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The pictures do tell the story. I was wearing 28's, too, but those pictures suprised me. I really was that big. You look fantastic! Congrats on your hard work and great results!

I have been on a terrible stall, flirting with onederland for weeks, losing and regaining the same two pounds a number of times. But today, I am 198.5!!!!!! I haven't been under 200 in probably 24 years. Can't wait to keep losing and shopping for normal sized clothes. It's so liberating! My tickers says I've lost 86 pounds, but I have actually been 111 pounds heavier at my highest weight. Or at least the highest that's been recorded. NSVs: Yesterday was my 35th wedding anniversary. We were at a family reunion for my husband's side of the family and there were relatives of his that I hadn't seen in a long time. One of my husband's uncles asked someone if I was Mike's new wife!!!! (His brother has a new wife, so he knew there was a new wife somewhere). Made my day as well as my husband's day! Last week I was with a group of people I was going to be taking to a local restaurant/dancehall. One of the ladies asked if she needed to change clothes into something dressier. I told her I was going just like I was, and she said, "Yes, but you're all cute and sexy!" Two weeks ago I was in line at the register at Walmart. An older fellow checking out at the register started a conversation with me. We chatted for a few minutes and then he stopped, looked at me and said, "Has anyone told you just how pretty you are?" I almost started jumping up and down and doing a happy dance, but I restrained myself and said, "Not in at least 20 years, but thank you so much!" This morning I was dancing around the kitchen to a Michael Jackson song on the radio and I did a dance step that I haven't been able to do in a million years! Ha! Shocked the heck out of me that I could do this certain little twirl step again. Really, I cannot wait to get to goal, but the journey itself has been rewarding (and sometimes disheartening). No regrets.

Again, thank you all for the wonderful support! I'm glad my happiness about the way things are going is evident. And Amanda, your future's so bright, you need to wear shades!

Thanks, y'all! The support here is awesome!

Congrats to you! I cannot wait to join that club. I've gone from morbidly obese to obese. Overweight sounds fabulous! Job well done.

{{{Barb!}}} It will get better. MUCH better. WTF did you do to yourself? You took the first step to changing your life, that's what you did! Congratulations on being one smart cookie.

Thanks so much for the encouragement. It REALLY means a lot and is helpful. So, up my liquids, vary my exercise, and something I need to do is get back to logging my protein intake. Love y'all!

I've been in a stall for a whole month. I've upped my excercise, but I've lost and regained the same 3 pounds over and over. On Monday, I will be 8 months out from my surgery. I've lost 84 pounds and would like to lose 50 more (really, 55). Is it possible to do? I'm so worried about not taking full advantage of this honeymoon period. HELP? Am I looking for the impossible? Also, during this stall, I've been flirting with Onederland. Is it mental? Am I afraid to go below that magical mark? I haven't been there in 24 or 25 years. On the plus side, I've been getting lots and lots of compliments about my weight loss so far. A stranger was talking to me in Walmart two days ago, and in the middle of the conversation, he stopped and said, "Has anyone told you just how pretty you are?" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Um, not in more than 20 years. Really, it was so sweet. I'll even overlook the fact that he was probably 75 years old. (I might put that in the NSV thread.) Opinions, advice, please?

I do 2 miles on the treadmill four times a week. I'm upping it to 5, but don't know if I can do the treadmill more than that. Thinking about adding some kind of dance class, but I don't think I'm ready for Zumba. I was thinking something fun like line dancing. I could probably eat less fruit, but I'm really not eating bad carbs. I am also still guilty of not taking in enough liquids. Can that make that much of a difference?

It's been six months since the surgery. I've lost 73 pounds (but have actually been 99 pounds heavier than I am now). I'm still not in onederland, but I'm approaching it. The NSVs have been wonderful. People are noticing not only the difference in my weight, but also the difference in my level of energy. I feel great! A few small NSVs - sitting in a booth this week and not worrying if I'd fit! Realizing that I no longer get in a weird position to tie my shoes! Wearing some tops that I never imagined I could fit in again. Feeling kind of normal sized, even though I know I'm not, yet. Spending a Saturday running errands instead of hiding in my house. BIG NSV - allowing someone that I knew in high school to see me. This has been one of my biggest neurotic things, not seeing people from high school. But I went somewhere last week where I KNEW I'd see this person and be seen and it was not only fine, it was great! BIG NSV - dancing in public. In my job, one of the things I do is take people out to Cajun dance. I always watched, but I always felt that nobody wants to see the fat lady on the dance floor, but last week I danced. And yesterday at a Mardi Gras event, I did the zydeco waltz and the two step on the big stage. IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. AND I WAS GOOD! (Well, my partner was excellent, so he made me look good.) There are more, but I need to get ready for work.

Thanks, y'all. I know my weight loss is a lot less than others at six months, but the NSVs keep me going. As does reading this board.

Blame Oprah. Or thank her.

I get so excited about my weight loss, getting compliments from co-workers and family and friends. Then I go shopping and try on clothes and look in the mirror and my spirits plummet. I'm still fat. I FEEL the difference. I have so much more energy and can do things I couldn't do 70 pounds ago. But am still the fat girl in the room most of the time. Sigh. However, you are a size 4?! That is absolutely fantastic and enviable. I hope, given a little time, that you feel as good as I know you must look.

I'm still coloring my hair even though I'm losing some (but not huge amounts). I don't use permanent hair color, but semi-permanent with no ammonia. I HAVE to color the gray and I'm not going to let that lapse for a few months!

I allow myself saltines on occasion. Five make a serving and then I pile on whatever it is I'm having them with, tuna or chicken salad or black bean salsa. I don't do it often, though. I've found a place where I can get a riceless sushi roll. It's wrapped in cucumber. You don't get a variety of choices of fish, usually only a California roll, but it might help with your craving. I was having half a sandwich round (toasted) with ham and cheese on it for breakfast, but I'm burnt out on that for now. So my answer is, yes, I have some carbs, but I try to be careful about how often and what I have.

B: Hard boiled egg L: A few ounces of grilled steak, veg medley of broccoli, squash, zuke liquids so far: Small coffee from McD's, Crystal Lite Lemonade

Here's something I made based on some ingredients I had available. I browned some ground beef and added shredded cabbage, chopped onions, peppers, celery, and a little garlic and parsley. Seasoned it with Cajun seasoning (because that's what I use) and cooked until the cabbage and other veg were soft. I also added a little celery salt and some sesame seeds, just cuz. Pine nuts would've been really good, but I didn't have any. You can add a few frozen sweet peas near the end, but those are carbier than the other veg, so be judicious. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's tasty.

I haven't seen this addressed, but maybe I've overlooked it. Ever since my surgery last week, I've noticed an odor. Let me be specific, and sorry if it's TMI, but when I sit down on the toilet, there is a smell wafting from me that I've never smelled before. I'm showering and cleaning all parts of me, so it's not from poor hygiene. Did anyone else experience this?

You look awesome! When I reach my goal weight, I want to do something similar. My hair is in a bob right now, but closer to chin length and not stacked, mostly because of my fat face. Can't wait to play around with hair styles and color!

34, and my BMI was pretty high. Still is, but I'm working on it!

No pumpkin seeds? I'm a little over 3 months out and I've had pumpkin seeds a couple of times. No issues.

Gorgeous! Congratulations on a job well done!

I am 12 weeks out and got the ok to have coffee again, but I'm limiting it to one cup a day, which is really all I want or need.

You are a beautiful young woman! I hope to be a semi-attractive older woman when I'm done. Thanks for posting your pics.