Grateful & Relieved

Im a little early for my surgiversary, but whats a few days?  Life has been challenging, and I am still learning how to listen to my body for its needs, not over exert myself, and take time to take time.  I read a quote somewhere, and it said

"If you don't take time, time takes you."

It really made me think, and it relates to every area of my life.  Regardless of all the unknowns and the constant changes that are happening in my personal life, I still must take the time and make the time for me.  It is my nature to put myself on the backburner to tend to others needs, and that has helped others and myself at times, but if I do that consistently, then I will never take the time, make the time, for myself.  And it leads to resentment, fatigue, and feeling unappreciated.  It leads to weeks, months, and years, wondering where all the time went, and why Im not as far along in some of my personal goals as I expected to be. And that would lead to feeling discouraged and depressed. I know others can relate to that cycle. 

This journey is still teaching me how to put myself first, and WHEN to put myself first.  Lets face it, life just aint gonna be about me all of the time.  I wouldn't want it to.  That makes for spoiled & selfish kids, and its extra ugly and abnormal in an adult - also called Narcissism.

But there is a time and a place for me.  There is a time for me to give to me, and a time for me to give to others.  I give to myself by exercising at least 4 days a week for at least 45 minutes.  I give to myself by sticking to my way of eating most of the time.  I have, since the beginning of my journey, learned to be forgiving of myself around my cycle time.  I will allow myself chips, I will allow myself chocolate.  I have learned what really 'does it for me' throughout this process, and have learned, with the help of my VSG THANK GOD! - that its about the quality, not the quantity - if I take the time.  If I just sit back and take a moment.  And sometimes, miraculously, that thing that I thought that I needed, I no longer want.  Sometimes. 

My eating is still not completely perfect on a weekly basis, but can be today.  Was yesterday, and the day before, and that's how I need to take it.  Stats today - 176.4 roughly 3 years from surgery.  I like this range on my 5'10" frame, and have no desire to be smaller. I prefer staying around 180, and have not had my excess skin removed as of yet.  Down from 351.4.  And it feels good.  Im no longer ecstatic and on that high, but there is still consistent good feelings.  I am working on maintenance and trying to figure out what that looks like for me.  But I am still, say it with me:

Grateful and Relieved!!! Thank you VSG, thank you OH, thank God, and thank me for taking that chance on myself

CONGRATS ON YOUR SUCCESS!!!!

Life is a work in progress...sounds like you've made some great progress 

Congratulations on all your success!  At 3 years out I'm hoping that I too can say I've maintained at a weight that I'm comfortable with.  Thanks for posting! 

You have had awesome success!  Congrats to you :)

Thank you beautiful ladies!! Still on the journey.

Congrats on your success and thanks for such a personal and thought provoking update.