181... wow... takes forever..

Weight is coming off so much slower now, but slow and steady wins the race, right?  I'm at 181 now... that is 9 lbs in about a month.  So, I'm really happy!

Now... I'm on the way to 159.. I have a little way to go.  I have to lose 22 pounds by March 18th.  That is about 4 months away.  That will equal to around 6 lbs a month. I hope I can do it.  Let's just see how it works.

Either way, a friend of mine keeps saying... so, what if it takes more than 1 year to lose 100? Can't you see how far you've come.  I know my friend is right.  Still I press on, hoping to hit 100 by my surgiversary.

I also walked 6.5 miles on Sunday.  Just trying to kick start my loss.  That walk almost killed me because that same day I was struck with a serious stomach bug.  I didn't know if the walk caused it or if it was just the virus that my son and his family brought home to me.  Either way, I was not very happy on Sunday and it is still a struggle to feel well even now.

:)  I'm happy... I can see 170 something in my future!

Under 190... a STRUGGLE!

It has been a struggle to keep the scales from teetering between 189 and 190.  Finally, TODAY, the scale finally seems to be below 189, barely below...but, below.  I am hoping that it will continue to go down.  I'm not sure what has caused me to once again be stuck, but maybe it is not enough protein or not enough water...or something like that.

Either way, I am on way to my goal... Right Now I'm just trying to get to 180... got to get there..

My HUGE goal is to be 159 by my 1 year surgiversary, March 18.  My goal that seems to be unattainable is 130.  BUT, I'm hopeful.  188 used to be unbelievable...but here I am 71 pounds down.

When I'm down to 180 I will take more pictures.

FINGERS, ARMS, LEGS, EYES...everything CROSSED! :)

65 LBS Down!!! That's right.. :)

Onederland is wonderful!  This morning I did my usual weekly weigh-in and am down to 194, well 194.3, but what's a .3, really!  That is great.  65 pounds since March 2013.  I had my surgery on March 18th... so, it is about 5 months and a week.  That averages to about 2.8 lbs a week.  I'm very happy with that.  The whole reason I chose the VSG was so that I would not loose so fast that I looked like a deflated balloon, well that and the whole not moving your intestines thing.  For some reason, the moving of my intestines just freaked me out.

I am always changing my goals as I'm going along on this journey. I think my new goal now is 180.  My long-range goal is somewhere between 130-140.  I would be thrilled to be there.  I'm working on it.

I do get stuck it seems.  I know that it is natural to get stuck, but... it stresses me out.  Whenever I get stuck, I survey what am I doing that may be contributing to this being stuck?  What can I do to get the scales moving again?  In my own perception, I think there are 2-3 things I could do to make it go faster.  1.  Drink more water.  I've always had issues with this, I could go a long time without something to drink.  64 oz seems like so much to me.  I usually get in around 40 or 50 oz.
2.  Eat more protein.  This is just a rule as far as this surgery goes.  I do eat meat or eggs for every single meal, but it always makes the scale move faster.  I have to focus on that protein.  I have to remind myself that fruit is healthy, but not protein...so, i eat NUT-trition nut snacks that have 10g protein in them.  Usually when I'm stuck if I eat these for snack, the scale will move.
3.  Watch my intake.  If I start being more conscious of when/how much I'm eating it really helps.  I do think I'm eating more than 4oz.  at most meals and that is a no-no.  I'm working on it.

The best things about the VSG:

• I'm never really hungry, maybe head hungry but that's it.
• Even if I wanted to gorge myself, I cannot! :)
• It has made physical activity SO much better!
• I have more confidence
• I like taking pictures more than I used to
• It has changed my life... even at 65 lbs down.

