Is this my "new normal"???

Hi All...  hope everyone is doing well!  I am good... heck, I am great I guess!  I could have so many things to complain about but I don't.  We didn't lose power with this last round of storms, I am FINALLY feeling better (sick most of June), the renovations on our house are done and awesome, although we (yes, WE, i.e. Dennis and I) still need to paint, and the kids are for the most part, healthy!

I am, however, wondering if this is my "new normal" of being banded.  To recap, I've been banded 3 years and 5ish months... I've lost about 85 pounds from my highest weight, which is right where my surgeon said I would be with the band, so YAY ME!  Unequivocally, it is a success story, even when I change the ending on myself...

I am weighing in these days around 204, and enjoying my Chardonnay tremendously, which I do believe (hell, I KNOW) has kept me above that 200 mark.  I still have about 25 pounds to go with actual exercise and watching what I am eating, and I know that I can get there - I just have to choose to adjust my brain to do that.

I wonder, being this far out, if this is normal?  I live with the band every day, and thankfully have had minimal problems with it.  The last week that I had my period, I was extremely loose which is NOT the norm... the week following, super tight... but I think I am at a good point with it - I rarely PB anymore unless I eat too quickly and that has nothing to do with the band, but everything to do with me.  I also rarely watch how much protein I eat and find myself choosing less smart slider options... I feel pretty darn good where I am.  I have also realized though, that until I get plastic surgery, I will always have this "fold" at my belly that will more than likely keep me in "teen" sizes at best... and honestly, my genetics regarding my thighs probably mean that going much below a 12-10 is truly a dream.  But I am in a comfortable 16 bottoms and M-L shirt, and can still see my collar bone which is a big thing for me!

I am a bit disappointed that I haven't been blogging as much, but think that the extenuating circumstances of a one-year-old have just a bit to do with that... but I also do think that I am in a new normal - and there just isn't as much "band" related stuff to share!  I am committed though, to not letting this lapse because it does keep me honest.  So, I will pledge to keep putting out updates as I can and feel like they are relevant enough to do!

And, I need to start doing a few more pictures of my status... i.e. the front/side/rear views... that was a good and motivating thing for me.  Haven't had one of those for a while, so will try to do one soon!