IT'S MY ONE YEAR BANDIVERSARY!!!

I listed all my accomplishments yesterday so I'll get down to the numbers today. The cold hard facts......

• Bust - 3.25 inches lost
• Hips - 4.25 inches lost
• Waist - 3.75 inches lost
• Lower Abs - 4.5 inches lost
• Thighs - 7.75 inches lost
• Calves - 3.5 inches lost
• Biceps - 2.25 inches lost
• 34 pounds down
• BMI from 44.5 to 38.4
• From Size 20 jeans to a Size 16
• From a Size 18/20 womens size shirt to most misses XL

Yeah me....I could have never done this on my own. Thanks you band creators! I'll be eternally grateful.

Opps.....almost forgot

I decreased my blood pressure meds. And took a giant leap of faith by having surgery.

Lots of changes in my life this year. (Mostly good) ........and thank you Melanie for helping remind me.

This one is for Melanie.....Thanks for all the kind words and the cyber hug. You made me tear up just reading. I think I do need to be nicer to myself. I'm my own worst enemy.

Here's my list of accomplshments this past year:

1. Lost approximately 35 pounds
2. Walked a half-marathon
3. Achieved many goals at work (added staff and increased revenue)
4. Held it together with a new difficult boss
5. Moved to a nicer house, closer to work
6. Can buy most of my clothes in a normal size store
7. Decreased my debt by about $4,000
8. I don't come home from work and have to take a nap everyday
9. There is usually a spring in my step
10. I'm getting rid of some of my commitments...(i.e. town job, church committee)
11. Making new friends and reconnecting with others

Okay i need to get something for supper. I'm not really hungry but I've only ate about 700 calories today. May just fix a bowl of cereal. It's getting late and I don't really want anything anyway.

This weekend was halfway successful. I walked 3 miles Saturday and nothing on Sunday. I'm so happy to find a great route to walk with no mean dogs. I know I can go at least 3.5 miles with no dogs. I don't know beyond that. I need to remind myself that there aren't many good walking days left ths season and get out there more. I love going to the y but I love the outdoors even better but I'm definitely not a cold weather walker. I signed up for a 5K at the end of the month. I can't remember if I mentioned it. Not much training for that going on. I need a swift kick.

Don't even ask me about food. I've been so off track. Buying chips and ice cream. My main problem is not cooking. No excuse but laziness. I'm coming up on my 1 year anniversary and am not near where I wanted to be. I feel so disconnected that I can't even get to the emotions I feel about this. I can't get angry with myself or cry with dissappointment. I learned a long time ago not to feel. I can cry about things I see on TV but not about my own sad life. The closest I came is Saturday night when I seen a couple men in the grocery rushing around to buy Sweetest Day flowers. I felt so alone. And the only reason I think it got to me is that I seen my ex-boyfriend Friday night at the Football game and felt so distant from him. I can't believe there would come a day when we didn't know anything about each other's life. Even though we broke up 7 years ago, we always had some kind of contact and kept "tabs" on each other until this last year. I have a fair amount of friends but no one I can tell my deepest feelings to.

I've been blessed in so many ways but why do I still feel my life is so messed up and lonely. I ask God over and over to send me my soul mate. But I know that won't fix me.

I can't believe I even got this real with myself. I guess that is what happens when you can't sleep and get online in the middle of the night.

I walked on the treadmill this morning for 30 minutes watching "Young and the Restless" (My guilty pleasure.) No idea how far I got. I haven't used the treadmill in so long that the batteries corroded so the display didn't work. Maybe if I clean the corrosion off it's work again.

Now, I'm off to work. i hope it goes fast. My sister is coming down tonight to cut hair. I really need it and some highlights. I also need my 1 year pictures taken. My first pictures were taken when I started my liquid diet about 6 days before my surgery. Maybe I'll do a side by side comparison.

Back from Vacay!! NASCAR gotta love it. NASCAR fans are the best. I meet so many great people going to races.



Me ~ 35 pounds down at Lake Norman



WE got to Charlotte around midnight Thursday. Spent all day Friday running around. Went to 3 race shops, drove through a residental area close to LAke Norman and found this boat ramp next to a huge house being built. Thought we'd get caught for trespassing but didn't. (thank god) Last year we got kicked out of Lake Norman State Park because the lake was down so low the beach was closed. Anyway, we dipped our toes in and took a few pictures. Will go back next year to see if the house gets finished. We ate at a great seafood place and then went to Wisky River (Dale EArnhardt JR's bar.) We hung out at the bar mostly people watching till midnight. The bar is really cool. They have a mechanical bull and flat screens every where. Saturday we went to the race track to shop and tailgate. The race was okay.....Dale JR blow a tire early on and was out of contention. Luckily, Jeff Burton won. He's one of the good guys.

Well, got to get to bed. The "boss" will be in the building tomorrow.

Exercise was really good last week....this week not so good. Oh well...life happens.

This week Sun through Wednesday....I've worked 14 hours for the town and 28 hours at my "real" job. I've also got my house almost totally organized. I have just a few things to put on the walls and the office to organize. The good news is there will be no more working for the rest of the week!! I leave for vacation tomorrow. 4 days in Charlotte, NC for the NASCAR race. My friend Paula and I go every year...actually twice a year for the Memorial day race and the October race. I drive in October so I'll be runnng around tomorrow getting the car ready to go. We don't leave till she gets off work at 4 so I need to go get the oil changed and the car vacuumed out, get cash, and snacks.....and PACK!

Speaking of packing, I tried on two pairs of jeans that I had labeled "almost" about a month ago. A month ago the were too snug especally in the thighs to wear in public. Tonight...they fit perfectly! I'm takng them with me! And I really haven't lost an ounce. I lost 3 pounds last week and found them again this week. But I proud that I've been safely in the 2 hundred-"teens" for weeks now. Bye -BYE 220's forever.