Another dream realized!

I should have posted this earlier this week when it first happened, but as you know I am a procrastinator.  I rode my bike on Tuesday for the first time in about 10 years.  I didn't go far, but I had to see if I could do it.  It's just like they say "it's just like riding a bike.  Once you learn you never forget how."  I couldn't believe how easy it seemed.  I started out slowly and worked my way up.  It was exhilarating!  I felt free.  I felt younger.  I felt healthy.  I decided right then and there that I was going to ride my bike every chance I got.  Tonight I went again.  I went farther this time.  To the community center and back.  I am looking forward to riding at least 3 or 4 times a week until the weather is no longer agreeable. 
This was a big deal to me, but I didn't realize what a big deal this was to my daughters.  Last night they went and got their hair cut.  We have been going to Stefanie for 15 years and we know each other well.  The girls couldn't wait to tell Stephanie that "Momma went for a bike ride!!"  They were so excited for me.  They are both looking forward to going with me for a bike ride.  Hopefully we can go together as a family this weekend. 
I still can't believe how much my life has changed.  I notice people treat me differently.  I feel so good and I really can't believe that I wasted all those years like I did.  Getting healthy has been the best gift that I have ever been given.  I thank Dr. Fourman every day for giving me the tools and the opportunity to live the life that I am living now.

Today I met another personal goal

This journey has been about setting goals and reaching them little by little.  I am 9 pounds away from my next weight goal, but today I reached another goal.  This goal is not a number related goal, most of my goals are number related.  This is a personal goal.  Something that I haven't been able to do in so many years that I can't even remember the last time I was able to do this.  Today I was able to buy a pair of capris and a t shirt in the ladies department!!!!!  The ladies department, not the women's department, not the plus size department, the average sized ladies department.  Granted I had to buy the biggest size that they offer (16 capris and XL top), but it was in the ladies department.  It was just a short time ago, 16 months to be exact, that I had to buy the largest size that Fashion Bug offered (size 30 pants and 4x top).  I am in awe as I put this outfit on.  I didn't try it on in the store.  I was afraid to.  I was afraid that if it didn't fit I would cry and I was afraid that if it did fit I would scream.  I brought my bag home and set it aside for 2 hours, but curiosity got the best of me and I had to try it on.  I can't believe my eyes as I look in the mirror!!  I am actually becoming an average sized woman.  I never thought that I would be average sized again.  I'm still struggling with a distorted body image, but I think my mind is starting to catch up with my body.  This feels amazing!!  I am so thankful that I had the courage to take this journey!  This is truly an extreme make over!

It's been 1 year

It's been 1 year and I'm down 137 pounds.  I have so much energy and I get so much more done.  I am still losing weight, but it is coming off much slower these days.  I'm ok with that...it's still coming off.  I cannot believe the change in me.  Not only how much different my body looks, but how much better I feel and how much more confidence I have.  It is said that I am sassier than I was before, I'm not sure that that is even possible. I was looking at the pictures I have taken over the past year and I am amazed.  While I will never forget being as big as I was it almost doesn't seem real.

Been too long

February has swept in and I realize that it has been such a long time since I have blogged.  I continue to steadily lose weight.  My skin is sagging in places that I never imagined I would have sagging skin, but I consider this sagging skin a temporary badge of accomplishment.  I say temporary because I know through toning I will be able to correct some of this and what I cannot correct through toning I will have surgically corrected when the time is right, if necessary.  Even if I must keep this extra skin, it is better than the fat that I have been carrying around for 15+ years.  My son commented a few days ago that even the skin on my arms (the skin that I call "granny bat wings") seems to be going away a little bit.  It is so exciting to hear my kids notice things like this.  My 8 year old daughter hugs me now and is able to wrap her arms around my body and her fingers touch for the first time in her whole life.  She is ecstatic by this seemingly small accomplishment.  My 4 year old daughter looks at the pictures that I have taken along the way and says "remember when you looked like that mom?", like it was a long time ago.  I find it hard to believe that it hasn't even been a year yet and I have come this far!
    Today I got down on my hands and knees and scrubbed my kitchen floor.  This seems like an ordinary, mundane task.  But believe me this isn't ordinary to me!  I haven't been able to do it for years.  I have relied on my wonderful husband to do tasks like this for me.  Bless his heart, he always did it and NEVER complained.  Today I felt quite accomplished.  Not only did I scrub the floor on my hands and knees I didn't struggle to get back up.  This is another milestone that I have passed!  The last 10 months have gone by so fast and I don't feel like it has been hard work.  It is only a short chapter in a lifelong journey.

