Stephanie Kelley

I had my surgery on March 8th.
I am down a little over 70 pounds which is actually not really hitting me yet.
Here is what I have jumped for joy over.
My scale will never hit the dreaded 300 mark again.
It will also not hit 250. I have not been under 250 since my early 20's
Bigger victories?
I am no longer on ANY medication. supplements are the only thing I NEED.
No more arthritis pain. NONE...EVER
No more CPAP machine....and my kids are not afraid I am going to die in my sleep!
No more antacids. No more blood pressure meds
NONE!!! All erased from my life.
YAY!
Silly things to many that make me smile
I ran 2 miles...and lived to tell about it...I did not even FEEL like I was going to die.
My dog LOVES her 3 walks a day! (she has dropped a few pounds herself
I am saving a TON of money...just the amount I was spending on soda and Snacks for my home was ridiculous!
My kids are eating a better diet...hopefully they will not get my "fat" gene!
and the #1 Victory
Today my 1st pretty bra and pantie set was delivered and I can wear it proudly COMFORTABLY
I have not had a pretty bra since I was 13 YEARS OLD !!!!!
I feel FANTASTIC!

I had my surgery on March 8th.
I am down a little over 70 pounds which is actually not really hitting me yet.
Here is what I have jumped for joy over.
My scale will never hit the dreaded 300 mark again.
It will also not hit 250. I have not been under 250 since my early 20's
Bigger victories?
I am no longer on ANY medication. supplements are the only thing I NEED.
No more arthritis pain. NONE...EVER
No more CPAP machine....and my kids are not afraid I am going to die in my sleep!
No more antacids. No more blood pressure meds
NONE!!! All erased from my life.
YAY!
Silly things to many that make me smile
I ran 2 miles...and lived to tell about it...I did not even FEEL like I was going to die.
My dog LOVES her 3 walks a day! (she has dropped a few pounds herself
I am saving a TON of money...just the amount I was spending on soda and Snacks for my home was ridiculous!
My kids are eating a better diet...hopefully they will not get my "fat" gene!
and the #1 Victory
Today my 1st pretty bra and pantie set was delivered and I can wear it proudly COMFORTABLY
I have not had a pretty bra since I was 13 YEARS OLD !!!!!
I feel FANTASTIC!

I had my surgery on March 8th.
I am down a little over 70 pounds which is actually not really hitting me yet.
Here is what I have jumped for joy over.
My scale will never hit the dreaded 300 mark again.
It will also not hit 250. I have not been under 250 since my early 20's
Bigger victories?
I am no longer on ANY medication. supplements are the only thing I NEED.
No more arthritis pain. NONE...EVER
No more CPAP machine....and my kids are not afraid I am going to die in my sleep!
No more antacids. No more blood pressure meds
NONE!!! All erased from my life.
YAY!
Silly things to many that make me smile
I ran 2 miles...and lived to tell about it...I did not even FEEL like I was going to die.
My dog LOVES her 3 walks a day! (she has dropped a few pounds herself
I am saving a TON of money...just the amount I was spending on soda and Snacks for my home was ridiculous!
My kids are eating a better diet...hopefully they will not get my "fat" gene!
and the #1 Victory
Today my 1st pretty bra and pantie set was delivered and I can wear it proudly COMFORTABLY
I have not had a pretty bra since I was 13 YEARS OLD !!!!!
I feel FANTASTIC!

I had my surgery on March 8th.
I am down a little over 70 pounds which is actually not really hitting me yet.
Here is what I have jumped for joy over.
My scale will never hit the dreaded 300 mark again.
It will also not hit 250. I have not been under 250 since my early 20's
Bigger victories?
I am no longer on ANY medication. supplements are the only thing I NEED.
No more arthritis pain. NONE...EVER
No more CPAP machine....and my kids are not afraid I am going to die in my sleep!
No more antacids. No more blood pressure meds
NONE!!! All erased from my life.
YAY!
Silly things to many that make me smile
I ran 2 miles...and lived to tell about it...I did not even FEEL like I was going to die.
My dog LOVES her 3 walks a day! (she has dropped a few pounds herself
I am saving a TON of money...just the amount I was spending on soda and Snacks for my home was ridiculous!
My kids are eating a better diet...hopefully they will not get my "fat" gene!
and the #1 Victory
Today my 1st pretty bra and pantie set was delivered and I can wear it proudly COMFORTABLY
I have not had a pretty bra since I was 13 YEARS OLD !!!!!
I feel FANTASTIC!

There was a post on this forum awhile ago about this and DUH! it finally hit me.
It's not that I'm afraid I will gain the weight back.
After years of wearing things that were busting at the seams and too tight, it feels great to slip into something too big and to have to have a belt to keep your pants from falling down.
So now I have 14s and 12s in my closet. I belt the 14s and it makes me feel happy.
Silly huh?

