One Year already??

Oct 22, 2012

Wow!!

Its been year already!!

There was a point in my life where I thought maybe I wouldn't even make it to 40 years old....and now here I am, running 11kms before breakfast!!

So much has changed for me this past year! With all the ups and downs, there is nothing about my surgery I regret, except not having done it sooner!!

I would like to take a moment and just count all my blessings that surgery has given me in my new life and toast all my NSVs....

Things I can do now that I couldn't 1 year ago:

RUN!!!
I ran 11kms this morning in 1hr and 15 minutes.

Tie and/or buckle my shoes
I used to think my arms were too short to do this properly. Turns out my belly was just in the way.

Shop
I never liked shopping. I hated trying stuff on. It was so depressing!! I am still not very good at this one but I am definitely getting better. I went into Sportchek the other day and bought myself running pants....size medium....without even trying them on! Yes ok, I panicked all the way home thinking they were going to be too small....but they weren't and in that one brave moment in the store, I defied the voice in my head and just went for it!

Eat alone in public
I would have NEVER dreamed of eating alone in a public place before for fear that everyone was watching the 'fat chick' to see what she was eating. Now, it doesn't much bother me because in all honesty, I don't even think anyone notices!

Play
I play outside with the kids. My kids are older, so its not the same as when they were little and going to the park with them. This is playing volleyball in the yard or basketball at the park. I played hockey for the first time! I even played volleyball at work!

Laundry
I know this seems like an odd thing, but for anyone who has their laundry machines in the basement of their house or apartment, you know exactly what I am talking about here. Running up and down the stairs several times a day with a basket of clothes on your hip used to put  my out of commission for days! Now, I can even do laundry on the days when I do my long runs! I have teenage boys and a diva daughter too so we're not talking about 1 or 2 loads here. I am talking like 10 or more!!

Talk to strangers
Not something I would advocate for anyone under 12, however talking to random people in the grocery line or at Girl Guides chatting with the other moms...I used to be so afraid and wanted to get in and out as fast as possible in the hopes that nobody would notice me.


In all of that, I think the best part of having had surgery is that I feel FANTASTIC!!! Of course I have bad days; everyone does. But in general, I feel awesome on the inside and I believe it shows on the outside. Many people have commented that I have pink cheeks now!! LOL! and I don't even wear makeup!!

If anyone out there is thinking about it....all I can say is that it really is hard work. But if you are prepared to put the effort into it, you get MORE than your share out of it. As I said before, the only regret I have is that I didn't do it sooner.

9 comments

Survived Thanksgiving!

Oct 11, 2012

So we had our Canadian Thanksgiving this past weekend.

I stressed over my menu for weeks. Not only because at the moment, we are a bit financially strapped seeing as how my Honey lost his job on Aug 3 - his company went bankrupt and sent them all an email at 9pm Friday night, basically saying "don't bother coming in tomorrow; you're fired" . Gee thanks. He started his new job yesterday though.....*deep sigh of relief*

But also because my Dad was bring his new "friend". He doesn't call her his girlfriend but I guess that's what she really is. He eluded to the fact that she had stayed the night on at least one occasion, but I tried not to think about it and pretended to ignore the slip. What he does on his own time is really none of my concern. He is an adult. I do not need (or want!) to know.

And then also because of what I can, will, won't and cannot eat. I wanted to add a few extra vegetable dishes and try to make as many healthy options as possible. Not only for me, but for everyone, including the new woman - her name is Josee- who is actually a fitness "nut" (as my dad says)....teaches cardio-kickboxing, bootcamp classes and martial arts! Woot!! Sweet!! I have something to discuss with her!!

I was really looking forward to meeting her, even though I was a bit nervous. I wanted to impress her but really didn't want to appear all 'fancy-pants' type either. I didn't go to Martha Stewart lengths or anything, but I did buy a new runner and centerpiece for the table.  I even went as far as to buy a large pumpkin with the intent on roasting it a bit to use as a serving container for the pumpkin soup starter I planned on making!!

Ya....that got axed when I realized the time constraint and labour intensive effort involved :P Mostly the labour intensive effort...

My son ended up not being able to make it home. His jeep conked out on the 401 somewhere between Mississauga and Ottawa, so he ended up staying at his friend's place in Barrie. At least he wasn't alone and he still got some turkey and pumpkin pie :)

So we had turkey, roasted brussel sprouts, glazed carrots, sweet potato casserole with pecans, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, home made SF cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie (made from real pumpkins that I baked) and an apple pie that was about 4 inches thick! I also made a chocolate cake with pumpkin puree in it. Apparently it didn't taste much like pumpkin but it sure was moist!!

I was so efficient in my timing that I was able to have a nap before they got there. And by the time they did arrive, the cooking and prep dishes had already been done and put away!  I ROCK!

I had everything I wanted on my small plate and was completely full after about 2.5 oz of turkey!! It was great! I got to sit and chat with Josee and my dad...they had dessert and I pretended like I was going to eat a sliver of pumpkin pie but in reality. I just looked at it thinking, "Every other year I would have stuffed half of that pie away myself, no matter how full I was!" This year, I just let it sit there.

Of course, it didn't just sit there quietly, mind you. It was crying and calling like a baby who had lost his pacifier. It was hard to concentrate on what people were saying at times with all the pumpkiny whining....surprisingly, whipped cream has a voice too...all smooth and creamy and perfectly seductive! There was a point where I thought I might grab my sword (read 'very sharp knife') and shout "YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME!!!!"  as if that darn pumpkin pie was actually the Goblin King. Ahhh....David Bowie....*drool*

But I digress....

Needless to say, it was a good day. Even though my son didn't make it, I am proud to say that I survived, pride (and health) intact. 
and even....lost 2 lbs. 

Yay me!
 


8 comments

About Me
Ottawa,
Location
26.6
BMI
RNY
Surgery
10/20/2011
Surgery Date
Dec 02, 2010
Member Since

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