3 Year Post Op

I decided to look back through this blog and “re-live” my journey in my own words.  It’s been very interesting to read through this.  One post really stuck with me though and that was my 2 year post-op post.  It was posted a few weeks after my two year anniversary  because it was hard for me to write just as this 3 year post is difficult for me to write.  I always thought that when I would hit these anniversaries I would be able to show off all the work I’ve done and be proud.  Well I am not proud of where I am right now HOWEVER, I am working very hard on being proud because even if I’m not at goal weight I am still HEALTHLY compared to where I was three years ago!

I don’t know if I’ll ever actual get back to “goal weight” and I am not focusing on that currently anyways.  I just want my clothes to fit well again! LOL I am not going to allow myself to even step on the scale, that is not what it is about any longer for  me, it’s just about eating right, getting exercise in and feeling better in my own skin! 

It’s crazy to think how much has changed in three years, in five years, in the last ten years!  I have ALWAYS struggled with my weight but I wasn’t even that “upset” about it as I was just over three years ago and what brought me to have surgery.  I’ve said it often and will continue to say, I am SO HAPPY that I decided to have surgery.  I do not regret this decision and never have and I doubt I ever will! 

Talking to Shane the other night about how it is Great that we can only eat X amount of food now instead of XXX amount of food however that shouldn’t be what its all about.  Yes, that is great that we can only eat a little but eating a little of CRAP gets me to where I am today – not where I want to be!  I’m sure weight wise I’m up at least 20lbs, if not closer to 30 at this point but like I said, it’s not about the number on the scale – it is  about the number on the size of my jeans! Hahaha I’m NOT buying any more, I MUST fit back into the ones I have!

So I SUCK at reaching goals and I make them and then never do anything with them.  Yes, I have completed a few goals here and there but the number of goals I have said I have set and not reached is far higher!  I’m trying to not say “My Goal Is XYZ” but rather just say it’s time to get back on track with eating better (more protein and less sugary junk!) and get back to working out a few times a week.

I have set a goal that I KNOW I will reach and that is in the year 2014 I want a run a Full Marathon! 26.2 miles!  HOLY CRAP AM I CRAZY???!!  Yep, I think I am!  I learned a lot about myself when I did training for a ½ Marathon and I Liked who I was then and I’m ready to be that person again!

The person I have been for the last year is not who I am and I need to find me again! The blog post from my 2 year anniversary says a lot about my work and how much I hate it and that has made me lose myself over the last year and it’s sad.  I am hoping that VERY Soon I can get out of here and forget this year happened – work wise at least!

Okay, so here we are, 3 years post-op and I am mostly happy and I am still Healthy but could always be better!  It’s time to put the Girl Scout cookies down and focus!  LET’S GO!

So you all know that I'm doing the Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon in April and that I joined Team in Training to do this!  My fundraising efforts are going well and I'm over half way to my goal! YAY!  I am LOVING the training and all the AWESOME people I have had the honor to meet!

Last night while sitting at home a donation came in through my website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/md/nikewhlf13/dlabayfjlc

And the message I recieved after the message said everything.....



I was going to go anonymous, or leave the amount we donated off, but, we are just regular people, we live paycheck to paycheck, just like most people. With all the people in my house, what I donated was literally ordering my family Chinese twice in one month (We ordered it tonight, and it was actually more than half of what we donated.)
I wanted people to see that it doesn't take much. Use Coupons at the commissary; eat out a few less times a month. Just THIS month. And even if you're not ACTIVELY able to participate, you "join" the group and help the cause. And that feels GOOD, no matter who you are.
And next month, maybe I'll cook a few extra meals at home, cut back on some of the sweets and actually bake a cake; make some iced tea instead of buying sodas. And whether they know me or not, if I can do it, why can't they? They don't have to donate as much
as I did, but if the really look at what they blow money on, and what it COULD be used for, at that point...it' s kind of a no-brainer. How could you NOT do SOMETHING??

I have been blessed to have 4 healthy children and 3 perfect grandchildren. I believe in Karma. I believe that what goes around comes around, and in doing what I can NOW, while I can, for others who need my support, God forbid anything happen to one of my babies...I can only pray that my generosity will be returned in a form that will help the future of my family and theirs.
This is not about me and "who could donate the most money", it's about Shannon, it's about Shannon's family. It's about my dear friend Kylie (who lost her battle against cancer last year) and Katie and Jacob and the beautiful granddaughter Kylie got to spend a month in Heaven with, laughing and tickling and playing with before she brought her down and blessed her son with his first child.

But mostly, It's about teaching my family that by making a few small changes in YOUR life, you can make a HUGE impact in SOMEONE else'. Because even though they are "Grown", I still have a few things left I can teach them. Even if the impact is just a monetary donation that shows someone you care about, that you believe in them.

WOW, words escape me (we know that doesn't happen often!)  This is EXACTLY what it is all about!

Running for a Cause!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/md/nikewhlf13/dlabayfjlc

I have joined Team in Training and am training to run the Nike's Women's 1/2 Marathon in Washington D.C. on the 28th of April!  We had the Kick Off Breakfast this morning and it was AMAZING!  I am SO LUCKY to have a team behind me helping and supporting me through this whole process plus my AMAZING friends!  The Nike race was a lottery to get bibs and how freaking Awesome is it that ALL of my racing girls (Sarah, Jess and Sylvia) all got bibs for it!  Theresa is also doing TNT with me so I am Beyond blessed to have so much support through this!

NOW it's time to Raise Funds!  I am trying to raise $2000 by the 8th of March.  75% of all funds go for Cancer Research!  HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!!!!!!!  There is So many NEW ideas/cures for different cancers right now and that wouldn't be possilbe it it wasn't for fundraising done by people such as those like me doing TNT!

I have decided that I will have a towel/hankerchief with Everyone's name who donates or donates in the honor of someone while I run so that I am Running WITH each and every one of you who help me along the way!