Just-A-Gem

Congrats on your surgery and great post-op loss Shiner86!! I am in Dickinson/League City! Great to see some locals in the house! I was sleeved in September 2011 and am hopping back on here for a while as I work through some maintenance issues.. The struggle is real. LOL.

When I got to about 18 months out, I started slipping on this. I'm trying to get back into the habit, but I guess that the pain I used to have just went away.. I am at 24 months now with no regain, but I do believe in the logic behind this rule and I'm working on getting back to it.

It's been a while since I've posted, but I wanted to post some update pictures. Last time I did I was 138 lbs down and in a 10 and pretty damn happy. I am now 163 lbs down and in a 6, maintaining.. even still *slooooooowly* losing.. My body seems to have found it's happy weight for the most part though and I find myself losing inches more than pounds these days, which suits me just fine! Still counting this as the BEST thing I've EVER done for myself.

I wouldn't say that I have a lot.. but I definitely have a fair amount on my belly and sagginess on my inner thighs. I want to post a picture of my stomach to keep it real, but I haven't worked up the courage quite yet. I have lost 145 lbs or something around there depending on the day, so it's not anymore than I was expecting. I don't know the weight of the extra skin on my stomach, but I figure it adds at least 3 inches to my hip measurement and as far as my inner thighs go, I hope that the running that I am doing helps with that.. And lotion, lol.. Unlikely but worth a shot. I've lost A LOT from my thighs and several inches from my hips in just the last few months so I am sure that they are in a bit of shock... For those curious about my leg. Since I have found out that it's peroneal mononueropathy and took the necessary action to try to reverse the nerve damage the feeling has started to return to my lateral calf muscle and most of my foot so I have returned to my runs every other day plus Saturday. I hadn't had feeling in my lateral calf since some time in June.

Quite possibly my favorite dress ever to rock! I'm absolutely loving my new silhouette.

That just shows right now the kind of person he would have been down the road. You are SO MUCH BETTER OFF! Trust me! When you need support, look to VST and I know that in the meantime, you will find it IRL.

Thank you! I just consider the divorce another 240+ lbs lost.

I have it.. I guess it could be worse though. My upper, inner thighs aren't great and I'm hoping that they bounce back over the next year with regular exercise.. same with my arms. My stomach is going to require a tuck but I had two vertical c-sections, so I knew this would be the case. It's not too HUGE of a problem though because these dresses were tried on without Spanx and I think with it, I would be okay for sure, at least with clothes on. LOL.. I think the key to having less slack is a steady tempo of loss, which is what I was thankfully pretty well able to manage. It wasn't super fast, but it got me to goal.. That and age.

I am 5' 7.5".

I must add that I now wear an 8 pant and I think with my tuck, I will fit a 6 comfortably.

You will get here too! I so remember that feeling.. I had it about 13 months ago.. and then about a year ago I was having that, "damn, I hope this was worth it feeling." Totally was. My surgiversary was the 2nd.

This is really just an add on to my post from last week that you can find here, but I have made goal and on my surgiversary, I went an tried on/bought these lovelies: http://www.verticals...wn-what-a-ride/ Size 6!!! Size 6!!! Size 6!!! Size 6!!! Juniors Medium (I know that I had NO BUSINESS trying on or buying this dress, but I COULD NOT HELP MYSELF!! SO SPARKLY AND SEXY!!! I tell you one thing, when my 3 year old is in "jr's" she won't be wearing this stuff!) AND a before from mid August 2011! http://www.verticals..._2605_66971.jpg I love you guys!! xxoo! Heather, now JustAGem

You look sooo amazing, as ever. I continue to look to you for inspiration.

You look amazing! Keep it up, you'll be there in no time!

You look beautiful! Congrats on such a fast loss! I don't think I was down that much in 2 months and I started much higher than you.

If you saw my stomach you would know why! LOL. I have had two vertical c-sections though and either way I would like to get rid of the scar that runs from my belly button to my.. you know.. Maybe I will post a picture of my stomach in the plastics forum at some point but I have to wait a year anyway. A lot can change in a year.

