Looking More Normal

I just finished up what I hope is one of my last big trips -- at least for a while. This last one was eye opening. Some of the people at this meeting were aware of my surgery, but the majority were not. Some that have not seen me in a while commented on my weight loss. The eye opener was that now that I can eat more, my portions, although still small, are large enough that no one questions me about what or how I am eating. It only appears that I am eating healthy and the only comments are that they wish they had the will power that I do. It is nice to feel normal and not the object of curiosity.
I still am in awe of how much better I feel and how much more I can do now. 3 years ago I attended a similar meeting to the one I just attended in Chicago. It was held in San Francisco. Walking the pier and taking part in a walking scavenger hunt they had us do left me miserable. I could not go but a few feet without being out of breath. I could tell the difference in Chicago within moments of getting off the plane. A private sedan was waiting for me and the driver was walking so fast from baggage claim to the parking lot that I just about had to run to keep up with him, but I did not get out of breath at all. Tuesday evening a few of us walked along Michigan Avenue and then walked the 5-6 blocks to Lake Michigan and back. I actually enjoyed it and again did not get one bit out of breath.
At goal or not, I am loving normal!