I never intended to allow almost 2 months to pass by without a post, but here it is - September 24th and I haven't posted since August 6th. So much has changed since my vacation and I think mentally, I'm in a much better place. Going back and reading that post made me appreciate this journey I am on, and understand that it's a process - and ebbing and flowing if you will - that is all part of the experience.
I am 4 days away from being a full three months out from surgery. That seems crazy to think that the time has flown by so quickly. I'm happy so far with my progress (I think) - but am beginning to understand the importance of this honeymoon period and what I need to start doing in order to get maximum benefit out of the next 9 months.
Today I weighed 201.1 lbs. I've been on a stall now for about 8 days, fluctuating between a ridiculous half pound up and down each day....AND have my damn period, so I suspect I could be holding here for another week. So far I am down 38 pounds from my surgery date, and 50.7 total since June 8th. Since surgery I've been losing an average of 12 - 13 pounds per month, which to me, is not an insane amount of weight to drop per month, but is also nothing to sneeze at, since I don't recall ever being able to do that consistently on my own pre-op. People have told me they notice a difference and I can definitely tell when I put on my clothes - especially the oldie but goodie stash I have hanging in my closet. I'm now fitting into a tight but workable size 14 jeans but still able to wear my 1X tops....just very comfortably now, if not slightly on the loose side. When I was pushing 252, I had ventured into the 3X range for some of my tops and those are definitely no longer a part of the circulation of clothes. I need to start packing stuff up to donate. I'm not gonna lie - it's both exciting and petrifying at the same time. I "see" changes too when I look in the mirror, but not the "drastic" difference others tell me they are seeing. My brother in law was really a good test yesterday - he kept saying "Wow" - and he's really not one for lip service so I believed the fact that he actually notices a major difference. To me, I look like my normal self. But perhaps that is because at my highest weight, I didn't really recognize myself to be me either. I believe I was in some kind of major denial about just how big I had gotten.
Anyway - with the onset of school, there are a few things I have been doing well, and others that I really need to work on. The biggest difficulty has been getting in my liquids. I'm pretty much residing in a borderline-dehydrated state. NOT good. The drinking has been difficult due to the nature of my job, but I can't make excuses....this has to be a priority and so far I haven't made it so. So, that is something I am working to adjust. Protein is fine and I feel like I am getting in the 60 required grams or more a day. Even taking the vitamins has been mostly consistent with a missed evening here and there but I am usually pretty good about staying on top of that. Exercise is the biggest factor. I feel the weight will drop more quickly if I can amp that up. My energy level is up this days (when I am not sick - which I am this week. Allergies or Kindergarten crud? I'm not sure.) But I just need to make the time to do something active each day after school. I am going to try to get to yoga and the Rodale Aquatic club at least 2 times per week to begin and build up from there. I have plenty of equipment in the basement to fill in as needed. I decided that 2 nights per week at school is the maximum I want to devote to late nights doing school work this year. I need to do better with self-care. I've spent my life not taking time to do things for myself to promote my health - so if ever there was a time to begin, it would be now.
That's about it for now...just a check in and affirmation that things are going well. The reflections help me see what I still need to work on and acknowledge just how far I've come. It's important to document this journey for many reasons....but the greatest reason of all is - I never want to go back to the old me.
