~~~~REPOST~~~Re: Back from Vacation....many important firsts!

[Guest guest]

Newbies to WLS, check out this post this is what it is all about.

>

>

> Greetings to the group and many thanks to " O " , AKA

> (crazy4homeschool@... ), for

> her invitation.

>

> I have returned from a short vacation to Central Florida... I needed

> some sun and a nice break from the crappy winter weather of

Columbus,

> Ohio. I also got to see my dad and step-mom for the first time,

since

> my surgery.

>

> I had a few " firsts " that only other people that have gone through,

> would appreciate. First, I flew for the first time in 15 years. The

last

> time I flew, I had an absolutely horrible experience and actually

> dreaded this time. I was still unsure of how I would fit. I got to

the

> plane and asked the stewardess if she thought I would need a belt

> extender. She looked at me with a suprised look and said " I don't

think

> so, but here is an extender if you need it.... " . I took this and

walked

> back to my assigned seat. I noticed on the way, that I was not

needing

> to turn sideways to get through the isle, between the seats, and I

was

> sort of shocked. I got to my seat and eyed the width between the arm

> rests with some trepidation. I slid into the seat and didn't touch

> either side of the seat or arm rests! Still not believing, I

grabbed the

> seat belt and guess what, IT FIT! No belt extender needed! I was

almost

> in tears with happiness! My seat neighbor showed up and was a heavy

set

> man. What a relief to know, for the first time, that I was not the

> largest person on the plane! We chatted on our flight to Charlotte,

NC,

> and after his numerous complaints about his weight, I told him of

my

> surgery and my weight loss so far. He was shocked and it must have

made

> an impression, because he and his wife came up to me in the

Charlotte

> airport and congratulated me and wanted to talk more about my

> experiences....they were wonderful and very sincere and supportive.

I

> got on my next flight to Gainseville, and it was no big deal. Still

very

> exciting! When I landed, and I am looking for my parents in the

> airport, my parents walked past me and didn't recognize me! I was 5

feet

> away and they didn't seriously recognize me! I had to walk to them

and

> grab my step-mom by the arm. She was shocked and tried to shake me

off,

> until I started talking to her. The look on her face was priceless.

The

> same with my dad and when we got home, the pets didn't know me right

> off, either! All of this is in a span of 4.5 hours.....I was

definitely

> feeling good and for the first time seriously realizing just how

> dramatic the transformation has been, and is yet to be.

>

> My step-mom is 62 y.o. and is very active. She teaches spinning and

> aerobics classes at the local YMCA, and then walks 3-4 times a day

at

> 3-5 miles. I went with her and left her in my dust! I have never

been

> able to do this before, and she was shocked that I went past her so

> easilly. GOD! THis felt good!!!!

>

> I really wanted to " test " my ability to keep on my path for eating,

> water, excersize, etc, outside of my usual home environment. I did

well

> and lost a few pounds while I was there. The walking and security

issues

> and waiting and the usual hassels of airports and flying were no big

> deal and very easy for me to physically do. Such a change from

previous

> experiences. I guess my next " test " will be to see my mom in rural

> Georgia. A little more removed from my normal support and home

> environment. Have to see when I can take more vacation time off.

>

> Sorry for the long post, but I was so excited that things went so

well!

> Hope you all have had similar positive experiences.

>

> Take care.

>

> Penn

>

>

>

>