DivaStyleCoach

Most proud? That's kinda tough for me...I'm proud that I'm more active now than ever before in my adult life; I'm proud that I haven't let setbacks derail me completely (slow me down, occasionally, yep, but I AIN'T QUITTING); I'm proud that I have a brighter future ahead of me and I'm chasing it with all I'm worth!
I'm proud that I now see myself differently - I have a much more positive attitude and outlook about ME - the physical me and all the strength I'm gaining with the emotional and psychological me. I'm also proud that I've been recognized as a role model - not in any television-special kind of way, but in the individuals who tell me I've inspired them by walking my walk.
I'm proud of so much, but I guess most especially I'm proud because I REFUSED to keep going down a road that was no longer serving me in any positive way! Kudos to all the posters and I want you all to know you inspire ME to keep pushing!

I am proud of myself for taking the (very) big step in deciding to have WLS, and I'm proud of myself for following through.
I am grateful to my surgeon and the inventors of the lap band for designing a solution that actually WORKS. After so many failed diets and dangerous diet pills and drastic measures I took that just never did anything, I am happy I've found something that makes weight loss bearable. I've never lost a significant amount of weight and kept it off for more than a month. I'm 34 pounds down 6 months strong - a first for me. I've got much more to lose and I'm at a good restriction now so it will keep falling off.
Next milestone for me will be getting down to 273. That will be my lowest weight in the past 7 years. 10 pounds to go!

When your ex-wife (who used to openly mock me about getting the surgery)* says to a mutual friend, "dang if he had been that hot 5 years ago I would have never divorced him." That is a nice sideways compliment, but coming through this process I really realized just how toxic that relationship had gotten and how my health had declined. It has been a great journey getting back to healthy. And it is amazing how changing one area can lead to changes in another, I'm not perfect, but at least I'm on a better trajectory.
*NOTE, I would have never told her, but we still have minor children, so I felt having elective surgery in Mexico was a good reason to let her know.

I am so excited to be nearing Onederland. (201.5) I haven't been there in absolutely years!
I am proud of myself for undertaking training for the Twin Cities Marathon. I ran 5.2 miles on Saturday! And the words, "It's only 3 miles" describing a workout actually came out of my mouth and I meant it! I have developed a unhappy butt muscle, but instead of letting it sideline me, I am working with my chiropractor and doing lots of stretching and it really didn't bother me on Saturday's run. I am approaching each new challenge with resolution and not defeat. That's new.
On a side note, I spent the weekend with most of my family and they just couldn't stop telling me how great I look! I could get used to those kinds of comments.
pam

I'm most proud of overcoming fear. I'm still afraid but I walk through it every day. I filed for divorce from an emotionally abusive husband. I moved my daughters and me out of that house. My WLS got me started on a healthier life. I'm proud to face life on life's terms without self medicating with food or alcohol or pills. This has all happened since my surgery. A part of me knew it would. I am proud to be on an honest path of self discovery and reclaiming my soul.
JustWatchMe

I am most proud of myself for making healthy decisions to change unhealthy aspects of my life to help live a longer, healthier, happier life. Two years ago I quit smoking, after an almost 40 year habit, last September I made the decision to begin my journey to WLS, and did everything I was told to do. I'm proud that I've lost 38 lbs so far, and hope to reach my goal by the time one year rolls around. I'm proud of all the people who have answered questions and given support here on BP because it truly makes me feel so less alone in this journey.
I'm really proud of my whole family for supporting and loving me the way they do. I want to be around to become a grandma one day, and to be able to enjoy those grandkids.

I am most proud that I've taken action and will continue to take actions that better ensure I'm around to one day be a grandfather.....and an active one.
I can't wait.

I'm MOST proud of the wonderful young women I'm raising and of all their accomplishments, intelligence, warm loving nature and ability to laugh at themselves.

Regarding weight loss surgery, I am most grateful for the opportunity it has given me to get healthy and enjoy my time with my family. We earned our first and second black belts together. We do mud runs together. We run the dunes, we paddle board and kayak, we lounge at the river and the beach, we spend all day at the mall and the museums.

I have no doubt that WLS has given me a second chance at life and for that, I am thankful.

I am proud of being brave enough to try something different. something not reversible. something even drastic to take a hold of my life and improve my health. I want to see my grandchildren grow up.

I'm proud of the new me because not only am I rocking a new healthier sexier body but my attitude has changed so much. I walk proudly and confidently into a room not feeling embarrassed about myself. I make eye contact with people and smile because I know they are looking at me and not judging me for my size.

I am most proud of my dedication to getting and staying fit. I was an overweight and asthmatic kid who grew up to be an obese, sedentary adult. Since surgery, I now live an active lifestyle, exercising at least three days a week, going for walks, hikes and bike rides with my family, never feeling limited by my body to do whatever I want.

I like that my lap band makes me be an active participant in my health and weight loss journey. If I don't put in the work, it won't really help me. If I put in the right amount of effort and follow my doctor's advice, I can and will succeed.

I like that my lap band makes me be an active participant in my health and weight loss journey. If I don't put in the work, it won't really help me. If I put in the right amount of effort and follow my doctor's advice, I can and will succeed.

