Happy then Sad

My friend Josh introduced me to a girl that is getting banded next Thursday. We sent some messages back and fourth on facebook. I tried to answer her questions and concerns to the best that I could. While we was talking I asked her to come with me to Zumba. Well.. yesterday I was sooo tired from getting home from Orlando at 0130 then having to be at work at 0600 that I was not feeling like going to Zumba last night, but then I get the message from Sarah asking me if I was gonna be there. I knew I needed to go. Then I got another message from another patient at my dr. office asking me if I still was going to be at Zumba she wanted to try it. So there it was my sign that Gail you have to go. I would have felt bad for not going when people were counting on me to be there. So I went and it was great. I think we worked out harder than ever. It was so fun. I am glad I went. Sarah and Megan loved it as well and will be back!!

On a more important note. Most of you know that I have been working out with Deb my personal trainer at the Dr. Office. Well, there has been lots of drama going on, but last night I got the call that she was "let go" "fired" whatever you want to call it yesterday. I understand the correct thing to say is there are always two sides to every story, but for me I dont want to hear the other side. I am being selfish because I love Deb. I know for a fact that I would not have been so successful if it wasnt for her. I have been working out twice a week with her since I began my journey a year ago. Knowing I had somewhere to be twice a week that I had invested in not only with my money, but emotionally as well was keep me going. The past month I have not been to see her. I was on vacation then my schedule at work has been crazy with me having to do some training, so I missed her. I still had contact with her and did Zumba so I was not doing without, but now that she is gone from there I do not want to fail. That is something that I have always struggled with in previous times of trying to lose weight. My fear of failure then I just give up. I do not want to fail. I think I am stronger than I ever have been through this journey, and I want it to bad that I can say I am not ready to give up or fail. It just scares me. She said that she is going to another place, and we would figure it out.. so we shall see...

A Short Vaca

On Sunday I left to go to Orlando with one of my bestest buddies Josh. We had a very eventful weekend that included: Seaworld, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Bahama Breeze, Magic Kingdom, lots of rain, seen Switch at the movies, Dinner at Margaritaville, and we ended our three days with the Jack Johnson concert which was AWESOME! He is just amazing. Im at work today, I'll post pictures later.

On the band front... Why is that the whole weekend it seemed that I could eat, and eat... Then we stopped for lunch on Tuesday at 903 Mills Market. I attempted to eat a salad with chicken on it and some soup.. ummm yeah two bites into it and I was done.. The most horrible feeling ever! I knew I had something stuck. After walking around outside trying to get it to pass I had to just get it out.. Yes you guessed it... chicken.. yuck~! So embarrassing. Josh kept saying cant you just chew more, cut smaller, ect. He tried to be supportive. I have been banded now a year and only had four times that I felt really bad/uncomfortable that was one of them. I hate those times. Especially to be with someone. I rather deal with it on my own. I always talk about the good times on here, so I needed to post a bad time as well.... We all have them Im sure.
I hope everyone has a great Wednesday!!

An Awesome Weekend

Hey guys.. I had such a wonderful weekend I just had to share with you all. My life long friends the Kriner family have a daughter named Brooke who is one of my bestest friends in the worldl I love her and admire her dearly. She is married to a wonderful man named Billy. They also have a son named Jordan. He is in the Army. He met a wonderful lady named Oana. They got married in Italy, and this weekend came to Florida to have a reception here. It was such a wonderful time. We stayed in Fernandina Beach all weekend. Such a close getaway. Brookes Mom, Mrs. Theresa's family from New York are so much fun. I love getting to see them any chance I get.



Here are a few pics to share.








On the band front I have a challenge going on with Kathy my sister in law for Chicago. I did well this week with 4 more pounds down. I am super excited. When I started this journey 8-11-09 in a size 28-30 I never thought I would be where I am at today. The blue dress is a 16!! Wow.. I am still smiling. I wasnt even a 16 in 5th grade!!! Love you guys, Have a great week! xoxo

Happy Bandiversary to me!

