Surviving the Holidays

I am surviving the holidays. I made sweet treats for friends and family and have been very good about partaking. I haven't been perfect and I admit I have snuck a bite here and there but I have had self control. I am exercising and loving it. I am even starting to jog during my walks. For Christmas I asked for nothing but workout/exercise things. My sweet hubby gave me an Ironman watch, hand weights (for my Jillian Michaels 30 day shred), and a yoga mat. After Christmas I hit the clearance rack at Target and found some really great deals on workout shirts and even a jacket. I am happy to report that I don't have to shop in the plus size section anymore and I fit in an XL quite well.  This makes me very happy.  My clothes are hanging off of me and thankfully I saved a few pair of jeans from my "skinny" days. It's been fun digging out my old clothes and slipping them on and having them fit!  

Found a killer sweet tooth remedy. Blend 4 very ripe bananas and about 2 Tablespoons peanut butter together and freeze. Who needs ice cream?  Not this girl. 

My only regret about having Lap Band:  not doing it years ago. 

A band friendly sweet treat

Flourless Peanut Butter muffins

Selfie

This is me 3 1/2 weeks post op. Down 30 pounds since I started my Lap Band journey. I got into my jeans one size down.

Busy, Busy

Why are the holidays so hectic?  I have been meaning to blog for a few days now but getting ready for christmas has been taking up all my time.  That and getting ready for my piano recital I am having for my students. We actually were able to get our tree the day after Thanksgiving and got a really great black friday deal on it. We got it from a local hardware store and there was no tax that day so that was great. And all the noble fir trees were only 29 bucks for 7 foot tree!  By some miracle I have my whole house already decorated!  Now on to wrapping presents and baking. Ugh. Baking. Do I really even want to think about doing some baking and I can't eat any of it!
I've been really good with my eating habits. I had my post op appointment yesterday. According to their scale and with all my clothes on I have lost 18 pounds since surgery a little over 3 weeks ago and a total of 28 pounds since I started my lap band journey. According to my scale, weighing myself with little clothing on and early in the morning before I have eaten anything, I have lost 30 pounds and change. My doctor is very proud of my progress and told me that I should be too. He can tell I am sticking to my diet and working really hard. He cleared me to start eating non pureed foods. I tried a lettuce wrap and took too big of a bite and didn't chew it well enough and the bite didn't go down. It was the worst feeling ever. I felt like I couldn't breathe and the bite was stuck in my throat. A little bit of it came up and I was fine after that. I took my time with the rest of the wrap. I learn 2 things:  I really have to chew my food well and eat slowly and I never want to experience that again.