I am lover of the ocean. I’ve been sold from the very first time I jumped into the South Pacific Ocean, in 2012 during my honeymoon to Costa Rica. My body felt good because the water supported my weight. Just being around the ocean ignited me. If I could, I would float in the ocean day and night. My husband liked the water, but it wasn’t love.

At that time I was close to 240 pounds. During that trip, we stayed at an all-inclusive resort in Drake’s Bay, which had several activities you could choose from: hiking, horseback riding, snorkeling, etc. On our first full day, my husband and I (mainly me) chose snorkeling. I fell in love with it. For the next four days, I chose again and again to get on the boat. The boat would leave at 7:30am, we would have lunch while out and then return around 1:30pm. Then it was “snore city” for me until an hour before dinner. Many times I would fall asleep on the boat after snorkeling and miss the opportunity to see dolphins and turtles. It was like an uncontrollable sleep. In the room, I would hear my husband come and go, but could not wake myself.

At this time in my life, I was trying gluten-free living. However, during this trip and most vacations, my diet was made up of sugar and flour, with a side of more sugar if possible. The week in Drake’s Bay Costa Rica went by fast. I cherished the good parts, but also remember the lack of energy after a few hours of activity, sandwiching activities between meals (with the meals being the highlight), having trouble pulling my 240-pound body back onto the boat, and not having any time with my husband during our honeymoon because I was either in the water, eating or asleep. This was 3 years before I came into FA.

After that trip I became interested in snorkeling. I even dreamed of becoming a certified scuba diver. However, I lacked the energy to make it a reality. While snorkeling, I would be back on the boat for almost twenty to thirty minutes before the scuba divers. Meanwhile, whenever I could, I would schedule my husband and I on trips that gave us time with the ocean. I selfishly forgot that it was my love, not my husband’s love. Being the man that he is, he lovingly went along.

Cut to my experience today in Cabo San Lucas. I have been in FA for a little over 7 months, I have released 82 pounds, and I feel and look good. Earlier this summer, and five months into the FA program, I acheived my vision and became a certified scuba diver. As I embarked on my journey, I was excited to get in the ocean. My first dive today was my 6th dive overall. I got to the dive shop early to get my gear situated. I felt a memory from the past and was very self-conscious. I feared that the dive masters would look at me and immediately think “slow, fat woman” or have to go into the back for the plus-sized equipment.

The dive master did look at me and sized me up but then he grabbed a “small” B.C.D. (bouyance control device) and a “medium” shorty wetsuit. “Surely that can’t fit me,” I thought. When I came into FA, I was wearing a size 22. I tried on the B.C.D., perfect fit. Then the wetsuit; to my surprise it was a little loose. I was elated.

I had signed up for three dives that day, thinking rather plan for more and do less. For me, just being on the boat was enough. When we saw the boat, I was frightened again. My fear was how I would ever pull myself back onto this boat. This boat was similar to the one from Costa Rica, where I needed help getting onboard from two men. Usually my husband would help the captain, and the two together could get me back onto the boat, but I had not volunteered him for this trip. There were two rather slender men and a couple on the trip. I noticed the fear and pushed past it.

After surfacing from my first dive, I took off my B.C.D., handed it to the captain, and without any help I jumped back on the boat with little effort. I went on to do both of the remaining dives that day, each followed by my more slender, energetic body effortlessly getting back on the boat without help. On this trip, I was the first one off the boat and last one back on. The captain would say, “The pool is open,” and I jumped right in. I soaked up every bit of ocean time I could get. Each dive was at least 45 minutes, with one going over an hour. And I had more than enough energy to do it all.

When I returned to my room, I told myself to shower, eat lunch, then nap – mostly out of habit. I showered, ate, and laid down, but was not tired. As I matter of fact, all cylinders were still firing. Wow! I got up and decided to go for a walk and do some souvenir shopping. After two and half hours I returned to the hotel room, put away my souvenirs and laid down for a nap. However, I was not sleepy. It was still two hours before dinner. I decided to do some reading, which I never gave myself time for before.

I am truly grateful for this day in Cabo, and for the energy that working the FA program gives to fully experience life the way God envisioned. Los Cabos means “The Cape”. A cape usually represents a change in a trend in the coastline. I am naming this vacation “My Energy Cape” or “Mi Energia Cabo”.