Well, today marks 4 months since my surgery on December 27, 2007 and as such I thought it was time to update.

Overall, I feel pretty spiffy!  I have averaged about 10lbs a month and have lost a hair under 40lbs now.  I hope to take off the next 13 this month which will get me under 200 and put me at a loss of 50lbs.

I don't feel like I've changed all that much.  Physically, people at work are starting to notice that I've lost weight and I can see some changes in the mirror.  However, some of my old habits, which were not so good, are still present today.  While, I can't binge anymore I can sure eat if I graze.  I figured that out yesterday and much to my dismay I proved myself right!  I can pack away a lot of calories if I just go about eating throughout the day.  That needs to be hampered-no question.

I joined WW online this weekend.  WW has always been helpful in my life and I feel like now that I've got a tool to help me lose weight the addition of a program that is proven to work will be the final ingrediant to get me healthy.  Also, I need some motivation when it comes to making right food choices and getting my butt moving.  I want to start walking again.  I had been going to the gym but that fizzled out when I ended up taking on a full time teaching job in the last 9 weeks of the semester (talk about skyrocket stress level!).  Thus, right now I am not getting to the gym, but that in part is becuase I don't feel like it and can easily make excuses which are supported by the amount of work that needs to be done.

In addition to the grazing I have noticed, as many have, that eating carbs is a little bit easier than eating protein.  Protein fills me up FAST; carbs crunch up into nothing, go down easy and I can eat more of them.  I had heard of that before, but now am seeing it first hand.  Another, phenomenon of weight loss surgery that I'm experiencing is some shedding.  I won't call it out and out hairloss because with the amount of hair I have that would be a feat.  However, I am definitely shedding some long locks onto the bathroom floor and in the bathtub drain.  It's not a big deal and I am not concerned.  It's more annoying than alarming at this stage.  However, this is supposed to be just the beginning. I truly don't think I'll see that much loss and what I am experiencing could be considered normal when you read articles that say that people shed about 100 hairs a day by nature.  I am shedding maybe 100-150 the difference is mine is long and thick and loves to get wrapped around the toes of bare feet.

My goals for the next few months are simple.

1. Keep up the good work
2. Get the water in-no excuses (I'm so bad at this)
3. Get my butt moving more
4. Up the protein and cut back on the carbs
5. Up the veggies
6. Get under 200lbs!!! (just 12.6 away!!!)

It will take some work but it's well worth it. 

At any rate, I just wanted to check in.  I look around from time to time and many of the regulars don't seem to be as active as they once were.  I know I'm not.  However, I figure there are still people out there reading blogs and wondering what happened to the Hamster Head chick, so I thought I'd update and keep everyone who still reads posted.  I'll post again-because it's also good for me :)

Peace Out!

Today I'm 6 weeks out of surgery.  I've had a pretty good time of things and have only gotten sick about 3 times and it was all my own fault.  I still tend to eat way too quickly and I'm not doing the best job of getting all of my liquids or protein grams in.   I've been working out (3 days a week) for  2 or 3 weeks now and it's going well.  I can't say that I like exercise but I'm trying to make it a part of my new lifestyle.  It's still a struggle to get to the gym but it helps that I've got someone to go with and when I don't want to go he's always there to say "are you ready to go to the gym?"  Naturally, my response (internally) is "hell no", but I go anyway because we are trying to get healthier together and I'm thankful for his support.

I had a decent week, but I did stop by the store and get some chocolate.  I'm not beating myself up about it though, after all it's Valentine's candy time and if I want to treat myself to a couple of pieces of chocolate (so long as I don't go overboard) it's okay.  I'm learning to live with moderation and do my best to eat like a normal person.  I think that normal people eat a few pieces of chocolate now and then and don't berate themselves.  I think that "normal" people eat a little too much or a little too little and then they just make up for it the next day.  I guess that's moderation and that's one thing that the vsg has done for me.  I can no longer binge eat and knowing that is over for me is immensely freeing.  I feel good about knowing that I cannot binge anymore.  Sometimes, I still fear that my stomach will stretch and I'll once again have the ability to overeat and pig-out like I used to.  That is probably my biggest fear right now.  I'm doing my best to remind myself that the portion of my stomach that remains is unable to stretch due to the fact that it is the muscular portion that has been left.  Still, I worry because I have always been that way...a worrier.

In other news I'm watching  a movie called Little Children and it is very good.  If any of you out there get a chance to check it out and tune in I highly recommend it.

Oh yeah and in one of the biggest (if not the biggest) upsets of all time NY won the superbowl.  Pro Bowl is tomorrow then I have to wait more than half a year for football again.