KaitlynnHughes

Just a quick update.... I am now 8 months post op and I am down 115lbs! I went from a size 4x top and 26/28 pants down to a large top and size 12 pants! And actually at work I fit into medium scrubs!!! I feel as though I've been given a second chance at life! I'm going through a divorce (and please no I'm sorry's it's the best thing to happen to me since this surgery) and I give all of my newfound self esteem and courage to my sleeve! It helped me find myself! And the best part is...I get to experience dating after my divorce is final!!! Lol Keep it up everyone!! PM me if you have any questions!!!!

Thanks everyone! As for the excess skin, it's not as bad as I thought it was gonna be! My arms and boobs are probably the worst of it! I hide it with spanx and tummy tuck tank tops pretty well! Oh and push up bras! Lol. I'm def going to have some plastic surgery in the near future but I wanna wait until I've maintained at my goal weight for at least 3 months before I go under the knife again! My starting weight was 284 day of surgery and today I'm 169. I'm hoping to lose another 30lbs and then I'll be at my personal goal! Thanks again for all of the nice comments!!! It feels so good being here!!

Thanks! Yea I actually had an emergency surgery 1 month out! My staple line opened and I had one hell of a leak! But since then it has been smooth sailing! I hit my surgeons goal in January and I'd still like to lose 30 more pounds!

Since i've last been on here so much has changed...i'll start with the bad!!! My husband (who if you remember was an ASS) has left me and our kids!! He is seeing someone else now and yes he was seeing her before he left me!!! I have filed for divorce and the process has started and its an aweful mess!!! I've never been more stressed over anything in my life but I know this is in mine and the kiddo's best interest!! Luckily my mom is moving here to help me through everything!!! Its bittersweet...i as you know wanted to leave him (not sure if i would've ever had the guts to do it) but he left first making things easier on me!! But i really didn't think another woman would be brought in as quickly as he did!!! Hello....at least TRY and hide it until after we're divorced or until after the seperation date....lol...he's not the brightest bulb!!! But enough sad depressing news!!!! I got on the scale today to see the number 197.7..............i'm officially in ONEderland!!! and i feel ONEderfull!!!! This is amazing i'm down 86.3lbs in four months!! I've included pics of my face and body....but the best pic is my profile picture!!! I'm just not sure how to get that one on here!! I went shopping because i had NOTHING to wear and i'm out of plus sizes!! i shopped at kohls in their misses section!!!! It was such a good feeling!! I'm in an XL top and 14/16 pants and jeans!!! And i have to add so far not as much skin sagging as i thought at this point!!! My hair is falling out...my hair dresser said it was awkordly thin in some spots but its only temporary i keep telling my self!!! she gave me a very nice cut that you can't even tell how thin it actually is!!! Everyone i know is telling me how great i look.....it is such a confidence builder especially with everything that is going on in my life right now!! I am so happy with my sleeve...words can't even express!!! It has opened so many doors already i can only imagine what else is to come!!! lol especially since i'm single and looking/feeling amazing!!!! I LOVE MY SLEEVE

I have officially lost 100lbs since my surgery on June 27, 2011!!! I feel like this should have taken longer....its almost an unreal feeling!!! I've never been happier and healthier in my life!!!! I have gone from a 4x top down to a Large/XL in some brands. My pants size has gone from a 26/28 to a 14!!! I love shopping now!!! I remember reading others post pre-surgery about how much fun shopping was after the weight loss and i thought "yea right" thats going to take forever for me to get to that point!!! BUT I"M HERE!!! 6 months later I'M HERE!!! I still have about 40lbs until goal and now i'm stepping it up a notch with the exercise, especially going into my first holiday season since surgery, but I already feel like a success story!!! So here's a few pics....

YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!! Congrats to you!!!

It was funny...the other day both of my kids wanted me to carry them up to bed! So i put one kid on each hip....and at the top of the stairs i was like "my goodness you two are heavy" but their combined wieght is 30 lbs less than what i've lost!!! It blows my mind that i used to carry around all that extra weight....no wonder i was tired and cranky and sore!!! I am so thankful that i never had a heart attack with all the excess weight. 100lbs is crazy when you think about it...hell 10lbs is crazy....go to the store and buy a 10 bag of potatoes and carry them around for a day...it would suck. Any weight loss is amazing and everyone at any point in this incredible journey should be proud as **** that they are making life changing decisions about their health and well being!!!

Thanks everyone!!! I appreciate all the positivity and encouragement on here! As for food: Breakfast(9am)- 1/4 cup egg beaters with either turkey bacon or sausage or on days i'm rushed i'll grab a Breakfast sandwhich at work and just eat the egg and meat!!! Snack (11am)- usually something crunchy like nuts or turkey pepperoni chips and its only about a handfull Lunch(1pm)- If i work i'll take a healthy choice and eat the meat and veggies first and then right before i'm full i'll eat a bite or two of the Pasta. If not its chicken, or like 1/4 of a sandwhich with lunch meat, cheese, lettuce and HUMMUS instead of mayo (thats my new addiction) Snack (3pm)- this is where i'm usually bad...its after school with the kids and i'll bite whatever they are munching on but I try to do granola bars and healthier snacks for them but its not high Protein...i'm working on this!! dinner (5pm)- I cook a regular dinner for my family and usually just eat the meat and veggies....just a lot less then them....lol my 2 year old eats more than i do now! Snack (7pm)- Hummus and veggies or what ever new addiction i have at the time!! I try to fill in gaps of missing protein with shakes and supplements but i have a hard time eating all that i just listed so no i don't usually meet my goals on protein and Water but i'm trying my best to get it all in!!! I am now aware of what i put into my body and am making good healthy decisions. When i track on my fitness pal i'm usually around 800-1000 calories a day. As for exercise...i need to step it up a bit and actually join a gym. i've just been walking and doing wii fit! But i NEED to get in a gym and talk to a trainer about toning....up until this point i've been really lucky with things not sagging too much...well except the girls...def see a breast augmentation soon....lol

June 27, 2011 and 100lbs gone!!!!