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Well I'm totally committed (or my husband would say I need to BE committed!) to exercising. I know that the scale staying at 18lbs lost for a week was because I needed to get up and shake what my momma gave me! I am doing Zumba on Tuesdays/Thursdays, but I was searching for something I could do at home. Low and behold, I bought the Just Dance 3 for the Wii. HIGHLY recommend! Everynight when my hubby goes to bed I get my controller strapped on to my wrist and I go to town. I'm sure if anyone was videotaping me I would go viral instantly because I'm sure that is a funny site to see! It actually lets you keep track of your week and your "sweat points". Not sure really what that means, but I'll take it! NSV of the week: Going back to work and having two boxes of Krispy Kreme GLAZED donuts on the table and not even having a desire to eat one!

Today while preparing for a meeting at work my bosses boss came up to me and inquired; "I heard you had surgery. What does that do for you?" After hearing my spiel, she asked if I was interested in speaking about the journey toward health. (I work for a nation wide fitness company who has many other ventures on the fringe of what it does). My initial reaction was not shock or offense...even tho I wondered who had been talking about me. It made me feel good that she noticed how much weight I lost, but, made me feel even better because I would LOVE to shout to the world that you don't have to take morbid obesity sitting down! In essence, I think that what the devil meant for harm (gossip) was turned into a great opportunity (as God often makes it). I didn't wear any makeup or hair or any jewelry today. I didn't have much in my closet that fit so I picked basic black pants and a button up top. Nothing about me today stood out in any manner. To be noticed because I am pursuing health, weather its negative attention or positive, says something to me. Today, I woke up with my mind on 1000 things. I asked the Lord to guide me thru them all. I may have skipped the "Prisses" today but I managed to focus on what is real. Today, keeping it real went right.

This journey is different for everyone and we all have our individual struggles as well as our individual triumphs. My main reason for lapbanding was basically to lose weight in a healthy, but fairly quick environment. On my own, I quickly lost motivation and patience when the scale didn't move, or didn't move enough and then quickly resorted back into the comfort of food/drink. There has been alot of discussion lately on what is an acceptable or average weight loss per week/per month. I just have to say that 1 lb a week is UNACCEPTABLE to me. My surgeon practices at one of the country's best hospitals and assures me I can do 20-30 lbs a month if I stick to his rules, so I am! I am averaging 5-8 lbs now a week. Since my surgery December 15th, I have lost 27 lbs. Overall loss is 38 lbs. I could have done 1 lb a week without having surgery and spending a small fortune. I know this is a TOOL, but it needs to do its job when I do mine - the perfect partnership. I feel absolutely no restriction right now, so it is pure will-power - something I have never had, but I am not going to risk hurting my lapband by overeating or eating the wrong things. I know in time I will feel the restriction and it will provide some support to my own will power and I can rely on the band a little more each day and not feel I am alone. Please remember, this is a different journey for all of us, but the desired result is the same - a healthier, happier YOU! God Bless and stay the course! Leslie

