So I went to Mexico last week for 7 days. Exactly 10 months prior to that, I sat on the same beach in the same chair and emailed with my surgeon's office to make sure my paperwork was getting submitted before they closed that day at noon. It did get submitted and I was approved the following Monday. It was a couple more months before I had the surgery but returning to the same spot at around 115 pounds lighter was very significant. Here are the things I found different:

- Easier to get up off those dang low beach chairs

- Allowed myself to be photographed (which I never allowed before) & even bought one that one of the photographers took

- Able to fit more than comfortably in the airplane seats

- Able to walk down the plane aisle without my hips bumping in to the seats and people

- Didn't panic when I got on the van and realized there was only 1 small seat left

- Didn't sweat constantly (in fact I was annoyingly cold -- not so much an NSV)

- Able to get in 10,000 steps several days and happy to walk on the beach

- Customs officer looked at my passport pic and said "Congrats!"

- Came back same weight as day I left

I know there are more, but those are the ones that stand out.

I returned from my trip and started my new job the next day. (Happy to be gainfully employed again after 2 months without work.) It was strange realizing that these folks had no idea what I looked like before (except the girl who took copy of my drivers license for my personnel file). This office is OLD and actually has stairs inside the office and I did not fear going up and down those stairs all week. (I would have been terrified before that I would be out of breath when I got to the top.) Still not 100% sure about the job but everyone was really nice and hopefully it will all work out.

Now back to reality after 10 days away from home (I will be working from home and first few days of new job training where in a different city). I managed to maintain my weight in Mexico but not so much over the last few days at the new job - too much eating out and while I did limit the amount, I wasn't able to make the best choices. Looking forward to getting back to my normal life....

Had some struggles over these days but overall, I have not one regret about this surgery and am excited to see what else it brings and what life will be like on that same beach after I am able to have plastics!

Sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to experiencing these things.

Hooray! I am so glad you had such a great experience! And you didn't gain!

Congratulations!

Sounds amazing! Glad you enjoyed your trip and hopefully the new job will go really well. I have kind of considered what it might be like to switch jobs and work with people who never knew me when I was obese. Must feel strange and interesting.

Wow! What an inspirational story. Congrats! The customs officer is too sweet!

Have fun at the new job!

pam

Congratulations ! Sounds like you have had a wonderful few weeks

This post made my day!!