well, I got on the scale Saturday morning, and I hit a new middle number...I am now officially into the 230's. Five months since I started my journey and still going strong.

I love my band and everything it has made me realize. I have always been a strong individual, but even so, I needed help with the eating thing.

At the risk of repeating myself, my band has made me so much more aware of what I eat, when I eat and how much I eat. I am also aware of what others eat and how much. It is truly mind boggling. I really love my band. I think this was the wisest decision I have ever made. I have lost 61 pounds since I started my journey and I have about 80 more to go. I feel so much better, have more energy, sleep better, and don't mind the exercising. I have even started to walk more on the treadmil in addition to the bicycling I do. Next step will be getting in front of a video and doing that challenge. I love everything my band has done for me, even though I know it is really not doing the work, but it has given me the courage and conviction to keep on track with what I know must be done.

Yesterday we had 12 adults at the dinner table and 5 children. My hubby and I cooked 2 large trays of lassagna, 5 pounds of chicken tenders, a 4 pound bag of meatballs, and served with it 2 loaves of bread and a very large salad, can you believe we only has 2 pieces of lassagna left and about 4 pieces of chicken. They inhaled the food. And before dinner they ate a dozen tamales we had just made. I don't know where they put all that food. Then they had a piece of chocolate (from the chocolate candy box which I have during the holidays) and they ate 2 dozen mini cupcakes.

But me and my band, we had a salad with a piece of chicken on it and we were stuffed.

Today I go to the dr for another fill, but I think this one will do it for awhile. I definitely have restriction, but I am still able to eat a little more than I should...thank goodness I stick with the healthy foods and only once in a while have a little treat (I must confess that I did eat a small tamale yesterday).

Anyway, I am proud of my 61 pounds down and here's to another 60 pounds gone. Hope they come off at fast as the first 60 did.