I am on my way...

On December 2 it will be a year since I began this journey. Lots of changes have been made and new challenges are before me. I have accomplished things that I did not know I was capable of. Someone told me that it is easier to start a new habit than to break an old one. I have been successful at both breaking old habits and starting new ones. I stated that I had resorted to Gastric Bypass 12 years ago. At that time I lost 140 pounds and still had 40 pounds to go. Failing to change my lifestyle and my eating habits, I gained most of that weight back. Today I am 10 pounds from the lowest weight I was after surgery, this time I am going all the way and never going back!
I did win the title of Mrs Sequoyah County and I will compete for Mrs Oklahoma in the Pageant on March 2-4.
I don't expect to win or place. When I step out on that stage I have already won! Knowing, on that night where I am, not in the literal sense. Just knowing where I started and how far I have traveled on this journey to get to this point. That will be the crown jewel. All candidates have to have a platform that they speak on during their reign. I have chosen Childhood Obesity. I am so saddened when I see parents starting their children on the path to destruction. Recently Den and I were grocery shopping. We observed a young mom trying to pay for her groceries and deal with her very busy 3 year old son. You could see that she was over her head with this lively toddler but he obviously had all the control. He was about 8 pounds overweight for his young frame. In time that will easily turn into 100 pounds. When her transaction was complete she handed the small child a King Size Candy Snickers and a 20oz Mountain Dew. Very sad! My mom was great at making sure we ate right. Soda and candy was minimal in our life. We ate Fast food almost never! I gained weight after I left home. Genetics play a role in our bodies make up. Unfortunately on both my maternal and paternal sides, weight is an issue. Even with this Genetic hurdle, you can overcome!
I have learned so much about our Metabolism and eating right along this journey. It all just comes down to burn more than you take in! Simple! No fad diet! No crazy diet cuts! However you do have to change your lifestyle. Cut out most of your sugar intake!!! You will OVERCOME!!!!

Wow how my life has changed...

This Thanksgiving I will be participating in my 5th 5K this year. That is far different from the way I have started past Thanksgiving's. I have been the cook, working my way toward gaining those 10+ holiday pounds. Not now!! I am starting new traditions, new achievements. I am working my way toward Happy!!
I have also decided to really live outside the box, I have done something that is so far out of  character for me. I have entered a Pageant. I am competing for Mrs Sequoyah County, then I will be in the Mrs Oklahoma Pageant. The Pageant is in March. I should be at my goal weight or close too it. I am going to start working with a trainer. Thankfully, I do not have to wear a swim suit, just a Workout Outfit that is fitted and a couple of Dresses plus an Evening Gown. That is the part that I am looking forward to :) Den and I did not have a wedding, we did have a nice reception but I didn't wear a Gown. I didn't go to a prom, so I want to dress up. He has to wear a tux and escort me out on stage. Very nice. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
I was whistled at last night in the Walmart parking lot. Granted it isn't ideal and kinda creepy but it made me giggle.

Call me crazy but $200 for a pair of jeans is CHEAP when it makes me...

Feel like a MILLION BUCKS!!! Now before you shriek and think me shallow, read on. I was wearing plus size clothes in my 20's before there were cute plus size clothes. Most of the time I could be seen in black leggings, not a flattering look for a LARGE woman, with a long shirt. Jeans were out of the question. As I stated before my weight got out of control. On more than one occasion I was in a size 26/28 bottom and 30/32 top. There is nothing worse than the horror of knowing that you are in the largest size in the Plus Size store. I mean where are you going from here?! When stores like Old Navy came along and tried to introduce a Junior Plus line I would be thrilled to lose enough weight to wear those clothes. However it was usually short lived and they didn't fit well.
There was a store, Clothestime, that had been my store when I was of  "Normal" size in High School. It was Christmas and I was out shopping alone. Anyone who has ever been morbidly obese knows that shopping alone is no fun. There is no one to help distract the stares and looks of detest on the faces of those who would rather see you locked away than out among them. That's a whole other topic. Anyway, I went into Clothestime to buy a sweater for my sister who was at best a size 6 at that time. I looked around the store and could not find the specific sweater that I wanted. I approached the counter and politely said "Excuse me" to the very thin teen who was working customer service, when she turned to answer me her young face held no concern or care of my needs, she gave me the snarled lip and the up and down once over when then her young and very ill mannered rearing manifested into "UM WE DON'T CARRY YOUR SIZE HERE!"
I felt as if I had been hit with brick in the face. Like I didn't know that! Thank you for pointing that out to me and everyone else. The humiliation of it all left me heartbroken and embarrassed. How could she be so rude? I do have feelings. That is just one of many encounters.
Throughout the years I have had some moments of "YES" I did it, only to fail and go back up the scale. I have watched trends and stores come and go only to know that I can't wear them however wishing that I could.
When I started my journey, I had the ultimate goal. That was to wear a pair of Miss Me jeans by this Christmas. I love those jeans and the bling!! I went shopping Monday and I bought my second pair of Silver Brand jeans in a smaller size! YAY!! All this new sizing by waist or so I thought was the waist size is very confusing to me. I havent shopped like this so I have no clue what my size is when it comes to a 32 or so on. I know what that means in a Plus Size but not at a Normal Store.
Today I go into Buckle, I am looking at the Miss Me jeans when I see that they have 33, 34, & 36. The sales girl helps me and tells me that the 36's will be too big but insist she is crazy and that she should bring them anyway. I am in a fitting room, which I fear them again another topic, with 5-6 pairs of Miss Me's and Rock Revival's. I try on the 33's a lil tight, then the 36's and I could swin around in them. The 34's were ok but in the Rock Revival's, which I decided I LOVED, the 33's I think were more suited for me. Of course they didn't have them. She returned with a 32 and I thought no I'd like to breathe. The 34's were comfortable yet not to snug and they will shrink. I was so excited to know that I wasn't wearing the biggest size in the store, I could have went into a smaller size and I was in The BUCKLE!!!!! I bought them and they were $194.53 PRICELESS!!!!