I spent the last week on the Big Island of Hawaii.  I am fortunate that we were able to go there for a vacation.  My week just reinforced for me how right having weight loss surgery, following the rules so I could lose the weight and get my body into great physical shape was.  It has been many years since we were on the Big Island.  I had already lost over 250 pounds the last time we were there; however I was not in as great physical shape as I am now.

Here’s some info on how the two trips differed:

• Last time I hiked through the rain forest down to, and through, the lava tube and was proud that I was able to accomplish the up and down of the paths;
• This time I took the same hike and it was little more than a walk to me.  I didn’t have to stop to catch my breath on any of the up-hills; that is unless the scenery was so spectacular that it took my breath away.  I was ready to search out another trail and keep hiking, but my hubby was done.
• Last time I exercised (on purpose) when I could fit it into my day;
• This time I started off each, and every, morning with 40 minutes in the gym on our first day and 30 minutes swimming laps each of the other days.  Any additional walking/hiking/swimming/snorkeling was bonus exercise.
• At the end of each day I knew we had walked miles in total, one day I am sure it was at least 6 or 7 miles.  Next time I will track it with an app on my phone so I know for sure.
• Last time, even though we were in a condo we ate in restaurants for most lunches and dinners.
• This time, in a hotel room with just a refrigerator and coffee pot we ate breakfast and lunch in the room all but one day when we had lunch out.  This allowed for dinners out wherever we wanted to go, and little worry about the calories in the adult beverages.

I could go on, but you get the drift.  Every year that goes by I seem to do more, instead of less and I LOVE THIS.  We are limited in our time on earth this time around and I want to enjoy and LIVE every single day of it, and swimming with the fish, the turtles, the manta rays, hiking rain forests, walking through lava tubes, hiking around a live volcano and enjoying beautiful sunrises and sunsets all count as Living to me.

Had I not had Lap Band surgery in 2004 at 424 lbs and 56 years old, who knows if I would even be alive today?  I cherish every day and LIVE it to the max.