One year update

I will post more sentiments later but know some of you are dying to see pictures and hear the number.

Without further adieu, at one year out, I am down 117 lbs! 

Pictures as promised!

I guess it's time to get a new shirt for pictures. :)  Oh - and my brother pointed out - there's a doorknob behind me!

So tired of the loose skin but still have more weight to lose before I personally would be ready to consider removal. It's a nuisance, but I have to do what I have to do.

Day of surgery --> 10 month ish update.

Update long over due

I apparently can't keep pictures of my weight loss journey to save my life, as I have taken pictures repeatedly and can't find them.

So without pictures, I guess I am left with words.  It's been an interesting few months since I last posted.  I am sorry for neglecting every one!  I don't know how, but I blinked, May was gone, I sneezed and there went June.  How did we get to mid-July already??

A quick rewind: May brought my birthday.  I had a blast celebrating with friends and family several times.  We also drove to Mt. Carmel, IL to visit family...and celebrate my brother's new fiance!  Yay!  It was especially fun because my family had not seen me since surgery, and it was great to see their faces. 

June started with a great girls' weekend with my small group in Chattanooga.  It was amazing!!  We did Ruby Falls and See Rock City.  I think I was tiring them out with all the walking we did.  I even got through Fat Man Squeeze and the Eye of the Needle...very tight spaces that had me slightly claustrophobic.  We walked all around downtown Chattanooga and just enjoyed hanging out.  I had one weekend at home and then it was time for the family reunion in Ohio.  We spent a week "camping" with some of my favorite cousins, aunts, and uncles.  I had some really bad allergies at the start, but after a lot of allergy pills and sleep, I started feeling better.  I even went to the gym my cousin's wife works at for 3 classes in 2 days.  My muscles were so sore, but it felt so good!  We came back through Mt. Carmel and then home on Father's Day.  The next Friday, it was time to move!!!

I moved on the hottest day on record in Atlanta history.  Moving had its moments, but I have spent the last few weeks settling in.  Charlie loves it here, once he's figured out this is his new home.  We go on walks at least twice a day, or on days like today, three!  My neighbors are cool so far, though I have only met them in passing.  There are a lot of other dogs in my neighborhood, and Charlie is friendly with most of them.

I know you guys are disappointed by the lack of pictures, but I promise to get them retaken Saturday!  In the meantime...the new weight loss total...after an almost 3 month stall....107 lbs lost total!!!  ONE HUNDRED SEVEN.  That is 32% of my original weight.  I have almost lost 1/3 of the original me!

Official photos to come, but to tide you over, here are a few from vacation:

7 Months

Well, it was a bit of a quiet month as far as weight loss progress. 7 month mark was 98 lbs lost. How frustrating to be so close to a big milestone and not be able to push past it!

I decided to stay OFF the scale for 2 weeks and just focus on protein. Results will come up with my next monthly update! :)

As for the workout playlist contest, I have a first and second place winner! First place winner is Melissa S. She sent me 2 separate mixes with some additional songs and remixes that have expanded my music collection. Not sure which is my favorite, as some of the mash-ups were amazing!!! Second place winner is Kristi E. who introduced me to some new Latin songs to keep pushing through my workout with a smile on my face. Thank you to every one who helped me expand my music choices for working out.

Stay tuned for the 100 lb milestone and 100 lb food donation!

6 months came and left!

Hi everyone!

I am sorry I am so late in my 6 month update. Life has been so crazy I just haven't had time to process it all.

As you can see in the pics above, I am still shrinking, though the shrink rate has slowed down a bit. 96 lbs total weight loss since my highest weight!

February was a busy month! I went to 2 hockey games, babysat my favorite munchkins and had our first annual girls' weekend in Nashville, TN! We walked everywhere, and I was able to keep up with my two "normal" friends. It was so amazing to walk around and not worry about when I could sit down to catch my breath. I think I may have worn them out for a change!

5K update - I tried to register for the Color Run but it sold out in record time! They opened an encore race the following weekend, but I am scheduled for tea with some very important guests. I am waiting to hear back on registration for San Francisco in the end of July. All my California friends need to sign up so we can walk/jog/run together!

