I am needing to really buckle down and exercise more.  I am busy at work and when I get home I am so tired I just want to relax.  My job carries a lot of  mental stress and is only physical three weeks out of the year.

I am off to a great start for 2012.  I am still losing a little over one pound a month and it feels great.  Last night I went out and sat on the porch and just enjoyed the tranquility.  It is so much easier to do since I have taken off weight.

I sat on my concrete steps for a while, and when it was time to stand up, I simply stood up.  No grunts or reaching for some form of support.  I just stood up!  Silently, I smiled inside and thanked the Lord and my band.

Life is so normal I have not really felt the need to post.  It is hard to believe it has been two years next month!  What a great life changer the band has been and continues to be.

That’s about it for now.  Not much news, I wanted to let you l know I am still going strong.  I hope all of you have a great new year.  Please keep checking back, as I am going to set some new weight loss goals for myself and I’ll post my progress on here.

I believe I actually will have a 2 pound loss in December.  I am happy with a 1 pound a month loss, so the extra pound is a bonus.

My resolutions for 2012 involve working the band better.  I know if I eat my protein 1st I fill up faster.  I also know I can sneak in an ice cream cone if I want.

I really don’t have any food issues as long as I chew really well and don’t swallow any grissel or fibrous chunks.

Best wishes for a great New Year!

I have also dropped a couple of pounds this month.

Best wishes For a great holiday season!

I am eating only meat today to see how it goes.  I have been working on being a better Adkins dieter however with people bringing holiday treats around it is difficult and my scale at home shows it.   I believe I have not lost any weight since my last appointment and I feel like I am letting myself down.

Shortly I will be into year number two with my band,  It has been a wonderful journey!  I’ve continued to lose weight (most of the time) and have not really had any major set backs.  Not once have I ever regretted getting the band.  I feel so much better.

I do need do abetter job than “just getting by”.  I need to buckle down and exercise more.  I have my gym membership and the past couple of months I have been finding excuses not to go.  I hired a trainer again and should have started by now, however I have been out of town a lot and when I get home I just want to veg out.

My goal is to not gain any weight between now and New Years.  In the real world, I really want to take off a couple of pounds.  It shouldn’t be that hard but I have so many memories related to holiday treats, like chocolate pretzels, Christmas cookies, fudge with walnuts, ribbon candy, and peppermint candy canes, just to name a few.  Each one not only tastes good, but it also floods my brain with memories of Christmas past.  I love this time of year.

My band helps keep me focused for the most part.  I have so much more control over what I eat and how much I eat.  I actually enjoy the holidays more simply because come January 1st, like last year, I won’t have gained weight over the holidays.

The bottom line is I actually gained two pounds between the middle of October and yesterday.  I am not disappointed because I know how to change this cycle and continue to lose weight.

I had Thanksgiving dinner and did fairly well however a couple of days later I headed out to a convention in Las Vegas and I didn’t do a very good job of watching my proteins.  In other words I ate a LOT of carbs.

I would guess for the past 30 plus years I have always had a Belgium Waffle at Bally’s when I am there.  This year was no different.  I won’t even go into the deserts.  Somethings are a tradition and one luxury of the band is that I knew this would only last in Las Vegas.

I know if I eat my proteins first I will feel full fairly fast.   The beauty of the band is that I  feel I am in control, for the most part, and I don’t feel like I have been denied anything I wanted, while I have been on this journey.

I didn’t realize how big I had grown until I saw a picture of myself and realized how big I was.  I decided it was a “do or die”  situation.  If something didn’t change, neither would my health.  I made a great choice with the band.

That is another thing I am thankful for.

I am doing really well.  The weight is still coming off, even though it has been slow going.  I am in control from the standpoint that if I hit a point in time where I want to accelerate my weight loss, I basically  make better, lower calories food choices.  Otherwise, I continue my weight loss by just living my normal life, it is just a little slower.

I should say my gummy multivitamins will be my desert.  I always make certain I take my vitamins.

I wish everyone a great Thanksgiving!

I have been somewhat lax on staying with my workout schedule, since I have been on the road a lot.  I am going back on it tomorrow.  I was out of town today or I would have started today.

Everything else is going great!

My loss is a little over a pound a month.  I do hit times when the weight seems to come off quicker  and then I’ll plateau.  I don’t worry about  it anymore because I know it is working.  Basically I am so use to the band I forget it is there.

If anything, I guess I am a little disappointed in myself.  I know I could be losing quicker, however I am so comfortable with my eating habits I am content to lose it at my current rate of loss.

I am not dreading Thanksgiving  or the holidays.  My band is my friend and will keep me in check.