It's hard to believe it's been exactly 6 months since my surgery. 6 months to the day. Amazing. I am down 42 pounds and counting.

I went to a support group a few months ago and the doctor said that the band, "makes the impossible possible." Then he talked about the statistics behind sustained weight loss that exceeds 10 percent. Quite dismal statistics. And, with that information, I am again so pleased with my decision. It's different for everyone, and the band is just a tool to help me reach my goals. But-it's a tool that's helping reshape my thoughts around weight loss and my eating habits. And, I couldn't be happier.

Now the challenge begins by getting the whole family on board with the new eating, healthier choices, less junk. Why is it so hard to go through a cupboard and throw away junk food? The food's not good for any of us and it's better to throw away money than put that stuff in our bodies. A friend was telling me that a french fry you make at home in oil is digested and leaves your body within 2 days, but a McDonald's french fry remains, undigested in your system for 2 months!!! What are we putting into our bodies? And the bigger question, why do we wonder why we can't lose weight, when our body is full of junk that can't be digested and expelled?

So-we're looking to turn over a new leaf; all of us. And lead a healthier life. And not put so much junk in our bodies. We only get one body-we need to take care of it so that it brings us through the hopefully long and challenging road of life.

Happy 2011!

It seems really hard to believe that another year has come & gone...I've grown another year older (and hopefully wiser)...my kids are another year older (and cuter, if that's at all possible).

Amazingly, I am now able to look through my journal and see some progress on my weight loss. It seems to me, that for many years past, I've written in my journal around this time each year and vowed to get the weight off, vowed to eat better, vowed to be successful in this very difficult challenge.

I was reviewing my journal just days ago-reflecting on these past 5 months and am just so excited about my possibilities. I am right under 40 pounds lost, feeling great and excited about this year. Each day is a blank slate-we are able to make the right choices anew. And, I'm really happy about this year. I'm happy about the choices I'm starting to make and the results those choices are producing.

Bring it on, 2011! I'm so ready for you...

3 Months and Counting...

It's hard to believe that I had my surgery 3 months ago to the day. I am officially down 25 pounds. I'm pretty excited about that!

I finally had an adjustment on Tuesday where I actually felt the restriction. So, the 25 pounds is really from the pre-surgery diet and the exercise challenge. Now-we hope that I'm nearing the sweet spot and the weight should start to fall off.

I've been really bad about blogging. I had such good intentions of posting monthly pictures of myself on my journey but good grief...I can't even find the time to blog regularly. I'm hopeful that my life settles down a bit and I can find some moments to reflect on my journey and share it with you.

Alright...now to figure out how to post pictures!!! I need some blogger lessons for sure!

Back in Action.

Well the pink ladies are in full swing and feeling the pain! We've worked out together for almost 2 weeks and we are definitely in sync. We've encouraged each other and helped each other get through our workouts. I'm so excited about it! They're actually helping me push myself, especially with the running. So-a big shout out and thank you to the Pink Ladies...you guys ROCK!

Okay-I've had two more fills after my first fill. I think we are definitely still trying to find my sweet spot. For the first two days after a fill I'm on liquid, then 2 days soft then I transition to "regular" foods. I only really feel restriction until the 2nd day on regular foods, when I feel very little restriction. As a result, I'm down a total of 21 pounds. Which of course is great-I don't want to get caught up in having expected more than 21 pounds to diminish the fabulous-ness of having lost those pounds. I know this is a process-a marathon not a sprint.

It is such an adjustment-life with the band. I think I'm slowly learning to live (and eat) with my new tool. My workouts and food journaling are helping me stay on track. I'm excited about the coming 6 weeks and the additional progress I'll make as a result of my workouts and new eating habits. Stay tuned...

What the...?

Good news-I was down 19 pounds before my first fill! Can you believe that? How fabulous. Seriously, I am so excited about that. When I had my first fill my doctor told me the weight I'd lost up to this point was just "bonus pounds".

So imagine my surprise that here I am post-first fill and I feel LESS restriction from my band and I've gained 4 pounds?

Being the optimist-I'm looking at the 15 pounds lost and trying not to focus on that 4 pound "what in the world is going on" gain. I put a call in to my doctor but they're gone for the long weekend. I will touch base with them tomorrow. I'm sure they'll have me out to adjust my band accordingly and get this weight loss train moving again.

In the meantime, it looks as though I'm stuck at the station but looks we know can be deceiving. I am trying to look inside and figure out what I can learn from this. Patience perhaps-all good things come to those who wait? Being content with what we have-hello, I'll take that 15 pounds! And, in the end I know that this will work and as my doctor said, there is no failure only delayed success!

Have a happy Labor Day!

Grease is the word...

Our Attack the Fat Challenge team is assembled and NAMED. Yes, we are the "Pink Ladies." A little ode to the inner greaser in all of us and of course our shirts are pink.

I'm really looking forward to the challenge, which starts on September 13. Prepare to read all about our training sessions and our weekly progress. This time around, I've enlisted two girlfriends to join me. It's going to be fabulous! We will have each other to lean on and encourage during the 8 week session. AND-we'll be able to get together on off training days and do our "homework." So-RB and RG....let's get ready to rumble...or should I say, let's get ready to drag race in a souped up convertible. After all-grease is the word.

Bring it on!

It seems completely surreal to me that I'm here, at this place. It seems like I've spent the entire past year gearing up for this moment and then before you know it-it's here.

I had my very first fill today. My doctor asked me if I was ready to start losing weight. One part of me wanted to scream, "Heck yeah! I've been waiting YEARS to start losing weight! I'm ready, bring it on!" Yet, there was another voice inside of me, timidly wondering if all would be okay-was this really happening-what if it doesn't work-what if I can't do this?

Yet, I sit here, excited. Really excited. Wanting to shout from the roof tops excited! My weight loss journey has brought me to this point and I am MORE than ready. I am so very ready to see the pounds melting off-to feel a bit lighter on my feet-to feel really good about myself again. And, I know that my value and self worth as a person doesn't come from a number on a scale, or a number sewn into my pants but I'm so ready to allow myself to not just know that in my head-but to know that in my heart, too. Bring it on! I'm ready!