MISSING IN ACTION, where have you been

Where has the time gone??? It has been a long time since I have shared with you all!! I am currently 20 months post-op gastric bypass surgery.  I still think it is one of the most rewarding, and necessary things I have done for myself.  It is indeed a bigger struggle at this point, because I can tolerate more foods. Thus, making it a little bit harder to remain within the boundaries of this lifestyle choice, but I am determined not to let my work and progress go to waste! I did not come this far only to go back to where I started!

I still struggle, just as if I had never had the procedure done!! I still have a "fat-girl" brain quite often. I talk (more like battle) with myself when I get the urges for bad food choices!! Sometimes it's just good to have the thing I am craving, instead of eating around the craving! (that is, if it doesn't make me sick).

My body has "caught up" with itself and it is just as easy as before to put weight back on. Therefore, I have to stay on an exercise plan and be sure to stay as close as possible to the food plan that was set up by my surgeon.  I can say that I am enjoying being a smaller, healthier person. I really enjoyed this past summer with my family as well. I was able to buy a cute bathing suit, I was not afraid to lay out on the beach with my family (usually I was fully clothed). I was able to enjoy some rides at the local amusement parks and not have to worry if I would fit into the ride. I did not get out of breath during walking. There were so may "new and different" experiences I had over the spring and summer, that makes this whole journey worth while.

I am even RUNNING, yes RUNNING on the treadmill now! Before surgery, there was no chance of me running ANYWHERE, unless someone was after me or something clearly was on fire!! lol! Now I willingly go out to the home gym and run!

I had the opportunity to coach 4 other ladies through their decision and journey of becoming healthier through weight loss surgery as well. That was a personal honor for me, because they saw that I was doing "something" right on this journey!! They are all doing exceptionally well also! They often times motivate and inspire me to keep moving forward. I get off track or loose my motivation, and I will talk to one of them or see their post of what they are doing and it will kick me back in gear. That's really what it is all about, being a support system for each other!

Thank you all for your support as well by reading and commenting on my posts, letting me know SOMEONE is out there reading this...and this is not for nothing! Below are some recent pics of me, so you can see that I have made continuous process since the last time I posted.

Later dolls...

14.....12!

Hi dolls:

It's almost time for me to see the surgeon for my 1 YEAR SURGIVERSARY!! (5/21/13)  Whoop! I did it y'all. It's been a good while since my last post. I have been busy with LIFE!  I am excited and nervous about seeing the doctor next month. I am 4 POUNDS from the goal weight the doctor had set for me at the beginning of this journey.  I am OK with not meeting his goal. My personal goal was met months ago.  I wanted to loose 80lbs and I did. I ultimately want to be healthy! That is what is important to me.  Not a number. I feel great. My serving size is a bit bigger. I can eat a variety of things and not get sick.  I have expanded my boundaries just a bit, but not much. I still don't have fried foods. I have not had pork or steak just yet.  I feel amazing. I have more energy, I'm ready to get out and enjoy this summer. I bought myself a bike. Just waiting for the weather to get right and I am going out in the neighborhood to ride. I'm excited about bathing suit shopping next!! It will still probably be a tank-kini, but never the less...I will not be afraid to go to the beach. Looking forward to not being FULLY DRESSED at the beach, with my family in their beach attire!

BIG NEWS....I am in a size 12 jeans and MEDIUM shirts!!! I am SO excited.  I was still wearing size 14 pants and large shirts until my husband told me that it was mandatory that I buy clothes that fit this past weekend. So, that's what I did. I was very anxious about it. I did not want to try on size 12 pants, because I didn't want to feel the disappointment of not being able to fit in them. Which is the majority of the reason I had not been shopping til now.  I went into CATO and found a pair of size 12 jeans. My husband was with me. When I put the pants on....my heart began to POUND!!! I was so nervous and scared. Of jeans, you may ask....YES OF JEANS!!! It may be a mind thing, but it is my mind thing. I came out of the dressing room and his face lit up. That gave me some confidence, that I did not look as awkward as I feel.  I turned around in the mirror and saw the jeans "hugging" by backside...and I kinda liked it. When he told me to get them...I was like "I don't know hun" and he said you look great in them just get em. I was still nervous about the purchase.

When I got home and began to get dressed...I got nervous all over again. But, as I began to walk around in the house and then completed my outfit...I got more confident, the more I looked at myself in the mirror. It's amazing what I a good pair of "fitting jeans" will do for your confidence and self esteem. I liked the way they fit so much, that I went out the next day and bought 2 more pair. Yep!!

Amongst all this "small size" purchasing...I got my work uniforms in and wore them for the first time in a year. The big difference is that last uniform size was 2x shirts and size 44 pants. NOW...I am in a size 14 pants and MEDIUM shirt. YEEESSSSS!!! It felt amazing to put that on and look GOOD in it. Makes me PROUD to wear the uniform.

I've had a lot of exciting things happen to me over the last few months. I am thankful that I made it through the surgery with no complications. I followed the guidelines and made progress and ended up with success. This journey is not over, by far, it is a continuous EFFORT to eat right and exercise and be conscious of what I do. Others are watching me, for sure!

CONFIDENCE...yea, I remember you!

Hi dolls,

Have to share another NSV (non scale victory) with you all.  I attended a formal ball hosted by my job on last night (2/15). I wore a pretty red/black dress and to die for shoes!! Got my hair done and makeup was flawless.  It was only until today, that I realized that I actually felt secure with myself at that ball last night.

Normally, I would be very self conscious about how I looked and if I looked OK in the clothes I was wearing.  I would often compare myself with others in attendance and wonder if I measured up to their standards, If I fit in with the people I was around. I would hide behind others in pictures. I would shy away from completely enjoying myself because I didn't feel I deserved to be seen.

