Just thought I would upda...

Just thought I would update a little. I'm 11 months out from my surgery and have lost 134 lbs. I'm now getting the comments from people I haven't seen in awhile that they didn't recognize me at first, which is a great thing! I'm finding my weight loss comes in spurts these days. I will be the same for a week and then lose 2-4 lbs overnight and maintain that for a week or more and then drop again. It always happens at the oddest times, like when I haven't been exercising or things like that. I can't really tie it to anything I'm doing. It's very strange. I bought size 16-18 knit pants at Walmart the other day. Also, we were moving things around in my son's room to have carpet put in and I found a bunch of his 2x shirts he doesn't wear any more. They are t-shirts, some with sayings I like. I tried them on and I can wear my 21-year-old's hand-me-downs! My foster daughter is now wearing my hand-me-downs. My daughter and I were shopping at Famous Barr and I tried on a pair of XL pants. They were too big!!! So, I tried on a large and, wow, they fit. I didn't buy them though because they were winter pants and by then, hey I might be in mediums! What I did buy, though, were several charms and a necklace to put them on. For awhile I had wanted to buy charms for a weight loss bracelet. I had not done it because I don't really wear bracelets. Then, I thought why not do a charm necklace! So I found four charms that I am using to symbolize my weight loss so far. The first is a silver prayer box with a little cross on it. That symbolizes the prayer that went into the decision to have the surgery. next is the surgery itself and that is a beautiful silver butterfly which is what is happening to me by coming out of my cacoon and becoming a butterfly. Next is the first 50 lbs lost and that is a silver heart with diamonds around it because as my outside began changing so has my inside. The next is a silver angel with a trumpet for the second 50 lbs. She is hearalding the news of what God has done in my life. I'm working on the third 50 lbs. and I saw a silver dove I'd like to get to symbolize that feat. That symbol will say that I am much more at peace with myself now after losing 150 lbs. and I recognize the role the Holy Spirit has played in this transformation. I hope to add a sixth symbol for 200 lbs. lost and then a final symbol when I get to goal. I don't know what those will be yet, but I know I'll have fun discovering them. I put all of these on a beautiful silver chain. It looks great. And, it is something I did for me. I'm learning these days that it is OK to do things for yourself. It is OK to put aside time for exercise just for yourself. It's OK to tell your family they have to get their own dinner because you are not hungry or you have just eaten a yogurt and that is all you want. It is OK to take a few minutes, put your feet up and read a book. One of my problems before is that I put everyone and everything else first ahead of my own needs, even my physical needs. In doing that I was not as available for the people I love because I was slowly killing myself by not taking care of me. I have still not totally learned this lesson, but I'm trying and I'm learning a little more each day. So, now a question for everyone else. What have you done to celebrate or commemorate your weight loss? Teresa

Teresa... Wow...I just had to reply to your post. The part about the charm necklace brought tears to my eyes and goosebumps to my arms! I too realize that God has brought me to this and will bring me thru it and I love how you have chosen to honor Him and commemorate your success. I love this idea!! Congratulations on your successes and your realizations...I'm tickled for you. Peggy ~A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step~

Teresa!!! Congratulations on your incredible success!!! I love your necklace idea, and the charms and their meanings. I have been wanting to do something similar, only with a bracelet, which I wear all of the time. I haven't been able to do anything yet as I have no $$ since I've got no job. But soon....soon!!! Connie