Alexandria

Wahoo!!! I lost 11lbs since my last doctor visit 4 weeks ago. I still can’t believe it; I am officially down 54lbs since August. I am only half way where I would like to be, but I know I can reach my goal. Losing almost 60lbs is a feeling that is so indescribable, I never thought I could ever feel this way. My clothes keep getting bigger and I keep getting smaller. Before it was the opposite-I was getting bigger and my clothes were getting smaller! Only being 21 years old, I have realized how much life I was really missing out on by being so overweight. It makes me sad to think I ever let myself get that big. What was I thinking?! The past is the past for a reason and my future is now. I can do this!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year! I sure did. Christmas was great seeing all of my family and hearing them talk about how much weight I had lost. Every year for Christmas I receive a check from my great uncle and on the check he wrote “Skinny Minnie” by my name, which put a huge smile on my face. The little things like that are the things that mean the most. No one has ever referred to me as Skinny Minnie so it definitely made me feel great. My New Years Eve was amazing. It was my first year that I could actually wear something that made me feel good in- I was able to put on my dancing clothes! That night before we went out my boyfriend took me to this restaurant called Cast Iron Steakhouse which was known for their steaks. I was a little hesitant because I haven’t had steak since before my surgery. To my better judgment, I ordered steak and much to my surprise it went down just fine. However, I did make sure to make my bites extremely small but it was well worth it because it was the best steak I have ever tasted. During dinner I even had a glass of wine. Being able to still enjoy everything I had before (in smaller portions obviously) is what makes this all worth it. Having the band forces you to learn self control and portion size but able to still live your life and feel great about doing it. This was definitely one of the best New Years I have ever had.

So it’s been a few weeks since I last updated my blog. Thanksgiving went amazing, if anyone was wondering! We even made it to all three places that we had planned on going. Throughout the day, I was able to keep everything I ate down because I made sure to eat my small portions and stop when I knew I was full. I had my 2nd photo shoot last week and I think it went okay, I haven’t got any of the pictures back yet but I hope they turn out alright. I also had my 4th fill in the same day, Thank God because I had gained 2lbs which really put me in a funk. Christmas is in a few days and with all of these Christmas goodies its killing me not to eat them!! Christmas cookies are definitely my weakness. However, I heard a quote the other day that helps motivate me to stay the heck away from all the sugar- “What you eat in private, is what you wear in public.” Whenever I go to grab something I know isn’t the best choice, I try to remind myself of this quote. It usually helps but sometimes the cookies are just telling me to eat them :) We all have our faults right? Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Thanksgiving is approaching and I am so nervous! This is my first “big” holiday where I will have tons and tons of food to look forward to. It’s a little bitter sweet to me, but I know I will have to make smart choices in the foods I choose. This is the first time I will be meeting my boyfriend’s extended family and I’m a little nervous because I recently had my 3rd fill and they don’t know about my surgery just yet. He and I have three different places to attend which means FOOD, FOOD, FOOD!! My belly can only hold so much! However, if I plan ahead and stick to my small portion size, I’m sure I will be alright. I just hope I don’t over indulge too much. Wish me luck and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

So, Halloween is just a few days away and I have already reached my 10lbs weight loss goal I set for myself. Tomorrow I have a Halloween party to go to which I am really excited about. However, there is going to be food and drinks there for everyone, but I have been trying to mentally prepare myself to just say no! I know I can still enjoy myself with only having one or two drinks and only having one or two snacks throughout the night. All of my friends and family have been really supportive through this journey which also helps me to just say no. With the holidays approaching, I pray I can continue to stay on the right track. Happy Halloween everyone!!

This week has been absolutely crazy! School is starting to become extremely stressful for me but I found that going to the gym really relieves some of it. Since my last fill, I can really tell a difference in my eating. A few bites and I am full. I have been eating more often but a lot less at a time. One habit I need to kick is the late night eating! That is definitely one of my downfalls but I have been trying to pack a few things in my purse to carry to work with me so I don’t let myself get to hungry throughout the day. String cheese and peanuts has become my best friend.

Just had my second fill yesterday!!! This fill was double my last fill. So far, my restrictions are far worse than they were after my first fill, which is a good thing. I had dinner the other night with a few of my friends and they couldn’t believe how much weight I have lost. The feeling I get when I hear that is indescribable. It’s one of the best feelings in the world to hear “You look great, keep it up!” The compliments I have been receiving are just more of a motivation to keep on doing what I’m doing.

