Happy Surgiversary   to me and to all my July pals!

Wow! What a ride!  We have been reminded all year that this is a journey, a marathon - not a sprint.  Thanks to everyone for hanging in there together.  Support is so important.

This section of my journey began in October of 2008 when I began my 6 month medically supervised weight loss.  I learned a lot of things that I know helped make me successful:  eating slow, small bites, time to practice my chew chew CHEW!  I lost 30 pounds.  7/9/09 I had my surgery and have lot 80 pounds!  I'm gone from a size 26 to a 12!  Lot a full shoe size as well.  I'm off all my medications: gerd, high blood pressure, diabetics, high doses of ibuprofen for knees and back,  cholesterol.  

For our family vacation this year, we went to a dude ranch in Colorado.  I went horseback riding EVERYDAY.  Figured it up that I rode more than 45 miles that week.  I was able to get on and off the horse by myself.  Rode class 3 river rapids and loved every minute of it.  Altitude and activity didn't bother me!  It was the best vacation I can remember because I didn't have the limitations that my weight or health had for years - decades!

Looking back at why I had surgery and my goals...yeah, I've met them!  I'm not finished yet, but I wanted to be healthy and be able to live instead of sitting on the sidelines and I'd say I'm very happy with my decision!

Congrats to all of you!  You are all LOSERS!

Julie