the7thdean

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Well, it's been almost a year since I last posted anything at all.  I must say that my partner and I are truly blessed and highly favored.  Although we have met with some adversities with God on our side we have overcome. 

2008 has definitely been a blessing to us -- we have prospered in so many ways but most of all we have prospered in our faith as well as in our love for and to each other. 

God has blessed us to purchase a new home in these economical trying times and to maintain employment to care for our home and pay all the necessary bills that come with home ownership and more.  We have a wonderful churc home in Lincoln Congregational Temple United Church of Christ in Washington, DC -- one of the oldest African-American Congregational churches within the UCC and the first.  It is an Open and Affirming Congregation -- translates into welcoming GLBT persons fully and completely into the Body of Christ along with all our gifts and talents.  So God has blessed us with two homes -- isn't that something!

God has blessed with good health and when we were sick we are blessed to have the proper and adequate medical insurance to resolve the physical ailments. 

Weight loss wise, I've stalled since about Feb. of this year -- basically maintaining betwee 175 -180.  I believe that length of the stall has been due to not being able to workout as I'd like.  Headaches and then fibroids kept me from working out to my full capacity and when that happens I don't enjoy my workouts at all.  But Christmas week I'll be returning to the gym and start my cardio workouts for the next couple of weeks and then slowly add various weights back into my program.  I hope they still have the Body Pump class -- that is my favorite group exercise class -- otherwise I don't participate in those.  My partner tried to talk me into getting involved in the spin class -- she enjoys it and said it will put you in shape really fast. I tried it once for about 10 minutes and then left -- couldn't do it.  This time I believe I'll try a different approach and really get into the cardio piece because that's what it takes and build up my there and then try the spin class.  If I can work the spin class I may not have to have reconstructive surgery on my thighs -- pump those puppies up -- have those big thighs like running backs in the NFL.  I also need to work on my biceps -- muscle mass -- lost I have (okay Star Wars Moment).

Well this is Christmas week and she and I will be on the road again to her hometown of Philadelphia to celebrate her Mother's birthday so I already know that I will miss working out on Tuesday; but I'm definitely going to be in the gym tomorrow.  Then Saturday we wil be back in the Delaware for our brother-in-laws 50th birthday party in downtown Wilmington. 

I like -- no LOVE watching football -- college or pro -- and I'm glad I had my hysterectomy during football season or watching TV would just have been boring -- and I'm getting to that point.  I really should have spent this time working on my thesis -- however, I procrastinate -- maybe I'll get some of that done this week -- I must push myself through it.  It's not a hard topic that I've chosen it's just that I don't want to do it because then school will be over for me.  I'll probably have computer withdrawals because I spend so much time on this thing -- especiallly since I have a laptop and we have wireless in the house I can sit in any room (yep the bed too) and access the internet without being tied to my desk.  The wife doesn't like that I sit in the living room -- tap, tap, tapping on the computer and watching TV when I can easily do both in my office -- buttttttt  NOT!  Seriously though, I do need to go and hibernate in my office until this thesis is done and over with. 

Oh well -- what else -- Goal for 2009?  One that I will share is to remain healthy and no more surgeries unless they are of the reconstructive nature.

I realized late Wednesday afternoon on February 20th that it was my anniversary date of my surgery.  WOW what a year it has been and a blessed year at that.  God is truly Good all the time and all the time God is Good!

100 pounds less than I was 366 days ago.  I feel great and am looking good.  Clothes are falling just so and I have to laugh when I think about it that I've lost 100 pounds of BUTT! and it's all good.

Yes, breast lift, tummy tuck (just a little bit) and maybe removal of skin from my thighs will have to take place -- eventually.  So we'll have to say how that goes with the insurance.

Happy Anniversary to ME! 

  I've reached the 100 pound weight loss mark.  Praise God.  I never dreamed I'd see below 200 pounds again EVER and now to see 187 and down to a size 16 is AWESOME.

So I've achieved the goal of loosing the 100 pounds; now I've gotta figure out to get that Mercedes.

Oh Lord want you buy me a Mercedes Benz
My friends all drive Porsches I must make amends
I worked hard my whole lifetime with no help from my friends
Oh Lord want you buy me a Mercedes Benz.

So if you are reading this profile and contemplating having surgery; you have made a most excellent decision for yourself, your life and your family.  God has made a way for you to do this TRUST GOD through the process.

God bless each and every one.

Well, here we are.  God has seen us through another year and for that I'm truly GRATEFUL and THANKFUL.

I'm EXCITED about what GOD has planned for me in 2008.  This being the Year of the Rat -- for those born in 1960 -- so that would be me.

I'm beginning to really see what other people are beginning to see -- the weight loss in my face.  The change that has occurred and the (physical) evolution that I'm seeing is quite daunting.  My partner tells me that the beauty has always been there and I'm beginning to see what others have always seen.  Now it's my turn to get used to it.  It's an evolution that I must take one day at a time.

It would appear that I've some mental and emotional adjustments of my own to make and I just ask God to order my thoughts and keep me grounded as I move forward in this process.  Now that I see how much I've lost, I'm getting kind of afraid as to how small I might actually get.

We shall see.

Oh my how time flies when you downsize.