A year ago today I had a tool put inside me that would change my life immensely. Boy oh Boy where do I start. I woke up today with a huge smile on my face. I am on a journey of finding myself. I have always been over weight. As far back as I can remember buying clothes even in 5th, 6th grade I was in plus size clothes. I am small now than I was then. Which is amazing, Thoughts of everything I have done this year that could not have been possible without the help of my band, my determination, my family, and my friends. My self confidence has sky rocketed. I never wanna sit still. Active as a bee. Zumba is my passion. I do that two days a week. Kathy went with me and she made the comment “I never thought I would see Gail Hall enjoying exercise but really loving the stuffing out of it!! Seriously I almost cried at zumba watching you!” I have done two 5K’s with my wonderful sister in law, Kathy. I lost 100 lbs and flipped myself out of a perfectly good airplane. I can wear my friends clothes for the first time in my life. I do things that I want to do, I have no issue saying no I don’t wanna do that. I am living my life for me. I am more out spoken now; I think that just comes with the confidence. I love getting attention from people. It just proves more and more that our society only see’s the outside of a person, but I am getting noticed now from my appearance which has never happened before. I went from a size 30 jeans to now 18 and some 16 depending on the brand/cut. 118 pounds down!!! U hear me people that is a person. A PERSON!! I struggle some here lately trying to keep motivated, but the end result is the same. This band is not a magic wand. I did this. I worked so hard all year, and I am not done yet!! I have the best Dr. in the world and his staff is amazing. I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for those people and my support group of family and friends that keep me on track. I know this is short, but I have to get to work. I’ll come up with something better later.

I hope everyone has a fantastic day!!

I can not stop eating these!!!!! 

Vent Session

Has anyone else had one of those days where you just wanna eat EVERYTHING I tell you EVERYTHING??? Well I am having not only one of those days, but how about one of those weeks. I feel like I am losing my motivation. I need to knock myself back to reality and get back to it. I have done so well to just let it all go down the drain. It breaks my heart when people that email me and comment on my facebook about how good I am doing and they wish they could have my motivation while I feel like I have none these days. I have steady lost weight since I started this journey my year is next Wednesday. I have not gained any since my last appointment in July, but I had lost three pounds the week after my appointment and now gained those three back so I am right where I was when I left the dr two weeks ago. Ok, Ok so three pounds is nothing, but for me those three turns into thirty!!! I never ask for help, but I reached out to a friend yesterday. That was huge for me. Valerie is an awesome friend and I love her dearly. She is a fellow bandster that I met at my dr's office. We have become really good friends. It helps having close friends that totally get our "band issues." I have a huge group of family and friends that love me and support me, but none of them know where I am at emotionally right now with my inside struggle. I have a way of hiding sometimes. The one thing I fear the most through this whole process is coming this far and doing so well and then failing. I made a board one time at one of my small groups about six months there was a part of it that said. "I will achieve my goals and inspire others!" This board is still in my house on display I walked by it this morning read it and got an awful feeling in my stomach. I'll post the pictures of it. I don't think I ever blogged about it. My counselor Kristie that I used to see at my dr office gave us a handout it that project, so I made it. I had to email people ask them words that they thought of me, it has before, and during pictures on it. It was a really fun project. Thanks to all of you for being there. I can't wait till Chicago only 49 more days!!!

It has been such a long time since I have blogged. Super sorry about that. I had to work night shift at work last night. I was able to catch up on some blogs man I miss you guys. Work has been crazy and just life it self I have to make sometime. Zumba is my favorite thing going right now. Love it! Sundays I try to make my family day. I went to lunch with mom and dad then dad said what do you wanna do? I told him I need to find some shoes for a wedding we are going to next weekend. He wasn't thrilled cause we all know how shoe shopping is with us girls, but I said really it's good. I know exactly for the first time what I want. I have a pair in gold but I want silver it's been months but I hope they still have them. We got to the store and right in front of me is all these beautiful dresses. The first thing poops in my head is Chicago. I really want that night to be my first little black dress night, so mom and I took off looking ... I had a party in that dressing room no plus size for me anymore and i even put a 14 on!!! It's no where perfect but party you hear me!!!! I am on cloud nine. I immediately called my sister Kathy the next thought was I have got to blog, so this is me mobile blogging my news. I can't wait. I didn't buy one cause I'm gonna wait till September. I might find something better. It was just a fun day! Love u and miss u all! Xoxo