Nichelle

Well VST, here it is. I thought I would have so much more to write about when it came to and I probably do, but I want to go out and enjoy life its a beautiful day. My one year surgiversary is tomorrow. I couldn’t have imagined what life would be like a year from then and now that I am here today, I still can't believe where I was and where I am now. There are so many things that have changed for the good and a realization of so many things in my life that have come clear. The ride was fun, it wasn't always easy, it’s the best thing I have done for myself yet, it still takes work every day, and I wouldn't ever change my decision to have surgery. A of the simple things that have changed in my life: *I can walk up a flight of stairs (and choose to now) without losing my breath *I can jog nearly 3 miles *I don't have a debate with myself whether I should get down on the floor to play with my niece because I can't get back up without some help of something to push off of (soon to have a nephew in just a few days!) * I can shop in the regular section of all the clothing stores; Lost over 10 dress sizes and a shoe size *I can see each side of a chair, noticed this in my car *Seat belts fit without pulling them all the way out, haven't been on a plane since surgery, but I almost needed an extender on the flight I tightly squeezed it over my legs. Today I am sure that wouldn't be the case *I have found a new love for cooking, gardening, and exercise * I can see the pendant on my necklace that now hangs 2 or more inches lower * I have lost 93 lbs AND counting, over 76 inches off my body (10 spots) **I feel beautiful, healthy, and happy! I am ready for the future! *** I feel normal; I have respect for myself and now so do others This is a journey and this is only the beginning of the rest of my life. I still feel like I have more work to go to reach my own personal goals, but in my heart I felt (didn't believe) and in the eyes of my boyfriend and close friends I was always a winner. Now I can truthfully say I believe them and myself. Thank you to my surgeon Dr. Ramos Kelly and to my wonderful coordinator Christi Beardon for making the process so simple. I want to also thank this site and the many of you that are a part of it that share your stories. I couldn't have done this without your support. Thank You! Please feel free to check out my blog it has all my stats if you’re interested. Plus I have a gallery full of pictures from before all the way through to now. Here are a few. They are still shocking to me. This was February 2011, 3 months before surgery Before in San Diego exactly one year from today Two days after surgery, shopping in Tijuana Now.... 11 Months First ever swimsuit without boy shorts Two Dresses I would have never worn before; well I've never worn a lot now I have a dozen

I wish you the best of luck and healthy recover with your surgery. Believe me I was nervous too and you should be. Your about to make a huge life changing decision and ITS WORTH IT!

It will all come in time. Sometimes it feels like it is taking forever, but it is just what you said "a Journey". Enjoy every step and learn from it. The downs are what makes the ups feel so good.

Thank you all so much for your kind comments.

I just started slow and walked on a treadmill 3-4 days. It was no specific distance just as far as I could go in 20 min. All aspects gradually increase. First my time moved up 5 minutes at a time then I moved the speed and the incline. As it got easier I just increased my workout. Yes, I do have a lot of lose skin. Its just a reality. I had 280lbs on my body the skin had to cover it and no matter what its not all just going to snap back young or not. There isn' anything I would change though the skin is just a battle scar.

