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I started on Monday, May 26 since my last weigh in is today, Monday, June 30. I leave for vacation tomorrow and won't be online until I get back next week. Monday, May 26 - 237.4 Monday, June 2 - 234.4 Monday, June 9th - 231 Monday, June 16th - 227.2 Tuesday, June 24th - 224.8 Monday, June 30th - 220.6 GW (for challenge): 218/219 I didn't make goal but I'm really not upset. I lost an awesome amount, kept on track and am still the lowest weight I've been in almost 10 years... I'LL TAKE IT! Let's hope I can keep on track while on vacation at an all inclusive resort! Bea - thanks so much for this! You've been an inspiration and these have been great challenges! Good luck in your future endeavors! Congrats to everyone who has reached (or will reach goal). Good luck this next week!

The green dress is June 2013- a tight size 20 dress from Lane Bryant... The white jeans and polka dot shirt were purchased from the regular women's section at Macy's today, June 28, 2014, (I didn't even look at the plus size section and didn't think about going to a plus size store) - the jeans are a size 14 and the top an XL. This is 79 pounds down from last June (49 down from surgery on April 21st). The next ones are from various weddings over the last couple of years next to the photo from today. I'm still a work in progress, want to lose 70 more, but am feeling quite incredible, am so excited and wanted to share! I had so many doubts before surgery, thinking I couldn't do it, that I'd fail, but I'm feeling great, doing well and just generally am super positive and happy. I hope everyone else is having a great and positive experience!! Hana HW: 301 SW: 271 CW: 222.2

Hey all, Last year I booked an all inclusive vacation with friends before I knew about the surgery. Now I'm two months out from surgery and I'll be leaving next week to head south to some beautiful beaches and fun times. However, I'm also a little worried. I have plans to work out everyday and thankfully my friends are on board with this plan. But I'm more worries about handling the food situation - making smart choices, *having* smart choices available, etc. I've never been to this place nor have I ever done all inclusive so I'm not sure what to expect. Also - ALCOHOL. I didn't plan on drinking at all but I'm also thinking I'll be in the Caribbean, on vacation, with friends. For the first time in years, feeling fabulous, looking amazing (the lowest weight I've been in nearly 10 years)... Can I drink? Once maybe? What happened to you when/if you had a drink? What are my best options for drinks? Any helpful insight/encouragement would be fabulous!! Thanks, Hana

I asked my questions looking to see what other peoples experiences were regarding vacation after surgery. I do know why I had surgery, I've been keeping myself in track and doing well. I do know what to do but this would be a change of pace for me for the week and I was curious what to expect at a place like this - an all inclusive - which I've never been to before. Theoretically, I know what to do... I suppose I wanted to know concrete examples of what people did so I can plan ahead. I also don't think I will drink at all but I was wondering what happens if I had one. I noticed that many people drank after surgery, some very early, others not as early... I wanted to know what they dealt with, if anything. Yes I worry. All the time, every day. Good for you that you don't. But I still think about all my failed attempts and I still worry that this may not work for me, despite seeing my loss and seeing that it's been going great. These are my personal demons that I deal with. Glad you don't have to think about it.

April 21... About 2 months ago.

Not much a secret, really. I keep my caloric intake low - I rarely ever hit 700 calories. I work out almost everyday even if some days are just a walk, other days are elliptical and treadmill and I also do some strength training - mostly my arms and abs. The last two weeks have been rough, work out-wise. But I keep pushing through - pushing water and fluids as much as I possibly can and upping my protein intake - both seem to be keys to keeping the weight coming off - at least in my experience.

I started on Monday, May 26 since my last weigh in will be Monday, June 30. Monday, May 26 - 237.4 Monday, June 2 - 234.4 Monday, June 9th - 231 Monday, June 16th - 227.2 Monday, June 24th - 224.8 GW (for challenge): 218/219 (i forget which lol) 6 pounds in a week? I don't know but I'm gonna try!

I started on Monday, May 26 since my last weigh in will be Monday, June 30. Monday, May 26 - 237.4 Monday, June 2 - 234.4 Monday, June 9th - 231 Monday, June 16th - 227.2 GW (for challenge): 218/219 (i forget which lol) I have about 8 or 9 pounds until goal and two weeks left... I think I might do it... Or at least get close!! And I'll take it, happily :)

Does anyone experience dizzy spells whenever they stand up? I'm 7 weeks out from surgery, down 40 pounds from surgery (down 71 total). I eat around 600 calories a day. I've been experiencing dizzy spells, brief ones, whenever I stand up from sitting down for too long or from laying down. Anyone else experience this? Im going to try and remember to take my blood pressure and check my sugar at those points to see if it's that. Not sure what it is. Anyone else experience this? What ended up being the issue?

