Today is...

Today is my 32nd birthday :) This has been an awesome and incredible year.

This time last year, my awesome family and friends got together to throw me an epic, Hawaiian luau themed surprise party. It really was a fabulous surprise and such an incredible birthday. So I felt that the year started off well. Unbeknownst to me, I was an undiagnosed/untreated hypertensive diabetic that had just hit over 300 pounds (301 was my highest recorded weight).

I would find all this out about 2 weeks after my 31st birthday. It was one of the lowest points of my life. I was devastated.

But I stopped there. I cried for a weekend and then said "Enough."

A year later, I am no longer hypertensive or a diabetic. The only pills I take are vitamins and minerals. I am down 88 pounds as of today and I look flipping incredible (if I say so myself). I've got another 60 lbs until I reach my goal but for the first time in my life-long dieting career, I no longer doubt myself. I know I will reach that goal. I know that I will keep myself healthy.

Part of my journey included having weight loss surgery. I had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy on April 21, 2014. (Yesterday was 12 weeks post op and I am down 58 pounds since surgery.) It is a decision that I believe is saving my life. It was one of the hardest decisions to make. Every day is a struggle and hard work. The hard work tripled after surgery. It's not been easy and I do not regret a single moment of it. I am more determined now than I ever was before to make me a priority in my life - my health, my happiness, my future. It's been a lesson a long time in coming but it's one I'm grabbing onto with both hands.

Next stop - 100 pounds lost and weighing below 200 lbs. I think I can do this over the next 4 weeks but I am giving myself until Labor Day. I'm trying to manage expectations throughout this process to make sure I don't get discouraged and I think I have been doing well with that.

I'm fortunate to have friends and family that have been super supportive and being a part of this community and other fitness/weight loss communities has been inspiring and motivational.

Keep kicking ass!

Thanks for reading through my emotional spewing haha

All the best,
Hana

Happy birthday, Hana!  This will be your best year yet 

Thanks Tracy! I think you might be right 

Congratulations!

It is amazing how things can change in one year :)

Thanks Stacy! Yeah, it's incredible how a perspective on life can be turned on it's head!

Happy Birthday!  32 is going to be a fabulous year!

Yes it will be!! Thank you!

You said it best, Keep Kicking Ass!! I wish I could give you a big high five!

I'll take the virtual high five! HA!! Thanks!

I literally said "wow" out loud when I saw you were down 58 pounds in 12 weeks. You are doing amazingly, and I congratulate you for changing your life so drastically -- and so much for the better. Keep kicking ass indeed!