BlessedBeyondMeasure2012

I have a Vegetti and I love it! I love to spiralize zucchini, toss it in a little olive oil with salt, black pepper, garlic powder and red pepper flakes. Sautee for just a couple of minutes and it is great as a side dish or topped with other yummies! Its super easy to use. I got it at Bed, Bath and Beyond for $15 I think

I've been contemplating as well. Thank you for this info. One more added to my pros list too!!

I love my fitbit as it keeps me motivated to get all my steps in, I have an Aria scale that I use to track my weight (it and my fitbit sync to my iphone through the fitbit app and they give me lots of useful info), food scale and measuring spoons. I use more measuring spoons than I do measuring cups as I weigh everything. Right after surgery a shot glass was really handy for getting my fluids in. I could put an ounce in at a time and I knew I had a certain amount of time to get that Fluid in. The shot glass was the perfect size and it was nice to drink out of something glass and not plastic. I also bought some ramikins to use instead of full size bowls and some smaller 1/2 cup (I think) rubbermaid containers. Helped out tremendously with not eating too much. Good luck!!!

Woo hoo!!! Today is my one year surgery-versary and I don't think I could be any happier! I am down 141 pounds total and around 106 or so from my surgery one year ago today. This has been one of the best decisions of my life and I would do it all over again tomorrow if I needed to. My surgery was such a success that my sister followed suit and had a sleeve done in November of this last year. She is doing great as well. It is REALLY STRANGE to me for someone to call me "skinny". I've had many people tell me that I've lost enough and really should stop losing but I am technically still obese and I refuse to stay obese! I still have a little ways to go and I know this is going to take more work to get off but it will be so worth it! To any newbies out there, work your sleeve and it will work for you. Do what you are supposed to and it will do what it is supposed to! The first picture here was sometime November or December 2012, the second one was about 2 weeks ago. It's the most recent that I have The second set of pics is just of me in that dress, cause I thought it was pretty flattering!! (I acatually got told that I have amazing calves when I was wearing my heels in this dress and I can say that was an absolute first!!)

I lost most of the weight I've lost so far by the 6 month mark. I started at 332, I was 297 the morning of surgery, at my 6 month mark I was 220.8, and this morning I was 191.4 (I'll be a year out tomorrow). You can keep losing but it does get harder. Part of what gets harder for me is now I am able to eat anything, and now I have to CHOOSE to eat what I am supposed to. Keep working, you are doing great! The weight loss doesn't have to stop at 6 months

Tomorrow is my 1 year surgery-versary and I'm like BeBe. I can't eat near what I did before surgery in one sitting. Take for instance this weekend, my husband and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings. Before, I would have ordered 12 regular wings, fries, maybe we would have shared an appetizer and then probably gone for ice cream after (MY WORD that sounds horrible now), anyway, I ordered my 12 wings because I like to have more than just one sauce, but those 12 wings fed me for 3 different meals. With no sides, appetizers or Desserts. What I eat now is more like what I should have been eating before. There is a limit to everything that I can eat (except wavy Lays potato chips but I SHOULDN'T be eating them anyway) but I haven't found anything that I can not eat. You have to listen to your body and advance the amount you can eat when it is ready. I have not once been sick and haven't thrown up since surgery. There have been a few times, within about the first 4 months after surgery when I was still learing what full felt like that I thought I was going to be sick because I over ate or drank too soon after eating. Things will get more normal but you will also get a new normal and that's a good thing. I'd do this all over again tomorrow if I needed to. I'm down 140 pounds and am thrilled about the changes that have come about because of my sleeve.

I'm fighting old demons tonight. I want to eat! My supper tastes good!! But my tummy is super right tonight and no more needs to go in. I am so thankful for my sleeve right now so that I can't just keep eating because knowing me from my previous life, I would have if I could. It's been a rough day and food can no longer be my comfort. I think ill just go snuggle with my hot hubby!

I haven't has PS yet but Holly Wall in Shreveport is amazing. She is who I will be seeing in the future. I know several folks she has worked in and my sister used to work for her. She does great work. Where in Louisiana are you?

