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I weighed myself today at work, and I got on that scale and it said 199 lb. I got off and went back on because I was in disbelief!!
199 lb. I couldn't believe it. I had my Gastric bypass a little over 6 months ago, & I did a 6 month post explaining everything, but to see 199 pounds on the scale was like WOW!!
I mean last year on May 22, 2015 2 days after my 29th birthday, I went to my PCP and was 308 pounds and newly diabetic. and This year in 2 days it will be my birthday and I am 199 pounds, it is just surreal. I have always been a big person, Always!! I am saying bye to my 20s and the the 109 pound person I was carrying around. Very emotional. Very happy.
Happy early birthday present to me!! I hope we all have these moments, something that we all know we are going to loose the weight little by little as we listen to the instructions and do what we are told, but to see the scale I just couldn't believe it!!
I am on cloud 9, super happy!! To continuing to loose weight safely and happily! I've all ready been super happy because I was a person always wanting to eat and now to live my life around living and being active is awesome!!

Last year for my birthday at the office, I was shy to take this picture lol, and my picture now even posing with the cake! I feel great!! I'm so happy

I wanted to say it here. Over 30 years ago I graduated from High School. I weighed 199lbs. That was the last time I saw the 100's.
Until today. I stepped on the scale and there it was....199 lbs.
I cried....tears of happiness, and relief, because that damn scale messed with me for days at 200lbs. and some odd ounces. LOL
I just really wanted to share this with everyone. Even if nobody responds. I'm so amazed at what I have done, so far.
My progress pictures are in my gallery.
146 lbs gone.
49 to go!

So very happy made it to underland haven't been there in 12 years....yippee! !! the journey has had its ups and downs but so happy I had this surgery.... starting weight 343 and as of today 197.
Sent from my SM-N900T using the BariatricPal App

Hey guys!
Well, my nine month anniversary was on Christmas day and every month we take pictures of my progress. I still have a few pounds to lose so I asked my dietitian how do I make this stop, I don't want to look too sickly. She told me that at 135 pounds to slowly introduce good carbs and fats into my diet and watch the scale.
Well, with the holidays and the death of my mother in law, it has been real easy to slow down my weight loss. I guess you could say I'm at a stall at 137 and have been for a month. Which is fine, I have come a long way and looking back I can't believe how fast it went.
The first 2 months after surgery I was frustrated because I was still in my 2x and 3x clothes and not seeing a change. But by the 3th month my pant sizes were changing every 3-4 weeks. I was shopping at Goodwill every month buying a new pair of pants. I'm now in a size 8, CRAZY!
I'm so scared that I will wake up and it would have been a glorious dream.
This forum and the support from you all have been a blessing for me and I thank you!
May you all have a healthy and slimming 2016!
God bless,
-Kim

As of this week I finally hit a normal BMI and i promised myself when that time came I would finally share some pictures. By the way, I still do not like having my picture taken but before I hid behind everyone and because I was tall it was easy to hide the rest of me. Now I definitely am willing to get in the shot and I no longer cringe when I see the pictures.
The only pics I could find before surgery were taken on a cruise with my hubby, Son and Granddaughter. These were taken 1 month before my bypass.


My after was taken earlier today, down 137lbs and finally at a BMI of 24.9

I'm almost to my 6 month mark and I'm feeling great! I'm 86 pounds down and have about another 75 more to go!

Crossing my legs. Kale. Balsamic vinegar. Water. Blouses that button in front and stay closed when I sit down. Walking my dog. Sitting between people in the back seat of a car. food as fuel (sometimes). Being satisfied with one Hershey's Kiss and having no desire for a second one. Or even the first one, really. Shaving my legs with ease. Reading about NSVs!!!

Wait, whuuuuut?? I am always so dang cold, I keep a cardigan on hand every where I go!!

