A New Coat
Well, today I finally had to go out and buy myself a brand new winter coat. I parted with my all time favorite grey and black hounds tooth, cape style coat that was designed to hide an multitude of "sins" (when it came to my figure anyway!!!) and I ventured out to buy a new one. After our H1N1 shots, I took the kids to my favorite store, Pennington's, and we began to look at the coats. I began looking at the coats in a certain size about 1 - 2 sizes smaller than my old coat....but David came across a coat that he said would look great on me. It was black...so that was good, you know, for the whole "uniform" thingee....and it looked roomy enough...so, after trying on a few other coats, I decided to take David's advice and try his coat. I took it off the hanger and glanced at the size tag...twas a little smaller than I thought would fit....but none the less, I slipped it on and to my amazement the zipper went up...even over my HIPS!!!!! I was shocked to say the least....oh and the sleeves and shoulders are "fitted" not baggy and sloppily hanging off me in order to accommodate my chunky midriff....in the end, I wound up with a coat 3 sizes smaller than my old winter coat and I absolutely LOVE it. It was wonderful to walk into the store needing to buy a specific item and not have to compromise or get something that I didn't like just because it was the only thing that fit me. I actually had a wide variety of coats to choose from. It felt sooooooooooooooooo good...and the best part of all was when David said, "Mommy, that coat looks the best on you...it actually makes you look skinny!!!" What a guy...so sincere and sweet and definitely a good boost for my ego when it comes to my body image anyway!!!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
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HOOKED ON HUMMUS!!!!
Never thought I'd say it but I am officially HOOKED ON HUMMUS!!!!! It's amazing really, the things that I would never have paid much attention to I now enjoy eating a great deal! My tastes have completely changed. I find myself excited at the the thought of a hummus and flax seed flat bread snack and 10 lightly salted almonds are like candy!!! It's crazy!!
This past weekend I enjoyed my first ever turkey dinner since my surgery and it was wonderful. I had such an amazing time spending special moments in the kitchen preparing the meal and desserts with my mom...and the best part of all was that I was not preoccupied the whole time with eating or tasting as I went or licking the beaters!!! I just really enjoyed my time with my mom "doing" something together surrounding food but not obsessed by it. When it came time to eat that evening, I was definitely hungry and enjoy a cup full of dark turkey meat, whipped potatoes, squash, dressing, broccoli, cranberry sauce and of course, mom's traditional gravy!! It was the best meal I had ever tasted....everything came alive in my mouth as I chewed each bite and the flavour was even more savory than I had anticipated. When I had finished my plate of carefully measured food, I was not even tempted to go back for seconds. I knew that I could have more another time. I even resisted my mom's amazing peanut butter pie!!! I just had no desire to have it. I had a little taste on the end of my fork and I was satisfied. A very good feeling!
The rest of the weekend was filled with activity and I very much enjoyed doing things again that I hadn't done in a long time. I was able to walk up the country road I grew up on with my kids and didn't have to worry about being breathless or not able to keep up with them. Instead, we sauntered along up the road to visit with the neighbor's horses. Later in the weekend i was able to enjoy taking David and Ruthie for a little ride on out friend's pony and again, it was wonderful to active and outside and most of, comfortable doing it and not in pain or needing to sit and rest. I walked and walked and walked around and around with the kids on the pony.
To end the weekend, we enjoyed a campfire in the back yard for supper around the little campsite that the kids and my dad and Ed had built on Saturday. I ate my first hotdog cooked over the fire....it was delicious and again full of flavour! Once again, I was satisfied with just the one hot dog and wasn't tempted in the least to overstuff. I was even able to enjoy a roasted marshmallow too!! It was a good time.
I was able to weigh in this week for an update on my loss and I found that I had lost another 17lbs over the past few weeks. This brings my total weight loss since August 1st to 97lbs. I am so very happy and feel better and better every day. I don't regret my decision to do this and everyday I am excited for my new future and all the amazing things I have left to do in my life...dreams that I now have the opportunity to realize!!! Just keepin on keepin on...movin forward everyday...despite even silly, ridiculous, unexpected setbacks like breaking my craxy foot last night....it just makes me even more determined to persevere and press on FORWARD!!!!
Never thought I'd say it but I am officially HOOKED ON HUMMUS!!!!! It's amazing really, the things that I would never have paid much attention to I now enjoy eating a great deal! My tastes have completely changed. I find myself excited at the the thought of a hummus and flax seed flat bread snack and 10 lightly salted almonds are like candy!!! It's crazy!!
