A mindset .. a will and a kick arse ATTITUDE ....

In the face of adversity that is ... ... a kick arse attitude and a mindset to give it my best shot ... 

My DD and I .. tag teaming it for life ... me 4.5 years post RNY and mindful of my intake/output/labs/physicals and overall health and mobility and her mindful of diet and exercise and lifetime follow-up of her recent diagnosed condition ... Me with 5 co-morbidities in remission ... Her battling a recent diagnosis of dermatomyositis now in remission ...

We both have before and afters ... she was the one who encouraged me on my pursuit of WLS the day she took a bad fall over 4.5 years ago and I could not make it up the stairs to assist her my mobility impaired ... 

This is our yesterday... ME and my DAUGHTER ....


This is our NOW...



This is me today ... wearing the same outfit I wore over a year ago and had to take in twice since..

This is the same picture taken in May of 2010 and uploaded on that day in my OH photo section here....


and I tracked it all in a digital journal ... A PICTURE A DAY KEEPS THE POUNDS AND THE INCHES  AWAY ... a tool that works for me .. because after ALL .. I CHOOSE NOT TO FORGET WHERE I CAME FROM ... that fat woman is very much me .. her deliverance is my release and my release is her deliverance ... I refuse to forget me ..I loved me then and I love me now .. but I BETTER LOVE HEALTH AND MOBILITY ... the very same things that my co-morbidities and girth impaired in my before ... I will not return to that state if I can help it ... the things that are in my control I will control ... the things that are out of my control I will address medically or in whatever best way there is and keep it moving ...

I embrace joy each and every day in spite of all hell breaking loose around me ... nobody told me that life was going to be easy ... but I have an mindset and a kick arse attitude today ... in the face of adversity I WILL GIVE IT MY BEST SHOT .... 

THIS IS MY JOURNAL ENTRY THIS WEEK...


My DHs foot was acting up this weekend and he was experiencing pain ... so while my DD celebrated her B-day in the Big Apple we stayed home and spent quality time with ourselves ...our 8 ferrets and me with my pallet..my brushes..my canvas and my sketch pad ... I had tons of fun finishing up paintings for my OH friends on my group Share-it! Living Pretty .. opened to all .. Link in my Siggy Line....

These are some of my weekend paintings packed and ready to ship (no costs nor strings attached ever)







Fashion sketches using Charcoal and Graphite....


...



I love love love making things ... painting and sewing and sketching are my most favorite hobbies of ALWAYS ... I have been painting/sketching since the age of 3-4 and I love love love to sketch/paint or draw people ... I have done pretty well with some animals and landscapes too but not my strength....

When I think about it and run through my checklist..
Improved Mobility 100% CHECK!
Diabetes in remission CHECK!
NO MORE GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX CHECK CHECK CHECK! Goodbye Nexium...
No HYPERTENSION CHECK! CHECK! CHECK!
No Dyslipidemia CHECK!
No more SLEEP APNEA...CHECK! CHECK CHECK!!! Good bye C-Pap...
NO Shortness of Breath CHECK!

I AM MORE DETERMINED NOT TO FORGET EVER! I HAVE FUN .. I HAVE MOBILITY .. I ENJOY MY 4 AM MORNING RUN WHICH BTW I RAN 12 MILES MONDAY MORNING PUMPING IT UP 7 MORE MILES FROM MY REGULAR 5 MILES AND CAME IN TO WORK INVIGORATED ... YUP!!! I AM LOVING IT!!!

Thanks for allowing me to share snippets from my journey.  

 ..."there is misery and joy in equal parts in this world. Misery will find us if we make ourselves a target. Joy is just waiting for us to acknowledge it. I find joy every day in all parts of my life and I just let it happen to me. Misery is there but I'm sure as hell not going to invite it in".....

Hitting the LIKE button :)

 Thank you Beautiful!!!! Look at you HOW AWESOME!!!! Congrats to YOU!!!!

Great drawings Marti, I recognize everyone except the one with the baby and she looks familiar, is that a Share It peep?

I know it's all about getting healthy but looking great in your clothes sure doesn't hurt does it. And you do look wonderful!

 Thank you beautiful-er!!!! The one with the baby is Christine X DD and her grandbaby... does she not look a lot like her mom?

Getting healthy is super ... staying that way is everyday work .. but looking and feeling great in my rags at the same time PRICELESS LOL .... just kiddin' but no ... I love looking great in my clothes and I made sure I did just that at my heaviest weight too.... I could rock a 4-5X back then just as good as a 0-2 today...

Oh, okay, that's the little guy you painted posed with his big sister. Those kids are so cute. Nice job!

You should be a motivational speaker-especially for those who have had WLS.

Your approach to keeping the weight off is really incredible. I can barely remember where my camera is, yet you manage to take pictures daily.

Thank you Beautiful!... Girl I am a picture taking fool ... before, after, during I love pics and have been taking them all along... from the time we had polaroids and waited to see the pics develop to 35 mm to digital I am snapping away LOL if there is not a camera now there is always the cell phone ... the camera on my android is even better than my digital go figure... Thanks for you kindness ...

Congrats on persevering through the ups and downs for so many years. Obesity I the adversity we have in common. Those that find viewing your journal difficult should ask themselves "What is it about these pictures that frighten me?"

We should all have something concrete to direct our focus for life because success means maintenance for life. Daily pics will never lie to you. Just like my American Eagle 'goal jeans' can't lie to me.

Keep posting and celebrate your success. Celebrate Candice's remission, celebrate freedom from co morbidities, celebrate Al's resillience and your DS's strength through each family issue.

I'm celebrating with you and I know every time you post someone internalizes the lessons to be learned. Hopefully those motivated by fear and other negative emotions will let go of those toxins and celebrate with us.

Ayyy es mi amiga la trinipanaloca linda .... Thank you for your encouragement beautiful ... see you tomorrow at 5:00 a.m. looking forward to seeing my beautiful sista again....can't wait to give you a big ABRAZOTE!!!!!