Yesterday marked my one year anniversary of my RNY surgery.  I honest to God beleive that it was the best decision I have ever made. I am 100+ pounds down from my initial weight of 260 lbs. The day I went into surgery I weighed 245 lbs. I was HUGE! Today I can proudly show my face in public without wondering if people are staring at me because of my weight, if they are calling me fat behind my back, or just being nasty and talking about me. I have become more outgoing, more social, I take pictures with my kids and friends now. My confidence in myself has gone from none to 100% in just the past year. I surpassed my goal weight that my doctor put me at by 12 lbs. I have set my own goal of 135 lbs and I'm only 3 lbs away. I have become a different person with the help of my surgery and I thank GOD and my family every day for being with and beside me throughout this journey. If I can do it anyone can do it! I wish everyone who has decided to change their lives through weight loss surgery the best of luck and I'm rooting for you 100% of the way. 

It's been a while since my last blog. How was everybody's Christmas and New Years? Christmas was great and New Years was wonderful. I'm so happy to have made it to 2013. I plan to make this year all about me and doing what's best and right for me. No more doing for others. It's Erica time!

With that said I'm so excited and I just can't hide! I have reached my goal weight of 150 lbs and it feels so freaking good! It took me a long time to get to this moment but by the grace of God, my RNY, and help from my family and friends I have accomplished my goal. It feels so good to be able to fit a size 8 pants/jeans and a size s/m top. it feels absolutely great! 

Now that I have reached the goal my doctor set for me I think I'm going to reset my goal. I want to be at a healthy BMI and in order for me to achieve it I must weigh at least 135 lbs. That's 15 more lbs for me to lose. I want to be at 135 lb before August 7 th which is me and my sister birthday. I think I can do it. It's only 8 months away which is far off but I know I can accomplish it. Look how far I've come so far. 

I started 2013 on a new health kick. I'm trying to drink more water and get more protein. I'm also going to try to take my vitamins regularly since I rarely take them now. Yea I know, I know vitamins are important. I'm not going to lie a girl be forgetting about those darn vitamins. I'm also going to introduce new exercises into my workouts. Zumba has becoming boring to me and walking the treadmill has too. Plus I live in Ohio and it's too darn cold to be hitting up a track or walking out side right now. I signed my family and I up to the local YMCA and there are few classes that I'm thinking about trying.

I also resigned up for classes at Cleveland State since I took the summer and fall semesters off. I also changed my major because I don't think I'm cut out to be a teacher. I know me and hard headed kids is just not my thing. I am not trying to go to jail for spanking somebody's kids or putting my foot in parents rump who thinks their kid is too good to be bad. Nope not me. I don't deal well with blatant disrespect. I don't tolerate it from my own kids and I be damn if I'm going to tolerate it from someone else's kid. So, I change my major to Social Work. It's going to take me less time then my Education degree would have taken me. Only 4 more semesters including summers and I'm done. Then it's on to a masters degree in Social Work. 

Life has been wonderful for me. I wish everyone as much success as I have had. Smooches!!!  

My first big holiday after my RNY went great! I was able to heat fairly healthy. Surprisingly I even lost 2 lbs over the holiday. I'm so thankful for all that I have been blessed with. Life has been great and I'm enjoying the ride it's taking me on. I only have 5 more lbs to go until I reach my goal. I'm hoping to be at it by Christmas. I'm also thinking about upping my goal to 135 lbs. My hubby says he likes me where I'm at but in order for me to have a healthy BMI I need to be at least 136 lbs. So, I think I may up my weight loss goal. Idk yet. 

I'm getting closer to my goal and I am so excited! This journey has had it's ups and downs but I can truly say that I've had more ups than downs. My surgery has truly been a blessing. I have gotten back some of my confidence as well as become more social. I absolutely love shopping for clothes more now than I did before. I have bought more shoes these past few months then I have in years. I love shoes! Now that my foot size has gone from a 9 to a 7 1/2 my husband can't keep me out of the shoe stores lol. Speaking of the husband; he has been so supportive, loving, and caring. Without him this journey would have been harder. I am so looking forward to 2013, I know it's going to be a great year especially for me. 

Today I hit my goal for loosing 100 lbs. I am so excited!!!  When I started this journey I weighed in at 260 lbs "Good Lord!", but with the grace of God, my RNY surgery, doctors, nurses, staff, my family and friends I have lost an entire person. I'm not going to lie, It feels GREAT! I only have 10 more lbs to go until I reach my goal weight of 150 lbs. However I don't want to stop there. I want to be at a weight that I am comfortable at and if it is 150 lbs then that's all good with me. I am so happy! I have become more social. I have gone from wearing a size 22-24 to fitting in a size 10 and a medium in shirts. With the help of the surgery I feel like I have finally gotten my life back and it feels wonderful.