HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Today is my birthday ... not my re-birthday (yet) ... but the day of my birth 44 (ack!!) years ago. I can't believe how flippin' old I am!! I feel more like 14 emotionally, can't believe how fast the years have flown. The thing I wanted to express is how different my life is from my 43rd birthday. At that time, I think I felt older than my actual age. I was wearing size 22 clothing, it was painful to walk up the 6 steps to my apartment. Having to hike up multiple floors was an exercise in pain and panic -- my knee hurt, my back hurt, I was gasping for air, and panicked that everyone else would see how horrible it was to be this big. I didn't go out much socially. For the previous couple of years prior to surgery I felt embarrassed to go out socially, like I was too fat to seriously think I could go out with my friends & have fun without being uncomfortable and feeling disgusted with myself and being judged for being the biggest person in the room. I was becoming a recluse because of my size. This year, I can and do go up stairs without worry. I exercise multiple times a week. Heck, I sometimes have to go to the bottom of the building at work, which means climbing up 5 flights of stairs on my way back -- I don't have to stop once! I barely start breathing heavily until the last flight! I wear pretty clothes, some of which even show a little leg (!), and I can buy them anywhere I want ... except Lane Bryant, etc. I'm unafraid to be myself. It's not just the outside that's changed. The surgery and weight loss have given me the ability to see myself differently -- not weak, not ugly, not pitiful, but just me without the baggage. I feel more confident in expressing myself, in not diluting my personality, in being more fully alive. It's not always easy to do this, you still have to police yourself (right now I deserve to be arrested!!), but it's the best decision I've made in a long time. Look out world, this 44-year-old woman is finally ready to take the world by storm!! Bye! Kathy F.

Happy Birthday Kathy!!! You're doing fantastic. I saw your new pic and thought we had a new person on the boards!! Have a wonderful day today and get out there and have some fun. Take care, Michelle

Kathy HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I know that you will have plenty more now that you are on the losing side of you life. You gave yourself a great present and that was the gift of life. You deserve all the best life has to offer and you should take it by storm. Your story should inspire us even more to keep on striving and reap in the rewards. Good luck and keep up the good work. You are doing great. Happy Birthday again. Luis

Thanks, neighbor! I didn't realize you had Dr. Tran. He did my 2nd surgery (the week after the 1st) for a leak. He's a great guy. I appreciate your good wishes & boy, you're really doing great! Thanks again!!

Yes Kathy, Dr. Tran in my opinion is the best. I cannot thank him enough for the new lease on life he has given me. No regrets here. Less than a month to go till 1 yr post op and 13 lbs to goal. Hope I can get there. Luis

Happy birthday Kathy!! I am so happy for all the rewards you are reaping from your WLS journey. You are an inspiration to us all. You share your life here with all of us, and by doing that you give us hope and guidance. You sound like a new person. I am becoming that way too. I felt the same as you did, but now I am starting to see and feel the new me as well. Keep up the great work. Enjoy your birthday! And keep enjoying your new life! Anne

Happy Birthday Kathy! You are a beautiful, vivacious woman, I'm so happy that you have blossomed into the woman you have always wanted to be. Watch out world, here comes Kathy! Much love, -Deb

Happy Birthday! That was an incredibly amazing post, Kathy. Made me teary eyed because I see the joy in your words. You see yourself as a new person, inside and out and you are happy with what you see. That is definitely something to be proud of. You've worked hard, damn hard, this past year and you deserve to feel fulfilled and be happy. You deserve to go out there and enjoy yourself and laugh and smile and be free. You are an amazing woman - I've always admired you. I am very very proud of you and proud to know such a phenomenal woman! Have the best birthday ever - you deserve it! Tara

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, you wonderful lady. Enjoy your day! Best, Lisa C

Y'all are so nice!! It makes my day to get wishes from my partners in crime!! You're all inspirations to me, no matter what stage of the game you're in. We've all fought the same fight & made the decision to add more birthdays to our lives with this surgery. Tonight's going to be a quiet one, but Saturday we're going into the city to see The Boy From Oz -- hmmmm ... 2 hours of watching Hugh Jackman -- that's a birthday present!! Thanks again guys!! Kathy F.