IWTB; I Need Your Help

I have stopped posting my weigh-ins. Have you noticed? I could wax on about how busy I am, etc. etc. and that would be true.

But let's be honest here. It ain't all because I'm busy. (you probably guessed as much!)

The truth is that I'm stuck. I still weigh in every Wednesday. Still take pictures of the scale to document it. But I've been hovering between 205 and 202 for about a month. And I'm frustrated.

Even at the 'high' 205, that still means I've lost 40 pounds - which is amazing! BUT I haven't plateued. There is no big mystery as to why I'm not losing more weight. I haven't been putting the effort in because I'M SCARED.

In the weight loss world, getting under 200 lbs is a big deal. It's often referred to as "onederland". And I have dreamed of meeting this goal for a very long time. I distinctly remember when I first hit over 200 lbs. It was right after my honeymoon almost 12 years ago. What a happy time, right? Get married, have a great vacation, then come back to find you've hit a not-so-great milestone.

At the time, I remember thinking, "I will never be bigger than 210."

And then I was.

"I'll never be bigger than 225."

And then I was.

You see where I'm going with this.

Now that this "onederland" is hovering right in front of me, right within my reach, I'm really scared to get there. I've been trying to put my finger on exactly why. I'm 99% sure it's because I'm so afraid that if I'm successful, it's just delaying the inevitable. I always have in the past. I'm always waiting for that second shoe to drop and for the scale to inch it's way right back up to where it was.

So I've taken some time to really think it through. This time is different. I've taken major steps to make SURE it's different this time. And even if by some chance I DO gain some back....it's still okay. But I can't focus on that. I cannot allow myself to be consumed with the negative 'what ifs' because it completely blocks my view of the amazing things to come.

My weight this morning was 202.8. I do not want to see that number ever again. I'm getting my focus back and working to meet three goals everyday - take 12,000 steps (which can't be done without some kind of focused exercise), drink my 64 oz of water and getting in my 60 grams of protein each day.

This is where you come in. I could really use a cheering section. I can't do this alone! See a motivational saying? Send it to me! Find a protein-rich recipe? Send it to me! Hold me accountable and help me push myself. Thank you. :)

(You can find me on Facebook, Pinterest, or email me at themightybethany @ outlook.com)

IWTB: Weigh In Wednesday

Someday I will write posts about what I eat, how I exercise, how the band has changed me, etc. Today is not that day. :)

I remembered to snap a picture of the scales this morning, but then completely forgot about posting it. Until now! I keep thinking that as my kids get older, I will be less and less busy. But I'm finding the opposite is true. They get older and busier - I get older and busier.

Anyway!

 I'm still hanging in there. Focusing on what I SHOULD eat and not on what I can't. Moving more. Drinking water. And it's working!

Down 2 lbs exactly from last week. A total of 39.3 since before surgery. Feels pretty good!

IWTB: Weigh-In Wednesday

I saw my surgeon last week and he was very happy with my progress. We agreed that my band is at a good level for now and I won't have to see him again for 3 months. WOOHOO! Bring on the cookies!!

I'm joking!! I lost 8 pounds in the month between my last two appointments and there is no reason I can't keep that going. I set the bar a bit higher and am shooting to lose 30 lbs between now and my next appointment at the end of July.

So where do I stand today?? Drum roll please....

I've lost another 1.8 lbs and I have no intentions of finding it again. :)

IWTB: Wednesday Weigh-In

Very slowly, but surely - another .4 pounds gone forever! (Does it drive anyone else nuts that the scale doesn't line up with the lines on our linoleum? I noticed right after I took the picture, but I was not about to step on it again!) 

IWTB: Accountability is Key!

When I first started considering gastric banding, I scoured the internet for information. I read articles, watched YouTube videos and subscribed to tons of blogs. One of the blogs that I love and still follow is Lap Band Gal. (You can find her on Facebook here!) She is a lap band success story, losing 116 lbs and maintaining that loss since 2010! Maintenance is a big thing to me. I can lose the weight, but I needed to see it was possible to keep it off. And Lap Band Gal is a big inspiration to me for that reason. 

One of her secrets for success is accountability. Every Friday, she weighs herself and POSTS THE PICTURE ON FACEBOOK. Whoa. She has almost 2,500 people that see her weight every week! Very brave in my book! And very smart. So I even though I'm not at my goal weight yet, I still want to document the process. I'm going to try and post my scale picture every Wednesday - the day I weigh myself. 

I know you're saying, "But wait Mighty B! It's Thursday!" I KNOW. See, there is this little (ginormous) thing called SHAME. Shame is a powerful bitch.  I wrestled with the idea of posting this all day yesterday. Having people know I weigh this much is a humiliating thought. Am I ashamed that I allowed myself to get to this weight? YES. But you know what? I'm actively doing something about this. And this is the lowest I have weighed in almost ten years. That's a big freaking deal, So I'm owning my story and I'm going to overcome my shame with action, humor, love and honesty. And maybe some puppies and rainbows thrown in too.

Here is my weight as of 4/15/15. I'm down 35.1 lbs from my pre-surgery weight! Yay me! 

Hey! It's Okay Tuesday!

It's Okay to...

One of my favorite elephants - Gerald, from Mo Willem's Elephant and Piggie books.

• Start fresh...new name, new design....same ol' Mighty B. :)
• Save your place in a fitness magazine with an article about chicken wings you've torn from a food magazine. 

• Think, "I really should find a way to store my books. Maybe I can look it up on Pinterest." And then realize there are these magical things called BOOKSHELVES that have been around since the dawn of time. (It looks like I'm not the only one who shuns regular, old bookshelves! Thanks Buzzfeed!)
• Be cynical when it comes to "fitness" pictures. If you put a dowdy "Before" pic right next to a professional, obviously posed "After" pic, I'm not going to believe whatever miracle drug you're promoting. Show me YOU in the same lighting, same clothes, same pose and let me see real results. Anyone can look like a supermodel with enough primping. 

Hop over to Airing My Dirty Laundry to see what else is okay! 

Hey! It's Okay Tuesday!

It's Okay to...

• not like Nutella. I'm weird, right? I just don't really care for the stuff!
• have turquoise tinted hands because you forgot to wear gloves when you were finishing up the shirts you tie dyed with the kids. 
• to be completely ruined by Amazon. Now when I shop online and it takes longer than two days to even ship I get frustrated. Two days?! It should be on my porch by now!
• to get serious about Girl Scouts. I started planning and doing the meetings for Brenna's Daisy troop a while ago, and have held back. I have a terrible habit of jumping full force into something and overwhelming everyone else with my enthusiasm. But then I saw this in the news...

Source.

6 & 7 year olds inventing! Being encouraged to be curious! Thinking of how they can make a difference! I love it. It's about to get real in the elementary cafeteria.

Excuse me while I go call Bear Grylls and invite him to be our next guest speaker.

Find out what else is okay at Airing My Dirty Laundry!