Changes in my goals and my life, since coming to MFP

When I first came to MFP and set up my profile, my page title was "70 Pounds To New Knees'. The 70 pound goal was met and exceeded; and now, I am only 2 days away from my double knee replacement surgery.

I have no delusions about my recovery. I know that it will take time and will include a lot of painful physical therapy, but it is necessary to finally get myself out of this wheelchair dependent life style.

Once I got my new knees and could do what I wanted, I thought that riding a bike or taking long walks would be my reward, but that's not what I want now. What I really want the most is to get back to swimming. I miss swimming laps in the pool. That was the best part of this year, finding joy in the water again after more 50 years.

What started as 'safe exercise' for me in June of this year, became my favorite activity of each day. My hubbie Ed and I even joined a health club in September, when it became too cold to swim in the outdoor pool where we were living. Now, Ed has become a member of another health club, here in Hanford; but I can't join, until my surgeon gives me the 'Okay' in few more weeks.

During this incredible year, I have lost more than 80 pounds, overcame my fear of being seen in a swim suit and found joy in exercising through swimming. I also learned that I could live happily without some things, like diet cokes and candy bars. I had to make a commitment to limited calories and logging in my food on MFP to keep me honest. I have had some slips, but that commitment to MFP and my MFP sisters has kept me losing weight and gotten me through the slips and down times, when I wasn't sure that I could really finish what I started.

In the end, I reached my surgeon's weight goal for the knee surgeries and found that I wanted so much more. That 'more' is a 'new life as a healthier woman'. Yes, I am 68 years old; but there is still a lot of life in this old girl; and I want to live it 'on my feet'...and some of that life 'in the water'. I still have a way to go with my weight loss, but I have plenty of time and the hope for more mobility in the future. I also have MFP to help me get there.

One more thing:

I have to admit that my mind has been racing with last minute concerns, as my knee replacement surgery approaches. I am not worried about having problems with the surgery, I just keep thinking, "What have I forgotten?"

That is kind of silly, since anything I want or need can and will be picked up by Ed, if and when I remember what I forgot. However, I am basically 'an organizer'. I tend to plan everything out in advance, down to the smallest detail, and I hate to let things just happen by themselves. I don't like to leave things to chance; but starting on Monday, I am going to just have to let things go for a while and trust in God, my surgeons and Ed to manage my needs for the coming week. Make that 'WEEKS'. My recovery isn't going to happen overnight.

Well, I didn't lose my weight overnight; but it came off. I just had to be patience and keep doing what I knew would work. The same will have to apply to the recovery from my surgery; and I know that I have the support and encouragement of the same team of great friends on MFP, the friends in my 'MFP Sisterhood'. I don't think that I could have gotten to this point without all of you.