I finally broke my several week long plateau! I will eventually break down and splurge on the Wii Fit for the scale(it's supposed to have the most accurate scale on the market, and check your BMI and fitness age-- not to mention, it's fun!!), but according to my $7 Taylor non-digital scale, I've lost 5lbs since I last weighed myself two weeks ago. I know it doesn't seem like much, but it feels great to know that I'm doing this the right way! I've been fluctuating a lot and having some ups and downs since I last saw the doc.

My last fill was in November '08, which put me up to 8cc's in the 10cc band. I'm starting to get used to it now, and food isn't getting "stuck" as much. It leads me to believe that I'm losing restriction in the band and need to get another fill. I have an appointment to see my surgeon next month for a check up. I get a little anxious every time I see my surgeon, and I don't feel like I've lost enough weight. I know it's just a mental thing and I need to get over it, and remember that I'm doing this for myself.

I'm glad that I'm finally getting into a routine that works for me. I'm getting in plenty of exercise now-- I'm hitting the gym 3 times a week, getting in some outdoor activity, and going to yoga on the weekends. I feel like a different person. What I really want to do is look into joining a sports team, or find a running/biking buddy, or just joining SOMETHING where I do FUN activities with others, so I'll get out and do them more often. I'm thinking about joining a Nia class or signing up for the upcoming Houston Aids Walkathon.

I'm practically living off of protein shakes and salads now. I really enjoy my trips to the local farmers market. It's all part of my plan to eat healthy, minimally processed, "clean" foods. I am eating whole foods, lots of vegetables, and cooking all of my meals from scratch to avoid preservatives and excess salt/sugar. Eventually, I'd like to stop supplementing with protein shakes, but for now, I feel like I need the added boost they give me. I went from barely eating anything because it was uncomfortable, to eating 5 small meals a day to help fuel my metabolism. I think that my plateau was due to the fact that I wasn't eating enough good calories. I've been reading a lot about the science behind weight loss, and now I'm feeling on track.

Also, I've been reading a book by author Michael Pollan entitled "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto" that has really changed my perspective on what I put into my body. Here's an excerpt from the book for a little insight into what it's really about:

“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. That, more or less, is the short answer to the supposedly incredibly complicated and confusing question of what we humans should eat in order to be maximally healthy. We are entering a postindustrial era of food; for the first time in a generation it is possible to leave behind the Western diet without having also to leave behind civilization. And the more eaters who vote with their forks for a different kind of food, the more commonplace and accessible such food will become. This is an eater’s manifesto, an invitation to join the movement that is renovating our food system in the name of health—health in the very broadest sense of that word.”

Pretty good read, in my opinion. :thumbup: Some people call him a "stealth vegetarian". I don't necessarily agree, but then again, I've always loved eating my veggies so maybe I just don't see it. Just pick it up, and give it a read, decide for yourself... He also wrote another book called the Omnivore's Dilemma, which I haven't read yet, but is supposed to be very good.