Lucy

Stef, I have the same issue -- most of my excess weight is in the belly/butt area. Now that I am losing, that is what is getting more jiggly. I've started wearing shapewear undergarments and spanx every day. It's not the ideal situation, but it does help keep things under more control. I've basically resigned myself to the fact that I'm going to have to have a lower body lift when the weight is gone. Exercise helps, but skin is pretty hard to "shrink". Way to go with the crunches. I think I need to add those to my workout -- if it's working for you then maybe it will work for me!

Musical Momma!!! HOT Momma is more like it! You look great!

Thanks, Stef! I'm going to try it ASAP!!!! I had another fill today + 1cc. I thought I previously had 6ccs, but I only had 5. Now I'm up to 6. The last fill was very effective, but I was starting to feel like I was losing restriction. All the saline was still there, but maybe my body had just gotten used to it. I haven't even STARTED xmas shopping yet! But I'm planning to do almost all of it tomorrow. I don't have too many people to shop for. Hope all the Junies are doing well!

Woo hoo!!!! I'm so happy for you, boobs and all!!!

Thanks, Big baby! Stef, you are the protein bar queen! If you find out about the no nuts, let me know. I can eat things that have been processed on the same equipment as nuts -- it's not an allergy, but an intestinal disorder where I don't digest nuts and seeds well. If it's creamy peanut butter, for example, I can eat it. But if there are chunks of nuts, it won't work. Thank you!

Thanks, guys! It's going slowly, but at least it's going! It's encouraging to see these pictures, everyone looks so great! Let's see some more!

I'll take a billion scars for that body. You go, Julie!

Thanks, Rhonda! It sucks that all the protein bars have nuts in them -- I can't eat nuts

6 month anniversary, down 31 lbs!

I posted my anniversary pix on the Junies 6 month page. I really hadn't felt like I lost that much until I compared the photos today. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Yesterday was my 6 month anniversary, so here are my pix:

Dr. Eddie Gomez at Mercy Hospital in Coconut Grove. He's great.

Yes...well...that, too, is a possibility.

Ha ha ha, I've never heard that one before... Seriously, it's probably a target for military practice. That's my best guess.

I'm willing to buy jeans at Old Navy, but everything else there somehow looks really sloppy on me. I've been buying some other things at Loehman's and the local outlet mall. I also have a lot of clothes left over from when I was a 14 a few years ago. Once I get smaller than that, I'm going to have to buy more. I work in a field where I have to look professional and designey, so I can't cop out too much. eBay and Overstock.com also sometimes have good things to offer. I know places like Marshalls have good things to offer, but I can't deal with digging through racks and piles of clothes. If I'm in a store and I see something I like at a good price that is a size or 2 too small, I might buy it -- have a few things on reserve for when I get to that size. And I WILL get to that size!

No, I live in Miami Beach, but I spend a lot of time in NYC and am thinking about moving there soon. I haven't been up in a few months, but I can't wait to hit all the shops on my next trip. We have Loehman's here and I practically live there (especially now that I'm starting to fit into 14's!!). I will definitely join you on the Barney's trip when I'm at goal weight.

In womens clothing there is no standard. For men, a 38 is 38". But for women, a 14 vary by many inches depending on the clothing manufacturer. I also think over the last 10 years they have taken a lot of liberty with sizes. Some companies have made their sizes bigger, some have made them smaller. Don't go too much by the number or it will drive you crazy. I just bought a pair of 14 jeans from Old Navy yesterday (I dislike ON -- sorry if I'm offending anyone -- but they are cheap and as I'm losing weight I don't want to spend a million bucks) but I can't get my big toe into the size 14 jeans in Bloomingdale's. Go figure.

4 words: Century 21 and Loheman's.

I can't believe it's almost 6 months! I'll post a progress picture. I feel like I haven't lost THAT much weight, but I am happy to be losing weight at all. Maybe a picture will help me see the difference. I took one the day before my surgery and I haven't done a comparison one yet...it will be good to see everyone's progress.

It looks like a triangle and some circles.

I know people keep saying this, but it's true -- you really are a huge inspiration. Seeing your journey is incredible and so encouraging to me. Can't wait until I can wear horizontal stripes!!!

Good point. I work for myself out of the house, but I have a lot of clients. I told some clients that I was going on vacation and others that I was tied up with another client for that week and wouldn't be available to work for them. All of that was true -- I used my (self-appointed) vacation time to work on my most important client: me. My loss has also been slow and I started out with a pretty low BMI, so no one has suspected anything. Only now am I starting to lose enough weight so that it shows. Since my surgery was in June, no one would ever think to make the connection.

I have 6ccs in a 10 band and I feel pretty good right now.

I only told my parents and my husband. No one else will ever know. It is my personal, private life and it's no one else's business. When others comment on how much weight I've lost, I tell them that I am working out every day and eating less. Those things are true. The rest is nobody's business.

I also went on liquids for 2 days after Thanksgiving! I didn't eat any dessert, but the food was fatty enough! Now we have so many leftovers, I'm only eating the turkey and I've left the rest to my husband. My weight did go up about a pound, but I'm hoping the liquids (and the extra walking I've been doing over the past few days) put me back on track. One of my clients noticed my weight loss last week. He said he barely recognized me and he thought I looked great. I've only lost 30 lbs, so I don't see a HUGE difference, but I'll take what I can get. Although he is a little creepy, it was nice to have someone say that. I told him what I tell everyone -- I've been working out a lot with a personal trainer and I've been eating better. Those things are true and the rest is no one's business.