A friendly wager

So now that I'm getting closer to goal, things have slowed down. I've been having a much harder time staying on track. Sweets and carbs have been calling my name. I admit...I ate whatever I wanted over my birthday weekend. I'm still exercising regularly, and it makes me hungrier. I'm very happy with my body size now - if I never lose another pound, I'd be good. Still, I would like to reach my goal and see what that feels like. But I just couldn't get motivated. Until Angela.

My very good friend Angela, whom I've known for 10 years now (wow!), has challenged me to lose the final pounds with her. We both had 14 pounds to go till we reach a goal (mine will end with me at 160 - my surgeon's suggestion for a goal). Game on! Loser treats the winner to an item from a boutique in Missoula when I visit her there in May. So far I'm ahead - I'm already down 4 pounds. But Angela has just been released to start running again, after months of being unable to. She's going to give me a run for my money, I know it. 

One year

One year ago today I had my initial consultation with the surgeon, and I weighed 309 pounds. This morning I weighed 170 pounds. A year ago I was size 28-30 or 3x-4x. Now I'm size 12 or medium. A year ago I was truly unhappy and felt like I was going to die. Now I love life and I feel 20 years younger. I can't believe how much has happened in a year. I can't believe how quickly the year has gone by. Still...this journey was one of the best decisions of my life. 

6 months

It has been 6 months since I had my surgery. I weigh 178 pounds, which means I've lost 89 pounds since the surgery and 131 pounds overall. I'm wearing size 12-14 pants, and generally large shirts. I've been tracking my measurements since close to the beginning, and I've lost a total of 71 inches from my waist, hips, neck, chest, neck, thigh, knee, calf, bicep, and forearm. I'm able to run about 3 miles and look forward to longer runs in the future. I feel really good and very healthy. If I never lost any more weight, I would be happy. However, I'm still trying to lose a bit more. I saw my surgeon a week ago and she recommended a goal weight of 160, which seems so close. Personally, I've adjusted my goal to be 154 pounds, because at that weight I would have lost half of myself (155 pounds). Today I went through my closet and took out a ton of clothes that no longer fit. This is the second big clothes purge since this journey began. In fact, I don't have a lot of clothes that DO fit. I am now roughly the size I was when I got married, which is the smallest I've been in my adult life. Here are some pictures from this morning.

 

And for comparison, these are the pictures my surgeon's office took on the day of my initial consult in late January of last year. This day was my high day - 309 pounds. It is painful for me to look at these pictures. 

I will say though, looking at these pictures does remind me of how difficult it was to be so large. The physical difficulties were not something to laugh at, and I really don't ever want to forget them. Remembering this makes me even more thankful that I chose the path I did. This surgery was a tool that has catapulted me into a healthier life. With it I was able to make so many more changes and stick with them. It is hard for me to imagine what my life would be like now if I had not chosen to go forward on this journey. Simply, I am so so so glad that I did.

Nearing year's end

I've gotten pretty bad at updating this blog I realize. I think that's a good sign - I'm working out, I'm happy, I just have less time sitting at a computer. I'm down to 185 now - this is roughly my pre-pregnancy weight before Ava. I can fit into size 14 pants, though 16s are fitting best right now. I wear form-fitting shirts. I feel good.

I also successfully ran my first 5K on Thanksgiving morning. I ran the entire thing and got a better time than I was expecting (36 minutes, 21 seconds). I have been struggling with hip flexor problems though, which currently are driving me nuts and preventing me from running.

People are really noticing that I'm a different person. It's pretty amusing. Some people see me and just snap their heads back because they realize how I am. Some of them haven't seen me in a while, but some see me every day but just suddenly SEE how I've changed.

Anyway, things are going great. My weight loss has slowed down, partly because I'm much smaller, and partly because I'm eating a little more now. But it is still ticking down at around 10 lbs per month. I'm happy.  :)

I can run a mile

In the last week I have dropped under 200 pounds and I've run for an entire mile without stopping. I haven't run for an entire mile in at least 10 years. And you know what? It was easy. EASY! I'm still training for a Turkey Trot 5K and aside from a hip flexor that sometimes isn't happy, I'm doing great. I've been lifting weights too. I'm getting random hugs from people at work who are looking at me and really NOTICING that I'm a different person. I am wearing size 16 and XL stuff now. I can shop in real stores!!  I haven't been able to do that in 10 years either. It is unbelievable. I feel normal. Wow.

Onederland!

This was a few days ago. It feels so ONEDERFUL. Cheesy, I know.  :)

The women who changed my life

I forgot to post this too. These are the women who changed my life - me and my surgeon. Isn't she young? She's one of those Dougie Howser types. Amazing woman. My 3-month appointment was great - she was very happy with my progress and even thought I could eat a little more since I'm exercising so much. She also joked that I should talk with all her other patients about how much the exercise helps.  :)  Yeah, things were good. My blood work was all great (though still a little high on the cholesterol). I go back again at 6 months.