I finally made it today!  100lbs lost since I got serious about this weight loss on Oct 3, 2011.  I can't believe the change in my energy, my stamina and my self esteem as well as my overall health.  I actually took a picture of the scale to commemerate today's milestone!  I have about 75-80 lbs to go to reach my personal goal!!  My date for this goal is November 1, 2012.  170-175lbs...I haven't seen that in SO long.  I can't wait!  Next stop 250lbs for my plane ride as I have posted before on May 9th.  Only 6.4lbs to go til that happens.  Surely I can do it by then!!  Wish me luck!  Then my next goal is to dream to onederland! 199lbs would put me in the overweight category.  It's still exciting to say I am no longer morbidly obese!  What an aweful term anyway!!  256.6lbs sure feels good...Thank you SLEEVE!!!

I'll blog again when I reach that 250lbs mark!  I know I'll reach my goal, so look for it soon...

I am just too excited to wait 11 more days to write in this blog!  This morning I weighed in at 261lbs.  I am no longer morbidly obese!  I only have 4 little lbs to go until I have lost 100lbs!!!  I started getting really serious about losing this weight on October 3, 2011 during my 6 month diet pre-op.  I saw my NUT and she really gave me a reality check.  From that day on I have only gained no more than 2 lbs per week.  Mind you, I have had a few stalls, that at the longest so far have only lasted 7 days, but all in all I have been losing at a steady rate.  Since my surgery on December 21, 2011, I have lost 55lbs.  I think that sounds kinda slow compared to alot of folks on this board, but I don't know how much that they write is pre-op loss +/- surgery day. 

Since March 31st (when I was released to exercise more than just walking because of my hernia surgery), I have been working out at the gym and doing Let's Dance 3 on my Wii (a real sweating workout BTW) about 4-5 days a week.  This includes water fitness, treadmill, recumbant bike and a little strength training.  I try to workout an hour at a time.  I really love it now.  I never thought I would say that EVER before my surgery.  I can now walk around my block 2 miles with ease.  This weekend I'm gonna strive for 3 miles.  I'm also looking for a 5k that I can try to walk in Lexington, KY.  Running I'm not ready for yet.  I'm wanting to get a bike soon so I can prepare to do a spinning class at the gym.  Boy, I tried it one night and I wasn't ready.  It was really rough on me since I hadn't been on a bike for like 15 years.  I did zoomba for an hour too, but I really over did it.  I'm just doing what my body says is ok at this point.

As for my secrets to success...water, water, water and protein!!! I know people say that alot but it really is the key.  I allow myself small treats everyday so I can feel "normal"and not on a diet.  I have some really low fat, low calorie cookie or a couple small pieces of dark chocolate.  My sweet tooth has NEVER gone away.  My go to food is cottage cheese and string cheese.  Sometimes chicken goes down ok, sometimes not.  Deviled eggs are becoming a staple as well as shrimp.  Oh, and I LOVE Click Mocha coffee!  You can buy it on www.amazon.com.  It has 120 cals and 15g of protein and only 12 carbs.  It's a great pick me up once a day.  I am addicted to it!  I visit www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com for new recipes too.  Michelle, the blogger, has great stuff for us post oppers.

Anyway..such a long post today, but I just hadn't written in a while and I can barely contain my excitement for today!  I promise to write again when I hit 100lbs...which I hope is this weekend or early next week!

Thanks for listening,

Val