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The belt that I wear to work (size L) now fits around my hips on the biggest setting - it previously only JUST made it around my waist on the same setting!

So prior to surgery I tasked myself with writing a letter to the "future me". I wrote this letter and then sealed it up so that I could open it 6 months post-op and reflect. I thought I'd share it with you all to give some inspo, and just because I value being open about my journey with you all ❤️ I wrote this letter on the 20th December 2023, with my surgery scheduled for the 14th May 2024. Some of this letter may be triggering for others (mentions of sexual assault/abuse), so please don't read on if you aren't able to. I also highly recommend for people to do the same pre-surgery. Reading this letter has been really cathartic for me, especially at a time where my weight loss is slowing down a little. So, here it is, my letter to myself: To me, I hope that you have found your own form of genuine happiness. To try and picture how life is for you now is impossible. I'm currently at work, my back is in pain, I am overly conscious of my body - my stomach and chin in particular. I hope that you aren't worrying about any of those things anymore. Remember feeling so painfully aware of your body, about how nothing quite fits you anymore? I pray life is better for you now. I want you to have a whole new quality of life. No more holding yourself back. Say yes to things that scare you. Go on a paddle boat. Go to go-ape. Do something terrifying. I hope that your mental wounds are beginning to heal. All those times you were cheated on and mentally & physically abused by your ex because of your weight. You didn't deserve that. Not one bit. Your worth is not, and never was, defined by how much you weigh. Please don't get stuck on the numbers. I know this has probably been one of the hardest experiences for you, and I know you have probably had to re-learn everything, but you deserve this. You are so, so deserving. Reflect back on the past: Nan calling you 'podgy' in a top you was excited to wear when you was 13, but you never wore it again after that. Growing fast and being bigger than most people in school. Always yo-yoing from diet to diet. None of it worked. Punishing yourself didn't work. But now look at what you have achieved. YOU did this. No one else. Be proud. I hope, more than anything else, that you have finally found out who you are. That girl inside, behind all the weight, waiting for freedom. I can't wait to meet her x

This is pretty similar to the one I use. They key to a good recipe is a high egg to milk ratio, so you get proper height and rise. I do alter it a bit though. I add finely diced fresh herbs and garlic. And I used lard as the fat, as t's easily available and has a high smoke point. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/best-yorkshire-puddings

i would like your recipe, please!

I can relate. My favourite leather jacket that I never wore again because a stranger told me I looked like a bean bag chair.

This is true. Especially with the extended sides. If you ever look at a size chart closely they do not make nearly as many sizes in between as the inches go down or up for plus size and they are soooooool inconsistent from one brand to the next. I didn’t even really know what size I was in numbers because of the inconsistencies and I gave up on clothes that are sized like that for the longest time. Honestly, just pay attention to how your clothes are fitting better and how you feel and ingots that highly inaccurate number.

Funny you say that. So I eat pretty small portions but my stomach empties quickly. Yesterday I only ate half a small salad for lunch and went to a doctors appointment which lasted forever so I was famished by the time I got home, the hubs had some homemade sliders hot and waiting for me, so I took off the top part of the mini bun and almost finished the whole patty and the other half of the bun. Usually I’m hungry again 1.5-2 hours after dinner so I would snack on something before bed, but man I was soooo full I couldn’t even have water without being uncomfortable. Reckon it was that half bun?

We always called it egg in a hole. Unimaginative I know. Toad in the hole is something different @ms.sss. It’s sausages, usually beef but can be pork, baked in yorkshire pudding batter. Served with onion gravy, mashed potatoes and whatever other vegetables.

I have never met a Canadian that I didn't like! I'm sure there are jerks there somewhere, but every Canadian I have met has been sunshine and rainbows! Now about this male gaze... I'm only 30 lbs down so far, but I already feel better about how my clothes fit and carry myself in a more confident manner. My husband said I looked "svelte" in my workout clothes the other day. Hahahaha I can't wait to lose more but even now I'm happier with myself and it shows in my relationship and in the bedroom. I don't think I have seen much change yet in the world outside of my house. It a double edge sword; its nice to be noticed and appreciated, but it sucks to feel unsafe or leered at.

some people like other people (and some do not). and some people ARE LIKED by other people (and some are not). different strokes. so yeah. but to what sillyKitty is saying, as a woman, its kinda a little sad/unfortunate to hear another woman say "most" women suck. same as if i hear someone saying most (but not) all Canadians suck, or that most (but not all) brown skinned people suck, or that most but not all **___________** suck (fill in the blank with whatever group one would generalize one). i'm sorry you have only/mostly had bad experiences with women. hopefully you meet some good women out there to change your opinion to a more tolerant one. for instance me: i'm DELIGHTFUL. lololololzzzzz.