ONEDERLAND!!!!!

 

On September 3rd, I got on the scale and finally saw 199!!  (sorry it took me a week to document this here...  after all, that's what this blog is all about!)

I'll be brutally honest...  I bawled like a baby.  Complete hysterics.  The whole kit and caboodle.  Ugly cry and all!  It was probably one of the most emotional moments of my life.  Monumental to say the least!

I know I could have gotten there if I hadn't had the skin removal surgery.  But having it done was 100% necessary and it was time.  Looking at my pictures from right before the surgery, I was convinced I was jumping the gun... truly.  I was entirely too fat to do this.  But the proof is in the pics!  Even a week out, still swollen...  Look at the body that was hidden beneath the rolls of excess skin!!!  I am just floored!  

My recovery is going beautifully.  At 15 days post circumferential abdominoplasty/lower body lift and spiral mastopexy/breast reconstruction, I went back to work.  Getting back to my normal self and moving forward with my life is getting easier and easier with each passing day.  I have minimal pain and haven't taken an RX pain med in probably a week.  My breasts are the only thing that bother me.  They are extremely sensitive.  It's not really painful, just annoying.

Out of curiosity, this morning I pulled up a BMI calculator.  I started out with a BMI of 78 when I was at my highest weight.  Putting me in the Super Super Morbidly Obese category.  Despite losing 226 lbs, I am still categorized as Obese with a BMI of 36.  Meh...  I don't hold much weight with the BMI charts.  In my book HEALTHY = HEALTHY.  It's not about a number on a scale.  But dropping 42 BMI points is just a phenomenal achievement!  Definitely one I am extremely proud of!

So onward to my next goal!!!  I'm waiting for clearance to start exercising again.  During the summer months, I always limit my activity because of the rashes I'd get in the folds of my skin.  But now the skin is gone...  the possibilities are ENDLESS!  

My husbands current contract with his gym will be up next month so I'm on the hunt for something that he and I can commit to do together.  He's been stuck at 260 for a while.  We do really well motivating each other.  So we need to get back to doing this together.  I'm 39 pounds away from my goal weight and he's about 60 away from his.  

This really is the home stretch!!!

  

8 Day Update - Little Things

Well now... I've made it just over a week out and I'm feeling great! I've spent all this time doing absolutely nothing and focusing my energy on healing and Netflix.  I must say that House of Cards is an excellent series. I managed to finish all 26 episodes in 3 days.

For the last 2 days I've been antsy - itching to get out of the house. I've been good and stayed put until now. The girls had cross country track practice this afternoon at the park behind our house.  So with the threat of inclement weather, I relished at the opportunity to get out - even if for just an hour to sit in the car with the A/C blaring in the parking lot.

It feels weird to sit behind the wheel of a car and feel too small for the seat. To be a good 6 inches alway from a steering wheel that used to graze me with every turn. To look down and see my thighs in all their "glory".

A good girdle is in order for those thighs. :)

But it is definitely the little things that have made this journey what it is. This is no different. At times it has been overwhelming to experience some of these small things that normal sized people take for granted on a daily basis. I'm thankful that because of this journey, I will take my gratitude with me and never overlook the opportunity for a small victory. It is these little triumphs that make each day worth living and every minute worth sharing with someone who may be struggling for motivation.

I feel such renewed vigor. It's refreshing. It's exciting. The next few weeks, months, years... what will they hold?

For now, I will focus on today.  And today is a great day!