40 and kept going....

Have I told you lately that I'm a terrible blogger???  I never seem to have down time anymore.  As a matter of fact, I'm doing this one at work on my lunch break (late lunch!).

So....I was all prepared to make a big post when I hit the "lost 40lb" mark....BUT before I could get the blog posted I had lost another 4 lbs!  Wow...I'm down 44lbs.  That's more than my co-worker's son weighs!!!!  I've lost a whole pre-schooler!  I think I'm still in a little shock by the rate at which the weight is coming off.  I know it won't last forever, but it has been dropping surprisingly fast.  Of course...I think I've been surprisingly good following the rules - both doctor's rules and self-imposed rules.  I have hosted at least 3 birthday parties at my house since my surgery and have not had even a single bite of cake.  I don't know exactly how to explain it, but having the surgery seems to have kicked in that "ah ha" moment that you always hear people talk about when they are finally able to kick those bad habits.  Again, this all could end tomorrow, but for right now I feel very satisfied with what I am able to eat. 

I received my first fill on March 17th.  I have a 10cc band and my doctor normally puts in 5cc's for the first fill, but for me he only put in 4cc's.  I guess because I had been losing at a good rate.  I'm scheduled to go back this Friday for another one, but I'm wondering if I should postpone it another week.  I'm still loosing at a good rate.  I'm eating approximately a cup of food at my meals and I haven't - so far - battled with hunger between meals.  I'm very comfortable where my band is right now.  I have the sensation of restriction when I eat something too fast or my bite is too big, but its not such that it won't pass through once I take a break.  I don't want to delay a fill because I'm "fooling" myself into thinking that things are moving along well....but I also don't want go over board with a fill either.  I guess its just going to be trial and error!

One rule that is VERY hard for me to follow is not drinking with my meals - I'm doing it, but its hard.  Part of me is wondering if that has been factoring in with my progress.  Am I cutting my meals short because I'm full or because they are slightly less satisfying without something to drink.  It usually only takes me a bite or two into the meal before I start craving a big tall glass of Crystal Light.  Any advise on how to deal with this WLS rule??

Oh before I end this post...I've been having several NSVs with my clothes.  They've been really falling off of me.  I've lost 2 pants sizes.  That is such a great feeling ladies!!!

To journal OR not to journal....

That is the question of the day.  I'm a terrible dieter.  And quite frankly one of the reasons I decided on the lapband is that I struggle with diets.  I'm trying really hard to treat this as a lifestyle change, not a diet.  So I guess I'm really looking to you seasoned veterans and asking is it necessary that I journal my food?  I "feel" like I'm doing good without journaling, but am I just fooling myself. 

I guess the other question for the day is related to "meal plans".  How many of you plan out your meals for the week?  God gave me several gifts, but cooking wasn't one of them!  Thank goodness he sent me a wonderful man who happens to be a chef!  This is all a learning experience or him as well.  He's asked me to prepare a meal plan to help guide him.  Sounds easy, right???  I make the meal plan and he cooks it.  What more could a girl want???  Well I just stare at a blank page.  I get hung up in so many different ways. 

First, I'm just not creative when it comes to food.  I'm the person that never has an opinion on what restaurant to go to.  I don't want to say I never have cravings, but I'm probably the laziest person when it comes to food.  I actually googled one time - too lazy to eat - just to see if there was anyone else like me!  If I didn't have someone to cook my meals, I would probably live off cheese, peanut butter and then eventually fast food once the cheese and peanut butter wasn't enough!  For me, food has to be quick and easy to prepare with minimal clean up.  I will say that seeing some of the recipes on many of your blogs has ignited a "little" spark in me to try my hand at cooking. 

My second, "meal plan hurdle" is the nutrition value.  Once I come up with a potential meal, then I struggle trying to determine its nutritional value.  I've gone to those "calorie counter" websites, but usually I can't find EXACTLY what I'm looking for so I have to hope I get close to the right nutritional value.  That's so hard for me because I'm an accountant and somewhat of a perfectionist.  I need my numbers to be right!  If I can't do something perfect - or close to it - then I have a tendency to give up.  That's why journaling and meal planning is so hard for me because it becomes very overwhelming.  Its usually the planning and preparing for the diet that sidetracks me, not the actual diet.

So let me hear your thoughts and comments on journaling and meal planning.