Naw - not Second Helpings - a Second Fill! I asked the friendly folks at SCOR to crank that baby tight - and I think they have.

I made a point to ask about how much fill I have - a total of 4.6cc's in my Vanguard Band. That's a bit less than half full. So far, it seems that the restriction is holding. I went in on the 20th - so this is day five.

Again, I have just the right restriction. I can eat everything that I have tried - but am not compelled to eat a TON. I am staying full between meals - for at least 4 hours - and if I WANT to eat more - well, I can... or I cannot. It's up to me. If I can keep this level of restriction forever, I will be happy. The control is all in my hands. All I have to do is chew and take it slow - which gives me time to think about what I am eating, and why.

No PB's to date - but I can sometimes feel the bites go down. Not exactly a golfball - no slime or anything - but maybe a Pre-golfball. Just a reminder to chew, chew, chew - and then chew some more.

I went to Catherines this weekend just to try on clothes - I was a little disappointed that the clothes still look as crappy as before - but I guess that I will have to lose another 50 lbs or so before I can really see a dramatic difference in the clothes. It doesn't help that the bulk of the fat is centered - hanging on my belly, butt & thighs. It's pretty hard to buy shirts when the top fits fine - but the bottom part is sucked up tight to your belly. *sigh* On the brighter side - a few more things could be scrunched on - in size 28 vs 32/34 - and given a little more time & weightloss, I will be able to have more choices in what to try on and whether I want to go a size up or a size down.

My first Mini-goal is to be under 300 lbs. My lowest scale weight at home has been 316 so far - and I puff up every time I go to NY (every month!) so the weight chart would look something like a roller coaster on an overal downward track. Day before last trip: 316. Weight upon return: 325. Yeah. I don't think I gained almost two pounds a day over a five day trip. But then it takes about a week for the puffies to go away. Great. But, I know that I can still be losing fat without losing weight - so I keep on plan while the swelling goes down. One leg is still puffy (LOVE the Venous Stasis - NOT) but the scale is teetering between 316-317 today - so I am hoping for the continuance of the downward trend. I am trying to hit that 299 mini-goal prior to my next trip in May.

My second mini-goal is to be able to shop at Lane Bryant and Torrid and all those other really awesome stores for Fat Chicks that top out at size 26/28. I have been banished from those stores for a long time - and I am ready to go back.

I want to get one of those sexy corsets. The size tops out at 24 on those - so I guess I will call this a Third Mini-Goal. ESPECIALLY since that 24 has to be true of the PANTS size, too.

Of course, I am looking forward to not having to ask for a seatbelt extender on the plane... I am only 5-6 inches from that now. I don't know where that will fall into the ranks - but it's definitely one of the short term goals.

One of the things I am doing NOW for myself is not waiting to put together a costume for the Scarborough Faire. I thought I would wait until I could fit into one of those cool & groovy bodices that they sell - but I have decided that waiting sucks. I want to be able to Play this year - vs next.

Since they don't MAKE bodice patterns in a size 30 - I went to the store and got one in a size 20. Then I looked through the pattern books for fat-girl patterns with similar shapes. *I found one that is almost exactly the bodice shape - just not laced up the front/sides. I can modify for that by studying the pattern pieces for the size 20 and adjusting the size 30 pattern to make it work. PLUS - the pattern for the top also comes with a skirt pattern that works, too. Woo Hoo!

So, that is my "Fun for me" project over the next couple of weeks. Now all I have to do is figure out how to put the bones in - and what to use for bones! I guess I can go back to the fabric store for those. Thank goodness for Joanne Fabrics!

Well, let's see.

Exercise - nope. Not happening right now... but I am trying to do more moving around type shopping and stuff.

Diet - Low Carb - high protein. Doing pretty well, except when I travel. Weekends - I have been allowing myself some carbs - during the week, I am a Carb Nazi.

Water - not getting enough over the last several days. I had gotten so good about slugging back that litre in the car every day - and I have not done very well with it since my fill. I think it has to do with how much/how quickly I am able to drink. I am going to have to drink more in the car. It was a good habit.

Vitamins - Taking a multi + calcium. Thank God I am almost done with the nasty Viactiv waxy horrid vitamins. Give me those chalky childrens vitamins any day. Thank goodness I didn't get Viactive Calcium supplements, too. I use the Caltrate - chalky chewables - to scrape the waxy vitamin residue out of my mouth. My PCP says I need extra B vitamins due to my meds - but I haven't been taking any. I guess the multi has enough, since my last bloodwork said I was fine.

Official weight: 325 (3/20 - last visit to Surgery Center of Richardson)

Unofficial Weight: 316 - my scale - this morning. (my scale about 2 lbs low from SCOR or Dr. Fox's scale)

The official weight was artificially high due to still puffy from flying on Friday April 14. Two days earlier - my band doc weighed me in at 327. I have made a point to schedule my next visit with him for the very first day of the month of June. That way I will have had at least a week to recover from any trips to the NY office.

Well - work is calling. I haven't managed to win the lottery, yet - so I guess I had better get back on task.