The milestones I wished for and have achieved so far include:

• Being able to go to a regular store, like Wal-mart and buy a t-shirt of reg size.
• Getting a new wardrobe for work...(not at Wal-Mart)
• Getting out of size 26s and down into some teen numbers for sizes.
• Sitting in a STUDENT desk without feeling embarrassed. (did that this week!)
• Being able to think of travel and going somewhere without worrying if I can walk that far.
• Buying a 1X spirit shirt for school.  ( I bought a 1X and a LG!  That's another one of my goals!!)
• Being seated at a booth in a restaurant without the waitress looking at me in a pity and saying, "Would you rather sit at a table or is a booth ok?" Translation: "You know your A** is too wide for a booth."
• Seeing the other side of 200!  

Goals I want to achieve:

• Being as small as my best friend and sharing clothes
• Walking in a 5K (already registered for Oct 12 Color Run!)
• Seeing the other side of 150 lbs...cause to me that is a "normal weight" where people won't look at me and think "FAT"
• Wearing a LG shirt ... then a M
• Wearing a cute belt
• Riding on a roller coaster and not stressing that it won't close on me
• Riding in an airplane and not having to ask for a seatbelt extension

I think all of these goals are achievable now!  I am so thankful for the VSG... It is really working for me.. 

:)

60 LBS... and Onederland! :)

I'm so thrilled that Sunday when I got on the scales... it was UNDER 200!  I'm in ONEDERLAND.. :)
When I stepped on that scale, I cried!  I have not been under 200 since the year 2000.  It is so exciting and simply amazing.

It has been so slow losing lately that I thought I would never see that 1 in the front of the number.  I'm so thankful and blessed to have this opportunity to change the way I eat, and frankly my relationship with food.

Now, on to the next goal.  I can't wait to get to 179...

oh Man...only 58 lbs... SLOW, SLOW, SLOW

Seems I'm slow in losing this weight... I'm at 58 lost and ready to be below that 200 mark...

I have tried to figure out if it that I am eating too much or not enough water or not enough protein...or exactly what it is.

So... I keep going and doing the best that I can.

Fingers crossed I'll lose the last pounds and next post I will be under 200.. UGHHHHH, aggravated. :(

56 pounds down... 4 pounds and I'm 199! ONEDERLAND, here I come.

It has been a slow go lately, but I'm getting there.  I'm really happy with my weight loss so far.  I'm excited to see the scale going in the right directions.

I'm sure there are some things I could do better.... but, here are just few of the changes since my surgery:
Portion size is MUCH smaller, of course
I drink ONLY water
No sweets, just don't want them like before...
Protein snacks..

What are some things I KNOW i need to work on:
Eating more protein
Drinking MORE water
Watching what I'm eating... (less rice, fewer potatoes, just fewer CARBS in general)
Increasing my physical activity.  I'm walking daily between 2-3 miles a day, but I increasing my physical activity would increase my weight loss.

My next post I may be LESS than 200... I haven't been less than 200 since the year 2000! :)

I'm loving my sleeve!

FINALLY...50!

Finally today I reached 50 lbs.  I was beginning to think it would never happen.  I just kept teetering between 210 and 208.  Finally, today... 208.

Now, my next goal is to get to ONEderland!  I'm ready to be under the 200 lb mark.

So, when I went to the dr. everything went fine.  They were pleased with my results.  They said my weight loss is going great.  I talked with them about being stuck between 210-208... and they asked what kind of snacks I was eating.  I told them that I've been trying to do low calorie snacks, mostly fruit.  They said that might be my problem.  They say I need PROTEIN snacks.  So, I took the advice of my friend that had surgery 3 weeks before and got NUT-trition.  10G of protein.

I also went on my own and got a food scale, just to make sure I am not eating over the 4 oz I'm supposed to.  I don't want to go backwards... I want to move forward.  It has been slow lately, so now I'm going to be even more mindful of what goes in my mouth, how much I'm eating, exercise, and make sure I'm eating protein first.

That's really all I know to do.... keep your fingers crossed for me.  And if anyone is reading this blog, leave a comment.  I would like to hear from you.

Now for before/after pictures...

BEFORE SURGERY pics in November at highest weight 258--AFTER in JUNE at 209