I had my surgery on March 8th.
I am down a little over 70 pounds which is actually not really hitting me yet.
Here is what I have jumped for joy over.
My scale will never hit the dreaded 300 mark again.
It will also not hit 250. I have not been under 250 since my early 20's
Bigger victories?
I am no longer on ANY medication. supplements are the only thing I NEED.
No more arthritis pain. NONE...EVER
No more CPAP machine....and my kids are not afraid I am going to die in my sleep!
No more antacids. No more blood pressure meds
NONE!!! All erased from my life.
YAY!
Silly things to many that make me smile
I ran 2 miles...and lived to tell about it...I did not even FEEL like I was going to die.
My dog LOVES her 3 walks a day! (she has dropped a few pounds herself
I am saving a TON of money...just the amount I was spending on soda and Snacks for my home was ridiculous!
My kids are eating a better diet...hopefully they will not get my "fat" gene!
and the #1 Victory
Today my 1st pretty bra and pantie set was delivered and I can wear it proudly COMFORTABLY
I have not had a pretty bra since I was 13 YEARS OLD !!!!!
I feel FANTASTIC!

I had my surgery on March 8th.
I am down a little over 70 pounds which is actually not really hitting me yet.
Here is what I have jumped for joy over.
My scale will never hit the dreaded 300 mark again.
It will also not hit 250. I have not been under 250 since my early 20's
Bigger victories?
I am no longer on ANY medication. supplements are the only thing I NEED.
No more arthritis pain. NONE...EVER
No more CPAP machine....and my kids are not afraid I am going to die in my sleep!
No more antacids. No more blood pressure meds
NONE!!! All erased from my life.
YAY!
Silly things to many that make me smile
I ran 2 miles...and lived to tell about it...I did not even FEEL like I was going to die.
My dog LOVES her 3 walks a day! (she has dropped a few pounds herself
I am saving a TON of money...just the amount I was spending on soda and Snacks for my home was ridiculous!
My kids are eating a better diet...hopefully they will not get my "fat" gene!
and the #1 Victory
Today my 1st pretty bra and pantie set was delivered and I can wear it proudly COMFORTABLY
I have not had a pretty bra since I was 13 YEARS OLD !!!!!
I feel FANTASTIC!

I had my surgery on March 8th.
I am down a little over 70 pounds which is actually not really hitting me yet.
Here is what I have jumped for joy over.
My scale will never hit the dreaded 300 mark again.
It will also not hit 250. I have not been under 250 since my early 20's
Bigger victories?
I am no longer on ANY medication. supplements are the only thing I NEED.
No more arthritis pain. NONE...EVER
No more CPAP machine....and my kids are not afraid I am going to die in my sleep!
No more antacids. No more blood pressure meds
NONE!!! All erased from my life.
YAY!
Silly things to many that make me smile
I ran 2 miles...and lived to tell about it...I did not even FEEL like I was going to die.
My dog LOVES her 3 walks a day! (she has dropped a few pounds herself
I am saving a TON of money...just the amount I was spending on soda and Snacks for my home was ridiculous!
My kids are eating a better diet...hopefully they will not get my "fat" gene!
and the #1 Victory
Today my 1st pretty bra and pantie set was delivered and I can wear it proudly COMFORTABLY
I have not had a pretty bra since I was 13 YEARS OLD !!!!!
I feel FANTASTIC!

I had my surgery on March 8th.
I am down a little over 70 pounds which is actually not really hitting me yet.
Here is what I have jumped for joy over.
My scale will never hit the dreaded 300 mark again.
It will also not hit 250. I have not been under 250 since my early 20's
Bigger victories?
I am no longer on ANY medication. supplements are the only thing I NEED.
No more arthritis pain. NONE...EVER
No more CPAP machine....and my kids are not afraid I am going to die in my sleep!
No more antacids. No more blood pressure meds
NONE!!! All erased from my life.
YAY!
Silly things to many that make me smile
I ran 2 miles...and lived to tell about it...I did not even FEEL like I was going to die.
My dog LOVES her 3 walks a day! (she has dropped a few pounds herself
I am saving a TON of money...just the amount I was spending on soda and Snacks for my home was ridiculous!
My kids are eating a better diet...hopefully they will not get my "fat" gene!
and the #1 Victory
Today my 1st pretty bra and pantie set was delivered and I can wear it proudly COMFORTABLY
I have not had a pretty bra since I was 13 YEARS OLD !!!!!
I feel FANTASTIC!

Hehehe! Confessions! Surgery was 4/24 and it seems the only thing that agrees with me is refried beans!

