Success in a different way!

[Guest guest]

That is such a great feeling when you can do things like that. Keep up the good work and you will be snowboarding before you know it.

Ramona

[Guest guest]

My family and I are finishing our week's stay up at Lake Tahoe for

Spring Break. I will be heading down the mountain tomorrow morning.

We have had a fabulous week, complete with over 3 feet of snow on

Easter! My mom and dad and one of my sisters have been here this

week as well, and it has been great to spend time together. They

can't get over my weight loss. I last saw them at Christmas, when I

was still working on my 10% - and no one said anything about me

loosing weight at the time and they didn't know that I was

considering surgery. It's so good to hear their praise, because

though everyone tells me how much progress I am making, it is

difficult for me to see it myself. I have had 2 WOW moments this

week that I am so greatful for, and I just have to share them.

1) I was able to go into Raley's and buy a pair of cheap snowpants

right off the rack! Admittedly, they are still much bigger than I

want them to be! However, I didn't have to special mailorder any

clothing and that felt wonderful!!!!!! They were cheap too,

especially considering what they would have been had I ordered

them! Being able to buy these snowpants made #2 possible!

2) I was able to play with my 3 girls and husband in the snow. We

went sledding several times, and I was able to sled to the bottom

and walk the sled back up to the top - at an elevation of 7800 feet

even! We have had so much fun! No more fat mom just standing at

the bottom of the hill and watching. My youngest 2 daughters went

snowboarding for the first time yesterday, and I was able to chase

after them and encourage them on the bunny slope and I wasn't even

tired! I told them that I will definitely be snowboarding with them

next year! This is one of my major reasons for having surgery - I

wanted to be a more active and fun mom and encourage my kids to lead

an active and healthy life - it is all coming to fruition! I am so

excited! It's been so worth it!

I brought workout clothing with me, though I have found the

elevation a bit challenging this time. Our timeshare is at 7800'

and it has really knocked my socks off. I've been having real

trouble with lightheadedness since the surgery and it has been

especially bad up here. So no workouts for me. I'm really hoping

that just kind of shaking up my activity with different things will

have helped to break my plateau. I'll be curious to get on the scale

when I get home. I've been true to my plan in spite of the

ridiculous amount of food that my dad planned. Nary a drink either -

which was especially hard when we went out to dinner at Chevy's. A

margarita would have been great with the chips and salsa (MY

ABSOLUTE FAVORITE) that I also managed to avoid! I haven't had much

of an appetite and I'm finding it hard to eat in the mornings.

Well, I digress....

I just wanted to share my WOW moments, so that I could really savor

them. It really can be the little things that count! This is

success! I'm so excited to see progress in things that are not

measurable except by the joy in my heart and soul! Praise God! I

hope for all of you who are struggling, that this helps you find

your motivation in some way. And for those on track, remember to

note the small little successes so that you have something to look

back on when the scale stalls!

What a difference a loss of 70 pounds, (approx. 25 since surgery on

3/6/06) makes!

Beth

[Guest guest]

You are So Inspiring! I am that fat mom standing (sitting) at the bottom of the snow hill! I can't wait until I can keep up with my 13, 11, 3+ & 2 year olds!!! Love, Jenn P.S. Thanks for sharing!beth wrote: My family and I are finishing our week's stay up at Lake Tahoe for Spring Break. I will be heading down the mountain tomorrow morning. We have had a fabulous week, complete with over 3 feet of snow on Easter! My mom and dad and one of my sisters have been here this week as well, and it has been great to spend time together. They can't get over my weight loss. I last saw them at Christmas, when I

was still working on my 10% - and no one said anything about me loosing weight at the time and they didn't know that I was considering surgery. It's so good to hear their praise, because though everyone tells me how much progress I am making, it is difficult for me to see it myself. I have had 2 WOW moments this week that I am so greatful for, and I just have to share them.1) I was able to go into Raley's and buy a pair of cheap snowpants right off the rack! Admittedly, they are still much bigger than I want them to be! However, I didn't have to special mailorder any clothing and that felt wonderful!!!!!! They were cheap too, especially considering what they would have been had I ordered them! Being able to buy these snowpants made #2 possible!2) I was able to play with my 3 girls and husband in the snow. We went sledding several times, and I was able to

