Boofster

Wow, GettinMeBack, you look awesome!!

You look great but your face looks amazing...what a difference. WAY to go! And thanks for starting this thread. I come here from time to time to see how everyone is doing. A picture IS worth a thousand words!!

I'm the slowest of them ALL kids, so don't feel upset!! I was 229 DOS }(11/19) and now am 195. I eat healthier and smaller portions than I ever have in my life but due to a crazy work schedule I don't exercise at all any more. I do enjoy a treat now and then (had ice cream for the 1st time the other night since before surgery, and I really didn't love it!!) and I don't exercise as I'm exhausted when I get home. I know this has a lot to do with it but I'm not unhappy where I am. I plan to start exercising soon - I'm hoping when the warmer weather arrives I'll be inspred. My heaviest in my adult life after having my last child 7 years ago was 263, so it's been a 68 lb weight loss overall. Slow and steady wins the race.

Don't get depressed clothes shopping now, for that will soon be a feeling of the past! I was always into clothes, no matter how big I was. Just hold on, and know that you will one day fit into stuff that you want to and it will even be big. Before I had my surgery, I went to consignment shops and tag sales and ebay and bought stuff in a size smaller or a few sizes smaller, for encouragement. I didn't spend much money, figuring if I was a miserable failure then I wouldn't have lost much and could either resell it or give it away. Well, some of the stuff I bought is now big, like my favorite Calvin Klein jacket for work, purchased for $18, so I found the next size down on ebay for $12! It will happen, it WILL!! Just hold on and have faith.

I need to do something. Maybe I will give it a shot. I need something to workout the core, because while thighs and butt are looking better, the belly is still hanging around (no pun intended!!)

AWESOME!! That is great. You look awesome. Wish I had the energy for spinning!

A very thin co-worker just stopped me in the hall and said I am wasting away (HA! never heard THAT before). She asked what I was doing and I told her high protein, cutting down on sugars, starch and processed foods, and exercise. To most here, I lied like a rug, and didn't feel a pang of regret. ))

Still haven't told anyone at work (except one person in HR and one who is another dept and was a band-to-bypass patient at my practice), and will likely keep it that way. It's a very fit and healthy culture (big medical company) and the general consensus here that it's the "easy way out" so it's not gonna happen. No regrets whatsoever. I did however, disclose the surgery to two people outside of work who I thought might have had WLS surgery, and it turns out they both did. One is the parent of a kid in my son's Scout troop, and another is a former classmate from high school who I am friends with on Facebook. It's nice to talk about it with someone who is going through the same experience and I kind of feel like I'm in a special club.

Hopefully, WHITE PANTS this summer!

Tara, you look amazing!! So great. I'm down 30 since surgery on 11/19, having a ball and feeling great.

I do have pretty close to an iron stomach, but now certain things go down better than others, I guess. I mean I used to eat plates of this stuff, and now I can't, which is certainly better for me.

The beef & broccoli was very oily, so I think that must have had something to do with it. Also, the broccoli was very crunchy, and I usually cook my veggies fairly well. I love Thai food and chicken satay but haven't tried either in a restaurant yet (have only had the Weight Watchers Thai noodels with chicken, lol). One day at a time. I go for my lab work in a week in anticipation of my 3 month checkup. Fingers crossed!

Awesome! I can't wait for that to happen ( I have belts waiting for me). Keep up the good work!!

So, since my surgery on Nov 19 I've been eating pretty healthy, and up to now have tried to avoid situations where I would be faced with really unhealthy food. Today I went out for lunch for a work thing and some Chinese staple dishes were ordered for everyone to have. I should have asked for my own healthy dish, like shrimp and steamed veggies, but felt weird about doing so. Well, from the choices I opted to eat the beef and broccoli, as the other dishes involved rice and lo mein, etc. and wanted to avoid the carbs. I ate some of the regular beef and broccoli and immediately felt horrible!! I almost vomited. I cannot believe that I used to scoff down plates of this stuff. How things have changed!! I only hope my new habits stay with me for my lifetime. Lesson learned today!!

You radiate!! Congrats and keep up the good work!!

I was just thinking about this earlier today. I weigh every day. I do. I know some people advise against it, but it's the only way I can tell about what I ate the day/evening before, or my period, etc. and how it affects me. Some days the weight stays the same - to the OUNCE! - talk about frustrating - but I take it in stride and go on. There's always a little block of chunk that comes off here and there, and I have to have faith in the process. I am not a fast loser, as they say, I am down 30 lbs in two and half months. But I'll take it!!

I had to have an EKG, it was no sweat. You'll do fine. Good luck!!

Please, all those skinny chicks that have only the basketball belly and are back in their pre-preggo jeans on the way home from the hospital ate less than you will with a sleeved stomach, and nobody was warning them. In fact, their OBs were probably congratulating them on not gaining too much weight. If you wait the optimal amount of time before getting pregnant (I think 18 months?), I am sure you can make it work -- maybe you will eat more often rather than more in a sitting, more vitamins, protein, fluids, etc. The person to talk to is your OB-GYN and a nut.

Bunny, that's pretty stunning about how it "doesn't count"...but I believe it!! Whatever...we rock!!

Yep, that I didn't do it sooner. But I am sooo glad I did!!

Way to go, JayneD!!! Rock it!!

I tucked mine under my back.

No one in my department at work knows. In the past two days, two people have come up to me and said, hey, you lost weight, you look good, I can tell. I haven't said much in return, just mention that I'm eating healthier, etc. and before I really get the chance to say anything, they say, well you're doing it the "right" way, at least you didn't have like gastric bypass or anything drastic like that! See the mentality?? And these are not thin women . . . <shrugs>