"Happy Bandiversary to me…."

I went to see the lovely fill Dr Caroline and decided not to get any fill put in because I have been quite tight and I lost 2.5kgs (5.5pds) in the last 2 weeks so I am VERY happy with that. If I can lose 1kg a week with the eating and exercising I'm doing, I would be extremely satisfied with that. I also got the results of my 12 month blood tests and a few issues which aren't too dire, but still not as good as I would've liked. I'm deficient in folate and vitamin D so she wants me to take additional supplements and I've also got thyroid issues. I've been having trouble with my thyroid for some time and it's taken forever to sort out. I went to see an Endocrinologist and was diagnosed with overactive thyroid (which I thought was strange given I had all the symptoms for under active thyroid) and then given radio active treatment for that and now it seems that my thyroid is under active so the treatment must have worked too well! Now I'm going to have to go on medication for that, I'm hoping it works. I'm also hoping that this has been some of the reason why my weight loss had really hit a plateau for a bit there and this might kick my metabolism back into gear again and the weight loss to pick up. Fingers crossed!!

What a difference 12 months makes!! This time 12 months ago I had already been operated on and was back in my room. If someone had've told me right then that I would lose 35kgs (77 pounds) in the next 12 months with not a great deal of effort at all, I don't know whether I would have believed them!! This is the most weight I've ever lost, although I was coming from a place where I started at a higher weight to begin with so I guess that's not completely unsurprising. In a nutshell, I couldn't be happier. It took me a long time to get to a place where I even decided to go to a Lap Band information session and now, I wouldn't have it any other way. I remember back to about June last year and I was so unhappy. I felt sick and unwell all the time, none of my clothes fit me and really, I just hated myself. I have 2 dogs who demand to be walked twice a day every day and I was so overweight that I had trouble even walking around the small block and my back would hurt so bad and it was a painful experience I didn't look forward to. I had trouble getting out of bed and up off the couch, my knees and ankles were always hurting and I hardly had any clothes that fit me. I can't even imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't gone ahead and had the Gastric Band surgery - the thought actually fills me with dread. I think I was only lucky that I had no other illnesses associated with my obesity and probably the only thing I had on my side was my age. I knew that wasn't going to last forever though so I'm glad I finally acted when I did. This has been the best decision I've ever made.

Now 12 months down the track and I'm so much happier and I just feel so much better. I have more confidence, I have lots of clothes that I can wear now and walking my boys around the block is something I look forward to and we've even started jogging! The last time I went on a plane I didn't have to worry about whether the belt was going to do up or whether I was going to be able to squash myself into the seat, I don't have all those annoying aches and pains I once had. At the moment I'm in between moving houses so I just have the mattress on the floor because my bed is in pieces and I said to my Mum the other day that it's so much easier to get up off the floor when you weight 35kgs less!! 12 months ago there's no way I would have been able to do that everyday, it would have been far too much like hard work! One of the funniest things that I've found great pleasure in (and I'm sure some of your will relate to) is, I can see my collarbones!!!! I reckon the last time they made an appearance was back in high school! :) Isn't it funny how the smallest things can make you so happy??? The other night I went out for a few drinks and caught up with some people I hadn't seen in awhile and I had to wait for them to arrive. I sat by myself in a bar for 20 minutes and just took in everything that was going on. That was a really big achievement for me. 12 months ago not only would I have not gone to the drinks, but there is no way in the world that I would have sat there by myself waiting for people to arrive. Well done, me! I really am proud of myself. That's not to say it's all been smooth sailing. I haven't had any major mishaps with the Lap Band, just your usual PBing incidents and the like, but I've never for one second regretted the decision I've made. Sure some days I wish I could eat a whole pizza, but those days are very few and far between and I have to be honest and say it's not like I've gone without! I'd been on the diet merry-go-round for 20 years before this and had horrible self-esteem issues and there's no way to change all of that in even 12 months so even though I know I've come along way, there's still some way to go too. The positives of this experience and journey well and truly more than outweigh the negatives and no amount of pizza in the world is worth that :)

This is the first Christmas that is fast approaching that I'm not freaking out about because I need to lose all this weight in the shortest amount of time possible. I am getting into unfamiliar territory in terms of my weight loss and I am looking forward to the day where I can maintain my journey and not worry about the losing weight. The best thing about all of it is that when I reach my goal, I can be confident that I'll never put the weight back on again due to the help of my Lap Band friend.

And who knows what the future holds?! All I can say - Bring It On!!!!

http://www.lapbandforthemind.com