Summer and feeling 'normal'

Jul 09, 2011

I have to admit, I don't blog much. I have a hard time deciding if it's because I really don't have much to say or because I'm just too lazy. Though, I did just write my first 'food blog' on my personal webpage (www.knottypoodle.com) Anywho, another month has passed in my weight loss journey. I am now four months out from my surgery. It's crazy for me to think that it's only been four months. It seems like so much more time has passed. As of today I'm down 69 pounds with 56 more to go to reach my goal. I'm so thrilled that I've already lost over 50% of my excess body weight since my surgeon was very sure to let me know that I'd be lucky to hit that 50% mark.

I have to admit, I'm still not the perfect post-op bariatric patient. I don't always get all my protein in, I often forget to take the last dose of my calcium, and I rarely get 64 ounces of water a day. But I'm consciously working on it. Especially since my hair is falling out like a Seattle downpour. The one thing I HAVE been getting enough of is exercise. I currently do belly dancing once a week, weight lifting three times a week, yoga once a week, and Kenpo Karate three to four times a week. Apparently I've been over doing it. I often burn over 900 calories in one karate class...so eating 600 calories a day just wasn't cutting it. I have such a high calorie deficit that I've had to cut down on how much I'm doing. Now that I've cut back, my weight loss is picking up pace again. Hopefully I'll be able to eat more sometime soon and I'll be able to pick it up again.

The biggest change for me these days is how much more like a 'normal' person I feel. Now that I'm below 200 pounds I feel like I'm fit to be seen in polite society again. I know I was just as good of a person when I was 265 pounds but I was always highly AWARE of my weight and size. Especially living here in Seattle with a husband who works at Microsoft. This area has such a wonderful fitness scene and drive toward health that you're really the odd duck out if you're obese. And, of course, there's all the new clothes I get to buy. I'm down from a size 24-26 to a 14. Do you have ANY idea how much cheaper it is not to have to shop at Lane Bryant? Yesterday, I went to Old Navy's summer sale and was able to get a bunch of cute shirts and skirts for only $5 each. That's a huge decrease from the $50 per item that Lane Bryant would charge.

A lot of my old mindsets haven't changed, though. When I'm out walking I still look at hills and think, "Oh god...this is gonna suck..I'm not going to be able to breath." But then when I get to the top I think "Wow...that was quick and not as bad as I thought it was going to be." I'm really finding it hard to change the way I think to match my current physical size and strength. I think it's because I've lost the weight so quickly. I still have my inherent laziness that was brought on because of how HARD everything was when I was big. I still plan so that I'll have to go up and down the stairs in my house as few times as possible. But I'm working on it.

I think I'll always be 'working on it' but every day I wake up and I think about how happy I am and how wonderful my life is. That's all I can really ask for.

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