-2 lbs this week. It's been slow and steady... and I am OK with that. I have to keep reminding myself that it took me years to put this weight on and it will take me a while to take it off. If I had really wanted to get it off fast then I would have done the gastic bypass. This was not an intelligent option for me personally. Everyone has to make that decision personally.... and not care about what anyone else thinks about it. You know yourself better than anyone else!

So..... it has been a good week. We got a new puppy! His name is Joey and he is a teeny tiny little yorkie. He has been a lot of fun. He is just like a little baby. Working on the house training... he's not a big fan of going outside in the cold.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow! I am not worried about it at all! Actually, I hadn't even thought about it until someone at work asked me what I was gonna eat. Well... I am gonna eat whatever I want I told her! It's all about portion control and staying focused on the bigger picture. Food doesn't control me anymore. It doesn't bother me to bake cookies or other things that I know that I won't be eating. My boys still need to eat and deserve to have treats. I am so focused on being healthy that I don't even want the things that I use to eat. This has been a real life changing experience for me and I have NO REGRETS at all!

Well, I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and will check back in next week!

It's been a good week. I decided that I needed to add some caffeine back into my diet. I did some research on the benefits of tea and decided that was what I would add back in. It has less caffeine than coffee or soda. It also has many added benefits such as boosting your metabolism, curbing your appetite and boosting your immune system. I have actually been feeling really good and I have more energy. I didn't really talk to my doctor about it, but I did a lot of research on the lapband forum and it seems that it is OK with the band patients... maybe not so good for the gastric bypass patients.

I started a water aerobics class with my sister. It is a couple nights a week and has been really fun. Something different.

Well, that's about all that's new for this week. Thanks for checking in!!

I am doing much better now that I can eat again!! I have noticed that I am eating less and getting fuller faster... which is the whole point. I am also burping a lot more, especially after I eat. I think that maybe I am still eating too fast. It is really, really hard to make a meal last for 3o minutes when you have stuff to be doing. It seems like forever... and I have not even come close to accomplishing this feat yet.

Anyhow, hope everyone has a great weekend. Thanks again for all the support and encourgement!! I appreciate you all.

I AM STARVING!!!!!

Well I had my 1st fill today!! I was very, very nervous. The area was cleaned using a sterile field. She then injected some lidocaine to numb the area... which burned really, really bad. She then pushed around on my stomach to find the right area and then inserted the needle. Now, while she is doing this is she telling me that this is the 1st realize band that her and Dr. Verseman have filled!!! I begin to panic...thinking how is she gonna know if she is in the right area or not. Well, it only took that one poke and she found it. She then instilled 4 cc's of sterile saline. The realize band will hold a total of 12 cc's. This time and the next one in a month will be the largest fills. After that it will just be small amounts that are added as necessary. So, with the needle still sticking out of my belly, she sits me up and has me drink some water. This is to ensure that there aren't any problems with my being able to drink water and keep it down. I had no problems so she took the needle out and placed a small bandaid over the injection site.

Today and tomorrow I am back on clear liquids. This part sucks!! Thursday I can start having my protein shakes and Friday I can introduce a full diet slowly back in. This is the procedure every time that I have a fill.

All in all... it wasn't too bad. The worst part is not being able to eat!!

-3 more lbs this week! I am now down 36 lbs. I am really excited for next week to get here when I get my fill. Had a tough week.. had 3 party's to go to and there was lots of yummy fat foods to be eaten. Somehow I was able to overcome the temptations and did really well... something that I haven't been able to do in the past. Have also been sick this week so that has been another hurdle. Feeling better today though!