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    Monday, December 17, 2007

    Little Victories

    It's been a while since I posted any little weight loss victories. These are the things that keep me going, even when I'm not losing weight.

    • I don't recognize myself in pictures sometimes. I have to look twice in the mirror to figure out who is looking back at me.
    • When you weight almost 400 pounds, life is hard in more ways than one. This morning in the shower, I realized that I could reach any part of my body to wash it, even the middle of my back.
    • I felt a bump on my back and immediately thought it had to be a tumor. It was my shoulder blade. I've never felt that before.
    • I've had to move the seat in my car up about 12 inches so I could comfortably drive. My stomach used to hit the steering wheel with the seat pushed all the way back.
    • People look me in the eye when they talk to me instead of pretending I'm invisible. Maybe it's me that's able to hold my head now. Anyway, people treat me differently. Most people smile at me instead of giving me the look of disgust.
    • I can run up stairs without any problems. I could barely drag myself up the stairs at 384 pounds.
    • My knees don't bother me at all.
    • I can shop in the regular size clothes from almost any store. I bought a regular pair of jeans (as opposed to women's sizes) from the ladies section in a size 16. I bought a size large shirt. I haven't been able to do that since, hmm...I can't ever remember that.
    • I now wear a size 5 ring. My old ring size was an 8.
    • I can work for 8 hours standing on my feet in the sign shop and still have energy to cook dinner and do whatever else I need to do at night. Before, it almost killed me to carry all the weight around and when I got home at night, I plopped in my chair and didn't move until it was time to go to bed. I physically couldn't do another thing.
    • Daughter #1 needed a shirt today for her concert and I gave her one of mine to wear. I never dreamed that my girls and I would share clothes.
    • Saturday we made cookies, candy and bread all day long as I did the laundry. In the past, it was an all day job to make bread and I was exhausted afterwards.
    • The best advantage to losing over 300 pounds between two people is that sex is absolutely amazing.
    I know there are many more of these but some only someone who has been super morbidly obese would understand.

    Before:

    Yesterday with daughter #1


    18 comments:

    Sheri said...

    I still trip out over the little things that others take for granted.
    1. My feet don't hurt
    2. I can fit in a folding chair and don't have to worry about it collapsing
    3. My hip bones feel funny
    4. Sharing clothes

    G-Man said...

    You couldn't reach "certain parts" before to wash?
    Did you have a Valet?
    Ladies in Waiting?
    Boy-Toy's in waiting?
    A henpecked Hubby?
    A very long loofa?

    You are so picture perfect Beautiful!!
    And so is #1.....
    xoxox

    lime said...

    i think you mistitled this post. i think it shoudl be BIG victories. especially that last one ;) w00t!!!!

    Unknown said...

    Without having seen Lime's comment, I thought exactly the same thing. The biggest victory is that, thank G-d, you are in better health for yourself and for your family. As always, you look FAN-frikkin'-tastic, Jenn and your inner matches your outer.

    At the top of my physical gratitude list today is:

    •Never having to check a chair to see if it would hold

    • Being able to find socks that really do go up to my knees and beyond - and OTK socks are dead sexy as well as warm

    • Noting that the bulge above my waist is not fat but my ribs

    • Finding that the Land's End microfleece one of my swimming buddies gave me for Chanukah is too big at an XL.

    • Fitting well into L sweater jackets that are none too generous.

    • Looking down when sitting and typing and seeing chair between my legs - not lap or thigh

    Someone needs to draw Galen a diagram here, sheesh!

    *S*

    Unknown said...

    BTW, check your signgurl account - the yahoo one. I'm sharing a family recipe with you.

    *S*

    ell said...

    you're beautiful jenn. i'm in awe of your accomplishments.

    Mona said...

    Sign Gurl.. what a Triumph!

    Its already your birthday where I live! & on my blog...

    Many Many Happy Returns of the Day Jenn & may each year bring redoubled joy for you !

    lime said...

    a little birdie whispered about a birthday....

    happy birthday jenn! may you have many more happy ones!

    Anonymous said...

    You rock, girl. I am continually inspired by you and how much you have accomplished. and i agree with g-man- BOTH pictures are gorgeous.

    you go with the hot sex! that is awesome. ;)

    SignGurl said...

    Yippeeskip~ I can also add all of those to my list :)

    G-Man~ I think Susan has offered to make you a diagram. Put it this way, when you get fatter, your arms get shorter, or something like that.

    Lime~ I saved the best for last ;)

    *S*~ Yay for your victories!! I've not tried the sexy OTK socks. I'll do anything to stay warm. Thanks for the recipe!

    Ell~ Thank you so much!

    Mona~ Thank you so much for that beautiful poem! I still don't know how you knew.

    Lime~ Thank you! It's officially tomorrow but sometimes it seems that these things last a month.

    Katie~ Hot sex as opposed to cold sex? Ahaha, I'm cracking myself up here. Thank you for the kind complements.

    barman said...

    I think any one of those is a Major Victory, especially the last one. I am at awe of how far you have come so far. I am so glad I got to know you before you went the bypass. I got to see how wonderful person you were and how wonderful you still are. At the same time I have also seen the positive affect as you are so much more full of confidence in you and what you do. It is very inspiring.

    That picture of you and #1, wonderful indeed.

    Jon said...

    I know it's not easy, and the fact that you know what obese people go through will make you the most compassionate thin people around.

    You totally rock!

    Cha Cha said...

    Happy Birthday a bit early. I saw in Galen's comment section that it was soon to be arriving and I'm feeling very excited that I am more on top of things in the Blogger Birthday department this week, so I thought I would come by to say...

    Happy Birthday, Hot Stuff!

    SignBabe, you rock.

    I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying all of your 2001 parts and that they are being very much enjoyed by Mr. Sign, as well.

    I will just have to live vicariously through you as I walk through the desert.

    Queenie said...

    A little bird told me its your birthday "Happy Birthday".
    You look amazing, my sister keeps asking how your doing. She has lost 36lbs, the doctor would like her to drop 9st more. With the 3st lost up to now her health has improved so much. I wish she had a P.C so she could visit you, she was so inspired by your photos.

    javajazz said...

    Happy Birthday Jenn!
    you have so much to be
    proud of, and you are
    absolutely stunning
    and brilliant and
    funny! have a joyous
    celebration of
    all things Signgurl!
    you are a true inspiration.
    xo lisa

    jillie said...

    Galen...you're a NUT!

    I have a good friend in WI that is feeling the same way. It's like she is a whole different person.

    I have SO MUCH admiration for you Jenn. You have come a long way and you're only getting better!

    You are a beauty that's for DAMN sure!

    xo

    snowelf said...

    Happy Birthday Gorgeous!!!! :)

    --snow

    SignGurl said...

    Barman~ Aww..thanks! I do feel I have more confidence and feel somewhat more "normal". It's weird.

    Jon~ I will always remember the way it felt to be super morbidly obese. I feel for what they go through every day.

    Strumpet!~ You have no idea how much that means to me. Thank you so much! I'm glad to see you back in action.

    Queenie~ Thanks for the birthday wishes! Your sister is doing awesome. I know she must be feeling great.

    Javajazz~ Well thank you very much, Lisa! I really appreciate that.

    Jillie~ It's hard not to feel like a different person when you look in the mirror, but when you look on the inside, I'm still the same person.

    SnowElf~ Thank you!!