ms.sss

Be proficient at a musical instrument. Dance like a Fly Girl. Have a house built from one of my designs. Live by an ocean.

Same! JUST DO IT, right? I run basically every morning before my morning coffee (though there are times that I do have the coffee first). I found that if I did it first thing, I was more likely to get a run in at least once a day. I may go for another one later, but that’s just bonus. As for strength training (which I am not as fond of) I get a little help doing it daily from Mr. who gets me to the mat do to some with him every afternoon. Maybe 25-30% of the time, I have the motivation to start it on my own, but the rest of the time it’s all cuz of him (and I def appreciate that). The trick is to keep it a regular part of your routine, I guess. Once you stop for a while, gets difficult to get back into it again (well, at least for me).

I put salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne & smoked paprika on EVERYTHING.

I had pretty big boobs for my frame all my life. I popped out one kid, and I didn’t even breastfeed (I pumped for 4 weeks only). And it wreaked havoc on the state of my boobs. I had a breast reduction a year or so later, and they were good for a while (still big enough, but at least not droopy any more...i was wearing a 34C for a while after the reduction). Then I gained alot of weight the the next 10+ years and got up to a 40DD/DDD. Losing the weight deflated them, and re-droopified them. Not as droppy as after the kid, but enough to make me want the breast lift. Age, number of times there was weight gain& loss, speed of weight gain/loss, genes, and overall amount of fat lost will determine the sagginess of your boobs in the end. While muscle training may increase the size of the pectoral mucsles behind your boobs and give your chest a bit of lift, no amount if exercise will fill the sacs of deflated boobs. That’s just science. Depending on how much it bothers you, you can still easily look fabulous with a really good bra, no matter what the state you boobs are in. Good Luck ! ❤️

I ended up with pretty empty boobs after weight loss. No implants for me, but I did get a breast lift, which I am extremely happy with as I now have the perky boobs of a teenager. Yeah, they are way smaller than they were pre-wls, but man, nothing beats being able to walk around bra-less and having my boobs still stand up on thier own (I’m a 30C today, 33” bust, 28.5” underbust)

My gym reopened last week. Like yours, limited capacity and the change-rooms are closed. No Group classes....which pretty much solidified my decision to keep my membership on hold. Though even if the group classes were being held, I probably wouldn't go anyway. Lots of heaving breathing in an enclosed space. Add to that when I drove by the other day, there was a line-up (a line-up!) to get into the gym. Sooo...no thanks. I've pretty much stuck to running outside and strength training (using body weight only) at home. I remember you liked spinning? If you have a stationary at home you could do videos? Or get those pedestals you can rig a regular bike on to become stationary. Also, Peloton has a free 30-day at home free trial...* *I do not work nor do business with Peloton, lol

looks and sounds delish 😋

@mil_unloaded (get comfortable, this may be a long one....) I'm don't think I "despised" myself when I was obese, but I do know I really disliked BEING obese. While being fat did limit me in what I could do, in terms of activity exertion and stamina; and had health implications (pre-diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, aching body parts, incontinence, poor sleep, etc.); and influenced my behaviour/responses in public (hide from cameras, feeling uncomfortable in certain situations), I mostly didn't think about being overweight for the most part (in fact, I didn't even think I was even as overweight as I actually was). Only when I was reminded of the evidence (i.e. seeing myself in pictures) did I remember. Which is probably why I avoided cameras. Like @sillykitty, I was a relatively satisfied with life pre-WLS. Sure, I was big, but I had family and friends who I love, interests & hobbies, I had a pretty active social life and had no problem getting up on stage to belt out a song at karaoke. I still have and do all this and feel like I'm still the same person, just smaller and with more confidence (the Kid describes it as the same old me, but on steroids, lol) Edited to add: there is one major thing that is different about me now, though: I am way less angry and annoyed. This may or may not be a by-product of the weight loss.... I remember the exact moment I decided to finally go through with the surgery (I had put it off twice in in a span of 2 years, due to indecision): I was at a pool party and I needed to reapply my sunscreen. I was lotion-ing up my legs, and had difficulty applying it to my ankles and feet due to my bulk. So I sat on the steps and had to bend my leg and put my foot behind me to reach. As I was doing this, I looked up and saw a few of the people around me looking at me with what I perceived as pity. And I was all, holy ****. I'm effing fat. Three weeks later, I had a surgery date. It wasn't so much that I wanted to look better (though of course I did!), nor was it because I wanted to get healthy (again, of course I did), its just that I finally realized that I was, in fact, obese. Morbidly so. In terms of "fitting in": I think this has more to do with one's own thoughts and feelings of self-worth than whatever predominant interest the particular group they are attempting to "fit in" with (unless of course there is some bullying or ostracizing or hate going on). Like the never-before-heavy person who thinks all overweight people are fat & lazy, just want to sit around eating, and are full of self-hatred, the oft-heavy person may think that all smaller people are vain, lettuce-eating, gym-rats. I suppose its up to the individual if they want to look beyond their preconceptions of others and find a connection. Not everyone in the WLS community is the same. There will be people that you gravitate towards, and of course there will be those who will just rub you the wrong way and just not be able to mesh with. You could choose to withdraw completely in an attempt to avoid the difficult ones, but then you'll miss out on the ones who aren't. Anyhoo, preach over. Good Luck!

