Hi Darla, I can so relate to the people that look at you and are not sure. My ex son-in-law came by and did a double take and asked if I was Carol. He hadn't seen me for about 3 yrs. I am now almost 18 mo post op and maintaining well.
Congrats on your success. And, sorry about your hubby's van tho.

Monday, my husband's van died. 

He's a painter, and NEEDS his van for hauling equipment - so yesterday morning, when we found out the repairs would cost significantly more than his van was worth, we found ourselves with the unpleasant task of having to buy a new vehicle.  The economy has NOT been kind to us these past few years, so this was a major stress event.  I'm normally a stress eater.  Couldn't even force myself to eat anything for breakfast.

We have purchased a number of vehicles through a particular salesman at a particular dealership over the years, so he was our first call - it just so happened he was available to work with us yesterday morning, so we drove up.

We hadn't seen him since we purchased the PT Cruiser my daughter crashed earlier this year, so that would have been 2003.  We walked into his office, and he gave me one of those 'deer-in-the-headlights' kinda looks, and I realized - he didn't immediately recognize me!  Once it hit him that it was ME, only in a much smaller body, he kinda gushed about how good I look, how did I do it, and when he found out it was 4 years ago, he was sincerely impressed that I seem to be doing a good job of keeping it off! 

I love people who aren't always so concerned with being "PC", even if they're just too shocked to think about it before they react.  I tell ya, a person just never gets sick of those kinds of moments.  And this far out, they're pretty rare.

Made a crap day a little less crappy 

Congratulations!  Wow moments are da bomb, don't you think? 

You should be happy you CAN run - my knees are shot from too many years of hauling my former bulk around.  Once in a while I catch myself - not RUNNING, but maybe TROTTING? to my phone at work from another part of the office, and I'm kinda jazzed about THAT! 

Good luck on building up to a marathon - WOW!  I would be in AWE!!!

Hey everyone, I just had Wow number 3 yesterday.  I have been running about 5 days a week, for the last few months and usually find I have the stamina for about 40 minutes running time.  I decided to see how far I was running in that time, so got in the car and drove "my" course.  To my surprise it was 3.9 miles  WOW!  I can't believe this is ME!  If you could have seen me the first time I started running ....too funny, but when I finally made it  up this big hill in my neighbor hood....I was doing the ROCKY thing when I got to the top.  Its a pretty busy street and I got a few looks, but I tell you what .....WHAT A HIGH! 

When I first started running I thought to myself ...maybe some day I will run a Marathon ....you know what ....If I am running 3.9 and a 5K run is like 3.1 -I CAN.  Too Cool!!!!  Have a great morning all.

 Day has been great. I got up just after 4 AM, Grouted the floor of a bathroom remodel, then had a pepperoni one egg omelet.I have an all day drive ahead in the rain and hope to be home by 9 PM. Retirement still has full productive days.