Vacation ponderings... (REALLY LONG)
Less than 48 hours ago, I returned home from the vacation of a LIFETIME, to ***** Cana, in the Dominican Republic.
I was too flipping busy having FUN to do too much pondering while I was there, but on the flight home and while looking at the pictures I have, many thoughts crossed my brain.
160 heavier, I would never have even CONSIDERED going on such a vacation. Because that would have required a long plane ride (seat belt extender, anyone?), lots of swimsuit time (did you see the beached whale???), and too damn much walking for my ginormous body - ESPECIALLY in soft sand! Can you say..... SINK??? Can you say.... painful inner thigh rash???
Although really, I could float with the best of 'em, so I always had THAT going for me.
But here I am, closing in on 4 years post-WLS, and - I WENT. I held the seatbelt out to it's maximum length WITHOUT an extender, and marveled at the fact that pre-wls, I couldn't fit in that huge loop. Now, I had more than a FOOT of extra belt. 160 pounds ago, I could have squeezed my ass in a seat, but my hips would hurt and then my lower body would go numb from constriction. Let's not discuss where the hell to hold my arms for 5 hours, so that I wasn't intruding on the person next to me. And FUGEDABOUT using an airplane bathroom. No. Frickin'. Way.
At the resort, there was lots of walking - around the grounds, several trips up and down the beach, from shops, to restaurants, to the pool, to the bar, to the beach, to the pool, to the room, to the lobby.... NO PROBLEM. Even if one of us forgot something up in the room, I had NO PROBLEM making an extra trip up there (top floor, no elevators) to get it. 160 pounds ago, that would have made me miserable. Just make me invisible and let me float the week away in the pool.
We stayed at an all-inclusive. In my former life, that would have meant ALL YOU CAN EAT, ALL DAY - EVERY DAY!!! But the food, while wonderful, wasn't even CLOSE to the top of my list! Oh, I had fun trying things I've never had before - goat, plantain, guava
(THAT is some sour chit!!!) - I ate mussels, lobster, fish I've never heard of... But honestly? It wasn't a pig-out at ALL! I tasted, but didn't gorge on anything.
I made a white peasant skirt to wear as a cover-up over my swimsuit to hide my scrotum thighs, and I loved it! But it didn't take too long for me to leave it behind when just walking around the resort. I didn't feel at all like I was the flubberiest there. (Maybe I was, I mean my legs are pretty nasty, but I DIDN'T STRESS over it!) And if I had considered that I would be able to buy a wrap off one of the vendors and actually have it FIT, I might not have bothered with the skirt! But, I bought a wrap anyway, just because I could (and because it looks FABULOUS!!!)
I danced non-stop. In the pool, in my chair at dinner, in the lobby, on the beach, at a disco - the music never stopped, and the men down there just LOVE an amazon woman! (I'm 5'11" - I'm pretty sure the average height for Dominican men is somewhere around 5'6"...)
We had to transfer from water taxi to bigger boats and back several times - 160 pounds ago, I would have skipped any excursions or boat rides, just to avoid that humiliation. But I popped between boats and/or climbed up ladders without a second thought - other than to be mildly amazed at how EASY it was for me! We went deep-sea fishing, and the opening to climb from the lower to the upper deck? Would NOT have fit through there before.
My smiler hurts, my body aches in places from so much activity and random clod-like moves. I have a few bruises, but more crazy happy memories than I could have ever imagined. It really, truly was the trip of a lifetime.
160 pounds ago, I wouldn't have even allowed myself to dream of going.
Thank GOD for WLS.
https://picasaweb.google.com/mndarlin/*****CanaTrip?auth key=Gv1sRgCNCRjIz6i6KKdw
I was too flipping busy having FUN to do too much pondering while I was there, but on the flight home and while looking at the pictures I have, many thoughts crossed my brain.
160 heavier, I would never have even CONSIDERED going on such a vacation. Because that would have required a long plane ride (seat belt extender, anyone?), lots of swimsuit time (did you see the beached whale???), and too damn much walking for my ginormous body - ESPECIALLY in soft sand! Can you say..... SINK??? Can you say.... painful inner thigh rash???
Although really, I could float with the best of 'em, so I always had THAT going for me.
But here I am, closing in on 4 years post-WLS, and - I WENT. I held the seatbelt out to it's maximum length WITHOUT an extender, and marveled at the fact that pre-wls, I couldn't fit in that huge loop. Now, I had more than a FOOT of extra belt. 160 pounds ago, I could have squeezed my ass in a seat, but my hips would hurt and then my lower body would go numb from constriction. Let's not discuss where the hell to hold my arms for 5 hours, so that I wasn't intruding on the person next to me. And FUGEDABOUT using an airplane bathroom. No. Frickin'. Way.
