Piplula

I am 50 and I have never:
been sweeped off my feet (carried) by a man
worn a 2 piece in public (have in my backyard but only there)
been comfortable having a family picture done with my children
worn less than a 16 that I can remember
been up in a hot air balloon
not have the inner thigh wear out first on my pants

What I have done:
went to Russia by myself and adopted two wonderful children
had great friendships
realized that I am a dang good person and I deserve to be loved--learned to love myself first
has someone who wouldn't let me hide my body from them and made me feel sexy even though I was heavy
bought a house on my own
have been on a cruise, snorkled, swam in the ocean
moved to Idaho to go to college not knowing anyone
moved to Missouri, from Georgia, and built a new life for myself with my children

I see weight loss as a way to be healthier and more confident and to try and be the BEST Me I Can Be!

Oh sweetie..that is sad. You are worth so much more than that! You deserve a man who cares. Unless it was completely mutual and then I will mind my own bee's wax!????

I can't wait until I can say that..I have never weighed less than him! And I am 7 pounds from it!!!

Companies advertise to sell food period. It is their right. Frankly, cigarettes are legal and there is no good Constitutional reason why they cannot advertise. If a picture forces you to eat to obesity, I suggest that you work on your impulses.
Ban this, ban that, censor this, censor that, save THE CHILDREN!!!!!
Imagine! - the government telling people what they can or cannot say -- what they can and cannot eat.
Turn off the TV.
P.S. Ban smells.

So I pulled out the one pair of pants I saved when I get all thin so I can show just how far I have come. I have currently lost 137# and my personal goal is 200# if my body will let me get there..so I had my daughter get in one leg and I got into the other..these used to be tight on me! I am a size 16 now these pants were a size 28. I am thankful I chose the sleeve..it's opened a world of possibilities!
Added to post: I will be 11 months post op on March 3rd.
12 hours preop

Me and my daughter in my old jeans

Here I am by myself

TV and radio commercials don't make us fat. Failing to stop putting unhealthy foods in excess quantities in our mouths make us fat. If no commercials made you not fat, I would have been skinny because I don't watch television or listen to radio. I did, however, eat just about anything and everything whenever I wanted. Commercials didn't do that, I did.

Got married. Seriously. I was married at goal weight.
My DH asked me to marry him when I was obese. He had no idea I was seeking WLS options. This was my decision. Surgeon even said - a high percentage of relationships change due to one partner getting WLS since the other partner is already finds comfort in the others size. Maybe my DH like me as a "fatty" I was willing to lose him rather than lose myself. So, when did he find out I was going in for WLS? Day of final consult he went in with me and shocked me by saying he supported me.
So - you don't need to get married to Celebrate, this is just what I did. Yes, I looked smoking hot in my fitted dres, altered twice to ensure fit...and it was still to big.

Wow you look great!!! Congrats and much continued success.

Omg the smile on your face is beautiful. It must be an amazing feeling knowing what you have accomplished! I assume that is your daughter in the pants. She must be so proud of her mom! I was sleeved on Feb 14th. I can't wait for that smile!

Lol. I did that at Kroger in the mirrored coolers. Scared myself half to death & jumped back to let "her" get her yogurt first. Then realized it was moi!

Thank you!!

I see you as a beautiful model! You look fabulous.....

I am not at the point yet..I have lost 134# and trying to get to 200# down..but holy cow ..here's some praise for you ..302 pounds wow wow wow! That is freaking amazing!

I say don't Celebrate it with food. But that's me. Instead, go on a special vacation and do something physical that at your prior size you never could have done before the WLS.
I personally bought myself a nice ring at 100 lbs. lost. Every time I look at it, it reminds me of what I have accomplished. Oh and btw, it needs to be sized, AGAIN lol... go figure!

Still at over 2 1/2 years out I have people who don't recognize me. I am an average looking woman in all honesty but I stare at myself as if I were a supermodel. Yes, looking at my lovely collar bones makes me happy. Looking at my waist makes me feel like a woman.
So, two weeks ago I ran into someone I worked with over 10 years ago at a conference. I was all over her since we somehow lost touch. She told me about a week later, "I didn't recognize you for about a half a hour, you exude such confidence and beauty."
I love my sleeve!

I went through the "who is that in the mirror" phase. Now I'm in the "check out my biceps" phase. My wife is not amused.

I am still not used to seeing the "new" me when I look in the mirror.

Puja... I worry about "what if I gain all my weight back"... but the dr. that leads my WLS group, I told him that fear. Wanna hear a great point? Yes I have lost and gained. Yes it's always come back before. But never did I have a sleeve. This time it IS different.
Remember that y'all! (and forgive yourself if you slip. make it minor and get right back 'on the wagon'.... just don't allow it to be a complete collapse or a relapse... or so i pray to have the strength to avoid those!)

It has freaked me out whenever I haven't seen a good friend in a while and they don't recognize me! Otherwise, YES I still have issues with seeing that as me in the mirror. I still see the fat me. I picked up a very tiny dress this weekend (I never wore dresses before... hello thigh rub anyone????) but I did it on purpose. I looked at that dress and told my hubs, this dress is so tiny. I used to always tell my hubs that I was built like a defensive lineman (broad shoulders kept me out of being a brides maid before - I just was too big to fit the dress). So I totally understand!!!
But guess what? This past weekend I said wow this dress is so tiny - It cannot fit. Not on me! And it did, like a glove. What the ....?
It is QUITE a journey.
Oh btw, I bought three dresses that weekend. One with beading at the shoulders, sleeveless, a cut out back and a slinky front. Now where in hades do I think I'm going IDK! LOL You only live once that I know of for sure... now it's up to hubs to figure out a good weekend/where to wear that dress!
Yes QUITE the journey!

Not recognize yourself? This may sound paranoid and honestly at the time it was, but here it is. I was shopping and kept noticing this person's reflection in windows and the occasional mirror out of the corner of my eye. And finally I thought myself..well I have had enough of this follow me so I whipped around and guess who was there..the reflection of myself . So I had been all freaked out because apparently I was following myself ..didn't even recognized own image...weird I know..but now when people don't recognize I get it. So remember..if you think someone is following you, just turn around it probably is your own shadow! LoL

That is so awesome - congratulations! A wonderful thing to do for yourself and your daughter - who by the way is adorable and looks so much like you!

WOW pip is all I have. ! You are looking fab girl!

Wow!! what an inspiration keep up the hard work, hope you make it to your goal soon!