One of the most talked about subjects you learn of when going through weight loss counseling is the difference between real (physical) and psychological (head) hunger. What's the difference? "When I'm hungry I'm hungry and that is all that matters"...I know that's how I felt (and occasionally feel), I'm sure many of you feel the same way. Well, it turns out there is a difference, and surprisingly one is much harder to control than the other. Physical hunger ( I associate it with stomach growling) only happens to me about twice a day and it's technically remedied with anything from a piece of fruit to a big glass of water. Honestly, when I reach the point of true physical hunger I don't like eating greasy or fast food because it makes me nauseated (this is the correct way to use this word; read a book!). When I am "head" hungry I find it really hard to think about anything besides eating. At work, school, or home it doesn't really matter what I'm doing or where I'm at all I want to do is eat. Now, does that mean i think about eating 24x7? No. But it means that when that psychological hunger DOES hit (usually for me around 12 noon and 8pm at night) it's really hard to focus on anything else. Now, like many heavy people, I have not always been obese. When I was in shape I still used to have these cravings, everyone does. Except when you are fit, the cravings are called "hankerings" or "in the mood for's". When you are large, the cravings are called "Eternal God Masters of chicken nuggets" (or whatever your poison is.. for me it's the mighty McNugget). Basically the cravings start to run your life. You know you are making bad choices (with the internet access and the focus on our country's health, how can you be totally oblivious to what is healthy and what isn't?) yet you make them anyways because the pleasure your brain has associated with the flavors of fast food, junk food, cola, etc. is so powerful you simply don't care. * All that being said, today was a small victory for me and a big one for will power and truth/justice/americanwaysoforthandsoon.. As you can see by my weight loss calculator I am down 12 lbs. since starting my pre-op diet. Not bad at all. I've also been hitting the gym lately trying to gear myself up for daily life after the surgery. So today at work I decided walk across the street to Wendy's to get lunch. I don't know if it was the good weather, the confidence from losing weight or the desire to not lose my parking space... but I was determined to walk. The walk itself was easy enough, but the funny thing is ... when I left the building I was going on full head hunger... I was still feeling good from my Atkins shake this morning and more than anything just wanted something to get the NutraSweet taste out of my mouth. By the time I returned from Wendy's with my Chicken Caesar salad in tow... I was starving (physically). The simple act of walking 1/2 a mile to the store and back had built up enough physical hunger for me to actually need to eat. Score one for my side! I can't describe how good I felt upon return. Instead of sitting down with my usual baconator and a side of shame, I sat down with my salad and a side of triumph. * Now I must say as a disclaimer for now and in all future blogs that even though I say "you" I really mean "me". I can only speak for myself... I know plenty of folks are born with genetics that contribute to being large, or thyroid problems, etc. but for me... its pretty much just a love of crappy (albeit delicious food). Follow me here: http://gerryslapband.blogspot.com/

So I started back at the gym Friday night! I am sooo happy! I went Friday night, Saturday and Sunday morning. I have a routine down now. I can't do much (as I just started out) so I do 15 minutes on the treadmill to get warmed up, 15 minutes on the bycycle, 15 minutes on the eliptical, then another 15 minutes on the treadmill. I'm happy to report that between Friday morning and this morning, I have lost 3 pounds!! It's so awesome! I'm going to go 5 times a week for an hour. I hope to eventually get up to 30 minutes on the eliptical as that thing kicks butt (almost literally!). I won't be working on any strength exercises until I get the approval from the doctor. My next appointment is February 7th. I'm definitely going to want another fill (although I've lost 7 pounds since my last one on January 3rd) because even though I'm not over eating and I don't feel hungry between meals, it's only my own restraint that's keeping me from eating everything I want. I have zero restriction right now. But I suppose that's normal. I've only had one fill. Anyways, that's my update for now! Don't forget to add me on myfitnesspal. SN is legnarevocrednu Thanks!!

I have been apart of this site since the end of 2009, and I have read hundreds of post/blogs with members concerns about other people finding out they have a LB! I really didn't know what approached I wanted to taken once I finally had my band. I first prayed and I thought about all the reasons I decided to get the band in the first place. God gave me confirmation not be ashamed of my decisions to live a happier and healthier life. I think most people on this site were in a life or death situation due to weight issues, and they needed help that they were unable to provide for themselves. After taking a wide overview of several members' reasons for not wanting someone else to know they were banded or getting banded was somewhat overwhelming to read. Most people feared others judging their decisions to get help to lose the weight. Okay, lets get real- if we were able to lose the weight and keep it off on our own then we would have done that. However, most of us are able to lose the weight but we have failed to keep the weight off on a long term basis. I have decided in my life time to stop giving people control and credit to decide what is or isn't good for me. Most people who judge our decisions to do something pretty "major" about our weight issues don't have enough courage to confront their own "demons"! I don't care how prefect we may think someone's life is they still have underlined issues that they still need to deal with. I said all of that to say: we owe no one any excuses or explanations for why we decided to get the LB. Baby- I am proud of this little tool inside my body! That's exactly right: it's only a tool to aid and assist each of use with our weight lost goals! Work and a lot of effort must be done on our parts! The LB is not a quick fix card for all of your weight loses problems. Yes- it takes a lot of work and effort (mentally and some physical) to get the results you want. I am very proud of my decision and I will never allow anyone to make me feel guilty or ashamed for having this surgery. To be prefect fully honest: people judged me fat and they judge me now but overall I am happier with the current me! To all of my fellow LB family, please be proud of your choices to live a happier/ healthier life. Just remember that "old person" who experienced so much hurt, pain, and challenges when you were heavier vs., you now. I love the new me and no person is going to ever change the way I feel. I tell them, "don't hate just congratulate my success"!