Closing in on 16 months post op

[M2G 1,836]

Congratulations on your continued success! And thank you so much for your wealth of knowledge and for continuing to be here for the newbies, as well as everyone else on this journey! It is extremely inspirational.

[Papillon 7]

I have also mentioned your name to my husband when talking about this forum. haha For as much as I talk about you ... one would think we were life long friends.

[Barbie_70 0]

I hope I can say the same thing next year. Im so happy for you Tiff. Good luck to be mum you diserve it. Many hug from Barbie.

[sleeve 4 me 910]

Love it! You are AMAZING! Thanks so much for posting! You are such an inspiration to all of us !!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!

[Globetrotter 1,340]

124 lbs is a size 2? Wow, when I weighed that in high school I was an 8. These wide hips!!!!!!!!

Tiff it provides so much encouragement to see your success, to know that it is possible not only to just lose the obesity but to even lose the overweight. It keeps me going, I know that!!

[Tiffykins 673]

124 lbs is a size 2? Wow, when I weighed that in high school I was an 8. These wide hips!!!!!!!!

Tiff it provides so much encouragement to see your success, to know that it is possible not only to just lose the obesity but to even lose the overweight. It keeps me going, I know that!!

I wear a size 0 in Gap jeans LOL, but a 4 in Old Navy pants, and a size 3 at Rue 21, but for most pants/crops, I'm in a solid size 2/3 for the most part. I'm super petite, my inseam is just 28.5" so I think a lot of it is based on my body type, and vanity sizing of course plays a major role. I still have one pair of size 6 that fit decently in the waist, but are huge in the butt and thighs.

Thanks for the kind words ! ! !

[wannalise 15]

Thank you for your friendship, support, and guidance. I really do love and appreciate you! My friends all know about "you know Tiffany from online" I am so grateful and happy to have you as a friend.

[momto2boys 0]

thank you so much for sharing.I am on my 3 weeks stall and I just started eating real food again.I thought it was because I started on phase 4. But I am so happy to here success. I was getting that "what have I done feeling". still really tired and having blackouts, I know the more I eat real food and get the vitimans I need I will feel better. thanks again for a great story. something to look forward too.

[bearwitme 1]

Well Ms Tiff..

You look simply FABULOUS!!!! You are a role model for the Sleeve. My turn coming up..Start pre-op diet 5 Oct and surgery on the 19th..

Continued success to you...

Oh life is grand! ! !

I'm close to 16 months out, and honestly, I'm just living life. I usually forget I even had surgery, and food is just an afterthought.

Some questions I get frequently:

1) What are you eating?

Literally, the answer is anything and everything I want. Nothing is off limits, nothing bothers me, I do still remain mindful of white carbs, but I eat them. I do steer clear of a lot of fried foods. I didn't eat fried foods pre-op, and I still don't enjoy them post-op.

2) How often do you eat?

4-6 meals per day - I do not track my intake anymore. I eat whatever I want, and go about my day. I've been easily maintaining for about 5.5 months now, and I still have amazing restriction. I can eat 1 slice of thin crust pizza, 6-8oz of chili (if I put crackers in it, it's closer to just 6oz of actual chili), I can eat a small side salad and 1/3 of a chicken breast. I still hate Breakfast foods so I typically don't eat until 9ish.

Do you drink coffee, tea, sodas? Yes to all 3. I drink on average a soda(not diet) every other day, 20-24oz of coffee with full fat french vanilla creamer/2 splendas, and I drink sweet tea when I go out to eat.

Do you have excess skin? I lost 145lbs, you betcha I have excess skin. BUT, it is not grotesque looking, nor do I have a bunch of sagging going on. I have wrinkly skin on my inner thighs, bottom on my butt cheek, and tummy. My arms are kind wrinkly and I have a little bit of sag, but not anything that is horrible.

Do you workout? No, and I have not worked out since February. I know, I know, but seriously I lost my workout mojo after my gallbladder surgery. I did weight train, and cardio/core/ab workouts hardcore from 4 months out to 8 months out. I have noticed that I'm a bit more flabby these days so I'm going to start Zumba again this next week with some girlfriends and see if I can get my mojo back. I'd love to tone up more, but I'm not losing sleep over a little flabbiness. When I'm wearing a size 2 most of the time, a little flab isn't making me rush out to the gym.