sled to the bottom and walk the sled back up to the top - at an elevation of 7800 feet even! We have had so much fun! No more fat mom just standing at the bottom of the hill and watching. My youngest 2 daughters went snowboarding for the first time yesterday, and I was able to chase after them and encourage them on the bunny slope and I wasn't even tired! I told them that I will definitely be snowboarding with them next year! This is one of my major reasons for having surgery - I wanted to be a more active and fun mom and encourage my kids to lead an active and healthy life - it is all coming to fruition! I am so excited! It's been so worth it!I brought workout clothing with me, though I have found the elevation a bit challenging this time. Our timeshare is at 7800' and it has really knocked my socks off. I've been having real trouble with lightheadedness since

the surgery and it has been especially bad up here. So no workouts for me. I'm really hoping that just kind of shaking up my activity with different things will have helped to break my plateau. I'll be curious to get on the scale when I get home. I've been true to my plan in spite of the ridiculous amount of food that my dad planned. Nary a drink either -which was especially hard when we went out to dinner at Chevy's. A margarita would have been great with the chips and salsa (MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE) that I also managed to avoid! I haven't had much of an appetite and I'm finding it hard to eat in the mornings. Well, I digress....I just wanted to share my WOW moments, so that I could really savor them. It really can be the little things that count! This is success! I'm so excited to see progress in things that are not measurable except by the joy in my heart and

soul! Praise God! I hope for all of you who are struggling, that this helps you find your motivation in some way. And for those on track, remember to note the small little successes so that you have something to look back on when the scale stalls!What a difference a loss of 70 pounds, (approx. 25 since surgery on 3/6/06) makes! Beth

[Guest guest]

Beth Keep up the good work. You will be amazed as the weight comes off. Take care. Donnabeth wrote: My family and I are finishing our week's stay up at Lake Tahoe for Spring Break. I will be heading down the mountain tomorrow morning. We have had a fabulous week, complete with over 3 feet of snow on Easter! My mom and dad and one of my sisters have been here this week as well, and it has been great to spend time together. They can't get over my weight loss. I last saw them at Christmas, when I was still working on my 10% - and no one said anything about me loosing weight at the time and they didn't know that I was considering surgery. It's so good to hear their praise, because though everyone tells me how much

progress I am making, it is difficult for me to see it myself. I have had 2 WOW moments this week that I am so greatful for, and I just have to share them.1) I was able to go into Raley's and buy a pair of cheap snowpants right off the rack! Admittedly, they are still much bigger than I want them to be! However, I didn't have to special mailorder any clothing and that felt wonderful!!!!!! They were cheap too, especially considering what they would have been had I ordered them! Being able to buy these snowpants made #2 possible!2) I was able to play with my 3 girls and husband in the snow. We went sledding several times, and I was able to sled to the bottom and walk the sled back up to the top - at an elevation of 7800 feet even! We have had so much fun! No more fat mom just standing at the bottom of the hill and watching. My youngest 2 daughters

went snowboarding for the first time yesterday, and I was able to chase after them and encourage them on the bunny slope and I wasn't even tired! I told them that I will definitely be snowboarding with them next year! This is one of my major reasons for having surgery - I wanted to be a more active and fun mom and encourage my kids to lead an active and healthy life - it is all coming to fruition! I am so excited! It's been so worth it!I brought workout clothing with me, though I have found the elevation a bit challenging this time. Our timeshare is at 7800' and it has really knocked my socks off. I've been having real trouble with lightheadedness since the surgery and it has been especially bad up here. So no workouts for me. I'm really hoping that just kind of shaking up my activity with different things will have helped to break my plateau. I'll be curious to get

on the scale when I get home. I've been true to my plan in spite of the ridiculous amount of food that my dad planned. Nary a drink either -which was especially hard when we went out to dinner at Chevy's. A margarita would have been great with the chips and salsa (MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE) that I also managed to avoid! I haven't had much of an appetite and I'm finding it hard to eat in the mornings. Well, I digress....I just wanted to share my WOW moments, so that I could really savor them. It really can be the little things that count! This is success! I'm so excited to see progress in things that are not measurable except by the joy in my heart and soul! Praise God! I hope for all of you who are struggling, that this helps you find your motivation in some way. And for those on track, remember to note the small little successes so that you have something to

look back on when the scale stalls!What a difference a loss of 70 pounds, (approx. 25 since surgery on 3/6/06) makes! BethDonna JordonDSJordon@...

