FEELING GOOD AND EXCITED!

I was Banded on October 26th, 2009.

Yeaaa for me! I have been at my goal weight for months now. Before posting about this, I wanted to see if I could stay at this weight and I have! That's my new profile picture. I lost a total of 140 pounds and I'm a size 9 now, I'm 150" pounds now. I'm 5' 11", and when I look at myself now I smile --- soooo very happy. The mirror is a dear friend of mine, now! LOL

I worked so hard at this -- I work out almost every day, and I did most of it at home. When the weather was nice I would walk 3 to 4 miles daily. I do some kind of workout on a daily basis. I watched everything that I ate and drank.

I just saw my Doctor. whom I love -- he changed my life. I now see Dr. George Felding, a surgical god to me, every 3 to 4 months, and I was told he is so proud of how much I have lost. He asked me to be a part of his seminars to share my story of how I got to where I am at today, and to share my before-and-after pictures. I have not had a fill for over 7 months now, and in that time I still lost 30 pounds.

I have a new look now I have been called a fashionista. I shop all the time and I do not have to try on clothes. I can look at them and tell if it will fit or not. I just pick up a size 9 or a medium in a top and I'm done! What a great feeling that is.

My family and friends are so happy for me also, and they see the change in me as well. I have become very health-conscious in the way I eat, and I have become very active. Life is so much better now -- 95% of my health issues are gone. I ran in a 5K race recently and finished in fifth place (well, fifth from the end, LOL, but I DID finish the race and I did not cheat - what a great feeling). I'm, also dancing again, have music back in my life, going out and enjoying my new life.

So for all of you out there hang in there, do the hard work - it will pay off. One day you will be looking back and writing your goal story for all to see. The Lap-Band is only a tool, it takes a lot of hard work to get there and to maintain. It's a lifestyle for me now. I have to work at it every day to keep it.

When it starts to look bad or you think it's not working, hang in there. When frustration sets in, hang in there. When the weight seems to be coming off too slowly, hang in there. When you think you can not eat again or you start to think that your band is not tight enough or that it is too tight, hang in there. When your friends or family tell you that you took the easy way out (bullshit), hang in there. I have felt all of these things and more, but I hung in there!

TO ALL OF MY BANDED FRIENDS HANG IN THERE!

150 POUNDS LIGHTER, LOOK OUT WORLD HERE I COME!

FEELING GOOD AND EXCITED!