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It's time to celebrate! It's my 1 month post-op birthday!  I can barely remember how I felt 30 days ago... tired, scared, excited, hungry, hopeful.  I really had mixed emotions about "what does this say to my children and grand-kids" who will face their own desperation some day.  The family photos I flipped through this weekend tell a sad tale of the whole family sliding down the path to obesity and declining health, especially the girls.  I have been talking to them for years about eating healthy foods and exercising more.  We have tried it all together, we have tried it on our own.  What snapped in me was seeing my diabetic mother struggle for her very existence.  I have fantasized about taking them all on a field trip to the hospitals and rest homes in the area.  I reflect that I had to find my own way in my own time and they will have to figure this out for themselves in the end.  But if I had the MONEY, I am not sure I wouldn't offer to pay for each one of them to get a Lap-Band!  Okay, I know they are not ready to commit to the Band lifestyle. They are young and think drive-thru meals are normal.  They can't imagine a celebration that doesn't center around food.  They think that chasing after the little ones is exercise enough.  So I am on my own to do my best with the Band and set the example that real changes have to be made in order for there to be changes!

About me:  I am happy to have lost about 20 lbs since my consult with Dr Owens.  I wish it were more, but really don't want to lose too fast since I know that my body will thank me if I do it slow and steady.  I haven't had any problems with the surgery, everything looks to be healing well.  I am still not scheduled for my first post-op visit.  I find myself allowing a few real foods here and there despite not being sure it is really allowed yet:  small amounts of really mashed up and watered down tuna, baked potato, black beans and cheese (and a slice of pizza! don't tell!).  But I am mostly sticking to the whey shakes, isopure and medifast.  The real hiccup in this journey so far is my foot!  I managed to over-do my walking several weeks ago and now it looks like I probably have Plantar Fasciitis or something on that order.  Despite self-treating with $100 Orthaheel shoes, a night splint and Naproxen, it starts right back up the moment I get out of bed each morning.  New insurance will start on April 1, so you know what this fool will be doing.  I have to find some way to get back on track with some real exercise!  (I say this as I glance at my dust-covered exer-cycle sitting in my family room!  Ugh!)  Don't you hate Reality Checks!

Where to start? 

I was a thin kid growing up, no food issues.  Then I had 5 children.  I was "gestational diabetic" with each of them, so I got big and even though the babies got big, too, it wasn't all baby weight!  It seemed as though every time I started losing the lbs, I got pg again and it just kept adding up to obese mom.  Okay, I'm almost 60 now, how long does it take to lose the baby weight?  The truth is, way back when I was confronted with my very first extra 20 lbs, I started the yo-yo cycle of losing nearly to goal, PLATEAU, give-up, regain and add extra.  I just couldn't jump off that merry-go-round no matter what diet I tried.  And believe me, I have probably tried most of them.

In early 2007, a friend of my daughter started the Medifast diet.  My daughter jumped on the band wagon and I didn't want to be left behind.  In a couple months, they had 'gotten over it' but I was losing FAST!  I hung in there and before I could believe it, I had lost 70 lbs.  That put me at 199 and I looked good!  I starting working with a trainer and was stronger than I've ever been.  I was so excited that I started a blog and told the whole world about it.  Oh, I forgot to mention that 9 days into the Medifast phase, my hubby and I went to Hawaii for a week!  I vowed then and there that I was coming back in a new body and doing all the things I didn't dare this first time.

In January 2008, I decided to go for the tummy tuck.  No, I hadn't hit my goal weight, but I was going back to Hawaii and I wasn't going to take my lap-belly!  I found the most excellent Dr. and we agreed that it would make me feel better and probably inspire me to lose the rest.  So when we made our 2 trip to Hawaii, I was loving life!

Well, long story short, we kept getting these deals, offers and gifts to go back to our favorite place on earth.  We went 3 times in 2008 and 3 times in 2009.  We have visited Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island.  With frequent visits and longer stays, plus visits to his and my family in the mix, I figure I ate about 300 restaurant meals during our travels.  I slowly went from the salmon and broccoli to the Kalua Pig, white rice, macaroni salad Hawaiian Mixed plate, oh, add the poi!

So it took me 2 years but I managed to put back 50 lbs! 

Then, there is my mother, truly ravaged by diabetes; blind, confused, pain in legs and feet, limited mobility and dialysis 3 whole days a week.  She is only 16 years older than me but you would think she is 90 in her condition.  As my own blood sugar started creeping up, I finally went into panic mode and made the decision that if I couldn't beat this Weight Monster on my own, I was going to have to do something drastic.  So here I am, 12 days out, and fighting with all my heart and might.  I can not think of any food that is worth the damage I see in my mother!  I have lots of tools and knowledge that she never had.  I have to make this work  and I appreciate all the support I see here on OH.

And that's my story! 

see my Hawaii blog at myhonoluluharrys on blogspot.com