Getting Closer

As of today, I am 4 days away from my surgery, and only two days away from the pools opening for the summer. Yeah!!!! I have more than enough to do to distract myself for the weekend, and I'm am starting to get really excited. I am ready to have this part of the journey over and get the next part started!

I wanted to take a minute to thank all of my amazingly supportive friends, co-workers, and family members. When I started thinking about the WLS (weight loss surgery), I was very hesitant to tell anyone, even some of my own family members. I know a lot of people struggle with weight issues, and this surgery is not accessible to everyone. I also know that may people have a stigma that all weight issues can be cured by diet and exercise. Weight Watchers worked wonders for my mother and some of her friends (and she looks GREAT now), but honestly, it didn't work that great for me. So there are many reasons I was hesitant. I know that people will have their own opinions, shoot - I'm the number one opinion-haver in the world! haha - but that is okay. I am secure in the plan that I am prayerfully following, and I am confident. Will WLS solve all of the problems in my life? Absolutely not. I will still be a control freak, I will still have to go to work every day to make a living, I will still be a single almost-30 year old woman living 500 miles from my family. What it will change is the way I live my life and the outlook I have. I will now have a tool that will assist me in being more healthy and in preventing a handful of obesity related diseases and complications. Surgery alone won't make me happy, but the changes I have fought so hard to make through diet and exercise will now be easier to make - and that makes me happy. It makes me more confident.

That being said, I again say to you - THANK YOU. I appreciate your support, your encouragement, your prayers, and your unconditional love. I am blessed beyond measure to have such a wonderful support system in my life.

Here are two of my last 'before' pictures that I will show you. (The doctor took an official one last week, and I'll take an official one for myself on Monday, but these are more fun!). This is my beautiful cousin Denise and the second is Denise again with my heart - Sadie!

I'll post more this weekend as time allows (between the trips to the pool, the house cleaning, and finishing up last minute things at work!). Love you all!

"Most of us, swimming against the tides of trouble the world knows nothing about, need only a bit of praise or encouragement - and we will make the goal."~ Jerome P. Fleishman ~