M2G

Sarah, first of all, CONGRATULATIONS for 1) making the century club 2) reaching the 6 month milesone 3) having perfect lab work!!! You have acheived so much!!!

Now it's time to get your head screwed on straight. You are over halfway to goal. You need to sit down and have a little chat with yourself about where you have come from and where you want to be. You know this takes hard work, dedication, effort and yes a fair amount of willpower. The first couple of months is when the weight is dropping faster than you can blink, you know that goes away and it only gets harder the further you get from your surgery date and closer you get to goal. Make the most of this time. I think maybe you should try the 5 day pouch test (google that, can't remember if it is 5 or five) where you basically revert back to your immediate post-op plan. You do liquids for a day or two, then add back in mushies and finally solids. It can clear your system of the carb monster and reorient your thinking. I have not done a full pouch test, but I have done a day of liquids when I think that I'm feeling true hunger, and every single time I've done it (2 times since surgery) I am reminded that NO, I'm not feeling true hunger, because if I can survive a day of liquids and not feel hunger pangs, then what I was feeling was just the WANT to eat more, not the true NEED to eat more.
You know I am here for you anytime...YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

My nurse ok'd some sugar-free Halls Vitamin C drops. My throat hurt so bad, I was really glad I brought these to suck on once they determined I had no leaks and were letting me have small sips of Water.< /p>

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

4 Mile mountain hike with 4 other moms, 11 kids and never once did I HUFF or PUFF going up, down, around big boulders, and crossing a small creek on large rocks. I was shocked at how easy it was. Felt like I've been hiking for years, lol!
I LOVE MY SLEEVE!!!

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

My nurse ok'd some sugar-free Halls Vitamin C drops. My throat hurt so bad, I was really glad I brought these to suck on once they determined I had no leaks and were letting me have small sips of Water.< /p>

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

So when you are 3+ years post-op, NSVs are far and few between (because you've usually had all of them by then...no more plus sizes, fitting in airplane, movie theater, and don't forget restaurant booths, etc.)
BUT the other day this happened to me:
A tall slender girl who I know from the gym texted me and asked if I happened to have a "ugly Christmas sweater" she could BORROW? Wait...tall slim girl thinks I have something that she could wear that wouldn't look like a TENT on her? WOW! That was a first for me. Guess I must look fairly "normal" when it comes to sizes. And of course, I didn't have anything for her but just to think that we are in the same general SIZE ZONE was a big ole NSV that I had to share!

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

I love that you had a conversation with that 12 year old little girl inside you. I often think about going back to talk to "myself" but never have...maybe I should try it.

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels

Okay I decided since I've been basically the same weight for the last 6 months, I might be "done" losing scary thought, BUT I'm not going to change my ticker yet, as I still have an aspirational goal that I would like to someday achieve.
But I finally am putting up my before/after shots...It truly is astounding to see the difference!! (Click on them to see them larger)

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! My Christmas present to myself was jumping on here and reading and trying to catch up. Well, I don't like having to read almost an entire year's worth of posts, so maybe I should check in here more often!!
I know I can't catch up, just wanting to pop in a say hi to you all. I've missed you all so much!
I'm still at the same job (almost 1.5 years now) and I love the job but still commuting 2+ hours a day. I did finally get one work at home day a week, so that is helping but it's still a huge drain to be driving so much and sitting so much. I LOVE the job, hate the commute and feel as if the job is literally killing me because I sit all the time. I'm up at least 20lbs in the 1.5 years I've had this job. They keep renewing my contract and I keep saying yes.
I've got to figure out something to take the weight off, any suggestions are welcome. I'm considering doing a Medifast-type diet but the WonderSlim version (has anyone tried that?) I had good success with Medifast in the past but of course the weight always came back and I just don't think I want to do it again. Not that Wonderslim will be any better but it will be different.
Both of my girls still play volleyball so that involves MORE sitting. I haven't worked out in 1.5 years which has been horrible for me. I used to be SO GOOD at working out....before I got this job and do nothing but sit.
Other than that life is good. I'm shocked even with my horrible gain (that is on top of my original regain from hitting my low at 18 months post-op) that I'm only up one size in pants. Shirts are harder and I'm back into plus sizes mostly just because I can't stand tight clothing. So I usually pick up a 1x on most things and sometimes a 2x. So so so sad.
I passed my 5 year mark in Oct and never saw my dr.
Have a couple of goals for 2016 mainly getting some weight off, but also getting in to get labs done and seee my surgeon. I chew ice all the time and I think it's because my Iron is low. It was always low post-op but never low enough for my med dr or my surgeon to put me on iron supplements. Does anyone take iron? I know I need to get my sh*t together but haven't a clue where to start.
If you want, please give me an overview of your 2015...I would love a recap of what I've missed!!!!

When:
Your boobs are bigger than your belly
You take up sewing just so you can cut 3 inches of fabric off each side of your favorite shirts and resew them and wear them
You don't have to shop in plus size anymore
You can comfortably wear a pair of sexy high heels