In October I had my 9 month post-op visit with Dr. DVR -- all is going well and I've lost 87 pounds.  I was happy to hit an even 200 lbs. when I reported for my check up.  Now my goal is to have lost at least 100 lbs. by the end of the year.

This has been an awesome transformation for me.  I never thought I'd see 200 lbs again in my life.  I've joined a bowling league, so even if I don't exercise all week long, I get 3 hours of exercise every Sunday.  Bowling has motivated me to work out on a daily basis, to increase my cardio and strength.  Since I have access to free fitness centers at home as well as at work; I've started taking workout cloths to change into.  Since the time change, it's too dark to walk at the high school and it's a little too cool when I get home.  I'm the sort that once I'm home, I'm home.  So in order to get a workout, I do so after work.  So far so good.  I alternate legs and arms and the days I don't go to work, I don't exercise.

The body is shaping up pretty good; however, boob lift is on the menu and probably a tummy tuck as well -- within the next year or so or when I have the funds.  The tummy tuck will probably remove another 10 lbs and I'm not quite sure what to do with the thighs.  There isn't a lot of extra skin; however, there is skin nevertheless.

So we shall see what the coming year will bring and how the universe will provide for these surgeries.

And I'm down 80 pounds.  It appears that I just might reach my goal of weighing 200 pounds by my 47th birthday.  I've taken 12 pair of pants to the seamstress so she can downsize them to at least an 18.  I think I'll have them altered only once and then the next go around of weight loss -- say down to a size 14 I'll probably give them away.

This has been quite an interesting transformation and it is often times surprising and enlightening at the same time.  I'm just thankful to God that there haven't been any complications and things are progressing as She designed them.

Continued Peace and Hair Grease

It's been 5 months and I've lost weight that would equal the amount of a 1st  or 2nd grader.  This has been quite the experience.

One interesting and fun thing is that the people I work with are seeing the weight come off.  I'm feeling better, healthier, and happier and have more energy.

My manager and I walk almost everyday -- that it's not too hot or raining.
Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and ask -- who goes there?

In June I went home to Louisiana to my sister's wedding.  I hadn't been home in almost 2 years.  My oldest Sister was very curious about the surgery and weight loss and for the most part said I looked good.  My Mother is concerned that I do not become too small.

Clothes -- well I've purchased a few items to get me through the work week and Sundays.  I'm not trying to buy to many cloths for a while because I'm still loosing.  I'm wearing slacks between 18-22 --depending on the material and style of slack.  I've gone down 6 bra sizes from 44 DDD to a 38 DD --that was a WOW moment.  So I might have to eventually have breast augmentation.

My current goal -- reach 200 pounds by my 47th birthday which is in 2 months.  I think I can do that.

WHO KNEW!  Loosing so much butt would have me walking on the hem of my slacks.

I'm truly happy with the decision to have this surgery.  Other than leaving the Police Department, this is one of the best decisions I've ever made for my life -- to increase my qaulity of life.  Now I don't mind dressing up.  I feels good and it feels like me.  I don't know who the heck that other person was, following me around all these years -- just hanging on and wouldn't let go.

To date, I've lost 44 lbs. and probably by the time my 3 months post op exam comes around, I'll have lost 50 pounds -- now wouldn't that be just FABBBBBBBULOUS!!

I notice people at work looking at me --especially my manager keeps eyeing me.  I guess she's just checking on me and watching my progress.  I work with a small team of people so they all know I had weight loss surgery so they are sharing the journey with me and are a very supportive bunch.  One of my co-workers have a heart condition and another has been diagnosed with diabetes so we make sure we check in with each other and that they keep their doctor's appointments.  When we have birthday parties, we try to make sure we have healthy grub and that we don't misbehave too badly.

I even see people out in the call center who never spoke to me before and now are doing so.  Some of these women are obese and I hope they are getting up the nerve to ask me.  I know one of the women on the floor know and she's probably told them and that's okay.  Information is power and I hope just by them seeing me they will be encourage to at least take a lookt at the surgery and how it will benefit them.

Well back to this homework that is overdue.  Enjoy your journey, embrace your journey, construct your journey, and stay positive while ON the JOURNEY.

Peace,

Today was my one month post-op visit with Dr. DVR and the crew.  I've lost 30 lbs in my first month and from what Kathi (the nurse) advised I'm right on target.  My BMI went down from 46 to 41 and that's good and that's what they look for --the BMI to go down as well as the weight.

I'm pleased and excited.  Now if I could lose 30 lbs a month -- that would be AWESOME.  I shall see what can be done -- I'll even settle for 20 pounds a month.

I discussed my work out regiment with Kathi and told her I was going back to working out every other day because when I work out 2 days in a row it takes me 2 days to recover.  I'm just going to work the treadmills and stationary bikes to get my cardio up and to the point where I'm not light headed once I'm off the system.  Hopefully this cold weather will totally go away and we can go walking after we get off work.

WOW!  What a revelation -- I felt like a rock star.  Unfortunately we were attending a funeral and you know that's when you see people you haven't seen in a few years.  They saw my partner and thought she had a new girlfriend -- she does.  Plus I changed my hairstyle over a year ago so I now have lochs so that tells you how long its been since I've seen these people.

Having this surgery has made me so much happier.  I'm smiling almost all the time.  PRAISE GOD FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT AND INSURANCE THAT COVERS THE SURGERY.