My fingers, toes & eyes are crossed & I'm praying for you too!!!  :))

13 Weeks Out!!   So ... I thought I would do an update post, too ... since Angie's posts always do so much for my level of inspiration ... I guess I am a joiner.   I did not keep track of how much I lost in each month. I can say that as of Sunday morning, I was down 71 lbs ... even if my stupid widget hasn't updated properly as yet.   This has been quite a ride, I must say. I went from borderline psychotic impatience leading up to my surgery date, to abject fear the day before and day of surgery, to misery, doubt and regret after the fact (for about a week), to tentative hope after my first weigh in, to excitement at the results and eventually back to psychotic impatience at the speed of which the scale co-operates. My brain scares me sometimes.   I have behaved somewhat like a spoiled child with some aspects of this journey. I have such a difficult time with writing down my daily food intake. I hate it on a level that borders obsession. I can tell you that it is very unusual for me to eat or drink something that is "off plan" or "bad" per se. I did have a 'cheat' weekend - or, I guess really it was just a day this weekend. I had wine ... and multigrain nachos and salsa on Saturday night. (But the wine went a long way to helping me burn off any extra calories and/or fat before the end of the night with hubs )   I have also discovered that exercising is not fun. Even when you have already lost a lot of weight ... even when you go so far as to have 80 (or more) percent of your stomach cut out ... you do not magically wake up the next day with the overwhelming desire to jump on a treadmill, or go to a gym, or even take the dog for a walk. It.Is.Work ... Every.Time! I hate it ... and I struggle with it, every day. I made a deal with myself last week that I would spend 1/2 hour on my treadmill every day for 30 days. I did it Monday and Tuesday and by Wednesday, I was so sore, I just couldn't face it (I had spent four hours swimming in a pool with my kids on the previous Saturday, so every muscle in my body was sore from that) ... so I missed Wed, Thurs and Friday ... then Saturday, I worked in the house like an animal ... and Saturday night ... well ... see above ... and by yesterday, I was so sore again that I skipped last night, too (though we had planned another swimming trip and ran out of time).   The next person that insinuates (even if it is imagined on my part) that this was "the easy way out of my problem" is getting a smack in the mouth ... or possibly lower, depending. I won't minimize the tool that this surgery provides. It is amazing ... but you are kidding yourself if you think for a second that you will not have to work hard to be successful.   I can say now, when being completely honest with myself, that I may have been under the impression that this would come more easily than it does. Not that I am not losing weight ... I continue to do so, but every morning I have to reprogram my inner self... and every afternoon and night ... every time I plan my next meal ... every evening after dinner ... the things that have contributed to my weight gain are all running in the background of the weight loss ... just like viruses on your computer ... they are there ... quietly doing the same damage they started 18 years ago. Every time I step on the scale and it defines my mood, energy and overall commitment to these changes. Every time I see myself in the mirror, and the changes are STILL not fast enough, or good enough ... or when people don't notice I've dropped so much weight ... or, worse, still ... they DO and then ask me what I am doing, and I freeze.   But I AM committed to this. I have a remarkable tool to help me succeed. I am getting closer every day ... and as I make my way through this life altering experience, I am feeling better ... looking better and with a whole lot more work, I will actually BE better.   For those of you just beginning this journey, I wish you strength, love and joy .... because they are what will make you successful, luck has nothing to do with it.

I am hoping to get a call this week. They were away until tomorrow. So they will have the letter that my Doctor sent to them saying that (hopefully) my blood lose is not happening any more. My levels are all good, well not perfect but hopefully good enough to get me through again. I am praying for March sometime or even sooner. Whenever they want me I will happy to go.

I really don't think anyone is trying to be nasty, but it just rubs me the wrong way sometimes...  When they ask how much I've lost I usually say 'a lot' or 'a couple of dogs & a cat' & laugh and hope they move on - if not I just say that I haven't really kept track  ;) 

I didn't tell people about it - well, just my family... when they ask I tell them mostly the truth - which is that I haul my butt to the gym, I walk, run, swim & do yoga and I cut out most of the carbs and white stuff (pasta, bread, sugar...) which is all true - I just leave out the surgery part.  BUT the other day there was a lady who I like very much who also has a weight problem so I told her about the surgery when she asked how I did it & hopefully she will look into it and come to her own decision.

Hubby has lost over 50lbs since surgery (plus 70 pre-op) - he has another 20 or so to go  :)) 

Have you heard anything about your date?

wow Angie that is so great. You really an inspiration to us. You are doing so great. Only a few more to go. I have to think up some catchy words to say to those that are mean enough to say some nasty things to me (I know some people will be doing it. Just jealous I guess) when I finally have my operation. I am still not going to tell anyone about it. What do you say Angie when people ask you how you did it? Keep going girl and be happy and to heck with everyone else.

How is hubby doing on his weight lose? He looks like he has lost lots too.