BethinPA

Oh how I love this thread! I don't agree with everyone, but how boring would it be if we all agreed on everything?
I HATE the term "Fat Acceptance". I refuse to participate in that. I've been part of numerous conversations with various groups of people, and those who have adopted the "I'm FAT - get over it!" attitude. Fat is a label, but it is far more than just a descriptive like having blonde hair or long legs or blue eyes. It is NOT the same, at least not to me. I refuse to embrace something that is universally accepted as derogatory.
Now, talk to me about Body Acceptance, and I'm all over that. I have been a part of that movement, and it did me far more good than chasing after that imaginary perfect workout regime or fad diet. It validated for me that it's ok to be imperfect and to take pride in how I look. I've always been a hair and makeup girl, but that was really based on the idea that if my hair was fabulous and my green eyes were glowing, maybe they wouldn't notice or care that I was 100 lbs overweight. I realized that it is ok to just love myself in the moment, and do the best I can with what I have, and to never look away from the people I caught staring at my stomach. I can now catch their eye and give them a big friendly smile, and most times, they smile back. I hope that they remember my smile and not my big fat droopy belly.
I have also had countless debates with people on social media and in person about the fat is unhealthy topic. I have never had any weight related illnesses, and I'm 52 years old. No Hypertension, no high cholesterol, nothing. Perfect labs every year. My doctor has told me I am healthier than she is many times. So yeah, I'm not going to jump on that bandwagon and toss statistics around like I'm an expert on obesity related conditions. Of course I KNOW that they exist, I work in healthcare and I see it all the time. However, being fat is not always a precursor to dropping dead of a heart attack or stoke.
These days, my hips and back cause me pain. This is not caused by my weight, it is caused by arthritis and the natural aging process. I'm hoping that my weight loss will alleviate some of that, and it's part of the reason I had surgery. I also need to get my ass out of this big boy office chair and move around more. I'm working on that.
I've followed a lot of Plus Size bloggers and models, and of course I don't agree with some of the crazy things they say, but most of them are realistic about their issues and know that eventually, being overweight is going to take its toll. But for now, they are loving themselves in the moment and enjoying the fact that there are millions of people who consider them beautiful and deserving of the attention they are getting. I was reading one of my favorite bloggers pages yesterday and it linked me to a recent discussion about the use of the term "Plus Size". One designer's comments really moved me:
"I remember the ballet instructor telling me that I would never be small enough to be a ballerina and even if I was, It would kill me to force my body to be something it never wanted to be. That was the first time in my life I ever felt ugly and ashamed of my figure, I think I was 8 yrs old. I remember crying to my Grandmother that I needed to tape my breasts down and get my body thinner so I could be a ballerina. My grandmother said, ‘Girl, these big bones and full bodies are the strength of the women in this family; they were passed down to you in your blood.’ She told me the story of my body. She talked about how I had her mother’s eyes, her sister’s broad shoulders, her cousin’s hips, and the breasts of every woman in the family. Something about that talk made me so proud that I was connected in this unique way with the women in my family."
THAT is the message that I get from these "movements". We need to be encouraged to love ourselves and do our best. If your best is having WLS and getting healthy, then that is awesome. I think that if we are having surgery in order to love ourselves, we are going to find that being overweight wasn't really the problem to begin with. I loved myself just as much as when I weighed 327 lbs as I do now. It took me a while to figure that out, but I am glad that I did, and I have a huge appreciation and admiration for these Plus Size women who have taken on the fight to be accepted as they are, in all their big fat awesomeness.
Here's the link to that article, if anyone is interested.
http://www.plus-model-mag.com/2016/04/keeptheplus-keep-using-term-plus-size/

