Well my soul checked out missing as I sat listening
To the hours and minutes tickin’ away Yeah just sittin’ around waitin’ for my life to begin While it was all just slippin’ away
I’m tired of waitin’ for tomorrow to come Or that train to come roarin’ ’round the bend
I got a new suit of clothes a pretty red rose And a woman I can call my friend
These are better days baby
Bruce Springsteen
I’ve been on a Bruce kick for the last week. Hah. People who know me best would say I’ve been on a Bruce kick for the last 35 plus years. They’d be right. LOL I had E Street Radio (Sirius and XM satellite) to keep me company today on my drive up and back to Miami (two hours each way) for my two month follow up appointment with my surgeon. It’s hard to believe that Wednesday marked the 9 week anniversary of my surgery! This morning I did my official weekly weigh-in and discovered that I am down 61 pounds!
61 pounds. Wow! That’s like the equivalent of both of my dogs put together! It’s been a lonnnggg time since I’ve lost this much weight. I am now lighter than I’ve been in 15 years. I’m lighter in spirit than I’ve been in longer than I can remember.
After the great weigh-in, the day continued to be great. I dressed in the cute new denim capris I bought last weekend and an embellished red top that I bought last year but never wore because it seemed sort of tight. It fits great now! Even though I don’t see the complete weight loss so far, when I checked in the mirror I knew I looked better than I have in months.
I dropped off two bags of too-big-for-me clothes to the Salvation Army thrift shop. Then before I left town I visited a seamstress who is going to take in two pairs of capri length pants for me. They’re in good shape but bagging off of me. The alterations will help me save money and stretch out my wardrobe through the next several pounds I lose. Woot!
For most of my life, I’ve hated going to doctor appointments. Even though I’ve always known that my excess weight was unhealthy, no, dangerous for me, I still cringed whenever I received a lecture from my doctors. It’s all so different now because I’m doing so well. The surgeon and his staff are warm, supportive people. The surgeon is very pleased with my progress, my test results, and my verbal report of how great I feel. My labs were pretty darned good, too, although I need to add a B complex vitamin and step up my exercise.
My overall cholesterol number has dropped considerably and is in the desirable range, as are my trigylcerides — all without my having taken my medication for cholesterol since before my surgery. My good cholesterol (HDL) is lower than it should be and the LDL number (bad cholesterol) is borderline high. I expect to see these numbers improve as I lose more weight and up my cardio exercise.
The only number that confuses me is the A1C which tracks the “stickiness” of sugar in the blood over recent weeks/months. Considering how little sugar I’ve had in the last two months I was surprised that it still tracked high on the lab results. So, I did more research on the Internet. It turns out that my number is in line with the recommendations of the American Diabetes Association, showing good control. I bet when I see my primary care physician on Tuesday and she compares the newest number with my previous results, we’ll find that it’s come down. My daily glucose readings have steadily dropped, too. This is all without taking the blood sugar meds, too. Booyah! Better days, indeed.
My surgeon’s offices are in the same building as a gorgeous Whole Foods. We don’t have a WF in the Keys, so I love the opportunity to go in and browse. Since I’d packed a cooler for the trip, so I could keep water and snacks I’d need to eat nice and cool for the drive, I also knew that I could bring home some yummy food safely. I bought some fresh mozarella, some of their fresh prepared dinner items and beet salad from their food bars, a single cookie, a gorgeous artichoke that I’ll steam and eat tomorrow night, and a beautiful, colorful bouquet of miniature roses. As soon as I got home, I put the flowers in a vase and placed them on my dining room table so I can see them while I write or watch tv or surf the Internet. I enjoyed some of the food for dinner and, even though I didn’t buy a lot, I have plenty for a couple more meals.
On the way home from Miami, Springsteen’s song These are Better Days played. I listened to the lyrics, particularly the ones that I excerpted above, and thought about how they apply to me. I spent a long time miserable in my super obesity, waiting for me to motivate myself while time kept ticking away. I got tired of waiting and took positive action. Today, I put on new clothes, and bought myself roses. As a woman, I’m being a better friend to myself. These are better days.
Weighty Matters 
So happy for you … keep up the good work!
Thanks, Everyone. Your happiness over my happiness touches me deeply!
Hope everyone’s having a great weekend.
You sound so happy and positive; it’s just wonderful! Yay for you, my dear, I’m very happy for you.
Yay for you!!!
BTW you are now known as my “Bruce” internet friend. Far, far more important than any weight loss saga! And I’m being instructed to tell you to search for magikrat’s videos from the Tampa show. Yeah, the DH is a bit obsessive too.
Tell your husband “Thanks” from me. I’ll look for the videos. I hope he has a great time at the concert!
Someday I’ll have to tell you all my really fun Bruce stories — like the time he was in a record store when I went in to buy the Nebraska album, or when a mutual friend first introduced us and then embarrassed me but Bruce bought me a drink to make up for it, or, or… I have several! 🙂
Oh, yay! This post makes me so happy. 😀
I adore woman who know how to treat themselves well. I always buy myself flowers or chocolates or give myself little treats. Good for you! You deserve these rewards because you’ve worked hard at change and change is hard.
Love me some Boss!
You almost made me cry! So happy for you and your new attitude!