Sarah E. S.

So my Dr works closely with you during the 6 month weight loss diet plan presurgery. We set a goal for me to lose 16 pounds between now and surgery ( My personal goal is 25) however, I've already lost 9 of those and I'm only in month two ( WOOT WOOT). Anyone else know if you lose more than you are required if that will mess up the approval process? I know that the more I lose before surgery the better the results after surgery, but I worry still, that I won't be approved.

You are doing amazing! <3

oh goodness I know exactly how you feel, even though I have lost so much, I still look very much larger than I feel. I feel like a size 14, I AM a size 22, and when I catch site of myself in the mirror on a bad day, it can be a little depressing, but you know what? That's ok! It's good to take that and make it into more fuel! <3 You really look as good as you feel you look, you can be 400 pounds, but if you have confidence, you and others won't see you that way! I hear all the time, when I tell people my weight " My GOD! You never looked that heavy to me! Where were you hiding it?!?!" lol <3

You know, they will love you just as much! And you may inspire them to all be healthier with you! So proud of you!!!

Thanks! I will definitely try to be more positive on that note, but I have not gotten discouraged, even though I still have about 150 pounds to go, I am ready and willing to take that on! The small goals I set for myself help a lot as well My dr only wanted me to lose 16 pounds before my surgery, ( I have to wait 6 months because of my insurance) And I have already lost 9 of those pounds 6 weeks in to my 6 month program LOL! I have no doubt I will we well below the goal we set by the time I go in for surgery, and because I am so committed, I ahve no doubt I will get to my goal, I was told to only expect to get down to 170, but I know that since I am determined, I can get to my personal goal which is 35 pounds below my dr's goal.

So yall recently I finally got under 300 pounds, this has been a now 21 month journey, I started at 397, and am now 295.4 ( Yep I count the ounces too because those really add up ) I cannot even express how excited and happy I am!! I was between 307-311 for months, and then about 6 weeks ago I stepped on the scale and it was 299, then it was 27, and now it's 295.4!!!! I know that I still have a long way to go ( Over 100 pounds still *sigh*) But see the scale continue to go down is so inspirational! I am really and truly excited about this! The surgery I will be having in a few months will only help. Something I hear a lot from people who just don't know, is that Surgery is teh easy way out, I disagree, the surgery is a TOOL, without it, you can still lose, but maybe not as much, maybe not fast enough for you to feel like anything is even happening, but it's definitely not the easy way out! So much work goes into preparing for the surgery, and actually getting it takes time and recovery is painful, and UPKEEP goodness gracious, you have to be truly COMMITTED to losing this weight, you have to change your whole life, eat what's good for you, Cheating is something you can only do rarely, and even then, you can't cheat much, because your tummy just isn't the size it used to be! But yall I"m committed, I'm going to make it work, and I'm going to make it stick, I'm going to lose all this weight, and I'm going to keep it off, and my profile picture will soon feature me as I see me, Thin, Beautiful, Ready to take on life in all it's glory! I hope I can inspire anyone who is worried about what others think, because I have lost 101.4 pounds in 21 months without surgery, I KNOW how hard you all have worked, because I have worked just as hard! I'm proud of you all, and I'm proud of me, and I can't wait to get to my goals! I have set a mini goal to be 289 ( At least) By December 16th, and I think I can really do it! I went and tried on that dress I posted about last time again, and I will have to actually take it in to wear it to my job's Christmas party, I can't go a size down yet, because my hips are still a size 22, but my waist has gotten so much smaller.... This week has been marked by both Scale and Non-Scale victories, and I couldn't be happier! Thanks for the read! <3 Sarah

Hahhaha!! I've been on my preop diet for on month, they have me on 1500 calories aday, no sodas, no juice, and I had to cut waaaaaaaaaaay back on my sweets and carbs! I have, and I am finally below 300! I am at last weigh in 297!! that puts me at 4 pounds lost since I went to my first appointment, and the Dr only wants me to lose another 12 before surgery, surgery will be sometime in march because I have to have the 6 months preop due to my insurance, but this is so exciting! Now I haven't lost any weight in the last 2 weeks, but I did have a rather huge non scale victory, I went shopping for my company holiday party, as it's black tie, I needed a nice dress, every 24 I tried on was too big, and only one 22 fit right ( 20's are still to small) But I was so excited! Luckily for me the 22 that fit just right was my favorite lol. Thanks for the read!! <3 <3 <3

I SO AGREE!! I adore MyFitnesspal! It inspires me to not cheat, and when I do cheat I still don't feel too bad, because I am almost always under my calorie goal with nutrient rich foods, my favorite part about the whole thing is that it tells you your nutritional information as well! So you know what you've eaten and how much of it you've eaten. I Also really like the label scanner, though since I started using it I have been making more of my food at home, because it's healthier, and usually has less fat. Thanks for sharing!

