Before and After...Boston.com!

Hey guys!  A few days ago, I submitted my "before and after" photos on boston.com here!

When I was deciding about weight loss surgery, "before and after" photos were always such a motivator for me.  I remember searching through websites and articles before I had my surgery just hoping and dreaming I could have that kind of success.  Now I'm so proud with what I've done and that I can possibly inspire others to it, too.

I know some of you have also had some weight loss success.  You should be proud and submit your pictures, too! And, if you are just surfing around, starting to think about losing weight or weight loss surgery, you should take a look at it, as well.

You never know.  Maybe you'll be inspired... ; )

DIY: Gastric Bipass?

Have you guys heard about this?!?!?

A NJ based medical supply company started selling a "do it yourself" gastric bipass kit on Amazon.com!  As soon as it hit the news, I stared getting posts on my Facebook wall about it.  Although horrified, I kind of thought it was a joke...I mean, really?  Do people think this is something that is OK?

Then I saw this:



Finding out that this was a real thing was awful.  I honestly can't believe a medical company can be so reckless, while also playing on the emotions of people looking to have this surgery who may not be able to afford it otherwise.  Putting a kit like this is in the general public's hands is just unsafe and totally irresponsible!

So, the moral of the story....you shouldn't do your own gastric bipass, or any other surgical procedure, at home....no matter what kind of deal you get on Amazon.com!

Good grief...

My crazy life...

You may be asking where I have been.  Well, there are a couple of answers to that.

First off, as the one-year anniversary of my surgery quickly approaches, my life has become less centered on my surgery.  I eat how I eat, I work out regularly, and every once and a while something strikes me as interesting.  

That is when I write.  


Or at least jot it down to write about later.  This system is good and bad, but now that the stress of the holidays is over, hopefully I should be able to focus.  In the next few weeks, I'm really hoping to be able to write more. 

The past few weeks have also been a bit of a hard time for my family and me.  The week before Christmas, my Uncle Nick passed away after a long battle with heart disease and diabetes.  He was one of the strongest men I knew and one of my biggest cheerleaders through this surgery.  It was devastating. 

I loved him so much and miss him terribly.  Even though I wish he was still here, I know he suffered so much and is in a better place now.  But, no matter how many times I say that to myself, It doesn't make it any easier to get over his loss.  

So, this year I decided to run a 5k this year for diabetes research in my uncle’s name.  (I figure it will help me be less afraid of running it and keep me from putting it off)  I’m still trying to find one close by, so if any of you know of one in MA, please let me know!  More to come on that, so I’ll keep you posted.

Lastly, and on a completely happier note, I have officially met someone.  I know…crazy, right?  But the story how we met is even crazier. 

Who is he?  Well, he is one of my cousin’s best friends.  Yes…my cousin…the son of my uncle who just passed away.  We met at the funeral. 

Well...sort of.  


He spied me there and asked my cousin about me.  (Him actually hitting on me at a funeral would have been a way better story, but alas…he is a gentleman)  We got in touch a few days after and since then we have pretty much seen each other every day.  It's been amazing.

Was it coincidence?  Was it fate?  Really, I don't know.  But whatever the reason, I know that my uncle had a part in it.  

You guys, this guy is awesome and for some crazy reason he really seems to adore me!  I wish I could go into more detail, but I’ll just leave it at that.  Things seem to be moving quickly and we are seeing where it goes, but I’m fairly confident that I am at least in for a long-term relationship with a fantastic guy.  I couldn’t be happier.

SO, as you can see, my past few weeks have really had their ups and downs…but I've survived it all and now I can hopefully keep you guys better updated.  And when it feels right, I promise that I’ll introduce you to this mystery guy!  

Until then, I feel a lot of “dating after surgery” related posts in the future.  Be excited.  : ) 

Let it snow?...

I have a severe “love/hate” relationship with snow.