Well Folks, here it is. I thought I would have so much more to write about when it came to and I probably do, but I want to go out and enjoy life. My one year surgiversary is tomorrow. I couldn't have imagined what life would be like a year from then and now that I am here today, I still can't believe where I was and where I am now. There are so many things that have changed for the good and a realization of so many things in my life that have come clear. The ride was fun, it wasn't always easy, it's the best thing I have done for myself yet, it still takes work every day, and I wouldn't ever change my decision to have surgery. A of the simple things that have changed in my life: *I can walk up a flight of stairs (and choose to now) without losing my breath *I can jog nearly 3 miles *I don't have a debate whether I should get down on the floor to play with my niece because I can't get back up without some help of something to push off of * I can shop in the regular section of all the clothing stores; Lost over 10 dress sizes and a shoe size *I can see each side of a chair, noticed this in my car *Seat belts fit without pulling them all the way out, haven't been on a plane since surgery, but I almost needed an extender on the flight I tightly squeezed it over my legs. Today I am sure that wouldn't be the case *I have found a new love for cooking and exercise * I can see the pendent on my necklace that now hangs 2 or more inches lower **I feel beautiful, healthy, and happy! I am ready for the future! *** I feel normal; I have respect for myself and now so do others This is a journey and this is only the beginning of the rest of my life. I still feel like I have more work to go to reach my own personal goals, but in my heart and in the eyes of my boyfriend and close friends I was always a winner. Now I can say truthfully say I believe them. Thank you to my surgeon Dr. Ramos Kelly and my wonderful coordinator Christi Beardon for making the process so simple. I want to also thank this site and the many of you that are a part of it that share your stories. I couldn't have done this without your support. Thank You! Please feel free to check out my blog it has all my stats if you're interested. StartWeight: 273 lbs. **Goal Weight: 157lbs. Pre-op:--- 6 lbs. lost Surgery Weight: 267 1 month: 247 -- -- bmi 39.0 -- -- 20 lbs lost 2 month: 238 -- -- bmi 37.3 -- -- 9 lbs lost 3 month: 229 -- -- bmi 35.9 -- -- 9 lbs lost 4 month: 220 -- -- bmi 34.5 -- -- 9 lbs lost 5 month: 212 -- -- bmi 33.2 -- -- 8 lbs lost 6 month: 207 -- -- bmi 32.4 -- -- 5 lbs lost 7 month: 201 -- -- bmi 31.5 -- -- 6 lbs lost 8 month: 198 -- -- bmi 31.0 -- -- 3 lbs lost 9 month: 192 -- -- bmi 30.1 -- -- 6 lbs lost 10 month:192 -- -- bmi 30.1 -- -- 0 lbs lost 11 month:183 -- -- bmi 28.7 -- -- 9 lbs lost 12 month:180 -- -- bmi 28.2 -- -- 3 lbs lost Lost since surgery: -87 Lost Total: -93 lbs. Overall Goal Weekly Break Down, lbs. lost pre-op week: 6 lbs week 1 -- 8 lbs. 2 - -5 3 - -3 4 - -2 5 - -2 6 - -3 ~2 months 7 - -3 8 - -1 9 - -2 10 - -6 ~3 months 11 - -0 12 - -2 13 - -1 14 - -3 ~4 months 15 - -0 16 - -4 17 - -2 18 - -1 ~5 months 19 - -1 20 - -3 21 - -3 22 - +1 ~6 months 23 - -0 24 - -3 25 - -2 26 - -1 27 - -2 ~ 7 months 28 - -0 29 - -0 30 - -4 31 - -0 ~ 8 months 32 - -0 33 - -3 34 - -0 35 - -0 36 - -1 ~ 9 months 37 - -2 38 - -1 39 - -2 40 - -0 ~ 10 months 41 - +2 42 - -2 43 - -0 44 - -5 ~ 11 months 45 - -0 46 - -4 47 - -0 48 - -0 ~ 12 months 49 - +2 50 - -3 51 - -3 52 - +1 StartJean size: 24/22 Current Jean size:12 some 10 & 11 Start Shirt size: 3x/2x Current Shirt size: L some M Inches: Neck Start: 16 Last: 13.5 Recent: 13.5 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -2.5 Upper Arm Start: 15 Last: 12.0 Recent: 12.0 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -3 Forearm Start: 11.5 Last: 10 Recent: 10 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -1.5 Waist Start: 49 Last: 36 Recent: 36 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -13 Abdomen (belly button) Start: 55 Last: 42.5 Recent: 41 Loss: -1.5 Total Loss: -14 Hips Start: 55 Last: 44 Recent: 43 Loss: -1 Total Loss: -12 Bust Start: 54 Last: 34 Recent: 43 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -11 Chest Start: 44 Last: 35 Recent: 35 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -9 Thigh Start: 30.5 Last: 23.5 Recent: 23 Loss: -0.5 Total Loss: -7.5 Calf Start: 17.5 Last: 15 Recent: 15 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -2.5 1st month loss: -19.5 in 2nd month loss: -9 in 3rd month loss: -13.5 in 4th month loss: -6.0 in 5th month loss: -2.0 in 6th month loss: -6.0 in 7th month loss: -4.5 in 8th month loss: -5.0 in 9th month loss: -1.5 in 10th month loss: -1.0 in 11th month loss: -5.0 in 12th month loss: -3.0 in Total Lost: -76 inches

