Jermiria LaideeJae Darden

I have a mountain spring water fountain installed in my house, and that along with FIJI water is the only water I drink.

I started trying salads again this month after being sleeved on March 18th, and I was able to digest it well after making sure everything was chopped up well! I love going to Subway and having my salads made there, and they always chop everything finely for me. One salad from there equals out to a good four portions! I also get the Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad from McDonalds as well! My favorite salad from there, and if chopped very well, it last up to three portions. Plus, there is this chain of restaurants here in the South called Momma Goldbergs where they make the best salads, and you can choose what veggies you want, and they chop everything finely there as well! Definitely been a good way to get my veggies in!

I drink the Organo Gold coffee. Personally love the Cafe Latte. WAAAAAAAY better than instant coffee, and the thing I love most about this coffee are the nutrition benefits with it. You don't even have to add any extra sugar or cream to it. Better than anything I've ever had at Starbucks! http://www.pft.organogold.com/r/US/

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!! Good luck to you!

You look absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I hope to have same similar success at 6 months out! CONGRATULATIONS!!! You have definitely inspired me!

Hot diggity damn! You guys are looking GOOD! Truly my motivation! I got sleeved on March 18th, and since the surgery, I've lost 35 pounds. Ran into a stall for a little while, but you guys have inspired me to continue to stay focused! Thank you!

Been counting down the days ALL week! FOUR MORE DAYS UNTIL I GET SLEEVED! I have been excited and anxious all week! Not nervous just yet, and I probably won't until Sunday night! LOL! I wish all of my fellow March 18th sleevers the best of luck!!!

Hey everyone! I'm from Alabama. Was sleeved on March 18th in Lagrange, GA. First couple of nights was rough. Dealt with a lot of gas pain and back pain which made it so uncomfortable to sleep. Stayed in the hospital for three days/two nights. First 24 hours, only could have ice chips. Have lost 19 lbs since the surgery. Moving around better and better each day. Been difficult to get my protein as I am still trying to learn & adjust to getting in all of my liquid/protein requirements. It's something I'm learning each day. Start pureed/blended food tomorrow. Been mostly sticking to the diet. Mostly on baby food. My mom's idea, but I do get my nutrients! Can't wait to have cottage cheese and tuna! Soooo looking forward to that. My doctor had me walking hours after my surgery, and it would increase day by day. Now I'm doing at least a 15 minute rep of walking just around my house at a steady pace three times a day.. 3 to 4 times in the week... but gradually everyday. I have only had maybe two instances of nausea/throwing up, but nothing too major. My incisions are healing well, and I rarely have any stomach pain now. BEST decision of my life!

Hey everyone! Here is the first of what will be MANY video blogs that I will do throughout my journey keeping you all up to date on my progress since the surgery! Hope you enjoy! ♥

Hey everyone! Here is the first of what will be MANY video blogs that I will do throughout my journey keeping you all up to date on my progress since the surgery! Hope you enjoy! ♥

Doing good here! Had my surgery at 12:15 pm on the 18th, and was discharged Wednesday morning the 20th. Had some major gas pains during my hospital stay, but the staff was SOOOOO helpful! Things are getting better each day! Will post a video update!

We made it through a week!!! Will have a video update posted soon!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!! This is OUR day!!!

I started my weight loss journey on November 28, 2012 at 350 lbs. In preparing toward my surgery, I changed my eating habits tremendously, and cut back on the things that I KNEW I need to cut back on: breads, sweets, sodas, and fast food. With the exception of a few cheat moments, I stuck to the diet... until the surgery date was set. THEN I proceeded to sneak in a few of my favorite foods in the last few weeks, and gained a portion of the weight I lost back. However, after being on the pre-surgical liquid diet this week, I've lost all of the weight I gained (16 pounds!), and now as of this morning, I weigh 325 lbs! I've come a long way since November 28th, and I still have a long way to go... but by the grace of God, I KNOW I'll push through this. It hasn't been easy, and just because I'm having this surgery doesn't mean it'll get EASIER, but the end result will be SOOO worth it! So I would like to bid a bittersweet farewell to this body! To the flabby arms, stomach gut, thunder thighs, thunder legs, thunder BOOTY and all of the above... ADIOS! RIP to the fat friend, chubby girl, big girl mentality... I'm going to walk into my DESTINY! ♥

I'm so sorry that you're having to deal with this! Personally, I have been blessed with so much support and kind words from family and friends about my surgery! I was candid, open, and honest from the start. If there is something that I have learned in my lifetime, I've learned this. When it comes to making life-changing decisions in regards to an aspect of your life, you have to keep in mind that you are doing this for YOU. People can empathize, sympathize, and even criticize what you are going through or have gone through in your journey, but YOU are the only one walking in YOUR shoes. It's okay to be respectful of everyone's viewpoint whether it may be positive or negative, but honey at the end of the day, you owe it to YOURSELF to be the healthiest and happiest that YOU want to be. If you go through your life trying to please everyone and everything, you're going to drive yourself CRAZY! You CAN'T please everyone, but know that your TRUE friends and your TRUE family are going to love you and support you REGARDLESS. Don't take it your best friends' feelings too personal. As everyone else on here have said, she may be responding in that manner due to some personal insecurities in her life. Talk it out with her. Communicate your feelings to her. If she still feels the same way, then it may just be the time to let her go and give her some space. If she is REALLY your friend, in due time she will come back to you. I wish you all the best in your journey sweetheart!

That is awesome!!!! Congrats to you! I wish you all the best!

For me personally, I decided to be open and honest with everyone from the start. I didn't mention anything about my surgery until everything was approved by my insurance company. I didn't feel the need to hide what I was doing. I came right out with it, and EVERYONE has been so supportive. I decided to even write a weight loss blog about my journey as a way to document my personal journey with friends and family. It was also a way for me to release and let go of some personal demons and struggles that I had held onto because of my weight. I started this in hopes that someone out there who is going through the same journey as me would be able to relate and for it to be a place of inspiration and motivation for someone who is thinking of doing this. This journey is not just a physical transformation, but it is a mental, emotional, AND spiritual transformation. Why NOT use it as an opportunity to do something empowering with it?!

And I'll be posting updated on my progress on my FB pages and my blog! Links are in my signature!

I promise to keep you up to date!!!