The Starting Line

This week has been a joy and a challenge..all rolled into one!  For starters...I worked up the courage to tell my in-laws and sister in law what was up.  It wasn't so bad but I am not sure they really get it.  It felt good though.    On Wednesday, I had my final pre-op appointment  and physical with the PA at the office.  They made it very clear last week that if you did not lose, you would not have surgery.  So I was stressed out about that--I had tight rings, puffy ankles and just feeling like I would never lose even a pound.  All those "what-ifs" crowded my brain most of the time.  I have never been so anxious to step on the scale...and somehow, someway, I lost 7 pounds.  Cleared for surgery! I am finally able to stand at the starting line! Today I found out that I will be the first of the day, 1230 Monday.   This is extremely real now--no turning back!  I am as ready as I ever will be.  The next few days are going to be mostly protein shakes, water, and my packages of soups.  This will also be my new life for 2 weeks afterwards.  Sounds exciting, right!

I was thinking the other night about WHY I need to do this.   I want to revisit this list in 3 months and see if I can improve on anything.  These are the major reasons why I need to lose weight NOW:

• Hiatal Hernia (from my weight)
• Severe Acid Reflux (from the hernia and weight)
• PCOS (hair loss, hair excess everywhere else,rapid weight gain,bleeding issues,painful cysts..and on and on)  
• Unable to fit in normal chairs with arms
• Unable to exercise or be active with the kids
• Had to buy certain type of vehicle because I couldn't fit into the one I truly wanted
• Avoid diabetes
• Avoid taking meds for high blood pressure
• To be the person I truly am..my weight gets in the way of that
• To one day NOT have to use the handicap bathroom stall
• To be free from eating so much and for the wrong reasons

I really could go on and on...but this is a snapshot of some of the things that my weight does to me.  In short, it hinders me in every way.  I got here partly because of genetics, but mostly because of me.  And it is ME who is going to change that....with just a little help of course!