Thanks

Well here I am, just so amazed in the support of you women! The support and compliments are just what I needed. I love the "stunning" comments and even tho' most of that "stunning goddess" in that picture was only stunning because of the stage make-up ( I swear I never wear that much make-up on a normal day). However, I MUST confess I loved hearing that I looked amazing... I am kinda cute 50 pounds lighter, now aren't I? I really need to say thank you to Eileen too! She has made me what I am today! With her help, I have become able to control my eating, and regain control of my health before it killed me like it did my mom! Bandlandia is trying at times but, without Eileen and her sister, Filene (my port) I would not be where I am today.

I also, want to thank you for your support on the 5K walk I did for my local "Race for the Cure". I ended up raising $280, finishing the race in 1 hour and 4 minutes and then I won a 3 month membership to a gym! This was a HUGE success for me. And the gym membership will get used 100% since my current membership expires at the end of this month.

I must tell you about my experiences today... I got up this morning feeling Eileen was very "tight", and knowing that I had an appointment to get my nails done and then I was participating in a "CJ Banks" in store fashion show, had me a little worried. I've never really woke up feeling tighter than any other time of the day but today was just different. I tried to eat something for breakfast, and could not get anything except my decaf coffee and vitamins down. I was praying this wasn't going to be a slime filled day.

I love CJ Banks and Lane Bryant. However, I haven't been shopping in either one in at least 6 months. I knew I was getting my band and didn't want to spend that kind of money on items that I wouldn't be wearing very long. When I stopped going there I was wearing a 22/24 top and 18 pants. Those old clothes of mine are seriously becoming way to big all to quickly now. I will soon, be getting them packed up and shipped off to the Salvation Army or Good Will store. I have been very happily pulling out the old smaller sizes, ya know the 18/20's and the 14/16's, the ones you save for that "when I lose weight" time, and I am very happy getting back into them and finding that they are even getting big on me. Well Today I had this fashion show gig that I was supposed to model in and I did. I went in earlier this week and picked out 2 outfits in my size and a few other things that I really liked. After the show the models were given a 30% discount on any purchases EVEN on the things that were $9.99 or 50% off already. I brought home a pair of size14 purple jean Capris, that are a good fit on me now, A size 14 jean scooter, that is loose but will shrink when I wash and dry it and I'll be able to wear them for a while because the weight in my tummy/hips isn't coming off like it did on my shoulders and chest. Now, I used to wear the 2X in tops there... I bought the smallest size they have! They run X, 1X, 2X, 3X. I got 5 summer shirts in size X. I'm so excited!  I tried on several other scooters and shorts in size 14 but I didn't even have to unbutton or unzip them to pull them on so I didn't even want to buy them. I'll just keep digging into my old skinny clothes for the rest of my summer outfitting. Next time I am a model in a "store fashion show" it will undoubtedly be for Christopher & Banks instead of the "BIG" sister store CJ Banks. :-)

Came home Feeling great about my life and made myself a HUGE salad, with lettuce, red & yellow peppers, tomatoes, and some salmon on top with low fat reduced calorie mayo and vinegar as the dressing... Yummy! it went down without a problem and I think I am good. Eileen was just being grumpy this morning. 

OK, I'm rambling now... I hope to post again before I leave this week, to head to Maryland. Ocean City is the place DH and I honeymooned almost 7 years ago. We plan on visiting OC, while we visit friends for the Memorial Day holiday... I haven't seen her in a year and 1/2 and she has NO IDEA I have had this surgery. It's a 6 hour drive for me one way, but our friends are worth every minute. I cannot wait to see the looks on their faces when they see me... Uh, and in a bathing suit no less! Also, I'm thinking that I will have to be very mindful of what I will be eating while there. I love seafood and haven't had anything except tuna, salmon or other fish since surgery January 12th. I'm wondering how shrimp scallops, lobster or crab will go down???