I like that my lap band makes me be an active participant in my health and weight loss journey. If I don't put in the work, it won't really help me. If I put in the right amount of effort and follow my doctor's advice, I can and will succeed.

Congrats! Isn't that a great feeling? It's like hitting the jackpot. As you get healthier and shrunk more it only gets better! I can actually go to Anne Taylor Loft and Express and walk out with bags of clothes instead of bags of depression! ☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️

YES!!
The clothes!!!! I tried on something recently in a standard size clothing store and almost cried in the dressing room.

Oh gosh so many things....not having to lift my hanging belly up when I go to the bathroom to make sure my bladder empties, not having to rub gold bond medicated power under my fat belly and in my thigh creases to keep them from cracking and bleeding, not having to pull my back fat forward when putting on a bra to avoid back humps, not having to lay down in the bathtub with my feet in the air to shave because bending over makes me lightheaded, not asking my daughter to trim
my nails because I keep pulling my side muscles when I do it myself from the contorted positions I have to get in, not having to buy shirts that go to my knees so people can't see how far down my fat belly hangs, not having to tuck said fat belly into my pants and try to make it not look like I'm smuggling a roll of Bologna down one leg or the other, not having to wear bike shorts under my skirts and dresses so A) the thighs don't rub and because I can't find underwear that fit properly and I'm afraid my poise pad might fall out of the other sizes leg holes and oddly shaped crotch as I walk????, not holding up my arm fat when I reach over a hot pan to turn the burner off, because I always burn my flabby arms, being able to walk into any store and KNOW they have my size and it's not one rack of granny clothes near the maternity section that sadly still won't fit right even if they are big enough because I'm too tall and they are too short, no sucking it in to put the seatbelt on, no sitting in my desk chair in the kitchen to cook and roll around to do dishes because standing for long period hurts too bad, and absolutely no looking into the mirror and crying. I promise myself when this is all over and done(probably after the plastic surgery) I will look in the mirror and be proud of all that I've accomplished and not focus on all that brought me to where I am right now.

Not having to pay more money for "over sized" things

Good morning Ladies!
I first noticed my shoes slipping off my heels at about the 35 - 40 pound mark...they got progressively more comfortable (they were getting tight), and then I started walking OUT of them when I was going fast! It took me a while to realize my shoe size (and width) had dropped...and I think I was also NOT retaining as much Water.
The width reduction came first, then the size drop. I've been lighter than I am now (rebounded a bit) and I actually was able to wear a 10.5 for a while, but since the rebound I had to give those up...I'm happy about the size 11!
One of my favorite places to find shoes is EBay! When I was at a 12W, I haunted the cross-dresser pages and sellers because they had FAB shoes in my size...I don't do the very high heels as much now, but still find great shoes that way. :-)

Good morning Ladies!
I first noticed my shoes slipping off my heels at about the 35 - 40 pound mark...they got progressively more comfortable (they were getting tight), and then I started walking OUT of them when I was going fast! It took me a while to realize my shoe size (and width) had dropped...and I think I was also NOT retaining as much Water.
The width reduction came first, then the size drop. I've been lighter than I am now (rebounded a bit) and I actually was able to wear a 10.5 for a while, but since the rebound I had to give those up...I'm happy about the size 11!
One of my favorite places to find shoes is EBay! When I was at a 12W, I haunted the cross-dresser pages and sellers because they had FAB shoes in my size...I don't do the very high heels as much now, but still find great shoes that way. :-)

I went from a size 10 to 8 in my shoes and a size 10 to 7 in my wedding ring. I never thought of my hands or feet as looking fat so I was very surprised by this!

Good morning Ladies!
I first noticed my shoes slipping off my heels at about the 35 - 40 pound mark...they got progressively more comfortable (they were getting tight), and then I started walking OUT of them when I was going fast! It took me a while to realize my shoe size (and width) had dropped...and I think I was also NOT retaining as much Water.
The width reduction came first, then the size drop. I've been lighter than I am now (rebounded a bit) and I actually was able to wear a 10.5 for a while, but since the rebound I had to give those up...I'm happy about the size 11!
One of my favorite places to find shoes is EBay! When I was at a 12W, I haunted the cross-dresser pages and sellers because they had FAB shoes in my size...I don't do the very high heels as much now, but still find great shoes that way. :-)

Good morning Ladies!
I first noticed my shoes slipping off my heels at about the 35 - 40 pound mark...they got progressively more comfortable (they were getting tight), and then I started walking OUT of them when I was going fast! It took me a while to realize my shoe size (and width) had dropped...and I think I was also NOT retaining as much Water.
The width reduction came first, then the size drop. I've been lighter than I am now (rebounded a bit) and I actually was able to wear a 10.5 for a while, but since the rebound I had to give those up...I'm happy about the size 11!
One of my favorite places to find shoes is EBay! When I was at a 12W, I haunted the cross-dresser pages and sellers because they had FAB shoes in my size...I don't do the very high heels as much now, but still find great shoes that way. :-)

Airline seats. I no longer freak out about them.

ABSOLUTELY! THIS ONE!