My Lunch Time Walk - for Francisco and the rest of the gang

[Guest guest]

Today, I struggled but not for the reasons that you think. I could

not decide if I would walk in the parking garage structure or walk

around Lake Merritt. Decisions decisions. I opted to go outside as

it is warm today. Old thoughts crept in and I almost did not go.

Thoughts of what will people say when they see me walking around the

lake. I put my head phones on and began listening to Keys and

my mind began to get off others. I am not sure why I worried so much

about someone seeing me. That was a constant fear when I was 250

pounds and it should not have even been a factor now that I am 140

pounds. It is true that we have to retrain out thought process and

it is work let me tell you. As I walked, I sung out loud (can you

believe that) which is something you would have never caught be doing

presurgery, especially out in the open. I did not even care who

heard me. I might add that I have a pretty nice voice. I even ran

into this man on a bike that stopped me to ask me out on a lunch date

(lol). He was very respectful. He told me that if he did not ask me

that he probably would not have the opportunity to meet his soul mate

(I chuckled and blushed). I chuckled because it just felt good

because of the way he approached me. He was not aggressive or rude

or nasty. He was sweet about it. I kindly told him that I thank him

but that I was married and did not think it would be appropriate. He

said he understood and asked how long I had been married. I told him

18 years (I have been married for 16 but with my husband for 18 and I

count it all). He said you look awfully young to be married at such

a young age. He said you look no more than 25ish and I said I am 36

and I thank you for the compliments. Imagine this surgery has taken

the looks of 10 years off my life. I get that a lot. I had a

fabulous walk. The sun was out and the geese were there and the

little puppies. I felt great. I know that I looked great and the

walk was a breeze. My feet did not bother me nor my shins. That is

something that bothered me because I am extremely flat feet, not to

mention that the weight played a part and the fact that the walk

around the lake is so very uneven. I came back and enjoyed my fourth

protein shake for the day and I am pretty content. I just had a

moment where everything about today, the walk and the people was

simply beautiful. I truly felt happy and like crying only this time

it was not because I was sad about how I looked. I felt beautiful

and that is a blessed thing. Thanks for listening to me. I just had

to post and let you know where I was emotionally.

Pam Marsh

[Guest guest]

Pam,

Sounds wonderful. I am glad you chose to walk outside today. I am thinking of

bringing my tennis shoes and doing the same thing here at work, I don't have the

beautiful sites, but that is okay. Thanks for sharing

---- sweetnlow20012001 wrote:

[Guest guest]

Pam This is such a happy memory, these are the ones that make us stay on track. This new life is such a blessing. Take care. Donnasweetnlow20012001 wrote: Today, I struggled but not for the reasons that you think. I could not decide if I would walk in the parking garage structure or walk around Lake Merritt. Decisions decisions. I opted to go outside as it is warm today. Old thoughts crept in and I almost did not go. Thoughts of what will people say when they see me walking around the lake. I put my head phones on and began listening to Keys and my mind began to get off others. I am not sure why I worried so much about someone seeing me. That was a constant fear when I was 250 pounds and it should not

have even been a factor now that I am 140 pounds. It is true that we have to retrain out thought process and it is work let me tell you. As I walked, I sung out loud (can you believe that) which is something you would have never caught be doing presurgery, especially out in the open. I did not even care who heard me. I might add that I have a pretty nice voice. I even ran into this man on a bike that stopped me to ask me out on a lunch date (lol). He was very respectful. He told me that if he did not ask me that he probably would not have the opportunity to meet his soul mate (I chuckled and blushed). I chuckled because it just felt good because of the way he approached me. He was not aggressive or rude or nasty. He was sweet about it. I kindly told him that I thank him but that I was married and did not think it would be appropriate. He said he understood and

asked how long I had been married. I told him 18 years (I have been married for 16 but with my husband for 18 and I count it all). He said you look awfully young to be married at such a young age. He said you look no more than 25ish and I said I am 36 and I thank you for the compliments. Imagine this surgery has taken the looks of 10 years off my life. I get that a lot. I had a fabulous walk. The sun was out and the geese were there and the little puppies. I felt great. I know that I looked great and the walk was a breeze. My feet did not bother me nor my shins. That is something that bothered me because I am extremely flat feet, not to mention that the weight played a part and the fact that the walk around the lake is so very uneven. I came back and enjoyed my fourth protein shake for the day and I am pretty content. I just had a moment where everything

about today, the walk and the people was simply beautiful. I truly felt happy and like crying only this time it was not because I was sad about how I looked. I felt beautiful and that is a blessed thing. Thanks for listening to me. I just had to post and let you know where I was emotionally. Pam Marsh Donna JordonDSJordon@...

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[Guest guest]

What a wonderful day for you! But then, you've worked very hard and

you really deserve a wonderful day! Thanks for sharing this, Pam. It

sure brightened MY day to hear it.

Cathy C.

>

> Today, I struggled but not for the reasons that you think. I could

> not decide if I would walk in the parking garage structure or walk

> around Lake Merritt. Decisions decisions. I opted to go outside as

> it is warm today. Old thoughts crept in and I almost did not go.

