I just returned from a week at a warm beach in Playa del Carmen Mexico.  Several things were different from any other vacation I have taken in the past few years.

First and foremost was that I had no qualms about wearing a two piece bathing suit and walking between the beach and the lap pool where I got my daily fitness done.  This is significant for me.  I have shed over 250 pounds and have not had any surgery done on my legs and thighs.  I am 68 years young, have had a blood clot in one of my legs and have not only lots of thick varicose veins and mottling and discoloring, but a swollen ankle 90% of the time as well as lots of loose hanging skin.  Sounds awful, doesn’t it?  Well it might be, but I just figured if folks didn’t want to see it they could turn their heads.  I no longer felt like I was being stared at, whispered about and made fun of.  This was me, take it or leave it.  This feeling was one of ultimate freedom, indescribable.  I was not there to impress.  I was there to be and live and enjoy.  I was finally fully comfortable with who I am, the person I have created and all of those folks who wouldn’t get above their waist in the water got to watch me swim laps in cap and goggles for 15-30 minutes at a time, veiny, jiggly thighs and all.

Then I went to visit Mayan ruins in Tulum for the first time.  I was able to keep up with the tour group walking up and down the hills in high heat and super high humidity.  Sure I sweat, but I never was out of breath.  After that 2 hours of walking and looking I headed to Akumel Bay for a couple of hours of snorkeling with the turtles.  For some reason, which this diver didn’t quite understand, our guide took us into the water at the far end of the bay and had us swimming against the current the entire way…..oh, and you’re not allowed to wear fins in the bay so as not to harm the coral reef which had me using my arms to push against the current, follow the group, and the turtles.  Amazing creatures to watch, however inexperienced folks were constantly swimming into me as I floated just above the turtles, hands at sides, breathing easily…..arghhhh…someone needs to tell them not to swim freestyle when they are trying to watch sea creatures.  Anyway, I managed in the water for about another 2 hours, again walking head held high into and out of the water in my bathing suit and guess what?  NOBODY was pointing, laughing, looking strangely at me.  I was just one of a group.

Most of the previous times I have been diving or snorkeling I have hung very close to my husband as my “fear” (unfounded) of getting lost or drifting into open water too far from the beach ran through my head.  This time my husband’s shoulders could not handle the current.  His legs are super strong so if he had fins he could have kicked and barely used his arms.  This was not to be, by regulation, so he left the water and I took off with confidence, fearlessly on my own.  Another NSV, non scale victory.  Every day, in every way my self confidence keeps building.

I spent a week walking and swimming and enjoying life.  I spend every day finding new ways to celebrate life.  Thank you Lap Band for giving me this second chance.