Cook & Carry

Yesterday I attended a "Cook and Carry" in London as part of our WLS support group events. We made three different recipes (Turkey Chili, Caribbean Pulled Chicken Stew and Vegetable Cheddar Chowder) and each got to bring two meal-sized containers home afterward. I had a great time getting to know the girls better and we had lots of fun. This has gotten me in the mood to make up more meals to keep in the freezer for easy access.

A few weeks ago I decided to buy show shoes. I have no clue where the idea came from but after a week of wanting to show shoe, I went out and bought a pair. It took me a whole week to try them out and I discovered that it isn't as easy as it looks. By the time you get on heavy snow boots and then the snowshoes it is a really good workout. I made it about 2 1/2 songs on my iPod before I decided it was time to go home. :o)

Pre-op and post-op pictures for comparison.

My Skinny List

Here's my ongoing list of things to do as I get skinny:

-Jog
-Go to Hawaii (done January 2010)
-Wear a bikini
-Play tennis (done August 14, 2009)
-Snowshoe
-Ride a bike (done summer 2009)
-Go skating
-Shop in a skinny store

One Year Surgiversary!

Tomorrow will be my one year surgiversary.

I cannot believe a whole year has passed! I am nowhere near where I expected to be one year post-op but I can say I am 30 lb lighter than I was a year ago (I had been down 35 but my not so bandster behaviour in Hawaii made 5 lb take up residence on my hips again!) and I am about 40 lb down from my highest weight. I have went from a 32 (5X) to a 24 (3X).

I did not reach proper restriction until eleven months post-op so this could be part of the reason I am a slower loser. I have no foods that my band dislikes. I can eat gluten-free pizza, bread, pasta, cookies, rice without problems and even had a rum and coke (after I stirred the hell out of it) last week!

I have not been going to the gym as often as I had pre-op and need to get into a routine of going more often. Since I have more energy I am trying new activities. I learned that tobogganing is a lot more uncomfortable when you are older and that hula dancing is harder than it looks!

Even though I am nowhere close to the one year goal I had set out for myself I am still further ahead than I was pre-band. I have decided that I am fine with losing extremely slowly since the pounds are gone FOREVER!