2 Months...

Today is exactly my 2 month surgiversary.

I sit here tired and a little run down, but so amazingly far more energetic than I was this time 2 months ago and even moreso than 3, 4, 5 or 6 months ago.

The fact is, I have lost an astounding 39 inches combined from my: neck, arms, chest, waist, hips, thighs and calves. My chest and hips are down 9 inches each!

I know the weight is coming off, even though my scale is still teetering over 400. I got on the scale this morning and for 1 second, the scale read 400 before displaying ERR which means that I am close to the 400lb mark! It is ridiculous how impatient I am! I had surgery 2 months ago. 60 days! And I am getting frustrated that my scale hasn't gone below 400. A number I haven't been under in this decade! I never thought I would lose 40 or 50 lbs in a year much less in 2 months, and yet I am waiting anxiously for the scale to finally concede to a loss of 67 lbs to get me to 399.

I went through my "before" pics and I know now for sure that my 466 top weight at surgery wasn't actually my highest weight. I have older pics that clearly show that I was much heavier before!

I will be taking some progress pics this week and hopefully there will be a noticable difference. I am still debating whether or not to do the progress pics in the same bathing suit I had my initial pics taken in! I am thinking.. no.

And so, as I wait for the magic number 399, I continue to learn how different foods affect me, what foods I love and hate, and of course the always exciting new discoveries of things I can do now that I couldn't do before.

For example, at work we have office chairs that have arms on them. Before surgery, I was only able to balance my butt on the edge because I couldn't get my hips and thighs between the arms. Last week I sat in the chair and took a deep breath and slid my butt to the back of the chair and I fit! Ok so it wasn't roomy, but I was actually able to sit at the back of the chair!!!

Aside from the weight loss itself, I am noticing another change. I am beginning to notice that more and more people are coming to me to discuss weight issues, vent about weight loss attempts and overall just looking for support.

Of course I don't mind this at all, but then I wonder if I am ready or prepared to be that person for those people. I mean, I know I am losing weight but I am not an expert on weight loss.

Then again, I wonder if that is even what those people are looking for. Perhaps they are only looking for an ear. Perhaps they are looking for someone with similar experiences to vent to, or perhaps they are actually looking for inspiration. Don't get me wrong, 24 years of yo-yo dieting and working through the various medical health programs makes a person a certain kind of expert. I just refuse to make claim that I am something I'm really not.

I don't claim to be anything other than me. I am just Pia. If I can help someone else by being blatantly honest and open about my experiences, I am all for it. I think knowledge is power and I hope that others can learn from my experiences. I love to share my story of my struggles and accomplishments and I really do hope that others can take something... anything from my story and apply it to their own situations, even if is the most insignificant detail.

But in the end, the only reality is that I am here on this planet in power of only one person.. myself. I can only control what I experience and as much as I open myself up, exposing my raw material, those who seek out my knowledge have to take it and run with it, learn from it..

I have done the things I needed to do to get on the road to a healthy place. I researched, I investigated, I asked questions, I took action and it all comes down to survival. I really like being here. I love living and want to experience everything. I am selfish really, thats why I went for surgery. I was tired of the limitations my body had on me and I wanted to take control of my life. Be able to live to the fullest, because you never know how long you have.