Once more, it's been a long time. Why bore you with minutia? I've continued to lose weight, despite some interesting crap that came down the pike. I'm not going to burden you with that which can be categorized as "TMI." Let's just say there were some fairly stressful moments wherein I was pushed to a thin, very crossable line. I fell back on Philippians 4:13. I fell back on the Serenity Prayer. I maintained 'conscious contact with the God of my understanding,' I kept in contact with my sponsor. Throughout it all, I alternately internalized, became quiet and reticent, and tore my heart and guts up like a Robot Coupe. Finally, I asked Pastor Ed and Pastor Larry for prayer for one particular facet of my life which has been particularly troubling. That item hasn't completely resolved, as of this writing, but knowing I was surrounded in prayer certainly didn't hurt.

But it's not my fault, it's not of my making, I can do nothing but stand and support from the sidelines. And while I can't say "Yeah, I'm good with that," I CAN say "Thank you, Heavenly Creator, for granting me the serenity to accept this thing I cannot change; the courage to change what I CAN change about it (how I react/respond/deal with it) and the wisdom to know that it ain't my circus, ain't my monkeys. And thank You for helping yours truly neither drug, drink nor stuff my feelings to a new depth."

You may or may not have noticed that I thank God for a lot. I was having this conversation at the Noontime Step Meeting, yesterday. I was inspired to say that "When it comes to the point where I quit being grateful for the blessings I've received, I'll stop noticing and enjoying them." Oh, God won't get ticked off and quit sending them. He's not that kind of God. But I'll become inured, blind to them. NEVER the good things. So I remain thankful. I shared the same with my sponsee. Every day, make note of something for which you're grateful.

And, now, some notable details: I've been monitoring my blood pressure and heart rate for a while now, and sent the data to my VA physician. Based upon that information, she's cut my metoprolol by 33%, and ordered lab work for 3 weeks from now. My feet (specifically my surgically-modified one) aren't in so much pain. We walked another 5k, the Dayton Gastro "No Buts About It" colon cancer awareness event. We both finished well. Dawn kicked butt! I dragged mine, but that's to be expected. Seriously, my joints (while I AM respomding quite well to the methotrexate injections) are stable, but I'm not 19 years anymore, kids.

Oh, yeah, and I've noticed black spots on my abdomen. OMG, acne? A skin reaction from the meds? Something NEW to show the doctor?

No. NO! Hairs. NEW HAIRS. I've got new hair popping up on my ventral surface, from where my clothes aren't all so tight anymore, wearing down the hairs before they can even sprout. And, another thing: whenever I go for hand/wrist xrays, the tech nicely asks for me to remove my wedding ring. Well, I've tried cold water, soap, Windex, Vaseline, WD-40...nothing works. Until now. Gravity is doing a fine job of it. My wedding ring isn't so uncomfortably tight on my hand anymore. Even my hands were fat. Dig that!

And, here's the "Now/then" photo of 206.5 vs 254.4lbs.As a matter of fact, taken exactly a year apart.

I've lost almost 48 pounds. 47.9, to be exact. All my bib overalls are too loose, now. None of my jeans fit. All my shirts are so loose I need to safety-pin them at the seams to 'tailor' them.

And, by the grace of God, we're not done yet. Smarter food choices (yeah, Oreos and potato chips are vegan, and so's pasta and bread, but they're not a food group!) coupled with smarter eating habits, bound together by the blessings of a living God, from whom all blessings flow. Amen, and hallelujah!

Thanks for stopping by; thank you for reading. Be well, practice peace, and we'll see you next time!