IN THE BEGINNING...

I decided to start a completely new blog to help me document my new weight loss journey through weight loss surgery. The "rebirth" in the blog title is because I already went through a Weight Watchers journey as "Remodeling.Me", complete w/ website, blog, etc. Did fairly well over several years, then crashed & burned over the past 5 years, as my focus went elsewhere. I have a really hard time NOT looking back @ how I did, how I was... WHO I was during my successful time during that journey, finding my failure fairly depressing & am trying really hard to separate this new journey from the previous one. Still love Remodeling.Me, it really fits me & fits what I'm doing... but since this is a new journey, I wanted to start fresh... new blog, new outlook, etc..... so REBIRTH. 

My surgery date is set for August 9th, 2012... just 12 short days away! I'll be having the Vertical Sleeve procedure done & am really pleased that this is the way I've decided to go. I know it's drastic, but I feel like it's the right "untapped" tool for my arsenal. I've struggled w/ my weight for so long & know what it takes to live a healthy lifestyle, but after so many years of backpedaling, I've decided it's just really time to put the brakes on & regroup. This procedure gives me no choice in the matter... I obviously need a heavy hand right now, so here I am.

I start my 10 day liquid protein diet in 2 days & am ready to go. My hubby took me out to our favorite pizza place today, Pizza Luce, so I could enjoy my last bit of pizza for a while. Kind of my "Farewell Stomach" celebration. :o) It was a good send-off, & fairly guilt-free, as our favorite pizza is a thin crust Greek vegetarian... so good. I'm actually looking forward to this upcoming restrictive liquid diet for a bit, ready to let food go for a while... take the choice out of my hands while I regroup. My dietitian says I'm going to be hungry & crabby this first 10 days before surgery... I hope I handle it better than that, but I'm ready to take it on.

I've taken my before pictures & measurements.... knowing that it's always a good idea to have those starting numbers to have something real to compare your progress to as you go. I definitely NEED the pictures along the way to show me the visible changes, as I don't really see them otherwise. I'm considering video, too...

Can't tell you how tough it is to see these full body shots, but it's my reality & it's time to face it! & yeah, I know, I need to smile, LOL, but I don't feel very photogenic @ this weight, so I'll pass, for now. :o)

So... this is me, BEFORE, at 272 lbs. I'm actually down from my all-time high of 285 lbs from my first visit to the bariatric clinic. I'll post my pre-op weight after I finish my 10 day liquid protein diet, just before surgery. 

Anyway... this is me. For now.