1 year Post Gastric Bypass

BEFORE

AFTER

I'm still standin' ...

Ha - funny title but I was trying to be quippy and that song was the only thing I could come up with!  :-)

This will be a quick post but since I haven't logged on for a while I thought a brief catch-up was in order.  Life is going so well and I'm feeling great!  I'm continuing to work toward eliminating my last 23 pounds for good!  Woo Hoo --  sooo close I can taste it!  (Ha - that kinda' defeats the purpose ... tasting anything may not be a good idea!)  ;-)

Eventually life will slow down and I will once again, keep you ...

'posted!' 

My Bucket List :-)

1.   Meet Robin McGraw
2.   Grow (and ultimately plant an avocado tree)

3.   Visit New York (maybe watch the ball drop on New Years Eve)
4.   Visit Central Park
5.   Attend a Broadway Play
6.   Visit Vermont in the Fall
7.   Visit the Hershey’s Chocolate Factory in Hershey, PA
8.   Visit Niagra Falls
9.   Have Roux n Y Gastric Bypass
10. Go on a luxury cruise
11. Visit Las Vegas (w/ Chuck)
12. Go to Water Works Park
13. Win a Sweepstakes
14. Sell Parker Street Property
15. Pay off debt [if accrued]
16. Drive cross country (preferably in a motor home – 5th wheel)
17. Reach my goal weight of between 125-135 pounds
18. Purchase a new/stylish wardrobe
19. Get a tummy tuck
20. Get a new master bedroom set
21. Take the whole family to Disney World
22. Visit Hawaii with Chuck
23. Take the whole family to Hawaii
24. Take the whole family to Epcot Center
25. Visit British Columbia
26. Visit Germany
27. Go inside the East German (Berlin) wall
28. Visit Nuremburg/Rothenburg
29. Drive across the Autobahn
30. Ride on a camel
31. Milk a cow
32. See a litter of puppies or kittens being born
33. Write and publish a novel
34. Play "Red Rover, Red Rover" (ha)
35. Go paddle boating
36. Run a 5K and/or Marathon
37. Volunteer at “Special Olympics”
38. Give someone a large sum of money anonymously
39. Get all photographs off of home computers
40. Finish all scrapbooking albums
41. Stay in a cabin (by a creek) in the woods
42. Ride small motorcycle (like when in Colorado)
43. Own a home with a built in pool
44. Own a home with a game/family room
45. Establish a scholarship for a high schooler (annually if possible but at least a one time!)
46. Travel in First Class
47. Shop at an exclusive store in New York or Hollywood and buy something (something little!)
48. Go tandem biking
49. Get to know a homeless person
50. Write a newspaper article and get it published
51. Write a magazine article or story and get it published
52. Make up seven (7) lunches and hand out to homeless/needy
53. Learn a new dance
54. Watch the launch of a space shuttle
55. Volunteer to serve a Thanksgiving meal at a Rescue Mission/Homeless Shelter
56. Work with Habitat for Humanity to build a house
57. Go fishing and CATCH a fish
58. Sleep under the stars w/o a tent
59. Stay at an exclusive 5 Star Hotel (Penthouse Suite)
60. Visit Paris, France
61. Visit Australia
62. Go on a Gondola Ride (under the arch/bridge) ~ be serenaded
63. Own a home with a wrap-around porch and swingset
64. Sip hot cocoa in front of a fireplace at a ski resort
65. Get my college degree
66. Lead an aerobics class
67. Work (or volunteer my time) at a local high school
68. Publish a book of poetry
69. Clean out garage completely – organize it
70. Take whole family to a Benihana Restaurant
71. Take whole family on a big "family vacation" somewhere
72. Order Room Service at a fancy hotel
73. Wear a swimsuit AFTER tummy tuck
74. Shop for lingerie @ Victoria’s Secret
75. Go to Yosemite with Chuck
76. Visit the Grand Canyon
77. Visit Greece
78. Be the best grandma – with “traditions” that my grandkids anticipate!
79. Quit work and do only what I enjoy/love doing
80. Take a bubble bath (candles, head pillow, etc.)
81. Learn how to dive into a swimming pool
82. Be home to care for grandkids on a moment’s notice
83. Get a small ladybug tattoo on my right foot
84. Remove oak tree in backyard
85. Plant a garden
86. Rent a kayak and enjoy a day in the water/sun!
87. Visit Sweden
88. Fully landscape backyard
89. Write a poem and get it published
90. Meet Dr. Phil
91. Meet Oprah
92. Make donuts at a donut shop
93. Go skydiving
94. Play "Red Light/Green Light"
95. Play "Dodgeball" again
96. Play "Hide & Seek"
97. Play "Capture the Flag"
98. Play "Freeze Tag"
99.
100 ....  WHAT WILL IT BE???  ;-)

I really don't know what tomorrow holds ... but I know Who holds tomorrow ...

