Just-A-Gem

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".

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 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.

You look simply beautiful. Great loss!

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

Absolutely amazing! Congrats!

Oooh.. Another one.. My closet is full of form-fitting, brightly colored shirts!

Let's see.. About 20 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! 16 lbs ago, I got the courage to post the picture to your left on Facebook! Facial comparison shot: (on the right in each) I can shop for panties at VS.. My bra band size is 32/34, but my cup size is still DDD, so catalog or some other store is still required for bras, but no more LB!! 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 lost 4.9' from my hips, waist, and bust alone. My waist is now 27". 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.

I was sleeved September 2nd, 2011 and I have lost 134.2 lbs thus far. I am 6 lbs from "normal" and 13.2 lbs from goal. While I originally wanted to make this by my surgiversary, now I am satisfied just to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I WILL make it!

I was 50 lbs down! I just posted a progress update with pictures in the success stories forum!

I am not quite 5 months out (about a week and some days away) and I am down 70 lbs as of last Friday. I still have a hard time seeing it.. Can't wait to lose some of my lower belly so I can start really dropping sizes. I know this will be an issue because I've had two vertical c-sections and where before I never stored fat in my belly, after it seems like one of my greatest stores. I still have a goal of 100 lbs lost by my 6 month surgiversary. I know it's a lot before March 2nd, but I just started running again, so there's a chance right? Even if I don't make it to that goal, by that date, I will make it. That's all that matters. I am not quite to the halfway point on my journey, but I'm close. So here are some pictures to document that. The first picture is me and my sleeve sister GardenDiva... Where is she?! The before are from morning of surgery. The progress are from this morning. I just wish that I could see the changes that it seems everyone around me is getting hip to.

At surgery I was 302 lbs, 5' 7.5" wearing size 24 and 2X tops. I am almost 5 months out and I currently weigh 232 lbs and am wearing loose 20s, tight 18s and XL tops from the normal section. My pant sizes are going down slowly. I've had two vertical c-sections in the past 5 years and I have quite the "spare tire". When I measured that presurgery the tape measure was too short. I was about 63" at the hips. Now my hips are 53".... so I am steadily working toward those smaller sizes. Can't wait!

Yup. No worries at all. Some people's swelling goes down faster than others and that's a good thing. Anything to make it easier to get that water in.

I'm in! Starting weight: 235 lbs. Goal weight: 190 lbs!

There is another topic on this somewhere out there. I am gemintherough on MFP too.

I have some things to say on this. He IS very experienced like you said and: 1) The armed robbery was in late August. I was there September 2nd for my surgery. It was at the recovery house and it was an inside job, which is why the person was able to get in. They dealt with it though and the staff that is there now is amazing. 2) Most surgeons do several surgeries a day. He doesn't do above the norm in my opinion. 3) He doesn't speak very good English, but his staff does and they will translate for you. He's working on it. 4) I live in Houston. There are TONS of surgery centers here no bigger than a strip mall unit and usually laparoscopic procedures can be done in them as outpatient procedures. The same is true in many other cities. 6) You go to a recovery house where there is a nurse that will take out your IV port and your drain. There are 2 nice full bathrooms, 1 half bathroom and there is one large room with 5 single beds and 2 other smaller rooms with 2 single beds. The beds are comfortable and the rooms are kept cool and dark in the evening. Plus, Sylvester will give you massages (tip him well, he works there for room and board but it not paid.. ) 7) There are many other facilities that if you travel to you'll have to take out your exterior incisions or have your doctor do so. Not sure what you expect. I had my husband take mine out after 12 days. It took 5 minutes and was no big deal. Overall, I am pleased with my experience. Dr. Almanza is friendly and the nurses were EXCELLENT. I even have one "friended" on Facebook. LOL. I had a not-so-great reaction to the general anesthesia, but that is not their fault.

I'm 8 weeks out tomorrow and have a steel sleeve also.. Except I have the same taste aversion to protein shakes. I am trying to get over that though. I've had NO stalls at this point. Knock on wood...

Muy guapo!