This past weekend I enjoyed my first ever turkey dinner since my surgery and it was wonderful. I had such an amazing time spending special moments in the kitchen preparing the meal and desserts with my mom...and the best part of all was that I was not preoccupied the whole time with eating or tasting as I went or licking the beaters!!! I just really enjoyed my time with my mom "doing" something together surrounding food but not obsessed by it. When it came time to eat that evening, I was definitely hungry and enjoy a cup full of dark turkey meat, whipped potatoes, squash, dressing, broccoli, cranberry sauce and of course, mom's traditional gravy!! It was the best meal I had ever tasted....everything came alive in my mouth as I chewed each bite and the flavour was even more savory than I had anticipated. When I had finished my plate of carefully measured food, I was not even tempted to go back for seconds. I knew that I could have more another time. I even resisted my mom's amazing peanut butter pie!!! I just had no desire to have it. I had a little taste on the end of my fork and I was satisfied. A very good feeling!
The rest of the weekend was filled with activity and I very much enjoyed doing things again that I hadn't done in a long time. I was able to walk up the country road I grew up on with my kids and didn't have to worry about being breathless or not able to keep up with them. Instead, we sauntered along up the road to visit with the neighbor's horses. Later in the weekend i was able to enjoy taking David and Ruthie for a little ride on out friend's pony and again, it was wonderful to active and outside and most of, comfortable doing it and not in pain or needing to sit and rest. I walked and walked and walked around and around with the kids on the pony.
To end the weekend, we enjoyed a campfire in the back yard for supper around the little campsite that the kids and my dad and Ed had built on Saturday. I ate my first hotdog cooked over the fire....it was delicious and again full of flavour! Once again, I was satisfied with just the one hot dog and wasn't tempted in the least to overstuff. I was even able to enjoy a roasted marshmallow too!! It was a good time.
I was able to weigh in this week for an update on my loss and I found that I had lost another 17lbs over the past few weeks. This brings my total weight loss since August 1st to 97lbs. I am so very happy and feel better and better every day. I don't regret my decision to do this and everyday I am excited for my new future and all the amazing things I have left to do in my life...dreams that I now have the opportunity to realize!!! Just keepin on keepin on...movin forward everyday...despite even silly, ridiculous, unexpected setbacks like breaking my craxy foot last night....it just makes me even more determined to persevere and press on FORWARD!!!!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
It's Been a Whirlwind!!!
Well, it's been a whirlwind over the past week or so since my last post....really really busy getting back into the swing of things after my surgery. I went back to work this week full time and boy was it a struggle at times to cope with my new level of energy since my bypass. All in all though I think it went well. This week at lunch time I was able to walk all the way to the Tim Horton's down the street from THQ and back with my friend. It felt so wonderful to get out into the fresh air and actually helped with my energy for the rest of the afternoon. I also had never ever walked to the Timmies before because it was just to far for me to do comfortably without sweating like crazy and becoming winded and breathless, not to mention the pain I would have experienced in my back and hips as a result of the activity. It was an amazing feeling to be able to walk and to do it with such ease...I definitely had a spring in my step and I was proud of what I had accomplished thus far. I couldn't be happier!!!
On Thursday, I drove to Utica, Ny for my check up at the surgeon's office and it went well. I got there and was weighed and I have lost 45 lbs since my surgery on September 22nd. At first I have to admit that I was disappointed and almost got a little teary in the office, but as the nurse was talking to me I realized that I had really done well and was way above the average that they had estimated I would loose during that time. I seriously need to stop being so hard on myself!!! So, in total then since I started loosing weight prior to surgery beginning August 1st, I have lost just a little over 80 lbs!!
It is so hard to believe sometimes that I have come this far and I find myself thinking that I am just going to wake up one day and be right back where I started....I cannot believe that the one very personal dream I had for many many years is finally becoming my reality. I am beginning to love my body and to become comfortable in my own skin regardless of what it looks like. I am taking more of a sincere interest in looking after myself and giving myself the time and attention I need and deserve in order to be the healthiest Ally I can possibly be. What an amazing journey...I just can hardly express with words what I am feeling inside each day when I wake up and go about life with just a little more ease than the day before. What a gift!
