New year, better me.

I am starting this year off over 100 pounds lighter than last year!!! I will not be a "new" me this year. Instead, I am resolving to be a "better" me. I mean, I'm pretty awesome already, but improvements can be made. Ha! I spent New Years Eve amongst friends and New Years Day with family (yes, I consider all of y'all family). So far 2015 is shaping up to be incredible!!

There is an 18 month "prime time" for weight loss with this surgery and I've gotten a little bit off track. The honey moon phase will end soon, and I'm so not done losing weight yet. I am going to try to cut out carbs and alcohol until April. I don't need either and they're both bad for me. I'm putting this on here so I can keep myself accountable, not for your comments or suggestions. And, no, I do not have any transfer addiction or anything like that (trust me that would have already happened with the whole leg situation). I just want to be a little healthier and lose more weight!


We are thinking about getting a gym membership for this year. It will greatly help me if I can go right after work without stopping at home, collecting $200, etc. I have noticed once I'm home, I'm done. It's soooo much harder to get motivated once I've already made it home. So I am going to commit to working out during the week. I'm not promising to go every day or walk 12 miles or anything crazy, just that I go at least once a week to start off with, then more once my routine is good.

I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store for me. I already wrote the date correctly, which is a pretty big deal... I am hoping to get a big girl job this year and finally feel like I'm using that degree. I know it's been a rough couple of years, but I'm excited for positive changes and new opportunities.

We found out via our lawyers that my old insurance (since I'm 26 I don't have any right now...) will pay for all of my leg expenses. That being said, I should be up for a new leg this month!! This one, along with most of my clothes, no longer fits. Woohoo!!

I've had a lot of people ask why I can't eat when I drink. I think this video will help to explain it. I skipped to like 2:00, but you can watch it all if you'd like.

Here are a few hilarious pictures in case you missed them, plus other random ones. Enjoy!

And that's life...

My Life in Numbers

Countless bruises, stitches, and scars

28 surgeries or procedures

92 pounds lost 

9 months of no walking

7 units of blood

6 months of physical therapy

3 external fixators

3 ICU visits

3 prosthetic sockets 

2 feet

2 rehab stays

2 wheelchairs

1 amputation

I have come farther than I ever thought I could. I have come farther than I ever thought I would. I am inspired in life by the small things. I  enjoy my life to its fullest extent. Although the last couple of years have been pretty tragic, I am beyond blessed.

This is my first blog post. No, I don't read my posts after I post them because they make me sad and, usually, I cry.  

I have THE most amazing friends!!

Here are some pics you might have missed. 

Comparing different days of wearing the same outfit. 

I fit in my senior prom dress!! And the costume I used it for. 

Yesterday was my 2 year ampuversary and today is my (about) 8 month check up. I've lost 92 pounds!! Woohoo! The doctor said I'm pretty much perfect (she really did). I spent yesterday tutoring and hanging out with one of my besties and her family. We had dinner, I chased around her 2 year old, we watched a movie, and I did the stairs like 3 times; nothing holds me back!! Today I went to the movies with another best friend and we ate pizza. I have gotten to do so much cool stuff and I owe it to all the crazy changes in my life.

While I will always wish I didn't have to lose my leg, I am equally grateful it gave me the push I needed to get my life back on track. I am a better me and the best parts of my personality shine brighter than they ever have. I love my life and am happy to say I am content. Please don't read this as I'm done losing weight, because I'm not! However, I am immensely happy. 

Progress pics.

And that's life...

6 months, baby!!

So I hit the 8 month mark today. I feel awesome!! I walked 1.5 miles in 30 minutes earlier this week and am trying to walk every other day. I am learning to love food in a more nutritional way rather than in a "soothes my soul" kind of way. Eating right has become second nature to me and I enjoy "winning" my calorie goals and such. Oh... Did I mention I've lost 81 pounds? No? Well I did!!! I've also lost 23 inches (I think- this is hard to measure the same every time).

I am so proud of myself for doing this and sticking with it. I don't look like a super model... yet. It's really only a matter of time. I have to find clothes to fit me (blessing and curse) and am enjoying being thinner. I enjoy not losing my breath after a flight of steps. I enjoy watching my friend's 2 year old and being able to keep up with her. I enjoy life.

