ObesityHelp

Wow. I got an email from OH and it reminded me that yesterday was my surgerversary. I can't believe it's been five whole years since my life was completely transformed. I'm amazed that time has flown by so fast. It seems like just yesterday I was being wheeled down that long cold hallway to the operating room. But here I stand, five years later; still slim and happier than ever. 

Okay, confession. You all know how absolutely obsessed I am with my weight and the overwhelming fear of being fat again. As I've posted before, I weigh every morning.  It's almost like religion for me.  Well, during the holidays my alter ego Fat Natalie must have taken control over me and I didn't weigh the whole two weeks I was off work.  Don't you know the night before I went back to work I stepped on the scale and almost cried.  I weighed 155lbs.  I have held steady between 145-150 for four years and now I'm five over my personal maximum! Freaking out is an understatement.   

I've half heartedly tried to take off these five pounds. It's not like the old days when you just don't eat carbs for two days and kazaam, 5lbs. gone.  No, it's going to take a little more than that. I spoke to my mom on the phone. She's 4 years post surgery and has 7 lbs to drop to get back to her ideal weight. She and I are going to do a week no carbs, no wine, no coffee. Sounds like torture to me.  But I can do it.  I know my regular diet of healthy foods, wine, and a small portion of chocolate at night before bed will maintain ideal weight. I just gotta shed these extra 3-5 lbs.  Who knew I would have to "diet" again. I shouldn't think of it as diet. I should think of it is being back on full program for a week.  Yeah, that sounds and feels better.

Well check out the new pictures I posted. They are of me and hubby after church one Sunday. I love the one with his head in my chest and I'm looking away laughing. It feels like it could be on a catalog page. Life is good. I'm blessed. My husband adores me, my kids are thriving, my career is soaring .... and I'm 5 years post op; healthy and NORMAL.

To God be the Glory ... always,

Natalie

I was in church a few weekends ago and was asked for the hundreth time what's the secret to your sustained weight loss. I guess it's a natural question since so many people have weight loss surgery, lose all the weight, and slowly but surely regain most or all of it. 

For those that know me, I vowed to never go back if every being blessed with this amazing tool. I'm proud to say that 3 and a half years after surgery, I'm still a slim 145-150 lbs. How I maintain my weight is an entire blog entry.  And I don't want to digress.

So back to the church story. As I drove home that afternoon, I thought to myself how there's so much to say about my journey, my philosophies on weight loss, and my testimony regarding the role my God plays in my success. Most times there's so much I want to share with people when they ask and it's too much for a brief 10 minute conversation.  At that moment, God put it on my heart to share my story in a more formal fashion.  I've always believed that God expects us to bless others with the blessing He bestows upon us.  So my blessing to others will be to share my story in the form of a book. 

So where to start .... Obesity Help.  I have years of journals I kept throughout this journey that captures all of the highs and lows.  So I logged on today to save those blogs to my hard drive for the skeleton of my book.  Well you can imagine the surprise when I saw that I haven't posted since 2009.  Amazing how life takes ahold of you when you are no longer burdened with the excess weight that slows you down.  Life flys by a million miles an hour and you don't want to miss a beat. Not to mention fantasy football, facebook, and hanging with the family is so much more fun. 

Obesity Help served its purpose when I needed an avenue to vent and find friends that were suffering and celebrating the same as I was.  But my dependency on it has faded over the years.

So here I am today.  I will continue to post and give updates on my progress. I do hope to still be an inspiration to those out there browsing the blogs looking for hope. 

Cya soon.
Natalie

Most of my adult life I've been a plus sized girl.  During those years I took great pride in how I looked.  I always tried to dress well and appropriate for my size.  I shopped at the beloved Lane Bryant, The Avenue, and plus size departments in high end department stores.  I always felt that just because I was big didn't mean I had to be frumpy.  Well, I haven't shopped at those amazing stores in a long while.  During my rapid weight loss I frequented the consignment stores.  Always hunting for the nice stuff.  When I hit size 16 I started shopping at "regular" stores.  What a joy! 

As I grew out of sizes, I would store them in our guest room closet and in bags in the basement.  I have always had the idea that I would have a big afternoon tea and invite some of my plus size sisters from the church over to have their pick of my many fabulous suits, church dresses, sun dresses, jeans, and tops.  Well, the church decided to do a fundraiser for the women's ministry selling gently used clothes.  So, hubby and I packed up all of my clothes on Friday night and took them over to the church.  I was shocked to see that they filled the back of my Tahoe (with the third row out) to the ceiling!  I knew I had a lot, but never realized the true volume since I kept a summer and winter closet! 

The next day a few of my sista girls were sorting through the donations (mine and others) hanging them up and getting ready for the sale after service on Sunday.  These ladies began pre-shopping some of the clothes (which were mostly mine). 

I can't begin to describe how much joy I felt in my heart seeing these ladies get excited about all of the goodies I brought.  As they squealed in delight, I felt so much joy knowing they were being blessed by things that made me so happy.  I loved those clothes.  Many of them had special memories.  One dress I wore when I dated my husband.  One dress he bought me and I could never wear, but the the joy of him thinking of me made me incredibly happy. One suit I wore at a going away party when I was in Atlanta.  I still have the picture of me crying while wearing it (tears of sadness to leave my friends).  I could go on and on about the memories that flooded my mind as those women tried on the clothes.  I kept thinking of the memories they'll create wearing them.

It was bittersweet saying goodbye to the clothes I loved so dearly.  However, now I'm creating new memories in all my new outfits.  I love the way I look in these new size 12's.  I'm not afraid to let my curves show.  I'm giddy over my tiny waist.  Goodbye Lane Bryant and The Avenue forever.  The world is full of "regular" stores for me to indulge!

Thank you Lord.

I logged on today to check on BAF and thought to update the weight on my profile, and low and behold.... a post I wrote a few weeks ago is GONE.  I posted about finally getting under 200 lbs. and it's nowhere to be found.

So, just to let ya'll know ... on June 6, 2008 I weighed in at 199lb.  Today I'm at 197.  The weight loss is really slowing down.  I think because I've been drinking with my food and have added some carb back into my diet.  I'm back on track as of today though.  No more messing around. The honeymoon will be over soon, and I don't want to miss a beat.

Clothes are fitting fabulously.  I'm a shop-a-holic for hats though.  I'm in a 18 jean/pant and 16 top.  I get compliments all day long about how great I look. And I respond by telling people how great I feel!

Talk about a liberation.  I am free from that fat, heavy body that slowed me down.  Thank you Lord for this blessing.  I can't say it enough!