Jennie M.

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Just a quick update:

HW: 339

1 mth post-op: 290 (-36 lbs)
2 mths post-op: 279 (-11 lbs)
3 mths post-op: 269 (-10 lbs)
4 mths post-op: 256 (-13 lbs)
5 mths post-op: 242 (-14 lbs)
6 mths post-op: 236 (-6 lbs)
7 mths post-op: 229 (-7 lbs)
8 mths post-op: 223 (-6 lbs)
9 mths post-op: 214 (-9 lbs)
10 mths post-op: 209 (-5 lbs)
11 mths post-op: 205 (-4 lbs)
12 mths post-op: 202 (-3 lbs)
17.5 mths post-op (Pre-Plastics Aug 31): 191 (-9 lbs)
19 mths post-op: 175 (-16 lbs; ~7 lbs of tissue removed, ~9 lbs wt lost post-op)
22 mths post-op: 177 (+2 lbs)

Total loss 162 lbs.   I have been bouncing around between 174.8 (lowest I've seen on the scale) and 177.  I did see 179.9 last weekend and that was it - got back to the rules and made some small changes and I saw a 2 lbs loss this week.  Goal is to be below 170 by my 2 yrs surgiversary.

EWL to date?  90.5%  (162/179!!)

I had plastic surgery (finally?!) on Tuesday. An extended abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and a mastopexy (breast reduction/lift). Will post more when I'm feeling up to it but I'm still tender. Things went really well and my tummy is sooooooooo flat! I'm now 2 days post-op and feeling pretty good all things considered. I thought it would hurt a lot more - not to say it didn't hurt but it's more a discomfort than pain. 

 FINALLY!!
Feels like forever, but 16 months post-op, my weight no longer fits the title/label "obese" anymore. And probably for the first time since I was in university, I am no longer in the 190's+.  As of today, I am simply "overweight" and I can happily live with that label!

My goal is another 20-25 lbs but I can honestly say I am happy & healthy where I am!  I mean really, how could I complain? My sleep apnea is gone (and has been since I left the hospital post-op), mild stress incontinence is long gone, my BP and cholesterol that weren't high but "troubling" are both normal. I am almost finished my group fitness trainer certification. I am running regularly and since May 2010, I have completed a Try-a-Triathlon and 3 x 5Km runs. I am still looking for one run in late August before I hang up my runners for a bit as I am scheduled for my extended abdominoplasty and mastopexy (breast lift/reduction) on August 31st. It's going to hard not going to the gym/running for 6-8 weeks but I know in the long run, it will all be worth it!

Best of all??  I have MY LIFE back. My kids have a mom who is active and wants to do active things with them - I can take them to the park and not need to park my wide load on a bench as soon as we get there... I throw a rugby ball around with my boys... I cycle with my kids... And I know I am finally setting a good example for them - 2 of my boys want to do a Try-a-Tri with me in May 2011. We're trying to see about doing a "Runway Run" in Ottawa to raise funds for Easter Seals (or some other event to raise funds) - this is a cause close to my heart as my twin boys are the Easter Seals Ambassadors this year.

I've also started my own home based business (www.wordsonmywall.ca) with Uppercase Living. I've tried direct sales in the past and never gone much past 2-3 home parties. As I told a friend last night, I've moved outside my circle of friends and I'm loving it. I meet new women (and a few men) regularly - and it's funny because they don't know the "old" (read "fat") me. I made a comment one night about how "yes - it is horrible to find nice plus sized clothes" and they looked at me oddly... I couldn't figure out why until later and I had to laugh. They probably were thinking "you have NO idea lady". But the confidence I'm gaining and building is wild - I went to St. Louis, MO last week to our Convention - I flew from Ottawa on small planes and I had a moment of panic "I won't fit!" but I did... and had room to spare. (I even took a picture on my iPhone of how much extra seatbelt I had to spare!) It's like being a kid in a candy store some days.

