Did you ever think.....

Happy New Year Everyone! With this New Year being here I have done some soul searching and keep thinking about some of the things I have accomplished in 2004 that I didn't ever think I would accomplish. I am sure all of you have these things that "you never thought" you would be able to do and that our "thin" friends and neighbors take for granted. As many of you know I had my gastric bypass in September of 2003. I am 5'3" and had weighed 269lbs wearing a size 24/26. 15mths later I am still 5'3" *L* but now weigh 133lbs and wearing a size 8. I never thought a size 8 would be a size for me, I would have been happy with a 12. This time last year I couldn't cross my legs, I couldn't sit in a chair with my dog next to me he would have to sit on me, my belly used to help me steer the Jeep, I never ran, ect. It is amazing the difference in a year. I never thought I would make it to the top of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse which I did this past August. I never thought I would have a flat belly but with the help of plastic surgery I now do. I never thought there would be people I knew who did not recognize me. Christmas present were a joy this year! I used to hate to see the clothes my husband would buy me but this year I enjoyed it.....I even got a nice black form fitting top that I swore when I opened it would not fit.....guess what, it fit nicely! I still see myself as that huge person some times and do doubt the image I see in the mirror. I hear a lot of us do for quite sometime. Life is great now! I am healthy and able to keep up with the "thin" people!! Bless each of you and I would like to hear your "never though I coulds". Peace~~ Hope

Hope - Congrats and continued success. Yes, 2004 was very eventful for me. I didn't even have my 1st appt at CHRIAS until 5/28 and then boom! 9/1 rolled around and I was on my way to becoming a healthier human being. It's exciting to loose the weight, come off meds that I thought I might be on forever and to just overall feel better. I have lost 60 lbs so far & want to loose another 40-50lbs...starting to exercise more vigorously now as I know the weight will just sit there and stagnate if I don't. I'm also getting away from a few of the 'comfort' foods that I used during my early stages. Best wishes for a happier & healthier New Year! Valerie

Hi Hope! Hope you had a wonderful christmas and new years! I am not at goal yet. Still have 81 pounds to go till I am in my normal weight range. Its taking forever it seems and am stuck at 226. BUT I'll get there. It is hard to look in the mirror and see a difference. Physically you can definitely feel it. I can cross my legs and walk up the steps without getting winded, heck walk alot without getting winded. I can just move around 100 times better. More flexable...clothes that actually fit me! I have alot of body image issues still to work through though. I have alot more weight to loose which also affects that. But just overall health has been sooooo much better! I can run!!! I remember my sons face when he said "last one there is a rotten egg" and he took off ... but didnt run very fast because he is so use to winning all the time so he was sort of half running thinking he would win anyways... well I flew past him and he jumped and tried to catch up and started giggling uncontrollably because I beat him! He was so shocked! I told him he was the rotten egg! He was just giggling like crazy and said "mommy when can you run like that!!!" heh. it was too funny. So everytime we race he just gets the giggles because he knows he has to really run FAST if he want to win... and this time I let HIM win! Thats the best Tons of blessings! Elizabeth M