So after the NYE portion control at the party success...(see previous blog) I went to dinner last night with a group of people from church.

Chain of command is basically My Pastors, Me, the ministers, ushers, etc..

So at the cheesecake factory, of all places I ordered the small plate greek salad with no olives. It was sliced cucumbers, roma tomatoes and some feta cheese over greens.

The lady next to me then orders the same thing, then changes her to the asparagus salad, then her husband who normally gets the regular sized cheese pizza, orders the small pizzette, and so on down the line, with the exception of 2 or 3 people out of 8.

As the course of dinner goes on my Pastor asks us if we're getting cheesecake, everyone looks to me and I say "oh no sir, not on the plan."

We walk out, say our goodbyes and go.

Today my Pastor calls me to put the church on a fast until Feb 1st. Nothing but fruits, veggies and protein powder drinks mixed with water.

As you all know this is pretty much how we eat so I just had to laugh a lil' because it's spread like wildfire. I've lost 42lbs + (I'll weigh in today) in the past 5 weeks, a noticeable result and now everyone is on board.

See my band has gotten me healthy, and it's getting everyone else around me healthy as well. Like my Pastor spoke to us about leadership last night, What makes a good leader? Achievements... If you've made achievements people will follow you regardless of your methods.

I chose not to tell people at church that I had the surgery, I didn't want the judgements, food policing and gossip, etc... So I kept it to myself.

I think it's the best thing I could have done because now my choices are influencing and leadings others to make positive changes, so that hopefully they will not get to the point where they feel they HAVE to have the lap-band. I'm in faith that those that need it, will receive it, and those that just need the guidance will receive that as well.

Oh well just thought I'd share.. I think this is a great thing! Kind of like a cleanse no animal products at all for the next 27 days or almost 4 weeks/month.

Soy and almond milk, here I come. Need to keep my protein up.

What a great story, thank you for sharing!!

i know what u mean about sharing that u had surgery my family knows but my in laws do not know for the same reasons they wouldnt be able to understand it. i have shared it with people that are close to me but i dont just want to blurt out to everyonei had lapband surgery but what do u say to people that haven't seen u in a while and see u now and ask how u lost the weight. we live in a samll town and what if it comes up later that i had the surgery and i have answered in a nother way what does everyone think about what is the correct way to answer cuz everyone wants to know how u have lost the weight

Great story and congrats on your weight loss to date.

Keep and eye on everybody because that contagious stuff works in both directions. One person slipping can trigger an avalanche.

i know what u mean about sharing that u had surgery my family knows but my in laws do not know for the same reasons they wouldnt be able to understand it. i have shared it with people that are close to me but i dont just want to blurt out to everyonei had LAP-BAND® surgery but what do u say to people that haven't seen u in a while and see u now and ask how u lost the weight. we live in a samll town and what if it comes up later that i had the surgery and i have answered in a nother way what does everyone think about what is the correct way to answer cuz everyone wants to know how u have lost the weight

I'll tell them the truth, total and complete lifestyle change. No more, no less.. Unless my Spirit tells me to tell them (to help them or someone else) for example my cousin, I wasn't going to tell him, but my spirit led me into telling him. Now he's considering it having it done. I was able to educate him to the facts, the process, etc.. and he's excited.

This is nothing he ever would have considered prior to my having it. So sharing my experience with him was beneficial and served a purpose.

I wouldn't just say "Oh I got the lap-band" because having the band doesn't mean I'll magically lose weight, it means I have to work just as hard, if not harder to lose it through diet and exercise. Only difference is I can't crazy amounts of food now.

Great story! I can't wait to hear the follow-up with the fast, as I'm sure you'll be leading everyone through this! -BG