> Thoughts of what will people say when they see me walking around the

> lake. I put my head phones on and began listening to Keys

and

> my mind began to get off others. I am not sure why I worried so

much

> about someone seeing me. That was a constant fear when I was 250

> pounds and it should not have even been a factor now that I am 140

> pounds. It is true that we have to retrain out thought process and

> it is work let me tell you. As I walked, I sung out loud (can you

> believe that) which is something you would have never caught be

doing

> presurgery, especially out in the open. I did not even care who

> heard me. I might add that I have a pretty nice voice. I even ran

> into this man on a bike that stopped me to ask me out on a lunch

date

> (lol). He was very respectful. He told me that if he did not ask

me

> that he probably would not have the opportunity to meet his soul

mate

> (I chuckled and blushed). I chuckled because it just felt good

> because of the way he approached me. He was not aggressive or rude

> or nasty. He was sweet about it. I kindly told him that I thank

him

> but that I was married and did not think it would be appropriate.

He

> said he understood and asked how long I had been married. I told

him

> 18 years (I have been married for 16 but with my husband for 18 and

I

> count it all). He said you look awfully young to be married at such

> a young age. He said you look no more than 25ish and I said I am 36

> and I thank you for the compliments. Imagine this surgery has taken

> the looks of 10 years off my life. I get that a lot. I had a

> fabulous walk. The sun was out and the geese were there and the

> little puppies. I felt great. I know that I looked great and the

> walk was a breeze. My feet did not bother me nor my shins. That is

> something that bothered me because I am extremely flat feet, not to

> mention that the weight played a part and the fact that the walk

> around the lake is so very uneven. I came back and enjoyed my

fourth

> protein shake for the day and I am pretty content. I just had a

> moment where everything about today, the walk and the people was

> simply beautiful. I truly felt happy and like crying only this time

> it was not because I was sad about how I looked. I felt beautiful

> and that is a blessed thing. Thanks for listening to me. I just

had

> to post and let you know where I was emotionally.

>

> Pam Marsh

>

[Guest guest]

That is wonderful Pam!!! Every moment like this makes it all worth

it.

>

> Today, I struggled but not for the reasons that you think. I could

> not decide if I would walk in the parking garage structure or walk

> around Lake Merritt. Decisions decisions. I opted to go outside

as

> it is warm today. Old thoughts crept in and I almost did not go.

> Thoughts of what will people say when they see me walking around

the

> lake. I put my head phones on and began listening to Keys

and

> my mind began to get off others. I am not sure why I worried so

much

> about someone seeing me. That was a constant fear when I was 250

> pounds and it should not have even been a factor now that I am 140

> pounds. It is true that we have to retrain out thought process and

> it is work let me tell you. As I walked, I sung out loud (can you

> believe that) which is something you would have never caught be

doing

> presurgery, especially out in the open. I did not even care who

> heard me. I might add that I have a pretty nice voice. I even ran

> into this man on a bike that stopped me to ask me out on a lunch

date

> (lol). He was very respectful. He told me that if he did not ask

me

> that he probably would not have the opportunity to meet his soul

mate

> (I chuckled and blushed). I chuckled because it just felt good

> because of the way he approached me. He was not aggressive or rude

> or nasty. He was sweet about it. I kindly told him that I thank

him

> but that I was married and did not think it would be appropriate.

He

> said he understood and asked how long I had been married. I told

him

> 18 years (I have been married for 16 but with my husband for 18 and

I

> count it all). He said you look awfully young to be married at

such

> a young age. He said you look no more than 25ish and I said I am

36

> and I thank you for the compliments. Imagine this surgery has

taken

> the looks of 10 years off my life. I get that a lot. I had a

> fabulous walk. The sun was out and the geese were there and the

> little puppies. I felt great. I know that I looked great and the

> walk was a breeze. My feet did not bother me nor my shins. That

is

> something that bothered me because I am extremely flat feet, not to

> mention that the weight played a part and the fact that the walk

> around the lake is so very uneven. I came back and enjoyed my

fourth

> protein shake for the day and I am pretty content. I just had a

> moment where everything about today, the walk and the people was

> simply beautiful. I truly felt happy and like crying only this

time

> it was not because I was sad about how I looked. I felt beautiful

> and that is a blessed thing. Thanks for listening to me. I just

had

> to post and let you know where I was emotionally.

>

> Pam Marsh

>

[Guest guest]

That is wonderful Pam!!! Every moment like this makes it all worth

it.

>

> Today, I struggled but not for the reasons that you think. I could

> not decide if I would walk in the parking garage structure or walk

> around Lake Merritt. Decisions decisions. I opted to go outside

as

> it is warm today. Old thoughts crept in and I almost did not go.