I did, yes, to both. I'm definitely going to up my fluids. I've been worried about that from the beginning.

Monday, June 9th - 231 Down 3.4

I started on Monday, May 26 since my last weigh in will be Monday, June 30. Monday, May 26 - 237.4 Monday, June 2 - 234.4 3 pounds lost! :)

You look fabulous!!!! Congrats!

I love these challenges! Thanks Bea I'm going to start today because the last weigh-in I have will be Monday, June 30th. I'll be on vacation over-seas for the rest of that week, including 4th of July. CW 237.4 GW 218 Almost 20 pounds is a lot, I know. But this goal has a couple of facets. Being 218 would be mean I would be at my lowest recorded weight as an adult, the lowest weight in 10 years AND I'll actually be on vacation to enjoy it! I would love to go on vacation rocking my brand new body. If I don't make it, it'll be ok. I'll still be the lowest weight I've been in almost 10 years and happy, happy, happy! But I'm going to push myself and see how I do! Hana

8/2/13 301 (Highest weight) April 7 282 April 14 275 April 21 270 (Surgery weight) April 28 255 May 5 249.4 May 12 244.8 (First goal met, new goal of 235 set for Memorial Day) May 19 241.2 May 26 237.4 I didn't get to my second goal but I'm super happy at my results! This challenge started on April 21, which was my surgery date, and have lost nearly 33 pounds in those 5 weeks. Count me in for the 4th of July challenge!!

Not yet! Still lots if soft food, limited list of things. Shakes, soft chicken. Not puréed but I do have to chew everything to the mushiest.

Hey all!! I'm down 30 pounds and feeling pretty great. Thankfully I have no complications and have been able to work out regularly - and hour of cardio most days (elliptical, treadmill, bike). I had a family wedding this past weekend and I looked fabulous People were amazed at my transformation and I just felt wonderful. See my before and after below. The green dress is from June 2013. The black dress, this past Sunday, is 60 pounds lighter(30 pre-op, 30 post-op). It's also been confirmed that I'm no longer diabetic nor hypertensive and can stop those medications! I hope everyone else is doing well!

When I first started this journey back in August 2013, I weighed 301 pounds and according to my BMI of 50.1, I was "super obese." Now, 61 pounds later, I have a BMI of 39.9 and am *just* "obese." I also got a call from my PCP - she said my bloodwork confirmed that I no longer have to continue my diabetes or hypertension medication and that my bloodwork looks fabulous. The only thing I need to do is get my good cholesterol up and I can do that with exercise - which has been happening 4-6 days a week since surgery so I think I'm on the right track. Still have a ways to go but it's nice to see the results in so many various "weighs." From giving away clothing, putting on dresses that didn't fit for a good long while and now seeing things like my BMI and being off some medication. I'm sure that I'll hit a stall soon, or there will be bumps in the road but I'm trying not to focus on the negative and really just focus on the good news. And be happy. It's a novel experience, really. Hope everyone is having a good Thursday! Holiday weekend is almost here!!!

@@proudgrammy Thank you!!!

I bought a chews from GNC - Healthy Delights - and it's actually delicious (as compared to other chews). It's got 5000mcg per chew and I take it once a day. I, too, want to do what I can to preemptively battle the hair loss.

Your entire post was well-done!!! However, the above quote resonated with me so much!! Thank you for this!

So I'm 4 weeks post-op and I'm feeling great. I had a crazy, busy, fun weekend with a big family dinner to Celebrate multiple birthdays and then a wedding. I felt fabulous, I looked fabulous. I had some pain eating a little bit - not chewing enough, trying some new things - but I was able to walk it off and I danced my behind off at the wedding. I received so many compliments on my dress, on how I looked and everyone just said I glowed. It was pretty wonderful. Here is a little before and after photo. The green dress is from June 2013 at my highest weight of 301. The black dress is from last night, 60 pounds lighter. (30 pre-op, 30 post-op) I love the transformation so far and can't wait to take more pictures - and I never recall saying that before haha There are more before and after photos on my profile. Feel free to take a peak!! All the best, Hana

To be fair and honest, I lost 30 pounds before surgery and then 30 pounds since surgery. I think that the working out and keeping hydrated really make the biggest difference in the way the weight has shifted and how my skin glows! it's just incredible