“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

That is my new mantra...

I had a fabulous and wonderful time in San Francisco visiting my parents and sister.  We had a blast going all over the city.  At 8 and 10 they are so much easier to travel with and now help me carry luggage, pack etc.  I even took a picture which is an NSV because I have less than 12 pictures of me with my children from the last 10 years.  It is crazy but I realize that I need to get used to my body image and feel at peace with it. 

Another thing I really enjoyed was pushing myself physically in SF.  We literally ran all around town since it is a "walking town".  We did use public transportation but we walked miles and miles...I like the concept of natural exercise during the day versus gym time.  I need gym time too but walking and playing with my kids is wonderful exercise too.

Thank you  for all your virtual support.

Long Way To Go Ho Hum

I was just talking to my mom (part of my thin and glamorous family) and she commended me on my losses but she told me that I need to stick with it because I have a long way to go.  I don't want people to lie to me, but I am so sensitive about my weight.  I don't think she will be content till I'm a size 6 and going to sample sales.

Hello...Digging myself out and an NSV about Stress

I've been under a TON of stress...I've been writing an 80 page document from hell for a client.  And it has been intense in that I feel a lot of responsibility and pressure.  For me, STRESS is the primary cause of my weight gain.  College finals, grad school finals, big projects, client problems....Stressful academic or work times for me always resulted in an inevitable 3-5 lb gain...Years of this made me 80 lbs overweight.

With the band, because I can't sedate my stress with food; I find myself dealing with the stress more directly versus obsessing about it.  I find myself talking more to my friends/husband/colleagues about the things that make me stressed out.

This time, and this project, even with my TOM, I lost weight.  I still have one more day to go (I'm on vacation but it's not done yet...ARRRGH).

I'm in San Fran visiting my skinny and glamorous family and they said I look healthier and thinner.  My sister told me I need to buy tighter and smaller jeans.

I love you blogger friends.  You are my therapy!

An NSV with wonderful timing

I went to pick my son up from a pool party.  One set of parents, I had not seen for a whole year.  Our kids had  golf lessons  for 6 weeks last summer and we used to sit together and watch them.  When the kids had lessons summer, I was at my peak weight.  They did not recognize me until we talked for 10 minutes and they recognized my voice. 

Just when I think this band has not had the impact that I wanted or that losses are too slow, I get encouragement like this that makes it worth while and makes me want to jump back on a treadmill and run a mile out of joy.

Hope you are having a great weekend.

A special thank you to MandaPanda and Lisa-The Rest of My Life.  I was doubly nominated and am doubly honored...especially because I like both of these bloggers/weight loss sisters so much.


Rules of the Award
*Thank the person who gave you this award, and link back to them in your post.
*Tell us 10 things about yourself.
*Nominate your bloggers.
Leann
Traveling Bandita
Susan 

*Contact these bloggers, and let them know they received this award.


Here I go with things about myself:

1. I feel that I got kids that were better than I dreamed of. I really feel like god put me and my kids together in this life. This doesn't mean that our relationship is perfect though. We have our moments. 
2. For the first time in a long time. I love my job and I'm thankful for being able to make money doing things I love.
3. I have a hard time with confrontation and don't do it well.
4. I am in love with my husband. Yesterday he cleaned the house!  He is the best life partner, funny, kind, silly and very considerate.
5. My love for my husband is not earth shaking...it's calm, peaceful and beautiful.
6. I always feel guilty after getting mad at my kids. Evidence of this are the many toys in our basement (guilt gifts).  If you ever visit us...it looks like Toys R Us for boys downstairs.
7. I'm satisfied and love the way the kids have turned out so far and look forward to the rest of our relationship.
8.  I love sushi.
9.  I'm not shy.
10. I actually enjoy talking to small and large groups.
11. I find the beach and bodies of water healing.

My Weird Patterns of Weight Loss

My weight loss has been weird and not text book by any means.  I lost 10 lbs immediately after surgery and then I'd lose ounces/nothing and then suddenly drop 5-7 lbs.  Those several sets of weeks with ounce losses drive me crazy...I always feel that I deserve more!  But then the 5-7 lb loss would encourage me to go on. 

People have complimented my positive attitude and I have to say I need to be my own cheer leader to keep going sometimes. I feel that my journey has not been standard in anyway because I also have some issues with my thyroid (had part of it removed 12/2010) and I feel that my body chemistry is trying to stablize, and I'm in premenopause and I have a very sedentary corporate lifestyle that I'm trying to make more active.  These are not excuses; just things I have to face and address everyday...Regardless, I'm still losing weight, just in a weird way.  Before I never could lose any weight...nada...so I'm thankfulf for the band...even with the weird losses...a loss is a loss is a loss...

Thanks for listening...you are my cheerleaders too...online support has been invaluable.

Things Taste Better with the Band

I'm enjoying food for what it is...a means of sustaining body energy/health and for enjoyment.  I'm not using it as a means of soothing myself.  Ironically, the band has helped me enjoy food.

Before surgery I was scared about how much I'd deprive myself, but to be honest I never really ate to enjoy food and didn't realize this till I got the band.  I really ate food to function and to deal with stress.  And to be honest on a daily basis, I'd abuse food. Now I eat less but I'm more selective about what I eat and I savor it.  I don't eat to numb stress.  I'm dealing with stress.  Breaking the pattern of stress eating is key for me to losing and sustaining weight loss. 

Thank you band!

NSV: Not Gaining Weight During Stress but Losing

Hi...I've been reading but not blogging much.  I have a ton to do in the next two weeks for work-two huge projects.  The client pretty much wants us to create wine from water..I'm under tons of stress but I noticed a silver lining, I'm not overeating my stress away. One thing I've been working on is breaking the cycle of overeating to soothe my stress.  It's been a horrible life pattern: finals time in school, tight work schedules or personal stress have inevitably symbolized an inevitable 5-10 lb gain of weight.  Years of several of these episodes accumulated on my body as "obesity".  You know how  somepeople wear their heart on their sleeve, I used to wear stress on my butt in the form of fat!!!  I think I can just compartmentalize the stress better now.

The band is in my stomach but it's healing my brain.  Weird but wonderful.

Have a great week.