4 Week Surgiversary!

This am, I weighed in at 256.5, up .5 lbs from my lowest, weight ever, but considering all the salty Chinese food I had yesterday, I'll take it!

I started this journey at 280 lbs. This was not my highest weight ever, I just refused to weight myself at that point. But I was stable around 280 lbs when I first met with Dr. Kurrian on October 22.

I started my pre-op diet on December 8, at 277 lbs, because I had been sick with wicked bronchitis for the past three weeks. I still think of my starting weight as 280 lbs. I have some pictures I took at this point, but can't get them off my camera...it's in progress, cause I want to see a side by side as time goes on.
One surgery day, December 22, I weighed 264 lbs, a loss of 13 lbs during 14 days of painful, painful pre-op dieting. That has been the most difficult part of my lap band journey so far.

I did the following measurements on surgery day:
Neck   17.75
Boobs (don't remember if this was in a bra or not) 48.5
Under boobs 43
Waist 48
Hips 52.75
L thigh 30.25
R thigh 29.25
L calf 20
R calf 21

9 Days after surgery, I met my first goal, which was to be under 258 lbs...I was 257.5 on January 1, 2010.

Since then, I went onto mushies and real food. If definitely had a Bandster Hell experience, in that I have to be the one to control what I eat, not really depending on the band. However,
1. I take small bites, eat slowly, and chew well. I'm scared of hurting myself if I don't!
2. I've been counting calories for now, and trying to keep in the ballpark of 1200-1400 calories per day. With a few exceptions, but even those, because of number 1, are not that bad! Nothing like my gorging and binging pre-band!

Since January 1, I've pretty much stayed around the same weight...My lowest weigh in was 256 lbs, which was great. It went up to 258.5 for a day or two, but mostly stayed in between. I have a feeling I am safely at 256.5 or less now, but we'll see. This is still a tiny loss, which is great, and at my one week post-op appointment, my Dr. told me that a quarter of her patients gain, a quarter lose, and half just stay the same. I think my small loss puts me into that top quarter of the class, which is great.

I took my measurements today, 4 weeks later. Here's how they compare:
Neck   17.75                    15.5               -2.25
Boobs (bra?) 48.5    (bra) 45                  -3.5
Under boobs 43               41                   -2
Waist 48                          45                   -3
Hips 52.75                      51                   -1.75
L thigh 30.25                  28.5                -1.75
R thigh 29.25                  28                   -1.25
L calf 20                       18.5                  -1.5
R calf 21                       19                      -2

I've lost a total of 20 INCHES!!! That is huge. See my last page for how my clothes are fitting all over again. I managed to squeeze into a pair of size 16W pants! They aren't fit for public wear yet, but I got them closed!

OK, off to my first day of work. Cause it is my first day, I'm not bringing lunch, etc., but I will bring a cheese stick, a protein shake, and a small handful of cranberries and pecans.