How Do I Comment?

Will someone help me.........please, oh please!

I can't comment on blogs unless it has name and URL.

Why can't I go through my Google account?

So frustrating!

Help!

Thank You



I just want to say thank you to everyone who reads and comments.  I do not have a support group in my town and everyone here has become my band support.

A special thanks to:

Cece, Robyn, Ronnie, Vicky, Amy, and Lisa

Without these ladies continual comments I do not think I would have been as successful as I have been.  Please check out their blogs if you have not already (you can access their blogs by clicking on their name).

I just love how all us bandsters are so supportive of eachother.  You really have become like a 2nd family to me!  I always look forward to all your comments.

Thank you to my walking buddy, Lesley.  Her birthday was yesterday and you know what she wanted to do?  Walk 6.5 miles!  She always inspires me to push myself just a little bit further.  There is NO WAY I would have gotten to a 101 lbs. lost so quickly without her.  What the heck am I going to do when she moves to Arkansas?!  Does anyone volunteer to walk daily with me?

Also, thank you to all my FB friends who comment on my links.  In the beginning I did not want to post any of my blog to FB because I was so embarrassed that I had gotten so heavy.  What I realize now is we all struggle with something........mine just happens to be food!  Thank you for inspiring me to be my best self.

Lots of hugs and kisses to everyone.  THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart!  My journey is not over by a long shot but I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.

100 Pounds Down!!!

 

This morning as I stepped on the scale, confetti and balloons fell from my ceiling.  Not really, but it would have been nice. 

217.1..............I began this journey at 318.  101 lbs. lost and not to EVER be found again.

I really can not believe it.  It is almost surreal.  I have stepped on the scale at least 10 times today to make sure it is correct.

I can't believe how emotional I am getting over this.  I am crying as I type. 

Honestly, I thought when I got down this size I would be content with where I am.  225 and I have spend YEARS together.  It is the number that I weighed after each pregnancy.  A size 16W or 18 in regular size.

But, now 217.............I am just passing through this number.  I am off to smaller and better things.

Next stop, Onderland.

Tales Of The Too Tight T-shirt

Six years ago, on Mother's Day, my kids made me a hand print t-shirt.  They each painted their little hands and decorated a shirt for me.  They thought they had given me the best thing ever.  There was only one problem..........

The t-shirt was a size large.  There was no way I could fit into it.  At the time I was a solid 3X.

I remember the look on their little faces.  They were so disappointed.  I remember how mortified and embarrassed I was.

Fast forward to the present.

Yesterday, I was digging around in my drawers eliminating clothes that are too big.  I pulled out the t-shirt.  It has never been worn.  It has been collecting dust in the bottom of my lingerie drawer.

I looked at the shirt.  I thought.......there is no way a large will fit yet.  But, I tried it on anyway.

Guess what?

It fit.  Perfectly.  It even has a bit of room in the shoulders and arms.

I was so excited.  I went to show the girls.

My middle daughter began to cry.  I asked her what was the matter.  She said that she could remember me not fitting into it.  That she was sad for me.  That I am not the same mom.  That she is proud.

She made me cry too.

Not because I was sad anymore. 

I finally feel like myself. 

I have found the mom I was meant to be. 



Unsolicited Diet Advice

Do you get unsolicited diet advice?  This past week it seems that I have received more diet advice than I ever have.

I have been told to:

1.  Eat only whole foods
2.  Try Herb*life
3.  No sugar
4.  No carbs
5.  More protein (this one makes it quite apparent that people do not know how us bandsters eat)
6.  Try a pre-packaged meal plan
7.  Join Weight* Watchers

And the list goes on.................

What makes it okay to approach me now?  Do they think maybe somehow I have lost 97 lbs. by some accident?

I have used this new found concern with my weight loss to educate people about being banded.  I am sure they love to hear me talk about the band but, fair is fair.  You want me to listen to your diet advice.....well, listen how I am going to keep my weight off.

