Hey Julyers! Check in - How ya Doin'?

I spent three months at the same weight because I was eating too many carbs!  Now I know what people mean when they say carbs are the bebil.  They really are for me!

I'm walking nearly every day and eating WAY more protein than anything else and lots more of that too!  The pounds are finally starting to come off again.

It's feels really good to be working toward my goal weight and I'm proud of my efforts and taking care of myself.  I am so afraid of blowing this second chance for my life and health!

I'm down over 100 lbs from my heighest weight and 74 since surgery.  I wear a size 14 comfortably, but when I look in the mirror I still see the large me in my body.  The only place I look skinnier to me is in my face and legs.  Weird, huh?

What are you all up to???????

 I am extremely happy with my weightloss and overall health! I am struggling with portion sizes and cravings. I was really bad last week on vacation and it has been difficult to get back into the right mind set. I hope that I can get myself back on track! 

I am proud of you! You are doing fantasti****ep up the great work! 

Val

Im doing ok! Besides the consistant snacking. And carbs are evil!
But, im trying to make it to the gym because it seems like I only loose a pound every 2 weeks.
Im 34 pounds away from my goal weight though and I heard thats when It really slows down. Im upping my protien and trying to stay away from alcohol so we will see how that goes!

Val, you are 12 lbs away!  That is awesome!

As far as alcohol goes, I over indulge and pay for it the next day.  I feel sluggish and hungry.  I'm at a point where it really needs to be worth it and I have to have NOTHING to do the next day if I drink the night before.  If I have things to do and keep myself busy, I can't aford to waste a day feeling like crap because I "celebrated" something the night before. 
Also, I am really watching my carbs and alcohol is just empty ones so they are less apealing to me righ tnow.  My goal is to get to my goal!

I forgot to mention in my first post that my hair has finally stopped falling out!  Yeah!  Now if I just felt like it was growing back in...

I'm still trucking along.  I've fallen into the habit of only eating a few times a day.  I don't my protein in or my water in EVER.  I'm still losing, but much slower than I was before.  I also don't do any form of exercising right now.  Stress crept into my life in a horrible way, and now I'm working on straightening myself out!

I know everything I *should* be doing, and I can preach for hours to others, but as far as taking my own advice..umm oops.

I doing good.. just dealing with family loss.. but my life has indeed changed.. but I'm almost at my goal weight.. in which I sometimes get scared like.. I'm afraid of 180lbs.. CRAZY.. the hungry is back but not the same before surgery.. but you are doing awesome girlie!!

I've been trying to focus on adding more protein  as well.  I've not been able to easily eat pasta, which is probably a very good thing.  I eat a bit of rice every now and then, but even that gets me feeling an icky full feeling sometimes, so I don't over indulge with that either.  Sometimes meat sets just fine with me and sometimes it doesn't.  So I cautiously eat meat.  Cottage cheese is STILL my very best friend in the world and I've gotten to where I will snack on a slice or two of cheddar cheese.  I've been a bad girl though, drinking a bit more alcohol than I should, but I've been making low calorie or very low sugar ones, so I feel like I'm being careful there. 

My one friend who had been non-supportive in the beginning about the process in general, apparently heard about me having surgery (she thought it was lap band) through the grapevine.  I enjoyed the little chuckle to myself, even though it was killin' me wantin' to find out how she had heard.  :-P   lol - She still hasn't officially seen me, only driving by in the car.   Too funny  :-)

I had a stall for about a month but have started losing again, even if only 3 lbs, but dang, I'll take that.  I'm gettin' closer and closer to ONEderland!!  Finally  :-)     I think I'll hit that elyptical (SP?) a little harder tonight.  Love when I get some good "shake that ass" mood music going on my MP3.  LOLOL   Makes ya wanna work harder.  Nearly killed my calves, but I did it!!  yay me  :-)  Thank goodness the weather is getting better too, makes it easier to get outside and do more in the physical fitness department.  I've even been finding myself running, short distances, but wow, it had been YEARS since I had run, so that's a huge accomplishment for me too.

All in all, everything is going just great and I even have a fellow who is showing interest in me.  Mind you,, I don't see it being a long term thing, but it's nice to have someone to hang out with.  One day at a time on that one.  It's nice to have guys showing interest in me again  :-)  Great for the ego. 

So you wouldn't think I'm the biggest slacker on here by looking at my health trackers.......BUT I AM!  I never exercise, LIVE off Dt. Mt. Dew again,  I've been eating way to large portions as of late and hitting the vending machines at work far to often!.....I have been sick with strep all week and needed to be!  I've lost 13 lbs from not being able to eat or drink anything for so many days and have found my pouch has shrunk back down to size!  I would have actually gained wieght this month if not for getting sick!  I have been losing 8-10 lbs a month consistantly and must have thought I was invincible......That is all changing!  I turn 35 tomorrow and I've decided to live like I'm 25 from now on!  I can fit into my 13 year old daughters clothes now......hollister size 9's and M shirts.....now that's tiny!  Everyone is doing so well and I'm more proud of others success than I am of my own......I worry about being able to keep my weight off since I havn't had to put in as much hard work as so many others.....I haven't made the lifestyle changes many of you have.....they will haunt me if I don't do it soon!

Heather