Hello again,

It'll be three years coming up March 30th 2012.  As I sit here today I wonder what my life would be like if I didn't have this surgery and I shutter!

I am moving again.  Turns out with the new job and the school, I was never there and therefore it never felt like "HOME".  I crave crave crave a place to call home.  June 2009 was the last time I laid my head on a bed and pillow in my own home.  It seems like a life time ago.  I am going to rent again for now.  When I took this new job I took a substantial pay cut, lost a company truck and a company phone.  So financially was this the best decision for me to do short-term NO.  LONG TERM - YES!  It was also the best decision for my emotional/physical and spiritual health I could have EVER made in my life!!!  And that health folks is PRICELESS.  So I will need to wait a little while to purchase my very own pad again but I am moving now with the full intention of making it my "home".  I can't wait to unpack some boxes!

Ridgeview has proved to be a catapulting experience for me in becoming the best me I can me.  It has also introduced me to a wide variety of people with whom I can converse as well as educate.  This truly has been a dream come true for me.

School is still as trans-formative as ever.  I know I will be a lifetime student!  I have so many dreams, goals and visions for my life and my career as a Certified Therapeutic Life Coach.  I have actual dreams about it all the time and I just get giddy with the possibilities.

Dating life is still ongoing.  It is so interesting/fascinating for me to be in this place of self-confidence and assurance.  I now KNOW what I am and what I am not willing to bend on when it comes to hard core values and beliefs.  I now KNOW what I want.  Not just what I don't want but what I do.  I also know that everyone that comes into my life has a reason for being there so even when it is tough to let go I am able to see the beauty in the situation and thank my Good Lord for bringing that person into my life.

My physical being.   Very interesting.  On August 12th I weighed in at my lowest post op weight ever 154lbs.  8 weeks prior I started a very intense workout and food program.  This was NOT the Gastric Bypass diet friends.  Anyone working out that hard weight loss surgery or not needs to supplement calories and extra protein to support muscle growth us sustainability AND weight loss.  The thing I adored about this program is it was 2 days a week of INTENSE and I mean INTENSE weight lifting for only 35 minutes each time.  Then 1 day a week I did interval cardio which means I would be on the elliptical and do an intense 5 mins and sustain my heart rate at fat burn and then back off and drop my heart rate to normal then do it all over again for 45 minutes.  The other 2 days a week was very low intensity, "easy" cardio for 30-40 minutes.  I was still sweating but lightly.  I started the program at 165lbs and my goal was to get to 156 which was 9lbs and 1 pound below my lowest weight since surgery just to say I did it.  The most AMAZING thing was I love 7 - yup that's right 7 INCHES off of my body even while gaining some inches in my biceps and butt (Just like I wanted!!!).  It was intense but I loved every minute.  The food program was MUCH harder to follow.  I was eating 5-6 small meals a day.  The problem with this is my little tummy really didn't have time to empty.  I was FULL all of the time and by the time I was supposed to be eating meal 5 or 6 I was gagging it down.  I did speak very frankly with my dietitian about what I was doing, why I was doing it and gave her my meal plans to look at and I had her approval while I was doing this routine with the FULL knowledge that as soon as I stopped this work out routine I'd go immediately back to my "Post Gastric Bypass" lifestyle.

In Early November 2011 I had a gallbladder attack and had emergency surgery.  I didn't have gallstones it was just infected and no one knows why.  It was a complete fluke.  I was ordered not to lift weights for 3 weeks.  Well heck they didn't say I was supposed to remain sedentary but I took it as that and stopped my routine.  In Mid December I developed a horrible sinus infection that laid me on my back for 4 days.  I went to work Monday morning with my head feeling a little cloudy.  I had a meeting with my boss at 1pm and I took the stairs (like a good girl!) to the 3rd floor and by the time I got to top I couldn't breath and almost passed out.  I was sent home immediately and went right to bed.  I did not leave my bed unless to use the bathroom or get more water/tea or frozen fruit to suck on until Friday at 9am.  I went to work for a few hours and then back home and back to bed. 

On Dec. 22nd 2012 I had the last stage of my breast reconstruction done and then time I was ordered not to even do any light exercise!  I couldn't even wear a bra for 5 days!  (That was interesting!)

So needless to say here we are the end of January and I just got back into light working out two weeks ago.  I have put the 9lbs back on plus 10 more.  Yup that's right 19lbs since my lowest of 154.  Now here's the deal with this.  173lbs to me is NOT THE END OF THE WORLD.  However, when I was big 20lbs to me never made a huge difference in the way I felt physically.  I mean really is there that big of a difference between me at 270 than me at 290???  No.  Being this weight though 5lbs makes a HUGE difference in the way I physically feel and the way my clothes fit.  Right now my underwear are tight and I hate that.

I physically feel my very best between 160-165 and coming up on my three year weigh in I will be back down there.  I am back on track in my head, with my eating lifestyle and my working out lifestyle. 

Working where I work and wanting to become a Certified Life Coach for those who struggle with obesity I have to do what I say and live what I say.  No one will give me the time of day if I am not practicing what I am trying to teach.  I am thankful for this job and this goal of mine because it will keep me on my toes in my own life!

I used to say "Failure is not in falling off the wagon but failing to get back on" - When I used to say that I used to add that weight loss surgery brought that wagon down to a much more manageable level and it is very true.  With this beautiful tool, these few extra pounds that I've put on will be very easy for me to take off with me getting back to the basics.  I know more portions need tweaking.  I am still good to go on protein and fluid intake and I follow the no drinking with meals or 30mins after meals religiously!!!  So this will not be hard.  Because I do not believe in failure any more, only feedback I am listening to what my body is telling me.  "MY UNDERWEAR ARE TIGHT!!!"

Back on the train folks.  Life is still amazing, always will be and I am so proud of myself and the decisions I have made and have yet to make.

Make it a great day!
Sal