At the resort, there was lots of walking - around the grounds, several trips up and down the beach, from shops, to restaurants, to the pool, to the bar, to the beach, to the pool, to the room, to the lobby.... NO PROBLEM. Even if one of us forgot something up in the room, I had NO PROBLEM making an extra trip up there (top floor, no elevators) to get it. 160 pounds ago, that would have made me miserable. Just make me invisible and let me float the week away in the pool.
We stayed at an all-inclusive. In my former life, that would have meant ALL YOU CAN EAT, ALL DAY - EVERY DAY!!! But the food, while wonderful, wasn't even CLOSE to the top of my list! Oh, I had fun trying things I've never had before - goat, plantain, guava
(THAT is some sour chit!!!) - I ate mussels, lobster, fish I've never heard of... But honestly? It wasn't a pig-out at ALL! I tasted, but didn't gorge on anything. I made a white peasant skirt to wear as a cover-up over my swimsuit to hide my scrotum thighs, and I loved it! But it didn't take too long for me to leave it behind when just walking around the resort. I didn't feel at all like I was the flubberiest there. (Maybe I was, I mean my legs are pretty nasty, but I DIDN'T STRESS over it!) And if I had considered that I would be able to buy a wrap off one of the vendors and actually have it FIT, I might not have bothered with the skirt! But, I bought a wrap anyway, just because I could (and because it looks FABULOUS!!!)
I danced non-stop. In the pool, in my chair at dinner, in the lobby, on the beach, at a disco - the music never stopped, and the men down there just LOVE an amazon woman! (I'm 5'11" - I'm pretty sure the average height for Dominican men is somewhere around 5'6"...)
We had to transfer from water taxi to bigger boats and back several times - 160 pounds ago, I would have skipped any excursions or boat rides, just to avoid that humiliation. But I popped between boats and/or climbed up ladders without a second thought - other than to be mildly amazed at how EASY it was for me! We went deep-sea fishing, and the opening to climb from the lower to the upper deck? Would NOT have fit through there before.
My smiler hurts, my body aches in places from so much activity and random clod-like moves. I have a few bruises, but more crazy happy memories than I could have ever imagined. It really, truly was the trip of a lifetime.
160 pounds ago, I wouldn't have even allowed myself to dream of going.
Thank GOD for WLS.
https://picasaweb.google.com/mndarlin/*****CanaTrip?auth key=Gv1sRgCNCRjIz6i6KKdw
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
UNBELIEVABLE inspiration, Darla. Gorgeous beaches, sexy, beautiful and fun women, big smiles and great facilities - I looked at every photo, and when I was done, I felt warm and refreshed. What a wonderful and fun vacation you had. Well-deserved and well-enjoyed! Way to go, Girlfriend!
Mary
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN do." John Wooden
I'm down 120 pounds - thanks to RNY! Working on the next 25. Then I'll tackle more...
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you CAN do." John Wooden
I'm down 120 pounds - thanks to RNY! Working on the next 25. Then I'll tackle more...
many more vacations and experiences of a lifetime! 
262 HW 
245 SW 
182 CW 
145 GW 
Absolutely so happy for you!! But I'm gonna say from lookin' at them there photos...I have you beat hands down for the thunder thighs!! Why my husband just told me this past weekend, if extra skin was $$$ we'd be millionaires!! He meant it nicely as I took it that way too but holy man I need to donate some!! lol Here's to next year?.... Donna
Darla:
I am so glad you got a chance to live a bit of your old dream of being able to experience life in a thinner, healthier body. Of course I am a wee bit jealous of just how you were able to do that on your recent trip. Thank you for sharing with us your experience and appreciative ruminations because they serve to inspire tboth hose at the start of their WLS journey as well as people like me who are further down the road.
Rick
I am so glad you got a chance to live a bit of your old dream of being able to experience life in a thinner, healthier body. Of course I am a wee bit jealous of just how you were able to do that on your recent trip. Thank you for sharing with us your experience and appreciative ruminations because they serve to inspire tboth hose at the start of their WLS journey as well as people like me who are further down the road.
Rick
Darla-
It looks like you had a FANTASTIC time! I'm so jealous of the sun you got to soak up and all the fun you had but I am so happy that for you that you were able to experience that!
Oh and I too looked at all the pictures and I didn't think your thighs looked like a scrotum at all!!!
Congrats on such a fun filled, sun filled WOWWIE WOW WOW moment!
Sam
It looks like you had a FANTASTIC time! I'm so jealous of the sun you got to soak up and all the fun you had but I am so happy that for you that you were able to experience that!
Oh and I too looked at all the pictures and I didn't think your thighs looked like a scrotum at all!!!
Congrats on such a fun filled, sun filled WOWWIE WOW WOW moment!
Sam
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind-Dr. Seuss 
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