Things I've Noticed, Part 2

Well I'm just past the six weeks post-op mark and alllmost 50 lbs down!  The scale is holding out on me for those last three lbs.  I'm starting to get more comfortable now, with my program and all the new "rules" I'm learning to follow.  This is probably a good time to write an updated list of the things I've noticed:

• My pants are starting to fall down.  Not so much as to be embarrassing yet but enough that I had to keep sneaking away to corners during Cub Scout camp last week so I could hitch up my drawers.  Definitely a happy problem to have!  
• My moods are sporadic.  I've been mostly happy and I choose to remain mostly optimistic but I've had a few days, especially recently, where I just couldn't quite shake my funk.   
• My tastes have changed!  Suddenly seafood looks and smells sooo good!  Before, I ate the occasional piece of fish or salmon but really did not seek out seafood.  
• I definitely have more energy than I did before.  
• On that note, I'm functioning (reasonably well I think) on an average of < 6 hours of sleep a night.  That does concern me some because I know sleep deprivation can catch up to you fast.  I'm usually a girl who needs more like 7-9 hours of sleep when I can get it.  
• I'm experiencing different types of pains in my body - mainly around my hips.  I jokingly said to my hubby that they were shrinking pains but part of me wonders if that's true.  
• Bending over is much easier now
• Some of my former flexibility is returning.  Today I sat (comfortably!) with my knees up against my chest.  
• Shirts are longer (that topography thing) and I've been able to wear one or two that I absolutely wouldn't have been caught dead in at the end of June.  
• I'm actually starting to (somewhat) like the way I look in pictures.  Maybe like is too strong a word but...tolerate.  Pictures have always been so problematic and one of the reasons I prefer being behind the camera.  Lately there have been a couple of photos that I actually didn't hate.  
• Getting dressed is easier!  I can stand there and lift my legs to put clothing on without needing to lean against the bed or dresser for balance.  
• While some recent days have been hard, my motivation is still strong.  I honestly don't miss bread, pasta, crackers, rice, junk as much as I thought I would.  
• I'm excited for the future.  If my weight loss continues at around the same rate (or even if it slows down a little bit,) I will have lost 100 lbs by Christmas.  That is huge, quite literally!  
• Following my plan really isn't that hard.  I'm still working on re-training my brain to listen to my body but if I pay attention, I'm starting to be able to notice when I'm full now.  
• Drinking is (thankfully) becoming easier now but it's still a  challenge for me to separate eating and drinking.  
• Water has to be ICE cold for me now...and mildly flavored.  I truly cannot drink plain water now even though I used to really enjoy it.  
• Sweet things smell sickeningly sweet to me now and I honestly don't even want or miss them either.