Way to go!!! You look great and I'm sure after you get all healed up from you LBL you will look even better! Congratulations on your success

I'M SO COLD!!! Last winter not only was I 100+ pounds more than I am now but I was also pregnant. I carried my little heater in my belly and froze EVERYBODY out at work. I wear a coat at work because I need pockets all the time. Even with my sleeves pushed up back then I was hot. Coat or no coat, I was sweating at any given time. I don't think I used the heater at work at all last winter. I have a nurse that works with me and last winter would seriously wear 3 layers of clothes when she worked on my hall. Now I'm the one freezing. I wear at least one coat everyday and usually layers under it. I wore two pairs of pants and three tops this past weekend when I had to do some work out in my nonheated garage. I usually change clothes as soon as I get home and put on at least two shirts and fuzzy PJ pants and fuzzy house shoes. I sleep in a t-shirt and PJ pants which I have NEVER done before. I used to sleep in spaghetti strap tops or tanks and would still get hot. Even my husband lets me cuddle with him now I'm almost 9 months out and it doesn't seem to be doing anything but getting worse. I've lost so much insulation.

I have this nifty scale that tells me what my % body fat it. When I started losing weight I started at 55% body fat (171 pounds of fat). As of this morning I was around 43% body fat (and only 83 pounds of body fat). I have stinkin lost 90 pounds of FAT! Of insulation! No wonder I'm cold! I'll take being cold all time time though, I can always add more layers. When you are hot, you can only take so much off before you get arrested!!

Lol! Now I have..

♫ this little sleeve of mine, I'm going to let it shine. ♫ running through my head

What a great job you are doing! Christmas is going to be good this year.

What a great song! Ha ha ha! Yes mam, it is gonna be a GREAT Christmas!

At the beginning of my body change the sleeve and attending concerns enveloped the majority of my attention. The struggle to get it going, establishing guide lines, noting progress, mourning slow downs, and in the end, rejoicing exceedingly about my new body.

Now, coming up on my second year, my attention is being diverted by life itself. I am maintaining near my low weight and activity is at athletic level as I promised myself at the beginning. I had an empty feeling period when I asked myself the question, "Now what?"

This new body is just a part of who I am. It is no longer a hindrance, it now best serves me by not drawing attention to itself. It has become a vehicle to take my mind and soul to destinations and tasks. I have energy to express my heart and my body no longer blocks my reaching out.

I no longer have my body to use as an excuse for inactivity and introversion. I no longer hide behind shame. Now is the time to explore the other parts of myself and my relationship with those around me and the world in general. I have made a friend of myself and in so doing have deemed what love I have to offer as worthy to be shared. I have discovered that giving love is the quickest path to getting it.

I have a default eating, drinking, and exercise policy. I may step out for a bit but return to default quickly. I don't kick my butt for it, I am my friend now. If I don't have fun being me I won't be any fun to be around.

My grown daughter called me contagious the other day. It was one of the best things my ears have ever heard.

I want to be contagious too!!! I loved reading your post

I personally can't wait for the day that my weightloss is not the topic of discussion anymore!

Oh man can I relate to the struggle of balance and the guilt of being selfish. I'm struggling to be a good employee, student, mother, and wife on top of being healthy. There's just not enough hours in the day! Even though everything I'm doing is for my family, I feel like I'm neglecting them in the meantime. Ugh!

I could not have said this better myself. I don't know what to do when people can't stopping about how much weight I have lost or how good I look. The compliments are so nice but it has been so long since I have gotten compliments like that that I don't know how to take them. I don't like being the center of attention. I also feel like everything that I am doing is for my family but when I'm out exercising in the evenings after I get home from work I actually feel guilty that I'm not in the house sitting on the couch doing nothing with my family. I feel guilty that my husband has the kids for another half hour to hour without my help. I know taking care of me helps them in the long run it just that... balance.

WOO HOO!!! Way to go!!! I'm am super pumped for you And you are so right, 200 gone would be pretty great to see!

