Aloha again from the island of Oahu; I have four pieces of very exciting news for Week 22!!
#1: For the first time in 25 years I weigh less than my husband! My husband has never had a weight problem, but he has also managed his weight over the years. He runs regularly and if he gains 2,3 or 5 lbs he immediately cuts back until he loses it so it doesn’t get out of hand. People think he’s naturally thin; and I guess he is; but he loves to eat, loves sweets and if he didn’t watch it, he would have gained those 5 lbs a year just like I did and would have had a weight problem right along with me. I really admire how he just ‘nips it in the bud’ before it gets out of hand. But today, we both got on the scale and even though I’m only 5’3″ and he’s 6′, and I lost only one more pound this week, it still felt great to finally weigh less than him (and I only weigh one pound less…!).
#2: We hiked Diamond Head crater this week and it I felt great going up and down; passing lots of people along the way, not feeling out of breath, and I made it to the top in about 25 minutes! Diamond Head is an extinct volcano near Waikiki; it’s only about a two mile hike, but it’s steep and climbs 560 feet from the crater floor to the top. Then once you get to the top, you get to climb 72 stairs to the viewing area. It was a wonderful hike and it sure felt good….I did this same hike a couple of years ago with a friend and I did OK, but I remember having to stop a couple of times along the way.
#3: Anyone who is 3 or 4 months or less post-op will love this one! For a month after my surgery, the thought of taking a pill, even a tiny pill, made me shudder. I would get them out, put them in my cute little soy sauce dish on the counter, cut them if possible and then throughout the day ‘visit’ with them until I finally was able to get the nerve to choke them down one at a time. I ordered the chewable vitamins and although I didn’t like them, at least it was easier than swallowing a pill. As time went on, things got easier; I could take the small ones one at a time, then two at a time.
Now, at 4.5 months post op, I can take my entire plethora of supplements and pills in one gulp! (I don’t take all of them at once as I do some in the morning, some at night, but I could! So I’m here to tell all of you, that whatever the restriction was (swelling?) it does go away! I can also drink water and other things without any problems.
#4: It’s official; I am now (easily) in a Size 12. Had to buy some cropped pants and bathing suit now that I’m back in the land of warm weather. Went to KMart and got some cheap ones; because I have this feeling by the end of summer……they may not fit. But today, I am happy to see that number which represents a normal sized person…..
Today is our last day here in Honolulu for a while; we hop on a plane this afternoon and head over to Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. This is where our home was for 10 years and where all of our belongings are stored. We’ve rented an apartment in Hilo and will spend the next several months going through our things in preparation for our move back to Amsterdam. So last night officially ended our time traveling for the last 13 months (and one week to be exact). It sure has been a great ride! But we will also have a few excursions here and there before my year of writing this is done!
To celebrate the official ‘end’ of our time away, we went to our favorite restaurant in THE WORLD. It’s called Restaurant Sansei and if you ever get to Hawaii, you must go to one of them. One of my favorite dishes (and I have many) is the mango crab salad.
We had the mango crab salad tonight along with two other appetizers; (we used to have 6 or 7 appetizers when we would go there). I had to pace myself and at one point my husband had to remind me to stop eating the salad so I could taste the other two. It was a wonderful dinner out (and as most of you know, dinner out can often not be fun).
Lots of new readers signed up this week; Welcome and Thank you! So happy to have you along whether you are pre-op, post-op, at goal or just mulling this over….I still read the forum several times a week and learn so much from all of you! Mahalo nui loa to each and every one of you and the others on that site. It’s a wonderful resource.
Until Week 23, A hui hou!
Queen of Crop
swizzly
March 11, 2012I’m always focused on the important things, but I have to say: I LOVE the necklace you’re wearing on the Diamond Head hike. Love it.
CONGRATS on the major milestone of weighing less than your husband! That was my first goal too. 🙂
I didn’t realise you were going back to Amsterdam eventually — maybe we could meet up there sometime.
queenofcrop
March 12, 2012Thanks Swizzly! I got that necklace (and two others just like it but in one color only, a tangerine one and a light aqua one) at a street market in Venice….only E10 each! I sometimes wear them all together. Very happy with it as well. Thanks for being such a wonderful cheerleader!
Shelley K.
March 12, 2012Just came over to your blog from the board. Love it so far. I always read these blogs from the first post to present so I better get busy. I’m still trying to catch up with Waning Woman and keep current with Eggface.
When I get to goal, my first stop will be Maui, although my daughter really wants to see Pearl. As crowded as it is sometimes, I think everybody should see Oahu.
queenofcrop
March 18, 2012Aloha Shelley! Thanks for your comment last week….I checked out the other blogs….thank you! Very interesting! All of ours are so different….I hope you make it to Maui and when you start planning, be sure to contact me! (I may have already responded to this, if so, sorry, I’m not as organized as I should be).
Queen of Crop