BatWings!

So, my least favorite part of my body?  My batwings! (Batwings also know as upper arm fat.) I own it and I know they are something I inherited genetically from Granny Duckett! Yesterday, while shopping at Boutique (yes, I can shop in them now!) I saw a shirt and thought I can pull it off with my already present batwing arms and maybe I can do it with leggings! Umm NO. Sometimes, you need to know just because you have lost a lot of weight, they carry the outfit in your size and a style looks good on  others doesn't mean you should wear it. I feel like my arms look even bigger.  I am NOT sad or depressed- it actually reminds me the journey is not over. So, for my friends and coworkers and pull off the style please rock it for me. 

Perfection: Not Found Here

I don't talk about the struggles or temptations very much.. They are there. Anyone who walks through life and says they aren't struggling then beware!!!  I feel like though through all my preparations I was warned that there would be some tough times. I don't hate the struggles and I realize that it's part of the process.. 

It's been four months since I have had a soda. I miss it. I miss it alot. Actually, I only miss Dr. Pepper. I don't try to avoid it because it's everywhere. People say oh take one drink and you will find out it's too sweet or your taste buds have changed. Yeah, I don't believe it and it's not worth the risk! No worries- I do not have any plans to try it out anytime soon. 

I also have cookie cravings. I am not even a cookie fan. It's so weird. 

Then there are days when eating (in general) is so challenging. It's okay to not eat all the time. 

My WLS friends warn you about how awkward clothing shopping can be after weight loss. I can't explain it except that everything that felt "normal" for so long feels awkward now and it's mainly with pants. I am going through the same thing with Lauren. She would be happy just wearing gym shorts everyday.. ha! 

We saw one of Maddie's drs this week. He was in complete shock. He wrote down my doctor's name, my information and he was amazed by the results. I find that most doctors are fearful of weight loss surgery. I make a point to share with any doctor that will listen. Not everyone who has surgery has a miserable experience. Does it happen to some? yes. Can miserable experiences happen as part of life? Yes. 

Some people keep suggesting that I am not losing as fast because I am working out with weights. You know the myth that says muscle weighs more than fat? Well, this article here sums it pretty well.

A pound is a pound is a pound—unless you're defying the laws of physics. No substance weighs more then another one unless it actually weighs more. Simply put: One pound of fat weighs the same as one pound of muscle. “The difference is that fat is bulkier than muscle tissue and takes up more space under the skin,” Greenspan says. In fact, one pound of fat is roughly the size of a small grapefruit; one pound of muscle is about the size of a tangerine. But that tangerine is active tissue, meaning that it burns more calories at rest than fat does. 

Honestly, I don't care about how "fast" I am losing it. I feel pretty awesome at the rate of return. No offense to anyone but, losing weight is a slow and steady process. I have never just lost 10 pounds in one month even when I tried. 

Working out is still a good thing. This past week and next week have been super busy. I only worked out once last week but, I knew it was going to be a challenge to make it all work with our crazy life.  

Eating looks like this:
Egg/Sausage/cheese burrito (we make them ourselves)  or leftover dinner
or if we eat out I eat a few bites of omelet with bacon. 
a cup of decaf coffee or decaf tea

Snack:
Banana

lunch
a little bit of Soup, a little bit of sandwich or a protein bar or smoothie

Snack Protein bar or nuts or beef jerky

Dinner
Hit or miss
Seafood when we eat out. 
a few bites of whatever is cooked 
with a glass of  v-8 juice

So, yeah life is not always a bed of roses but, the results of losing 80 pounds makes it so worth it.   No complaining from me. Just the overwhelming feeling of being happy and blessed to have this journey. 

Support Group: Critically Important

Each time I visit my weight loss surgeon he asks "have you been to support group" and I reply no. Now, I can say YEES!

They also have a support group for those pre-surgery (I think). Our group meets at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock.  People drive 3 hours to attend these meetings!!!!!  Check out our group "Diminishing Returns" by clicking here or you can asking me to add you. . I should make sure you understand that it's NOT related to Baptist Health or Baptist Hospital or endorsed by weight loss surgeons. :) 

At the weight loss seminars, they tell you that you are 70% more likely to successful if you attend support group. That is a pretty big statistic. So, I have committed myself to attending 4 times a year. Well, I never dreamed that I would actually enjoy going to support group. It made me realize this: we all have struggles some are just more apparent than others. Just to mention a few: alcoholism, smoking, overeating, substance abuse, gambling, pornagraphy just to name a few..

According to Obesity Helps (.com) Relapse happens. In fact, it happens a lot. Researchers have found that 90% of alcoholics who go through treatment relapse within the first four years of sobriety.  A million people go on diets and start exercise programs every day and a million people give them up every day. That’s just life. The common reason those who avoid relapse is their commitment to keep working at it. They make sobriety and healthy living their first priority. They don’t make excuses. They are committed to a better life and nothing's going to take that away from it happening.

Obviously, I am in the honeymoon stage of my weight loss journey. I am not fearful of relapsing this year or next year. But, 3 or 4 years I defiantly know that if I am not committed and lose focus it could be a reality. For now though, I will continue to work on becoming a healthier person.