MERRY CHRISTMAS: 32mos. Post Op

What a wonderful LIFE! I certainly am thrilled about my weightloss...and maintenance.

Last night I watch one of my most favorite reality shows -- THE BIGGEST LOSER -- I absolutely LOVE that show! I did the math to percentage of weight I have lost in my 161 lbs. I've lost -- 48.2%! I was amazed...wow.

I feel proud...emotional...connected to those people on such a deep level. I don't think their success is MORE SUCCESSFUL...or that my journey is easier...or that I've taken the "easy way out". It's just DIFFERENT.

I like to look at the similarities...we started in the same place...

• Morbidly Obese


• In denial about how we were feeling...


• Depressed


• Hurting - physically & mentally


• STUCK!

And then we ended in the same place...

• Healthy weight


• Educated about food


• Educated about exercise


• Hopefully more sane


• LESS PAIN


• Thrilled with a new lease on LIFE!!!

The only difference is....we took a different pathway! I know, for me, that I could've lost weight that way too! I am a strong, capable woman! Not to mention in my late 20's I lost 120's with Weight watchers and Jazzercise! My problem was during that process....I was SOOOO focused on my weight loss...that I didn't properly HEAL my inner self!

Unfortunately, I gained every pound back + about 35 additional pounds! Now....I have a completely different lease on LIFE.

DONT BE MISTAKEN-- I'm NOT completely OVER my my eating issues...I'll need to blog on those thoughts later -- PROMISE I WILL!!

For now, my encouragement to you is.... just enjoy life....be encouraged....and make a choice -- and BELIEVE!!

Believe in yourself...that no matter your pathway you choose YOU CAN DO THIS!!!
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LIFE IS GREAT!!!

MY LOVE....

Most thankful that My sweet daughter Isabella will have a Mom that can be active with her...live LIFE...and not hold her back - or pass on unhealthy behaviors!

My Weight History....over the last 19mos.

JOURNAL: "Pre-Bariatric Surgery weight loss..."

• "Obese patients who lose up to 10 percent of body weight before bariatric surgery have more rapid postoperative weight loss?? "1

I didn't lose ANY weight before my surgery....and although, I think that it's a good idea - I think this is a rediculous quote...and I am living proof that's it most likely not true. By my one year surgi-versary I had lost over 77% of my excess weight...now, 18mos post op....I've lost 86% of my excess weight!

According to an online article....it's seems to think differently:

• "Those who lost more than 10 percent of their excess weight before surgery were more than twice as likely to have lost 70 percent of excess weight one year afterward, compared with those who lost between none and 5 percent of their excess pounds before surgery."2

BLAH BLAH BLAH!!! I really hate this sesational crap-o-la...

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ANYWAY...it's not about a "formula" - it's about working hard...learning about nutrition...practicing a good exercise behavior...making good choices...having self-control...and being authentic with your inner self and WHY you got to became morbidly obese in the first place!

1 & 2 - United Press International; "Pre-bariatric surgery weight loss helpful"- Published: 16, 2007 at 5:17 PM

JOURNAL: "Losing 158 pounds has been a JOURNEY..."

....and a DREAM!! Losing a 158 pounds has not only been a journey...but an adventure.
It has been a time to be authentic...a time to be honest...not only with myself, but with those around me.
It has been a pilgrimage of walking thru many years in and out of obesity...trusting God not only for the trek - but the pathway - and getting real about "Health & Wellness."

To me, Health & Wellness is three sided triangle...balanced perfectly on each side...there can be no unity in the equation unless you look at them & deal with them each equally.

• - weight & exercise
• - food & nutrition
• - my "thoughts & feelings"...

truly began - "Good" resulted in facing the pain. His word stood firm - For years, I hid inside myself with my weight issues - or my denial of my ‘weight issues’....once the weight started melting off, God showed me the deeper fights I had to face. "SAY WHAT?!"
It is not about "DIET" or "FAT FREE" - & I needed to understand more about food & nutrition... and make sure I understood 'what' and 'why' certain foods were better choices than others. Thru this journey I found that a regimen of whole foods, nutritional supplements, fasting and ‘functional’ exercise could be the choice for my new life.

Although I’d love to say that "did the trick"....it didn’t....it only opened my hearts door wider. And honestly...this is where my journey toward wholeness & freedom began. Only when I began to face the truth and stop avoiding the pain was I able to identify the smallest childhood pain - that to some might seem insignificant - but to a little 6 yr. old mind - was HUGE.

By facing this truth about myself...and letting God take me there, I found that I trusted Him more and more with my feelings.

This is where my healing began....and HIS truth....My Lords Word came alive -

• "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." ~Romans 8:28

And now, awakened from my slumber of disillusions & dishonesty I found...self-control & self-discipline....education & awareness...and the pursuit of truth thru trusting God... ALL producing - "Miracle upon Miracles...& Grace upon Grace!"
No matter what you’re dealing with....if you have the courage to stand with authenticity in the pain you are facing - you will move beyond it to freedom and the fulfilment of your dreams.

Be Brave...walk each day as it comes...minute by minute!

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"Stand in the space that has been created for you, by being braver today than you were yesterday." ~Star Jones Reynolds

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I love this quote....