So, just a little update before my next fill…. I had my 2 week adipex check up today and I lost 8lbs in 2 weeks!! It feels great to see the numbers on the scale getting lower and lower. I have been sticking to my workout routine and have been hitting the gym at least 3 times a week. Last week I actually did 4 days of cardio and it felt amazing. My second fill is in one week and I can’t wait. Setting realistic goals for myself helps me to stay on track and stay focus at what I’m doing. School started last week so I’m on more of a schedule now which really helps as well. I set a goal for myself that I wanted to lose 10lbs before Halloween and I am already down 8lbs and Halloween is still a month away! I think I can do it!

I finally got my first fill last week and I am down 22lbs! I thought I for sure would have gained a few pounds over the last two weeks but instead I lost and I feel great about it. Having my first fill really helped with my eating. I am back to eating small amounts and feeling just as satisfied if I were to eat the whole meal. This fill was only a partial fill until my next visit. I go back October 6th for my second one. I also started adipex today which is an appetite suppressant and a stimulant working to “turbo boost” weight loss. After taking the pill, I went to the gym and had the best 60 minute workout session I have ever had. I didn’t think it was possible to have this much energy! School starts back up in a few days so hopefully I’ll be able to stick to my workout routine.

This past weekend some friends and I went down to Cumberland for the Labor Day weekend. It was so much fun but I definitely had some challenges. With my first fill approaching, I was still faced with some temptations. Everyone was grilling out and drinking which made it a bit tough for me but I just kept reminding myself “skinny never tasted better.” I go for my first fill this week and I’m hoping it will control some of my hunger issues that I have been having. I also started back at the gym. I’ve set a goal for myself to try to do anywhere from 30-60 minutes of cardio 3 times a week which will help a lot with the weight loss. Well I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend!

So it’s been 3 weeks since surgery and I am feeling great! I am down almost 20 lbs already and could not be happier. I can fit back into my work pants, Wahoo! However, I’ve notice that I’m starting to feel a bit hungrier but that’s because all of my swelling has gone away. Next week is my first official fill and I’m super excited. I also can finally start back at the gym so I’m really looking forward to starting my workout routine again. I think once I hit the gym I will be feeling even better!

Tomorrow is the big day!! Words cannot explain how excited I am! I can’t believe the day is finally here. The last two weeks on the pre-op diet had its ups and downs. I never thought I could crave something so bad! But with all the temptation, I stuck with it and I am so proud of myself. Overall the food was okay. Some things were definitely better than others. However, I cannot wait to start eating “real” food again. I hope for everyone to follow me on this amazing weight loss journey. Wish me luck!

Hi, my name is Alexandria (Allie) and as long as I can remember I have struggled with my weight. My weight issues started during childhood and I can remember asking my mom “Why am I the one drinking water and eating salad?” During my childhood, I was very athletic. I played softball, volleyball, and even basketball. As time went by, the sports started to slowly stop and my energy level was no longer present. As I entered into high school is when I really started noticing a difference. I couldn’t fit into any of my friend’s clothes and I couldn’t enjoy the same activities as they did. Being known as “the girl with the pretty face” I became so depressed and felt I was not good enough and that’s when all of my dieting started. I tried everything from weight watchers to diet pills; I would lose about 20 lbs then gain about 30 lbs back. When prom came, it was time to go dress shopping. I should have been so excited, but I wasn’t. Although, I did find the perfect dress for me, it was also a size 16 which did not make me happy when I knew in reality I should have been in a size 4.

When I was in high school, my grandmother got bariatric surgery and I watched how much her life changed. She can now enjoy the things in life that she couldn’t before. Once I started college, I knew something had to be done about my weight issue. A few months ago, my grandmother and I started researching different doctors in the area to find which one we felt was the best for bariatric surgery. We came across Dr. Curry, and I immediately made an appointment to attend one of his seminars. At the seminar, I first met with Lisa, who I believe is now my guardian angel. She was very welcoming and interested in what I had to say. As the seminar began, my grandmother and I knew right away that Dr. Curry and his team were the one.

The next step was finding out if my insurance covered the surgery or not. Unfortunately, it did not. Then I was denied a loan so I had nowhere else to look. I was stuck. I cried for days telling myself I would always be fat. But on July 5th, 2011 I received a phone call that would change my life forever. I was the new 2011 lap band giveaway winner! I couldn’t believe it. I immediately started crying (tears of joy, of course). As my journey begins with the staff at JourneyLite, I could not be more grateful and excited. Words cannot explain how thankful I am for Dr. Curry and his team. I can honestly say they have made a dream come true!

Allie