On 03/09, which was about my 6 month mark, I weighed in at 214.6.. putting me 87.8 lbs down. I have been training for a half marathon that I am SUPPOSED to be doing in January, but there are some things going on that are very likely going to prevent this. I was running 5 times a week, 40-60 minutes every morning. I would run as far as I could in 20 or 30 minutes and then find my way back, LOL. Also started training for the MS150. The left side of my left leg from my knee down has been numb for 2 months and when it started I cut down to 3 days a week running and last week my foot went numb causing me to trip over my toes. Ironically, I had two MRIs last week that are primarily testing to rule out MS, but the more likely culprit is idiopathic peripheral neuropathy.. These are in NO WAY connected to my sleeve. Just a really bad hand that I have been dealt at the moment. When I know what's up I will have to reassess. Honestly, I am just REALLY glad that this happened near the end of the loss phase and that I have a sleeve of steel that still has a pretty low capacity.

Just under 5' 8" according to doctor. I always use 5' 7.5". Thank you everyone!

My suggestion would be not to worry about it right now. You can't do anything for a year after reaching goal anyway and so maybe your circumstances will have changed. I sure hope mine will. Right now I can't afford them myself, but I've had two babies (one 8 lbs 14 oz), both vertical c-sections and I've lost 138 lbs at this point. I've shrunk up a lot, but I know that I am going to need a tuck when all is said and done. Don't let this bring you down now.

You look simply beautiful. Great loss!

Well.. As sometimes happens, I had this post all typed out and then I lost it. Ain’t that the pits? :-/ I could call these progress shots, or I could call these goal shots as I am 9 lbs away and I am so happy that I feel like I am already a success story, Even though occasionally I still see “Fat Heather” in the mirror, I see her less and less with every passing day. I am only a week and a half away from my surgiversary and I think these are the first “progress pics” I have posted. Let’s start with the stats. I started this journey: Weighing: 302.4 lbs Wearing: Size 24W pants, 2X shirts Waist: 50" I am currently: Weighing: 164.4 lbs Wearing: Size 10 pants, M shirts (I think with a tuck I could wear an 8) Waist: 25" I have lost 5 ft. total from my bust, waist, and hips alone. I still have a nice, ample 34DD bust and my waist is 25 inches. I am so proud of this, let me tell you. I also started married and am now divorced. Funny how that happens. Anyway, enough jabbering before the pictures, but after I will share some NSVs I posted in another thread so maybe stick around to read those? I guess I should start with those dreaded befores.. The first few in the dark bar are from either late July or early August of 2011 and the last is from September 2nd, 2011 with my sleeve sister on sleeve day. Before: Now for the afters (these are WAAAAY more fun!): August 20th, 2012 (164.4 lbs) August 4th, 2012 (Idk.. Maybe 170?) Father's Day 2012 (183 lbs!) About 25 lbs ago, I was carried around piggy back for the first time since childhood... All around my house. It was the most amazing feeling ever! 21 lbs ago, I got the courage to post the bathing suit picture 2 up on FACEBOOK!! I can shop for panties and bras at VS.. I think I look my age more now (26), I think. I wear my 4 and 5" heels with EASE!! I can sit on my BF's lap and not ever worry about hurting him. I have freaking defined collarbones! Not the scary kind, but defined and I love them. I fit into EVERY chair, usually with room to set my purse next to me.. This is sometimes not the case. I think by the time I hit goal and have my plastics, my measurements will be very, VERY close to 36-25-36. Men ask for my number in bars and clubs. I get carded more often. Doors are opened more often. I am 110% more confident at work. Well, (in the words of Forrest, Forrest Gump) That's all I have to say about that! Thank you for reading and viewing and (possibly) commenting. xxoo Heather (GemInTheRough, soon to be JustAGem)

Model material indeed! You look amazing! Congrats on your big loss!

Absolutely amazing! Congrats!