The_Sun_Fairy

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I don't know about everyone, but I fully admit that a large part of my decision to have WLS was for my kids, especially my daughter!!  You see, I have struggled with my weight my entire life but now I finally feel like I have taken control!!  And, contrary to what some might do, I include my kids in my weight loss journey.  I have NEVER said anything bad about my weight or said that a specific part of my body was "too fat."  I don't believe in speaking like that in front of my children.  But what I have done is talk with my children about how my eating habits have changed, how my body will change and WHY I did this!!  I want them to understand that I did this for my HEALTH, not to look better!!  Sure, looking better is a bonus, but it is not my primary motivation and I want that to be clear to my kids!!  I want to get healthy and start partaking in life, not just being on the sidelines!!  But I also want my kids to know that I don't want them to have to go through the struggles I have gone through with my weight.  We talk often about eating only until you are full, making healthy food choices and making sure to exercise.  It is important for our kids to know these things and learn to make good choices in everything that they do.  I even got my 74-year old mom to try a little Zumba with us last night and any time she said she couldn't do it, I simply said to her, "Do your best and go at your own pace!!  Doing something is better than doing nothing!!"

As for my amazing little girl, she is a carbon copy of me at her age - except she luckily got her Daddy's curly hair - and, when she's running around in gymnastics, laughing and having fun, she doesn't necessarily look like the other kids.  She is a typical pear-shape, with strong legs and a contagious laugh!!  BUT she is beautiful, just like she is - and I wouldn't have it any other way!!

Well, I have always thought that Zumba looked like a fun way to get some exercise, so I bought some used DVDs off Craigslist and gave it a try yesterday afternoon!!  It was fun :) but I have to say, I am SO GLAD I did not attempt for the first time in public!!  I was only using the "learning" disc, where they teach you the steps for the different types of dances. Now let me also say that even at my heaviest, I have ALWAYS had rhythm!!  I can sing, dance and have run a karaoke business in the past, so I am not incapable of learning this!! However, the pace is what got me, as well as  the arthritis in my knees!!  I could do the steps, even at the fastest pace, but I only lasted about 15-20 minutes before I was too pooped to keep going!!  Anyway, at least I tried it and plan to do some more tonight when I get home from work!!  Believe it or not, my knees don't hurt as bad as they usually do!!   My kids even tried to do it with me and my 4 year old daughter kept up pretty well until they got to the fastest music - then she just stopped and watched me do it with a big smile on her face!!  And that smile was worth looking like an idiot!! :)

I don't know about the rest of you, but I LOVE Halloween!!  Even as an adult, I think Halloween is one of the most fun holidays that we have!!  And, every since my kids were born, our entire family dresses up!!  Not just the kids but everyone!!  I've been a Grecian goddess, a pirate (several times), and a flapper (see the pix that I attached).  But I am happy to report that this year will be the last year to use these costumes - YAY!!  They will simply be too large for me going forward so I will happily sell them on Ebay next year!!  I needed them at one time and I am sure that someone will be able to use them next year, but I just want to celebrate the fact that FINALLY, it won't be me!!  This is not meant to look down on someone who might need them, but I am happy with my progress and proud of myself for what I have done!!  Happy Halloween to your all and remember - candy is NOT part of our diet!!  

I went to see my doc this morning for the first time since my surgery.  I don't know about anyone else, but every time I go to my doc, I have to complete a questionnaire about my eating habits (how much are you eating in one meal, are you taking your vitamins, are you exercising, have you vomited in the last 2 weeks. etc).  I assume this is because they want a record of your visit so that if you don't lose as much as you expected, they can look back and see your journey!!  Anyway, I don't believe in "lying" so I was honest and said that no, I am not exercising regularly!!  I know, this is a no-no in our circles, but remember, I have a 4 & 6 year old and work full time, so exercise is kinda on the back burner!!  But this is about to change, as my doc told me I HAD to find time to exercise!!  Well, it's not like this was really a surprise to me, but it made me feel like I was disappointing my mom by not doing what I know I should be!!  Anyway, I got back to work, went online and joined a gym!!  I have now made a promise to myself that I will MAKE the time to go to the gym at least 2 times during the week and then either once on the weekends or I will go for a long walk with my kids!!  Sorry doc, that's the best I can do, but I will make this work if that's what I need to do!!  Wish me luck!! :)

Original surgery date was postponed due to severe anemia.  Had to have an iron infusion, colonoscopy, endoscopy and finally, new labs to be sure I was within "range" on my iron in order to have the surgery.  However, I am now 5 weeks post op as of today (Surgery was on 9/22/14) and I have lost a little over 18lbs since my surgery date (about 35lbs total)!!  I am not losing as fast as I expected, but my doc's office says to just "TRUST THE PROCESS," which I am doing!!  I only weigh myself about 1-2 times/week to keep from getting depressed.  My clothes are getting very loose and I feel better, so that is what matters most to me!!  I get my protein in every day and have worked up to about 50oz of fluids a day.  I know the fluid intake is not optimum, but I get nauseated very easily, so that is what I can do for now.  I am also having to diligently work on getting my protein from "REAL" food, not just relying on protein shakes!!  This has been a little hard for me, but I am working on it everyday!!  I may never be a size 8, but I will be healthy and will be around to see my kids grow up and have lives of their own (they are only 4 & 6 right now!!)  My kids are the most important part of my life, and THEY are the ones that inspired me to take this step!!  I love them both more than words can say and work every single day to help them learn proper eating and exercise habits so that they won't have to go through what I have!!  I do not dwell on their weight, in fact I NEVER mention the word weight, but I do make sure that they have healthy food to eat and that they get enough exercise and sleep every day.  And as they get older, I will continue to work with them on making good food choices, that there is a time and a place for candy, cake, etc. and that the most important thing about them is not what they weigh or what they look like, but how they feel, how well their body does what they want it to do, and being grateful for what they have.  :)

My surgery is scheduled for July, 21, 2014 and I am ready! I have spent way too much of my life sitting on the sidelines (literally & figuratively) and am prepared to make this change! I have put my children, my husband, my mom ahead of myself for so long and now I need to start taking care of myself!  Less than a month to go!!