I lost a lot of sizes, and went through several wardrobe sizes.
Getting a wardrobe at the thrift shop or consignment store is much easier said than done. I tried to do that and never had luck in my town. I think there are some places that have better selection, but I would have had to drive a long way to get to them. After a few attempts, I gave it up. I didn't like having to dig and search and search, just to find nothing.
I have a professional job and have to dress a certain way. I also don't have a lot of extra time. So I tried to be pretty basic in shopping. I bought about 3 pairs of basic slacks, and paired them with different tops and jackets. I really only had about 15 items in my closet at any one time, but it was enough to get me through 2 weeks without repeating, for work. (Obviously I washed and repeated the pants). I also always made sure I had one casual outfit for weekends. I bought things a little snug, and then wore them until they were a little too big. I shopped only clearance items, and got things really inexpensive - like I mostly paid around $10 for the pants, and less for shirts, a little more for sweaters or jackets.
Now that I've been the same size for over a year, I'm starting to build a big wardrobe. I LOVE being thin for that reason. I still am a bargain hunter. There is solace in knowing I don't have to grab what I can when I see it and pay full price, like when I was fat. I used to do that, just being thankful there was something that was sort of cute and fit ok. Now I know that I can wait for things I like to go on sale, and if it never does, oh well. There are a million more things out there in a size 8 that I'm sure I'll love

The thrift stores have become my salvation! Every time I drop a size or two I saunter joyfully over to "Value Village" (Canadians, can I get a whoop whoop!) and spend a whopping $30 on new tops and jeans. HUZZAH!
Man does it ever feel good to wear clothes that fit as I'm on my way down. I happily donated a bunch of my Size 22 pants and jeans (SEE YA' LATER!), but some of my tops that I bought full pop retail are truly lovely pieces (purchased from funky online shops like Zulily) that I cannot bear to part with. This is where my seamstress friend comes in - she will be doing some sewing for me at $10 per garment and saving me hundreds of bucks that I would otherwise need to spend on new clothes.
As a professor I have an unwritten (but implied) professional dress code to adhere to, and having a seamstress buddy on board is very helpful!

Been a while since I updated.

I wanted to share my before and during pictures, I know I went looking around for pictures and stories before I did my sleeve.. And all of u guys provided me with the strength to go through with this huge change in my life by posting your pics so here are mine for the ones that are starting with this process (there is hope) and yes it will work!!

I had surgery 6/26, down 42 lbs since surgery, 65 from my highest weight of 212lbs. I am 5'0. I am at 146 now and have 21 lbs to get to my goal of 125.

Had surgery 6/26/13.
HW 212
SW 188
CW 147
GW 125
5'0

Sleeved 3/25/13 . Have lost 90 lbs total. First photo day of surgery and second photo is about a month ago. I know everyone's photos were inspirational to me, so I wanted to share!

Pic on left is HW 224. Middle is at 4wk post op and right was 2 or 3 days ago. Surgery 8/19 and down 40lbs.

HW- 299 SW- 289 CW- 227 Surgery date 7/3/13

I always came on here looking at the pictures, thinking why am I not seeing a difference. Well I guess it's because I see myself everyday and had never compared two pictures...well I am finally able to see the difference and I am liking what I see. Excuse the pic on the right, I know I look a bit crazy LOL.

This is a picture I took yesterday at 148 pounds trying on an extra small button up shirt. That's never happened before. The other is me at my highest weight of 218 pounds.

The first picture was taken at my heaviest ,335lbs, in January and the second was taken 2 weeks ago weighing in at 247lbs

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I was sleeved on Feb 28 and I'm down 86 lbs. I feel so much better. Best decision I have ever made. Still have a ways to go.

Before at 275. Sleeved 12/17/12. Down to 167 lbs. after pic last Friday.

My husband and I have lost over 230 pounds between the two of us we were both sleeved in May of this year.

I'm two months out. Down 52 pounds, 26 total inches, and 13 pounds off my BMI. I went from morbidly obese to just obese!

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Pre-op: 347.5 Surgery day: 339.5 Today: 217.8 129.7 lost! Not sure where I want to end up, my RWR is between 150-170. I'm still "obese" according to charts and it pisses me off!

I'm 15 months out and I'm down 135 lbs, I just wish I had done this sooner'

This was surgery day 335 lbs

This was my sons wedding this weekend in Florida, 201 lbs
Sent from Gaye's iPad Mini using VST

203 to 145!! I want to drop 19 more lbs.
so happy!!!

Thought I'd share our progress. My sister, my sister in law and I all had surgery. First pic is day before surgery (May 9) and second pic was taken yesterday. We're extremely happy so far. We all loss between 56-63#.

This is two years ago and this weekend, same event same people but I am amazed at the change and grateful!
DOS 2/20/13 WGT 224
CW 174
GW 135

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Before at 223
Post op 60 pounds gone
Current weight is 160

SW: 277 CW:158 GW: 150