AutumnPunkin

My before and now
Highest weight 333 pounds
Surgery weight 282 pounds
Current weight 183 pounds
Height 5 foot 6 inches
Size 10, 12, 14 (ladies sizing is soooooooo inconsistent)
Average size, 14 pants
Size medium
Goal: 140-150 pounds

My before and now
Highest weight 333 pounds
Surgery weight 282 pounds
Current weight 183 pounds
Height 5 foot 6 inches
Size 10, 12, 14 (ladies sizing is soooooooo inconsistent)
Average size, 14 pants
Size medium
Goal: 140-150 pounds

Hi, from what I understand, the veterans forums is not for newer folks to ask veterans questions... it's for veterans to post and get their questions answered. I would try in the general pre or post op, depending on the topic and stage you're in. Most times, I find answers are most relevant from people who have JUST gone through what you're asking about... fresher in the memory.
Good luck to you.

My before and now
Highest weight 333 pounds
Surgery weight 282 pounds
Current weight 183 pounds
Height 5 foot 6 inches
Size 10, 12, 14 (ladies sizing is soooooooo inconsistent)
Average size, 14 pants
Size medium
Goal: 140-150 pounds

That is super cute elode!
Thank you everyone for the help! I just got back from the hair dressers. She would not let me get a short pixie, but she did give me a long pixie. It will be super cute once I can play with it! Here it is

That is super cute elode!
Thank you everyone for the help! I just got back from the hair dressers. She would not let me get a short pixie, but she did give me a long pixie. It will be super cute once I can play with it! Here it is

That is super cute elode!
Thank you everyone for the help! I just got back from the hair dressers. She would not let me get a short pixie, but she did give me a long pixie. It will be super cute once I can play with it! Here it is

I am touched by the amazing positive comments. Thank you so much ????????

Beautiful! I found it hard to get some one to cut it all off and finally my 15!year old cousin did it. I am SO happy. If a stylist senses you're on the fence they are not going to risk it. How could they know how empowered we feel now, how ready to be in the world, showing up for ourseves and our lives. You will always be gorgeous whatever you do with your hair. And adorable! Way to go being you. That's the Ticket!

You look great! =)

That is super cute elode!
Thank you everyone for the help! I just got back from the hair dressers. She would not let me get a short pixie, but she did give me a long pixie. It will be super cute once I can play with it! Here it is

That is super cute elode!
Thank you everyone for the help! I just got back from the hair dressers. She would not let me get a short pixie, but she did give me a long pixie. It will be super cute once I can play with it! Here it is

That is super cute elode!
Thank you everyone for the help! I just got back from the hair dressers. She would not let me get a short pixie, but she did give me a long pixie. It will be super cute once I can play with it! Here it is

What are your thoughts. A trim or a pixie cut?
I did get a cut 2 months ago, and my hair continues to get frizzy. Should I get a pixie cut or just a trim?
Sorry it is sideways

Congratulations! You look amazing!