I am currently smaller than I have been in at least 15 years. I can't remember what I weighed when I started college but I'm pretty sure that I haven't been this close to 200 since high school. My goal was to be 197 on Christmas. That will put me 9 months out from surgery and I will have lost 100 pounds since surgery. AND I think I can make it. I was lucky that I lost some weight before surgery so I've currently lost right at 129 pounds total and I am so thankful that I had a sleeve done. It has been one of the best decisions I've EVER made and I have no regrets (of course other than the typical "that I didn't have it done sooner" ). I have always been happy with who I am. Who I am amounts to more than how much of me there is but I have a whole new outlook on life. I feel better so I feel better about myself. I have always been someone who smiles all the time but now I seriously catch myself with achy cheeks because I am smiling so much. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to have this surgery. I am thankful for all the support I have at home but from this forum as well. I can't wait to be able to post my W-ONDERLAND picture of my scale in a couple of weeks!!!

Just an update, I too had stopped getting notifications. I'm at 83.4 miles MTD of 125. If I keep averaging just over 4 miles a day I can do it!!!

You look amazing girl!!! Keep it up!!!

I am from Louiaiana. Not just from the south but from one of the most obese states in our country. You know there are "starving kids in China" so we don't throw food away, or at least that's what we were told growing up. Me too…and that is DEFINITELY a phrase I heard growing up! Doesn't help that our food tastes so good, which makes you want to eat it! Which part are you from?

I'm from up in Shreveport but any time we can spend down south always has something to do with food ha ha! You are right, our food is better than anywhere else in the country!!

So I've finally caught up, took me 3 days to do it but here I am.

No questions about it, I'm an addict. Not just to sugar and carbs but to food. FOOD still tastes good to me on a daily basis. I haven't given my sleeve anything that it didn't tolerate just fine. As I have gotten further out it has become harder to stay on track because now I don't have this list of like 4 foods that it is okay for me to eat. I actually have to choose to eat what I should, and for the most part, I do. I have days that I fall off the wagon, but each day is a new day. I get up, brush myself off and start again.

I am from Louiaiana. Not just from the south but from one of the most obese states in our country. You know there are "starving kids in China" so we don't throw food away, or at least that's what we were told growing up. My grandmother was a feeder. Everyday after school (after finishing off a big grab bag of flaming hot cheetos and a large icee) she would have Cookies or cake or fried chicken fixed and just hanging around. We got to eat what ever, when ever we wanted. This was all before the age of 13. It didn't stop. When I was in my early teens my parents did a dieting program through our church and lost weight. I didn't lose weight. I ate what they ate but I ate as much as I wanted. When I was a junior or senior in high school, I went through the program with them and lost 30 pounds. When I started college my freshman 15 turned into my sophomore 60 and stuck around for my senior 70. I seriously gained around 80 pounds in my 4 years of college. I lost some while working on my second degree but then got pregnant just before I graduated. When I went in to have my son I was 286 pounds (I had gained somewhere between 50-80 pounds during my pregnancy). I lost about 20 after I had him but within 4 months put it back on. Fast forward 5 years and I can't get pregnant. We think it's because of my weight gain (I'm now about 320) so I decide to go for a sleeve. A month before my sleeve was scheduled to be done, I find out I'm pregnant. And you know what, I was SAD!!! I wanted this surgery. I wanted to be healthy for my pregnancy but here I was super morbidly obese and pregnant. Gross. I only gained 23 pounds during my second pregnancy and the baby weighed almost 10 pounds so not too bad. That weight came off pretty quick and then I was sleeved when the baby was 4 weeks old. It was the best decision I have ever made.

