Vacation Numero Dos

Today, I'm recovering from a week of vacation.

My bonus family always goes to the outer banks for their annual vacation. Every year, I've been invited and I usually can't go for the whole week but this year, I was able! I get along swimmingly with my in laws. I hear these horror stories from people about how awful their sister in law is or their mother in law and I can't even imagine it.

The hubs comes from a big family, the oldest of 4. All of them are adults are now but when I started dating him, the baby was only 9. I love her so much and had the pleasure of watching her grown into this amazing woman. Whenever I suggest something crazy, she goes along with it and is big on family too. She pushes me to go outside my comfort zone as well. I might say no to hubs but I won't say no to her.

This week was a week of firsts for me. A couple of years ago, my newest sibling and I went on a random journey traveling around the island. It was stormy out and thank goodness because the lighthouse was closed. I didn't tell her then but I wasn't eligible for climbing it. I was over the 260lbs limit.

Bodie Lighthouse 2016

I was going to make the most of this trip and my goal was to climb a lighthouse! The siblings were all interested too which made my heart smile. We rushed there and bought our tickets. Had roughly an hour to waste so we drove into town and visited a fudge shop. While we were there, I ran into an old friend from 4-H (I LOVE WHEN THIS HAPPENS! So great to see their success) who gave us some insight on climbing Jockey's Ridge. We had 20 minutes to climb it and get back down and to the truck...and we did it! When we got back to Bodie, the storms had rolled in and we couldn't climb it.

Top of Jockey's Ridge 2018

The next day, we went to Hatteras to climb...a much taller lighthouse. I did it!!! I hadn't climbed a lighthouse since I climbed Hatteras in 1994. At the top, I was tired but it was worth it.

Top of Hatteras 2018

Baby sister had rented bikes for the week. She had not ridden a bike in a few years and I had not ridden a bike since I was her age soooooooo....At one point in the week, I started to feel dehydrated and said I was going to go to the store and she said "I'll go! We can take the bikes!"

Ladies and Gentlemen, I rode a bike over a mile for a Powerade Zero. Yes...I didn't die. I didn't fall. I did grip those handlebars as tightly as possible and I almost was attacked by a family of geese but I didn't die!

My method for carrying a drink

Our adventures didn't stop there! We went out to Ocracoke and visited the lighthouse there as well as walked around the area. I sat at an outdoor table without the fear of it breaking.

But the craziest part for me was looking at comparisons...I looked over and my sister and hubs were wearing the same shirts from a year prior so we recreated the photo. Family photos are no longer a mental struggle for me!

2017 vs 2018

While I still need to focus on doing better sometimes, I also need to rejoice in how far I've come!


WT: 247 lbs....(-74lbs!) UNDER 250!!!!!!!!!!! For the first time since 2009!!!!

What's my weight again?

Can we cue that to some Blink 182 music?

I went out, it was a Friday night. 
I wore a dress, cause I was feeling light. 
We started eating food and I wish I had sweatpants 
But then I realized I was full....

And that's about the time it got away from me
Nobody likes you stupid tummy
And you're in pain with only seven bites 
What the hell is steatorrhea
I feel like I should weigh again
What's my weight again? 

Last week, I went on vacation. I went on A CRUISE! It was my first cruise, not my last. I had an amazing time but the main reason, I challenged myself. Over the past 10 years, I have not lived. I've been putzing through the world on autopilot and sure I would die by 40-45. I have a fear of rides but this cruise ship had a crazy slide I knew I needed to try. You had to weigh under 275 to do it. The day I left, I was 255.

Day 1, too chicken. Day 2, too chicken. Day 3, too chicken (see my pattern). Day 4....brave enough. Why not do it now? I see these kids having a great time. I knew the rules, nothing that could scratch the slide, weigh less than 275. I climb the three flights of stairs, go past the kiddy slide, go past the adult slide, get to the monster free fall slight, wait, wait wait. Watching everyone, I knew what to expect, cross arms lay back, scream a little. Finally my turn, I walk up towards the side I would be on and the guy says "wait. get on the scale." Slightly mortified, but I knew I was under the limit. 255. Whew. He looks me over and says "No hairclips, go down the green slide (The slide the next level down)."

Okay, I missed my clip for my bangs. Foolish... but the girl in front of me with braids had beads in her hair, he didn't weigh her or make her take them out. Fine. I go down the adult slide.

Again, I climb back up, no hair clip in now. Wait wait wait. "Get on the scale." ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? I was 20 pounds under. I get on. 257. He rolls his eyes and examines me for a reason not to let me go again. Then hesitantly, opens the door for me to climb in. I listen to the instructions, cross my arms, take a deep breath, and wait for the bottom to fall out from below me.

It was terrifying but I did it.

What I took away from this experience is that people can still be asses but I can't change them. They utilize whatever slight power they have to knock you down. He had no idea I had lost 60lbs. He had no idea that this was a huge step for me. He had no idea that I had weighed myself almost daily for two weeks ensuring I was still under 275. There was no reason to deny me and my weight was not holding me back. TAKE THAT GUY.  But more importantly, don't be afraid of a number. Worst that could have happened was I was denied and I'd have to wait for another chance one day. He made me feel big again and yeah, I'm still big...but he made me feel huge. There were people all around me that were probably my weight. A gentleman that was taller than me and probably closer to the 275...not weighed. The girl beside me that was shorter but wider...not weighed. I was targeted and after while it was frustrating at the time, there was a slight confidence in my step when I got on that scale each time knowing it wouldn't be my weight holding me back.

More and more events will happen in my life where my weight will no longer hold me back but it's up to me to remember how far I've come.

In other cool news, I held a sloth...I snorkeled...I parasailed...I swam with dolphins and manatees...I visited ruins. I did the works! I ate around the clock to get my protein in and...I lost weight!

Ruins, Parasailing with Sister, Slothing, Snorkel with Sister, Riding a Dolphin

Now, back to work for another week before my next vacation :)