Today is my 6 month anniversary on my weight loss surgery. I am down 74.4 lbs, and haven't been this size for 20 years! I am extremely happy with my decision to have the surgery. I have gained my life back....

Another milestone is that I have lost a total of 101 lbs since my highest recorded weight. I have promised myself & friends that I would do a cart wheel when this goal happened. Well, it will have to wait. I am on my 2nd part of a research study I am doing for OSHU and I am wearing wires & gadgets, and a data thing. My mom doesn't want me to do it because she is afraid if I fall I could hurt my back, and she doesn't want me to go through the spinal injections again.

I want to thank my husband for always supporting me through this new journey in my life. I couldn't have done it without him of course, his insurance paid for it. LOL! Honestly... he has been a rock for me emotionally. He has never doubted me, he is my biggest cheerleader. There isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't acknowledge my looks or see's the high school girl that he married. Most of all he loves me even if I didn't have the surgery.

I want to thank my kids for supporting me, and laughing with me along the way. Jay thinks that a "peanut" can fill me up, and when he said that it made me laugh. I cherish his humor, he always knows when I need a smile. Nikki supports me getting on the scale daily and atta boys me each time. She knows my struggle from within, and she fights the scale herself. I pray that her answers come to her also so she doesn't have to fight the FAT demons for as long as I did.

I want to thank my friends... you know who you are. You put up with my updates, my excitement, and my pictures. I thank you for not laughing at those photos. I thank you for the wonderful "praises" you give me when you see me. After 20+ years of hiding, you are teaching me to listen, accept what you say, and smile bigger than I have in years. What would I do without you guys?

I can't forget Krista either.... Jay's girlfriend. She has helped me shop for new clothes. She is great with helping me, especially after 20 years of hiding under big t-shirts & just straight legged jeans (Krista hates them). She has great taste, and knows how to tell you the truth if it looks good or not on you. WHICH I want to hear. She also puts up with my updates & extreme excitement that I get sometimes.

This journey I am on is just the beginning, I will have stalls, gains & setbacks in the future. I will have to fight for myself. This wasn't a quick fix, it is a long road of a life discovery, and a challenge from within one's self. I also have PCOS, which will be many turns for me to fight, as it's main symptom is weight gain. There is no cure for it, and that is what I have fought all these years and how I gained so much weight. I will also still have my fibro & chronic fatigue. I still have my days from hell, and the courage to fight it also. We all have a different road to travel in this crazy & challenging life.

Here is my link to my weight loss pictures: http://www.bearabledeals.com/weightloss.htm

Remember to laugh with me and NOT AT ME!