My 1 year Surgiversary!

So I'm bad and I skipped my 11month post-op update...sorry! Not much has changed in the last 2 months. My weight loss has slowed down dramatically which is to be expected. Jason and I took a 7 day "kid-less" cruise during Labor Day to celebrate all that's gone on this last year for me. It was a ton of fun, and very relaxing...which was exactly what both of us needed. I also wore a bathing suit for the first time in FOREVER...not the highlight of my trip, but definitely a BIG step for me. I also lost a pound...which was great considering the last time we were on a cruise I gained a few.

I hit my 1 year surgiversary on September 28th and my grand total of weight lost was 103lbs. and over 60 inches! Not too shabby if I do say so myself! I feel fantastic! I'd really like to lose another 15-20ish lbs. to get to a comfortable weight for myself. I'll get there, but for now I really can't believe how far I've come in the last year...I've become a whole new person. Dr. Smith saved my life and I will always be grateful to him and his staff! To all of my family and friends, thank you for all of your love, support and sweet comments...it means more than you'll ever know!

Our first formal night...in my size 8 goal dress!

Enjoying our visit to Puerto Vallarta!



Enjoying the beautiful beach in Cabo San Lucas!



Our last night on our cruise...







My goal dress fits!!!!

Summer is done and another school year has begun....where has the time gone!?! I'm majorly behind and will be caught up at the end of this month. I did however want to share some exciting news, well its exciting to me that is lol.

About 4 months ago I found a dress I really liked that was on clearance but it wasn't my size...in fact it was a size 8 dress...which at the time was about 6 sizes too small for me. I decided while I was shopping I would think about buying it to wear later on. As soon as I was done and ready to check out I went back to get it...I figured I'd keep it as my "goal" dress...something to look forward to fitting into. I put it in the back of my closet and forgot about it.

A few months have passed and I thought I'd give it a try to see if the dress even came close to fitting me. As I tried it on this week low and behold it fit!! I'm still in shock!lol It feels really good to be able to see how far I've come on my journey. I'm still in between sizes, but as I get closer to my goal weight those sizes are dropping and it is making me one happy girl!!





100lbs. GONE!!!

I got on the scale this morning and what did I see....154lbs!!!!! I am down 100lbs and seeing that number on the scale made me feel incredible!!! No matter how many up's and down's I've been through, I have never once regretted my decision to have gastric bypass. I finally know now that if I put my mind to something and use the tools I've been given I can accomplish whatever my heart desires! Now onto the last 30lbs to reach my goal!!!

9 Months Post-Op...a little late!

Sorry for the delay, but these last few weeks have been crazy busy. Well June was just busy in itself. I hit my 9 month mark on June 28th and I was down 98lbs. and over 50+ inches!!! The weight loss has definitely SLOWED! Which stinks, cause I am so close to my goal weight! But in being completely honest I slacked big time off and on these last few months with my diet and exercise. Not that I wasn't eating the right things, I was just picking and not measuring my food...basically just being lazy! I only exercised a handful of times, which didn't help matters. But my wonderful husband helped kick my rear back in gear!lol We decided it would be best for me to join a gym again...that way rain or shine I have a fun place to get my exercise in. I went to Sam's Club and bought a whole bunch of good, yummy proteins to cook up for myself and I've started measuring again and making sure I'm keeping up with my vitamins. Sadly I forget to take them sometimes and that's a big no no!!

Kaci got out of school in May which means all the kiddos are home with me during the day and I'm the one back in school...not sure if I mentioned that in my last post or not. I officially started back to school in May. It was definitely stressful at first...trying to find time to do everything I need to do in a day....take care of my family, home, and homework...kinda overwhelming at first. But so far so good. I'm enjoying my classes and am very proud I've stayed current on all my work and bringing in good grades...must be something about being older and possibly "wiser"?lol I'm really looking forward to finishing what I started a loonngg time ago!

Jason and I decided we needed to celebrate my weight loss doing something fun. After talking with some friends of ours, we all decided to go on a 7-day Mexican Rivera cruise in September!!! I can't wait! There are so many things I'll be able to do now that I'm not 254lbs!! It'll just be nice to have a break from our normal, everyday routine and be somewhere where I don't have too cook, clean or drive anywhere!

Anyways...I'm extremely grateful for my life. Next weekend we leave for Utah so that I can have my yearly check-up with my surgeon. I'm excited for him to see my progress and to hear his thoughts on how I'm doing. I can't even imagine being the same person I was nine months ago. I've re-dedicated myself to getting these last 30lbs off...if I stick to the dietary guidelines, exercise, drink my water, and take my vitamins I know I cannot fail! Till next month...



156lbs.

**sorry I don't have any normal pictures like I usually post...I'll be back to that for my 10month post-op.

8 Months Post-Op

Well today I did something I never thought I could ever accomplish...I ran my first 5k!!! I ran it in 44 minutes and I wasn't last!lol I was very humbled today after I finished my race...8 months ago today I weighed 254lbs. and doing something like this was the furthest thing on my mind. It's amazing how being down 95lbs. and 54 1/4inches can feel! I have my life back and this is just the beginning for me...

This last month has been a bit rough. I've just had a lot going on and I haven't handled my diet and exercise very well. I officially started school mid May and that has kind of turned my world a little crazy. It's a bit hard juggling my family, school, my home (I so need a housekeeper!lol) etc...but I'm slowly getting a routine down so there is hope!

Today I got back on track...and I plan to stay on track. Losing these last 34lbs. is probably going to be the hardest to lose...but I will get them off! I am adamant about reaching my goal weight by the time I hit my 1 year surgiversary! I know that these life stresses will and can always come up throughout my life...so if I learn to tackle them now, it'll only be easier to tackle them later on in my life.

Life is great though and I am very blessed! I feel amazing and am so grateful I made the choice to get my life back with having gastric bypass. There isn't a day that goes by that I regret having my surgery. What I love most is seeing how the changes I've made for myself have impacted my family. Everyone is striving to make better choices for food, and we are all way more active then we have ever been.

A BIG thank you to you all for all of the love and support I continue to receive as I go along my journey...it means the world to me!! Till next month...

159lbs.

almost done with my first 5k!

I finished my first 5k in 44 minutes...and I wasn't last!lol

7 Months Post-Op...

7 months have pasted and 92lbs. and 52 1/2 inches are GONE!!! I've got some exciting events coming up....
-I start school May 16th!! I am actually gitty about going back to school...can't wait till I can finally finish what I started!!
-I am running my first 5k Memorial Day weekend! Training started yesterday and boy am I feeling it today! I know the more I train the better I'll get...and I WILL get it even if it means I come in last!lol
Besides that not much else is new. I'm just trying to stay on top of things so that I can get these last 37lbs off so that I can get to my goal weight of 125lbs!!!
Here's my 7 month post-op pictures to show my progress...enjoy!


162lbs.



90lbs GONE!!!

I am so happy that I am down 90lbs!!! Only 39 more pounds to go till I reach my goal weight...I can do this!!