Well, eating has been going good, my restriction level seems to be good. I do have to slow down a bit, and I just don't eat as much.

I've trying to make good choices on my eating, making sure I eat my protein first and that does make a big difference. I grilled some chicken last night on my george Foreman grill, and I had 1 1/2 tenders and I was done! That was about 2 oz of meat, I had a sliver of cantelope with it as well.

My acid reflux is gone, no more waking up in the middle of the night coughing, so things seem to be good with this fill. I don't get too excited because this has happened to me before, then all of a sudden the restriction leaves, but we'll see how this one goes.

Exercise - well I need to be more consistant. I have been sick all weekend, but feeling a little better today. I'm going to go to the gym today and get some cardio in! For me, its all or nothing, and lately if I can't do it all, I do nothing. I'm trying to change my mindset, one of the suggestions that Dr. Vuong's book made was to take some baby steps, just incorporate some type of exercise in each day, whether its taking the stairs, or parking further away at the store. I am going to have that attitude instead of "I blew it today, didn't make it to gym".

Weight - I go thru spurts, most of the time I'm a total scale whore, I have to weigh every day, every evening, and sometimes in between. I'm going thru a phase where I just don't want to see the number. I am just not interested in that damn scale controlling my mood today, so I've stayed off it. I am just focussing on eating right and hoping when I do weigh, I will be pleasantly surprised and happy.

I did wear a size 8 dress this weekend to my assembly and did I get a lot compliments, made me feel good. The dress was a little tight, but it wasn't too tight that I couldn't wear it.

So maybe the scales are bouncing up and down, or maybe I haven't made it to the gym on a consistant basis lately - but what I can say is my size 8 dress is long way from my size 18 dress I used to wear. I've made a lot of changes in my life since getting the band, and a lot has changed on the inside of me. I still feel like a fat cow, and have a hard time thinking "I'm skinny", but then sometimes when I slip into a dress that I can look at and think "there is no way I'm fitting into that", and I do, wow.....it makes me realize how far I've come.

I seem to focus on that ending number, that goal weight but today I'm going to pat myself on the back and say, Good Job Tonya, you've come a long way baby! No negative talk today....

One day at a time, girl! You are doing great!!! Keep up the good work!!!

I am interested in your commnet about restriction. I don't understand why I can tolerate something one moment then the next day I can't. Do you know more about this? Thanks!

CES - You know, this has baffled me for quite some time, but after doing a lot of research on this and reading books by people who have the lap-band, I find that this is common. I believe it to be because as a woman, we fluctuate with our water weight, during our monthly, we bloat a little more etc. I think thats why the restriction levels change. I find mine even changes from meal to meal. I'm the tightest during bfast and lose around dinner time, however, I seem to get tighter as I am heading to bed. I am not sure why.

Its just something I have learned to accept and deal with, I wish it was more consistant, but for me it is not.