Body Transformed
A Journey of Surgical Weight Loss

My First 50
September 7, 2004

I have officially lost 50 pounds and have dropped from size 26/28 to size 22. It's hard to believe how different I look and how much better I feel. I've lost more fat than my five-year-old weighs. I try to imagine what 50 pounds of fat would look like all piled up. I picture 50 packages of butter stacked up high. It's just difficult to comprehend what losing 50 pounds really means.

I had a really cool "weight loss moment" this week. I went to the store to buy some new pants because everything in my closet is falling off. For the first time in over 10 years I'm wearing real, actual jeans! Not stretch denim elastic waist "big girl" pants that try to pass for jeans. These are zip up, button top, non-stretchy regular denim jeans. Sure, they're size 22 and still come from the "plus size" store, but they look and feel really good. I left the store with a huge smile on my face.

I've always hated knowing that my obesity is an embarrassment to my kids. It's hard on a kindergartner when his classmates say things like "Whoa, Gabe, your mom is really FAT!" I'm looking forward to going to the county fair and riding the Ferris wheel. As an obese woman, I've been apprehensive about putting myself in a position that might result in my size being a factor in any way.

Whether it's squeezing into an airline seat or trying to buckle the safety strap on an amusement park ride, the morbidly obese regularly face obstacles that simply aren't a factor for the average-sized person. While some people might be interested in gastric bypass surgery because they want to be trim and sexy, my goals are much more mundane.

I want to experience a cross-country flight without feeling wedged in like a sardine in a can. I want to ski down a hill without worrying that I'll fall and break a hip. I want to ride a roller coaster. I want to sit on a swing in the park with my son and not wonder if I'll break the chains holding the tire in place.

It's the little things in life.

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Making the Decision

07/14/01: Making the Decision

08/23/01: Leaving Bill

09/18/01: No Job

09/20/01: Just That Quick

The Family and Friends Plan

09/19/02: Why Not Me?

12/26/02: Comparisons

03/22/03: Jumping on the Bandwagon

05/20/03: How I Met Ed

08/18/03: The Big Squeeze

11/06/03: New Body, New Husband

Seeking Approval

02/04/04: Time to Get Approved

03/12/04: Journey Begins

04/26/04: I'm Approved

06/13/04: Pre-Op Testing

06/20/04: In the Waiting Line

Making the Cut

07/10/04: Saying Goodbye

07/11/04: Sleepless Night

07/15/04: The Surgery

Strange Changes

07/22/04: Yummy Water

07/30/04: Smaller Tummy

08/16/04: 37 Pounds Down

09/07/04: My First 50 Pounds

10/31/04: Different Food, Same Love

New Body Countdown

11/07/04: 67 Down and Counting

11/12/04: Melting Away - 73 down

11/20/04: Breaking 200

11/26/04: Giving Thanks - 83 pounds

Holiday Madness

12/08/04: Slowing Down

12/15/04: Fortune 100, and Counting

12/27/04: Weight GAIN?

Quiet Rewards

01/06/05: Jeans Older Than My Kids

01/19/05: No Lap, But I'll Take the Luxury

01/28/05: A Most Unusual Revelation

02/07/05: Body and Sole

02/14/05: Flowers in the Mirror

Ready for Summer

03/31/05: Batwings and Tummy-Tucks

A New Life

12/15/05: Finally