HUUUUUGE Accomplishment!

[Mim 0]

Yesterday I did something that I couldn't have dreamed about 9 months and 55 pounds ago......I took my 8-year old son to a Water park!

I have NEVER been swimming with my son. I was always too uncomfortable and inhibited to get in a swimsuit in public. He has begged me to come swimming with him many times, but I just didn't have the courage.

Yesterday, I finally sucked it up (literally), put on my size 16 swim skirt and took him to a water park. I walked around the entire park without a cover-up. We went on every slide (some twice).....and you know what? It was OKAY.....the world didn't end, nobody pointed and giggled, nobody cared that my legs jiggled.......and my son had the best time - WITH HIS MOM!

My shoulders and upper arms (which haven't seen sunshine in more than 15 years) are sunburned and my muscles are sore from bouncing on innertubes for 7 hours....but I fell asleep with a smile on my face last night knowing that I hurdled a huge fear and gave my son a wonderful memory.

[RobinAnn 2]

How wonderful for you and your son!

[ocotillo 0]

Mim, Good for you and your son!! We shouldn't let our weight stop us from things we want to do. Glad you had fun and when are you going to do it again?

Oh, and don't forget to keep putting on the sun screen. Sunburn is not fun!!!

ee

[LindaD 3]

Awesome!!! Good for you!

I always still did that stuff - I would put a suit on and swim with the kids, etc. But recently was the first time I looked FORWARD to wearing my brand new size 18 swimsuit. :lol I enjoyed it so much, I order another swimsuit - a tankini.

These will do fine for summer '09, but I'm already looking forward to buying 1 or 2 more next summer. In a smaller size, of course. LOL

[Enchanted 2]

Good for you!!!

[greytz 4]

That is so Great! Hopefully it is just the beginning of more memories to come.

[dubbee 0]

I don't know you but I am proud of you! You go girl!!!

[Libbyjane1976 1]

Good for you! What an awesome accomplishment. Hopefully you and your son will have many more memories like that.

[WaistBand 0]

Awesome! This post really made me smile :wink2:

[shannybp 0]

Congratulations I know your son will hold that memory with you close to his heart.

[karenv 0]

That is so awesome. Thanks for sharing that with us. Its an encouraging story.

[becky1963 0]

Mim, that was a very touching post. I'm from Alabama (tied with Mississippi as the "fattest" state) and there is no beach or Water park that I could go to that I can't find lots of others either my size or larger. This just reminds me that it can be more difficult for those who live in the "thinner" states! In fact, a study was done amongst overweight teens in Alabama years ago that seemed to suggest that self-esteem did not suffer because of weight issues, chiefly because larger body shapes were not unusual.

I guess that's about the only "up" side to obesity in the south!:wink2:

When I went to Colorado, I remember thinking "I am the biggest person in this state!" :biggrin:

[ThePoolGirl 1]

Don't know you either, Mim :crying: but

WAHOOOOOOOOOOO

What a great day for you and your son. Hope the sunburn goes away quickly.

ThePoolGirl <<< always wears sunscreen, except when she forgets

[spongealan 0]

.......and my son had the best time - WITH HIS MOM!

That in a nutshell is what this surgery is all about! Its moments like those that we can cherish forever! Thank you for posting that! I can't hear enough stories like this.

I am going to Disney next month with the family and I am so looking forward to hitting the Water parks and enjoying the experience with my girls (10 and 12). The 60 or so pounds that I am leaving behind would have made those visits much more difficult.

Thanks again for the inspiration.