Hello Comrades of the Band. Exactly five weeks ago I started on a journey to lose 150.4 lbs. Yeah, almost half my current body weight, a very daunting prospect for sure. Since then I've whittled off 16 lbs. and feel certain that I will slowly (hopefully not too slowly ) whittle off the rest and achieve my slim ambitions!

June 15 marked the first day of my 12 week, insurance mandated, doctor supervised weight loss programme, on my way to being banded. My ultimate goal for these 12 weeks is to lose 45 lbs - so that means I have to lose another 29 lbs in just over 7 weeks. It's ambitious I know, but I will do this.

Besides, I have an added incentive to achieve my goal - my work place is having a "Before and After" Health Improvement Competition which began on June 30 and ends on September 30. The three participants that show the most improvement in their BMI, waist, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood glucose and weight measurements will win prizes. Of course, I want the 1st prize and - not to my credit - I'm the largest woman in my work place . So, I should have this in the bag right?! Well, I'm gonna do my best and I hope that as many of you who see my blog will cheer me on.

I have to run now, but I will be back to let you know more about myself and to journal about my slim ambitions and every step I take towards achieving them.