WEIGH IN

Date of surgery 12/02/05 349.7 pounds

Last weigh in 09/18/06 226 pounds

Today's weigh in 10/19/06 221 pounds

Goodbye forever 128.7 pounds

Looking good so far!!!!!!!!! Watching those carbs does work. Also using the food scale.

The scale has not been moving for a whole month, but my clothes sizes have been dropping. From a size 24/26 jeans last month, I am wearing a 22 jeans which is loose at the waist and slipping down my hips. From a tight buttons bursting 5XL blouse I wore prior to surgery I'm now wearing a loose 2XL/XL depending on the cut at my waist.

HUGGING KIM

Being able to meet and hug Kim in person is beyond words, it is truly like winning the lottery. Kim is so beautiful. She rediates warmth, she is so caring, so precious. She is a for real person, nothing fake about her. I really just wanted to keep hugging her and not let go. She has been my "security blanket" prior to surgery and still is. When I feel lost with anything pertaining to WLS I know I can go to her for advice and hugs, and kicks in the butt when needed.

Looking into Kim's beautiful eyes was a dream come true. Meeting her made my whole trip to SF super super special.

Well, it's been five days since meeting Kim in person and I am still feeling overwhlemed, but I have been looking within myself and doing alot of thinking. I am so blessed to have met Kim. I am making some adjustments to my life after WLS and it is happening because of my visit with her.

Actually seeing Kim in person and seeing what she has accomplished healthwise and bodywise by following the rules of WLS, has inspired me to commit even harder to follow the rules.

Kim is a WLS Success Model.

If Kim can accomplish what she has done, then so can I. Because of her, I am throwing out all the excuses I have been making about not wanting to be too skinny. I need to be truthful to myself, I have been looking for the easy way out, the excuse to go only half way with what this surgery offers me. Excuses for the times I have grazed or ate what I shouldn't have. I have been looking and using excuses to cheat just a little bit and say it is okay cause I don't want to look like Twiggy. The doc says I'll lose 1/3 of my weight, so ok I'll settle for that. I have come to the realization that I am cheating myself from reaching goals I can reach but in reality I am settling for second best.

Kim did not settle for second best. She reached and is still reaching for the stars above the stars she reached. I have been reaching for the stars but have been settling for "almost reaching the stars". Why? Am I so used to be second best, chosen last, most times not chosen at all, that I am okay being where I am at.

Well, meeting Kim in person has changed all that. I am going to lose 65 more pounds and whatever more I can, which should take me to about 140-160 which is good for my height. I lose more than that I'm going on a cruise to Europe.

The pictures that Kim took of me looks fat. I am still fat! I do not like them. Look how beautiful she looks, look how fat i still am. The one of me alone with all that teeth, I look like a horse! I refuse to settle for less. I want to be a picture of super duper health, just glowing with it, like Kim does. What the h3ll have I been thinking.

You know how you look in the mags at those before and after pictures. And you sigh. And you go yeah right, they must have fixed up this picture, this can't be real. Well, I got to see, and hug the real thing.............................Kim.

I know things happen in my life for a purpose. God he has a page in my book of life that he wrote Kim's name in and arranged for us to meet. He shared Kim, his miracle, with me. I needed her in my life, right now, as I have been so depressed and slowly sliding back to old habits and not making the most of this second chance of life that God has given me. God set Kim right in front of me, and I was blessed with her presence. He knew I needed her and our meeting was a gift from heaven.

So since Kim suuuuuuuuuuuupah duuuuuuuuuuuuuuupah hugging me, I have been looking deep within myself and NO I am not going to settle for "second best", "almost reach the stars".
I'm going all the way and I am going to be a WLS SUCCESS too.

THOUGHTS

I'm in Vegas for a few days. Had a great time in San Francisco, doing the sites, spending time with my son, his wife and grandaughters (2). Chinatown is so much fun, they have the wierdest things for sale.......but so much fun to look at. The trolley was also fun too. We caught the ferry in Vallejo, 45 minutes to Port of SF, took a bus, tram, trolloey and lots of walking. SF experience is one that everyone has to experience. Ate at Fisherman's Grotto, tasted the clam chowder in the bread bowl, shared seafood platter w/ hubby, it was all so much fun.

Even went to the Jelly Belly Factory. Oh I used to love jellybeans and candy corn. Took a picture of me huggy the candy corn wall. I was surprised that I coudl do the whole tour and not stuff myself with jellybeans. That part of my life is gone. The fear of being sick kept me from partaking in anything..........it was just fun to watch how jelly beans are made.

Toured the Budweiser Brewery. I tasted the Budweiser Peels Drinks..........fruit flavored beer.
I love the blueberry/pomegrante beer which tasted just like juice. I don't drink so had to sip little bit or I'ld be drunk esp. with this tiny tummy. That beer coulod lead me to drinking alcohol, it was good. Same alcohol content as the Bud so had to be careful, not to mention the calories!

Well out of the whole SF trip the highlight of all it all was meeting Kim. I will conver it in my next blog posting because it was so special and has affected me very positively.