I can't believe how quickly this past month has gone by. I never took my 8 month photos. It was just too much to write and talk about myself when I was mourning the loss of my Lucy. I still miss her, but the pain is not suffocating me any more.
On to this month, I will update pictures later this week. My computer and phone are not wanting to sinc right now. Boo!
What's new? A lot, and not so much at the same time. I haven't lost a ton of weight this month but OMG inches are coming off. I am down for a total of 77 pounds. Feels awesome! People are starting to make comments about me being "skinny," which I can't help but correct. Size 14 is not skinny, but I appreciate the compliments. Of course, you can actually see my waist now, so that makes me look thinner...hahaha!
The most common question I get asked: Do you have more energy? Strangely enough, the answer to that is, no--not really. It's 6:41 pm right now. So far, I came home from work, took my Toby on a walk, filled an order of 4 dozen cupcake wrappers/packaged it/got it ready to mail (check out my shop
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Rachelcakes?ref=search_shop_redirect) , ate dinner, cleaned the kitchen including the stove top and microwave, put the clean dishes away, took out the trash and recyclables, put on a pot of coffee, checked my banking and now started writing. I've done quite a bit in a short time.....but I would have done this before surgery. The only difference is that I may have taken 15 minutes and sat down to rest a bit before getting busy. I am not a couch potato kind of person. I can always think of things to do or organize. In regards to my energy--by the end of the evening, I don't feel so exhausted, so that must mean some improvement, but not significantly so.
I think that the most noticeable thing for me right now is that I feel more "me" and more "free" than ever before. I didn't realize that for every excess pound I was carrying, I had an equal "pound" of guilt, of shame, of failure. The weight of those three things are gone, completely. Let me tell you, it feels AMAZING. For anyone judging someone who is overweight or someone who has had weight loss surgery--I beg you to please stop. You don't know what it's like, the path we've traveled or what's caused us to be where we are. Fat people are not all lazy slobs. Fat people are some of the most accepting, loving, giving, caring people I know. Often times, they are people who are so busy caring for others that they don't make time for themselves. For my fat friends, I have two requests of you: #1. Please love yourself. You were created by our Father, fearfully and wonderfully made. You are not defined by a number on the scale. You have meaning and purpose. You are special. #2. Please do whatever it takes to get healthy. I'm not talking about being stick thin or even losing weight. Just. Be. Healthy. Avoid diabetes. It kills. I've seen it firsthand. And I love you enough to tell you that I don't want you to lose life or limb because of uncontrolled diabetes. Please, love yourself enough to do whatever it takes to be a good steward of the body God has entrusted to your care.
As I end tonight, I want to express my gratitude for all of the ladies who have gone before me on this weight-loss surgery journey, who have given me advice and encouragement, who have listened to me and checked in with me. Thank you ladies! You all hold special places in my heart. To my family--your support means the world to me. To my husband--truly, you are the wind beneath my wings. To my Father--thank you again and again and again for your grace and mercy, lavished so freely on one so undeserving.
Peace, Love and Joy,
Rachel