For me, the first snow of the season brings on excitement.  It seems so beautiful coming down out of the sky coating everything in a fresh white blanket.  It’s like everything is fresh and new and nothing can go wrong in the world.  And, every year, this excitement lasts for…mmmm….maybe 2-3 hours. 

After  the first few hours of the first big storm of the season the “oh my god I just remembered that snow sucks” anxiety sinks in.  Even more so now that I have a house and a job that I have to go to whether it is snowing or not!  (essential employees, are you with me on this?!?!?)

But the absolute worst thing about snow is shoveling.  Shoveling has to be the worst chore on the planet to do.  I hate it.  HATE it.   And last year, it actually made me cry.  This is my driveway last year. 

Now, since babies have to be born whether it is snowing or not, I have to go to work whether it is snowing or not…which means that sometimes I have to clear my driveway during a blizzard.  You can imagine how fun that is.  Last year, we really had only one big storm.  And I shoveled my driveway.  All by my self.  (see the picture above)  And cried for about 3 of the 4 hours it took me to do it.  I was sweaty, sore, and out of breath by the time I was done.  It was awful. 

I would love to tell you that this year I was so fit that I shoveled the whole thing in half the time without so much as a sniffle.  But screw that. 

This year, I bought a snow blower. 

It is awesome and most likely the best $700 I have ever spent in my entire life.  I had Mike come over and help me (one, because I hate large pieces of equipment that can injure me and two, because he LOVES it)  I know shoveling is good exercise and all that, but for my mental health, it had to be done.  And I would rather go to the gym and run for an hour than be outside in the cold with a shovel.  Hands down. 

 

But even though I was in “this year I have a snowblower” bliss, I realized that I had a big problem.  I had nothing to wear outside in the snow! 

Seriously, How did I not realize that I needed a coordinating outfit for snow removal?  UGH….So annoying.  Eventually, I settled on several sweatshirts with a windbreaker and an older pair of jeans.  I was freezing the entire time, but it worked.  Mike did the driveway with the snowblower, and I shoveled the walkways and the stairs.  

Now, I’m not sure if it was because it only took us an hour or so, or if it was because I actually have muscles this year, but I could really feel the difference.   The actual “shoveling” part wasn’t nearly as bad as normal, and besides a bit of frostbite, I remained uninjured.  And, while Mike finished the driveway (I think he felt bad I was so cold and sent me inside) I made pancakes and sausages for us for breakfast!  Delish!

So I guess I can like snow a little bit more now.  I still need to harass people to come use my snowblower for me, but I can live with that.  

And, hey...at least I get to go shopping for a new outfit!    

New day...new year...new resolutions...

For the first time ever…ever in my life…my New Year’s resolution is not to lose weight.

I almost don’t know what to do with myself. 

This was always a no-brainer.  Weight loss has been my “go-to” resolution for as long as I can remember.  I mean, it was the obvious thing in my life that needed to change.  But, now that I have achieved that goal in my life, I can step back and really see what else I can improve in myself. 

So, this year I decided to look inside.

This year I have decided to try and be a more optimistic person and to stop complaining so much about what I don’t have or haven’t done.  I know I am a complainer and it is fairly obvious when I am not happy and don’t get my way.  It is a trait I don’t like in others and I no longer want to see in myself.  

That being said, I also want to try be less judgmental of people.  Sometimes, I can be very opinionated about what I think is right and how others should live their life and I really want to work on accepting people for who they are…good and bad.  It’s not my job to try and change people.  Not to mention that expecting people to change all the time hasn’t really gotten me very far…except to make me complain more. 

See resolution number one.

Eleven has always been my favorite number.  And in my life, eleven is the number that has always brought me good luck.  All of the blood, sweat, and tears that I went through in 2010 has really set me up for what I can only imagine will be a fantastic 2011!  I am really optimistic that great things are going to happen for me and I can’t wait to see what this year brings. 

It’s going to be amazing…I just know it.

Happy New Year, everyone!