Every day isn't perfect. I don't feel like I'm smaller, but I know I am. I sometimes eat things I know I shouldn't, but have learned to eat them in extreme moderation.

I feel incredible!! I have a ridiculous amount of energy and love feeling good. I still have a fair amount of weight to lose, but I know I will reach it because I can SEE results!!

I'm even learning to not cringe when someone takes a picture. I took a selfie the other day once. Yep, that's it. Once. I have more confidence than I've ever had. For those of you who know me, you know that's a feat. Anyways, the point is, I am starting to LOVE myself and that is an important goal to me.

If you have ANY questions about anything, please ask. I am an open book about almost anything. I also promise to be honest. Ha!

P.S. Tomorrow's Throw Back Thursday (#tbt) will be awesome!!! 

And that's life...

4 Month Progress

So I've finally hit 4 months and feel amazing!! Seriously, why didn't I do this earlier? Oh, right. Because I thought it would change my life. It has, but in such a positive way that I do not regret it. At. All. I will post my progress pics in case you missed them on Facebook. A lot of my clothes don't fit well, which is a blessing and a curse. It's an expensive problem to have. Ha! Luckily I've gotten a lot of "pass-it-on" clothes from friends. 

Dad had some issues a couple weeks back with his kidney. This severely stressed me out. What did I do? I ate. But, and here's where I've made progress, I ate half a sleeve of graham crackers and some cheese. That's it. Even my stress snacking has become healthy. Who am I? Oh yeah, the 64 pound-lighter-version of me!! Woohoo!!

So my progress, other than my brain which has changed dramatically, is a total of 64 pounds and about 13.5 inches (I'm probably not measuring the inches right, but whatever)!! I think about what I'm eating now and how it will impact my calories. I take my vitamins (I did this before, too). I drink most of my water most days; I have a new addiction to tea. I still track ALL of my food. I drink 2 protein shakes a day.

Let's talk about this protein thing for a second. I am losing hair. Like handfuls of hair. Not like, oh that's a little more than usual. Like in amounts that I'm surprised I'm not bald yet!! Jeez! So I upped my fish oil, biotin, and protein. It's not so bad. I think it's also working, which is GREAT!! I don't think my hair is growing anymore, just thinning. What?! Is the surgery still worth it? YES!!!!

I constantly see people and want to tell them how awesome I feel and how awesome they can feel, too!! Have the surgery if you're contemplating it. Do it. Do it. Do it. It makes EVERYTHING better! I can actually go grocery shopping in a store with little sweating (for super long trips I still can't, but I'm working on it). I will be able to stand up in my friend's wedding. I can walk up a flight of stairs and still breathe. My seat belt has more space; I can lean up and get something and the seat belt doesn't lock me out. It's amazing what changes. DO IT!!!

Now for the important stuff: exercise. I'm about to start exercising. For real. I don't cringe quite as much when I think about it anymore, yet I haven't started running marathons either. Dad and I are going to work on exercising. I need to shake up my routine if I want results, I guess. If you change nothing, nothing changes. Right? So I'm going to start actually trying to exercise. Why is it so hot, though? It's actually been a mild summer, but it just started getting REALLY hot. Suck it up, I know.

I did have a little melt down the other day in the car. I saw a black car that had just been in wreck and had the front in all smashed up. I stopped breathing for about 2 minutes and then cried until I got my heart to start working again. It was awful! It felt so close to what my car was like. I was instantly flooded with all the images of hospitals, ambulances, amputations, etc. Just writing this is giving my goose bumps... I prayed for like 3 minutes that everyone was ok and that they would quickly recover. I hope I don't have to see a car like that again. I know better than to look, but I was talking and wanted to get home and looked- like an idiot. I will try not to look ever again. Ugh.

Other than that, my life has been peachy!! I went on 2 mission trips this summer, I've seen most of my friends, my cousin came to town, I've lost weight, I swam a few times, I did/do yoga, I've discovered tea, I'm awesome!! What more could I ask for?

And that's life...

Update

Sorry it's been so long. I was waiting for my typical 2 weeks to weigh in, but that was during mission trip. Ha!