Wow, I am so sorry you are going through this! My kids and husband went out to eat with me a couple of times since surgery and I have to admit I am lucky. They have been curteous and realize I am going to take longer to eat. They haven't tried to eat my food. I let them know I'm going to box some up and take it home and save it for later. I don't blame you for not going out to eat with your family anymore. I hope you guys can get it sorted out. I don't know how I would deal with a husband who won't discipline his daughter. It is too hard for a stepparent to do the discipline unless you were there raising her from the time she was really little. I really wish you the best.

It sounds like there are issues here that go beyond just food. The lack of respect by your step-daughter is a serious issue that you need to address with your husband and probably a professional counselor. It also sounds like she would benefit from some professional counseling. Her attitude towards food is not healthy. Is she heavy? If so, some of this behavior may be a result of resentment that you are actively changing your habits to be more healthy and lose weight. Whatever the case do no put up with such behavior from your spouse or step-daughter. If your husband truly cares about you he will address his behavior and his daughter's. I really do think you should consider having everyone see a professional. If they won't agree to it -- go yourself and get some professional advice on how to handle the problem.

I wouldn't go another minute in that house tolerating the lack of respect from your step-daughter. There is NO WAY I'd let that child have my food even if I was done or touch my plate. As for chucking food -- I wouldn't have walked out. I would have taken that child right out of her seat and put her in the car and taken her home.
Easy for me to say I know, but this comes from some experience.
When I was young, I had two teenage step children walk over me. They were pigs, I used to have to hide food and drink. For instance: if I bought a package of crackers or Cookies (I'm talking family sized), I would come back a couple hours later and it would be gone. They would more often than not leave me an empty package. They would take the largest piece of meat, pile their plate high and not give a damn about anybody else. Their father wouldn't do squat or demand that they respect me.
Fast forward to today. My daughter has been taught that the man who is doing actually physical labor or any other adult gets the first choice off the platter. This doesn't always work out because my husband was raised to put everyone else before himself so he will take the piece he thinks no one will want. My daughter has also been taught that under NO circumstances do you take the last piece of ANYTHING be it a slice of pizza or a french fry.

OMG! Almost to 3 weeks and easing into mushies... And I had no idea that grits and eggs could be so good!! All mixed up in a bowl... And so much like real food! Maybe I'm just desperate... But it's so good!

To be honest I was shocked at just how painful it was.
My nurses were very good at trying to keep it under control, but the 1st 2 days the only thing that helped even a little was walking.
I know when you are in a ton of pain you do not want to walk, but it really does help!
I was also very very weepy, which I did not expect.
I am on day 4 now and doing OK. Still doing lots of walking.
Good Luck and remember it is totally worth it!

Congrats to you! Sounds like you have been through a lot. Now you have a new begiinning.

Hello,
My name is Steph. I just turned 38 on the 1st. I have 3 kiddos 10 and 13 year old boys and a 16 year old daughter.
As a kiddo and a teenager I was always very VERY thin. Then somewhere between 19 and 22 I gained almost 75 pounds. In October of 2010 I was 36 years old and 368 pounds. I have tried every diet known to man and I would lose then immediately gain even more. I was so depressed and was starting to "fee" old and fat.
I was having a lot of issues with GERD and was in constant pain.
I went on a "fairly" gluten free diet and started dropping a lot of weight with little to no effort. I also started looking into Lap Band.
I started a new job (with insurance that covers the surgery...THANK GOODNESS)
The spring of 2011 I was down to 320 pounds, but stalled.
I started going to MyNewStart (which I can not recommend) I spent 5 month working with them before they dropped me from the program with no explanation as to why... I had done EVERYTHING that I was supposed to do and had almost completed all of the requirements for my insurance company (they required a 6 month supervised diet)
I was heart broken. I started looking for new surgeons. I found out that once a surgeon drops you it makes the rest in the area leary of taking you on. Even if no reason was given.
Then when I thought all hope was lost I found MyNewSelf at DesPeres Hospital in St.Louis (my hometown) and called Dr. Minkins office.
He got me in and less than 2 months later I was having surgery. He was very honest with me and I with him.
I am a smoker (actively trying to quit) I think that was one of the reasons it was hard to find a surgeon. I also have sleep apnea which increases my risks during surgery.
I had a 3 day full liquid diet...not bad at all.
Surgery was uneventful and went without complication.
The 1st 12 hours I had intense pain in my shoulders. Getting up and walking was really the only thing that helped that.
The rest of day 1 and all of day 2 were in all honesty the most painful time of my life (and I have had 3 c-sections and my gall bladder removed) I am now on day 3 and I have to admit at some point last night it just got better.
If I have to deal with 2 days of intense pain to have a lifetime to be healthier it was worth it.
Oh and when I woke up I was down 16 pounds from the morning of surgery!

3 days. Full liquids. Surgery was yesterday.