Before and After...Nearly 40 pounds!

Today I thought I would post some pictures of me before surgery and me now.
I'm down nearly 40 pounds and thought this would be appropriate to see the changes that have taken place.

This was me waiting for surgery 6/7/12....

                                                                           And this was me yesterday 8/18/12.......

Weigh-In

Today I am 39 pounds down since 6/7/12--Exactly 10 weeks since surgery today.
Sometimes when I feel like I am not losing weight fast enough I think--
How else would I have lost this much weight in this short of time without my band???
There is no way possible!
This also means I am wearing a size 1X compared to a 3X 10 weeks ago!
Seeing the progress is motivating!

THANK YOU LAP BAND!

I also have been telling myself this frequently when I feel like I just do not have time for myself...

That keeps me motivated to keep going and make at least time for 1 mile.
Ta Ta Till Next Time!

All the things I LOVE!

I wasn't planning on doing any blogging tonight...mainly because I'm tired and want to go to sleep. However, I started thinking about all the things I love and it got me thinking. So I'm just going to do a random list tonight....of LOVES:
Husband
Family
My furry baby Zoe
Friends
Riding motorcycle
Vacations
The lake
Pool days
Cookies, bars, icecream (oh no! Yes I do love them)
Garage sales
Camping
Flea markets
Antiques/Vintage "stuff"
Shopping
Florida
Palm Trees
Ocean
My LAP BAND!

Oh yes....that lap band I love....however that leaves me thinking there are some things that I can't add to my LOVES list at this time. I am at exactly 8 weeks post op. I do not love exercising, I do not love eating healthy. But am I doing it anyway...YES! Do I hate it, no...but I still don't love it. It's somewhere in between floating in space. I wonder tonight if some day I will be able to make this list again and be able to add both of those to my existing list.

The List of Work

So in the time that I have been away since surgery I have been working on one...well okay many things in my life!
1. Running--Yes I have accomplished running...and I would even go as far as calling myself "A RUNNER". This is still something I am trying to wrap my head around "a runner". For a long time I asked myself what that meant and how you knew you were one. I figured since I can now run a 5K, I will call myself one. Oh it didn't come easy...I was even mad about running at times, and still am when it doesn't come easy. Oh but the reward makes it worth it! I love how it makes my body feel fit! I can run without being so out of breath I can't function, it deffinately is helping to melt the fat away, and it's something my husband and I do together which is another bonus! I do actually have great pictures of my husband and I in our running stuff...but I can't get them to here from my iPhone (see #4 for explaination!) Okay...I think I got my pictures off my phone about an hour later!

2. Food mysteries--yes that maybe is strange to say but food has always been a mystery. I have food issues obviously otherwise I wouldn't be here talking about my weight loss journey. Even though I have the lap band, it is not "fixing" my food issues for me. What do I mean by "issues", texture and taste issues mainly...I can say I have acomplished eating more fruits....do I still cringe at a peach...yes, but can I eat it...yes...progress...have I made it through my issues NO! But small progresses...I'm sticking to that today!

3. Weight loss--Check! Today I am down 30 pounds in 7.5 weeks. Compliments to my wonderful lap band! (oh, and that thing called sweating, every day!) That is amazing to me, to be able to see and feel the changes is keeping me motivated.

4. Blogging--Okay I know this is not weight loss related, totally, but I want it to be for me. I really wanted to be able to share my journey with others and be able to vent and share. Like how I am inspired every day by Lap Band Gal! However, the blogging is a challenge to me right now! Any tips...throw them to me! Like losing weight, this is not easy either! I feel like I creep around other people's sites secretly, without anything to contribute back!

So whoever gets to read this....hope you enjoyed! Stop by again for my battles with weight loss, food, running, and blogging!

Reflection Tyme!

It's been a few days since I have posted, and I really do feel bad about this! Pain is nearly gone as I approach the one week mark tomorrow. I do still have gas pain in my shoulder occasionally. Went back to work Monday hoping to work a whole day but only made it half a day. I have been working full days since and have been feeling good! Go back to the Dr. tomorrow for my 1 week check up! Excited to see how much weight I have lost! I will be back tomorrow to share!

GAS PAINS...YES....HELLOOOOO

Okay....so this morning I know I posted mild gas pain...oh no...it has acclerated into horrible. Yes unbearable. WALK WALK WALK I have been. This is way more miserable than the day of surgery...I'm hoping this only lasts for one day! Whew!

Post Op-Day One!

Here I am-Post op day one after having my lab band surgery! Feeling really well. Surgery went great, the acutal procedure lasted about an hour, recovery for about an hour, then in my post op room for about an hour. Have mild gas pains and mild general pain today. Overall getting around well. I've been drinking fluids one ouce at a time and that seems to be going down very smoothly!

The morning before surgery

Me after Surgery

5 Incisions