WHAT I LOVE THESE DAYS...

Hey, all - sorry I've been so absent, have been traveling a lot lately. Hope all is well with everyone!  I've been thinking about how I am living my life these days, and I've realized some things that I embrace after losing those 214 lbs.!  What I love these days:  riding my bike, even uphill; taking my dressage (horse) lessons to the next level - I'm competing in my first dressage show in July! If I had attempted to get on a horse before March 2004, I would have killed the thing! I love swimming naked in my pool; being asked to lead SG meetings--I'm leading a new meeting at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, first meeting TONIGHT!  Would love to see any of you there -- 6:30 p.m.; I love walking and jogging whenever I feel like it and for as long as my mind decides to, rather than quitting (or never even beginning) because of the weariness of my overburdened body; enjoying the touch of my husband's hands on my body--I used to be repulsed by my own body when we were intimate, now I celebrate it; getting my daughter's hand-me-down clothes. These are some of the ways I'm living joyfully every day. How about you??? Reenie

Hi Maureen..Its so good to see you...I was getting worried...its fabulous to see that you can finally celebrate...I cannot wait to get there!

Thanks for thinking of me! Didn't mean to worry you, just have been traveling a ton in the last few weeks. How are you doing?

I started a journal and in the journal in the back I have 2 sections.  The first section is for all the clothes I want to wear.  I am leaning towards Brooks Brothers classic clothing.  No thong or revealing clothes for me.  Just to be able to go to a store and wear a regular sized pair of undies will be a real treat. The second section is a list of everything I want to do with my life once I use the tools given to me to loose weight.  I set a goal for 25 things.  I am not done with my list and have 112 things.   I have been overweight most of my life and so I have missed out on so much.  I can't wait to get started.

Michelle, I try very hard to avoid looking back on my life and feeling remorseful for all the time I've lost; this is especially difficult when I think of my children, my daughter is 19, my son is 13 -- I have only just begun riding a bicycle alongside my son on his...I get very sad when I think of all the years we missed on being active together.  This might help:  I asked my daughter the other night how she remembers feeling about growing up with a severely morbidly obese mother.  She said, "Two things, Mom. I remember I had a very strong need to protect you; I didn't want you ever to be hurt by how cruel people can be.  The other thing is I believe I am a more tolerant person because of your obesity. I learned to love people no matter how different they are."  This made me feel so much better.  Life is too short to regret time lost; the time is now to capture, embrace, and live fully--and to love ourselves no matter our size, no matter our cir****tances. We cannot love others until we truly love ourselves. Be well, Reenie

Hi Reenie, For me each day I wake up without chronic pain is a celebration. Being able to walk and walk without the need to find a seat and rest. Working in my garden and just doing things that I was unable to do before surgery is a joy. Feeling a general sense of well being and feeling good about myself, not self conscious anymore. Also I enjoy shopping now. I don't get all sweaty in dressing rooms and it astonishes me when I need to keep getting smaller sizes to try on instead of the other way around. I can't help but stare at myself in the full length mirror and think "is this really me". It is just great. Sher

"Joy" is the operative word, Sher - I love your post, thank you for this! M.

Amen sister. Rewards of walking the walk.

Right back atcha!