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Most of you know I had Lap Band Surgery in 2004 and have shed 250 + pounds.  I have a new and exciting life, one that I wasn’t sure I was going to be alive to enjoy.  In September the calendar says I turn 70 years old.  My mind tells me otherwise - most days.  For the most part I eat healthy, I do exercise with passion 5 days a week and I love to travel.  I need to win the lottery, so I can do everything on my bucket list, but that is another story entirely.

My husband turned 73 years old this past week, and when I asked him what he would like to do for his birthday he decided that as a California native, born in Hollywood, that it was time he visits Catalina Island for the first time.  I had never been either and the thought of swimming and snorkeling for a couple of days, enjoying good food and a little romantic getaway sounded great.  I am the trip designer, so I got it all laid out, we put together our snorkeling equipment and off we went on a new adventure close to home.

The weather was perfect.  Eighty-degree sunny days, seventy-degree warm evenings and an island where everyone was in vacation mode, and on island time.  No hurry, nowhere to be at a set time once we stepped off the ferry.  We wanted to snorkel in both locations on our full day on the island which was Wednesday, so we put together a little plan.  In the morning we’d get up, have coffee and head over to Lover’s Cove and snorkel for a while.  Then grab some breakfast - or brunch really and drop off our snorkel gear at the hotel and see how we felt.  We got back to the hotel, decided we wanted to swim at the beach right across the road for a while and then head out to Casino Point for an afternoon snorkel, and that’s exactly what we did. 

The fish were awesome, and although the water was a chilly (warm for us in CA) 72 degrees, with the sun on our backs it was tolerable, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  Then back to the hotel for a shower, change out of bathing suits and then some dinner and an adult beverage.  What a great time we had, chatting with locals and other visitors, seeing the sights, shopping without buying a thing, swimming, snorkeling, just living life.  THAT, in and of itself, was a non-scale victory for me.  Remember, I started this journey in 2004, barely able to walk 20 steps without stopping in pain and to catch my breath.  I spent the entire time living an active life, like a “normal” person.

The Non-Scale victories do not end there although that would have been more than enough.  About 4 years ago, yes at 65, I bought my first two piece bathing suit that was bikini like… Not an itsy bitsy teeny weeny one, but my midriff was definitely exposed.  I have been wearing these suits since then except when I am swimming laps at the pool when I wear a chlorine resistant one piece made for swimming laps.  Was I comfortable in the two piece from day one?  No, however I pushed through the discomfort, because this is about ME, what I want to wear, how I want to be and NOT about worrying about being judged by others.  The suits fit well and I enjoyed being able to put them on… 

It was getting used to being in public with them, accepting my body as it was, not being hyper-critical, and just enjoying the comfort.  I just kept pushing and wearing them at the beach, on vacations, at our WLS Success Matters weekend retreats and kept pushing through my self-critiques and just started being present, fully present wherever I went in my bathing suit.  It started getting easier and this trip, snorkeling and swimming in the Pacific Ocean - I was totally comfortable in my own skin AND in the two piece I wore.  I never hesitated in taking off my cover up to get into the water and I stepped into and out of the water with my head high and totally confident. 

My body is far from perfect.  I have worked hard to get where I am today, and I am proud of what I have accomplished.  I am no longer ruled by that voice in my head that says, “you can’t”.  I tell it to shut up and not only can I, but I AM!

Remember, if I can, and I do, and I am, YOU can too!