Where has seven months gone? I really can't believe that it has been that long since I had surgery. It feels just like yesterday that I was totally miserable, nearly 340 pounds, avoiding doing most things because I just didn't want to bother with people, etc. Today, I'm down a total of 117 pounds. I knew when I began this journey that I would lose a bunch of weight at a fast rate but I really didn't expect this much so soon. I am so positive about the future now. In so many ways I feel as though I have been given freedom to do all of things I have always wanted to do but never allowed myself to try out of fear and embarassment. My time is now.

I'd like to set a goal of 212 for December 28.

Today marks four months out from surgery. Things are good and starting to get back to normal. It's a new normal but a good normal, meaning I finally have control over what I eat and how much I eat. I'm loving the fact that my WLS is starting to just be a nearly effortless part of my life rather than a consuming, all-encompassing part of it. I take my vitamins, drink my water (try to anyway), and get my protein and exercise in pretty vigilantly. My labs look good so far and I'm making the necessary small adjustments. I know that this will always be a part of my life: follow-ups, labs, adjustments, measuring, etc. but it's become a part that I can live with. I wasn't really living much at all before when I was consumed by my poor eating habits. I'm so excited about London - I'm moving there for grad school in a few weeks. When I wake up now I can feel the possibility in each day and I know that I can make so many more choices now. The best part is I know that this is only the beginning. Now for the numbers...this month was a little slow I suppose. Last month I set a goal of 257 and my weight this morning...262.5. I can live with it. Total lost 74.5, since surgery 64.5. My goal for this month is to lose an additional 15 pounds and updae you on September 28 with a weight of 247. That would bring me to 90 pounds lost. Crossing my fingers! I will be posting a progress photo very soon.

I just missed it! This morning I weighed in at 273. One pound off of the goal I set for myself last month, but I have to say that I am still quite pleased. Since having my RNY gastric bypass three months ago today I have lost a total of 55 pounds and since my highest weight just two weeks before surgery, I’ve lost a total of 64 pounds. This journey has been…interesting. But honestly, so far, it has been bit easier than I expected. I think that the surgery has provided me with a very powerful gift by removing food from the center of my life. To me, food has always been something that I used to enhance every emotion: happiness, sadness, celebration, grief, stress, boredom, etc. Now, food just isn’t all that important. I need it to live but I don’t live for it because there are so many other things to live for. I have recently started to take working out very seriously and I love how it makes me feel. I’ve made exercise a priority and part of my daily routine and aside from the fact that I know I am getting stronger, I also know that I am creating new healthy habits that will replace the old unhealthy ones. One thing that hasn’t changed and I know this because before surgery I tried every diet is that there is one thing that is the key to success–preparedness. There’s a saying that goes, “Fail to prepare and prepare to fail.” This is true in virtually every aspect of life; however, there’s no place it rings more truly than in one’s diet and subsequently, one’s health. After WLS you absolutely, positively, must BE PREPARED. By that I mean always have snack items that are WLS friendly with you, always have your vitamins and supplements in travel safe containers to bring along with you so that you don’t have an excuse to skip any, and always tote a bottle of water with you everywhere you go. If you do these things and use good sense, you can’t go wrong. Today I will set a goal for myself to reach when I update you again on August 28. I’d like to reach 257 pounds. Know I can do it! Stay tuned next month I will post some progress photos and info about my move to London at the end of September.