Size 22/24 pants!




I now wear a 4,6 or 8 depending on brand!

250 lbs size 22/24                           133 lbs size 4,6,8

I had to put these guys up to explain how I feel today!  LOL

What an awesome day in my journey.

Today I am at goal and couldn't be happier.

Time to celebrate!!!!!!!!

I'll post pics when DH is home to snap them for me!!

Today is my 7 month surgiversary!  I have a friend who weighs 114 pounds.  I have officially lost as much weight as she weighs altogether!  That is absolutely incredible!!!  I hope to post pics at some point this week.  I am hoping to reach goal this week and that's why I'm waiting!

I had an appointment with my dietician and the PA.  They were great!!!

I have to attempt to increase my caloric intake in order to break a small plateau and get ready to maintain.  I bought some True North Pecan Almond Peanut Clusters because they are all natural and small.  I ate 2  1 oz servings yesterday and it brought me up to 1100 calories and I lost 2 pounds overnight!!!!  1 tiny oz of these nuts from Target is 170 calories but a perfect, filling snack.  The dietician told me to add nuts but WATCH the SERVING SIZE!!!  So I will continue to do that and enjoy my new snack.  She said being 5 pounds from goal at the 6 (almost 7) month mark means that I will continue to lose for the next year, SLOWLY, so I really need to get to maintain somehow.  My BMR shows that I should eat 1350 calories or so to maintain.  I think I'll be able to do this by just adding nuts and another small snack each day.  That would be great!

The PA went over all my fancy scale numbers with me.  I have gone from being 48% body fat to 20% body fat!!  Totally amazing!!!  My BMI has gone from 43 to 23!!   All my labs look great and the most important thing.......I feel like a million bucks!!!!

What a great day!  I am now 3 pounds from goal and excited about my new life!!!

I decided I'd measure myself today and the results have amazed me!

                                    1/28/08               10/19/08                     Difference

Neck                                15                      13                                    2 inches
Bicep                               15                      10.5                                 4.5 inches
Forearm                          11                      10                                    1 inch
Chest                               45.5                   34                                  11.5 inches
Waist                               44.5                    33                                  11.5 inches
Hips                                 53.5                   37                                   16.5 inches
Thigh                               27                       21                                    6 inches
Calf                                  16                       13.75                               2.25 inches

Total inches lost= 55.25!!!!!!

I encourage EVERYONE to do before measurements even though it's not fun then it is months later, truly motivating!

Thought I'd start a list of things I have realized I couldn't do before WLS or that I just figured out about my body and life in general by being a normal weight.....some of this will be TMI--sorry.  :-)

I can cross my legs.
I can fit into smaller places
I can perform  bathroom hygeine tasks normally.  I didn't realize how I had adapted due to my size.
My kids can get their arms around me
Things are better in the bedroom
I have hair there????   Yep-I can SEE IT
I have an arm "pit"  "so that's what "pit" means...."  I get it now!
I can paint my toenails
I can fell my hip bones
I bruise my hip bones on things
Jeans.....low rise...Now I get it.  They sit on your hip bones, not the "roll" They are comfortable!!
Bras don't leave rashes or marks anymore
I can run up the stairs and not need a break
I don't smell bad
No more leg chaffing
I smile when I look in the mirror, I like me!
My seatbelt fits right
I can wear a belt
I can wear knee socks.  They actually fit!
I can get out of a chair without effort
I fit into a regular wheelchair
I sleep through the night.  No more apnea!!!!


And now the list that is "good" but takes getting used to...

"Are you married?" I finally had my ring sized after that one  LOLOLOL
People look me in the eye more, and I look people in the eye more
Guys holding doors, smiling, striking up conversation, looking in general
I am not invisible.  Since I seemed to be before it is odd to have different people you've never spoken to speak to you.
The general attention and questions weight loss draws

What a list.  This is an INCREDIBLE journey!!!

Today I stepped on the scale and................I am 10 pounds from goal!!!!!

Yipeeeee!!!!

I am attempting to reach goal by my 6 month follow up on 10/29!  Although I am thrilled with where I am at!  Journal Journal Journal....Workout, Workout, Workout!!!!!!

I got the scale to move again by cutting back on carbs!!!!  I think I figured out how to maintain!!!   LOLOLOL

Thanks to the extra help of Janie M.  I now have a slideshow of my transformation to date!!!!

WOW!  Has it really been 6 months?

This has been the most amazing journey!  In the last 6 months I have learned soooo much about myself.  I am more self aware but not cocky or selfish. 

I am doing pretty good with the body image thanks to Lora and group behavior.  Of course the tag on the clothes helps!  LOL

I journal everyday and track protein first, then fat and carbs.  The calories usually fall into place if I keep track of all those items.

I can eat 1/4 cup of most foods.  1 ounce of cheese with 8 SMALL crackers like All-Bran crackers.  I have to eat slowly or I will have pain.  I guess it's more like discomfort.  I can eat 3 oz of chicken very slowly.  I can drink 16 oz of water in 30-45 minutes.

I have not "dabbled" in baked goods or sugary foods.  I consider myself an addict and refuse to have "just one bite"!  That goes for ice cream as well.  It's OK to have forbidden foods!

The one "treat" I allow myself, as long as it fits in the daily food journal is pizza.  I usually only eat it if the toppings are appropriate like chicken, spinach, veggie....thin crust...and even then I cannot eat a whole piece! 

Bread......it smells good, tastes good, but doesn't sit good!!!  I can eat 1/2 of an english muffin, toasted.  I need any bread to be  toasted.  I ate 1/2 a slice of DH's homemade bread, fresh out of the machine and just about died.  I felt like I had goo in my sleeve!!!   NEVER AGAIN!!!!  Not worth it!!!

I feel so much better, physically and mentally.  I have more energy and I sleep through the night.  No more apnea!!!!

I have 14 pounds until my goal weight is reached.  This will put me in the middle of my BMI range.  I am currently "normal" by 3 pounds!

My goal, other than weight loss is to maintain my strict regimen of food journaling and exercise.  I believe this is what will help prevent regain!

To all those just beginning....don't give up!  This is quite a journey with ups and downs and a whole lot of excitement.  Investigate all of your options,ask questions and decide which surgery is best for YOU.  Don't let others make any decisions for you.  This is your body and your life.  Let all negative comments roll off your back like water rolls off a ducks back.  I have thought countless times: "like a duck"!  This has been the hardest part because it tends to get personal, if you let it.  Take all compliments with grace.  Enjoy them and remember them.  I think of these  IF I have a down day.  The most recent was: "She's tiny like you"   How great is that!  6 months ago I was 250 pounds and now I'm "tiny".  It's ok to enjoy these.  It doesn't mean I'm conceited.  I actually GET complimented on my appearance. 

I am looking forward to my life and reaching my current goals.

This is an awesome journey!

Thank You God for all of it!