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As many of you know, I'm 3 1/2 years out from surgery. I've been in maintenance for about two years now. On Sunday, I'm going on a cruise with four generations of my family from my dad who is in his 80s to my grandson who is 14 months old. My dad has COPD, my mom is in a wheelchair. My sister is obese. They're involvement with chasing him around will be minimal. I am normal sized, mobile and healthy. I expect to be all over that ship with my grandson who has taken to walking like a duck to Water.

I still remember one cruise I took about six months before the surgery where I was in so much pain, I was crying by the time I made it from my room to the dining room. I couldn't get off the ship onto the tender because I couldn't balance myself. I never ever ever want to go back to those dark days. Everytime I want an extra bite of something, or just to eat something that is not a good choice, I remember how those days felt. Usually, that's all I need as long as my band is filled properly.

So...today I write this and for all vets and newbies, just know that the weight loss is just a number. The important thing is to live life as it's supposed to be lived...and not sit on the sidelines because you can't do what you want because your body won't let you.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. I'm packing tonight and can't wait to sail away!

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This seriously brought a tear to my eye. Have a wonderful time, as I'm sure you will. Very poignant being with your family members in such poor condition. That stinks you can't share more with them, but it's nice you are at least all together.

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.... So...today I write this and for all vets and newbies, just know that the weight loss is just a number. The important thing is to live life as it's supposed to be lived...and not sit on the sidelines because you can't do what you want because your body won't let you.

That seriously made me stop a mental minute and THINK about where I am right now in this very minute ...

That was VERY well said!

Have a wonderful time actually ENJOYING the cruise as its meant to be! :)

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Safe travels and have a ball !!!!!!

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Have a great trip! I, too, started off at about your weight, and am between 5' - 5' 1" I will be 1 yr next week RNY. I have so far lost 130#, and want to loose another 20#. The benefits have been unbelievable and I am so blessed to be living this life now and to be able to relate and learn from people like you. Thanks so much for your comments, they were very encouraging as I look to the future.

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Awesome post, @@gowalking .

Bon voyage! You so deserve it.

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packing tonight and can't wait to sail away!

@@gowalking

wait, wait, wait for me!!!

i'm small enough to fit in carry on bag LOL

wonderful you are going on this cruise

i am buying a round of drinks in your honor

Water of course!!!

4 generation family trip!! enjoy and cherish every minute

take plenty of pics for lovely memories

have lots of fun being with/chasing your cute little grandson!!

their only young once!!

have a wonderful vacation

maybe next time you'll take me?? :rolleyes:

congrats on your continued success

kathy

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Enjoy everyday of your vacation! You work hard it appears .. So play hard now! Lots of stairs and walking and a gym on board if you choose .

My choice was to bypass the buffets mostly and pay a nominal fee($5-10)for a "fancy" Sit down steak/ lobster type meal. Other ships have sit down/ waited-on restaurants for every evening meal. And...free room service if you just want a simple meal brought to you.

Hope you have a blast with lots of family... And climb in and out of those tenders with ease, smiling as you vaguely remember your old, limited life. Bon voyage[emoji568]

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Just an update friends. It was a wonderful trip. I was 127 lbs. the morning of the cruise and 129.2 this morning. Just a smidge over two pounds gained over the trip. I'll take it.

Here's the real success story though..a happy grandma enjoying and interacting with the grandchildren. My granddaughter likely remembers the old me, but she simply reacts to the woman I am now. The baby, if I'm lucky, will only know the grandma he is familiar with now.

post-142630-0-73199900-1466345915_thumb.jpg

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ah! I am so glad for this update! makes my heart happy. I am also hoping to be remembered as an active, healthy grandmother. my only grandbaby is just 1 - so if I can stick with my program this will be their reality.

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What a gorgeous photo and beautiful people you three are.

You are so cool. :)

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So happy you had a great time! Keeping up with a 4 yr old and 1 year old grandchild is so much more enjoyable and easier than before.....we re blessed!

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Beautiful!!!

JustWatchMe

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    • LeighaTR

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      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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