Holy FREAK!

I've almost lost 90 lbs. (40.8 kg.)!  I'm just 4/10th  of a pound (.2 kg.) from being 90 lbs. down.  In just over eight months!  When I started this whole gastric-banding process, I honestly never imagined myself getting to this point.  I didn't want to get my hopes up.  I was so afraid this was going to be another crazy thing I tried that failed.

I lost 3.2 lbs. (1.5 kg.) this week and now weigh 190.4 lbs. (86.4 kg.).  My goal has always been to lose 100 lbs. (45.4) which means I am just 10.4 lbs. (4.7 kg.) from goal!  I am fully planning to revise my goal once I hit it because I'd also like to lose another 17 lbs. (7.7 kg.) from there to get to a normal BMI, but STILL!

I want to thank each and every one of you for your support through this process.  Blogging has been a HUGE part of my success.  You have supported me when I was down and helped me work through various problems and challenges along the way.  I try to follow as many of you as I can and some weeks I do better than others at reading and commenting.  Please leave your blog info in my comments if I am NOT following you.

I have read a few blogs lately talking about the upcoming holidays and what people are planning to do to make sure they don't get off track.  I have never really had to make any major plans through this process to avoid overeating.  My gastric band keeps my portion sizes small.  I try to make good food choices, but I also eat all foods in moderation.  I don't engage in behaviors that sabotage my efforts.  For example, I seldom drink high-calorie, low-nutrition coffee drinks.  I rarely drink alcohol.  I don't "graze".  I usually eat three times a day with nothing in between.  But if I'm hungry, I'll have a high-protein snack like a cheese stick.  I have been to several family dinners and not had any problems.  I either have a few "munchies" portioned on my plate before the meal or nothing until meal time, depending on how I feel.  I eat dessert.  I never deprive myself. 

But I also don't want to go into this time with my head burried in the sand.  So please tell me what your holiday plans are.  How do you handle the pitfalls of Halloween, Thanksgiving and the December holidays?

Can you tell I haven't posted since Friday?  I am jumping from topic to topic here because I have sooo much to say.

I have talked before about my financial stresses since my fella has been out of work since December and since I got fired for blogging at work (ha ha kidding...not fired yet anyways).  I took a loan to pay for my surgery (which my mom was supposed to pay when she got an inheritance that still hasn't come through so I've been paying) and I also have a small loan on my fella's laptop.  I have figured out a way to pay them both off by the end of the year.  I'm selling all my extra organs!  Do you need an eyeball (near-sighted) or a kidney?  No, not really.  Basically I am going to dedicate my Christmas bonus, tax refund and every extra penny I make to paying them both off.  So Christmas is going to suck.  And no going to the cabin during my vacation in December to play in the snow and the hot springs.  But the reward will be that in January those stupid loans will be paid off and 2011 should be a better financial year. 

Now of course if my fella manages to find a job, things will be much, much better and Christmas won't suck and we can still go to the cabin.  Figures crossed!

Lastly, I am feeling 1,000 times better.  All of the annoying band issues I was happening are resolved.  My acid reflux is about 90% resolved after 7 days on medication.  I'm not puking or PBing or having any other issues anymore.  I feel good.

Oh ya...I'm also going to the University of Oregon v. UCLA game tomorrow at Autzen Stadium.  So excited!  GO DUCKS!!!