Our goal this year was to raise $10, 000 for the ASMBS Foundation and the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC). We are proud to announce that we exceeded our goal and raised over $11,000, which will likely place us in the Top Ten Fundraisers for the nation.

There is really no pain with an adjustment. There is a little stinging with the numbing medicine, and some pressure with the adjustment. I had a big hiatal hernia that my surgeon needed to repair. They had to take fluid out of my band during surgery and they think that may have been why the leftover ½ cc in my band had some blood in it.

This is the first time I was in the kayak and it was a lot of fun. It also shows that I still have a lot of weight to lose. The funny thing is that right after my sister Sarah turned off the camera I tipped the boat and ended up flat on my back in a foot of water. We all laughed so hard and my nephews thought it was the funniest thing they had seen in a long time. It was a much needed laugh on a long weekend.

P.S. My nephews are pretty loud and pretty dramatic.

There were several things working against me.  My “triggers” were all happening at one time: the stress of a funeral and losing my grandmother, the stress of a family gathering, the smell of one of my favorite foods.  This all puts a girl in a tough position.  Add to this the fact that I had not had a fill, wasn’t keeping a food log or exercising and it was a recipe to gain some weight.

What I learn from these blogs is that I am not a great patient and not the best at practicing what I preach.  However, the band is my friend and still reminds me it is there and that I need to slow down and focus on what I am doing.  I am also learning that this will keep me honest.  Videos cannot lie and the only person I hurt if I am not honest in my blogs and food logs is myself.

There are so many thoughts and books about emotional eating.  But usually about a third of the way through the book, I am even more emotional or stressed.  I think the philosophy I am going to work with is alternative releases of emotions.  Obviously crying is not the best one, which I find myself doing more of.   I am going to focus on quilting which I love and may even try to throw in a little exercise.  You know they say that these activities can release some of the good hormones that make you feel good.  I am going to give it a try.

I have been a wild woman out of control since 4/10/09 and my weight is up. Friday, Saturday and Sunday it felt as if I had no band in place. I could eat anything I wanted and I did. I also grazed on jelly beans and chocolate. It was hard this weekend (Easter). I really wasn’t hungry, but I wanted food. This was the first time a lot of my family had seen me since my surgery so I was receiving all kinds of compliments. I am not sure what I was thinking. Part of me thinks I got overconfident and thought I wouldn’t have to work so hard and the band would do the work. Boy did I find out in a hurry that is not the case. I have been here before. This seems like the point where I always get stuck when I am trying to change my eating behavior. I am so controlled for about 6-8 weeks then it all breaks loose. I totally lose all control. Not just in my eating, but in other areas of my life as well. I am frustrated and disappointed in myself for letting this happen. Goals to help regain control:

1. pray
2. journal
3. exercise
4. drink the water
5. plan meals
6. eat solid food