<3 Carolina Girl <3

Today's weigh in is 285.6 I'm happy with that!

I've been there. When I publicly posted on facebook about my decision, I only had one person to react negatively. She is someone that claimed to know my husband from high school (he doesn't remember her) and I had never met. She added me as a friend out of the blue just a few weeks before. She told me that I should watch a movie that had changed her life. Really? A movie?? Also told me that she knew what I was going through. No, honey, you don't know me, much less what I have been through. I sent her a lengthy message about her unsolicited advise and how she did not know me or my situation. I (and my husband) have since blocked her from our accounts and don't feel bad about it at all. That's the kind of person I don't need in my life. I'd suggest the same. She doesn't know you or your life/struggles. It's ok to NOT be friends with some people on social media. I would block & don't look back if I were in your shoes. Just my opinion.

Those things you are feeling you might miss will be replaced with kind of opposites. You will be open to more options for Halloween. ..not just the fat character. And while your insulation might go away, you will be so much more equipped to handle the Florida summer heat. It's a trade off that I'm certainly willing to make. Best of luck!

Today's weigh in - 300.8 Surgery was on Monday, so this includes the fluid retention, etc. Looking forward to hopefully a nice little drop for next week's weigh in.

@@BlondeBanshee you're probably not signed in on the app. Happened to me too.

Starting weight:301.2 Surgery on Monday, 11/10/2014 Goal for challenge: 270 Best of luck everyone!

Hey!!! I have barely seen others from SC here. I'm near Charleston. Just wanted to say hi, neighbor!

Adding it to my list. Great idea! I love the fresh cotton/clean breeze kind of scents.

I am on Facebook, LaVerne West - feel free to find and add me. I have shared the news with everyone there. My surgeon doesn't require the liquid pre-op diet, lucky me! I'm just enjoying the countdown! 5 days to go!

We'll be sleeve twins I'm having surgery next week as well. Best of luck!

Congratulations on your success! You're doing great!

I'm having surgery on Nov. 10th, so I should be on mushies by Thanksgiving. We will be dining with my sister's in-laws and there will be tons of great food. I hope not to be tempted, but I know that even if I am, I will resist. Conversations with my doctor have usually included the, "If you don't follow these instructions, you could die!" speech. A piece of turkey is not worth compromising all I've worked for up to this point, much less my life.

I'd like to give it a try. I will be sleeved on Nov. 10th. This will be my first challenge & I'm looking forward to it. Thanks for putting this together. Best of luck to us all!

The countdown is at 19 days now. In my last post, I was kind of numb to what I felt about things. Not long after I wrote that post, things turned upside down for me and I've been tested and tried for the past week. I've been dealing with the loss of a grandparent and burying him on my birthday. I'm not sure about you guys, but when there's a death around here, everyone and their brother brings food for the family. My mother (who lives with us) has had some sort of episode that almost took her life. Amid those happenings, were my birthday on Monday and my daughter's yesterday. I'm so tired at this point, I don't know what to do with myself. With everything going on, I have failed my eating plan. My choices haven't been terrible except a few small slips here and there, but it's not structured and I have not been logging anything. I wouldn't even have my step counts if it weren't for my fit bit logging automatically. I feel like I've lost control of it all. I hope that things will settle down soon. I don't have much time left for this havoc! I have my pre-op appointment this afternoon. I'm nervous and don't know what to expect. I know I've lost a few pounds, but I'm worried that it's not as much as I'd like. I'm worried about talking about my shortcomings in the last couple of weeks. I really am motivated to have this surgery and change my life. I know I have to work extra hard in the coming weeks and months. I know I have to be normal to have these set backs, but I do NOT want to have this jeopardize my surgery. I know the surgeon can change his mind. While I know that the only reason he would is if he truly believed that I was not ready for this, but I am SO SO SO ready! I may not have the passion that I felt when this was all so new, but I still have the need and desire to be healthy. And I want to get started on that as soon as possible. Maybe a visit with Doc will give me the boost I need to get through the next 19 days and give me that drive back. I always go in worried and stressed and come out with a totally different outlook. SO wish me luck guys...my time is drawing near.

It's been a little while since I posted. As of my last update, my case had not yet been submitted. Well it was submitted on September 29th and I received the best call ever on October 1st. It barely took a day to get my approval! How awesome is that?!?! I was given the choice to move up my surgery date, but the only date available was my daughter's birthday. I was afraid that might happen...I just couldn't do this on her day, so I've kept my November 10th date. I was so excited to get my approval call. I'm a little concerned now though, because I'm not really feeling much of anything at the moment. I know time is getting closer, but I'm not getting anxious like I expected. I've been a little lax about logging my meals, I haven't been increasing my steps like I should. Although I know I'm still dropping a little weight, I'm not as passionate about this as I was at first. I think I have become bored with it. It's not easy anymore, the new-ness is gone. I know I'm going to have the surgery and will make sure that I don't gain, but I want to be excited again. Is this fear trying to creep in on me? I don't feel scared or worried. I just don't feel anything. Twenty five days, while I know isn't that long, seems like an eternity right now. I am just ready for it to be here. I feel I'm merely existing until that day. My birthday is in 4 days and my daughter's is in 5. My 5th wedding anniversary is a week from today. None of this excites me right now. I don't even want to deal with them. As a matter of fact, I haven't dealt with them. I haven't done a single thing for my daughter's birthday. Haven't even thought of how to celebrate my wonderful husband for our anniversary. Everyone around me has been so excited for me and ask me about it all the time. I put on a face, and I am excited in that moment, but I miss the life-consuming excitement that I had at the beginning of my journey. Is it because I won? Is it because I know I've beaten all of the hurdles that I had to overcome? Maybe this is my form of fear - avoidance - of thinking of the even bigger hurdles that are yet to come. That may be it...

Just keep moving, you'll get to where you need to be. Remember, every step you take is movement! And any movement beats sitting on the couch!

November 10th here. So very excited! All requirements met, insurance approved & ready to go!

Hang in there. You're doing great. I can imagine the PMS getting the better of you. It never makes you feel good about yourself. I wouldn't be surprised if you dropped several pounds after your cycle as well. I usually fluctuate during that time and I'm still pre-op. Keep following your plan and remember ANY loss is better than a gain! Congrats on your success!

Love this post! I'm hoping to change my opinion on running sometime in the future. For now, I'm just trying to keep a steady increase on my daily steps. It's slow, but I'm getting there. On another note - Only 6 more days til the return of my favorite zombies & zombie killers on The Walking Dead! WooHoooo!