6 MONTH BANDIVERSARY!!

So let me start this blog out by saying where in the world have I been?! I have missed out on some good things in the blog world! First, the Chicago trip?! I hadnt even heard about it until Alexis told me about it on Facebook...other peoples bandiversarys I have missed...goodness! Im my life outside of the blog world I always like knowing what is going on in my families' lives and my friends' lives...so this is not normal for me to be so unconnected. I apologize.

Well I have had a busy life the past few weeks hints the reason I haven't been updating my blog. I started a new job Monday and this has had me busy busy busy. I am an auditor for a landscaping company and I love it so far. I also celebrated my 24th birthday this past Sunday and here in the south we like to drag that out for a week or so! I had a birthday celebration with good friends last night and I have a family birthday tomorrow night if that proves my point haha :) But I purposely waited to update my blog today instead of yesterday because today is my 6 MONTH BANDIVERSARY!! Yay!! Has is really been 6 whole months since my surgery?! Time sure does fly by! Even though I have hit some bumps in the road and had some weight plateaus, I couldnt be more happy that I made the decision to change my life and start living and eating right (most of the time hehe).

When I started this weight loss journey I weighed 257 pounds, with my highest weighted being 260 pounds a few weeks before surgery. As of this morning, I weigh 219 pounds. I have lost a grand total of 38 pounds since surgery. This is 38 pounds I will never EVER carry with me ever again. Goodbye...see you later...adios amigo! During this weight loss journey I plan to hit my goal weight of 160 pounds. 38 pounds down and 59 to go! Im not sure when I will hit my goal but I know I am enjoying the ride and taking it each day at a time. I celebrate with each pound lost and I think that is the right thing to do. I once would compare myself to everyone else and their weight loss but I learned that this will only get you down and depressed about the journey you are on. Because some people have lost 80 pounds during their first 6 months while others have only lost 20 pounds. It is all relative based on our beginning weight and how our bodies react and how well we do with the band. If you have lost 10 pounds, be happy. If you have lost 50, be happy. If you have lost 100, be happy :)

Here are a few things I have noticed since losing 38 pounds:

1. I can now cross my legs with no problem! You know the feeling when you cross your legs and you are clinching them so they wont fly apart haha? Well now there is no problem and as a woman, that feels good.

2. My fingers have gotten so much smaller. I would always have to wear a size 9 ring and now I am wearing size 7 for the most part. My mom's wedding ring is a size 7 and it goes on my ring finger with no problem.

3. I used to wear a size 22 in jeans and pants and a 2x in all shirts...I even have shirts in my closet that are 3x. I am now wearing size 18 in pants...I actually bought a pair of 18's from Target that are too big but Im too nervous to go down to 16's already. All the shirts I have been getting are 1x and I actually just bought a dress from TJMaxx that is a size XL...like not plus size XL, just XL!! This was a big milestone for me seeing that I am a shopping and clothes addict!

4. I do have a collar bone. I noticed this a few months ago but when I weighed 260 pounds, you couldnt find my collar bones if you tried! haha

5. I do have a truly girly figure. I have always been very proportionate with my weight...as in the top half of my body was proportionate to my bottom half. But my waist is getting more and more defined every day it seems. Before surgery I felt more rectanglar shaped because my waist had gotten larger and larger. But with weight loss I can really tell a difference. I think before surgery I measured 45 inches around my waist and as of today I am around 37 inches. My hips need to catch up but I can now see that hourglass figure....maybe a curvy hourglass haha!

But thank you everyone for your continued support! I appreciate it more than you know!! I cant wait for another good 6 months :) I feel like we are all family here and it feels good to have a great support system!!

Im hoping I can go to Chicago...can someone tell me the main details?? That would be so much fun to meet you ladies in person!! We would all be one wild and crazy group of girls!

One more question...can someone tell me how to do comparison, side by side pictures?! I cant figure it out!

Everyone have a great Friday and wonderful weekend!! Pictures from my birthday weekend coming SOON!