CONTEST! and my FAV weight loss BLOG!

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2nd Annual Girls Campout 2010 HMB!

GeoTagged, [N37.45756, E122.44318]

I'm at Half Moon Bay State Beach (CA) enjoying a weekend of camping with some of my best girlfriends!!! It's fantastic! It's a little cold, misty and humid but it's still fantastic. Sitting on a log on the beach listening to and watching the waves crash onto the shore- so relaxing. Just what I needed! Enjoy your weekend whatever you are doing! Xoxo

2nd Annual Girls Campout 2010 HMB!

I'm at Half Moon Bay State Beach (CA) enjoying a weekend of camping with some of my best girlfriends!!! It's fantastic! It's a little cold, misty and humid but it's still fantastic. Sitting on a log on the beach listening to and watching the waves crash onto the shore- so relaxing. Just what I needed! Enjoy your weekend whatever you are doing! Xoxo

Voilà!

I'd like to point out that I have a little room in these womens 32" Mek jeans and could go down a size.

Miracles happen people!

Anyhow this was taken of me today at work!

4 Mos Post-Op!

It's been 4 months since my gastric bypass surgery. Sometimes I forget I had it, I feel so good and normal! It's strange though because besides going from 258 to 179 lbs and 40 bmi to 28, in my head the mental picture I have of me is 80 lbs heavier. It's strange to think that I am thin now. People call me skinny and I feel awkward because i haven't been skinny since I was about 12 (puberty wasn't kind to me and I blew up like a blowfish!). The majority of my family is overweight. It can be difficult for me to talk to them about my success because they are all still obese. I wish they would make changes and improve their health, it makes me sad that they talk about how they are tired of being big but then go out for pizza. I was the same way and it took me years to finally get the courage to make a permanent change. I am so happy with my decision to have bariatric surgery and would definitely recommend it to others who are considering it. It's not an "easy way out" and takes dedication and commitment. The first 3 months I never felt hungry and the hunger returned in month 4. I haven't been perfect, i've had a couple french fries and chips but I am very strict regularly. I make sure I get my protein in and still supplement with shakes sometimes. I have went from a size 18(tight!)/20 and xxl to a size 10/12 or juniors 11/13 and a m/l!!! I wear a medium in Victoria's Secret sweatpants. I haven't worn a medium in a lifetime!!! The small things are absolutely thrilling also, like being able to cross my legs effortlessly or under my desk at work. I can even cross them in the passenger seat of my car while my husband drives! I can shop in any store and in the junior's dept if I want, I don't have to go to Lane Bryant or Torrid or the plus section anymore... In fact, I can't- their smallest size runs too big for me!!! I am still stunned by how quickly the changes happened and proud of my progress. I can't imagine still being obese and in a lot of pain from arthritis etc- so many of my symptoms and medical issues have lessened with my weight loss. It feels like a miracle. I have never been so happy.

The NEW me and the OLD me

So that is me, just 2 days ago, at work. My friend/co-worker suggested we take a new pic for facebook and I was game for it, since I like pics now (so wierd). It is odd not to hide behind someone or something, or cringe when a camera comes out... BUT I don't do it anymore! I guess those days are behind me and I am really happy about that. I've lost 2 pants/dress sizes (ALMOST 3 sizes actually) and 2-3 sizes on shirts depending on the brand. I bought a large dress at Old Navy and it fit! I was in awe of myself, I usually get a xxl there. Today I am wearing size 14 shorts and could almost get comfortably into the 12. I started this journey (squeezing) in an 18 and really needing a 20. Shirts were xxl, 18/20. I HAVE come a long way and it's not over yet. It's been an amazing road, watching the changes in myself, especially in my health. I am still feeling pretty good and I have had a fibro/arthritis flare up and it wasn't as bad as it was before the weight loss. YAY! Goodbye 62 lbs...Hello 100's... I am currently at 198.8 and was 258 at my highest (at surgery approval). I am so happy. I will never stop saying this is the best decision I ever made.
Have a good 4th of July weekend, friends! We will be having some family over for a bbq and swimming at our house and will also be celebrating my niece, Allison's, 3rd birthday! I am looking forward to hanging out with the family. Hey, I might even allow a pic in my swimsuit...okay, that might be pushing it a bit! Stay safe everyone.

Jello Jiggler Thighs and The "Easy Way Out"...

I finally feel comfortable in a swimsuit. I did notice however when I was sitting poolside at home that my thighs have WAY more jiggle than I like ( well come on, I'd rather not have any). It made me kind of miss my HARD fat...the jello fat is yuckier. I went inside the house and made my husband watch me sit with my leg up, knee bent and jiggle my thigh around and pinch it to show him that a ton of it needs to be chopped off. I told him a lower body lift is in my future (I don't know that I will ever really get it). I told him that no matter what anyone says about RNY being the "easy way out," it certainly isn't...in more ways than one...for example

-How many people (without bariatric surgery) throw up if they eat too fast ? Cuz I do
-How many people have to eat 2 tablespoons of food at a time but make it last 30 mins? Cuz I do
-How many people take a mile walk in the heat and can't chug their water? Cuz I can't
-How many people weigh their food before eating? All the time? Cuz I do

I could go on and on and on...

No matter how much weight I lose, I will never have that model thin, hard body, that I wish I had (hey who doesn't). I will be jiggly and flabby and have excess skin that I hate...but I will be healthy. It's important that I remember that...