Loss of 50+ pounds!

It's been a while since I have posted. I am so proud of myself! I have lost a total of 50 pounds! My surgery was on 7/26/10. So three months later this is the progress I have made. I am happy with it. I started at 276 and now weigh 226. It could have been less, but last week I was the first time I really slacked. I was sick and just did not exercise at all! I have been used to exercising on the treadmill and exercising at Shapes at least three times per week. So I did none of that and I only gained +.06 pounds. So that's not bad for no exercise and not adhering to my eating guidelines. My goal is to get close to "onederland" by Christmas. Just to get close to it will be a major accomplishment! As far as eating, at my last fill, I think I am finally starting to fill "restriction". I would hear people say this and was like "what is that?" I feel full more quickly. I do notice I start getting hungry again about 2 hours later though. I chew gum in between meals (a tip I got from someone else--but beware it may cause gas). I drink lots of Crystal Light as I have always hated water and need some type of flavor. The only time I can drink straight water is when I finish working out really hard and sweating like crazy and feel like I need to drink something right away! I usually eat three meals a day, but I snack. The difference is I snack on healthy foods like fruit, jello, popsicles, etc. So it's not sweets, chips or junk food that I snack on. I think this has made the difference with my weight loss as well. Something else is not that I have become a fanatic or anything. But I exercise at least four times per week. Usually during the week and relax on the weekends, unless I missed days during the week. I find that when I don't exercise, I feel funny..can't explain it. I am doing this program called "Couch Potato to 5k" on my treadmill at home. My biggest goal is to run a 5k! The program is on my iphone and it mixes walking and jogging, but each week, more time is added on. I am on week 3 (should be on week 4, but was sick last week). So I am doing week 3 again. I also now have an eliptical machine so I am starting to work out on that at home, although I was doing it at the gym. My exercise specialist said she wants me to start doing strength training, so I will start that this week. The great thing is my husband is working out with me sometimes. That feels good. He calls me "sexy" all the time (he called me beautiful when I was heavier) but it feels really nice now! The only problems I experience is when I eat a little too much and feel like I am going to explode, so I can't do that. Also, the gas comes and goes. I have not had any choking episodes and I have not discovered anything I am having problems eating yet. So I am grateful for that. At work I am being called "the incredible shrinking woman". I am getting many compliments and that feels good as well. As far as clothes go. I started in a size 22-24 (3x). Now I am wearing size 18 (16..depending on the clothing) and XL shirts now. Sometimes it depends on how the clothes are made if I can wear an 18 or 16. I am very pleased with that! So overall I am happy. It is a lifestyle change from the food I eat to the exercise I complete. This journey I'm on feels pretty darn good!