Today, so joyful.

Tomorrow - on a flight to a small pacific island for 7 uninterrupted days of scuba diving - no mobiles, no internet.

Scuba is MUCH harder when one is obese - you need so much more lead weights around your waist just to make that damned fat sink, plus I was less fit, fatty tissue uses that air faster, etc.

This photo - me diving 5 years ago in NZ just as I started to regain weight following my lapband failure. I am smaller than this now, and in the warm pacific water this diving trip should be paradise - interspersed with fishing, and then eating fresh fish and crab meals when on land!

THIS - the miserable idea of being too fat to ever do it again safely - was my main motivator to get things sorted,

See y’all in a week! As we say in New Zealand Maori - Kia kaha, everyone. Stay strong.

Oh wow!!! Have an awesome trip my friend! Don't forget, LOTS of piccys for us!!!! ((hugs)) What an inspiration btw!!!!

Very cool. Looking forward to reading updates when you return!!

VSG 10/11/17
HW = 360
SW = 292
GW = 220 3/7/18
CW = 218 (6'5") [emoji256]

Can’t wait to see a pic hopefully! Hope you have a great time!

So cool bro be safe !

What great motivation! Enjoy it!!! And Congrats!!

And I want to hear all about it too[emoji566]

Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Omg That was a FANTASTIC week. The Internet was down in Niue - so no work at all! Probably the longest time without any work intrusions since I got to be boss! No txts, emails, news - I was antsy at first but then loved it.

Niue is unspoiled paradise. A coral island with volcanic uplift, it has just one sandy beach - the rest of the sea edge is sharp corally Cliffs. Rich forest, 2000 inhabitants - rugged but serene.

And the diving! Well, being lighter pays off - less lead weights on the weight belt (1.5kg less) and wearing ‘M’ gear not xl (or men’s gear which doesn’t fit so well). And I am fitter - so in and out of the boat was easy, as was the dive itself. I slipped righ back in as if I had not paused in my diving time because of gaining too much weight.

But that is the dull stuff.

The diving is about fish life, the stunning painted crabs, the pretty hard coral with blues and purples, the bright purple clams, the endless volcanic caves and canyons, the venomous sea snakes (gulp) and the rich blue of the clear, clear water. Bliss...

Edited April 1, 20188 yr by biddynz

Awesome!!

VSG 10/11/17
HW = 360
SW = 292
GW = 220 3/7/18
CW = 216.6 (6'5") [emoji256]

6 hours ago, biddynz said:

FANTASTIC week. diving is about fish life, stunning painted crabs, hard coral with blues and purples, bright purple clams, volcanic caves and canyons, venomous sea snakes (gulp) rich blue of the clear, clear Water. Bliss...

@biddynz

Welcome home!! wonderful/beautiful pics!!

unable to do any office work since network was down??

good, you are only allowed to have fun. that's why "they" call it a vacation!!

being able to enjoy scuba diving more - less weight to carry, great NSV.

great memories til next time!!!

kathy

congrats

Hah! And I lost 3 pounds last week. Maybe we should just all move to Niue and dive and walk and read until we reach goal weight!!

1 hour ago, biddynz said:

Hah! And I lost 3 pounds last week. Maybe we should just all move to Niue and dive and walk and read until we reach goal weight!!

I'm in! BK, we used to dive...

Wow! Beautiful! And you look fantastic!!! So glad you had a great time.

Did you see any sea snakes?

Did I what!! The most toxic snake alive, but with a tiny mouth. So they are most likely to bite you on Small skin flaps, like the webbing between the thumb and forefinger.

I did, though, think of my other patches of loose skin and try to keep them far from my turkey neck...