Attitude

I've been wanting to blog about this topic for quite some time, but haven't really been in the right frame of mind...but now I seem to be.

As most of you know - I am a Tim Horton's fan.  I love their coffee - it's like crack for me and also since my sister Kathy is a District Manager, I go there frequently.  I go there faithfully on the weekends right before my workouts to get my caffeine fix on.  Ever since I have been going there - and even before I'm sure - there has been this woman that frequents there.  Ok...I know you're thinking...so what??  So a woman frequents Tim Hortons?  Well, this woman - or her actions I should say, have made me think.

This woman is morbidly obese.  She probably weighs about 550 lbs.  She gets around in a scooter and in order to even stand, she has to hold onto something.  She orders about five to six things off the menu and they aren't healthy items.  She has to wear 100% oxygen in order to breathe. 

The first time I saw her, I immediately felt sorry for her.  I felt bad because she obviously hadn't hit "that point" in her life where she had had enough of her body...enough of her limitations...enough of feeling the eyes of people like me on her - ridiculing her. 

But then she opened her mouth and spoke.

She snapped her fingers at the Tim Horton's staff...bellowing out to them to "hurry up" with her order.  She was demanding, impatient and plain out RUDE.  Every time I see her, she's got something nasty to say to someone.  I now just try to avoid looking at her not because of her body, but because of the way she portrays herself. 

Attitude has such a huge impact on anybody, no matter what size you are, but it also comes into play when it comes to weight loss.  If you go about your journey with a piss poor attitude, you are destined to fail.  Sure, there are times where I have felt frustrated with myself and I've wanted to give up.  But each time, I got back up and said "OK let's get this done"  "I'm gonna finish this."  A bad attitude can have an impact as to if you lose or gain that week.  Feeling negative causes stress, which in return causes weight gain. 

So I guess what I am trying to get across is just to have a good attitude.  It will help you in the long run!

Now...on to other things...

I FINALLY got my hair dyed on Saturday.  I had big white stripe down the middle of my scalp from all the grey coming in.  My hairdresser Helen did it for free for my birthday.  She is awesome.  Here is a pic of the finished product!

It's knd of funny, becaue I took a picture of myself right after I left the salon.  It wasn't nearly as good as this one. 

I'm also looking forward to this week.  It's my birthday week!  In just FIVE days I'm going to be 40!  I'm feeling so excited to be turning 40.  I have accomplished so much and I feel great!  I have so much to be thankful for.  There is a big party planned for me on Saturday and I'm so excited to see everyone.  I will be sure to get lots of pictures of the event and post them here

Have a super great week everyone!  And remember...attitude is key!

Happy Bandiversary to Me!!

Wow - can't believe it's already been a year since I've been banded.  It just feels like it was just yesterday, that I was sitting at the Peter Lougheed Hospital's Day Surgery Department, waiting to have my surgery.  I remember that day being very long.  Dr. Church was two hours behind, as he had an emergency appendectomy.  It was all worth the wait though, and then some.  

While I have learned a great deal about myself this past year, I have also learned a great deal about other people - I realized who was my real support and who wasn't.  While it was quite hurtful for me to realize this, I am glad I did.  I am so fortunate to have the friends and family that DO support me and want me to succeed.   

To date, just this year alone, I have lost 58 lbs.  This surpasses the expectations of my dietitians and surgeons who want us (in our Calgary Lap Band Group anyway ) to lose 52 pounds - which is the average of about 1-2 pounds a week.  But for me, the weight loss isn't as important as the awareness of proper eating that I have gained.  I now realize how important it is to chew my food slowly...to rest for at least a minute in between bites...to savour my food.  I have finally considered food as my "fuel" instead of just eating for the hell of it.  I would be lying if I said I ate well 100% of the time.  I don't.  But I don't eat nearly as much as I used to when I weighed 360 pounds - I'm not even close to it. 

I've also found a new love for cardio and I use my spin classes for that.  Because of my arthritic knees, I am unable to jog or even walk quickly now on the treadmill.  Spin class satisfies me.  It's great on my knees, and I get a great calorie burn.  My instructor Jill is phenomenal, and is so motivating.  In a nutshell, I love it.

I am so glad I made the decision to get the band.  There is never a day that goes by that I regret it.  While I realize the surgery isn't for everyone, it was for me. 

I also just realized something.  I need to update some photos...those are coming soon - hopefully next week!

Have a super great week everyone!