That being said, I have not selected a winner for the playlist contest yet, so send in your suggestions soon!

Post-op effects...hair loss *knock on wood* has stopped and my normal hair is growing back. Loose skin...becoming more evident and is getting in my way. I am wearing tanks that have tummy control to try to hold up the loose skin so that it doesn't bother me during the day. When I roll over in my sleep, I sometimes get stuck on my stomach, like when you roll over and a sheet is stuck under you, except it's skin. ha, I laugh at myself with this imagery. I apologize if any one gets grossed out by it.

I continue to do water aerobics, and I recently started a new class at the gym - TRX suspension training. I already see more definition, and you will see it in the next update! THANK YOU to my awesome trainer Lynn who kicks my tail and then encourages me to keep going strong. And thank you to the makers of epsom salt that helps relieve the pain afterwards.

Hope everyone is doing well!! Until next time.

5 month update a few days late

I am not sure how February became so busy, but I lost all track of time!

I am loving the changes I'm seeing. Apparently others are noticing, too. A lady that works on my floor ran into me in the break room and commented that I was just melting away. What a boost!

I have also started seeing a chiropractor who has identified some issues with my spine we need to do some serious work on, but he is optimistic and even said I may end up 2 inches taller if it all gets straightened out. Treatment is definitely helping me as my posture adjusts to carrying less weight all around. Sleeping is slightly easier.

My weight loss support group leader always says our goals should not be solely based on the scale, but as of January 31, I hit the 88 lbs weight loss mark. I've lost a lot more since then, as I caught the stomach bug earlier this week. Trying to stay hydrated was hard in the beginning, but it's gotten easier. People ask what you do post op when you're sick. Well, you're sick just like you were pre-op, but you have to worry more about hydration because once you're dehydrated, it gets bad fast. Post op I'm also back on my diet of clear liquids for a few days, full liquids for a few days, then onto mushies. My stomach is so tender, and I really do have to be gentle with it. The nice thing (if there's anything nice about being sick!) is that I still haven't felt hunger, so going back to fluids has not been difficult.

This past month I have also come out of my shell even further. At a hockey game a few weeks ago, I was selected to participate in a contest on the big screen and I hammed it up. I loved every minute of it!

Now for the fun part - where am I going?

My goal was to hit 100 lb lost before my 6 month mark. I'm not as concerned about it although I sure would like to click that box regardless of what day it happens. What I plan on doing when I hit that 100 lb mark is to donate 100 lbs of food to my local food shelter. I will definitely take a picture so you can get an idea of what 100 lbs of food looks like.

(When I hit the 88 lb loss, I carried my dog's 44 lb food bag around and still couldn't wrap my head around that I've lost 2 of those!!!)

First fun thing: I would really like to challenge my readers to donate food to their local food bank as well! Some of you have told me how I have inspired and encouraged you - let's use that energy in a practical way to help others, too. When you give, please share your story with me!

Second fun thing: I want to complete a 5k in the next 2 months. I'd like to come up with a playlist to jog/walk/sprint to. I want you to submit your playlist ideas to me on here or on Facebook or in email. If I use your playlist, I will give you a iTunes gift card! *This giveaway is not sponsored by Facebook, Blogger, Gmail, or any one other than me.* Winner will be announced in my 6 month update.

I always look forward to your comments and feedback, so don't be shy. Until next time!

What a difference 2 years makes!!!!

My mom chose today to take down our Christmas tree and decorations. One of the pictures she found while cleaning was one of me that was taken about 2 years ago when we were in the North Georgia mountains. My dad and I went back for a daddy/daughter date in November and tried to remember where the picture had been taken so that we could do a comparison view. So we didn't get the exact spot where the original was, but not too far off!

The funny thing is, when I see the picture from 2 years ago, I don't think I ever saw myself that big in the mirror, or even in the picture in the previous 2 years. My mind somehow morphed the image to match what I saw in the mirror. Seeing these two pictures in contrast, however, has been insane! I am starting to see the new me in the mirror, and I am enjoying it.

For your viewing pleasure....

What a difference!