11 Month Measurements Welcome back to the losers game. I forgot how important it was to be a part of my healthy lifestyle not just float next to it. Last month I lost nothing. This shocked and scared me right out of my rut of how important it is to put forth the effort to see results. Over the holidays I got a little lazy in my exercise. Honestly, I quit exercising if we are going to be truthful here. Plus I was over indulging way to often and choosing to eat whatever as long as it was a small portion. Well as we can all see and I myself which is the most important just sliding by won’t lose the weight forever. This past month I decided to show myself that with a little more control and simple calorie counting along with 3x a week workout on the treadmill. I can have the results I want. Even results that match the first few months of weight loss. The exercise goes to prove it has helped not only on the scale, but this month I have lost more inches than I have in a few months. To sticking with it not just now, but forever. This is my life and my body so I have to put in the work. No one else can do it for me. To an amazing month ahead and my one year surgiversary. *My own little pep talk. StartWeight: 273 lbs. **Goal Weight: 157lbs. Pre-op:--- 6 lbs. lost Surgery Weight: 267 1 month: 247 -- -- bmi 39.0 -- -- 20 lbs lost 2 month: 238 -- -- bmi 37.3 -- -- 9 lbs lost 3 month: 229 -- -- bmi 35.9 -- -- 9 lbs lost 4 month: 220 -- -- bmi 34.5 -- -- 9 lbs lost 5 month: 212 -- -- bmi 33.2 -- -- 8 lbs lost 6 month: 207 -- -- bmi 32.4 -- -- 5 lbs lost 7 month: 201 -- -- bmi 31.5 -- -- 6 lbs lost 8 month: 198 -- -- bmi 31.0 -- -- 3 lbs lost 9 month: 192 -- -- bmi 30.1 -- -- 6 lbs lost 10 month:192 -- -- bmi 30.1 -- -- 0 lbs lost 11 month:183 -- -- bmi 28.7 -- -- 9 lbs lost Lost since surgery: -84 Lost Total: -90 lbs. Overall Goal Weekly Break Down, lbs. lost pre-op week: 6 lbs week 1 -- 8 lbs. 2 - -5 3 - -3 4 - -2 5 - -2 6 - -3 ~2 months 7 - -3 8 - -1 9 - -2 10 - -6 ~3 months 11 - -0 12 - -2 13 - -1 14 - -3 ~4 months 15 - -0 16 - -4 17 - -2 18 - -1 ~5 months 19 - -1 20 - -3 21 - -3 22 - +1 ~6 months 23 - -0 24 - -3 25 - -2 26 - -1 27 - -2 ~ 7 months 28 - -0 29 - -0 30 - -4 31 - -0 ~ 8 months 32 - -0 33 - -3 34 - -0 35 - -0 36 - -1 ~ 9 months 37 - -2 38 - -1 39 - -2 40 - -0 ~ 10 months 41 - +2 42 - -2 43 - -0 44 - -5 ~ 11 months 45 - -0 46 - -4 47 - -0 48 - - ~ 12 months 49 - - 50 - - 51 - - 52 - - StartJean size: 24/22 Current Jean size: 12 some 10 & 11 Start Shirt size: 3x/2x Current Shirt size: L some M Inches: Neck Start: 16 Last: 13.5 Recent: 13.5 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -2.5 Upper Arm Start: 15 Last: 12.0 Recent: 12.0 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -3 Forearm Start: 11.5 Last: 10 Recent: 10 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -1.5 Waist Start: 49 Last: 37 Recent: 36 Loss: -1.0 Total Loss: -13 Abdomen (belly button) Start: 55 Last: 43.5 Recent: 42.5 Loss: -1.0 Total Loss: -12.5 Hips Start: 55 Last: 44.5 Recent: 44 Loss: -0.5 Total Loss: -11 Bust Start: 54 Last: 44 Recent: 43 Loss: -1.0 Total Loss: -11 Chest Start: 44 Last: 36 Recent: 35 Loss: -1.0 Total Loss: -9 Thigh Start: 30.5 Last: 24 Recent: 23.5 Loss: -0.5 Total Loss: -7 Calf Start: 17.5 Last: 15 Recent: 15 Loss: 0 Total Loss: -2.5 1st month loss: -19.5 in 2nd month loss: -9 in 3rd month loss: -13.5 in 4th month loss: -6.0 in 5th month loss: -2.0 in 6th month loss: -6.0 in 7th month loss: -4.5 in 8th month loss: -5.0 in 9th month loss: -1.5 in 10th month loss: -1.0 in 11th month loss: -5.0 in Total Lost: -73 inches Easter Goal Start weight 192 Goal weight 182 8 weeks – 10 lbs. Current weight 183 … 1lb. to go!

Thank you so much. I appreciate your support and taking the time to look.