Latest Images

Sept 2012 - Out on the town

Fri, 27 Dec 2013 23:56:10 +0000

Took this shot after a night out with my hubby at a concert. The zebra dress and the HIGH wedge boots are definitely items I would NOT have purchased before being banded - the over-the-knee boots would not have fit around my calves, and I'd never have worn this relatively fitted dress. I felt happy and beautiful - something I want for everyone who undergoes lap-band surgery and who also sees these pictures.

Keep working at it, never QUIT. If you must - go back to the days right after your surgery and remember how it felt - how full of enthusiasm and hope for the future you were. Remember all the dreams you had for your life...the healthy activities you wanted to pursue, the new wardrobe you wanted to buy, the knowledge that your improving health would help ensure that you'd be there for your families' significant events - graduations, new jobs, weddings, new babies...all of that is within your reach - as long as you don't give up.

Exploring new, body conscious clothing

Fri, 27 Dec 2013 23:53:42 +0000

Not a great photo, but check out the dress! :-) Hard work is starting to pay off as I continue to experiment with more body-conscious clothing. In my teen years, I was trying to hide my body to avoid the negative attention (I was quite busty and tried hard to hide it). I'm still busty, but with the rest of me getting smaller, the proportions are becoming more "normal" and less showy.

I took this picture to prove to myself that the dress really didn't look bad on me - I wanted SO much for it to fit, but after years of seeing myself as fat and unattractive, it was hard to believe that I really did look okay in this dress. I didn't even show it to my dear, supportive husband until after I'd seen the picture. My fears were unfounded, as he gave me a standing ovation, and then took me out dancing to show me off!

Goal dress - helping me to focus and get great results!

Fri, 27 Dec 2013 23:47:09 +0000

Before I recieved my lap-band, I would NEVER have looked at, let alone purchased a dress like this. Too body-conscious, too form-fitting, too...everything! I finally tried this dress on after nearly a year of hard work and sticking to my eating and exercise plan after I was banded, and while I knew I still needed to "tighten up", tis dress fit a WHOLE lot better than it would have a year prior.

This was WITHOUT a briefer - and about 50 lbs down. If you've got one or two outfits in your closet that you can't quite fit into, keep them around for periodic try-ons. Especially if they are within 1 or 2 sizes of being a good fit. This dress was a size 18, down from my starting size of a 24. Progress is made day by day, baby steps along the way. Baby steps forward are STILL steps forward!

2009 Step Out For Diabetes

Fri, 27 Dec 2013 23:41:49 +0000

The year after I was banded, I started doing the Couch to 5k program. I wanted to step up my exercise, but because I'd never done more than 30 min or so walking, I was a bit afraid of the longer distances. Doing it for a different cause - something beyond myself helped immensely.

This time, it was the Step Out for Diabetes Walk - it's an annual event and held in many places around the country - check to see if there's one going in your area and start your training now!