I'll post a few pics too... And to those who wonder if the VSG is a good surgery for +50 BMI-ers?  Look at these photos. Read my words again and see what you think??  


Size 16 (regular!!) Calvin Kleins... WHITE pants? (taken in our hotel room at Convention)


Feb 20th, 2009.  3 weeks pre-op at my largest. 339 lbs (I think... my scale only went to 335)

Things are defintely slowing down on my journey but things are still happening. No question about it. :)

I stepped on the scale this morning to find that not only had I lost 1.5 lbs, but today marks the day that I am officially down 150 lbs from my highest weight (it might have even been slightly higher - my scale only goes to 335 lbs and I know I weighed in at about 339 at my doctor's office and that's the top number I have been using!).

150 flipping pounds. That's unfathomable - several of my girlfriends in my circle don't even weigh that much and complain when their weight tops 140 lbs. I think maybe this finally hit home for them when I told them I had that much to lose (and then some). 

I am not quite 16 mths out yet (next week!) and I have another 25-30 lbs to go to my goal - maybe by Christmas??  Hard to say - I'm not sure how my reconstructive surgery will affect things. I'm still running a few times a week and have another 5K run coming up this Sunday with an OH friend. Hopefully the heatwave will break before then (or that we're running early enough so as to not cook!)!!

I'm solidly wearing size 16's and will be in 14s shortly. If it wasn't for all the extra skin, I'd definitely be in 14's and probably 12s to boot. My boobs are shrinking again - definitely not as full as I was even 2 months ago.  I look at photos in my workout wear from mid-January when I so proudly posted and I see the difference, esp in my chest and abdomen. Definitely slimming out there.

I still struggle with seeing the "new" me. I was on the CBC news with a few other OH-ers last Friday and we were talking about the mind trip and I was telling my mom about it. I realized why I'm having a hard time.  Last time I was this size, I was in my late teens-early 20s. So when I saw myself at this size, I was young, had short hair, etc.  Now?  I'm 20 yrs old and I have grey-ing hair that is much thinner (but filling back in - but it's still thinner than it was then) and I have crows feet. Sounds strange but I think I thought I'd look just like I did back in the day. And I don't (hardly surprising but still...).  I think I forsee years of therapy coming up in my future to cope with this. LOL

Yep... the exercise/athletic bug. I think I am running my first 5K this weekend. Yes, 48 hours from now (well...more like 58 hrs) I will 95% chance be running in the National Capital Weekend's 5K.  This is a HUGE event here in Ottawa!  Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10K, 5K and 2K Family Run/Walk all happen throughout the weekend.

I hadn't dare register before the Triathlon - I was afraid. What if I got injured? Hated it? All those excuses...  But I discovered an online forum for runners/Triathletes this week and found out that you can buy/sell bibs for all the races (the entire NCW is sold out so no late entries) and I put my name out there Monday to see if anyone had a 5K bib. And I heard from someone last night so I've emailed them to see if they are still wanting to sell theirs. EEK!!

I haven't actually completed a 5K run yet.  I can do about 4.0-4.5km so I figure even if I run 10 min, walk 1 min and repeat, I'll finish the race.  My goal is simply to finish.

Thankfully the weather has also changed. It's been 90-100 degrees here (plus humidex!) the past 4 days but the high today is about 80F/27C and it's predicted to be like that Friday and Saturday. Thankfully the 5K is at 6pm so it should be comfortable to run - mid 20s (high 70's/low 80s).

Holy smokes!!

X-Post from the Ontario boards... I did a Triathlon today here in Ottawa (along with 2 other Ottawa OHers!) and here's my synopsis!

I'll let the other ladies post their thoughts but I just had to come and post how amazed I am to say that I am a triathlete!!  I can stand proudly and say I have finished a triathlon.  Sure... it was a Try-a-Tri (100 m swim, 12 k bike, 2 k run/walk) but who cares... doing all 3? 

