My 60th Birthday Present to Myself-Getting Healthy. Grand Rapids, MI

I'm still thrilled that I had surgery and with my results. I recently started drinking carbonated diet drinks again. This probably isn't healthy, but I did miss the caffeine & carbonation. I have very little discomfort with most foods as long as I don't over eat. The one thing that causes me issue is dry hamburger meat. This seems to get stuck going down and causes me to throw up, nothing else causes me as much trouble. I know I do not eat slow enough-that's just an old habit I don't seem to be able to break. I recently had my 6 month blood work labs done and everything came back 'normal' which is all I want. I'm taking 1000-1500 ml of calcium with my multi vitamins, fish oil & regular prescriptions. I've been able to quit taking 2 of my 3 cholesterol prescriptions since surgery. My A1C was originally 6.3 (prediabetic) and it's now 5.4 (normal). I still eat protein bars midmorning & afternoon to satisfy my hunger without eating a lot of sugar & calories. I no longer journal my food, but pay attention to what I'm eating-am I getting the most benefit (protein) for my health. I hope all my weight loss friends are still losing weight and happy with their surgery decision.

I saw several friends today that I haven't seen in 6 weeks. Everyone kept saying that I I'd lost more weight since they last saw me. I'm within 1# of the same weight I was 4-6 weeks ago. I figured out that all the walking, bike riding & swimming for a month in Florida has firmed my body up and made me look slimmer. Even the slacks I wore 6 weeks ago are lose in the waist, hips & legs. I had planned to have arm surgery this summer to remove the excess floppy skin. Even thou the skin is still lose it's not as bad as it was so I think I'll keep working out and wait on such a major surgery. I may not ever lose more weight but I'm happy with my body and the fact that I'm firming up.

I'm spending a month in Florida and loving it. I'm riding my bike 6-10 miles per day in the warm sunshine, doing water aerobics in the warm out doors pool and going for walks several times per day. I know I'm eatting more than normal but my weight is staying the same with all this exercise. I will have to eat less when I get back to my home in Michigan and find inside exercises.