A goal smashed and 'The Award Goes To....?'

You know, one thing I've learned since getting a lap-band is that you have to expect the unexpected. No two days are the same as far as eating. Yesterday, I was hungry all day - but I had to temper myself, space those meals out and try to stick to what I know... that is eating slowly and keeping to my portion sizes. Today, I'm not hungry. Not at all. And when I do eat - not a sticky sign in sight. What's with that? I guess these bands just like to keep us guessing.


I had a drop on the scales this morning - just a touch but hey, it's going in the right direction. I'm now just over a half kilo away from hitting 79+ on the scale and suddenly, I'm motivated again. Does anyone remember when I wrote back ages ago about wanting to hit 80 kilos? This to me was a major goal. For a start it's just that one kilo (or 2.2 pounds) off going into the next lot of numbers down (the 70's) AND my sister was 80 kilos and looked pretty damn fine. I'm happy to report I'm now there. Sometimes, that's all we need - a sign - whether it be from the scale, our clothes being looser or someone or something telling us we've just had a great NSV (like.. "Well, look at you... didn't you get skinny lol.) to get our asses into gear and break through that barrier. 


I just want to quickly say something too.. an apology of sorts. If you are one of my lovely followers and I'm not following you back (there's not too many I know that..) but if you are one of the few, drop me a line to say hi and leave me your blog address. First up I would love to hear from you, and also sometimes I can't find a link to your blog, perhaps you don't have a blog in the first place OR you are on my followers list and I just missed you full stop. I want to give you all a shout out and say a huge, huge thanks to everyone who is along for the ride. Without you, I wouldn't have half the fun I do or be half as motivated to knock off this last 8th of my weight left (or be as far down the track as I am - that much I know!!) 

Which brings me to my next subject... the Sunshine Award. Two lovely ladies have nominated me. Band Groupie who I thanked a few days ago but will do again :) so thank you :) x and MandaPanda.. thanks doll. I was truly honored!! 