I believe I finished 107th out of the 185 women participating in the Try-a-Tri category.  Had hoped to be sub-100 (ie 90-100) when I looked at last year's results (based on the times posted, I figured my times would be in that area) but I am not disappointed at all. There were 300 participants this year in the Try-a-Tri (compared to 190 last year) so a full field! 

The swim was good - a nice warm up swim. Hopped out of the pool and headed to the change room. I had made the decision to change out of my swimsuit and totally dry off before doing the balance of the Tri.  Next year, I won't have the panni & boobs (or what's left of them!) to worry about - just was really afraid of getting major irritations under my hanging skin.  Will say that pulling on bike shorts when wet is like peeling grapes or stuffing sausage - a little challenging - even with copious amounts of Gold Bond flying everywhere. LOL

Speed walked to the transition zone - spotted my pink star balloon over my bike, popped on my helmet and jogged on out to Col By Drive before I hopped on. It was quite cool and drizzly - was very glad to have on my arm warmers! The bike was better than I expected - I hadn't yet biked the whole distance (except maybe in the spin class from hell back in April) so was a little leery. Took a bit to get used to the Duathletes (they do run and bike only) whizzing by on their super high end bikes - sounds like a helicopter approaching! - but I went steadily on. Was very happy to pass Terry (er... she was heading back to Carleton as I was still heading to downtown) down near the turn around (we started in the pool about 30 sec apart and I had been wondering how far behind I had fallen by changing clothes).  Think I did the second half of the bike course a little quicker than the outbound direction. As I passed under Bronson and could see Dow's Lake and a small crowd at the end of the bike, I started to push a little harder and telling myself I was almost off the bike - keep going!  Was very happy (and I'll say my girlie bits were particularly happy) to dismount from my bike and head back into the T-Zone, re-rack my bike & helmet and head out for the run (although i wasn't sure where to go at first!).

Jogged the first 0.5 km and was really struggling with my breathing so I slowed down to a brisk walk and walked to the turn around at 1km. Jogged the next 1/3 of a km, walked 1/3 of a km and then it was finish time baby and I started to jog again with vigor!  Walked briefly on the grass between Col By Drive and back into the finish area and then broke into a run. It was so exciting to see the crowds cheering and the announcer call your name - helps that I went to Jr. High (and dated briefly) with him - and then it was over!  Got my medal, gave in my timing chip and there was Dr. Freedhoff. 

I was sooooo happy to see Dr. Freedhoff - he's been one of my biggest cheerleaders since the fall of 2007. I know I wouldn't be in the position I'm in today if it hadn't been for him (and his amazing team). OK - I'm crying now and typing is harder here... but I got a hug from Dr. F and I felt like I'd graduated today. Today I am no longer a fat girl wanting to be and do... I am free from that.

I popped over to the annoucer's area to get a special gift from my friend Brian (the announcer) - a TriTheWorld.ca visor (seriously - check out this website if you want to see inspirational!!) and got high 5's from Rob Matthews (the trainer from BMI Medical who is an integral part of Dr. Freedhoff's team and a super huge cheerleader!) and then bumped into the OH Crew of Jenny, Sherri & her brother Matt (I think!), Brad and Karen and Jenn & her DH.  So amazing to have such support!!  They missed my finish by about a minute but we were all lined up to welcome Terry across the finish line and then cheered on Cindy when she came across.

I'll post a few pics here (hopefully) and maybe the others who tooks shots will share. :)



Can I say that I loved wearing my "Running My MASS off!" shirt? And I did see a few folks giggle at my "This seemed like a good idea 3 months ago!" hat.  LOL

My cheering squad:



The final push (last 5 meters!!):



Here's Terry (with the OH Cheerleaders!):



Cheering for me - didn't want to cheat them out of it (and I loved the sign!!):



I can't say enough how much support I've received from family, friends and my OH family.  It means the world to me.  Now on to start training again for the 5K run in Toronto with several other OH gals - Judyth, Ericka and I know there are others but I haven't seen an updated list. :)

xoxoxo to you all!!