I have learned a lot already. I know that I have limited will power. My will power stops when I take a bite of anything. I can resist any food all day long until I take one bite and then it is all over. I can't stop myself. Carbs are a nightmare. If I start the day off with them, I'm hungry all day and wanting to eat. Same goes for sugar. But it isn't just those. Like Cheri, it fried goodness, burgers, savory, spicy, chips and salsa, FOOD! I have eaten out of bordom, I ate when I was happy and when I was sad. Something good happened, "Oh, lets celebrate! Where do you want to go eat?" Something bad happened, "Oh, bless your heart. What can I get you to eat?" It was never ending. I haven't been a big food sneaker but there were times that I did. I could, and probably still can but have not tried, to polish off a pint of ice cream in a single sitting. I never ate a whole pizza but I sure could eat half a large by myself. I was the one who finished my husbands food, and the kid's. I was the same as someone before who would go to McD's and get a large value meal and get chicken nuggets to go with it. I was out of control.

Now I am not a slave to food. I don't think about it all the time. I enjoy it but it does not rule my life. I have an amazing support system and my hubby is happy to finish my left overs So much has changed about me in the last 8 months, on the inside and the outside. I am liking this new person I am becoming. I used to tell people that people liked me for the same reasons they like Santa Claus, cause I was fat and jolly! I'm still jolly. My joy is dependent on far more than the weight I carry or my circumstances but people are going to have to find a new reason to like me!

Because I'm way behind and I'm catching up... Boy have I missed out the last couple of days!

The loosing losing thing you will lose(see?! I got it right) . Last time we posted about it, we were gently reminded that we should t make fun of those less educated than us.

Because the nauseous/nauseated thing bugs me too but I'm learning to cope

Naked video on the other hand! No one, not even butter is complaining about those!

GG, I get the loosing/losing thing but whats wrong with nauseous/nauseated? Are they not both correct terms? I'm so confused

I TOTALLY did that on purpose. LOL

(And the irregardless too. It's regardless.)

I SO was wondering about your irregardless phrase! I'm so glad it was intentional! I can be a grammer nerd even though I'm sure I make some of big mistakes

Doesn't everyone?? I'm at about 30 this year but if I could count VST I'd be at way more than that!

So if you track how many books you read in a year

So I'm really behind too. I can't seem to find anything on the new site but, yes Alex, I am having patience. Just want to say thanks to Laura for starting this thread. It has been extrememly thought provoking. And I'm glad I've at least found familiar faces again. I've missed y'all! Now, back to the banter that keeps me smiling...

I'm ready to see my sister. I won't get to see her until Christmas and I honestly think that we should both be wearing helmet cams! She has been one of my main supporters in getting my sleeve and after seeing my success decided that she wanted one too! She had her sleeve done on 11/4/13 and is doing great! We haven't seen each other since July 4th and back then I was 30 pounds heavier and two pant sizes bigger than I am now. I have always been the big little sister and recently I lost down to weigh less than her but I'm thinking by Thanksgiving she will have caught me. Certainly by Christmas she will be well past me. I told her I wouldn't be the little little sister for long and I'm totally okay with that (I'm close to 6 inches taller than her so she should be smaller than me)! I can't wait to see her and see how well she has done. I am SOOOO excited for the both of us.

My SIL on the other hand, I'm ready to see her too. I haven't seen her since our daughter was born (4 weeks before I had my sleeve). We live in the same town but haven't seen each other. She is absolutely gorgeous and I know that I'll never be as small as her, and I'm okay with that too, but at least maybe I won't get the "eeeew gross, shes so fat" looks that I feel like I have gotten for the past few years. I really am looking forward to seeing all of our family. We have several family members that live out of town and some of our family members have NEVER seen me this small.

Lucky you! I'm at almost 8 months but I usually average around 1000 cal a day (800-1200 usually). I also shoot for 100 gm of Protein and usually hit around 80 gm

oooooooooh! I love 3 leches cake! And I'm jealous that you are so talented, that is some art work! It is really pretty!

it's an artistic Mexican Gelatin with a 3 leches cake underneath I make these lol

First of all, that salad looks amazing!! Second, What the heck is that second picture? It's soooo pretty!!! (being hypnotized by deliciousness......)

thanks for the update I will keep my food pedaling ways in check..

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Now I've posted some real food porn made by me