This has just been the most amazing journey, so far. I truly feel like I've been reborn.
Just got back from a 9 day vaction up into Washington State. First four days I spent on the Kitsap Peninsula with my "fellow escapee" er.. "retiree" from the Mercury News. She lives in Poulsbo and we traveled by ferry back and forth to Seattle, cruised the Hope Canal and Locks, wandered around "Point No Point" on the Puget Sound and the ultimate trek was a hike through a "Nature Conservatory" rain forest onto a beach called "Foul Weather Bluff". I can't believe I actually hiked. Six months ago I wouldn't have fit in the "entrance" (literally a small hole off the road leading into a lush forest), let alone be able to hike around an undulating trail in a rainforest!
My friend hadn't seen me since December of last year and when I walked off the plane she actually squealed! She's a real fitness nut, and when she said I looked good and was really proud of how far I had come, it really meant a lot. She especially couldn't get over how thin my face had gotten and that I actually had a neck!
The final five days I spent in Spokane with my best friend from HighSchool. She met me at the airport by the luggage carousel and I heard her say out loud when she saw me..."You look terrific....and taller!" We visited a lot of our old haunts and the highlight was a 400 mile roundtrip to Yakima where we met up with my highschool sweetheart! I hadn't seen him in 38 years! We went out for lunch and spent the next couple of hours catching up. What a trip!
I never would have done any of the above if I hadn't lost this weight. I know I still have a long way to go...but man, it has been such a liberating experience so far. I'm sending Unca Tim a picture taken at the "Fish Ladders" in Seattle. I think you can see in it what a difference this program has made for me so far.
I hope that all of you take advantage of the "freedom to do and be" that being on this program affords all of us. Keep shakin' and be stirred.