Lap band Friday.......

It's a big day here in Judiland.

Today is my 2 year Lap Band follow up apptointment.

Yes, I know...my 2 year anniversary was over 6 weeks ago. But, my surgeon's office is busting at the seams with patients (which means that weight loss surgery must be trendy...I have alwas loved being trendy!). So, getting in a lengthy appointment like this one takes awhile. I'll be doing my official weigh in, having my port checked, talking with the technician about where we go from here (now that I have lost the weight), having my band examined and getting the blood work done. In addition, because I volunteered to be part of a larger study about weight loss surgery, I'll be meeting with the researchers and going through their battery of tests. A long day? Yes. But, an important one. You see....my Lap band changed my life. Completely. Not just a little bit. A whole lot. And, after today, I'll know even more about how much it changed my life--I'll get an inside look at what it did for my life in terms of my health. So, it's not just about fitting into smaller clothes or having a better self image--it's about living a healthier life--in those smaller clothes.

When I started this journey.....I was well over 200 lbs (a lady never tells her exact weight), I was taking meds for diabetes, my blood pressure and my cholesterol were climbing, my knees were killing me, my feet constantly hurt, I couldn't make it up a pair of steps without pain and misery, walking any length of time was not pleasant, I was constantly exhausted, I wasn't too thrilled with how I looked, my self image was plumetting, I was frustrated and I felt old. Today, 200 is a memory, I am not taking meds, my blood pressure and my cholesterol has been under control, my knees are fine, my feet are fine (unless I wear really cute but completely uncomfortable shoes), I can run up steps, I can walk for hours, I get tired because I'm tired, I am thrilled with how I look, I feel good about myself, I am content and damn it---I feel like I am in the prime of my young life!!!! And, for all of that--I am thankful. Beyond thankful.....

As much as today is about needles and tests, it's also about knowing where I go from here. Is my restriction just perfect and will it enable me to maintain this weight loss? Or, do I need just a little tweak? Am I done losing weight? And, if so--am I done losing weight? Am I the Judi that I will be 2 years from now or 5 years from now or even 20 years from now? Will I no longer be trying to lose 5 pounds or 10 pounds or 20 pounds? Will I always wear a perfect Size 10 Petite and sometimes even a comfy 8? Does my future no longer include weight loss?

Two years ago, I wondered what life would like without pasta, bread, diet coke and gin and tonics. Today I'm wondering what life will be like without having to lose weight.

Is this when I say.....you've come a long way baby?