A new experience

Well guys, I'm now almost 7 months out of surgery (Thursday will be 7 months). i have lost something every week since i had my surgery. Until this week. I have been having trouble with my right knee and have basically unable to do anything. Tuesday i went to the gym and i was only able to do 12 minutes on the treadmill before my knee gave out completely, and that was going at a much lower speed and incline then i normally do. i stopped it and tried to do the bike and was hurting so bad that in less then a minute on the bike i was physically sick from pain. we didn't do anything else that day but put heat on my knee. Wednesday i didn't go to the gym due to my knee. so i went yesterday and didn't even try the treadmill, i just did bike. i did manage to get my whole half hour in, but i was hurting very bad, and my heart rate got very high due to the pain. i only had it on a level 1 and averaged about 11 mph and my heart rate was 199. so it was a very tough week. plus I'm trying to eat more because I've not been getting in enough calories with the amount of activity I've been doing. so today was my weekly weigh in, and my weight was the same as it was last week. now, i honestly was expecting to gain this week. i was prepared for a gain, or as prepared as i could be. but i managed to maintain. it was actually a very proud moment when i realized i didn't lose, but i didn't gain either. maintaining a weight is hard to do when you're increasing food intake and unable to get in any activity. my inches suffered this week too, i gained 1.5 inches total this week. again, all things considered not too bad. not what i would have liked, of course, but still much better then it could have been and then i expected it to be. it was also an eye opener. i wasn't giving myself credit for losing the weight i have, crediting it to the surgery. and that i just lost because of it. that's obviously not true though. because i didn't lose this week. now I'm sure the surgery had a part in the loss. but i would not, and could not have gotten where i am now, without the hard work and dedication i have put into this new life. i have lost 120 pounds and i can be very proud of that. because i have worked for it, fought for it, and earned it.

i went to a move today for the first time since before surgery too. the last time i went, i couldn't fit in the seats. i was too big. today, i not only fit in the chairs, but i could put my hands down beside me, and still have room left in the seat. it was absolutely awesome. you don't think about the small things like that when you start on a life changing journey like this. but i can't begin to explain the feeling, the pride, the moment when you realize you can do something you couldn't before. those moments are truly priceless.

until next time,
steph