MADE IT!!!

Well, I've conquered two Christmas parties and a dinner before a show ... I'm good to go!!
We had our annual ornament party at my daughter's house last Sunday and even though I had been sick and was really tired after the previous week of the feeding the homeless ministry at church which I was chairman of, I didn't give in to the spread of delicious looking and smelling food!! I took some of my homemade chicken salad and had that along with a couple of crackers and didn't feel as though I was missing out on anything! Before surgery, times of fatigue and sickness was a time to EAT!! Actually, it didn't take much to have an excuse to eat, but those two stress factors were big “reasons” to eat. To top things off, that evening, we had the Tree Trim Service at church which is followed by lots and lots of goodies to eat ... I fixed myself a cup of flavored caffeine free hot tea ... that was it, all I needed ... no worries, no feelings of missing out ...no problems!! Last night my mom, my daughter, her mother-in-law and I went to see Cirque Dreams, Jungle Fantasy and dinner before at Freemason Abby's .. they all ordered Prime Rib and I ordered a Chicken and Pasta dish. I ate a bite of their salad, a pinch of a roll, my 2 or so ounces of the chicken, a small bite of prime rib, a bite of roasted potato and an asparagus end ... taking a bite of this and that (from foods that are allowed) from other's plates along with the protein portions I need are all I need to satisfy my appetite for the variety of foods others are eating. I can't explain it ... I just don't have the cravings for food .. I do like to taste this and that on special occasions like last night's dinner, but once I get my 3 ½ or 4 ounces of food, I'm DONE!! Even taking my husband for dessert Tuesday night at Ruby Tuesday's didn't bother me .. I drank my water with lemon and organized my last minute Christmas gift list .. although that Blonde Brownie smelled wonderful ... never once did I want to take a bite! It's been six months, yesterday, since surgery and I've lost 111 pounds ... NOTHING TASTE AS GOOD AS FEELING THIN IS!!! I have gone from a size 26-28 to 16-18 ... WHOO HOO!!!! I truly feels fabulous ... I can't wait to hit a size 14 ... haven't seen that in I cant remember when!!!! AND THE JOURNEY CONTINUES!!!!

FIRST OF MANY CHRISTMAS GET TOGETHER'S TOMORROW

Well, tomorrow is our annual "Ornament Party", where a bunch of us gals get together to share in laughter, love, an ornament exchange and FOOD! I really am not anxious about it though cause this morning on the scales I was down once again ... a total of 109 pounds!!! I am in a size 16 Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, I started this journey wearing a size 26-28!!! WHOO HOO ... a saying that has been passed on to me which is my motto now is ... "Nothing tastes as good as being thin is"!!!! YeeHaa!! I still have 46 pounds to go to meet the Doctor's goal and 66 to meet mine :-) Full steam ahead!!!

Preparation for events like these during the Holidays, I believe, is preparation, preparation, preparation! I am taking homemade chicken salad which I will be able to eat with a cracker or two and if anyone brings veggies or fruit ... BONUS!! I also am making fudge, not for me to consume ... hehehe ... but I'll tell everyone as I always do ... eat a piece for me and tell me how good it is. That seems to satisfy me ... give it a smell and let me know it's yummy! It's all a mind game you know ... and I intend to outwit my mind :-)

On my way for labs ... my 6 month check up in coming up in 2 weeks. My projected goal for my 6 month mark which will be December 11th is to have lost 111 pounds ... by golly, I think I'll make it!!!

WOW ... Where have I been?

Very busy and very active!! As of today, 5 months out, I've lost 107 pounds!!! I made it through Thanksgiving with no worries :-) Went Thursday, Friday and Saturday and lost 3 pounds ... whoohoo!! This has been the best thing I have ever done in terms of weight loss and I can't believe I've waited as long as I have ... if you have struggled with your weight and thought about surgery, I strongly recommend getting more information. Research for a specialist close to you and get informed!!! I will be keeping my blog updated and hope to be a means of encouragement for anyone considering or who have had weight loss surgery .... it's the bomb!!!