Photo & ramblings from yesterday

We took our daughter to the Lady Vols softball game yesterday for an early 16th birthday present.  This is our child who lives, eats, breathes, and sleeps academics and softball, so it was a real joy to spend the day with just her (one of four!) doing something she is so passionate about.  :) 

On a WLS-note, it's always so much fun to see how my life has changed.  Hubby and I can't help but to zone in on it and talk about it!  Here are some of the things that are different now, in 5 short months...

-  The car ride.  No sciatica.  Plenty of room in the seat with the seatbelt.  Can curl my legs up almost however I want to.  Can get in and out so easily. 
-  Public bathrooms.  Easy peasy!  No tight squeezes or difficulties whatsoever!
-  Public seats.  At the ball field and at restaurants.  No big deal if it's a chair with arms or a booth, I fit with room to spare!
-  Walking.  Parking far away (on purpose!), flights of stairs, even climbing over bleacher seats so people don't have to get up to let me go to the bathroom...all a breeze! 
-  Food.  We packed a baggy of homemade trailmix to munch on (mixed nuts, dark chocolate, sunflower seeds) and some bottled water in my bag, then we shared a big pretzel (mine with mustard, them with cheese).  Saved us tons of money and the entire family is making healthier choices!  (Our daughter has even lost weight with me lately!)
-  Energy.  I am able to go from early morning until late night now without feeling like I could die and needing a day or two of recooperating afterwards!  I was back up at 7:30 this morning and will be heading to Asheville this afternoon for more adventures!  ;)

I hate to say it, but we do notice the people who can hardly fit into the bleacher seats with arms after they've huffed and puffed their way up the stairs, carrying their sodas, hot dogs, nachos, etc. and our hearts just go out to them.  Oh how life has changed and I am most happy for my family that it has!

It makes me so excited to hear things like this. 

I'm a huge hockey fan. I had to buy "special" tickets to sit in the handicap seating (folding chairs with no arms), I couldn't fit through the turnstyle at the entrance, etc.

I'm right there with you!  My first ever WOW was not being humiliated and having to ask the attendent to move it because I couldn't fit.

The bathrooms! I couldn't even fit in a public bathroom (regular stall) at all. I had to use the handicap.  NOT ANYMORE and I refuse to now on pricipal!

I go up the stairs to the cafeteria at work, because I CAN! I didn't use to. I had to walk 1/2 way around the building to get to the only set of elevators that would go to that floor. NOT ANY MORE.

I'd get to work super early so I could get a close parking spot because walking 15 feet had me sweating and breathing hard!
Now I could give two flips what time I get to work (as long as it's before 9am) and I intentionally park far away.

I'm about to start skating lessons. My daughter wants me to learn to ice skate so that I can start learning to play some hockey myself with her.  There is a woman's league for women over 30 (amateurs) who I've met and would really love to play with.  This is not something I could have done in a million years (or thought it could ever even be a possibility).

I'm 4lbs from having lost 200. I'm so close!  I have 48lbs total left to lose before I reach my goal weight.  Then it's plastic surgery to get the skin off my stomach (it's really bad - hangs past my mons).
Then there will be no stopping me!  Kayaking again! Hiking again! Mountain biking! Sailing! 

CAGAIR TO THE WORLD:  Here I come! Be ready

(Hijack!)
Jenn!  So good to hear from you after such a long time!  You look incredible!  Keep it up!  And congratulations on your new life!  I am SO happy for you!

You Go Jennifer,
What wonderful gifts of life are waiting for you!!!
                                            Annie

Hi Shauna,

I can hear myself in your post. While I am so pleased for all of the personal losses and associated gains, the impact it had on my family as a whole and my daughter in particular are some of the most incredible and joyful to me ... and I can see that is true for you as well. 

I too, see others suffering as I did and my heart goes out to them, but I dare not say anything to them. Often, my weight loss comes up in conversation... one way or another, and then always the question... My Goodness! How did you do that? If that happens I share, but as you know I never want to impose my beliefs on others... even if I think that it will help them and change their lives. People will only make the changes that they are ready to make when they are ready.... I'm so glad that you and yours have embraced the changes that will continue to change your lives for the better for many, many years.

Please take this comment in the vein it is intended... you look so wonderfully 'AVERAGE'... If I were to discribe you to a friend, your size wouldn't enter into the description because it wouldn't help them see you. Instead, I would be describing your beautiful face, pretty eyes, warm smile and lovely mane of hair. 

Wishing you continued success and moments of WOW.

Love,

What a lovely photo!  Thanks for sharing!

What a great day you all had! I am so glad you were able to enjoy it the way you did. Its an amzing transformation we can get from weight loss no matter how we get the job done isn't it?

Lookin Good Shauna!! Nice looking family too!


GO VOLS!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
You look absolutely maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaavalous my darling!!!

What a great picture. Thanks for sharing!!


Pam

Love the picture and you look GREAT!!!!
                                                                          Annie