Happy Friday!

Hello, and happy Friday to you all!
So, Wednesday I had my Watchers Meeting, and I was down 1.8 lbs! Wahoo!  So new weight is:
166.8.   
I was thrilled just having a loss at all.  I need to fully accept that I will not drop 5-10 lbs a week as I did when I was over 300 lbs.  It's going to be a long, slow process, as it's a lifestyle.     I just need to focus on doing the right things, and the weight loss will be a secondary (albeit exciting) thing.  
And while I believe the above comment is true - I will have to go back to reading that when I get neurotic! (which is 98.6% of the time!) :-)

This weekend:  I am attending another WW meeting with my friend Michelle.  We are going to work out before hand, and then go to a new-ish restaurant in the area, Ruggles Green.   I have heard great things about this place, so I'm looking forward to trying it! :)

Are any of you on My Fitness Pal?   If so, add me!  My user ID is gastricgirl. :)

Anyway, back to work for me!   I hope you all have a great weekend! :-)

WW Weigh In!

My first meeting was on a Saturday and I decided that I think Wednesday meetings would be better for me.  I was nervous to weigh in, as it had only been 4 days since my first weigh in, and I was going in the evening, instead of before I even have a sip of water.   Well, regardless of all of that, I was down 1.4 lbs!    My new weight is 167.6.  I am officially less than 15 pounds away from my ultimate goal weight of 153.  Why 153? Well, it puts me in my normal range, and that is the lowest weight I've ever seen myself at.  So, I know it can happen.  The cool thing is that my 10% goal is my ultimate goal too... Wahoo! :)

I am so glad I decided to rejoin Weight Watchers.  I need the accountability of going in and facing the music on a weekly basis, and it forces me to track.   If I do it "on my own", it's so easy for me to just skip a day tracking, and if I miss one day, I'm done..  I know how my mind works!

Yesterday's meeting was about secret eating, binging, etc.  It was great for me.   As you all know, I had RNY gastric bypass, so if anything goes in my mouth, people like to critique it.  I eventually started snacking in my car, or stopping on the way home to get a snack, or eating a lot more in the evenings since John isn't like that with me.   It isn't my meals that I've had trouble with, it's all the snacking.  With WW, I'm conscious of my snacking, and plan accordingly.  My job is nice enough (ha!) to provide us with free snacks, free drinks, etc. This week we were even provided with a fajita lunch for our accounting close.   I have been great at avoiding the foods I shouldn't be eating (are the points worth spending? Usually no!).  I haven't even been too tempted, which means I think I'm finally in a good mindset again.  I'm re-teaching myself to differentiate between hunger and cravings.    Having weight loss surgery will NOT fix your head, and I'm starting to wonder if it messes your head up more than you started!  

On another note - I have been reading everyone's blogs, but for some reason I haven't been able to comment on most of them.  We have a massive web page blocker system at work, and I think it's blocked going to the comment link.. It wants me to log in, and then once I do, I go back to the log in screen.  So, I really apologize that I haven't been commenting on blogs very much, but please know I AM reading!!!  I may have to rearrange my schedule at home a bit so I have some reading/writing time at home!

xoxox!!!

Updates: Measurements!

No - that's definitely not my tummy in the pic above... if it were, you would have known a long time ago!! haha

I have one big regret - that is not taking my measurements pre-op. I didn't want to know at that time, but oh I wish I knew now!! I am still really bad about taking my measurements, but I did it tonight.

So, here is my progress from tracking on Sparkpeople:
My measurements in January 2008:

Weight: 249 lbs

Right Thigh: 29 inches

Right Arm: 16.5 Inches

Waist: 40 inches

Hips: 52.5 inches

Neck: (yeah, SP has you measure this! hah) 13.5 Inches

And now, April 28, 2009 - 15 months later

Weight: 158 pounds

Right Thigh: 21.5 Inches

Right Arm: 12 inches

Waist: 31 Inches

Hips: 39.5 Inches

Neck: 12.25 Inches

Not bad, eh? I'm thrilled that my arms are smaller than my neck.. haha I think that's how things are supposed to be, right? My arms are still my sore spot, as they keep waving long after I stopped moving them.. but, I am seeing improvements, so I will try not to complain too much!

Well, I am off to the gym for Day 1 of my 30 Day challenge mentioned earlier!!

WOO HOO!!!!