I was recently featured on our local news in the healthy news section:

http://centralny.ynn.com/content/health/healthy_living/574330/healthy-living---gastric-bypass-surgery/

:)
The great thing is that people have contacted me and I am meeting with several people who are interested in the surgery and want to talk to someone who has been through it.  

I have not been on here in months and several people had sent me friend requests and tried to post to my blog but because I had not been checking my account all the requests ran out and I could not respond to them.  I really appreciate all the people who had such positive things to say and I would love to add you to my friends list.  I am going to be tracking some of you down to try and friend you.
I am still doing great.
I have lost 147 pounds and am at my goal weight...I feel great and am so happy.

 

I highly recommend this book to anyone.  I was turned off by the title at first but then someone who read it explained to me that this is not about a particular religion or path and the God in the title was not what you would think.
It is a wonderful book that has helped me so much.
Here is a quote from it:

"To discover what you really believe, pay attention to the way you act-and to what you do when things don't go the way you think they should. Pay attention to what you value. Pay attention to how and on what you spend your time. Your money. And pay attention to the way you eat.
You will quickly discover if you believe the world is a hostile place and that you need to be in control of the immediate universe for things to go smoothly. You will discover if you believe there is not enough to go around and that taking more than you need is necessary for survival. You will find out if you believe that being quiet is unbearable, and that being alone means being lonely. If feeling your feelings means being destroyed. If being vulnerable is for sissies or if opening to love is a big mistake. And you will discover how you use food to express each one of those core beliefs. "

From Women Food and God by Geneen Roth

So yesterday was my one year surgiversary. 
I cannot even believe it has been a whole year.
I started out at 287 and am today 145 which was the goal I decided on when I blew past my first goal which was 160 and then changed to 150.  I am 5'4" and they say between 125-145 but I feel pretty good right where I am.  Today I went into a consignment store and started trying on the 10's because that is what I have been fitting into...too big....tried on 6 pairs of jeans size 8...too big....I was like WHAT?????  I tried on several pairs of size 6 and they fit!!!  A size 6 ....I never ever thought that would be possible.
So last night I did go out for a bit even though I have been sick. 
Here is a pic of me ...in a short skirt and boots!  Woot!  I love my life, I love being 50 and I love the inward change that has happened as well.  It has been and continues to be a wonderful journey for me.





A pic of me before my surgery to compare:

Well it does not seem possible but I am 5 pounds from my goal weight.  I am 11 months out from my surgery and I feel fantastic.  I feel so blessed by the Goddess.  I did not lose any hair, have not had any complications and I am just feeling Golden.  Why do I think it has worked so well?  For one I think it was going to a center of excellence where they really know what they are doing.  I have followed every single thing they laid out for me.  I do not break the rules they gave me.  I do not eat what I am not supposed to or do I want to.  I really came to love myself and wanted to do this for me.
I love my life.
I have a new job, my body has changed and I have changed inwardly.

I am so blessed.
The first pic is me at my starting weight of 287.  The second pic was taken a couple of weeks ago.  :)  People do not recognize me that have not seen me in a long time.


Did I say I love my life?  Yes, I guess I did...but I LOVE MY LIFE!  Why?  Because I have realized that I am the only one who can make the changes that brought about my success.  This surgery is a wonderful tool but you have to work at it.