About Me!

Hey Everyone!

I'm Katie, the Shrinking Diva! 

I have created this blog to have a place to share my experience through weight loss surgery, weight loss and learning to have a better relationship with food and exercise. I am here to offer support and motivation. There will be a lot of tears, sweat, and swearing in this blog-so, it may not be for the faint of heart. 

**I am NOT a medical professional-so I will of course do my best to answer your questions without stepping on toes. I always recommend contacting your physician/surgeon if you have an emergency.**

I'm a 30-something, married to a 20-something, with 3 children(10,11 & 13) and 4 fur-children. We live in beautiful Idaho but we're planning to relocated some time this year to Oregon. I am a licensed cosmetologist. I'm obsessed with make-up, coffee and my husband. I hope to find a career in the Medical field soon and plan to go back to school. But shit! I have a lot on my plate right now!

Now for the good stuff!

 I have been overweight for as long as I can remember. Back in junior high I was curvy but smaller than I have been in my adult years. In high school I gained weight but was still able to keep control. Once I graduated high school, I married, had children and became very unhappy(due to unhappy in my marriage)--I gained a lot of weight. I reached my highest weight of 247lbs in 2005. My ex and I separated and I immediately found myself in another unhealthy relationship, I know now was purely out of desperation and loneliness. I was sad and miserable and kept the weight on. This man told me that no one would want me and only he would love me the way I was...One day, I woke up and realized I deserved better for myself and my children. I started eating smaller portions and being more active. I lost 60lbs between 2008 and 2010. Slow and steady. In 2011, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. My weight has increased and I am feeling blah and I do not like looking at myself in the mirror.

In May 2015, I started my journey with a new physician and nutritionist, so that I could be approved for weight loss surgery. At my highest weight EVER 257lbs, I started eating better and moving a bit more. But, I hate exercise, so that was a challenge. I managed to lose 15lbs before I was approved for Gastric Bypass surgery.

On January 20th, 2016, I had my gastric bypass surgery. On surgery day, I weighed in at 242lbs. It has been a damn struggle. I can't eat the same as I used to and I am in pain a lot. If not in pain, I am exhausted. But it will be SO worth it!

In 3 weeks(2/13/16) I have lost 25lbs, I am not in as much pain and I am able to start eating soft foods starting Valentine's Day! Woot!!

Stay tuned for more!

xoxo

Katie

The Shrinking Diva <3