21 1/2 Weeks Post-Op - WOW.

Guys.  I ran.  I was finishing up a treadmill workout last night - I typically do 65 minutes on the treadmill at 3.4 mph with the incline set at 5%.  Then after about 25 minutes, I start playing with the incline and I'll do 5 minutes at 10%, 5 minutes at 15%, 5 minutes back at 10%...and then I'll drop back to 5% and carry 5 pound hand weights.  It's a good workout.  Makes me sweat and I can feel it in my quads and gluts the next day.

I rewarded myself with a new TV in my workout area - I got a little Smart TV that has wi-fi so I can watch Netflix while I workout.  The previous TV was OK but we couldn't connect it to cable so I was watching DVD's of Sex and the City while working out and since they're only 22 minutes long, I was getting on and off the treadmill 3 times per workout to hit "Play" again.  Annoying.  Anyways, the new TV came out of the box, I hopped on the treadmill and gave it 55 minutes and then thought - "let's see what happens".  I bumped the speed up to 4.3 mph and started to jog.  Not fast, not pretty but it happened.  I wanted to see if I could go 5 minutes straight, no stopping, no slowing down.  I KILLED IT.  I totally did it!!  And it wasn't bad!!  I mean, I don't know if I'll ever classify myself as a RUNNER, but I did it...and I'll do it again.

I hit a nice little goal overnight too.  As of today, I weigh less than I did when I met my husband.  I also weigh less than I did when I conceived my oldest son.  That puts me at 95 pounds lost since my heaviest weight ever and 75 pounds lost since the day of surgery.  I'm almost overwhelmed that it's THAT much weight.

Man, I write this a lot but it feels so good to be successful at this weight loss game.  I spent so much of my life being discouraged and depressed about not being able to lose weight or not being able to stick with a diet.  I absolutely feel blessed that I had the opportunity to have a Roux-en-Y surgery covered by insurance.  I know I never would have had this success without the help of surgery.  Yes, it's work.  I have a hacking cough that would have been a wonderful excuse to skip a workout last night...but I really wanted to see the scales number drop this morning and that meant making time for the treadmill.  Yes, Thanksgiving is coming up and I would love to eat everything my heart desires but I do NOT want to pay the consequences so I have no choice but to be good.  I love that.  Cheating is not an option.  There is no more justification for my actions necessary - it's not possible to not be good.  Such an amazing feeling!!

20 Weeks Post Op - Look good feel good

I can now wear 'normal' pants.  The pants in this photo - the pants I have on today - are size 18.  Not from the Plus section.  Just 18's.  And the sweater was from Costco - and they don't sell Plus sizes at Costco.

This may not seem like a big deal but to me, it's a very big deal.  I will never shop at a Lane Bryant again.  Ever.

Is an 18 my goal?  Nope...but it's a gigantic step and proof that I AM losing weight.

And just for the record, I look much better in clothes that fit.  I've been so hesitant to buy anything new because the old clothes (sizes 24, 22 and 20) "fit".  No, they don't fit...they're way too big...but with a belt and some creative undergarments, they work.  Well I took a leap and bought some new clothes on sale at Penny's for work - these pants included.  I also got a 'treat' from my mom which included a couple more pairs of pants and a couple sweaters.  So, this weekend I'm going to once again purge and pack up the clothes I've shrunk out of and send them over to the consignment store.  I will not need them - why hang on to them?

My neck is defined.  I don't have a double chin anymore.  I have cheek bones that don't need contouring to pop out.  I have a collar bone that is visible.  I'm winning at this!!!!  Seriously - I'm having success!!!  How cool is that???

I have 65 pounds to go to my first goal weight and 75 pounds to go to my stretch goal.  And I cannot wait to see what size that puts me at or what it will feel like in a body that size.  Do I miss food?  Yup...still - daily - some days hourly.  But I wouldn't trade this feeling of PRIDE for anything.

19 Weeks Post-Op - More love for Weekends

I love weekends.  Aside from the not having to be at work part, I am loving weekends for the fact that I lose more weight on the weekends than I do during the week.  Like, significantly more.  I can lose 3-4 pounds between Saturday morning to Monday morning.  I think this is due to a little combination of things.
1.  I get a little more sleep on the weekends.  Not much, as my kids wake up at pretty much the same time whether it's Saturday or Tuesday, but probably an additional 30-45 minutes.
2.  I don't have as scheduled of a day - I leisurely drink my coffee in the morning.  I don't force a lunch break - I grab a bite here and there as I need it.
3.  I drink water all day long.  Not just in meetings when I think about it.  4.  I rarely stop moving during the day - I'm jockeying laundry, I'm running to Costco, SuperTarget, Home Depot, wherever my life needs me to go.  In between those errands, I'm running around my house cleaning up after the kids or cleaning areas that need attention.
4.  I nap.  I take a 2 hour nap with my two little kids every Saturday and typically every Sunday too.  I love it.  It's my little indulgence to myself.  We all get cozy in our big bed and fall asleep all cuddled up.  Believe it or not, there is not nearly as big of a fight to take a nap if Mom takes one with you.
5.  I work out.  Hard.  For 65-75 minutes.  Walking on the treadmill at an incline.  Now I've added hand weights to that as well in 5 minute intervals.  I drip.  I feel like I'm going to die.  And it's Awesome.

I am very close to two milestones - and they are only a few pounds apart.  As of today, I now weigh what I weighed when I met Phil's family at Thanksgiving in 2007.  I had been doing SlimGenics and weighing in three times a week, so I remember my weights clearly.  This means I'm 12 pounds away from weighing what I weighed when Phil and I met.  8 years ago.  After that, it will be 6 more pounds until I've lost 100 pounds.  I really want to hit the 100 pound mark by Christmas so I have some work ahead of me...but I am loving workouts right now and the eating part is now second nature.  I just wish my love for water would be as strong as it was before surgery.

I get so full so fast from water and I really want to just chug it but that causes extreme pain.  It's something I need to devote focus on - sit with my water bottle in my hand and open and basically look at a clock and sip every minute or so.  I do love adding Lipton Lemon Iced Tea concentrate to my water but I can't seem to find the flavor I like anymore...so here I am.

Sill happy?  Yup.  Ecstatic.  I continue to be amazed at my success and I'm so very thankful to have had the positive journey.