Scale and non-scale: good stuff

It has been a pretty good month for me--and especially the last week--in the weight loss surgery part of my life!  Other parts of my life, not so much--very hard, there, to be honest.  I want to list some of the good stuff happening in the WLS area, to reinforce that good stuff and to have things to smile about.  And I apologize in advance for the length of this.  I am feeling gushy and a bit needy tonight.

1.  On the scale, I am not a speedy loser.  My personal goal was to be down 100 pounds by my one-year surgiversary.  And now I am close!  I can smell it!  Today I am down 96 pounds total.  My surgiversary is in 2.5 weeks, so I don't know if I will get all the way there, but I hope to.  (I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . . chug chug chug.)  I have 120 pounds total to take off, so more work ahead of course, but that 100-pound milestone is a huge one.

2.  In clothing, I have really been getting by on whatever I could make work, especially when I went to church, which is dressy clothing around here.  I have lost enough now, that with winter here, I really needed some new clothes--there was just nothing else left that worked and kept me warm and covered.  I have found some nice things at reasonable prices, and it feels good to feel pretty again--it has been so long since I felt pretty. At the risk of sounding self-absorbed, I want to detail some of this feeling pretty stuff:

At church, two very fashionable women came up to me and said, "You look HOT!  We were saying to each other, wow she looks hot!"  That made me laugh to hear at church (isn't church all about "not hot"?), but it felt really great.

A couple of women friends at church have also told me that their teen daughters have commented:  "Look how pretty she is!"

At Thanksgiving, my niece went out of her way to tell me how beautiful she thinks I am.  She went on and on.

Last night, my husband complimented me for the first time since I had surgery.  A little bittersweet--it would be so nice to be complimented by him, but that is not who he is.  But it happened last night!  We have had several holiday events for his work in the past two weeks, and I have made a point of dressing to fit the venue, and to make a good impression, as I know that reflects on him.  I have found just the right outfits, and worked out the accessories, taken extra time with my hair and makeup, etc.  Anyhow, I really felt beautiful each of the three nights.  Last night, the minute we walked in, I could tell we were overdressed in comparison to others in our restaurant party (not overdressed for the restaurant and many other patrons--but this particular group was dressed down).   I knew I looked great, so I walked with confidence.  What a great feeling!

I have also had a few experiences where I have found men looking at me.  Not in a crude way--just in a noticing way.  This also feels nice!

3.  I bought pretty new pajamas!  No more old t-shirts!  I splurged on new skin care stuff! I feel like I am reconnecting with my old self, who found joy in more self-care.  Like Rip Van Winkle waking up after 20 years.

4.  I keep getting rid of stuff in my closet.  Goodbye, things I thought I loved, but which bring back memories of times I want to leave far behind.  Goodbye!  Goodbye!  Goodbye!  My rule is, "I have to love it now, on my now body, or out it goes."  After so many years of wearing things just because they worked, and I could find nothing better, why spend one minute wearing something I do not love?

5.  We have a FitBit Aria scale, which knows the weight of all the users.  Lately, it keeps guessing I am my husband, and I am pretty sure that as of today, I weigh less than my uber-fit husband!  Super happy about that milestone.

6.  One of the biggest, for me:  today I met with a personal trainer about starting to work with her.  I have mentioned a little on the boards that I used to work out a lot--running, biking, lifting, kayaking, speed walking, etc.  In spite of being overweight, I used to feel strong and active.  But I sustained a chronic injury 6 1/2 years ago that has never healed in spite of much attention and work.  This makes activity of any kind painful and difficult, and I miss being active with all my heart.  I loved being outdoors moving through space, looking at the sky, smelling the air, hearing the sounds around me.  I loved the feeling of getting stronger in measurable ways--more miles, quicker pace, lifting more weight for more reps.  It nourished my body and soul, and it has been a really discouraging thing to be limited in this way, for such a long period of time.  This discouragement has been really hard for me to break past.  I am so happy to have found this trainer whose philosophy meshes with mine, to reconnect with that side of myself again too.  I am hoping she can help me with my last lap to the finish.

Eventually, I will take the time to figure out how to post photos.  That will be my next goal--surgiversary coming up--and I think surgiversary photos are a requirement on OH, right?

Happy evening to everyone.  xoxo

Loved your post!! I am just 9 months out and hoping by my year to have another 17 lbs off. Not sure it will happen I am a very slow slow losser. I am just 6 lbs away from my goal I had when I made WW lifetime.....my PCP had set that. I was 11 lbs higher than the WW goal.

I find myself doing a lot of the things you are doing. Better care of me. I too have others telling me how great I look....but I still see my could be better image. My husband also I one that just does not dish out the compliments. It just is not him. But I have learned to understand that.

Keep up all the great work you are doing!! I am getting ready to go get beautified this morning! :) New cut, color and highlights....after all we are worth it! :)