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You have to sing that title to Aerosmith’s “I’m Back in The Saddle Again” to really make it work.

So I’ve had my lap band installed for just over a year and a half now. This time last year, I was in the low 280’s, that was with getting my band adjusted pretty much monthly. Well as time went by, as happens, I wasn’t getting my band adjusted as much as I should have been. I started eating more and figuring out ways to eat more that wouldn’t impact my band. I basically went back to my old ways, but now I’m a cyborg. I’ve realized that no matter WHAT you choose to do to lose weight, exercise, follow some crazy diet plan, hire a personal trainer and chef, or in my case, get surgery, you can find ways to cheat. And I have.

HOWEVER, I knew this going into this whole life change and my HOPE was that the Lap band would at LEAST keep me from gaining the weight back as quickly as I had previously. And that is exactly what it has done. While I only got my band adjusted maybe 3 times last year (tighter each time) I only gained back about 15 pounds from my low. (OK, maybe 18 pounds) And in the past 6 weeks, I’ve for the most part eliminated Jack In The Box breakfasts and now eat a bowl of cereal in my office in the morning. I’ve also cut out all soda from my diet. (I’ve had maybe 5 sodas in the last 6 weeks and only one of those has had caffeine). I was up to 296 when I did this . . . (OK OK sheesh, 20 pounds, happy now?!) and have been trying to get back in the habit of working out 2 – 4 days per week during this time too. Well I’m happy to report that I weighed in at 288 this morning! I’m now only 10-12 pounds above my low weight I hit early last year.

Yesterday and today I had a protein shake for lunch, much better than Toscanos or Taco Time. Today I added a bag of baked Lays to make my lunch an even 400 calories and hoping the chips will make me feel more full. So far so good. I’m hoping that I can at least get back to protein shakes for 2 – 3 meals a week to just cut down slightly more calories. And now, it’s time to really kick into high gear my 1/2 marathon training. Set to do a 4.Something mile run this weekend at Point Defiance.

While I never expected the Lap Band to be the end all be all of weight loss, it has been an amazing tool and I’m still glad I did it. Now, do I have the cajones to call my doctor and get another adjustment? Maybe in another 5 pounds so he can see I’m actually making progress. 🙂