amanda

I haven’t updated since Thanksgiving so I thought I would let you know how my journey is progressing.  Believe it or not I lost 8….yes…..8 pounds over the Christmas Holidays.  I certainly didn’t try……I ate everything that I wanted to and wasn’t deprived at all.  I always lose more weight when I eat more calories—–go figure!  I teach school and there is just not enought time to eat during the day—-yes, I snack but not enought time to sit down and have a meal like the normal “working world.”  haha  I always lose over the weekend and holidays…..I have more time to actually sit down—-about 45 minutes—-and finish a meal—thus, why I always lose on the weekend and holidays.  I went and weighed on Thursday and I am now down 140 pounds——I just can’t believe I have lost that much.  I am so happy with my life now—–boy has it changed!  LIFE is good.  I am eating healthy—–which is SOOOO easy with my band and feeling great.  If you are even doubting a little bit that you should take that step and have the band————-DON’T!  DO IT for yourself—-I have my life back!! 

More later!

Amanda

Well, I am having a few issues……I am a teacher and I just have about twenty minutes to eat lunch—-that means ….since we have to eat slow….only a few bites at lunch.  I never lose during the week …only on the weekend…when I can take the time to sit down and eat…..over Thanksgiving I lost 4 pounds because I had about 40 minutes for each meal—-as I do on the weekend.  I always eat the proper food—protein first, veggies and then a cracker or two.  SO……………..what the heck do I do….I am so thankful with the 134 pounds I have lost and will be thankful if I don’t lose anymore—I am lower than my personal goal and only about  15 pounds from Dr. St. Laurent’s goal for me….but, I am open to suggestions about this lunch delima..  I have tried every option…..no matter what I try…I still have only 20 minutes to eat….I do have a protein snack at 10 and 3 but I still have a hard time getting all my calories in because of the lunch “thing.”  I could have a protein drink but i have been trying to stay away from liquid calories but I guess  it would be better than not getting enough calories?!?!? 

Oh well….I’ll keep trying.

Amanda

Well, Thanksgiving was a success.  I was able to eat everything that I wanted.  I ate turkey and all the fixings.  I was a little worried about the dressing—-cornbread dressing—-but I had no problems at all.  It was the first Thanksgiving that I didn’t feel the least bit guilty about eating a piece of pie.  In fact…..I lost TWO pounds on Thursday—-imagine that…..losing weight on Thanksgiving—–I even ate two slices of pumpkin pie with coolwhip—–I just didn’t eat very much of everything else.  I am finally figuring out that I can eat what I want—-just smaller portions—-I am so thankful for my band—it helps me eat like a skinny person.

 More later—–

Amanda

Please read my testimonial on the Journey Lite main website.  It is an overview of the beginning of my lap band journey.  My blog will be my journey after lap band surgery.

I am now one year and six months out of surgery.  I thought that being this far out of surgery I would know all I need to know about the lap band—–I was wrong.  It has been the easiest  weight loss journey I have done so far but it is a learning experience everyday.  I still fix large plates of food when I know good an well I will never be able to eat it all……I waste lots of food….I mean lots.  I just don’t know how long it will take for me to “get that.”  I still get that excited feeling that I got pre-band about going out to eat—–but everyone thinks I am crazy—-they say…”why do you even want to go when you hardly eat anything.”  Surely I will eventually “get it.” 

It is the week before Thanksgiving and everyone in my family is talking about the food everyone is bringing—–I could care LESS….food is just so NOT a priority in my life anymore….that, I get…….it just amazes me on a daily basis.  I use to look so forward to Thanksgiving—-BUT, it was because of the food, not the people…..WOW, what a change!!!!!  

I use to worry about what I was going to wear so I could cover up and maybe no one in the family that I hadn’t seen in a while wouldn’t notice that I was FAT…….yeah, like they wouldn’t notice.  Now I can’t wait to show off my cute new figure and cute new clothes—-size 12 to be exact—–last Thanksgiving I was a size 24——yes, I have lots to be thankful for this year. 

I am thankful for my band and Dr. St. Laurent—–he saved my life——He is the most caring doctor and person and is the reason I have done so well in my journey—–I started at 301 and this morning I am 165—–yes, 16 months and over 130 pounds gone—my life is wonderful now—–I can eat pretty much anything I want—–whenever I want—–and I will never feel like the fat girl AGAIN!!!  I don’t feel like I am on a diet—–he said….”Amanda….did diets ever work for you before?”  The answer to that was —HECK NO–Dr. St. Laurent says the band is not meant to be a diet—–he wants me to eat like a normal person.  When I first had the surgery I was being a little obsessive about counting calories….carbs, etc……I felt like I was “dieting” once again—–he said…no, no, no……diets never worked before….just eat a healthy diet and don’t overthink it…..I did and it worked—–I can still eat the cheese enchalida, the chocolate cake at a birthday party and the chips and salsa—-thank goodness—-The funny thing is I have to make myself get enough calories—–THE MORE I EAT THE FASTER I LOSE—Hey, works for me-BUT, the difference is I eat just a little and now I don’t feel like I am being deprived—–LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!!!

I will update you and let you know how Thanksgiving dinner goes-

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!

Amanda