Monica01

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So it's been a really long time and things are going really well here. I'm wearing a size 10 and a Med. top and feel great. I've been taking exercise classes including pilates, kickboxing and step 3x a week and I can make it through the whole class! I've been crazy busy with the boys with all their activities. I find that since I've lost the weight I not a homebody anymore. TJ says I'm definitely more outgoing and confident.
I'm still having problems seeing the difference in me. I did watch a video of our Boston trip and said "who's that?" and it was me. So I am starting to see little differences. Looking at old pictures really helps.
Although my weight has been at a stand still for a while there have been changes with the exercise. I've toned up a little too. I'm still struggling to hit that 100lb loss mark. I'm only 4lbs away and determined.
I'm so happy the sun is finally shining and I can get outside and be more active.
I'll say it again, it was the best decision I've ever made for myself.

So, I've been so busy with so many things. I'm down to 174 and feeling great. I want to lose about another 20lbs. So that is my resolution. I've kind of been slacking in the excercise department. Now that the holidays are over I'll be back on track. I'm feeling great and wearing a size 12 and a medium top. TJ got me an outfit for Christmas and it was a medium and I told him, "no way, that's never going to fit!" anyway, I'm wearing it right now and it is perfect. It's so weird to fit into normal clothes.
On another note, I finally posted some new pictures. I can't believe it's been 9 months. I never thought I'd be this far along and feeling so good about everything. 
Happy New Year to everyone. Thanks so much for all the support, I couldn't have done it without all of you. :)
xoxoxox,
Monica 

So, things have been good with me. I'm now down to 178 and hoping to hit 100lbs. lost in a month or so. Weightloss has really slowed down for me but I feel great.
TJ and I went to NYC to celebrate our 10th anniversary and we had a wonderful time. Went to see Spring Awakening on Broadway and it was unbelievable. It's now my favorite show so far.  Oh yeah and I fit in the seat with plenty of room!! Saturday we went to SNL (the one with Sarah Palin). Great show, so much fun. We also went to dinner at Gramercy Tavern and it was the best dinner ever. Although I don't each much, I ate enough and it was yummy. The food was fantastic! I highly recommend it. It was expensive but worth it and we were celebrating.
I saw my Uncle about a week ago and he hasn't seen me since January and he was totally shocked at my loss. He was speachless! It was a really good feeling for me.
I noticed that my lower back doesn't hurt anymore. Before, you couldn't even touch it now I'm back to normal again. No more pains in the morning for me anymore...yay!
I went last week for my 6 month workup and I'm waiting for all my results. We'll see if I'm deficient in anything.
Michael celebrated his 6th birthday and we had a bowling party. He had a great time with all of his friends. We also had a great Halloween. Nick was a Ninja and Michael was Wolverine. We went down to town and walked with all the other trick or treaters. We had a good time.
So far so good. I feel great.

So, I've been so busy lately. I have had some great moments though. My husband and I are going to NYC for 3 days for our 10th anniversary and I can't wait. My parents are watching the boys for us. Anyway, I went yesterday to buy some clothes for our getaway, which consists of going to Conan O'Brien, SNL, Spring Awakening and a romantic dinner at the Gramercy Tavern. So we ended up shopping around and after trying on my first pair of 14's I realized they were Too Big!!! I'm now wearing 12's, I can't believe it. I was on the longest stall ever, about a month long. It was horrible. I thought I'd never lose again. Then finally last week more weight started coming off....6 lbs. to be exact and I couldn't be happier. I'm now 180, down 89 lbs from my heaviest.
I do have one problems though. I have the hardest time shopping for myself. I've never been able to fit into "regular" clothes and I feel like I don't have a clue. It's very weird. And to top it off, I'm having the hardest time seeing my loss. I know I'm wearing smaller sizes but I can't get it into my head. A lot of my friends and family members don't get it.  So last night I took out an old pair of my size 22 jeans that were tight on me. So tight I had to lay down and zip them up....(I know TMI) and decided to try them on. I can't believe I was that big. I can now put both legs in one leg of my pants and pull them up. That was a huge moment for me. 
I feel better and better everyday and I have lots of energy. I'm volunteering more at my sons' school and try to exercise as much as I can. 
I have to update my pictures also. I'm hoping to get around to that sometime this week or next. Maybe I'll post some from our little getaway. 
 

So just a little update.....I'm still losing. Down to 184 as of this morning. I thought that last stall of 3 weeks was going to kill me now I've lost about 6 lbs in a week. I tell ya it's craziness. You never now when it's going to fall off.
This surgery was the best decision I've ever made for myself!!

