Goal for today - starting the week off right! What does the band mean to me?

And so far so good! I am in Chicago. I was thinking about the upcoming BOOBS in September in the taxi on the way to my hotel and how I hope I can swing the weekend away because it looked like so much fun last year! This is a great city -I have spent some fun times here in the past.

Today my meetings start at 12 so I technically could have come in this morning but didn't want to risk it. Who am I kidding. . . I love a night alone at the Ritz Carlton and will do it whenever I can :)

So this morning I was at the gym at 7:00 and did 40 minutes on the treadmill. Came back to my room and drank a lot of water and ate a delicious egg white frittata. Have to meet my boss in about an hour so I thought I would quickly blog.

A lot of people have been writing posts about what the band means to them. For me - being a relatively newbie - it is a tool that is allowing me to have control. It makes me hopeful that I can lose 100 lbs as so many of you have done. Without the band the thought of doing it on my own was just too overwhelming and felt hopeless. What I have learned almost 3 months in is that it does not take away your desire to eat (unless I sometime reach that sweet spot/green zone/G-Spot) that many of you have talked about and hopefully I will. But it does take away most of my hunger. I am not starving after eating just a small amount. It is not that difficult to stick to 1200 calories a day (easier if I burn 300 and eat 1500). And while my loss has slowed down - that is ok - it took me a long time to get here and I can put the time in and enjoy the way down.

You know I will need to look at this post when I am not in as hopeful a mood! I need to really refocus, stop snacking so that I can reach my weekly goal of 1-2 lbs instead of staying the same.

Have to run to go get ready. Hope everyone has a great week!

xoxo Susan

Been a bad blogger this week. . . but a pretty good NSV

And I didn't lose any weight - definite correlation between blogging and losing for me!  PICKING has been my problem.  I am picking on chocolate chips, pieces of brownie, hershey's kisses, pretzels and I need to stop.  No weight loss this week but thankfully no gain.  I spent Wednesday and Thursday in NYC at meetings.  Didn't stay over and took the train both days - I don't know how I ever did that everyday for 5 years.  (Well I did have 3 maternity leaves and likely never did it for 5 days in a row as I would sneak the work at home day in). 

So with the commuting I was only able to go on the treadmill for 3 days this week but will do today and tomorrow so that will help.  Tomorrow is my baby's 3rd birthday party.  He will be 3 on Friday but we are having the party a week early because of schedules.  I will be very happy when this party is over and then we don't start again until my middle son turns 5 in November. 

On to my NSV. . . on Wednesday I had an all day presentations skills workshop with one of my bosses where they filmed us giving presentations numerous times and then we watched together.  I was not thrilled with watching the video BUT I also did not majorly cringe and want to crawl into a hole which I consider an NSV.  All I kept thinking was "if this is what I look like after losing 35 lbs how did I ever walk around and go to meetings being 35 lbs heavier".  But no need to dwell or cringe about it because next time I do one of these I will be at least another 35 lbs lighter. 

Promise to blog more consistently but for now gotta go on the treadmill. . . Happy Weekend!

Pizza!!

Have been craving it and had to have it.  Relatively new place opened in the town next to mine that has a sister restaurant and been in business since 1935.  Thin crust - small pieces and I had not one, not two, but three - where the H*** is the restriction I talked about yesterday.  Although I am feeling quite full right now.  But it was just one of those things where I have been wanting for about a month and had to give in.  I am not going to beat myself up or use it as an excuse to eat more tonight - and tomorrow morning I will be right back on the treadmill. 

35 Down! Luggage Weight

Back from my trip and so happy to report I am now down 35 lbs from my high.  I am thrilled and feel great.  Yesterday at the airport I had a major revelation when they weighed my luggage.  I had been lugging this bag from the car and couldn't believe how heavy it was.  Turns out it was 36 lbs.  When I think about the fact that I have lost almost that and have more than that to go I am just astonished.  I often think when I lift my kids that I need to lose much more than they weigh but for some reason this luggage thing hit home.  Next time I feel like eating a lot - you can bet I will be thinking of how heavy that bag is! 

So far so good

I just can't believe how different the restriction is in this altitude. I have flown before and didn't feel like this. I went to the Hotel gym at 5:20 am - am so proud of myself. Walked rapidly for 40 minutes. Then had some breakfast - yogurt with some berries and granola but only ate half. Not having a problem with my coffee. We'll see how the day goes. Not going to try anything too difficult.

The Mile High City

I love it here. The mountains are calling me but I know it is not a good idea for me to ski when I am 75 lbs over from when I went the last time. So I will be back next year!
We have an early day tomorrow with meetings starting at 7. I am going to try to go to the gym from 5:30 to 6:00. We'll see. . .

Holy Restriction! I managed to eat a small piece of chicken on the plane and ever since them I am tighter than I have ever felt. Tomorrow should be interesting.

Hope everyone is doing well. I am really looking forward to the NYC Brunch.

Take care and have a good night!

Hello from Sunny Naples Florida! Need some help with posting pictures from iPhone using Blog Press

Hi Everyone! Last few days have been a bit crazy. Kids with stomach flu and getting ready for my Conference. I came down to Naples on Sunday morning and had a nice afternoon by the pool. The weather here has been gorgeous! Some NSV's - I fit better in the airplane seat (still room for improvement) and I didn't totally stress over packing because I had clothes that I liked that fit.

Getting dressed for dinner on Sunday night I felt good - like I used to. I even took pictures in the full length mirror and sent to my parents who wrote back I looked "fabulous" - a big compliment from them. I wish I knew how to post it - I have Blog Press and can't figure it out. If anyone can help please send me a message.
But the biggest one for me is that I was actually looking forward to coming down here. I have been attending this Conference since 1993 every year - I only missed one in 2008 because I was giving birth that month and couldn't travel. I am on the Board of the organization that sponsors it and I have run it in the past so I am very visible. And this year I didn't mind! It was like I used to be before I gained all the excess weight. A couple of people noticed and said nice things - not "you lost weight" but more - "you look great and happy". It also helps that I am really happy right now in my job and love what I am doing (although as we all know that could change) but for now I am enjoying it.

On the not so good side. . . my poor husband. Last night 2 of the boys were up throwing up. I just pray the stomach flu is gone by tomorrow night when I get home because I am petrified of catching it with the band.

Eating wise - I have been making good choices but clearly drinking more wine and not preparing my own food. Today I went to the gym and walked for 40 minutes at a rapid pace on the treadmill. This afternoon I am flying to Denver and with the 2 hour time difference I am hoping to get a workout in before my meetings tomorrow.

On Friday I am going to see Bethanny on tour. It will be a fun girls night out. I do think she is a bit full of herself but I like watching her.

Off the pack up and head to Miami for our flight to Denver.

Take care and hope everyone is well.

xoxo Susan