So very frustrated... but I need to get this out...

I hopped on the scale this a.m. and saw 196.3. Needless to say, I just about fell off as I was 202 yesterday so I know it wasn't right. Hopped off and re-zeroed the stupid scale. Saw 199.6. Woohoo! Then I decided to make sure that was right so I zeroed it again and saw the same number.  I'm an odd person and like to see it 3x to believe it. 3rd time? Nope... 200.1 (x3) so I'm thinking that maybe I'm not there yet.  But I'm damn hopeful that maybe this is it??

This past month has been horrible for weight loss. Bouncing between 204 (when Aunt Flo arrived in town), to a low of 200.2 but most days, I see 202-203.5 bouncing around.  So it was nice to see sub-202 number today. But where the heck is a steady sub-200 number?  Come on scale?!   

Well it's here. My 1 yr surgiversary. Well huh. I've known it was coming and I was really hoping to be in One-Derland by my 1 yr but it didn't happen. And I'm slightly disappointed that it didn't happen. But overall, it's been a wild year. I have lost 137 lbs since Valentine's Day last year or 124 lbs since surgery. Really - how can I complain about that?  Last year, I was super morbidly obese with a BMI of 55 and today, I'm a slimmer 32 & change BMI. It's been a slightly slower journey for me than some other VSG-ers I know but I can't compare myself - my friends were all in the lower 40's and in all honesty, they have followed a far more restricted diet than I have. By my choice.  But really, if I'm honest with myself (and that's the whole point of this journey, right??), I haven't followed a diet per se - this is the way I will be eating for the rest of my life and I'm ok with that. I'm happy eating what I do and living as such.  I dabbled with exercise in the first 6 months as my weight got more manageable. I became more and more active in my daily living (ie. parking further away at the stores, going up & down the stairs more at home, etc) and from about Dec 1st onwards, I have added 30+ min of exercise at least 3x a week (and now it's more like 4-5 x a week when I can).

Co-morbidities in March 2009: sleep apnea (treated with CPAP from March 2008), slightly elevate BP (120-130/90 or so), slightly high cholesterol, sciatica, light stress incontinence.

Co-morbidities today: NONE. I still need to go for my follow up sleep test but I haven't needed or used my CPAP since March 2009 right after my surgery. It cause me to have great gas and pain and the respiratory therapist at Barix monitored my O2 sats when I slept one night and felt I was safe to discontinue and by the time I got home 5 days post-op, I was no longer snoring (to my husband's shock) and so I have felt that I was at a far less risk than pre-op. Was easily seen too as my neck measurement dropped from 17-18" at surgery to 15" in less than 6 wks. 

Exercise in late spring 2009: able to walk 30 min on the treadmill at speed 3 and found that slightly challenging. 

Exercise in March 2010? I'm hitting the gym  to do at least 1 exercise class (60 min ea) a week - usually Zumba. The other days, I am doing a training regime to prepare for the Dr. Freedhoff Try-a-Tri in May. So right now, I'm riding the bike for 20-30 min @ 60-70% maxHR and then immediately hitting the treadmill to run. So I'm doing a modified C25K run - I skip the 5 min warmup as I am from the bike and I go right into the first run. I just finished week 4 (3 min run, 90 sec walk, 5 min run, 2.5 min walk and repeat) and Sunday I start week 5 which works up to a 10 min run or a 20 min run - I'm afraid to look.  But my walking is now at a speed of 3.8-4 mph and I'm running at a 4.5-4.7mph pace (compared to barely being able to keep up at 4 mph when I started "running" in late Nov/early Dec).