So I went to the dr. last week and I no longer have sleep apnea. Goodbye dreadful machine!!! Hello, normal sleep! I've also finally started losing again. Down to 187 and haven't been there since high school. I've determined that I love shopping for new clothes. I actually got a pair of pants from the juniors dept. and they fit.
Today I saw a lady I haven't seen before summer and she was amazed at how I look. She told me how proud she was of me and gave me a huge hug. She's such a sweetheart and totally supportive. I really felt good after visiting with her.
On another note, Michael is loving Kindergarten. I got to help out his class yesterday. We both really enjoyed it.
Nick is doing great in school. They have the star system for good behavior and he already has 40 and gets to have lunch with his teacher on Friday.
I'm so proud of them both.
TJ has been really busy. He ended up traveling to  Minnesota for the Rep. convention. He was gone for 6 days and it seemed like forever.  He works so hard and is so talented and he's so supportive to me. He's the best!!
That's all that going on. I added some new pics last week so take a peek if you want.

So, last night I went for another sleep test to find out if I still have Apnea or not. My technician said I did great and only had 2 apneas (which is normal) the entire night compared to 40 before surgery. So it looks like it's gone!!!!!!! Yay! I officially find out on Thurs. at my dr. appt.  The tech also didn't remember me from the last 2 times I was tested and then all of a sudden she realized who I was. She was amazed and couldn't believe how much I've changed. I have to say, it made me feel so good and proud of what has happened in the last 5 months.  
That was the first good news of the day. The second is that the scale finally moved after about 3 WEEKS of going up and down 2 lbs. I'm now 189 lbs. I haven't been in the 180s since high school. I'm so happy and I really think all the walking has helped so much.
I was supposed to see Dr. A  this week also but it looks like I have to reschedule. T.J. got a call last night to go out to St. Paul, MN to cover the Republican Convention. He's a TV director for a major network and I used to work in the business also (until the kids came along) so I'm used to all the craziness surrounding his job.  So my dr. appt. will have to wait until the following week.
That's all for now. Let's hope the scale keeps moving!
Oh, I almost forgot, I finally posted some recent pics of me and the boys from the cruise. We had a great time!!

So today was the first day of school my little one's 1st day of kindergarten. He was so excited. I  also knew that I would be seeing a lot of people that I hadn't seen over the summer at the bus stop. I was a little nervous about this since I had lost so much since early June. I have to say it was so good to hear so many compliments. There were also tons of questions which I got through. Some people didn't even recognize me (for me that's hard to believe since I still don't see a significant weight loss). The mind is a great thing isn't it?? 
Getting back to school stuff. It was so strange coming home to an empty house. I was all alone all day for the first time in forever. So I had breakfast and read the newspaper. Then I decided I needed to start a good exercise routine and hopped on the treadmill. I actually made it through and entire 30 minute program that had some walking and running. I made it throught the whole thing! I shocked myself and I felt so good. Today was the first day I actually felt different. I had accomplished something I couldn't do before. Now, I'm going to take some time and make sure I get moving everyday. I know I have to do this for me. And in the long run it really is for my kids also. The healthier I become the more time I have with them in the long run.  :)

So summer is coming to an end and school begins on Monday. Time to get my butt in gear and start an exercise routine. I'm still at 190 and it's been forever. I need to get the show on the road here. It's almost like getting out of the 2s. Now I just want to hit the 180s.
A lot of people have noticed the big change in me and it feels great but I'm still not seeing a "big" change. There goes all those mind tricks again. We'll see how the next couple weeks go.
I know what I need to do....I just have to do it....and I will!!

We left on our cruise on 7/20 out of NYC and had a great time. The ship was beautiful and we really had time to relax and enjoy life. I thought it was going to be difficult being around food and drinks during this trip but I have to say it wasn't hard at all. I think I made great choices (lots of fish...protein, protein, protein) and did really well. We spent a day at Atlantis in the Bahamas and it was gorgeous. Their lazy river....well, it's not so lazy....was the best. Michael and I went around it 5 or 6 times and its over a mile long. I'm definitely gaining more confidence with myself and I don't feel so "looked at" anymore. To me, when I was heavier I always felt like people were watching and judging me and my decisions. Now, not so much.
We got home on 7/26 and wouldn't you know it on Sunday morning my Strep was back. Twice in 3 weeks. I went to urgent care and they gave me a stronger antibiotic but if I get it again within the next 2 months I have to see an ENT dr. Fun. I've never had any kind of throat problems before...hmmmm. I'm feeling much better today, thank goodness for good drugs. LOL
On another note, we got the WII Fit and I'm addicted. The thing is incredible and I enjoy doing it all the time. I highly recommend it.
Oh yeah....I lost more weight, cruise and all. I'm now down to 190 and no longer considered obese!! Yay, I'm just overweight! A miracle!!
Only 15 more pounds to my mini goal and still feeling great!!