Thank you Friends, family and everyone else for your support and encouragement.

PSALM 46:1-10
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear. . .Be still, and know that I am God. . ."

(Paula & Haley at Work Havin' Fun!)

05.11.08

WOW Time sure flies. I can't believe it is already spring and I haven't updated this page since September. I started a myspace page cause is was so much easier to update pictures and communicate with people... so if you want to add me to your friend list on myspace that would be fun, but send me an email too so I know your not a spammer... ;o) www.myspace.com/paulaeden.

So what have I been up to? still losing weight but MUCH SLOWER. I have lost 113 pounds. I have met my goal to join the gym and I am loving it (MOST OF THE TIME) I work out at the gym 6 days a week. 3 days a week I have a personal trainer and we do cardio and strength training, and the other 3 days I just do cardio... and then sometimes Bill and I will go for a bike ride or walk and get in even more excercise. I have a great friend Kelly who goes to the gym with me faithfully 6 days a week and another friend Carolyn who comes as often as she can... I am so thankful and proud of both of them for the support, encouragement and accountability they are to me. THANKS GIRLS!!!!!

I still eat really basic. I try sometimes to eat normal food like everybody else but the band tells me really quickly that it is a no go. So My favorite real foods are;oatmel, cream of wheat, tuna and mayo, SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER from trader joe's with apple or celery, Cucumber chip pickles, Salad (cawliflower, red cabbage, green onions, carrots with olive oil and Balsamic Vinegar), Trail Mix from Costco, V8 Juice, Carrot Juice, black olives, plain yogurt, eggs, SOUP (any kind, especially from Pavz :o), and of course Champion protein drinks, and vitamins.

Oh Hey did you know that 1 m&m is 5 calories... SCORE... I love that.... I can get my chocolate fix without the major calories.

It has been over a year now since surgery. Time sure went fast for me.... I hope the rest of the time till I get to my goal weight will seem to go as fast. Somedays it feels like it is taking FOREVER, and then I look back at pictures and progress on my charts and I realize How far I have really made it.

Well, I thank you all for your prayers and positive words and thoughts. I am Hopeful for success! I am determined to get to my goal weight, It will just take some time. Rome wasn't built in a day. :o)
Till Next time! Blessings! Best Wishes! Grace, Peace LOVE and HOPE!
Paula

____________________________________________________________________

09.07.07

What I am doing to continue my weightloss...

Champion Nutrtion - Pure Whey Stack Protein Drink 3 to 5 times a day (We now sell this at the spa cause so many people are asking about it. It tastes great and you don't feel hungry at all.

Children's Chewable Vitamins - Nature's Plus Animal Parade - 2 to 4 at a time 2 to 3 times a day. Multi-Vitamin and 2 to 4 calcium a day too. I get these at Sage mountain Health food store.

Soloray Chewable B Complex Vitamins - 2 tablets 2 to 5 times a day. For stress relief but also it is essential for protein digestion/consumption in the body and important for healthy hair, skin and nail growth. I also get these at Sage mountain Health food store.

Chewable Vitmain C - 5 to 8 tablets a day I get these from Lynn Chadd's office. They are lower in sugar and taste a little better.

I eat solid food now... mostly chicken, or fish and salad 3 to 5 times a week
The surgeon prefers not eating fruits or vegetables at this time. It is for faster weightloss to eat more protein. I had a hard time with this, cause my kidney's were having a hard time with it. So Lynn Chadd recommended eating some vegetables and sticking to the low glycemic veggies (mostly green stuff like spinach, broccoli, green beans etc.)

I am also supposed to excercise everyday... I knew this was going to be the toughest area for me to work on. It has proven to be so. This summer season has been so busy at the spa, so weighing the option of sleeping for an hour longer or excercising has been a toss-up. After working 6 days a week and many times 12 hour days it has been a difficult choice for me to excercise or not.

SO! I have a goal to join the gym or excercise more in the next month, and prioritizing the work schedule so I can fit this in to it. Be praying for me if you think about it. :o)

That is pretty much it right now. I am aiming for the 100 pounds lost goal right now.
I have 13 pounds to go... wondering still what to do to celebrate that milestone..

Any ideas?

If you are interested in getting more information about the LAP-BAND surgery, here is the link to the website of the clinic I went through.

Dr. Earl Fox is my surgeon, he works at the Richland office. www.aboutsurgicalweightloss.com Or you can call the office direct at 509- 943-0710 Surgical Weightloss Clinic of Eastern Washington.

I have lost 85 pounds so far!!! I feel GREAT!!!! Just need to keep on track and it is really past time to get the band tightened so I can lose MORE!!!!
When I started this journey I was at the highest weight of 402 pounds. WOW! That was a miserable existance. Now I am at 317 and I can't wait to get down into the 200's it is so close yet not there yet. My ultimate dream goal weight is 140 so I still have over 170 pounds to go.. I will say though I really wouldn't be able to do this without my husband Bill and my friends and family. Best of all GOD is on my side. Along the way I have been doing a lot of thinking and praying... I have been asking myself alot of questions about how and why I let myself get out of control like that and allow myself to get that heavy. Well I haven't found the answers and I don't know if I ever will, or if I really need to... I just know that I HAVE to move forward. Whatever is in the past is there...not here and I AM HERE and need to live in the NOW not the YESTERDAY. It is one moment at a time and one decision at a time. One bite of food at a time.

I am so thankful for Chewable vitamins, liquid Protein drinks and yummy crystal light....

I am also thankful for a great group of employees, clients, and friends who ask me everyday how I am doing and are so EXCITED to see the new me everytime they come in for an appointment. It is a boost of energy to me. It truly makes me feel like I am not alone on this journey. I have hundreds of people cheering me on.

I am thankful for Viva Williams who was such an inspiration and encouragement to me when she had the surgery... she always has a smile and a good word for me (and anyone she meets)... and her Tuesday night group Vitality NOW! has been another great encouragement to me too! THANK YOU VIVA!!!!!

Well it is time for me to get my beauty rest... I will give another update soon.

Love to you all

Paula Saunders