I just posted this in the success stories forum, but you OMG Octobers are my friends and supporters, so I hope you don't mind this long recap of my journey:
Today, I'm celebrating my first surgiversary! 105 lbs gone from my HW. Time to share my story:
I was morbidly obese for the majority of the last 20 years. I'd diet and lose 30 only to regain 40. Sound familiar?
My ankles and left shoulder were in constant pain from old injuries, bone spurs and edema. I could barely get up from a chair without assistance. Exercise was very difficult. I thought that having surgery to repair my ankles would be the answer to getting moving again. In January 2012, I had surgery to remove bone spurs and repair my left Achilles' tendon. A week later I had bilateral pulmonary embolisms. Luckily (obviously), I survived, but even with the surgery, my left ankle isn't any better.
It was during 2012 that the start-up my husband worked for was acquired. Starting in 2013, we'd have insurance that would cover WLS. I made a plan to get a lapband with my family doctor and he was very supportive.
With the new insurance, I had to have 6 months of documented visits with a nutritionist. For those visits, the nutritionist recommended changing one or two habits per month. I'm a gadget girl, so the first one I tried was to log my food into MyFitnessPal. I'm proud to say that since March 2013, I have only missed 1 day logging my food. Other habits changed during that time included cutting out soda/carbonated drinks, no straws, eating more frequently, measuring/weighing my food, chewing 30 times, separating liquids from meals, etc.
At month 4 pre-op, it was time to finally meet the WLS clinic team to start their process which included a psych eval, meeting the WLS nutritionist and my surgeon. My surgeon told me that a sleeve or RNY would be a better option for me than the lapband. I had an upper endoscopy which uncovered an issue (Barrett's Esophagus) which ruled out the sleeve. RNY is was!
I was fast tracked to have my surgery in August, but the week before the boot camp WLS class, my husband was laid off. In the severance package, the company was going to continue coverage for us, but there would be a month where it would appear that we didn't have insurance. Ugh. Then the morning of the boot camp class, I got a call from my family doctor's office that I had appendicitis and needed to go to the hospital at 1 pm to possibly have it removed. The strangest part was that I wasn't in any pain! It turned out to be a false alarm (duh) from a CT scan I had done.
Once insurance was straightened out and the RNY was approved, my date was set:10/2/13
For all the worries I had about the RNY surgery and recovery, that was the easiest part for me. Nothing dramatic or even remarkable happened. I was back to work at my desk job 10 days later.
I've followed the clinic's plan and have lost pretty steadily with only the typical 2 week stall and a month stall in July.
I could exercise a bit more. I found that I will stick to an exercise plan for a month or so, but then I get bored, busy or both. I just signed up to learn to be a Strong Women leader (it's an evidence-based exercise program for middle-aged women to build strength as we age. ) Two of my co-workers and I are planning to lead free lunch time classes for our colleagues probably starting in December. I think if I'm teaching, I'll be more likely to keep up with it. Plus it will be fun!
I was a fashion merchandising major as an undergrad, but it was expensive and difficult to be fashionable when I was obese. I'm having so much fun now shopping for clothes in the local thrift stores. Recently, I've had to buy all new shoes because I'm now a size smaller.
Another unexpected bonus is that I've made some new amazing friends through the local WLS support group. We eat dinner at great local restaurants once a month. It's pretty funny when there are leftovers from 5 people sharing one pizza. :-)
One fear pre-op I had was that I would lose interest in my favorite hobby: cooking. I'm happy to report that cooking is still my main hobby, but what I cook and how I cook has changed dramatically. Now that I get full so quickly, I want everything I eat to be tasty and nutritious. I'm no saint, but most of the time I'm satisfied and my family is as well. We just don't have the junk around. Everyone is reading labels before deciding to buy or eat. I was the only obese member of my nuclear family, but we've all gotten healthier as I've lost post-op.
Health wise, my ankles are still problems but less so because the edema is gone now. I now don't have to have help getting up from a chair. Pre-op, I took Celebrex for swelling and pain. Since a week post-op, I've only taken 6 Tylenols. I think 100+ lbs gone has lessened the strain on them.
If you've stuck through this long, rambling- thank you for listening! Now, it's your turn!
Molly

I just hit 100 woot woot...still need to get under 200. .feel great the right pic is pre surgery left is now

SO I am 9 months post op, and have lost 150 pounds. Current weight, 183, highest weight 333 pounds. I feel amazing! I am participating in my first 5k this Saturday, and am participating in a 9k obstacle course run in august. Woohoo! I love my new life.

My most recent was being told to sit in the small corner because I was the skinniest person!!

Here are my before and after. Today is my 1 year surgiversary!
Started at 333 pounds and currently 173 pounds
I have 17 pounds to go until goal!!!

Go for it, girl!!! I'm sure you are going to look beautiful!!! I can't wait to strut around in a bikini. I have at least another six months to a year before I'll be able to but I will. And I'm excited also.

Totally agree! Half the fun of getting new clothes is trying these increasingly smaller sizes on at the store and seeing what fits/looks good on your new bod. I look at it as buying clothes for my new best friend, but I'm not sure what she'll like, so I let her try on stuff that I wouldn't have ever imagined wearing myself. Schizo, yes. But I'm having fun.

I have the stretch marks on my tummy from having 2 giant babies years ago, so my bikini days have been pretty much over....but like someone else said, I'm not opposed to a little bit smaller tankini when the time comes! If it makes you feel good, ROCK IT!!

I have always worn a tankini. Skirt and long torso tank. This summer was my first summer in 15+ years at a normal weight so my skirt was a tad shorter and my top was the bra top variety. My thighs are really saggy and I want to go to the pool or beach and NOT feel self conscious so I will never wear a bikini bottom again, most likely..
Wear what makes YOU feel good. I felt great in my itty bitty bikini when I was in high school and college. I haven't felt great in a suit since until this summer. (This is a hurdle for me, too, as I was a competitive swimmer and still love to swim for exercise.)
Shop around, you'll find the right style.

I think it matters more how you feel in it than how you look. If it makes you feel strong, empowered, and beautiful, then I say go for it! That is what this entire journey is about and if that is your goal, I have no doubt you will make it happen and you will rock it. Keep up the amazing work! I can't wait to hear about all of the other amazing things you will be doing as your journey progresses.