The story of my struggle.

[biggaz1979]

Awww hunni you have a lot of courage and deserve all the commendations available it's a very sweet story worthy of a documentary to educate the world on the struggles some people have to endure, your a really sweet girl too and deserve nothing other than to reach each and every goal you have set for yourself, not many would have the determination you have in your situation especially suffering setbacks as you have my hat is off hun.

I will deffo be keepin an eye on your progress we could all learn something from you

[FlirtfromHell]

Gaz, thank you so very much.

[ranger87]

flirt i just wanted you to know that you are freaking amazing baby!!! my ma got that done and she loves it hast to eat slow because pain in the chest she says. but she lost loads and looks amazing. but she was just lazy your truely unique and even more so beautiful. you have that cute temptress baby face that men LOVE at least i do lol how are you doing now?

[paramuscle]

I just saw this but you now I am always ready to stand up and give my 0.2 cents worth. It takes a lot to overcome some of life's hardships and believe me when I say that I am speaking from experience. The main thing is that no matter what happened, it does not define you as a person, you define you. You have the choices and the decisions and you are doing well, better than well.

I am sorry for taking so long but I just didn't see this..................

I have thirteen siblings, I only associate with one of them and I have a brother that I talk to and see once every year or two but, I don't have a lot of family. We grew up alone and in foster care and orphanages and shit and my sister has a real hard time with this stuff still. There's a lot more to this but the point is that she is a good person, but she blames herself for too much. She doesn't realize it, but she does.............she says why bother? what's it matter? what's the point?

Life is hard, for some of us it is harder than others and no one can tell another what to feel or think but just remember that all the stuff that happened, happened for a reason. There is a lesson that God wants us to learn if we will listen and learn. Just remember that you are not defined by your past, but rather your future and you set the rules for that.

I would have liked to have had a normal family. Christmas and Birthday presents, grandparents, all that stuff but it is never going to happen. Funny thing is though that I also developed a toughness and self reliance that has come to serve me well in my career choices................look for the silver lining and if you have trouble finding it, call me and I will point it out for ya.

Keep your chin up and keep moving forward and it will get better if you want it to.....................thanks for putting it on the line and sorry I didn't see it.


~PM

[FlirtfromHell]

Para, you are right. I have said many times, and may have already posted it in this thread, but if I was given a chance to re-live life at a normal weight I wouldn't do it. I believe I am stronger and more grounded now than I ever would have been. This is my opinion, of course I don't know cause I've never been 'skinny' but I see others getting by on their looks etc... I couldn't and have never been able to do that. I had to build personality and intelligence to get by.

Things have been especially hard this last year, and I've been weaker at times than I've wanted to be but I know I'm a fighter and a survivor and I will continue to be determined, I have too many goals and too much to accomplish in this life to just give up. Sometimes giving up seems like it would be so much easier and much less stressful, but it won't get me where I want to be, so in reality it's not an option and I know that deep down.

The situation I am in currently hasn't been easy for me, I am a planner and don't like not having a plan. I am already more at ease than I've been all month because a plan is starting to come together with only one week left. The support and encouragement I've received from so many board members has helped tremendously this last month (and several months) and y'all won't ever know how much I truly appreciate that. In the coming months I hope to show you all the fighter in me, the determination in me and the inner strength I do possess, as I've let none of those things show through like I know they.

I am excited to get things back in order and be me again, and excited to be able to share it with everyone here. You guys have all become like family to me.

[paramuscle]

Originally Posted by FlirtfromHell

You guys have all become like family to me.

And you to us hun.............I just want to see you happy again.........




~PM

[access]

Originally Posted by paramuscle

And you to us hun.............I just want to see you happy again.........




~PM

As we all do Flirt!

[FlirtfromHell]

Awe, thanks Access!

[FlirtfromHell]

Okay, so with everything going on lately I have felt a bit discouraged about my weight too. I've avoided the scales completely since my car accident but as I was packing things up I found the measurements sheet that was provided by the surgeon before the gastric bypass. There is an entire page of suggested body parts to measure so you have info to compare as you lose. So anyways, my measurements were done Jan. 27, 2004 and my surgery was February 4, 2004 I had tracked my changes until I started putting weight back on then the numbers made it that much harder so I stopped. Tonight, as I came across the sheet again curiosity got the best of me and I broke out the tape measure. Obviously some of the measurements are very hard to take yourself, but should be a pretty accurate comparison because I had done them myself back in 2004 also. I'm not at this point ready to share exact numbers but I am happy to report that I am still smaller by:
8.5" through my waist,
7" through my hips,
5" in my thighs,
4" in my calves,
1.5" in my ankles,
2" in my forearms,
5" through my chest (which isn't exactly a good decrease ),
4" through my shoulders
and 3.5" in my neck.

They may not seem like big numbers to you guys, but to me it's a great feeling... and helps give me a boost of encouragement - though I re-gained, I didn't re-gain it all!!! As soon as I get to Florida and get settled it'll be time to get serious again... are you guys ready!?!?!

[access]

Not big numbers..there massive numbers Flirt. As you say some positive encouragement is always a good thing.