Welcome 2012! Not that the old year was bad really, although the ending was tough for whatever reason, but I have super high hopes for 2012! I had some amazing things happen for me last year, that's for sure, and the MOST amazing thing of course was getting my band. It has changed my life HUGELY!!

I have started off the new year weighing 115 pounds less than I did at the start of 2011. Can I get an AMEN??! For a lot of the past 9 months I've weeded out a lot of old clothes that don't fit, tossed them into piles and passed them along to others who could wear them. I need to do that again. I save stuff thinking that it will be okay even if it's a little too big.. but my vain self has become hyper-critical and I can barely stand to wear anything anymore that's too big. I know, it's a curse. I do still have some hoodies that are big and which I love, but for the most part, if it hangs on me, it gets tossed in the bag!

I went to see my surgeon's nurse three days ago to discuss a fill, and determined that it wasn't necessary, which wasn't surprising at all. She told me that my next appointment would be with my surgeon, to discuss my final goal. I'm much closer than I thought I would be now, and I hope these last 20 or so pounds won't be too difficult to drop!

From the very beginning I've been excited to see "my other butt" emerge, and I can say today that it has.. and it looks damn good comparatively! It needs work though. Lots of work! My workout goals have changed now to accommodate that realization. It's time to tone kids! I've been lax. Well, up until a couple of weeks ago I was super lax, but I'm getting better, and it feels fabulous! I've discovered the great workout that Ping-Pong can be! Go ahead, laugh! But it's true! I play a few times a week, and it feels pretty amazing the next day to have worked out muscles that I hadn't in quite awhile. Plus it's FUN!

I'm really looking forward to some warm weather now! Definitely a new thing for me! I've always loved winter, and truth be told, it's because I could wear more clothes to hide behind. Sweatshirts layered over other crap just served as a bigger wall for me. It's taken me some time to break that habit in the past year. I'm doing pretty good with it now though, and I'm looking forward to fewer clothes for the first time in 28 years or so!

I'm also looking forward to playing disc golf, walking, playing with the kiddos outside, swimming, boating, and yes even fishing as the weather warms up and I can get out there to play! I'm sorry winter.. I know I'm being disloyal, but I don't need you anymore to hide behind! It feels really fantastic to say that!

The picture I'm using this month was taken a few days ago to show for my 9 month band birthday! I need to take a better one of my butt, maybe that will be here for my 10 month pic!

If you are just starting out on your lapband journey, let me say that YOU CAN DO THIS!! You deserve the rewards that will come with the hard work! And yes, it IS hard work. Some days it's been the easiest thing in the world, but psychologically, and physically, it can be grueling to step outside of old habits that have kept you fat for this long, the worst part was honestly getting beyond the head hunger, and learning to listen to my body! But once the weight started coming off it got much easier to do the work, and reap the rewards!

Follow me at: http://www.myotherbutt.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by!