Oh my goodness, I almost forgot...I WORE MY SEAT BELT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK IN A VERY VERY LONG TIME!!!!! Driving to Utica I decided to undo the driver's seat belt, (which I usually just kept done up and I sat on top of because it didn't fit), and thought I would put it on while driving over the boarder. To my utter shock and amazement it fit...AND it fit with ample room to spare!!!! I screamed and smiled as big as I possibly could...another milestone for me along this journey. Now, I can drive in total safely!!!! I LOVE seat belts!!!!!
Finally for today's post, I really need to say something I should have said a long time back. I need to thank my good friend Mike Robertson from the bottom of my heart for the huge part he has played in this journey over the past few years. About two years ago, I met Mike just briefly and began talking about his battle with weight and bypass journey. From that point on, Mike made sure to check in with me and after I decided that I wanted to do the same he ensured that I knew I was supported in my decision...a decision that other people in my life at the time did not necessarily understand at first. I saw Mike this week for the first time after my surgery and as usual felt the support and confidence he had in me from the beginning. I can honestly say that had I not met Mike two years ago and had he not been so willing and open to share transparently his bypass story, I may never have made this amazing decision to choose "life" for myself. Thank you Mike many times over for the gift you have given me and for the rewards of that gift that I will reap for years to come. You are honestly and truly an inspiration to me personally and I am sure to many others too!!!
Well, it's been a whirlwind over the past week or so since my last post....really really busy getting back into the swing of things after my surgery. I went back to work this week full time and boy was it a struggle at times to cope with my new level of energy since my bypass. All in all though I think it went well. This week at lunch time I was able to walk all the way to the Tim Horton's down the street from THQ and back with my friend. It felt so wonderful to get out into the fresh air and actually helped with my energy for the rest of the afternoon. I also had never ever walked to the Timmies before because it was just to far for me to do comfortably without sweating like crazy and becoming winded and breathless, not to mention the pain I would have experienced in my back and hips as a result of the activity. It was an amazing feeling to be able to walk and to do it with such ease...I definitely had a spring in my step and I was proud of what I had accomplished thus far. I couldn't be happier!!!
On Thursday, I drove to Utica, Ny for my check up at the surgeon's office and it went well. I got there and was weighed and I have lost 45 lbs since my surgery on September 22nd. At first I have to admit that I was disappointed and almost got a little teary in the office, but as the nurse was talking to me I realized that I had really done well and was way above the average that they had estimated I would loose during that time. I seriously need to stop being so hard on myself!!! So, in total then since I started loosing weight prior to surgery beginning August 1st, I have lost just a little over 80 lbs!!
It is so hard to believe sometimes that I have come this far and I find myself thinking that I am just going to wake up one day and be right back where I started....I cannot believe that the one very personal dream I had for many many years is finally becoming my reality. I am beginning to love my body and to become comfortable in my own skin regardless of what it looks like. I am taking more of a sincere interest in looking after myself and giving myself the time and attention I need and deserve in order to be the healthiest Ally I can possibly be. What an amazing journey...I just can hardly express with words what I am feeling inside each day when I wake up and go about life with just a little more ease than the day before. What a gift!
Oh my goodness, I almost forgot...I WORE MY SEAT BELT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK IN A VERY VERY LONG TIME!!!!! Driving to Utica I decided to undo the driver's seat belt, (which I usually just kept done up and I sat on top of because it didn't fit), and thought I would put it on while driving over the boarder. To my utter shock and amazement it fit...AND it fit with ample room to spare!!!! I screamed and smiled as big as I possibly could...another milestone for me along this journey. Now, I can drive in total safely!!!! I LOVE seat belts!!!!!
Finally for today's post, I really need to say something I should have said a long time back. I need to thank my good friend Mike Robertson from the bottom of my heart for the huge part he has played in this journey over the past few years. About two years ago, I met Mike just briefly and began talking about his battle with weight and bypass journey. From that point on, Mike made sure to check in with me and after I decided that I wanted to do the same he ensured that I knew I was supported in my decision...a decision that other people in my life at the time did not necessarily understand at first. I saw Mike this week for the first time after my surgery and as usual felt the support and confidence he had in me from the beginning. I can honestly say that had I not met Mike two years ago and had he not been so willing and open to share transparently his bypass story, I may never have made this amazing decision to choose "life" for myself. Thank you Mike many times over for the gift you have given me and for the rewards of that gift that I will reap for years to come. You are honestly and truly an inspiration to me personally and I am sure to many others too!!!
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