Grateful is as grateful does

Coming into Christmas and just a little over six months into having my band if you were to ask me the one most significant thing I feel most about having this little gizmo inside my stomach I would say - right here, right now - that I am grateful.. (did you guess that by now? lol)


This band of mine has opened so many possibilities and made me feel so good about myself in ways I can't even explain.  Sure, the day to day stuff often gets in the way and I sometimes forget  just how great life is and can be - especially when I am too focused on those scales and not thinking enough about the big picture. 


I am just three and a half pounds off losing a whopping 60 pounds. For us Aussies and those dealing in kilos that is almost 26 kilos gone. I CANNOT believe I am seeing this number.... I truly can't. The best I ever did on my own was lose around 10 kilos....  I would fight tooth and nail for around 6 to 8 weeks, then its the same old, same old. I would lose interest or just give up and whammo... back on goes the weight. But here I am 6 months down the track and still heading in the right direction. It's enough to make me want to cry tears of happiness. 


So with that, I thought I would do a post on the fantastic things losing this weight through the aid of my band has brought me:


I can reach behind me and scratch anywhere I want on my back... and do it easily. 
I am in size 16's - and skirting the boards getting into 14's. They fit, but just not quite enough to be comfortable in my own mind (and perhaps be worn out in public lol.) 
I have loads of energy, I sleep better at night and I am more even tempered.
I have a small shower, but I can stand in the middle and lift each leg way high to shave it, bracing my foot against the tiles. 
My skin looks better (but maybe not my hair - I've had a problem with losing it... but slowly that is coming back also!!) 
I can run and jump and play with Riley (and Jake if he's in the mood)
I can fit into any seat anywhere, and not worry that it's going to break (spindly plastic chairs anyone?) or that I am spilling out the sides.
The focus is off food - 90 percent of the time I eat when I'm hungry, and not by the clock.
I can still have treats if I want - I don't deny myself anything (band aside) - but I am more aware there will be a   fallout - if I DO have a junkfest then I better be prepared to have it show on the scales a day or two later ... but no biggie... because I know I WILL lose it again.. it's just a minor setback.
Always a big drinker of water - I now drink more than ever - and again, the more I drink the more that reflects on those scales. Sometimes it makes my tummy stick out more though lol.
I am getting compliments ALL the time.
I went to a party on the weekend... and perhaps for the first time - I wasn't one of the biggest people there. I felt attractive (and dare I say it... sexy??) and I had FUN!!!!
I am buying makeup ALL the time - ditto new clothes. Shoes fit better - I am taking good care of my feet for the first time in like forever because I am showing them off. 
I love feeling my new bones! I sometimes lay in bed and just skim my body - knobbly knees spin me out, as does bony elbows, jutting hipbones and lifting my leg and being able to cup my hand over the thigh. They are really losing weight!! My jawbone, when I lift my head slightly is really obvious to the touch.. especially near my chin.  My collar bones are starting to become obvious and my shoulders are becoming thinner too - which is really pretty (but I still have to do something about my slightly too big upper arms.)
New knickers and bras - whooo - finally going down that road, too. I just got myself a few new pairs that I brought from Target (I have found Target here in Australia has prettier bras than even the bigger stores like David Jones or Myers)... and forget the bra shops full stop - they still cater for little size 12's in an A cup - and sunshine.. that aint me!!
I have had to take off almost all of my rings but have just started to wear them again - now I'm down enough that the ones on my pinkies fit on my ring finger, the ring finger has gone to my middle finger and so on and so forth. 
Action in the bed? Holy mother... how exciting is this part??? I can maneuver around that mattress like nobodies business and I'm flexible and lighter.... nuff said! lol
I love feeling things grow looser on me... my watch keeps slipping down my wrist and facing the wrong way and I have a new bracelet (I was spoilt - I got the most beautiful Tiffany silver bracelet for my birthday) and it's also hanging off my wrist.
This one goes under TMI - but is important health wise.......I had my gallbladder out years ago - which then led to problems with drinking milk - it would go right through me.. I would get these nasty tummy aches that would have me writhing in pain and I had to be careful going out after drinking it as I would invariably need the loo within a short time....remember this was the time when I would drink coffee chills by the gallon.... I just had a long hard think... I can drink milk now and I don't have that problem any more. How nifty is that!!


There must be dozens more of these kinds of wins... but these are the ones I can think of right off the bat. All in all, while we DO have frustrating times with this band of our, whether it's PB'ing, or a slow weight loss or any of the other small problems that come with it.. (and they are small I think..... ) all in all, this band, this tool we all turned to to help us get where we are now and are still continuing on with has been in a word - a lifesaver! It will in the long run bring us a sense of peace and a newfound confidence that most of us didn't have however many months or years ago. Now who can argue against that! Not me, that's for sure.


See you soon
"Grateful' Cara
xxxxxx