dar1983

My daughter started taking pole classes at her gym, and fell in love. She was in the low 200s when she started, with little to no upper body strength. 4 years later, and a lot lighter,she is a pole instructor...specializing in motivating "non-traditional-body-types". She recently hosted the first plus size pole competition in Brooklyn, NY. There were women (and men!) of all shapes and sizes. In short...just do it!

Wonderful!

Whoa...that size 0 font is killing me!

Ritz crackers. I can't remember the last time I actually bought Ritz crackers. Until. I won't be buying them anymore!

Good for you! Last week, while running for my subway in NYC, my underwear started falling down. I kept walking while awkwardly trying to hike up the undies AND make my train! It was a strangely wonderful happening!

Sadly, this is a commentary on life today...if you are fat/obese, you are invisible in many ways. I am fortunate to be an 'older' sleever, 52 year old so my friends (45+ in age) are more mature and less critical of physical appearance (to a degree!). If someone tells me I look good, I have, and will, continue to smile and say thanks! I'm doing this for me, so if people are commenting on how I look (better)as a slimmer person...who the %&*# cares???

Really? They just make me (want to ) hurl.

Try one on and see

I focus more on limiting my (bad) carb intake, and sugar content. I don't (knowingly) eat anything containing more than 5g of sugar, and I keep the carbs to 30g or less per day. Boars head makes a great-tasting All Natural, Plain Turkey that I like. Almonds cheese Adkins Protein bar (one I like has only 7 net carbs, and 10g of protein)

ok. I'm not a guy, and should butt out, but this was too funny NOT to comment on! I know you may have exaggerated some to make your point, and I get it. I have a feeling an smart quips and affectionate ribbing will cease once they see you attracting all the hot girls when you go out! Good luck!

LIVE!

greasy cheeseburger and fries! I have had a slider minus the bread...no longer appetizing for me. I have also had a few fries at a ballgame. Again...the thrill is gone.

All I have noticed is that they suck!

surgery: July 3, 2012 weight: (then) 273 (now) 234 pant/dress size: 24 current pant size: 18

They are ok, but not enough protein to make a difference. In my opinion.

I wasn't a fat child, and during my teen years, I was always active in sports and dance lessons. While I wasn't fat then, I was usually the biggest girl in class..."healthy". During college, I lived with six girls who were all smaller than me. I still wasnt fat, but what you would now call "thick"...curvy. I was married 2 years after graduating,and I went to hell in a handbasket! I was a stay-at-home wife and mother, cooking 3 meals a day, and no longer exercising. I think I was fooling myself into believing I wasn't THAT big...but I was. I thought because I had really nice clothes, and looked neat and clean, I wasn't that bad. What a lie. I did the Optifast liquid diet about the same time Oprah did, lost 50 lbs, and gained it back within a few months. Just 5 years ago, I lost bout 45lbs, looked great, and I was so happy. Fast foward to March-2012 when I went to my first surgical consultation, I was at a whopping 284lbs! WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? HOW DID IT HAPPEN? To answer the original question, I am looking foward to a skinnier version of me, and while I am beyond excited about the future, I have a hard time picturing me in smaller clothing sizes. The smallest size I can recall is a 14 while in college. Before then, I don't know. Since my July 3rd surgery, I have lost 40 or so pounds. I say or so because I am in a nasty stall, then gain the same 2-3lbs back...depending on what scale I am using! ALL of my friends are smaller than me. Trust me, none of them need to lose weight to catch up with my slimming frame! Like another poster above, I have a pretty decent self image, have great friends, and an active social life, so I don't have any head issues holding me back. While I am unsure what the final outcome will be, I know I will stare in every mirror in wonder!!!

Not to be a spoil sport, but I never understood naming inanimate objects or body parts.

100 pounds gone forever!

great!

Looking and feeling better in my clothes

Lucky for me, I hate Thanksgiving, and most of the foods associated with it! ANyway, you THINK you will pig-out, but trust me, overeat once or twice, and you won't do it again! Our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. You can't eat volumes of food anymore. Have a bite or 2 of what is on your plate, and keep it movings! If anyone comments on your eating pattern, just tell them the truth, that you have decided to get healthy, and no longer eat large portions. If they keep asking questions, ignore them!

I would be happy with 10lbs a month.