MommyofFive

After losing 117 in all and in less than 10 months I guess I shouldn't be surprised when we people I've known a long time don't recognize me but I think I still look like me. I mean, the weight loss is pretty obvious but it's still me. I even looked at some face comparisons and I just don't get it. A family friend we've known for more than 14 years stuck his hand out to shake my hand as I was going in for a hug. After a very awkward pause and then my husband walking up behind me he realizes it was me. I'm still me.

My Mom is flying in from Michigan. I haven't seen her since the weight loss. I don't know why but I'm a little bit nervous. the last time she saw me I weighed more than 100 lbs more than I do right now. It's crazy!!

I had surgery on a Thursday and went back to work the following Monday! I felt great. The only concern I've had is maintaining my weight. (I know, tough problem to have) 10 months out starting weight 246 Current 126 120 lbs gone FOREVER

Sounds like lots of changes for you. Stay strong with everything. You must be so excited to see what your new life has in store. I am very sorry to hear about your husband but take the time to focus on you. You won't regret this decision and the timing to introduce yourself to the world couldn't be better. ***HUGS*** I'm so excited for you!!

I'm 10 months post op and still can't gulp which stinks when you're very thirsty but the ice chips do help. I love them.

Thank you!! I feel AMAZING!! I sure wish I would have done this for myself years and years ago. We all deserve to look in the mirror and be happy with what we see. There's nothing like it.

My husband said I've always looked like this to him. He has "shallow Hal syndrome" haha

Thank you. I'm not used to the attention. It is weird for both me and my husband but he takes it in stride. After 5 kids and all of these Years he knows I'm not going anywhere. I'm crazy about him and he is equally crazy about me now and even before the surgery. Who could ask for more!!!?? I am blessed.

My husband and I took a impromptu weekend get away to go see Peyton play in Indy and spend a day in one of our very favorite cities Chicago. We've been there many times but I can't begin to tell you what an incredibly different experience we had : *no panic feeling when we didn't get upgrades to the big first class seats and I ended up in the back row of economy in the middle. I didn't get that "great the fat lady is sitting in the middle seat" look. *Nexr AND THIS IS A BIGGIE. The seatbelt fit without any hesitation. This was such a big accomplishment because prior to surgery I was very close to needing an extender particularly on small planes. IN FACT I had to tighten it and has a good foot and a half of seatbelt left. I was so incredibly proud of this I immediately sent a pic to my Mom. (I was going to post it but as I was showing pics from our trip it was weird when I scrolled through and there was a pic of my lap lol) *We must have walking for 15 miles that day and I breezed all through Chicago without being a single bit winded or dreading the hills) *i'm a ding dong and since it's not quite cold enough in Seattle for a coat I just naturally didn't bring one and it was CHILLY so we went to Neimen Marcus and headed to the petite section where I had to ask the sales associate for an EXTRA small since the small was too big. (Which they didn't have) so I ran into Victoria Secret where I DID Buy an EXTRA small I remember walking in there and being so offended that they carried very few XL's and NO XXL. NOT ANYMORE! *Often times trips like this we spend A LOT of time eating and every time we smelled something from a street vendor we would eat again and we spent WAY less money almost making up for the $500 we spent on nose bleed tickets to the game from a scalper. * I hope this doesn't come across as conceded but I was getting tons of people checking me out. They weren't looking at me and (in my own mind of course) thinking I'm on my way to an all you can eat fried food bar and I walked with confidence. Isn't it sad that I was so ashamed in my own skin that when someone DID look at me I felt the need to pull my shirt down praying there wasn't a fat roll hanging out. *when we went through the gates for the game in Indy I didn't have to strategize on how I was going to move through quickly as to hopefully not get stuck in the turny thing (not to get al technical on you) which HAS happened to me before. *and FINALLY I ENJOYED myself and talked trash to Indy fans (all in good fun of course) never worrying they were going to come back with a personal joke about my weight. What an awesome weekend.

Slimbo! LOVE IT!! go us!!

Thank you so much. It's awesome sharing with folks who truly understand.

I'm almost 10 months out. I'm at goal (and then some) with my current weight at 126 lbs. I eat what I want. If I want cake, I eat cake but after a few bites I'm done. I refuse to be a slave to dieting. I don't "count" anything. Each of us do what works for us. As long as we are all successful then how we got there and/or maintain doesn't matter. Let's all support each other. We surely run into enough negativity and nay Sayers. Can't we all just get along.

It is kinda fun!!

I haven't worked out at all, to be honest. It's really just portion control.

Thank you!

My ex husband only introduced me to SOME of his friends because he was embarrassed of my weight. We've been divorced for more than 10 Years (and I have a great hubby now) but I can't begin to tell you how good it felt when he came to my office to pick up some old military documents of his that "I found". I had them for several years but was just waiting. It felt awesome. He didn't even say anything. He just kept looking at me. I went out of my way to have him follow me back to my office rather than bring the papers to him. I'm telling you. We was floored and had no idea what to say. I loved EVERY minute of it. HA!

My ex husband only introduced me to SOME of his friends because he was embarrassed of my weight. We've been divorced for more than 10 Years (and I have a great hubby now) but I can't begin to tell you how good it felt when he came to my office to pick up some old military documents of his that "I found". I had them for several years but was just waiting. It felt awesome. He didn't even say anything. He just kept looking at me. I went out of my way to have him follow me back to my office rather than bring the papers to him. I'm telling you. We was floored and had no idea what to say. I loved EVERY minute of it. HA!

Thank you, Rachel for sharing. I dread the scale too. Especially with my GP who has been so supportive. People are starting to notice and tell me I need to stop losing. I just smile and reassure then that I will but I don't know if I will. My husband doesn't understand why I can't "just eat". Lunch meetings and food related social events always lead to a conversation of how little I eat with lots of advise on why I should. I am a smart cookie. I have 5 children who are all healthy and well fed. I know all of the right things to do but I just hate food. I do....my old best friend is now one of my biggest enemies. This too shall pass and AGAIN at this point I still have no regrets. Once I get this under control everything will be awesome.

I'm so incredibly proud of your courage. I too am having this issue. I simply have no interest in food and no matter how much I tell myself I NEED to eat I can't. I am fully aware of the dangers of not eating and I'm not deliberately trying to make myself sick. Heck, health was a huge motivating factor in my decision. I'm trying to maintain my weight but I just keep losing. It's not like I feel sick after eating or anything like that. I just can't bring myself to eat. They idea of even chewing is often in appealing. I could walk away from food completely and never look back....even pizza. All that said, I have no regrets. Maybe it's just part of learning how to live in our new bodies. Either way, I'm committed to being healthy and we will support each other.

Stronger by Christina and "SHES A BRICK HOUSE!!!" Love it

I am with you. My starting weight was 246. My surgery was in 12/12. Doc wanted me to stop at 140 and try to maintain. That was a couple weeks Ago and now I'm down to 133. I feel awesome. I just simply could care less about food. It's crazy. It used to control me. I guess in some ways it still does. Plus, I still can't eat very much. 4 bites of oatmeal in the morning and I'm stuffed and usually can't even eat lunch. I realize I need to increase calories and I'm not in a size 2 like you (currently in a 5) but I do start to freak out a little when the scale keeps going down.

246 starting weight Sleeved 12/12 Current weight 133

So blessed!!!! 9 months out Start weight 246 Today's weight 135 111 pounds gone FOREVER NEVER looking back!!!! THIS is living!! We all deserve to feel this way!!!!