Wow - I found out yesterday that a PA who works for the surgeon who performed my spine surgery 4 years ago had a diving accident on July 4th and is now paralyzed.

I don't know him well but I know he's a great guy and he went over and above when I was recovering from my surgery.  Here he is - a young man himself - husband to a young bride and father to two young boys (I think they're both under 4 because his wife gave birth to their first son shortly after my surgery in 2006).  There he was - simply spending the holiday with his family ... enjoying time together.  He took one simple dive - probably a dive he'd performed a million times over the years but this time:  boom. 

His life has now changed forever.

In the blink of an eye!

Later today I go to Winco and I notice two teens in the line directly in front of me (both appeared to be under 16 years of age) - the boy is bagging the groceries that his sister has just loaded onto the belt.  She has the credit card and is waiting for the cashier to give her the final tally of their grocery bill. 

I find myself wondering, "Where is the adult in their life?"

She wheels up a few moments later ... a paraplegic.  (sigh*)  She had some use of her hands to activate her electric wheelchair but she had a brace around her neck and her legs were braced.  The two teens helping were so mature and funloving.  Their mom (or whomever this adult was to them) had done a great job raising them.

I was humbled.

Every morning when the alarm goes off I want to hit the snooze, roll over and go back to sleep.  I know I should walk or run or do a combination of both ... but I want to sleep in.  I get up because I know I should, because I have a goal, because I have to.

Tomorrow I will get up because ... I CAN! 

What the physician's assistant or this woman shopping tonight wouldn't give to hear that alarm sound and bound out of bed to take a brisk walk every morning.

So yes - again - I will walk for them tomorrow morning.  And I will pray that both will receive a miraculous healing. 

Life is short ... we don't know what tomorrow may bring.  We take moments for granted while we're making memories.

I hope I will begin to be more conscious of all the gifts I have in my life - my family, my home, my health, my ability to move ... just to name a few.

I will close for tonight but, as always, I will keep you ...

'posted'  ;-)

10 Steps to Start Running | Active.com

10 Steps to Start Running Active.com

This author (Jeff Galloway) has been HIGHLY recommended ... I've seen his name mentioned in articles I've read in magazines (such as Runner's World), recommended by the owner of Fleet Foot in Redding, CA, and on other websites I've browsed on the net.  Here you go:
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Active Expert Jeff Galloway is a former Olympian, leading running coach and bestselling author of Marathon, Half-Marathon, Running--A Year Round Plan, Walking--The Complete Book and Galloway's Book on Running, 2nd Ed. These are available, autographed, from http://www.runinjuryfree.com/. Join Jeff's blog: http://www.jeffgallowayblog.com/."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(NOTE: I just read, copied and pasted his bio in here and I'm pretty stoked he has a blog to follow! I'm joinin'!!) ;-)

Week 1

:-)

Good Morning (or Good Day ... or Good Evening ... depending on when you read this ... whoever "YOU" happen to be!) ~

Today marks the end of Week 1.  I have decided I like walking alright ... but running definitely isn't my first love.

Hmmm.

But - I want to participate in a 5k so ... I can't just get out there and do it one day ... I must train and plan ahead. 

Beyond that 5k, the invite to Georgia next summer is sooo inviting.  I would love to participate in that Iron Girl with my niece (and any other family members that decide they are game back there).  ha

And then ... beyond that ... I want to figure out what it is, fitness wise, that I enjoy.  I have always been intrigued by kayaking, paddle boating, I like bike riding but I'm not sure about bike riding/cycling for sport?  I LOVE LOVE LOVED aerobics ... especially step aerobics.  It sounds like the "latest/greatest craze" these days is Zumba and I think that incorporates a latin/salsa style music which I do not enjoy listening to.  I like 70-80's rock ... fast rock, easy listening ... but those oldies but goodies.  I wonder if there are any step aerobics classes out there like that or if I should hit eBay to see if I can find a step aerobics DVD that has what I'm looking for?

Decisions ... decisions.

Like the decision I need to make about going out front and weeding the yard.  I know I would sweat out there ... there are some bushes that really need to be trimmed (or removed).  It's already showing signs that it's going to be a hot one today ... no time like the present to get a jump on yard work I suppose.

Until later ... as always, I'll keep you ...

'posted'  ;-)

:-)

This morning I finally saw a number under 150 pounds.  Okay, it was 149 ... so not "that much" under 150 pounds but ... I'll take it!  ;-)

I have 24 pounds left to go before reaching my personal goal of 125 pounds ... that's do-able and this makes me smile!

I definitely think the workouts and training are helping ... I'm finding that weight loss is becoming secondary to exercise right now (i.e. - I'm not thinking so much about losing pounds as I am about getting in shape, toning up, preparing for a future race).  As a result, a fun side effect of the training and movement is weight loss and getting to my ultimate goal faster!  Woo Hoo.

Yep!  That's a good thing.

I'm all out of words for now but, as always, I'll keep you ...

'posted'!  ;-)