OH HAPPY DAY!!!!

I weighed myself this week and I have lost 5.3 pounds (2.4 kilograms) for a total of 46.1pounds (20.91 kilograms) in 17 weeks! In the words of Frank Costanza "I'M BACK BABY!!!" After much reflection after the last few weigh ins, I realized what I was doing wrong. Both my nutritionist and doctor said this was food related and by no means do I need a fill...Now I understand what they meant. A fill (making the band tighter)is used ONLY when you are hungry in less than 4 hours after eating.; that is NOT the case with me..The big issue that I discovered or realized through that self reflection is that I was not focused. In the beginning, it was not necessary to "watch" what I ate because I was still healing and during that time, you feel twice as full! Now that I am completely healed from the surgery, it is necessary for me to follow certain guidelines. I already new about the protein and water as discussed in previous entries...HOWEVER, I MUST eat ONLY 3 meals per day and 1-2 snacks..PERIOD THE END!!! If for some reason I need to stretch that out to 4 meals, I just divide the 3 and make a fourth...The amount of food does not change..In addition..NO GRAZING..I must admit, that is where I failed previously...I was grazing a lot through out the day instead of sitting for my 3 meals...When you graze, you think you are eating so little but it adds up! Also I never journal and when my doctor and nutritionist found that one out they said, BINGO!! LOL So this week, I did EVERYTHING that I am supposed to and look at my results: I lost the 1.8 that I had gained over the last few weeks and lost an additional 3.5 pounds! I am really encouraged at this moment and although I need to focus, I prefer it..Here is why: My nutritionist asked me this question..."Would you rather have to focus a little more on your food choices with a wider band, the way you are now, or would you rather tighten it and restrict your food choices, thereby giving power and control over to the band instead of yourself?" I decided that I prefer it this way, because as long as I eat sensibly and listen to the guidelines, I have no food restrictions, the tighter they make it, the more restrictions you have ON the types of foods that will be tolerated...I do not want to live on a diet of pureed food, I prefer the way my menu is now..THEREFORE, I MUST FOCUS ON PROTEIN, VEGGIES, GOOD CARBS, JOURNAL, DON'T GRAZE, EXERCISE and then WATCH THE POUNDS COME OFF....From the beginning, I knew this would be a journey filled with an enormous amount of introspection and growth...I am OK now..I am refocused and energized..Thanks for reading

I LOVE AND MISS YOU SOO MUCH MOMMMY!! I CONTINUE ON THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU IN MIND EACH DAY..I KNOW YOU WILL "SEE ME" THIN ONE DAY...THIS IS FOR YOU!