Sorry it's been so long!!

I know, I know! I'm a terrible blogger!! The holidays just got so very busy! Yikes!!

Just a quick update, and I'll try to come back soon and post an updated picture! Deal?

Well, at the risk of sounding repetative, I won't mention again how happy and excited I am about having this surgery!! I absolutely love it! (oh wait! There I go again!) haha! I just can't say enough about it! People used to tell me, "I'd do it all over again!", and to be honest with you.. I kind of figured they were in that category that it's just been too long and they forgot what the early days were like! Because this was my assumption, for a couple months, I totally braced myself for something they all failed to remember!!! LOL!!! But nope!! Still loving it!! It's the best thing I ever did!!

For those of you getting ready to have surgery... It's a wild ride! Depending on how you do with surgery will, of course, decide what the first few weeks will be like. (I had no complications! But there are some small setbacks like stenosis that I must give an honerable mention) but once you are through the recovery phase, you will enter something like a "euphoria" phase! It's amazing to watch/feel that weight falling off! I went from a good hefty size 18..and in 4 months I'm in a size 10 (some 8's)!!! I've lost 65 lbs and it's still coming off! My goal is 30 lbs to go, and I feel so blessed and fortunate to be 30 lbs from my goal in only 4 months!!!

EVERYTHING changes! I've already mentioned the obvious dress sizes... But I went from a size 10 shoe to a 7 1/2 - 8! My ring size went from a very tight 7 1/2 to a loose 5 1/2! I'm talking everything! Not to mention energy levels, moods, marriage, etc!!! All for the good!!!!

It's an Awesome ride!!!

Buh-bye for now!!

Ahhhh.. pouch eating.... love it!

I absolutely LOVE that I can eat less than 1/2 cup of black-eyed peas for lunch and be COMPLETELY satisfied!! I used to need a bowl or two, and always had to have cornbread, of course! But now I don't need much at all... I'm completely full and satisfied, and it's all protein!

I just love, love, love having a pouch! I know it probably sounds wierd... but it really is the best decision/choice I ever made! I love that I can taste a little bite of something.. so I don't feel deprived if there's something yummy on the table.. but I don't have any desire to eat more than a small bite of something that's not good for me!

I still have to put some focus on food, because I have to cook balanced meals for my family, but it's so nice to not even have to worry about food (for myself) much.. because a few bites and I'm done. Eating used to be such a big focus of the day, and it's just not that way anymore. I thought that would be hard, and I sure never expected to embrace it... but I LOVE IT!

...... just had to share! :)

3 months = 51 lbs lost!!

We just got back this weekend from a cruise, I was able to enjoy a bite or two at each meal of whatever I wanted, (not sugary things of course)... but we had a great time, and I didn't gain anything at all in a 5 day cruise! I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything!!

I also had no sickness, which was great!!

It was a blast!!

It's officially the 3 month mark today, and I've lost 51 lbs. I need to do inches soon (I've been bad about that, I admit) but can I say, "THIS IS SO FUN!?" :)

1/2 way there!! :)

Okay, I started out with 92 lbs to lose,

and I've lost 46 lbs,

so I'm officially 1/2 way there!

Yeahoo!!!

Have I mentioned that this is FUN??? :)

Short update...2 month mark!

Things are busy around the Morgan Household these days, with homeschooling, fun field-trips, and plans for a cruise in 2 weeks... sorry I haven't been updating as well as I should! I'll try to get better! :)

Eating is getting easier as I learn to make sure my first bite is very cautious and slow, as that's usually the one that gets hung up!!! I really haven't found anything I can't have or don't tolerate, I am just learning some foods are way more filling than others, so I have to evaluate each meal by the "density" LOL... this way I don't feel yucky, thinking I had room for the normal amount. (I can't eat as many bites if the food is heavy)

I've been TRYING to get the high levels of protein in everyday, but I am noticing a little bit of hair loss (It's not that bad, I just see the hairs falling out alot)... so I think I better step it up a little bit! :( SIGH! This is the most difficult thing, I think... there isn't enough room or time in the day w/out doing a drink.. and don't get me started on the drinks!!! :) LOL!

I just thought I'd post that I've lost about 40 lbs according to the last time I weighed (a couple days ago), and down another size!! Okay, I'll spill it... I've went from a size 18 to a size 12 in 2 months!! I think that's some good results!! Anyone want my doctor's number?? LOL! :)

I'm currently having to shop for some clothes for our upcoming cruise, I don't want to go on vacation looking frumpy in baggy clothing (like I look around town!)! I've been trying to put off buying clothes as long as possible... I had a few items in step-down sizes... but I'm officially OUT of those sizes now.. YEA! So I decided that it's time to break down and purchase a few clothing items and I am realizing that some peoples stories were right! I was told that sometimes the biggest hurdle when you are losing, is wrapping your mind around your new "size".. I was doing some shopping today, and the clothes I would pull out that looked like my size would be way too big, they were my old sizes! I obviously still see myself that size! I wouldn't naturally pull out a pair of jeans that were that narrow (new size), my brain hasn't processed it all yet, I guess! But this is a very real part of the process, I hear, and now I'm finding out for myself.. I have been putting off buying clothes, not only to buy as little as possible (since you don't get to wear them very long).. but also, because really, I still feel bigger... it's the strangest thing! I spent a very exhausting day in and out of the dressing room, exchanging for smaller sizes.. and get home to model for my husband and he says... Babe- those jeans are already baggy! SIGH! I'm not going back... these will have to do for a little while!! :)

Next step-- Size 10! Trying to prepare myself! :) Hehe... it IS fun.. no denying that!! :)

So excited for the months to come!!

Shoes!

I think I knew it might happen... but hadn't really focused much on it while enjoying this rapid weight loss journey..... But I have officially went from a size 10 shoe, to a size 8!!!!

It's fabulous!!

Oh and by the way... I've lost 35 lbs!! :)

... and two dress sizes (counting by 2, even #'s of course... so is it actually 4?)

and 21.5 inches!

This is so much fun! :)

Sorry for the absence!!

Oh wow... It's been over a week since I posted!! :( Let me try to catch up!

I had my 1 month doctor appointment. He gave me a bill of good health, told me I was doing great, and that now I need to start eating. He asked what I had mostly been eating so far.. I said "Beans".. he said.. Okay.. now lets start graduating to Big Girl food.. LOL! :) The point is to find out what I can tolerate, and also to ensure that there is no "stenosis" (scar tissue that closes the stomach opening) So I've been experementing with different foods... and wow.... my feelings of pride about not having gotten sick yet.... out the window!!

Now.. let me clarify... I haven't eaten anything too fatty or too sugary that makes me sick... my problem has been too DRY! Oh my, if you swallow something that is too dry, it's not going down.... thus what doesn't come down, must come up! So I've been having to be very careful and take very small bites... which is normal.. but it's very much a learning process! :)

I'm down 2 sizes and really feeling great, and I've lost 33 lbs!! :) Yeahoo!!

I'll try to post a picture soon! :)