Love cheap thrills? Enjoy PC-to-Phone calls to 30+ countries for just 2¢/min with Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.

[Guest guest]

WTG Beth!!! Keep a diary of all your magic moment. You will

definitely treasure them. They also come in handy when you reach the

stage where the weight comes off much slower, or god forbide begins

to be re-gained....look at how far you've come and how successful you

are!!

Huggles

> I have had 2 WOW moments this

> week that I am so greatful for, and I just have to share them.

>

> 1) I was able to go into Raley's and buy a pair of cheap snowpants

> right off the rack! Admittedly, they are still much bigger than I

> want them to be! However, I didn't have to special mailorder any

> clothing and that felt wonderful!!!!!! They were cheap too,

> especially considering what they would have been had I ordered

> them! Being able to buy these snowpants made #2 possible!

>

> 2) I was able to play with my 3 girls and husband in the snow. We

> went sledding several times, and I was able to sled to the bottom

> and walk the sled back up to the top - at an elevation of 7800 feet

> even! We have had so much fun! No more fat mom just standing at

> the bottom of the hill and watching. My youngest 2 daughters went

> snowboarding for the first time yesterday, and I was able to chase

> after them and encourage them on the bunny slope and I wasn't even

> tired! I told them that I will definitely be snowboarding with

them

> next year! This is one of my major reasons for having surgery - I

> wanted to be a more active and fun mom and encourage my kids to

lead

> an active and healthy life - it is all coming to fruition! I am

so

> excited! It's been so worth it!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Beth!

This is GREAT! I love hearing about this kind of stuff.

It's nice to see you measuring success in a way other than the

scale. The further out I've gotten, the less the scale matters.

It's the quality of life issues that continue to bring me joy.

I mean when I think about the guys I'm dating--scientists, doctors,

professors, lawyers, nurses, grad students, business owners--I'm just

amazed. It's not that I've ruled out blue collar guys (hey, who

would toss away a construction worker or a firefighter?... and one

studly police officer friend has been flirting shamelessly with me),

it just seems that I attract more white collar guys.

Dating isn't exactly success. It's just a happy outcome of this

process of transformation of mind, body and spirit.

And every so often, I'll look down on my own body, and there it is--

no man breasts, no big tummy--a man's healthy body. I see my biceps

getting defined, and my shoulders becoming more developed. For so

long, I felt like a genderless blob. I'm still amazed when people

refer to me as " hottie. " Blows my mind. Who? Me?

This morning I paused in front of my full length mirror (from head to

toe) to check that I was all decked out for a maintenance run. I

stood there in amazement for a few seconds, smiling at the " new " me.

There I was wearing a medium tank top. I NEVER wore tank tops

before. Now I want to show off my biceps and tattoos. And if the

tank top happens to move and show a little chest, it's a man's chest,

not man breasts flopping up and down.

That part about you going to Raley's to buy snowpants is GREAT!

Isn't it amazing how inexpensive some clothes are??? I actually

found some briefs at Target on the clearance rack for 52 cents a

pair. At first I thought they were too tiny! But they were my

size!! I used to have to spend about $8 per pair. Now if I keep my

eye on the clearance rack, I can find stuff for literally pennies on

the dollar. And I think it's because the bigger sizes sell out

faster and the smaller sizes are left over. (Yes, America is getting

more and more obese). Before I couldn't shop at Costco for clothes

because nothing was big enough. Now everything is too big. The

jeans only come in relaxed fit, and I can wear that stuff because it

smims on me. I need straight leg or regular fit. Now I can't buy

pants at Costco because everything is too BIG! What a difference!