Other that that, I'm just a busy, busy lady. I'm back to bowling every week (our league takes a break during the summer), and I'm back to all my social/volunteer activities. I even started working again after having to resign from my job as an insurance agent last summer due to my complications. I'm a direct sales associate for lia sophia jewelry, and I'm kicking ass and taking names. I thought I would just do it for fun, score some free jewelry here and there, and just have something to do on the side. Well, least to say, I'm rocking and rolling, making money, earning tons of free fabulous jewelry, and loving every minute of it. I really can't believe just this time last year, I was getting released to return to normal activity, and I was finally off all my meds, and didn't have some sort of drain attached to my body somewhere.

I seriously can not express how lucky I am to be alive, much less living this amazing life that has been afforded to me because of the sleeve. We are still trying to conceive, and have started the fertility stuff with our insurance. But, thanks to the Obama care, Tricare's coverage has been cut, and some of the treatments, and services have been nixed. YAY YAY for healthcare reform *Insert sarcasm*. Anyways, we're still trying, and we will stand strong in our desires to have a healthy pregnancy, and deliver a fabulous, healthy baby.

I am looking into some facial plastic surgery stuff. Just because I'm vain, and since my face isn't fat anymore, I have more wrinkles than I care to have at the ripe age of 33.

My advice to everyone regardless of where you are on your journey is to NOT give up on yourself. You are worth it, you are worth every tear, you deserve every victory regardless of how tiny it may seem to anyone else, relish those moments, don't take for granted the little things, and don't set yourself up for failure. Nix the negative, and accentuate the positive ! ! !

Obligatory before pic: 270lbs size 22/24W

After 124lbs, size 2 (this was taken 4 nights ago at one of my jewelry shows, the only editing done is me cropping out my girlfriends) It's not the greatest quality due to being taken with a camera phone, but hey you get the idea ! ! !

[determined1 3]

I wear a size 0 in Gap jeans LOL, but a 4 in Old Navy pants, and a size 3 at Rue 21, but for most pants/crops, I'm in a solid size 2/3 for the most part. I'm super petite, my inseam is just 28.5" so I think a lot of it is based on my body type, and vanity sizing of course plays a major role. I still have one pair of size 6 that fit decently in the waist, but are huge in the butt and thighs.

Thanks for the kind words ! ! !

Tiff, You look GREAT! I want to thank you for staying here and giving your wealth of information to this community. YOU ARE PRICELESS! I'm sending fertility wishes your way!! You deserve it. XXX Kelly

[Lee 19]

Tiffy, I love the new pic of you. Thanks for always giving great updates on your journey. You truly have inspired so many of us. Congratulations on a job well done!

[breezy 8]

Hi TIffy! I've been so busy that I haven't posted much lately...."living life" as you put it! I love the pics. You are SO CUTE!!! I've said it before, but thanks for being such an important part of this group. You've helped a lot of people during your own journey!

[sickofrollercoaster 7]

Tiff, you look great! Congrats! Today I am 20 weeks out, 5 months. I have lost over 45 pounds but am now REALLY discouraged because I have not seen the scale move in a couple of weeks. I knew this would happen, I am down to the lowest I was ever able to get myself on my own so it might be a mental thing, I don't know. I weigh about 135 right now and goal is 110 (I am 5' tall so 110 is not too small for me). I am scared that yet again I will not be able to just get myself to goal and stay there. It is frustrating and I am hoping that it is just temporary, was really hoping not to go through this emotional time but I guess I need to just stay positive!

Congrats Girl!

[Maddie 9]

I can't see the photos either, and I love seeing them.

You really set the bar for the rest of us. Your attitude, preseverence, and zest for life really do set a shinning example for everyone and are living proof that we can get there too, someday.

Best of luck on conceiving and with your new venture.

[ozzy22 0]

Tiff, do you have a Facebook?