I have lost about 5 more pounds since my last weigh in, but I feel like I do more. I finally hit my 10,000 step goal this last weekend. I had to do some laps around the house to get the last few steps, but it was WORTH it!!

I ate surprisingly well during the young adult mission trip I went on, despite all of the yummy looking food. I even walked on the track one day. Yeah, me. Weird, I know. I'm really rather upset I didn't lose any weight, but I seriously think I gained some muscle; I'm ok with that. 

I will officially have to get rid of some clothes and buy some new ones. I was cooking for the mission trip and reached up to stretch out my back and nearly flashed the other two ladies in the kitchen because my pants were dangerously close to falling off. Hahaha! I can wear some of my old pants again, but can't seem to make myself wear the shirts. They stick just a little too much for me. I am going to go shopping for a couple of pairs of capris for the next mission trip I'm going on (next week) and the rest of summer.

I'm hoping to get a "big girl" job this year and will have to go shopping for an interview outfit and work clothes if I get one. What a bittersweet problem to have!!

I have already told you that I feel so much better, but I can't say it enough. I FEEL GREAT!!!

I walked on my new leg all last week and am going to get it adjusted tomorrow. I think I'm already shrinking out of it somewhat. They will have to add padding for me and realign some stuff. Funny story: I had my test socket with my new foot and went to the dentist with dad like 2 weeks ago. It was making this weird sound and I sent a video (shown) to my leg people and said I think it's loose. I went to the bathroom (brought mom) and got up to wash my hands, when my foot fell off. Right there in the bathroom!!! So mom calls dad in, just imagine the people in the waiting room, and he sees me sitting on the toilet (fully clothed) holding my purse with my foot unattached, lying on the floor. Yeah. Only me. Hahahahaha! I wish we had gotten picture... It was hilarious! Luckily, the dentists office, for some reason or another, had some Allen wrenches that dad used to reattach my foot to my socket. #amputeeprobs

50 pounds down!!

I'VE LOST 50 POUNDS!!!! Woohoo!! I've finally hit my first BIG goal!!!

It's been awhile since I've written because there wasn't too much to report, except now I've lost 50 pounds. Yesterday I had to drag out my old clothes because my current ones are literally falling off of me. Not really shirts, yet, but pants for sure.

I feel better and more energized. I feel empowered and more content. I don't quite feel like I'm a changed woman or anything, but I feel the slow process of change.

I uploaded pictures the other day of my "change". On my phone, where I took and put the pics together, I could barely see a change. I almost didn't post them. However, I feel like since I'm 2 months post op and promised to share everything, I uploaded them. On my computer I can see a bigger change, but I still wish I could more readily (other than my clothes) see the results.

I guess I should repost the pics I'm talking about in case you missed them...

50 pounds on an average person is a LOT and you can easily see where they've lost weight. 50 pounds of me isn't really that much in the scheme of things and can't be as easily seen. I swear people are excited to see me, then do, and want to ask how I've lost the weight I have and still look "fat". Haha!

It's a process (I literally could not hate these words anymore than I already do). I didn't gain the weight over night and I won't lose it over night either (hate this saying, too). Sad, but true fact.

Surprisingly the water is getting harder to drink. I think I actually prefer cold water now to room temperature. I have gotten some 0 calorie Vitamin Water and Sobe Water to sneak in 20 ounces of yummier water each day.

In other areas of my life, I'll be going on 2 mission trips this summer. I'm trying to up my steps and activity levels. It's hard because my leg still isn't fitting as well as I'd like. We are working to perfect my third socket, so it's taking longer than it did last time. I'm still doing yoga about once a week, which I am learning to love. I feel more limber and flexible; I sit with my legs crossed or one leg under me which I haven't done since before the wreck. All of my scars are fading and I'm applying different lotions and oils to keep my skin elastic and fade the scars.

I have learned that I can eat anything in super small quantities. It's hard for me to hit 1000 calories a day (the "old" me still can't believe this). I still chew everything really well and wait to drink for at least 30 minutes before or after eating. I haven't thrown up at all, which is close to a miracle. I get my protein in with 2 shakes a day in between meals. They aren't as bad because I only have to drink 2 a day. I also don't want to lose my hair so I keep my protein intake high.

And that's life...