Onward

Officially 50 lbs down! Feeling sooooo good! Love seeing your triumphs, too. Mariah is right...it is shaping up to be a fantastic summer!

When is it, Fluffy? Blissful, it's so fun to hear you learning your body's new signals. I love how clear they are. It makes all the difference. AV, you are kicking mighty butt!! Blerd, thank you for being so supportive. Your insight is helping us all.

Happy day! This is what I saw this morning. I have not had a 1 in my hundreds column in 15 years! What a wonderful journey we are on!

Blissful and Avhick, you both make me smile. Keep posting the updates! Fatfabulous, you are on your way...thank you for the link letting me know how you are doing

I'm going to update a little. I'm 7 weeks post-surgery and in only a little over 2 lbs, I will have a 1 in my hundreds' column on the scale! 199, what a day that is going to be; it's been SO long! Everyone is noticing the weight loss now, and the positive comments keep me encouraged and motivated. Yesterday, I ran with my puppy...you know, like just a burst of joy and energy and breaking into a run like when you were a kid? That kind of run! 3 months ago, I walked down the steps one at a time while holding the wall. Oh, how good life feels. When Blissful began this thread, she named it well. Every day now is a new day, and for those of you just getting your surgeries, just think...I'm not very far in front of you, only a few weeks. Life is about to change in major ways for you...in the beginning, I literally had new achievements each and every day. Now, I have them every few days. It beats the heck out of just watching my health and abilities diminish slowly and surely. We get to be new again, and gratitude is a wonderful, wonderful thing!

fatfabulous, you are going to do great! Let us know how you're doing as soon as you can, ok?

Go, Blissful! Can't wait to hear how you are doing. I love the "sleeved side", Avhick. Come over to the Sleeved Side...we DON'T have cookies!

I think I got ahead of myself

Avhick, you are doing so great! We are so close to the same surgery time. I'll be at 6 weeks on Friday. It's so wonderful to compare and see where we are. I haven't had the frothies...they just sound delightful. Ugh. I do have horrible acid, though. And while eggs have been fine for me (poached), quinoa is like eating shards of glass. Back on the shelf it goes for now. How awesome are compliments, though? People noticing the changing me...so encouraging. Yesterday, a woman who hadn't seen me since November came over to me and said, "wow, what a transformation!" I nearly cried. Friends tell me I look happier. I know I feel so much better! Keep sharing your journeys, everyone. Your experiences inspire me.

Today I am down 40 lbs! This is a wonderful journey and so glad to be sharing it with all of you!

Really good to hear from you, Mariah! I agree...get some pain meds for the short term. They were a huge help for me. Avhick, maybe take a step back and reintroduce those foods a little later? I haven't experienced that, and I don't want you to either!

Can't wait to hear how you're doing, Mariah!

Oh man, Mariah. I am so sorry. Do you stay on pre op diet while waiting? How are you coping through the delay?

Thinking about you, jbrooks. Let us know how things are going.

How are you coming along? You must be doing all liquids now, right.? Keep us in the loop. Cheering you on!

Only race yourself. He can't even get to your goal...cuz it's yours! He's on a parallel track and you'll have a sexier husband. Boy, lady...things are going your way!

@@Babbs I love the way you encouraged, explained, and offered good healthy advice! So helpful.

I remember coming to that exact mindset. Because of it, when I began the pre op diet, I started a week early during the Thanksgiving holiday, and yet, it was clear that something had changed for me. I was more faithful and determined than ever before. 35 lbs later, I know that this is a gift...the second chance I prayed for is really and truly here. I'm embracing and respecting it. Everything now is up to me, and I like and trust me. I have a few challenges, but this is doable like never before! I want this for everyone who wants this for themselves. It was worth every challenge and any I still may face. You know what I want to do with this new group of ours, folks who recently had the surgery? I want us to list non-scale victories. Almost every day, some cool new thing happens for me that is related to the weight loss. I want us to share those with each other as we discover them!

@@Mariah13 we are all going to be post-op together soon! Pulling for you! Keep us in the loop and if you want to talk about ANYTHING, don't hesitate.

So good to hear from you! It really does feel good when people notice. Can you believe you are almost two weeks post-op?! I will be 3 weeks tomorrow. Crazy how fast it seems to be going. Interesting about the Iron. I had a similar reaction to B12. My energy spiked. I still struggle with puréed foods. I find I have very little desire to eat, and I'm relying on the shakes probably more than I should. Let me know if you find something particularly yummy.

Losing weight and laughing. It doesn't get much better than that.