Well, last night I had NONE of those feelings!! I felt good in my clothes, I felt good about how I looked in them. I was confident. I did not even think about how I compared to the other ladies in attendance. I danced all I wanted to! I felt free, confident, and BEAUTIFUL!!!

It's funny how no one can make you feel as beautiful as when you make YOURSELF feel beautiful....if that makes any sense.  Others may compliment you and tell you they think you are pretty. But for me, it didn't hit home until I FELT beautiful from within!! I smiled way more than normally (for those that know me, you know smiling is RARE). I was in more pictures than normal, because I was not afraid of the camera!

This is an amazing feeling! To be FREE from your own self judgment! It's hard enough to endure the judgment of others! I shared this with a friend who is thinking about having a weight loss procedure of her own...I also told her I can't wait for her to experience the same sort of things in her own personal journey! I am so excited for her! She shared with me that I was a positive example of what weight loss surgery success looks like! That was a powerful statement! She does not realize what she did for me by saying that! I am helping her start her journey, and I feel like I am reliving mine! I can't wait to see her transform before my eyes!

On a side note, I am still amazed by all the "stranger" attention I am getting from people. I was in a local grocery store a few days ago, and I male employee could not keep his eyes off of me. I had on no makeup, a hat pulled way down, jeans and a regular shirt. I was in no way "made up" and he was more than helpful with what I was in search of.  It was funny to me, because, I began to wonder would he bother if I was dressed the same and overweight. Then another female  (over weight and dressed very casual) came onto the same isle and needed assistance in finding an item and this same male employee did not bother to even speak to her...that gave me my answer right then!! People really do over look you if you are not "appealing" to their eye.

Be happy with who you are! It took me a long time to figure that out! Love yourself!! I know it is easier said than done, but if you won't let another person belittle you....don't allow yourself to do the same! Here is a pic of us headed to the ball.

 

 

 

On the left is me at the same function in2/2012

On the right is me 2/2013

Look at the difference!! Weight loss surgery was one of the best things I've EVER done for myself!!

 

 

 

CELEBRATING 2 NSV

I had an EYE opening NSV (non scale victory) last night!! I was done showering and drying off. Usually, I just drape the towel under my arms because it did not wrap around me (and actually close all the way). For some reason, I did WRAP the towel around me and to my surprise IT CLOSED!!! No gap in the front as usual! I began to do a happy dance in my head and a BIG OLE GRIN spread across my face!!!

That is one of the things I never liked my husband to see...was me in a towel. There was always a gap either in the front or back of the towel with me in it! It may have been no big deal to him but in my head it was embarrassing!!!

I continued with my routine of getting ready for bed, but I did not want to take the towel off! Can you say PROUD OF MY ACCOMPLISHMENT!

NSV #2...I went over to get uniform shirts for work a few days ago. When I first got issued a uniform the shirts were size 2X. Pants were size BIG! This time, I (out of habit) reached for the larger size shirts to try on. Went thru a XL, L, then finally down to MEDIUM. And the medium still had some room in the shirt. SAY WHAT?!? Yep, I did a happy dance in that bathroom stall too!! BAHAHAHA! This is so rewarding to experience! It's kinda wierd tho, because I experience joy and fear at the same time. I feel the joy because I have reached some goals. The fear comes in because my brain actually realizes that I am actually smaller, thinner, healthier. Does that make sense to anyone other than myself??

Anyways, Just thought I'd share some of my non scale victories!! Just because the scale does not move, does not mean that you have not made progress toward your goals!!

Panera detox..

Morning dolls...

It's been a few weeks since my last post. I am happy to report that I did get rid of the 3lbs (and lost a bit more), I gained hanging out at my favorite place...Panera!! Woohoo for me! I did not visit nor order from there for 2 whole weeks! I was proud of myself because the ladies I work with ordered from Panera about 2-3 times during my detox, and I DID NOT order. That took a lot of restraint. I knew I had a goal to reach and I was determined to reach it.

I did, however, decide to visit again, but from now on, I will use good sense and remember what happened! Lesson Learned....bread is NOT MY FRIEND!

I met and had lunch with a fellow weight loss surgery patient about a week ago.  This made for  very interesting conversation.  I discovered that my struggles are not just mine! I have mind hurdles to over come and they are shared by others! That makes me feel more normal.  She too, loves Panera. I learned that she also has struggled with shopping in the new "wrong section" of the store. I was sharing with her how my shopping experience was over the holiday season trying to find a dress to wear for the Christmas party.  I refused to buy a dress that made me look any bigger than I am, because I have worked hard to get rid of so much weight. 

She also has experienced the "strangers making eye contact" now when they speak to us. It's odd, that no one wanted to speak before I lost weight....now everyone makes eye contact! hmmm.... At any rate, It was nice to share some of my experiences and thoughts with another person that understands and can identify with them.  It's just a bit harder to make a complete lifestyle change and there is no support system or someone who can identify with what you are going thru and dealing with.  I'm glad I have a supportive husband and family who helped me along as much as they could during the initial process.  Support can make the difference in success vs failure.

I am working toward being "bathing suit" ready for the summer. I have increased my strength training and my husband is helping me with that. He's teaching me lifting techniques and I am teaching him about healthy eating and supplements. Playing on the same team is awesome...team fitness!

I want to share a pic I found online that really spoke to me. It shows exactly what happened to me when I had weight loss surgery....I unzipped the girl that had been trapped inside for many years. Follow my journey thru pics on Instagram "kassigirlb"

Until next time dolls...