> Thoughts of what will people say when they see me walking around

the

> lake. I put my head phones on and began listening to Keys

and

> my mind began to get off others. I am not sure why I worried so

much

> about someone seeing me. That was a constant fear when I was 250

> pounds and it should not have even been a factor now that I am 140

> pounds. It is true that we have to retrain out thought process and

> it is work let me tell you. As I walked, I sung out loud (can you

> believe that) which is something you would have never caught be

doing

> presurgery, especially out in the open. I did not even care who

> heard me. I might add that I have a pretty nice voice. I even ran

> into this man on a bike that stopped me to ask me out on a lunch

date

> (lol). He was very respectful. He told me that if he did not ask

me

> that he probably would not have the opportunity to meet his soul

mate

> (I chuckled and blushed). I chuckled because it just felt good

> because of the way he approached me. He was not aggressive or rude

> or nasty. He was sweet about it. I kindly told him that I thank

him

> but that I was married and did not think it would be appropriate.

He

> said he understood and asked how long I had been married. I told

him

> 18 years (I have been married for 16 but with my husband for 18 and

I

> count it all). He said you look awfully young to be married at

such

> a young age. He said you look no more than 25ish and I said I am

36

> and I thank you for the compliments. Imagine this surgery has

taken

> the looks of 10 years off my life. I get that a lot. I had a

> fabulous walk. The sun was out and the geese were there and the

> little puppies. I felt great. I know that I looked great and the

> walk was a breeze. My feet did not bother me nor my shins. That

is

> something that bothered me because I am extremely flat feet, not to

> mention that the weight played a part and the fact that the walk

> around the lake is so very uneven. I came back and enjoyed my

fourth

> protein shake for the day and I am pretty content. I just had a

> moment where everything about today, the walk and the people was

> simply beautiful. I truly felt happy and like crying only this

time

> it was not because I was sad about how I looked. I felt beautiful

> and that is a blessed thing. Thanks for listening to me. I just

had

> to post and let you know where I was emotionally.

>

> Pam Marsh

>

[Guest guest]

Pam sounds like a good milestone for your memory book of the changes in your life. I bet you do sing like an angel ! Glad to know that your spirits were uplifted and your transformation brought before you to reflect upon it ! good for you ! Colleenhollotwomn@... wrote: Pam, Sounds wonderful. I am glad you chose to walk outside today. I am thinking of bringing my tennis shoes and doing the same thing here at work, I don't have the beautiful sites, but that is okay. Thanks for sharing---- sweetnlow20012001 wrote:

Colleen

[Guest guest]

Pam:

It's so nice to get out and feel part of the world. And Lake Merritt

is soooo beautiful.

It's funny, the first time I ran outside (instead of on the tread

mill) I was afraid people were looking at me.

Now the fear is gone, and if they look, oh well, let 'em look. There

is something powerful about going outside and being active.

Enjoying the day without pain is such a precious gift. Pam, I'm so

glad that you gave it to yourself.

Francisco

>

> Today, I struggled but not for the reasons that you think. I could

> not decide if I would walk in the parking garage structure or walk

> around Lake Merritt. Decisions decisions. I opted to go outside

as

> it is warm today. Old thoughts crept in and I almost did not go.

> Thoughts of what will people say when they see me walking around

the

> lake. I put my head phones on and began listening to Keys

and

> my mind began to get off others. I am not sure why I worried so

much

> about someone seeing me. That was a constant fear when I was 250

> pounds and it should not have even been a factor now that I am 140

> pounds. It is true that we have to retrain out thought process and

> it is work let me tell you. As I walked, I sung out loud (can you

> believe that) which is something you would have never caught be

doing

> presurgery, especially out in the open. I did not even care who

> heard me. I might add that I have a pretty nice voice. I even ran

> into this man on a bike that stopped me to ask me out on a lunch

date

> (lol). He was very respectful. He told me that if he did not ask

me

> that he probably would not have the opportunity to meet his soul

mate

> (I chuckled and blushed). I chuckled because it just felt good

> because of the way he approached me. He was not aggressive or rude

> or nasty. He was sweet about it. I kindly told him that I thank

him

> but that I was married and did not think it would be appropriate.

He

> said he understood and asked how long I had been married. I told

him

> 18 years (I have been married for 16 but with my husband for 18 and

I

> count it all). He said you look awfully young to be married at

such

> a young age. He said you look no more than 25ish and I said I am

36

> and I thank you for the compliments. Imagine this surgery has

taken

> the looks of 10 years off my life. I get that a lot. I had a

> fabulous walk. The sun was out and the geese were there and the

> little puppies. I felt great. I know that I looked great and the

> walk was a breeze. My feet did not bother me nor my shins. That

is

> something that bothered me because I am extremely flat feet, not to

> mention that the weight played a part and the fact that the walk

> around the lake is so very uneven. I came back and enjoyed my

fourth

> protein shake for the day and I am pretty content. I just had a

> moment where everything about today, the walk and the people was

> simply beautiful. I truly felt happy and like crying only this

time

> it was not because I was sad about how I looked. I felt beautiful

> and that is a blessed thing. Thanks for listening to me. I just

had

> to post and let you know where I was emotionally.

>

> Pam Marsh

>