You know, I really hate just picking a few people out of the amazing bunch of ladies and men I follow. I really do. I bunked off the Beautiful Blogger Award by thanking everyone old and new in blogland but this time I had a hard think. While I love love love my new followers, all those girls/guys who have been banded recently and who I follow avidly, there are a whole bunch too that I have either followed since day dot OR who came in shortly after I started my own lap-banding experience.This award goes to the old crew. So to all those girls (and they are all girls - the men came later lol.. oohlala that sounded a little naughty..) that helped me in the early days by writing about their own experiences - those I learned so much from and still continue to learn from, I dedicate this  to you:
PS There are not 12 lol. No matter how I tried to cull - I couldn't, especially since I follow well over a hundred blogs myself .......so here they are in no particular order.
1. Jen from Oregon - http://www.jenisgonnaloseit.com - Jen and I hit it off right from the start. She came into the blogging game just a month or so after me - and a nicer girl you will not find. She's got the sweetest personality and is doing really well with her band. With only 30 pounds left to lose, she's getting towards the end game. And I'm there behind her cheering her all the way. :) 
2. Linda - http://lindasbandwidth.blogspot.com/ Linda and I are band-buddies - banded about a week apart but another whole world away. She's lost over 70 pounds and while Linda had a few troubles at the start of her banding experience, she manage to overcome and powered on like no-one else. She's one of my greatest champions. :)
3. Amy W. - http://cheeseandsunkist.blogspot.com/  What does a person say about Amy? Little ray of sunshine springs to mind and she's kicking it that band along like nobodies business. Like many of you, Amy's was one of the first peoples blogs I read and I was instantly hooked. She writes like a dream, has the quirkiest sense of humor and just tells the ups and downs of banded life the way it should be: warts and all. Thanks Ames. You brighten my day in so many ways when I read one of your posts. 
4. Catherine -  http://chroniclesfrombandland.blogspot.com Like Amy's blog, I have followed Catherine right from the get-go. Her blog is so full of interesting facts, as well as chronicling her journey with her band that it's a great read. And I get something out of it every time. She's been a huge support - even putting up with emails from me when I had something bothering me band wise and she was the girl with more experience. She always answered, never missing a beat. Thanks Catherine - you're the best. 
5. Sarah - http://losingweightgainingtons.blogspot.com And yet another blog I followed right from the beginning before I was banded myself. Sarah has done amazing things - totally re-inventing herself and experimenting with a new her. I love her chutzpah and she's always here for me with a kind word when I need her most. Mwah Sarah.
6. Roo -  http://abrandnewroo.blogspot.com Roo - ahh my fellow Aussie. A girl who's living a world away from home and yet making a go of it.....AND still manages to get out there and travel yet some more. She's lost almost 31 kilos in not quite 7 months. Go you Roo! You amaze me. 
7. Natalia - http://cr8tve1.blogspot.com Have you seen this woman? The most gorgeous blond hair and she looks so young - but then losing over half of her goal weight is bound to do that. She is just beautiful all the way through - from looks to personality. :)
8. Dianne - http://diannesjourney.blogspot.com/ Dianne was the banded person I ever met. I contacted her after first reading her blog before I went in for surgery - we met for coffee and I asked her a million questions which she answered so patiently. Seeing her looking smaller than her original weight (which she told me, after all I had only just met her) I decided I was going to do what she had done. I'm was gonna get me a band. I'm so thankful for you meeting me that day, Dianne. You kind of changed my life when you cemented in me my final decision. Thanks :)
9. Angie - http://angieinrepair.blogspot.com/ Angie and I laugh and call each other 'Band Twins.' Seems we are matching each other pound for pound and we usually hover around the same weight - hitting onderland also almost simultaneously. Gorgeous, fun and vivacious, her personality just oozes through her posts - and she carries us along for the ride with her every day ups and downs. Love your blog, Angie :) 
10. Yvonne - http://banditblossum.wordpress.com/ Hi Yvonne :) Another Aussie - Yvonne and I also have a great rapport - emailing each other and even sharing a dress ;) lol. She's now into her third trimester with a new bub, a little baby we call Jelly Bean (too cute.) Yvonne has been right there beside me, always supportive and giving me hints and tips when I hit those bumps in the road. I hope I always return the favor. :)
11. Brooke - http://lapbandlabyrinth.blogspot.com/ Ahhh Brookie. We live polar lives and yet she makes me laugh with her observations. She's been a bit scarce lately (bummer!) so I assume she's flat out doing what she does best - getting on and doing things. She's lost over half the weight she wanted to lose. Go you, Brooke. :)
12. Caroline - http://lonicera53.blogspot.com/ Part band blog, part travel blog - Caroline always has the most interesting posts filled with pictures from her travels - whether she's lived there or just visited. She always finds the time for a kind word when I need it most and encourages me when I'm on an up. Thanks my most traveled friend. You're a treasure. :)
13. Tina - http://tinasweight-lossjourney.blogspot.com/ Tina and I have also exchanged mail. She does all sorts of things I couldn't do if I tried - knitting, budgeting the books.. just to name two lol. Tina usually manages to come up with a solution to some band question I have and 99.9 per cent of the time I take her advice... the other .1 percent is my bad. I really identify with Tina for so many reasons, and she if she lived next door, we would share many a cup of coffee (or tea) as she tried to teach me to knit. And failed lol. 
