Still Alive....REALLY long update

I got a PM from Roz earlier this week, so I thought I would stop by to say hello and give an update. For those who don't know me or don't remember me, I'm Shannon, and I had a VSG in March of 2010. I followed my guidelines to a T (I was actually more strict than my surgeon's guidelines), worked out daily, and reached and passed my goal weight by October.November of 2010. I went back to college, got all of my gen-eds out of the way, then started nursing school. I pretty much thought it was going to kill me. That's when I stopped posting because I absolutely did not have a spare minute for myself. After a few months of nursing school there was a really bad situation (very unethical on the part of my instructors), I had the choice of dropping out or failing. I had a 4.0 GPA, so I decided to drop. So I was back to being a stay at home mom and began the process of applying to other schools for the Fall. In the meantime, DH got a promotion at work, and the family was all happy that I was going to be back at home and able to have a life outside of school...I was miserable. Finally, DH suggested that I go to cosmetology school. I have several friends that do hair, I am very trendy, and I worked in a salon for years and loved it. (I was in charge of the tanning and hair product sales). So I did it! I am absolutely in love! I jump out of bed in the morning to go to school, I get to dress in cute, trendy clothes (our only restriction is black and white), I get to do whatever I want to my hair and make up, and get to do something I love all day. I will be done in August or September, I don't have an exact date because it goes by clock hours not semesters. I am looking into opening a salon soon after graduation. I already have two jobs waiting for me if I want them. The owner of my school is a very good business woman and knows a lot of local salon owners. She loves my work and loves how I interact with customers. I never even considered this line of work because I didn't think it made enough money. But anything makes more than a stay at home mom, and the more people I meet, the more I realize you get out what you put in.
So now that I have written a novel about my personal life, let me get on track with the important stuff...I am still maintaining my weight very well!!! I have learned to live a life of balance. I don't freak out about my weight anymore. I no loger have to count and weigh and measure. I can eyeball a serving size, I stop when I am full, and I can let go just a little on the weekends if I am really good all week. I eat tons of fresh veggies, a lot a fresh fruit, and lean meats. I never feel deprived, and as Roz taught me, it is not a diet, it is not a sprint. This is a lifelong marathon. My  incentive is no longer the number on the scale, but being able to stay in the cut wardrobe I accumulated. I pass on my knowledge on healthy eating every chance I get. Of course I work/go to school with all women in an industry driven by image. I get asked for advice daily, and I am so happy to be able to pay it forward. I have helped sever women get off diet pills and on a healthy eating plan. I resolved my hip problems and ran several races at the end of Summer and beginning of Fall. I have to be honest, I don't work out like I should, but I never sit down and I run up and down several flights of stairs all day long. I am already registered for a few races at the beginning of Spring and am in charge of the school's Relay for Life team, softball team, and will be coaching a group that wants to do a couch to 5K beginner program. You ladies were/are my inspiration. Taking this journey would have been horrible and next to impossible without your amazing advice. You are my other moms. Oh, I also have not touched a cigarette in just over 5 months!!! I do use an electronic cigarette, but it contains only nicotine and water vapor. Nicotine alone is as harmful as coffee, just a mild stimulant, so I am ok with that. Plus, it is only half the price of cigarettes, does not smell, and my o2 level is now 100% and chest x-ray looks like I never smoked! I no longer speak to my mother, she became very toxic and was causing major stress and depression. I am also officially menopausal. That was the most recent issue we discussed. They did the bloodwork several times, and I did the saliva test. I am on bio-identical estrogen and progesterone. I also developed hypo-thyroidism and am on medication for that. Luckily, we caught it before it caused weight gain. I will try to be a bigger part of the group again. I would love to pay it forward the way you all did me. It is difficult now since DH got put on 2nd shift, so The 4 hours a day I have at home between school and bedtime are filled with the 3 kids baths, dinner, homework, my homework, and my new puppy (a 3 month old, 2 pound, runt Chihuahua). 
OK, I think I have "talked your ears off" (written your eyes out???) enough for one post. I love you and miss you all, and think about you all the time...I didn't go through a lot, but Lee you finally made it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew you would! and Price you look amazing! I'm gonna stalk around some more and check everyone out. Hopefully I will have time to re-size a new profile pic...I have really short, very dark hair with a couple of bright pink highlights!
-Shannon

Hi Shannon!
It so good to hear from you. Glad you are healthy and doing well. Sorry to hear about nursing school, but you seem to be doing great where you are!
The new hairdo sounds cool!
Here's to a great new year!

Hi Shannon,

Glad to hear that your life is going great and you are maintaining your weight. As far as nursing school, it can be a bear and nursing instructors are notorious for causing problems for people that they have problems (real or imagined) with.

The cosmetology angle sounds like it is something that is a passion for you. Having a passion is so important for happiness and success. I would love to see your pink highlights! How fun!!

You are really young to be going through menopause. What a drag, but the hormones will help.

Your weight loss was inspiring to me, as I was starting my journey. I have been between 108-110 since mid-April. I am only 4'11, so this weight is good for me. Glad to hear that you have remained successful.

Gail

 Darling Shannon!  How great that you came in with such an awesome update!  I'm so happy out this new career of yours.  Sorry about how it came to be but delighted with your end result.  What fun you'll have in the  salon.  I'll come get my hair done!  I'm sorry about your mom but bravo for taking care of yourself. 
The kids must be getting so big!

Do post a new pic please. 

Lol, yes I finally made it.  Took me long enough, eh?  :)

Sounds like you're doing great and have made some excellent decisions. I hope to see you back more often...missed you.

--gina

Oh Shannon, you don't know how many times I have thought about you.  You were such an inspiration to me in the beginning and I never thought I would be as tiny as you were. But you are right, I did make it and you ladies get a major part of the credit.

So glad the world is working for you.  You deserve every happiness.  Welcome home.

Hi Shannon, I'm so glad you posted. Just last week I was wondering how you were doing. You've had a lot going on--congratulations on keeping it together. It's funny how things happen in clusters. Keep up the good work, and I hope that the cosmetology angle work works out for you, and good luck!

Hi Shannon, I'm new here so you wouldn't know me.  I'm haivng my surgery in March, and can hardly wait.  I loved your story and can tell you have such a passion for life.  I can also see how much the ladies here care about you and your happiness - thats such a great and supportive thing to see.

Best of luck!

Jamie

Can you explain the electric cigarette to me?  My m-i-l smokes and has had trouble quitting.  I didn't know the nicotine wasn't harmful by itself.  What is it in regular ciggies that cause cancer?  Is it the other additives?

Hi Shannon,

Sounds like you have a very busy life!!  Congratulations on the no cigarettes!!  That is a great accomplishment.  Glad you have found a career that you like.

I'm glad you are still doing good and we sure have missed you.   Hope you can come back and hang out with us more often.

Linda