6 month anniversary since surgery (lost 63 pounds since surgery)

This morning's scale showed my weight at 189 pounds! That's a 3 pound loss for last week! Pretty good, considering I'm eating more now. But I'm exercising a lot too.

Yesterday marked my 6 month anniversary since my surgery (which was on June 3rd). The surgeon told me I'd have to wait until 6 months before I could have my favorite food, hamburger. So, I stopped at a fast food last night and bought a small hamburger. I brought it home, threw away the bun and enjoyed a small hamburger (of course, eating it slowly). But, I'm still waiting for my dear hubby to make me one of our home cooked low fat hamburgers. I won't be eating it quite like I did pre-op (I'll skip the whole wheat bun) but I anticipate that it will be great.

Well I got through Thanksgiving and the week after pretty well. Next week will be another challenge (as will the rest of the month be, with all the treats people bring to work).

Tuesday, Dec. 7th starts Chanukah (the Jewish Festival of Lights & Rededication). As most Jewish holidays, many of the traditions are about food. Chanukah's foods are "supposed to be" foods fried in oil, especially potato latkes (pancakes). The holiday lasts 8 days, and it's traditional to eat potato latkes every night. (of course, I will NOT be doing this) But I'll just have fun with the other Chanukah tradition, lighting the candles on the menorah and giving my husband a gift every night.

I'm having my brother come join us one night, during the 8 day celebration, for dinner and family gift exchange. Also, my daughter will bring her fiancee with her (we really like him). So, I'll be cooking potato pancakes, high protein cottage cheese pancakes (with very little oil in these) and probably chicken for the 5 of us. If I plan this carefully, I should do pretty well. I'll just need to concentrate on the fun of having family together, and as always only fill my pate once and just eat slowly. That's how I get through this kind of eating gathering.

As I do, I wish all joy in the holidays this month. Remember, they are not all about food.

--Sandi H.
My surgery by Dr. Leo Murphy - 6/03/04(Pacific Bariatrics in San Diego)
I weighed 315 at orientation (May '03)
I weighed 252 at surgery (June '04)
I last weighed at 189.0 (12/04/04) --
(I've lost a total of 126.0 pounds!!!! 63.0 pounds since surgery.)
Hopefully someday I'll weigh below 130 and be in a "normal" BMI range.
sandiantoytrain @ yahoo . com