A Visit to Onderland with Sandi!

Well, I haven't blogged for a couple of weeks.  Not because there was nothing to blog about, but mostly because I've been so busy and too exhausted to sit down and formulate my thoughts over the past three weeks.  Much has happened.  And of course the main one being I MET SANDI PATTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You might be able to tell that I am a little excited by that!  I have listened to her sing for 30 years and always dreamed about meeting her someday, to thank her for her profound influence on my musical career.  Well, on March 2nd at approximately 4:22pm (I'm not that much of a stalker, I just have the time stamp from the photo!) I met the only person in this world who I have wanted to meet more than anyone else.  It was everything I dreamed of!  I had sent her an email a week before the concert telling her how excited I was about meeting her and finally being able to see her in concert.  I also shared my weightloss journey with her because she has gone through her own weightloss journey.  Well 4 days before the concert, she emailed me back, thanking me for sharing my journey with her and for the kind words.  So when I met her, I introduced myself as Dayna, the one who emailed her the other day, and she gave me a hug and said "Oh Dayna, I'm so proud of you - what a huge accomplishment!"  She actually read my email!  We talked for a bit and then it was time for the second half of the concert.  After the concert was over, I went to speak with her again and got some more pictures taken.  She is so down to earth and I was amazed how how friendly and accommodating she was to everyone who wanted to speak to her.  She is so sweet!  So here are some pictures of that day...

 Daddy and Michael waiting for the concert to begin

Gabrielle and Roman waiting for the concert to begin

 Sandi singing the Nation Anthem (and I'm bawling my head off, knowing that I'm 20 feet away from Sandi Patty!)

 That girl can SANG!!!

 Here she is singing How Great Thou Art

 Me and the lady with THE VOICE!

 My new favorite picture of all time!

The kids with Sandi 

 Me and Larnelle Harris - another amazing singer and person!

 My children with Sandi's youngest daughter, Aly

Me in my new outfit for the concert.  I even managed to keep my 4 inch heels on all day!

Well, it seems as though Sandi brought more than just the joy of meeting her to my life that week.  I reached a milestone in my weightloss that I have been so excited to reach.  Let me preface this by saying that I was always going to wait to share with the world what my starting weight was until I reached this goal.  Now that I've reached it, I'm kind of nervous to share it, but it will keep me accountable... and besides - the number on the scale is just that - A NUMBER!  It certainly doesn't define how healthy I now am and how much more I am enjoying life!!! Anyway, so this milestone that I reached is ONEDERLAND!  For those of you who watch Biggest Loser, you'll know what that is.  It's when someone reaches the number o

n the scale that starts with a "1".  Well if you do the math, you will realize that my starting weight was 334.  I know - shocking!  I can't believe I ever allowed myself to get to that size.  But I did. And it's over-with now!  I'm not dwelling on it!  This past week I lost another 3 lbs for a total loss of 138lbs.  I weigh 196lbs now.  Yes, that is still a lot and I know I still have a ways to go.  But I am cherishing that 196 with all I've got! This ALSO means I am now the same weight as I was when I graduated High School.  I remember trying so hard before my grad to lose weight because I felt like an elephant.  Now that "elephant" feels like a superstar!  It's all about perspective!  When the clinic asked me what my goal was, I told them I'd be happy at 200lbs.  They said they wanted me to get down to 150 so they agreed that we would compromise and set 175 as my goal weight.  Now that I'm in Onederland, my goal is around 160.  I'm hoping to reach 170 by July when we go to Alberta, but if I don't reach it, it's totally okay - I already know I will be able to do SO MUCH more on vacation with my family than I ever would have 138lbs ago!  

I am so happy with the success and again, thankful to God for bringing me through this journey safely and successfully.  I'm also so thankful for all my friends and family who have stood beside me all the way.  I could not have done it without your support.  And especially my kids and husband.  Stelios has really been my biggest cheerleader these past few months and he makes me feel like the most beautiful and sexy woman on earth.  Thank you babe!

So it's my monthly photo week.  Here are my monthly update pictures.

We were encouraged to keep our biggest part of pants to remind us on our "I Feel Fat" days of how far we've come.  I wasn't having an "I Feel Fat" day today, but just thought I'd try them on.  These are the jeans I last wore in April of last year - and even then I could barely do them up.  Wow!

That's it for this week!  Sorry it was so long - but I had a lot to fill you in on!  I will try my best to blog again at least every Sunday.  I have to admit - I've been wondering if anyone is even reading anymore, and if not, that's okay - this is for my records of my journey too.  But if you still read this, please let me know so that I know if I should post more or less.  And if there's something you want to know more about, feel free to ask!    Have a super week!!!

Total Loss: 138lbs