I cannot it's been six months. SO much has been going on, I wish I had been posting all along, but something happened today that compelled me to tell you all, but I'm also going to fill you in on some major non-scale victories.

Since surgery on August 17th I have:

1. Traveled to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip. I was able to sit on the plane comfortably WITHOUT a seat belt extension. The trip was extremely physical as we were working with Hatian migrants, providing medical care and constructing additions to a hospital.I was able to work all day and had a ton of energy the whole trip!

2. For the trip, I ordered a size 2XL shirt for our group shirt. I was handed a shirt and put it on immediately as we were rushing to get through security. As soon as I put it on, it was snug. I was a bit disappointed, but knew that shirt sizes are subjective to manufacturers. While we were going through security, the leader of our trip said "Liz, I know you ordered a 2XL, but they sent me an XL, sorry." I almost had to do a double-take. I was snug in a XL? Wow! That felt amazing!

3. In general, I have felt so good. I have energy to work out everyday and I feel so wonderful. Yesterday a co-worker pulled me aside and said that I looked happy and healthy; that was such an amazing compliment, because I AM happier and healthier and that is more important than just looking good.

4. Today, I had such an amazing moment! I am a middle school teacher outside Boston. Today, after school an 8th grade student asked to speak to me privately. She told me that I was such an inspiration to her because she is slightly overweight and she saw the success I was having. She said that because she saw me, someone that she looks up to, taking care of themselves, that she was inspired to take care of herself. I work so hard to be a person that my students can look up to, as they are so impressionable. I never thought that my weight loss would affect them!

This is such an absolute gift and I am so happy that I decided to have surgery! I am just over six months post-op and 85 pounds down and just about halfway to my ultimate goal. I can't wait to see where the next year (and now the rest of my life) takes me!

Thank you all so much for your continued support and encouragement! I am so grateful to this community!

-Liz

Wow...thank you all for the support. I feel like a new woman! But I seriously love this community for picking me up and inspiring me along the way. I sometimes get frustrated cause I hit stalls or compare my weight loss to others (big no-no, I know lol) but this community is always there keeping it real and motivating me to work harder everyday! Thanks!

Looks like you are on mission trips you didn't know about......but isn't that how God tends to work!!! Thanks for sharing this!

Wow great post you lifted my spirits today!