Let Me Introduce Myself

Hello WLS Grads board, I have been lurking here for quite awhile now, and thought I should introduce myself before I start posting here. I know many of you through the May 05 board (Hi Maysters!) and the Michigan board. I guess I feel I am now truly a grad, over 19 months postop, at goal, and had my tummy tuck. I began my journey two years ago, but it doesn't really feel that long ago. I started at 351 pounds, with really bad knees. That was what finally drove me to surgery, the fear of being disabled. I had developed bursitis in both knees after a ligament injury in 2004. Christmas two years ago, I couldn't walk to shop or prepare for the holidays. It scared the crap out of me. I am now 51 years old, and have reached my goal of having a normal BMI, for the first time in my life. I was an obese toddler, and have never known "being normal". I have been lucky at steadily losing weight over the 19 months, although it has taken determined hard work. I dedicated myself to working out four times a week in 2006, and except for the time I was recovering from the tummy tuck in September, I have been able to keep that up. I still start my day with 32 oz of water, and a protein drink. Over the holidays, I've been more lenient with my diet, but have once again been more careful with the carbs. I have lost over 200 pounds, and can now wear a size 8 pair of Levis. It just amazes me. Thinking of my 2007 goals has been challenging, as it has always been to get healthy. Now, besides staying healthy, I have an empty canvas to fill with goals. This is exciting to me, and I don't know where to begin. I have been intrigued with Willow's 12 new things a year, and may focus on that. I hope to get to know you all on this board a little better, and best wishes to you all in 2007. Debra M.

Welcome Debra and Congratulations on all of your success! It sounds like your journey has been wonderful and I am so happy for you! I know what you mean about feeling like an empty canvas~I also have focused for so long on losing weight, dieting, etc and now that I no longer have to focus on losing, just maintaining, its very strange yet exciting! Good Luck to you in 2007 and I hope to see you around the Grads Board often! Hugs, Tracy B 328/150 5'9"

Thank you, Tracy, I can see that you, too, have been successful on your journey. Although, I often don't think of myself as being successful, as that would imply that I am "finished" with the process. I see this as a continual journey, and always say to people that congratulate me to see me in five years, and then tell me I'm successful. The entire maintainance thing scares me as I have never been able to maintain a weight loss. I'm more confident this time around, but complacency would be a great framework for sliding back to old habits. So I hope to stay somewhat fearful of "success". I've been spending the afternoon thinking of my monthly goals, and alot of them seem to be on getting out into the world exploring. Debra M. 351/147 5'5"

Hey, Sweetie! Glad you unlurked. Hope your 2007 is the best yet! Hugs, Kathy