Sunday, September 25, 2011

At Last!!

It's been quite some time since I have blogged, and quite a lot has happened!  I got to meet Ms. Amy W. while she was here in Charlotte for a work thing.  It was really nice to finally meet her in person, though I can honestly say that I felt like I knew her already, just from reading her blog.  She is just as great in person as she is in blog!  I also got to meet Heather.  We talked a lot about our bands... She let me feel her up - well.... her port baby, anyway.... We talked about my upcoming wedding, exercise, getting stuck, etc.  It was great!  

These past few weeks at work have been ridiculously stressful for me.  I never again want to go through a merger.  I have been in all kinds of training, totally new systems, etc etc.  I know that once it's done, it will most likely be for the better, but for now.... bleh.

On a brighter note... today is officially weigh in day, and I came in at 287.7!  I honestly did a double take when I saw it~haha.  I was like... wait... I GAINED?!!!  Then I realized that it was an 8 in the middle and not a 9.  Oh happy day!  I have been doing well with this adjustment.  One thing that I have realized, however, is that the days that I'm not eating ENOUGH food are actually worse on me than the days that I splurge and eat crap.  Not that I splurge all that often, but my point is that it's just as bad for your body to eat too few calories as when you eat way too many.  That's something that has been difficult for me to adjust to.

Wedding plans are coming along nicely.  Yesterday was my official 6 month mark in the countdown.  I went last weekend with my Maid of Honor to try on wedding dresses.  And... I cried~haha.  Not because I found "the dress", because I'm not sure that I did, but because I couldn't believe how nice my body looked in those dresses, and the fact that I was able to fit a 22, when last time I was in a bridal shop (for a prom dress) I had to buy a 32.  Yeah... 32... in HIGH SCHOOL.  Too much.  I will be heading to another store on October 8th (which also just happens to be my birthday!) to try on some other dresses along with my mom, stepmom, bridesmaids, and my stepsister.  I can't wait!  Though my mom and I usually disagree more often than not, I know that I could never pick out a dress without her there.  It must be a Southern thing.

And... last but not least... I would like to discuss loose skin.  While I am supremely happy about the weight I have lost, my loose skin has really been causing me some problems.  I know it's not the most pleasant thing in the world to talk about, but I just wanna put it out there for anyone else having issues.  I have a severe yeast infection on the skin right above my hoo-ha where my stomach skin hangs over and is rubbing there.  Severe enough that I went to urgent care yesterday because it was so painful.  They gave me diflucan, which is what they also prescribe for vaginal yeast, and told me to get some Monistat cream (also for vaginal yeast) and rub it over the infected area.  If haven't been using it long enough to tell a difference yet, but I will let you all know how it goes.  I have some pictures, but I will not be sharing them on here because of the location.  I will, however be sharing them with my surgeon when I go back for my next fill so that it can be documented.  Things like that can help you qualify for skin removal with your insurance company so that it isn't considered purely cosmetic.

So.. I will keep you ladies posted on the wedding plans and other issues... we'll see how it all works out! =)  I hope you all are enjoying the nice season change (Fall and Winter are my FAVORITE seasons... I hate the summer!!!). 

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Could it be? The sweet spot?!

So I realized this morning while doing my weekly weigh in that I haven't posted in nearly a month!  What's wrong with me?!!!  Absolutely nothing.. I've just been crazy busy and on the go.

Hmm... Where to start... Well since today is Sunday, and my official weigh in day... I will start with that.  This morning I was 291.2!! =)  That means I am down 61 pounds, and I am so happy.  I have gotten down to an 18 on the top, and 20/22 (depending on the style) on the bottom.  I haven't been this size since I was a sophomore in HIGH SCHOOL.  I had a small fill (.5cc) on Wednesday, and I can definitely feel the restriction now... but not in a bad way.  I'm afraid to jinx myself, but I think that I may have just hit the "sweet spot"!  For those of you who aren't as familiar with the band... the "sweet spot" is the point where your band is perfectly filled.  Your eating is restricted, but not too restricted... you are losing, but not too quickly.  In other words... the perfect adjustment.

A few weeks ago, Daniel and I went on a much needed vacation for a whole week!   We went to the beach... a place that I love to go simply because I can relax and get away from everything, but also a place that I honestly hate going outside in.  I know that sounds silly, but as a girl weighing 352 pounds... I didn't exactly feel comfortable frolicking on the beach with half naked 110 pound girls in bikinis.  I haven't owned a bathing suit since I was about.... oh 12 or so.  I have always just worn a tank top and shorts out on the beach.  However, this trip I decided to try something new.  Daniel and I went into one of those stores that you see about every 6 feet at Myrtle Beach (Eagles I think...), and I actually found quite a few swimsuits that were suitable for a plus size girl, but not something that looked like my grandmother designed it.  After just 2 tries, I found something that I was completely in love with.  I actually teared up when I saw myself in it.  Daniel was smiling from ear to ear when I came out of the dressing room.  It was one of the best moments I have had in my weight loss journey.  Up until that point, the only thing that topped it was the day that I looked down at the scale and the number started with a 2 instead of a 3.  That was a great day =)  A few days later, we went for a stroll on the boardwalk, and as I was watching the sunset over the water, Daniel took a picture of me from behind.  When he showed me the picture a few minutes later, I started crying right then and there on the boardwalk.  Not just a stray tear, but a genuine cry.  I had no idea how much my body has changed since I started this journey, and until I saw that picture, I felt like I had not been as successful as I would have liked.  It was an amazing feeling that I wish I could share with each and every one of you.  Unfortunately, our condo was broken into during our stay and my purse was stolen with camera inside.  So that memory is something that I will just have to make sure I hold on to myself =)

In other news... Daniel and I have been busy, busy, busy making wedding plans.  We have completely changed ALL of the plans that we thought we had decided on before.  I don't want to give away too may details, but I think having everything in one location will be much less stressful than trying to move around.  Also, I really like the ideas that have come to mind since deciding on the new location.  I am an extremely creative, DIY craft type person... and this place is going to feed my addiction!!  I'm very excited for everyone to see it, and I am hoping that everyone loves it just as much as Daniel and I love it.  I can't wait until I finally get to the point that I can go dress shopping =)  This morning, we were trying to decide on some of the ceremony music... I cried during almost every song~haha.  What can I say, I'm just an emotional person.  I got it honestly though.  Most of the ladies in my family will cry at the drop of a hat.  Not a bad thing, just sometimes inconvenient haha!

Speaking of wedding planning, I took a break from making an Excel spreadsheet of wedding guests, so I must get back to the task at hand.  I just wanted to make sure that  I didn't neglect you guys any longer!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!