*Drum roll please*

Effective April 17, 2010, I, Stephanie Alva, have OFFICIALLY lost 110lbs!!!

*Cue applause*

It was a lot of work, tons of UP's and down's, but I DID IT!!! And if I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!! On March 30, 2010, I celebrated the one year anniversary of my LapBand surgery. I was in Atlanta, GA on a business trip so it was a quiet celebration. However, I took the time to remember vividly each detail of that day. Waking up that morning and walking into the hospital, back hurting, blood pressure still high. I remember laying on the gurney with my Best Friend, Alicia sitting next to me, and I was fighting back the tears. I knew that after I woke up from this surgery, my life would be changed forever... and it was.

I just did an interview on BrownSugaRadio a few days ago and when she asked me to talk about the one thing that I learned from having LapBand surgery and I answered WITHOUT HESITATION. The most important lesson I learned was that weight loss surgery is NOT a miracle cure. I lost the first 50lbs effortlessly. I didn't workout or anything. I just ate what I was supossed to eat and the weight melted off. IT WAS FANTASTIC!!!! But then, it happened. My body adjusted to the new stomach and my new eating habits and the weight loss immediately haulted. After 5 months of eating well, I decided to test out my new tummy. I started eating burgers, fries, cake, ice cream, etc. A miracle had occurred: I was one of the "lucky" weight loss surgery patients that was able to eat anything I wanted without vomiting, dumping, or feeling sick. IT WAS ON!!! I quickly gained 30lbs ... in a month. It was at this moment that I realized that the surgery wasn't going to save me... I had to save myself. I went on a week long liquid fast to clean out my system and drop a few pounds quickly, and then I went back to basics. I ate every 3 hours, I only ate healthy foods, I drank over a gallon of water per day, and I began working out twice a day, 7 days a week. I also began hiking three times per week and jogging every day. I worked my way up to jogging 6 miles per day, mostly UPHILL!! (check out the video footage below!) I began to lose the weight again and my energy increased. I felt better, I looked better, I WAS better!






Don't get me wrong, I had weeks when I would weigh in and after burning close to 4000 calories per day, I only lost 1lb and in a few cases, I lost NO WEIGHT AT ALL!! I wanted to throw the scale out the window and jump out right behind it LOL!! Weight Loss surgery is NOT a miracle cure. It is a TOOL. In order to lose the weight, you're going to have to work at it, each and every day. I have begun to change my thinking about my weight loss and about my health. I enjoy working out and taking care of myself. I have found new ways of exercising that I really enjoy, including skating, bike riding, swimming, hiking, and power walking. I have 70lbs left to lose in order to reach my goal weight. To say that I have laser-like focus on that goal is an understatement. But instead of worrying about it, I visualize myself already at my goal weight. I see myself healthy, happy, and whole. The weight is coming off and my body is responding well. I am happier now than I have been in years. I am alive! The important thing to remember is to work on yourself from the inside out. Love yourself JUST AS YOU ARE, RIGHT NOW in this moment!

To the 110lbs that I've lost,
Thank you for what you taught me while you were a part of my life and body. Thank you for the strength that blossomed inside of me because of you. Thank you for forcing my inner beauty to shine through the painful veil that you had cast over me. Most importantly, enjoy the nothingness that you have returned to. I release you to your higher good and I walk forward into my future filled with joy, happiness, abundance, health, life, and love.


Good-bye... FOREVER!