This touched me, thanks for sharing iegal <3

Oh I understand that! I have had mixed responses for my decision, some are scared for me, and some think it's laziness, and some think it's wonderful, I just have to do what I think is right for me, because in the end, I am the one who has to live in this body for the res of my life, not them. You can do it girl!! <3

I've been thinking A LOT about the future, after I have my surgery, and thinking about what that future will really look like after the weight loss and reconstructive surgery and such.... I see myself in a YELLOW POLKADOT BIKINI!!! ( I found and purchased one from Target for the future me!) Holding my baby at the beach and literally just being happy with how I look.. and knowing that everyone else is happy with how I look too. I have always been comfortable with my body, but other people never have been.... so that's my future... what I'm looking forward to! <3 Not to mention having an ACTUAL baby bump!! LOL At 306 pounds ( as of today -90 pounds baby oh yeah) I have no expectation of ever really SEEING my baby bump. Now that I decided to do the surgery, i can really SEE myself with a baby bump.... Just some inspiration for myself that I thought I would share with you all <3

You tell em! No joke, you deserve to live your live the way you want to live your life! I'm proud of you, and I totally 100% support you! <3

I TOTALLY feel you , I made the decision and now have to do the 6 months of hoop jumping LOL it's all I think about, talk about, plan for.... I am seriously obsessed. I have these serious in depth conversations with people about the merits of this surgery over all the others, and I vlog about my journey ( Even though it's JUST beginning) It's just everything to me at the moment, I know it's right

Lissa! Welcome! I am a youtube freak, so I would suggest watching some youtube videos about the surgery, That's what I've been doing, it's so incredibly informative to have it directly from someone's mouth what you experience and what to expect, and also how to prepare Good Luck in your Journey!! <3

SO happy for you! I can't wait til I'm there as well!! You are such an inspiration!! <3 <3 <3

So I went to my PCP today, because I"m sick as a dog ( Walking Pneumonia apparently) And while I was there, I figured, Well.. why not ask about that Letter of Medical Necessity... She had it printed up and ready to sing in like 5 minutes flat LOL She told me that this was the best possible course of action given my weight and history and just handed it over and told me she would fax another copy to my Surgeons office. I was kind of in shock.... LOL Well I suppose I needn't have worried about that after all! <3 <3 <3

It's pretty awesome!!! <3

Thanks so much all!! I really super appreciate your encouragement! I don't think that I could face doing this without your encouragement! it really takes a lot to make this decision. I've tried for so long, and I thought I could do it on my own, but the fact of the matter is, I need help! <3 You all rock my socks with your own incredible journeys!

So! I am Sarah, and I have been working out and dieting for 19 months. Just getitng that part out of the way. What you may want to know is how much I started out at! Well that's a scary number, but we've all been in places where we hated our numbers, and I"m sure you won't judge. I started my weight loss journey 19 months ago weighing 396 pounds. Phew! That's a lot right? I was HUGE How much do I weigh now, you ask? As of this morning ( Lost another pound yesterday lol) 306!!!! 90 POUNDS GONE!!! So! You are probably wondering why in the heck I would want to do surgery if I've already lost that much!?!?! Yeah.... I haven't lost any weight for the last two months until yesterday. I was stuck for TWO MONTHS... so I need help. Anyone who needs help, should get it! Unfortunately, my 19 months of diet and exercise wasn't supervised by my dr, soooooo it doesn't count towards my insurances requirements, I will be on this diet/exercise journey for another 6 months, which I am ok with. Thanks for the read, and I will probably update you as I go along! If you want to see my VLOG you can head over to Youtube.com and search for Bellanoctumn, only one video for now, I'll be adding another one tonight though. Thanks again!! <3 Sarah

Thanks!! I agree it seems a bit much to count even cough drops, I just want to be as accurate as possible., But I'll keep the cough drops out

Ok so this is probably a silly question, since I can't get enough calories when I'm sick anyway, HOWEVER would you count the 5 calories per cough drop in your daily journal? To me, it seems like a bit much to even count that, but you know... maybe my dr will want to see that. What do you all think?

oh yeah, Aunt flo likes to come and freak everyone out before their surgery! Something I've heard alot about is that Surgery makes your Cycle come on... Not exactly the funnest way to go ( Who wants to change dressings in TWO places) But totally ok! Good luck hon!!