re-post from old blog June 3, 2023 Current Weight: 348.8 lbs In my last post on April 4th, I had a huge amount of hope in my upcoming appointment at the Cleveland Clinic. Who wouldn’t considering the reputation of this hospital, ranked #2 in the USA. Made the 6.5-hour trip and stayed right across from the hospital at the IHG, which was probably the fanciest hotel in terms of a very elaborate lobby I have ever stayed at in my life. Had dinner downstairs in the restaurant at the hotel and had about the best […]
Transformation
re-post from old blog April 4, 2023 Current Weight: 355.6 lbs March A1C 6.4 Yesterday, I got a major haircut in this whole transformation phase of my life. I can’t even recall the last time I went to a salon in general. I’ve posted about this, but I’ve been struggling since September 2022 I started having symptoms that led me back to the surgeon, and multiple tests confirmed I have a colovaginalfistula. I was referred to a Colorectal Surgeon at the University Hospital in my state. My pre-op appointment was disastrous Nothing had remained the […]
Regrets
re-post from old blog February 27, 2023 If you read my blog, feel free to say hi! Time…we think about time from different perspectives. Lately, I have been thinking about my upcoming surgeries. I have been so impatient waiting for what I already know was coming since September 2022, but then you have to wait for doctors to prove it exists. I will be having surgery on March 29th, and according to the surgeon will reduce my risk factor of getting another recto-vaginal fistula to 2%. I am more nervous about this surgery than my […]
Reality
re-post from old blog January 5, 2023 Current Weight 356.8 lbs I hadn’t intended at all to do a blog post tonight not to mention snap a selfie of my own reality either. There is nothing like looking in the mirror and wanting to go to war with yourself. Whether it be weight loss you’re trying to achieve, or trying to beat time. Am I vain? I suppose I very much am, it bothers me that I no longer look like I did at 20, 30, 40, 45. It’s a hard reality to face when […]
Second Go Around
re-post from old blog December 10, 2022 Current Weight: 358.6 lbs In an effort to be transparent, I created my last post to tell part of my health issues story. In September, I started having symptoms again, very familiar with what happened in 2020 to me. Of course, I took the normal approach of when you know something to be wrong, and several ER visits, and again I felt like nobody could hear me. I was at the mercy of waiting for tests, I had multiple CT/MRI scans they couldn’t find anything and on November […]
Path of Health Issues
re-post from old blog December 8, 2022 Current Weight: 358.6 lbs When I had originally began a blog I had intended it to be about my weight loss struggles and the many twists and turns along that path. It is evolving into something else, when I created “Life By Valerie” it’s purpose was to be about my life, my struggles, my pain, and even my triumphs along the way. We all have a story and this is my story. Sometimes being transparent is really difficult for us to do. Especially when you are trying to […]
Struggle Bus
re-post from old blog July 17, 2022 Current Weight : 368.4 lbs I am struggling, and I mean in the worst possible way. Perhaps even more than I have ever struggled, even at my top weight ever. I feel the weight I have put on each and every time I get out of a chair, or out of bed in the morning. I feel it with every fiber of my being, and it’s literally mentally, emotionally, and physically weighing me down. I feel it in everything I do or attempt to do, and it makes […]
Having a Voice
Re-post from old blog, June 22, 2022 Current Weight 363.4 lbs Progress can come to us in many forms, seeing a smile, making an extra effort, accolades for a job well done. For me, it’s seeing progress in the work I take the time and effort to put into myself. I have not gotten on the scale in a while, however, today I saw progress for my efforts of walking a mile daily or using the recumbent bike for the equivalent. Change is hard, and doing the right thing 100% of the time is even […]
Introvert re-post from old blog
re-post from old blog June 14, 2022 I have noticed lately, more so than usual, that I am undoubtedly an introvert for life, perhaps. When I walked today, it was so very HUMID, even at 8pm here and it was a struggle to keep going. I have been feeling lately no matter how consistent I am that I am still struggling. It feels like punishment for bad behavior and I searched my room over for my #Leslie Sansone Miracle Miles. I bought that I want to say, perhaps 2 years ago. Even if it’s raining, […]
Setbacks
re-post from old blog March 13, 2022 Current Weight 351.8 lbs Today, I used the elliptical and did some Kiat Jud Dai. If you have not heard of it, I suggest you check it out on YouTube. There is some serious coordination involved there, too, and I am not 100% sure that I am doing it correctly yet. When I considered whether I should start another blog after accidentally losing my old blog, I wanted to remain as transparent as possible in my physical life. Today, while looking in the mirror as I worked out, […]