I had my bloodwork done last week. I haven't been very good at taking my multi-vitamins. I am not a pill taker - I find every 2-3rd one got stuck and was uncomfortable. And the chewable? Blech... So I really try and eat a balanced diet to make up for it. And I did pretty well. My vitamin D was slightly low (74-200 is considered "normal") at 54 and it's the end of winter folks. So I'm betting 75% of Canadians or more who don't take vitamins would be in that range. So I'm on 2000 iu until shorts & t-shirts weather and then Dr. F wants me to take 1000 iu until fall again. And my B12 was low. So I've on 1000 iu (or mg?)/daily. That's it.

I take NO meds - no acid reducers, PPIs, etc.  I eat 5-6 meals/snacks a day. On most days, I have breakfast around 7-7:30am, have a snack (often a cheese string/peanut butter/almonds 1oz) about 9:30-10'ish, lunch around noon, a snack around 3-3:30 when the kids get home (cheese & crackers, half a high protein pita with PB, yogurt), dinner around 7pm or so and if I'm hungry, a snack around 9pm.

Lunch/Dinner tends to be 2-2.5 oz of dense protein such as chicken or steak. Maybe 1 pc of whole wheat/grain bread with a tbsp of mayo to make a sandwich on occasion.  A treat lunch out at McD's is a cheese burger with half the bun and a few french fries. I do not drink at meals although I do find I sometimes have a TimBit without thinking while I drink my coffee from Tim's but that's not all that often - maybe 1x every 10 days or so? I have the occasional sip of pop but it's few & far between. I can honestly say I thought I'd really miss pop but in the year since my surgery, I'd be surprised to learn I'd had more than 2L of pop (mix of Gingerale, Diet Coke or Coke).  I don't really miss it like I did early out. Surprising how "social" pop is/was and I just ordered it and drank it because "you do" when you're at a restaurant.  Until late January, I had the occasional bite of vegetables at dinner - usually a few bites of broccoli, carrots, etc. I'm now able to eat more salads - so I can order a Baja Chicken when out for lunch and I eat the chicken breast and probably 1/8th of the bowl of salad which I then take home and eat for the next 2-3 meals. LOL  I find it so very filling still but it doesn't keep me full so I'm hungry within an hour.  So re-learning things like this.

Lifestyle wise - it's just unreal. I enjoy exercise and going to the gym. I think I've been really lucky to find Zumba that I really love doing (I was a dancer in my youth and I sill love doing dance!). And I've registered for the Try a Tri in late May plus a 5K run with a few other VSG friends in Toronto. I still may sneak one in sooner in April if I can coordinate my dates for my 1 yr follow up appt with Dr. Pop as a friend who lives in Detroit wants to run with me. So we'll see how that goes.

I've also decided to that maintain (well - to get to goal and stay there!), I need to make some choices to get me there and stay there and that includes exercise. I have decided to go forward and pursue my certifications so that I can teach group exercise classes. I have already complete a course that allows me to teach Zumba Gold (which is the Zumba class designed for older adults & couch potatoes!) and Drums Alive (www.drums-alive.com) however I need some more background to be more comfortable teaching in a group setting. So.... I registered to take my certification through the YMCA and I'm 1/4 of the way there - I'm finishing up my Basics tomorrow (it's a 24 hr total class), then onto Group Fitness Fundamentals (Mar 27), then Choreography in early April (Apr 10th), an apprenticeship which I'm arranging with folks at the Y who I've met and then my First Aid/CPR on Apr 18th. All set. Woo!

So that's a quick wrap up. Here's some numbers for you number crunchers.  I still have a ways to go - I have a goal of 175 before plastics (either an extended TT or lower body lift/LBL) in late 2010/early 2011 which 27 lbs more. I have a consult with Dr. B for a breast reduction booked for mid-May (and another follow up consult with Dr. S for my LBL in early May 2010). My panni is rather gross and flaps when I run/jump but having had twins while obese did wonders for my tummy. My boobs have finally started to really deflate and now I'm starting to see the oranges in tube socks comments. Ugh... My arms have bat wings but they are starting to tone up a little. I'm still going to probably need surgery on them but it's not as bad as I feared. My thighs? Well - they are worse than my bat wings but I'm not sure I'll get surgery there unless they get realllllllly bad. They're not pretty but they're not horrific at least.

