggy skin thing does put me off a bit. Not enough to stop the process . . . I sure would enjoy being something close to normal.  

I seem to have hit another stall already--I keep waiting for my loss to hit 50 pounds but it just isn't getting there. I have lost a bit of the grip on what I'm eating and whether I'm getting enough protein and so on--a lot of changes lately. I moved about a week ago and then lost my niece (age 43) to a heroin overdose. So, kind of traumatic times. I don't think I'm going to be able to get to the funeral. Like so many things, nothing I can do about that.

Still, shopped yesterday and have some protein shakes, much as I dislike them, to help me get back in control. Made a birthday cake for the friend with whom I'm staying, but that's gone now and I've bought some sugar-free fudgesicles for my "sweet." 

I'm a bit frustrated by the fact that I don't really notice a change in my body and I'm still wearing all the same clothes. How much do I have to lose before the clothes are too big? Sheesh. And then I have to stop a moment and realize it's only been six weeks since the surgery--this is a long journey, not a sprint. 

So, onward.

I have hit the dreaded stall . . . just past four weeks but haven't really lost anything for the last week. So, right on schedule. Not too worried, but I do wish I'd get past it. On the other hand, I feel as though I'm eating as much as I can, and my calorie counts are now in the 500 to 700 range. So it will start again.

Tentative surgery date of August 28, 2017!!!