Seven Months and 56 Inches Later

Waist = 58.5 - 48.78 → 9.72 inches

Hips = 71.0 - 62.73 → 8.27 inches

Thighs = 35.0 - 27.0 → 8 inches

Arms = 22.5 - 18.5 → 4 inches

Chest = 59.0 - 48.0 → 11 inches

Neck = 18.0 - 15.0 → 3 inches

Weight = 465 - 305 → 160 pounds

I have tried to take measurements each month, and today I decided to do a side-by-side comparison after my swimsuit photo shoot. I feel amazing and so, so much better. I have lost approximately 56 inches total!!!  There are so many little things that have been monumental:

• no more oxygen tanks to drag around, Hank the Tank is long gone!
• fitting behind the steering wheel while driving
• being able to easily buckle my seatbelt in all the cars
• finally buying some new clothes and going from a 4X to a 1X and a 26/28 to a 18/20
• fitting in my wedding ring again
• feeling pretty
• having energy to do two classes of water aerobics most weekdays and enjoying my friends there at the Clearfield Aquatic Center
• Going down 3 swim suit sizes!!!
• having the courage to try out the weight room and all of the machinery (once, I love swimming)
• going up and down stairs has gotten easier and I almost don't have to think about it 
• no more shuffling, I step heel to toe and try to swing my hips
• my balance and flexibility 
• parking far away and walking the distance, when I'm not running late
• being able to bend and reach to insert a tampon
• sleeping better and deeper
• I've had to get new shoes because they slip off, Cinderella style
• I used to plan my day and do everything I needed to do upstairs before I went downstairs for the day. I would try to conserve energy by being efficient. Now, I make extra trips just because I can.
• I was averaging about 2,000 steps before surgery and my highest since has been 7,105 steps

There are many more little things but after photoshopping these photos together and seeing them on one screen, I burst into tears at the extreme difference. I can't wait to see where I will measure next month!

 

Read more...

Six Months post Surgery

 

Read more...

New York Diaries Day One

Our first airport, Dan & Seth dropped us off at the unloading zone of the Salt Lake Airport at 4 AM and as I jostled around my various bag, purse & oxygen concentrator - they chuckled and wished Chloe, "Good Luck!", wishing her the best of luck - handling her mother...

She treated me to Starbucks for an early breakfast

What a morning! Happy Birthday to me!!! 

But I made it through the terminal [only I got a pat down through security] , after checking all of our large luggage - many thanks to Lauren Forsberg for lending us her bougie 4-wheel-drive luggage.

I chose Southwest Airlines because they offer passengers of size a free seat to provide enough room. And I wasn't encroaching on anyone's space - comfort & Yay!

We landed in Chicago with a looong layover. 

We ate at a restaurant called Go White Sox during our loooong layover.

I french braided her hair during our looong layover.

Then we sat around just outside of our gate. 

Or so we thought :(

After I got a text that said our flight to Rochester was boarding, 

we realized our mistake and booked it from gate 15 → → → → → to gate 26. 

We didn't get to sit together but we made it on the plane and to New York. After departing this plane in Rochester we learned that this airport was so cute and clean and empty.  We got our luggage and rental car and took off.  The area is part suburban, part college town and we made our way to Branca, a rustic-chic restaurant with gourmet Italian dishes and cocktails.

Aglia E Formaggio ($12)

The ciabatta was drizzled with garlic oil, oregano & mozzarella and had a cherry pepper puree and a hot honey to choose from for dipping. This was divine, the hot honey especially!

Hotel June ($9)

She picked this drink for her first New York beverage. 

It consisted of nonalcoholic tequila, cucumber, lemon, lime & pink grapefruit.  

It was not delicious! 

The drink was so, so bad with a very strong cucumber presence that was very overwhelming.

Chloe's dinner: Spaghetti alla Limone & Steak ($32) 

spaghetti, lemon, garlic, parmesan

This dish was light and creamy with a delicious portion of well seasoned steak.

My dinner: Rigatoni e Pisello ($28)

rigatoni, pea pesto, mascapone, crispy prosciutto, & pea shoots

This restaurant was close to our hotel and even though we weren't sure about the fanciness of the menu items as we looked online, we both found something yummy!

Salted Caramel Gelato

they served for my Birthday!!!

The .5

After we checked into the hotel we had to drive the five minutes back to Branca's to pick up Chloe's purse she had left behind...  

199 Woodcliff Dr, Fairport, NY 14450

Back to the hotel for some relaxing at the pool and hot tub, which was a major let down. All the pools in Kanab were better than this dirty and dingy pool. The hot tub wasn't filled more than half way and was not even really warm - sad...

I had pulled out my label maker as I was packing back at home and just came across my lotion I use each night. Dan had added a new label for a surprise as I got ready for bcd.

Read more...

Twilight Saga

I tagged along with Wendy, Russ and Megan to see the finale of the Twilight Saga.  Notice the matching vests with fur trimmed hoods.  It never seems to fail that if we as sisters bought the same item we wear it when we get together!!!  I loved the movie!!!

Read more...

Community Center

Just after Thanksgiving I found out about my community center.  I've just been there to vote and had no idea that they had step classes, an indoor track and exercise equipment.  But now, three days a week, Seth and I head over after we drop kids off to school in the morning.  He gets to run around with other little kids and I get to look like this guy:

I started with a couple of my neighbors and was attempting to do the step aerobic class, what a joke.  I am so uncoordinated it was comical!  I was trying to follow along and every time that instructor went over the step I would trip up and have to try to save myself...  Instead, I tried out the equipment they have set up in a little room.  There are 6 machines; 2 treadmills, 3 elliptical machines, and 1 stationary bike.  Plus there is a set of free weights and a weight machine. 

My Favorite:

Tom and Desirae came with us today and I was feeling pretty good about myself, until I watched him run...  He looked so at ease and coordinated!  I actually tried to jog and did it!!!  When we got out to the car he told me that his knee was going to be aching and that he was worn out.  That made me feel good.  And then he told me that he meant to tell me that he thinks my face and neck were thinning out.  That made me feel great and when Seth and I ran to walmart for a few things I noticed that I was stretching my neck out and holding my head higher than normal... Cuckoo!!!

Read more...

It's Just Like Riding A Bike

Dan fixed my bike tires so they wouldn't bottom out on me. 

That was two weeks ago. 

We only have two weeks until school starts.

I want to be able to ride my bike to school with the kids.

The positive news is that I made it to the school (and back).

The negative news is that I thought I was going to have a heart attack

and my thighs were burning with the strain.

It has been over two years since I rode last and I plan on being able

to keep up with the kids and Dan (who slows way down for the kids) soon!!!

Read more...

34+

This is the new office chair that now takes up more room in my cherished office.  The chair sits so high that it doesn't fit under my desk and because it is not fabric, my bum sweats...  I still love it as it is very, very comfortable!!!

Dan's birthday is seven days after mine.  He was born seven days after me.  I am seven days older than he is.  He loves this week.  He takes great joy in teasing me and calling me old ~ but just for this week!

Read more...