Yaaaay! I'm 3 months Post Op!

I've experienced NO issues whatsoever!

I've lost 40+ pounds and maintaining!

I LOOOOOVE my tool!

So, I'm officially 3 months post op... and I still feel like it was yesterday! I'm sure when my one year BANDiversary comes around, I won't even remember! I live my life as if NOTHING happened so to speak. Yes, my eating habits, clothing size, and activity levels have changed, but other than that I feel the same. I'm not having any issues with head hunger, and when I do, I talk to myself in my head and basically say, " Yes, that fried chicken smells good, but you just ate less than 4 hours ago and your stomach is NOT growling.... have some water!" LoL, and that's exactly what I do. Have a drink and get my mind off of food. I'm eating smaller portions... and I never thought I'd be able to NOT clean my plate, but I CAN!

Now, I can sit down like everyone else, eat slowly, have conversation, and not need to finish everything on my plate... and I'm happy with taking a ToGo bag for later or just throwing it away (I know that sounds wasteful, but as long as I'm not using my mouth as a garbage disposal, I don't care!) I've also gotten used to not drinking when eating!... I do still tend to watch the clock to time myself for that first sip, but if I occupy myself with something, an hour or two will pass and then I'll remember to drink something!

I'm definitely fitting into 20s/2Xs, and depending on the maker some 18s too! My weight does fluctuate a little and that irritates me! I think I retain water better than most folks, if that is at all possible! I'm not sure if my energy level has spiked or not... working nights makes my days kind of blurry when I'm off. I'm just a night person naturally, so I feel sluggish during the day, but I'm not sure if I can attribute that to just being up at night or weight... I dunno...It's summer time and though it's hot as HELL, I love getting out an about! I'm riding my beach cruiser around. I don't set a time limit or mileage, but I've been riding from my house to certain nearby friends and family member's homes and I just try to go farther than before each time I go out. I've been going to these "dance" (reggae/booty jam) fitness classes ($6 bucks/class) with a friend of mine... They're really fun, and I like and listen to some of the music so I get a work out that way too! Also, I'm still walking; just taking leisure strolls around my neighborhood when bored.... I would REALLY REALLY love to start jogging, but I just talk myself out of it all the time... maybe I should start the C25K

I went out of town to Atlanta, GA (July9-July15)... I had a blast with my family from Texas, Michigan, New Jersey, Georgia, and Florida! Everyone noticed my weight loss and they just kept saying how great I looked. Now, my family reunion lasts a WHOLE week, and every day there is an event and at each event there is FOOD! To my surprise I did not gain weight!!! I was very pleased by this! I wasn't sure how I would feel eating in front of my family members. I didn't tell EVERY one about my surgery just immediate family and 1 or 2 cousins... so I didn't have to worry about people watching what I ate, but I felt like I still had to pile food on my plate, and just could not finish it!

Sometimes I have to remind myself to eat because I'm not hungry, and if I've had a "heavy" small meal, it does hold me off for a good little while...and with my sleep schedule, sometimes I only eat twice a day... NO this is NOT good, but I'm still learning and I'm just a baby is this program... I will get better! PROMISE! I went in for what I thought was going to be a fill, but it was nothing but a "hey how ya doin, and keep it up" pep talk.... the last time I was in the Drs office I weighed 277, and this time I was 266... so the Dr was happy with my weight loss and said he liked seeing numbers such as "5-8lbs" lost per month... He asked if I experienced any stuck episodes or PBs... and I told him No, except for when I went out of town just recently, and I'm not sure if I was just eating fast or if the chicken was dry, or whatever, but I chewed, swallowed, and I could feel each piece slide through from my pouch to my stomach, and it was definitely uncomfortable... we were out to eat at a Ryan's Buffet and I hoped no one saw the look of discomfort on my face. I just sat there and waited for it subside, which it did within a minute or two... I've felt food go through the band before, but that one hurt the WORST!... I think I was eating fast and being with family it just slipped my mind to SLOW DOWN... won't happen again!

Anyway, Dr was happy with my progress and decided NOT to give me a fill... I was kinda mad at first like... I just made a BLANK trip ALL the way to the fricking Drs office for nothing... then I realized that I do only have a 10cc band and currently it's at 7.3cc, so maybe I didn't need one... and then again, I could be one of those people who only needs ONE... I should be happy to not have to go for 4 and 5 fills and still searching for restriction... I have restrcition... I'm happily satisfied at meals and I'm not hungry until HOURS later... so I'm where I should be... and I'm happy with that!

Hopefully I'm moving forward in the right direction...

I still have a Mini-Goal of 220 by October/November.... definitely before November 6th<---Cruise Time!!