HW: 339

1 mth post-op: 290 (-36 lbs)
2 mths post-op: 279 (-11 lbs)
3 mths post-op: 269 (-10 lbs)
4 mths post-op: 256 (-13 lbs)
5 mths post-op: 242 (-14 lbs)
6 mths post-op: 236 (-6 lbs)
7 mths post-op: 229 (-7 lbs)
8 mths post-op: 223 (-6 lbs)
9 mths post-op: 214 (-9 lbs)
10 mths post-op: 209 (-5 lbs)
11 mths post-op: 205 (-4 lbs)
12 mths post-op: 202 (-3 lbs)

TOTAL LOST TO DATE: 137 lbs!!

Timeline goals to aim for to see if I am on track to lose 100% EWL:

25% EWL by two months
50% EWL by six months
80% EWL by twelve months
100% EWL by eighteen months

Take surgery weight and subtract  goal weight. This will give the EWL%. Then divide the EWL by current weight to get the timelime goal.

highest weight = 339
goal weight = 160
EWL = 179

25% EWL by two months = 45 (294 pounds) MET (277 lbs)
50% EWL by six months = 90 (249 pounds) MET (at 5 mths so ahead of my 6 mth surgiversary on 9/12)
80% EWL by twelve months = 143 (196 pounds) 6 lbs to get to this goal. :(  So close!! 

As of today, I have lost 77% of my EWL!!

I so love my sleeve!!

Whew!  It was mostly nerves than anything else - they passed everyone and some of the folks were pretty uncoordinated but I'm still so excited that I can now teach Zumba Gold. I'll keep practicing and work towards my Zumba Basic - sounds like Andrea is planning to teach it here in Ottawa in June with Jaime from the US (I've read really good things about him on the Zumba groupie boards - yep... there are groupie boards!).

It was a loooooooooooooooooooooong day - we had to be at the gym to register at 8am and I didn't want to be late so I left here a little too early and was in Orleans at 7:25 (and that included a Starbucks run for a Venti protein latte). Ooops... Discovered the doors were open about 7:40 and Andrea was kind enough to let me in (it was -20 outside!) and put me right to work (which was fine - helped keep my nerves in check). Helped set up and sell Zumbawear off & on all day - did discovered that I can almost fit the XXL (size 16) Samba pants - everywhere but the waist - I could wear them if I had a long/baggier shirt over top. Considering they would go on at the Zumba Fest in early January, I'll take that as a great sign!  Need a bumper sticker that says "Body by Zumba". {giggle}

Because it was a Gold class, there was more "mature" instructors which meant not all hot bodies either so that helped put me a little more at ease. We did a master class to start the morning, learned about "mature adults", baby boomer stats, health concerns to watch for, how to modify as needed, etc. Not quite as much technical stuff as I would have liked but I'll read over my manual today.  Then we learned some choreography and teaching styles.  More classroom stuff - insurance, planning a class, etc then more choreography. I will say we probably did 1 hr of straight classwork, 45-60 min of off & on dance moves, practice teaching - 20 min? then a 30 min "chair" class. No wonder my legs and knees feel a little rough last night & this morning. The Advil (thank you VSG for the ability to take NSAIDS!) last night took the edge off and I was asleep before Desperate Housewives was over.

So now what... I keep taking my continuing ed class on "training the overweight an obese individual", take the Drums Alive instructor class at the end of this month and then Mar 3rd I start my personal fitness trainer (PFT) courses! So excited!!