14. Emma - http://lapbandlife.wordpress.com/ Any girl who says "Up and Go's' taste like ass has my vote lol. She just cracks me up with her sayings - and of course, being another Aussie I'm with her the whole way regardless. We met in person a few months ago and it was just fantastic. She's tiny (ooh there,s that word again, Em lol) and has just met her big goal - that is to be a certain weight by her wedding - which by the way is just weeks away. I'm so thrilled for her. She's going to be a beautiful bride marrying her handsome prince. And he is cute ;) I've met him! 
15. The Cozy Coconut - http://thecozycoconut.blogspot.com/ No name needed - which is a good thing, because she's not giving it up! lol. I spent the first few months reading her blog thinking the heading was The Crazy Coconut then to my embarrassment, one day it clicked. Who was the crazy one? Moi. I have followed Cozy since almost the beginning and she still writes posts that have me laughing out loud. :)
16. DocSly - http://healthierdocsly.blogspot.com/ I love this lady. She came to banding a little later in life but has given it all. She dotes on her gorgeous grandkids and just loves the little things in life. We could all take a leaf out of her book. Hello Madam :)
17. Rhonda - http://thelongroadtothenewme.blogspot.com/ Rhonda has just become a Grandma again. She has the MOST beautiful grandchildren. Rhonda was again, one of the earlier blogs I read before banding. She was doing such a top job I just had to follow her and her adventures. Congrats Rhonda :)
18. My Bandita - http://mybandita.blogspot.com/ Ahh My Bandita - one of my favorite girls in the whole world. She runs like the wind (something I could never do in a million years lol) and is a career woman in her own right. I always had fun batting off My Bandita. She's good for a laugh, is sweet and sensitive and I love her to death. :)
19. Tiffany - http://rockingtheband.blogspot.com/ Tiff was going along great guns until she discovered something was wrong with her band. Bummer to the highest degree. On the upside, she's now pregnant with her 2nd child and all those following her are now following her new experiences in a new blog also. So exciting. Way to go, Tiffany! 
20. Dawn -  http://scrummybits.blogspot.com/ Dawn from the Uk. Almost half way through her weight-loss journey (thought you'd get away without me saying that word, huh? - journey - . no chance!) she's funny and self-depreciating. Which is why I love her posts. Gotta love a woman who tells it just like it is. :)
21. Tracey - http://downsizemystomach.blogspot.com/  Tracey is an amazing woman to the fifth degree. She was in contact with me from before I was banded and we hit it off straight away - shared problems and all that. She's since gone on to have a new baby girl and has just been accepted into uni to become a mid-wife. Now that's what I call making use of the band. Way to move forward in life.  :)
22. Bunny - http://weightloss-expedition.blogspot.com/ Bunny is another woman who's had a few problems with her band. She has put it all out there - the good, the bad and the ugly and has managed to go right back to basics with great results. Her take on life is funny and she makes me smile when she goes into a full rant and then says.. there, I feel better lol. Gotta love that! :)
23. Beth -  http://whohidthedonuts.blogspot.com/ Beth's blog is full of the most useful information out of any blog I read. No sooner do I think of something I want to ask re: the band or weight loss etc, than she posts on it. She usually has a link to learning something new and I love her get up and go attitude. Nothing holds her down. :) 
24. Stephanie - http://watchstephlose.blogspot.com/ Stephanie's blog was another who I followed from right early on. She started her blog about the same time and she's made some great strides. She looks damn amazing (always did though!) and I'm stoked she's come so far. :)
25. Susie - http://free2bme-susieq4givn.blogspot.com/ So who broke out of the mold and got herself a new tatt? Why Susie of course. And she's loving it lol. Personally I just think she's brave - eek. We have a fair bit in common and this helped smooth the path to new friendships. She's doing it hard living away from her family so credit there for a start. I know how that is :)
26. Nola - http://abbfab.wordpress.com/ If you ever want a slice of Aussie humor - visit Nola's site. OMG - she comes out with some classics that literally have you snorting your coffee out your nose. Not only that - when visiting Tasmania MOTH (Man of the House) and I found out just how great she (and her hubby Rick) are. They put us up in their house without ever having met us before (though emails did flow and we left a lot of comments on each others blogs.) She now works in a lolly shop as Manageress - lol - how's that for a bit of a banding irony. Love ya, Nola! :)
27. Rebecca - http://bec-mynewlife.blogspot.com/ Bec and I met early on in the piece in Fremantle. So fish and chips it was (cos Freo is famous for it!) We are also band-buddies having been banded on the same day but on opposite sides of Perth. She hasn't blogged much lately - where are you Bec? All ok? Come back to us. :)
28. Bandster - http://wlsgastricbanding.blogspot.com/ When I was first banded I happened upon this Englishwoman's blog and I saw another whole side of things that could go wrong with the band and how to triumph above it all. Banded in Belgium, Bandster is but 9 pounds away from goal - and though she still thinks she has a bit more to lose - I don't know. She looks pretty fine to me (read lovely and thin.) I think you're amazing.. I really do (and I've told you it before, I know lol.)
 :)


So there you have it.. the list is long and now I'm buggered lol. That took a lot of brain power. If I missed anyone, I am so sorry but sorting through all the blogs and having to go back was a major effort and I did my best. 


Before I go - Eliana - if you read this? I can't comment on your blog. For some reason it's cutting off your verification and leaving no room for me to type it in. I noticed you had comments already, so I wonder if it's just me. But  ... I have to be able to comment on your blog.. I love it so much!! 


Okay, that's me done (I have a brain fart - it actually hurts lol.) Be good, stay safe and until next time. From me to you.. seeya.
Cara xxx