Vacation... and I am back

I was on vacation for one whole fabulous week. We went to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (where I grew up) and visited family and friends. My parents have a cabin on a lake and we stayed there for the week. Lots of swimming, kayaking, boating and so on. It was so great! I did come back 3 lbs heavier.. but I don't care. There was so much great homemade pie and other wonderful things... also some grape soda... adult beverages.. ect. Now I need to get back to it. I also need a fill. I called today and scheduled an appointment with my doctor and the soonest I could get in is September 16th. That is okay though... maybe I can get my eating back on track and know exactly where my restriction is.

So anyway, I am only a few days away from my 1 year bandiversary... where has the year gone. Hope you are all well... I am going to try to catch up on all that I missed while I was gone!

I am a versatile blogger...

I must do the following:

1. Thank the person giving the award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Nominate 15 bloggers.

4. Let your nominees know about the award.

First of all, Thank You so much miss Suzieq4givn! It is an absolute honor, and you have been a huge inspiration to me!

7 things about me:

I grew up in a very rural part of Upper Michigan. I loved it but couldn't wait to move away. Now I wish I could move back.

I have two first names, one middle name, and a last name. My first name is hyphenated so my initials spell ASS.

My favorite food is Ethiopian.

My favorite day of the year is Halloween, I love costumes!

I was in speech therapy a good chunk of my childhood for a lisp. I refused to change my ways, I like my lisp, eventhough many folks don't even notice it.

I like animals more then people.

I grow a very large organic garden every year. I always get so excited to plant everything in the spring but despise taking care of it by July.

Nominate 15 bloggers: Okay, so I have done this before... I cop out. Honestly, it is so hard to pick 15 bloggers. All of the blogs I follow inspire me and keep me motivated. So here is to all of you out there in blog land!

H&M Really?!

I had to return a couple things at the mall today and decided to wander into H&M since I had some extra time before I had to be at work. I have always loved H&M but since we got our first store in MI some years back I have never been able to fit into any of their clothes. Today I decided I would try a couple of shirts on. I ended up buying three shirts... two size 12!! And one size L! OMG! They looked great, felt amazing, and I was so excited.

Lately, I have been so busy having a social life I have pretty much just been maintaining my weight. I have been doing drinks with friends, dinners out, and parties left and right. The most fantastic thing about this is that I have been maintaining my weight loss. I may bounce up or down a .5 lb (177.5-178.5) but I am thrilled. I certainly want to continue getting the weight off... I really want to see my goal, but I am also really enjoying the spoils of my work so far. I feel like I am so much more social now... I have always been social, but now I am looking for any opportunity to go out with friends.

I have a nine days work free coming up here as well as my husband's birthday and our seven year wedding anniversary. I don't expect to have any earth shaking loses in the next couple weeks... maybe even a small gain. But I am so excited with how far I have come!

Sara Rue weight loss

I just read this article from People Magazine. She looks really great. I thought she was always beautiful and looks just as lovely now. I do wonder though... how will she keep this weight off? Will she continue on Jenny Craig forever? I believe I read, at one time, that she had always struggled with weight. I hope she is able to keep the weight off! I hope she continues to have a good relationship with food.

Okay... today's picture isn't great...

I had been outside all day, sweating and tired. However, it is still a great comparison picture from last year. The first picture was taken 8-15-2009 (just 1 day shy of a year ago) and the second one today. We have an end of the summer celebration at the library and both photos are from that event. I wish I would have worn a shirt that wasn't as big on me... but you can still see a difference!

Down a little..

I dropped just under 1 lb (.8 lbs) this week and I am happy with that. I am now down to 81 lbs down, well on my way to 85 down (my 1 year goal). I am working today, we have a huge end of summer reading celebration and I will be out in the hot hot sun today. I remember last year, I was 259 and miserable. I was hot, my feet hurt, and I felt huge. Today I feel pretty good about myself and don't mind wearing my summer clothes. Hopefully I will have a comparison photo for you later today!

Have a great Saturday all!

Have I Ever Told You?

You all who blog and comment and even just read, are all so amazing. I am inspired everyday by the honesty and care that this group puts out. Thank you!

Happy Tuesday!

On the weight front, I am still hanging right about the same place as I was last week. No real movement on the scale, but I am have been busy socializing so I haven't been eating as carefully. I am okay with that as long as I don't gain. I am hoping to get 1 or 2 lbs off by the weekend though, so it is time to start focusing.

My band has been very strange the last few days. Just when I think I can eat anything, I eat something that is usually really easy for me and ~stuck~. Monday night I had a taco (usually really easy) had two bites and had to stop, about a half an hour later I pbed. I actually think my restriction is right where I want it to be. If I am very very careful I can eat a bit of bread, but still can't over do it.. even on chips.

One week from Friday I start my nine day vacation. At this point I am just counting down the days. I can not wait to enjoy the beautiful weather and spend time with my husband! Summer is such a busy time for me at work.. I can't wait to take a break.

Hope you are all well!

P.S. Thanks to all who follow me, and welcome to the new folks!!

I did it! 80+ down!!

Woohoo!! I weighed in today at 178.8 lbs. That is a grand total of 80.2 lbs down! I hope I can keep this ball rolling right on to 169. It feels great to be the in the 170's again!

Seemed to have losened up...

Magically, I feel a little loser this morning. I did liquids yesterday as many of you suggested and I will be doing mushies today. I think I may have had some swelling. Knock on wood... I should be okay with my current fill level if things continue this way.

I was also down on the scale this morning and I only have 1.6 lbs let to get to 80 down. I hope I can make that happen in the next couple days!

Thanks everyone for the advice, and welcome to my new followers!!

Confused...

Okay... first of all.. yesterday was my 11 month bandiversary. I feel like I have learned a ton in the last 11 months and that my band has just become part of my life.. not my entire life. It was clearly a fantastic decision and I would do it again in a heart beat... however, I still find myself perplexed some times.

I feel like I am incredibly tight all the sudden. I have major gurgle when I eat my yogurt for breakfast and can only eat 3 or so bites of solid protein at lunch before I get that pain between my shoulders. Dinner is a bit better, I can probably eat 6 bites of solid protein. I have been experimenting with foods and it seems like most things work the same way. I have had some issues with pbs (last week is was like every other day but it was also my period) but since then, not really. I just worry that I will not be able to get enough protein in during the day and I really don't want to have to drink my protein.

So... I see my doctor on Thursday and I am now wondering if I need a small unfill. Or... do I stick it out? It has been nearly a month since my last fill and I felt perfect for the first two weeks.. then I had my period.. got really tight and had lots of trouble. Now I am having less pb issues but still feel tight. I need some advice!!

What do I do?!

Grr... did not make it to 179

Yeah, I am kind of pissed... seems that I am stuck and the scale will just not give up that magical 179. O well... hopefully by Friday. I worked all weekend and didn't get much activity in. I have been eating fairly well but not keeping as close count on my calories as I usually do.

I generally chart everything I eat because I enjoy being in control. I have an appointment with my band doctor on Thursday and I am trying to decide what I need. I feel like I could use a little tweak because I am not staying full for more then a couple hours... however, I am also pretty restricted and have to be very aware when I eat.

Anyway, Happy Monday all! Hope you all had a great weekend!