Staying on track!

It has been a long time since I have posted anything!  I just want to report that I have been staying on track.  I saw Dr. Smith on Thursday and he was very pleased with my progress.  I have lost 25 pounds since I have seen him last.  He is very excited about my progress.  I have to admit I am too!!  I am starting to shrink out of all of my clothes again, but that is OK.  I know that they make more and soon I will be able to buy clothes from nearly any store I go into.  No more shopping exclusively at Fashion Bug or Lane Bryant!  That will feel sooo good!!!  I still can't believe how much my body has changed and how much the decision to have this surgery has changed my life!  I seriously wish I had done it 10 years ago.  It is a little weird for me because I still see the body I had before I lost all of this weight.  I really have to stand still and concentrate on what is really there, not what my mind still sees.  I know it will take time and I know my brain will catch up with the rest of me.  I can't wait.  For now I will have to settle for putting the pictures of my progress side by side.

Happy Thursday!!!  Today I am happy to report that the scale says I am 113 pounds lighter than I was 7 months  ago.  If you would have told me in March or April of this year that I would be 113 pounds down by October I would have laughed very loudly!!  But it is true.  When I got dressed this morning I put on the top that I wore to my birthday party that was held August 27th.  I can see such a difference in the way that it fits.  I thought it fit really well the night of my party, but wearing it today I feel much more comfortable in it.

I see Dr. Smith again next month.  He will be so pleased to see my continued progress.  I am slowly getting back to exercising since my gall bladder surgery.  Went for a long walk yesterday and am planning to go a little further today.  I am really beginning to enjoy my walks.  It gives me a little alone time and I know I am doing something positive for my health.  

100 pounds of flab off my frame, 100 pounds of flab...

So, I have hit the 100 pound mark!  Unfortunately, with that goal reached my gall bladder had to come out.  Wow, am I ever sore!!  Slowly but surely I am recovering.  The key word here is slowly!

I was getting ready to go to my son's football game.  I went and grabbed a pair of jeans off of my pile of clean clothes and put them on.  Imagine my surprise when I pulled them up and went to zip them up and realized that I was holding on to about 8 inches of extra material.  I was shocked!  I'm saving those pants.  Not because I will ever be able to wear them again, but because they represent how far I have come.  I put them on for my family later that night and we had a good laugh!

Lucky for me, my friend Chrys had given me boxes of clothing that she has shrunken out of.  I have casual clothes that fit again!  It is such a crazy feeling.  I pull clothes out of the totes that she has given me and I hold them up and say there is NO WAY I'm going to fit into that. But I put them on and they zip without any struggle.  I put on tops that aren't rolling up or too short so my belly button sticks out.  I still can't believe that this is MY body!  I sometimes wake up expecting that I have been dreaming and am back up to the heaviest weight I have ever been.  Every day that I wake up feeling that way I pinch myself just to make sure that it is real life.  So far, It's been real life and I like it!

I started a new friendship recently.  A lady that had her surgery yesterday!!  I am happy to report that all went well for her and she is on her way to her new life.  I love being able to be supportive to someone who is following the same path that I have been on.  It makes me stay focused on my journey while feeling like I am lending a hand to a friend in need.  I think I might take some public speaking classes so that I can share my experience, my excitement and my enthusiasm with others.  Not that I have any trouble talking in front of a group, I don't.  I think just that with a little coaching I could be very motivational.  Funny where life can take you when you have the confidence and the knowledge!