Im a creature of habit.  I loved the Avenue and Lane Bryant before the DS because they were small stores and if you wore a 26/28, you could pick up anything and know it will fit!

There r so many stores now that it is so overwhelming...I get exhausted just thinking about shopping.  They have so many departments and so many brands and styles.  You could grab 8 different pairs of black pants! Before at LB or Avenue, you might have 2 to choose from.

So im back to my habit. I like to shop at the Express, JcPenny, NY + Co., and Khols.  I feel comfortable at these places.  Took me a few visits to feel like i really belonged in Express though.  Now i love that store! I also like New York and Company but they r pricey. 

The young hip stores like Charlotte Russe and Forever 21...chaos! Keep me away from them! No organizaation, everything is low rise, and they may have just one size of something.  The young people stores like to carry low rise pants and I hate low rise (im 5'11 - i need nothing low lol).  So buying pants has been a pain.

There r some classy places I wouldnt mind shopping at (Talbot, White/Black, Elle, etc.)  but they r more expensive.

It is getting better but those 4 stores r my favorite...I know i can find something and at a good price.  Ofcourse now I have to try on EVERY pant....u r no longer one size. 

So glad i have a job and can afford to shop again!!

Im going to be teaching 9th and 10th grade (and possibly 8th grade - but i hope not b/c that's too much).  I was getting so worried that I wouldnt find a job...was so difficult to get an interview. I was going to take ANYTHING...even the small town schools that dont pay much...but I got the district I originally wanted!!  Woot Woot!!

Here is the bad part...I am also the Cheerleading coach....um....I dont know anything about cheerleading...I dont like cheerleading. lol  I never went to one game in highschool...guess karma has come back to bite me in the ass.  Or maybe BC did some voodoo curse on me to make sure I have to smile more.  Im pretty good with the head bobbing already. lol

I told the principal "Honestly, I dont know anything about cheerleading."  But he said that it didnt matter, he didnt know what he was doing when he started teaching either. lol   I did some jazz hands and asked if that counts...yeah I literally did the jazz hands move in his office. He laughed so it was cool.  They get my corkiness.  lol  Isnt jazz hands for the dance squad?  Oh well...guess ill be watching "Bring it On."  lol  Lord help me!!

Seriously I dont care...if getting the job means coaching, so be it! 

So many people suffer from acne after weight loss surgery (wls)...kind of like a rash...dozens of tiny bumps all over ur face, neck, chest.  Well here is what you do!

First of all, as a DSer we have the most problems with A, D, and Iron.  So you should be taking 25,000 of A (I buy mine at vitalady.com), and 10,000-50,000 D

So first...are you taking 25,000 IU of A? If not...start! I really didnt see a difference in my skin by taking the A but it is good for a DSer to take regardless. Now on to what really helped my acne....

This is the MAGIC vitamin. Take ZINC! I take 100 mg a day (not including what is in my multivitamin). ZINC ZINC ZINC

Take 1 pill (50 mg) twice a day. Zinc can be hard on your tummy so take it with FOOD.  And dont take more then 50mg at a time..too hard on the tummy! You should see improvement in a matter of days.

Lastly...I use a cleansing regime similar to ProActive (I found the active ingredient in their product - salicylic acid -and then bought over the counter b/c its cheaper). Here is what I use and it works!

1. Cleanser. I use Biore warming (heat feels good) with 2% salicylic acid (u can use any cleanser u like...just make sure it has 2% salicylic acid).

2. Astringent. I use Clean and Clear which has 2% salicylic acid.

3. Cream.  I use Neutrogen Spot On with 2% salicylic acid.  Again...any cream will work, key is the salicylic acid.  Put this on your problem areas. You dont want to use benzoyle cream b/c it will be too drying (if u do use this instead on use it as a spot treatment - put only on pimples).

I use this at night and only the cleanser in the morning. You can determine if you need it both night and morning. 

- If you find your skin drying up too much...skip the cream or astringent. Or use it every other day.  You'll figure out what is best for u.

Well it is 3 am so forgive me if this update reads like a bunch of babble.  I lost 4 pounds in the beginning of this month.  I increased my carb intake a great deal to slow down! I also increased my salt b/c my blood pressure is low (which causes me to get a little dizzy if i jump up too quickly - orthostatic hypotension).  Well increasing my carbs and salt did the trick!  I stopped losing weight.  So -192 pounds total. Feels weird to NOT need to lose weight.  

When I look at myself, I see areas where I could lose a little here or a little there.  I know I am thin now but I still get suprised when I see my reflection...still take a double look just to make sure that who I see in the mirror is actually me!  It is like I have this invisible force field around my body...my fat shield.  I dont feel any different then I did before the DS...until I see a reflection or mirror.  Then im like WOW! I really DID lose all the weight.  It is an amazing feeling.  

Losing weight brings new issues I didnt think I was going to have.  I recall thinking that when I became skinny, I would know it!  I could never understand why all my skinny friends would complain about their weight.  If I could be their size, Id be happy and greatful.  I used to wish we could switch places so they can see what REAL fat was.  

The one thing I am greatful for that makes me different from my other skinny friends is I dont tell others how I need to lose weight.  Im content.  I may think about how id like to look a little different (like chop off the tummy skin) but you'll never hear me talk about going on a diet. Or needing to go on a diet. I havent dieted through this entire journey, why would I start now? lol   Besides, as a DSer...my diet = high fat. How can that be labeled a diet? lol

Size perception has definately changed though...sizes I once thought were so skinny are now bigger then I once thought.  I guess I just imagined how my body would look at a certain size and cant believe I can have my body and yet still fit in those sizes.  I think it is sometimes hard to see your true size when you have the skin.  If it wasnt for the skin, I might forget I was ever fat before.  It keeps me grounded...reminds me where I came from.