It's Official

It's official. I am a student at Weber State University. I start next semester and I am going to just do online courses so I can still be at home with my kids. I am going to meet with a councilor tomorrow. I am wanting to be a personal trainer. That is only offered at Weber State through a Bachelors degree. I am thinking about minoring in nutrition, or maybe just getting my associates degree in that. I am still deciding what will be right for me. I am really excited, but the dynamic has changed for me a lot. I was easily the oldest person I saw on campus. Before, when I went to school there, I was one of the youngest. I was also the fattest. I guess I don't mind this dynamic. :) When I started this journey, if you had told me that my career goal would be personal training and nutrition, I would have never believed it. A few weeks ago. I ran into a friend of mine that I used to work with. He is an older gentleman. He looked me up and down and told me I look great. I told him how cycling had become my new love. We talked about how much life had changed for me. I made the comment "If you told me 2 years ago I would be riding 60-80 mile bike races, I would have never believed it!" He laughed and said "No one would have." That is what this surgery has done for me. Yes, it has changed other peoples view on me, but it has changed my view of myself. I know anything is possible. If I can lose 190 pounds, I can do anything. I know that. Next step, a college degree.

Changes

Some events lately have made me evaluate my life and what is important.  As a result, I quit my second job selling insurance to be able to be with my kids.

During my evualation of life, I had to ask “What makes me happiest?"

Obviously my kids and family are at the very top of this list.  When I look at what makes me feel most fullfilled, it is helping others find a healthier lifestyle.  I have decided to do online courses for personal training and eventually get my degree in nutrition.
If you had told me two years ago that this would be my bliss,  I would have never believed it!

I am tentatively planning on starting school in January. 

I am also thinking about growing my hair longer.  I have had super short hair since I was 19, that's the same hairstyle for about 14 years.

So vote now:  short hair or should I grow it?

Before and after: the tummy tuck edition

  I have had requests for before and after pictures. So here you go. Pre and post tummy tuck photos.  Because insurance paid, there was no lipo,  so, yes there are imperfections, but I am happy.

Disclosure: I am still very swollen. Especially in my thighs. The belly button had to be surgically created. That is why it still looks gross. In the back you can still see my surgical incision.

First bike ride

My plan was to go to the gym today.   The gym was closed for Labor Day.   Figures.  I decided to ride my bike instead.   It was my first ride since surgery, and I will admit,  I am frustrated with myself.  I have ridden 60 mile bike races.   Three weeks ago I rode 18 miles and didn't even break a sweat.   Today,  I rode 1/2 mile in 10 minutes and was sweaty and out of breath.

Man, this is going to be a longer road to recovery than I anticipated! 

I had been planning on doing an 80 bike race in September, but for right now, that is on hold.

Hopefully cross training at the gym will help!

Updates and goals

About a week ago, I called my doctor and told him that I was worried I had infection.  On my right side, there was redness, pain, it was warm to the touch and was leaking lots of fluid and occasionally yellow puss.  I had a fever and diarhea. 

I have a medical background and knew all signs pointed to infection.

The doctor said that drainage was normal, to leave it exposed if possible and come in early if I needed. 

Well, Friday night, I went to bed and the shooting pains started.  I am pretty tough, and I was crying like a baby, or at least a little girl.

I had been taking just a half lortab every eight or so hours to manage pain.   I took two lortab (it was ordered 2 every 4 hours) and it didn't touch my pain.

I got up to use the restroom and looked at my incision in the mirror.  There was a lump the size of a golf ball on my incision at my right hip.

Chad wanted me to go to the ER right then, but I am stubborn. 

The pain continued but started to also radiate to my legs.  I have bruises all over my legs and I knew it was one of two things.  Either 1. infection or 2. blood clots.

I realized it was most likely infection, and I can handle a little puss.  I can't handle pain of that magnitude.  Chad won and at midnight we headed to the ER.

We drove to Lakeview hospital because if something bad was going to happen to me, I wanted to be at Lakeview.

My doctor was very aggressive with my treatment.  I got IV antibiotics and when I finally got sent home, he sent me two other antibiotics. 

The worst part was that they pushed on the infected area to get puss out to culture.  That was the worst pain I have ever felt.  I literally almost passed out.

Following that, they gave me morphine, which was magic!  My pain went away and I was able to sleep.

They kept us for quite awhile.  I was so thankful to get out!  We stopped for a late breakfast (ok, kind of a late brunch) and then went home to sleep.

This may sound crazy,  but I am still so thankful I got the surgery.  I am also thankful for my husband that has pampered me for two weeks!

Today, I was up for about 6 hours. I was able to make dinner.  I made a spicy chicken curry with rice and homemade naan.  It was wonderful and it was great to be eating natural foods again.

My new goal is to slowly start exercising again.   The inactivity is killing me....figuratively and literally.  I plan to go to the gym tomorrow.  I may only make it 10 minutes on an elliptical,  but I have got to do it!!!