@Darktowerdream: Yeah, I guess if you have thought a certain way about yourself for the greater part of your life, its difficult to switch tracks. Especially if its entrenched in the "negative". Your weight loss and subsequent plastics happened in a relatively short amount of time, it will likely take a little bit of getting used to. But its not impossible! The longer you spend in your newer body, the more it will become the norm, and hopefully all the baggage you carried around for so long can be let go ❤️ I saw your after pics, and even though it may be hard to believe, you really are tiny (in a good way!). I believe I'm pretty small and your measurements indicate that you are even smaller. Maybe put your before and after pics side by side and look at them every once in a while, and you can slowly convince your brain of your new reality. Its hard to argue with evidence when its right in front of your face. You look fabulous (you got great results!), bask in your fabulousness. I know, easier said ❤️

see "careful what you wish for..." post above....lol

Careful what you wish for...I'm a planner...

Jerk Chicken Thighs with Peach and Grilled Corn Salsa over Coconut Rice. I had 1 thigh and 1/4 cup of the salsa: 158 calories. (I feel like I’m still hungry though, and may have another thigh maybe in an hour if I am still thinking about food)

Which one was the one you made? Though, doesn’t really matter, they both look delicious. *added to my to-make list*

That would be too cool. ❤️

xxs thighs? You are TINY! Are you pleased with your results so far? Is it bikini time?!?!?

Recipe? These pizza's are LOADED! They are like a deep dish pizza (my old fave) on a thin crust (also an old fave).

I know I say this all the time (as do several other members on this forum), but here I go again: Everyone has to remember we are all so very different and have different circumstances that will affect our individual weight loss. Comparing total pounds lost is deceiving as a myriad if different factors affect this. People who are heavier in the onset will generally lose more total pounds. If you MUST compare (and we all know that we shouldn’t!) compare percentages and/or BMI changes. A 300lb person losing 25lbs in the first month is mathematically the same as a 200lbs person losing 16lbs. Same goes with a 6 foot tall person vs. someone who is 5’3”. Add in gender, medical history and amount of weight loss before surgery, etc., and the formula gets even more complicated. In the long run, (i.e., average the percentage changes over a course or say, a year), one will often find (if one more or less sticks to plan) that most people will end up with the same numbers, in terms of percentage weight lost. Of course, there will be outliers. It’s hard, but try to remember that this is about you, and you alone. The determination of your success is not dependent on the numbers of others. I know, easier said, right? Just do the best to u can. ❤️

Oh my goodness, you be GORGEOUS. 😍😍😍

+1 Aside: You have the Best Name Ever.

Ok, so this is the anecdote we always share when people find out that we lived in Brisbane for a year a while back, and they almost always ask about the weather: We arrived in July, which was winter, and we were taken aback when we saw alot of people were wearing parkas with fur-lined hoods even. We must have looked ridiculous in our shorts and sandals. But we are used to Toronto winters, so we probably built up a level of immunity, lol. Though, come summer/December I was taking like 2-3 showers a day from all the sweating. The poor Kid was almost comatose from the heat. But whatever, it was probably one of the most enjoyable, peaceful years I've had in my life, so its all good. I ❤️ Brisbane.

I was never formally diagnosed, but I suspected it for years. Almost immediately after weight loss it went away (though this could be do to the fact I ate way less). With that said, post-wls (sleeve) I do dump when I have too much sugar.

OMG...thats ADORABLE. 😂 Also, Cheese, look at your waist! Looking so good!

yeah, I had briefly considered it, but my surgeon mentioned it would be the least bang for my buck given the state of my thighs at the time, as well as the fact the said they are notoriously problematic in healing. Though I have seen some great thigh lift results as well...

Not counting the first couple months (when I barely ate anything), I was <800 cals a day, and <25g NET carbs a day. I basically only ate non-starchy vegetables and protein, mostly in the form of grilled chicken breast (or a protein shake)

That must be challenging. I see the struggles people go through when comparing themselves to strangers on a public forum. Having to deal with that at home with a loved one must be exponentially harder. It’s very kind and aware of you to recognize what your wife is going through and to have the forethought to be mindful of her feelings when around her given your successes. Plus one for the good guys! However, do continue to rejoice in your awesomeness, too, and try not to temper it too, too much. If need be, do your fist-pumping here and we’ll all give you virtual high fives. Congrats, and Good Luck! 😎