Saturday, August 7, 2010

Comments - who knew!!!

Hi everyone.

I just found everyone's comments. Thanks so much Heather for sending everyone over. I am going to have to check all of your blogs out.

We are all one big happy banded family. Thanks for the encouragement.

Working the band.

I went in for a fill last Thursday and didn't end getting one - Jeanine thinks my weight loss is going fine and we shouldn't mess with a good thing. I was fine with that, I lost 6 pounds in three weeks so I am averaging two pounds a week. I really don't want to lose more than that. Sounds strange, but I am really trying to do the slow and steady thing. Before, I have always wanted to lose as much as possible, but then I would get burnt out and fall off track. Granted, it is not as easy to fall off track with a band, it is still possible.

I have walked every night for at least one hour - sometimes more, but always one hour as a minimum. I can't remember the last time I didn't walk. It has been really hot and humid on those evening walks, sometimes my walking buddies quit on me a little early and I end up finishing the walk alone. That is okay too. I know what it is going to take for me to lose this weight and part of it is moving my butt - daily.

On Tuesday, it was so hot out that I took the dogs home after about 40 minutes, they didn't seem to be enjoying the walk at all. I think that they are getting healthier also since they are my main walking buddies. Even when I am not motivated they are nudging me along to leave the house.

At almost 50 pounds off, people are starting to comment about my weight loss. You know that you were really fat when it takes a 50 pound loss for someone to notice. Oh well, at least they are noticing now. And I appreciate the comments, it just helps keeping me motivated.

I am running out of smaller clothes to wear. I have always had the range of clothes from my previous yo-yo weight loss and gains, except now my low end range clothes are really baggy. I don't want to buy many new clothes since I am just passing through, so I will only buy clearance clothes that are under $10.00 and only enough to get me by. I have plenty of tops in wide ranges, its just that the pants are getting too big. What a great problem to have.

I am so blessed to be on this journey. I who never win anything, really took the mother-lode when I did win something. I am so appreciative of Dr. Rohrscheib and his staff, they are the best and always my biggest cheerleaders. I look forward to my fill dates just so I can visit with them. They are all so kind and caring.

As I am almost at four months with the band, I feel like I have a different perspective than when I first won. I originally thought it would be all band doing the work and me cruising alongside, but that is really so untrue. I have to work everyday to get healthier and thinner. The band is a tool, but I am definitely the carpenter using the tool. I could slack and the band would just be an apparatus in my body and not a weight loss tool. I have to plan my meals, my snacks and my exercise and I have to follow through, if I don't I will not lose a pound. And I WILL lose all my weight and keep it off this time.

So, an example of me using the tool, I journaled what I ate the last couple of weeks and saw that there were some unhealthy foods sneaking in more than they should, so I have eliminated those foods from my house. No more crackers or chips in the house. I never ate many, but I would eat two or three and those two or three will eventually catch up with me - so they are gone. Bob and Neal don't need them either, so it will be a good thing. The other thing that I have to watch is ice cream. I really don't even like ice cream, but since it has been so hot lately, I have had a little here and there, not more than one scoop, but again, I really don't like ice cream so why waste the calories when it is not something that I truly want. I walk too long each night to be eating wasted calories on something that I only sort of like. I know that sounds weird, but I think you get what I mean. It is good that there are really only two things that I need to be more careful with, so most of my food choices are good.

One of my favorite things to eat right now is Orange Jello Salad. I take a large container of low-fat cottage cheese, add a large package of sugar-free gelatin to it, stirring it up good. To that mixture I add one big can of drained crushed pineapple and one big can of mandarin oranges drained. Mix it up and add some low-fat or sugar free cool-whip. I let it set in the refrigerator overnight before I eat it the next day. It takes away any craving I have for something sweet. It also has protein and fruit in it. It is so yummy - and it really fills me up even when I don't eat a lot. You should try it sometime.

Well, I need to think about settling down for the night - busy day tomorrow. Lunch with Dad and all the family and then at 4:00 I have to go help paint the circle drive at the high school. I guess that we are also painting horse prints around town also. Hopefully it won't be too hot.

Have a great weekend and I will talk to you later.


D