You see, this is NOT a diet.  I look at this as a complete lifestyle change.  I know now what a correct portion size is.  I know I have to eat at least 80 grams of protein and drink about 100 oz. of water a day.  I know I have to keep my carbs to around 50 grams, my sodium to no more than 2,500 mg, my sugar below 30 g (that one I still struggle with!). 

The point is:  for the first time in my life I am knowledgeable about what goes into my body.  I track everything that enters my mouth.

I exercise no fewer than 5 days a week.  Most days between 1-1 1/2 hours.  I am extremely active now.

I know now what is takes.  I have goals.  I hold myself accountable.

If I choose to eat a cookie and the scale does not budge then I know it was my doing.  I also know that just one day is not going to affect how I eat MOST days. 

Now instead of "bad" foods and "good" foods,  I consider foods "sometimes" and "always". 

This band has changed my whole perspective about food.

This band is going to get me to my goal (that and my willpower).

This band is going to help me maintain when I get to goal.

This band is going to make me succeed.

Isn't it funny that a tiny piece of plastic has changed my whole way of thinking?

So, bring on the diet advice.  Just don't be surprised when you have to hear how about how Lap-band is my "diet" of choice.

How Do You Treat Others?

I have finally noticed a BIG difference in the way people treat me.

I get my door held open for me.  People make eye contact.  Strangers approach me.  I am not ignored.

Funny isn't it that when we were really large we were ignored?  When we needed the most compassion we got none.

I will say that I am sure I treat the world a lot differently than I did 97 lbs. ago.  I am sure I make eye contact more, that I smile more and that I actually start conversations now.  I hold my head a little higher, fix my hair, wear makeup again.........I just feel better physically and mentally.

I think  that what we put out there in the world we get back.  Kind of a Kharma thing.  If I put out negativaty, how can I expect to get positivity back?

But, it has become blatentley obvious that men especially are treating me different.

Yesterday, I had to take my flat tire in for repair.  The salesperson not only opened the truck to get out the tire, he hauled it in for me.  He asked me my name.  He held the door for me.  Would this have happened when I was 300 lbs.?  Probably not.

The world is kind of funny.  We are a fickle beauty chasing species.  Is that fair?  No.  But it is.

I really don't know what to make of this newfound treatment.  Part of me is sad that we put so much stock in beauty and being thin that we do not see true inside beauty.  Part of me is offended (yes, the 300 lb. girl wants to punch someone).  And part of me feels like I have worked hard so I should just accept it.

I will tell you this, I will NOT ignore people.  Thin, large, short, tall..........everyone has something to offer. 

And, that is what makes me glad I am going through this journey. 

 

Oh, Peanut Butter.............How I Love Thee.

Peanut butter is my downfall.  Any peanut product.  It doesn't matter.  I am not picky.

Nutter Butters, Jif by the spoonfull, homeade peanut butter cookies, honey roasted peanuts, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups................the list is endless.

When I was pregnant with my middle child I survived on peanut butter.  Really.  Everything else gave me heartburn.  And after she came out?  Everything gave her heartbearn............except, you guessed it.......peanut butter.  So, for 6 months while breastfeeding I ate peanut butter.

I know it is packed full of protein.  But, I am like a crack addict with it.  I even eat Capn Crunch Peanut Butter flavor.  *Sigh*

I don't wonder why the scale hasn't budged in 4 days..............I know why.  PEANUT BUTTER.

As I am looking through all my food logs I am seeing a trend.  Peanut butter has made a re-appearance.  I know there is healthy peanut butter out there.  I have tried it.  But, YUK.........dry and nasty.  No, I like the really bad Jif.  The full flavor with the loaded oil.  The kind that stays on your hips once it passes your lips.

Why am I writing this?  So, I can be accountable to all of you.

My goal this week is to cut peanut butter out.  I don't know whether to cut it out completely or limit it to maybe 2 servings this week.  Any suggestions would be helpful.

Right now I am going to go convulse in a corner..............because my peanut butter withdrawls have already started.