But that's a happy problem.

Anyway, congrats to you! Keep sharing those magic moments. They're

not only great for you, but sharing inspires us too.

Francisco

>

> My family and I are finishing our week's stay up at Lake Tahoe for

> Spring Break. I will be heading down the mountain tomorrow

morning.

> We have had a fabulous week, complete with over 3 feet of snow on

> Easter! My mom and dad and one of my sisters have been here this

> week as well, and it has been great to spend time together. They

> can't get over my weight loss. I last saw them at Christmas, when I

> was still working on my 10% - and no one said anything about me

> loosing weight at the time and they didn't know that I was

> considering surgery. It's so good to hear their praise, because

> though everyone tells me how much progress I am making, it is

> difficult for me to see it myself. I have had 2 WOW moments this

> week that I am so greatful for, and I just have to share them.

>

[Guest guest]

I'm so happy for you Beth!! Pretty awesome huh? Those wow moments

make it so worth it!

Patti

>

> My family and I are finishing our week's stay up at Lake Tahoe for

> Spring Break. I will be heading down the mountain tomorrow

morning.

> We have had a fabulous week, complete with over 3 feet of snow on

> Easter! My mom and dad and one of my sisters have been here this

> week as well, and it has been great to spend time together. They

> can't get over my weight loss. I last saw them at Christmas, when

I

> was still working on my 10% - and no one said anything about me

> loosing weight at the time and they didn't know that I was

> considering surgery. It's so good to hear their praise, because

> though everyone tells me how much progress I am making, it is

> difficult for me to see it myself. I have had 2 WOW moments this

> week that I am so greatful for, and I just have to share them.

>

> 1) I was able to go into Raley's and buy a pair of cheap

snowpants

> right off the rack! Admittedly, they are still much bigger than I

> want them to be! However, I didn't have to special mailorder any

> clothing and that felt wonderful!!!!!! They were cheap too,

> especially considering what they would have been had I ordered

> them! Being able to buy these snowpants made #2 possible!

>

> 2) I was able to play with my 3 girls and husband in the snow.

We

> went sledding several times, and I was able to sled to the bottom

> and walk the sled back up to the top - at an elevation of 7800

feet

> even! We have had so much fun! No more fat mom just standing at

> the bottom of the hill and watching. My youngest 2 daughters went

> snowboarding for the first time yesterday, and I was able to chase

> after them and encourage them on the bunny slope and I wasn't even

> tired! I told them that I will definitely be snowboarding with

them

> next year! This is one of my major reasons for having surgery - I

> wanted to be a more active and fun mom and encourage my kids to

lead

> an active and healthy life - it is all coming to fruition! I am

so

> excited! It's been so worth it!

>

> I brought workout clothing with me, though I have found the

> elevation a bit challenging this time. Our timeshare is at 7800'

> and it has really knocked my socks off. I've been having real

> trouble with lightheadedness since the surgery and it has been

> especially bad up here. So no workouts for me. I'm really hoping

> that just kind of shaking up my activity with different things

will

> have helped to break my plateau. I'll be curious to get on the

scale

> when I get home. I've been true to my plan in spite of the

> ridiculous amount of food that my dad planned. Nary a drink

either -

> which was especially hard when we went out to dinner at Chevy's.

A

> margarita would have been great with the chips and salsa (MY

> ABSOLUTE FAVORITE) that I also managed to avoid! I haven't had

much

> of an appetite and I'm finding it hard to eat in the mornings.

> Well, I digress....

>

> I just wanted to share my WOW moments, so that I could really

savor

> them. It really can be the little things that count! This is

> success! I'm so excited to see progress in things that are not

> measurable except by the joy in my heart and soul! Praise God!

I

> hope for all of you who are struggling, that this helps you find

> your motivation in some way. And for those on track, remember to

> note the small little successes so that you have something to look

> back on when the scale stalls!

>

> What a difference a loss of 70 pounds, (approx. 25 since surgery

on

> 3/6/06) makes!

>

> Beth

>