This is a cross-post from my VSG board where I am posting in a C25K group:

Saw my bariatric group's personal trainer and he told me to get off my treadmill and get out doors. Now understand here folks that I live in Ottawa, Canada... we're the world's coldest capital city next to Moscow. I looked at him like he had 2 heads. But we talked some more and said if I really want to do a road race 5K in April, I needed to get off the treadmill (and for the sake of my knees!!). 

So I got a crash course on how to run outside. I dropped $350 on appropriate clothing (shhh... don't tell my hubby!) and knew if I didn't do it right away, I wouldn't do it. So out to get a fancy bra (mine doesn't wick sweat), a pair of CW-X Stabilyx Insulated Running Tights, a windband to keep the wind/cold out of my ears, sweat wicking gloves and a Running Room jacket.

On my way home from the store, it was a beautiful day - blue sky, sunny and about -2C (25F or so?). This is on the balmy side for late January. (Shivering yet?)  I put on all my gear with a CoolMax tank shirt that I bought last week, a CoolMax/wicking type short sleeve t-shirt, the tights, socks, my coat, gloves, headband, iPod and shades and I was ready to hit the open roads!

I decided to go back and redo W3D3 - the 90 sec and 3 min runs since I'd never run outdoors. I had mapped my route since I knew I was running about 3km on my treadmill (check out http://www.gmap-pedometer.com) so I didn't go too far and have to walk back, etc. My arms were cool/cold during my warm up - can't lie about that one but the rest of me felt good. For next time, I definitely need a long sleeve shirt that will wick. About the end of my 1st 3 min run, I undid the "pit zips" about 1/3 of the way in my coat but kept on going.

Other than almost getting hit by a car half a block from home (I had the right of way with a green light - not sure how she missed me in my bright red coat?!), it was good! Need to take Kleenex next time for the drippy nose but otherwise it was really enjoyable. My stride is so much different outside - so totally different!

So here's a challenge to my fellow treadmill sisters... do one of your running workouts outside. Not sure if this will post right but you can always click to see the image - this is me heading out for my workout yesterday. Note the snow - you can do this!!  (You don't need all the gear but I will say I came home and my bra was reasonably dry but I could feel the sweat had wicked out as it was supposed to - amazing!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/ottawamom/IMG_0492_av .jpg

  Also wanted to add to this post...

Saw the dietician at BMI yesterday. She suggested now that I'm exercising that I do need to add some more calories - but not to overdo it - add maybe 150-200 calories. And carbs at that!  So after my Zumba class (or a run), I should have some fruit with half a serving of protein... or one of my new whole grain pitas (half of one) with a tbsp of peanut butter. So add one more snack on exercise days.  I can do that! :)

And I got weighed - last weigh in at BMI was Nov 12th and their scale showed 227. Yesterday I was 215 so another 12 lbs in 2 mths (and a week).  And over Christmas?  Yep - I'm pleased. :)  So on their scales, I'm down 124 from my peak. This morning, I am 211 so I'm down 128 lbs on my scale. :D  Yep - can't complain one iota about that can I?

Oh - and I'm putting this on my blog. We'll see who reads it. LOL  I am starting to follow my new path in life. I am registered to take the Zumba Gold Instructor training Jan 31st. I am also registered to do the Fitness Education program with the Y. I am torn about which stream to take - to become a PFT (personal fitness trainer) or another stream but I think I will start there. When I am done (by June), I will be a certified Y PFT and certified Zumba Instructor with a specialty in the older adult stream (and have some training towards working with the overweight & obese clientele).  I am taking a course for PFTs starting Monday night for the next 4 wks called "Training the Overweight & Obese Population". Here's the description:

Training the Overweight and Obese Population Trainer: Rob Matthews This four week session will explore and educate trainers about the overweight and obese population - including why it is becoming an epidemic, current statistics, common causes plus biases/racism correlated to obesity, common health risks to look for, the science of training versus the art of training when working with this population, program development, establishing S MART goals, creating adherence, and monitoring progress.

I'm really getting excited about it all!