What have I learned to love?
OK, well here goes:
Love being mobile again. Being able to walk, go up and down stairs, bike, hike, swim, etc.
Love being able to shop in any store. If I don't see something I like one place, I know I can go to a dozen other stores. Not just having to shop at Avenue and the women's sections of the department stores.
Love not buying the same thing in every color just because it fits.
Love not worrying about chairs with arms, restaurant booths, airplane seats, or maneuvering around any small space.
Love not being the biggest person in the room anymore
Love the feeling of lightness as I'm no longer lugging around an extra 145 or so pounds.
Love making love in all kinds of positions because I can.
Love being small enough that I can curl into the man, feel the heat coming off his body, and drift off to sleep
Love wearing makeup and deciding what I'll wear and with what accessories I'll match it with each day.
Love that I'm running out of closet space with all the clothes I own.
Love that the opposite sex notices me. Not that I'm flirting but it's still nicer than being ignored.
I'm sure there's more but I think this list is probably long enough and will hopefully give any newbies out there some incentive while they are working on their own transformations.

I made some last night in a skillet with a bit of olive oil, and cooked it a bit on low with some parm cheese, sliced mushrooms and garlic salt, then added a bit of light alfredo sauce... it was pretty yummy. And it satisfies my mental "want" for Pasta... great alternative for me at least!!

I end up baking mine just a little longer... Do you remove the seeds before or after? recipes say before, I've done both. If you do it before, I also take a little more out of the middle after baking it so it's not "slimy". I also brush the underside of the squash with olive oil before baking. Once I remove a little more of the area where the seeds were, I let it cool for a bit, then shred with a fork. I shred small amounts and put them into a bowl as I shred it, so it's not just a big pile that molds together. I haven't had a real issue with mine being clumpy. Pic is of my "spaghetti" I made the other night... not a great pic, I just snapped it quickly for a friend on a low carb diet.

besides cauliflower and chicken pizza crusts, I have been making dishes with spaghetti squash. Takes the place of Pasta and I don't notice much of a difference!!

lots of recipes here... (and pintrest)
http://www.bellplantation.com/Recipe/

Thank you both for the kind words!
I do feel good, but I still can only see the difference if I look at the side-by-side pictures. If I look in the mirror, I see myself just a little bit smaller than before (even though intellectually I know that 65 lbs is not "just a little bit," and plus it's 66 lbs as of this morning ).
I don't know why the mirror reflects a different image to me than the pictures do, but I trust the process. I still have many steps to this journey and maybe I need to still give a proper goodbye to the person whom I have seen in the mirror for so many years before I can see what other people see.
Thank you for the encouragement! It helps tremendously!!

Thanks for all the feedback. I was looking at just cutting it, but I was already thinning on top prior to surgery. I am very envious of those that started with thick hair.???? I am concerned that if I do lose 50% or more of my hair I will start to look ill. As I said earlier, It is already really noticeable without the topper. I am just hoping my Hair loss stops before the topper starts looking odd. ????.
To answer a previous question, I did spend $350 on this, but I thought it was worth it for my self esteem. ????

This morning, I got to the 5:30am (UGH!) Body Pump class at the gym a bit later than normal. The only remaining open spot was in the very front of the class, about two feet away from the instructor, so I had a good view of myself in the massive mirror throughout the workout. I realized then that I haven't spent any time gazing at my reflection this year, and I couldn't believe how amazing I look. [if I do say so myself... ] I seriously can hardly recognize my own body when it's staring back at me.
Even more amazing... about 20 minutes into the class, the woman next to me leaned over and said "...Amy!? Is that really you?!" It was the nutritionist who got me through all six of my monthly pre-op appointments. She left the clinic shortly after I had surgery and I haven't seen her since. This woman had a huge impact on the success I've had to date, and I am so grateful for her help and support. Even more incredible is the fact that just 8 months after surgery, I can work out right next to her and keep up at every step of the way.

Sometimes, I hardly recognize my own life.

I made some last night in a skillet with a bit of olive oil, and cooked it a bit on low with some parm cheese, sliced mushrooms and garlic salt, then added a bit of light alfredo sauce... it was pretty yummy. And it satisfies my mental "want" for Pasta... great alternative for me at least!!

YES!!!! I forgot... boots that fit my calves!!

Yep... Full blown periods have been back for me as well! That was a side effect of surgery I had not considered and do not enjoy.

I had surgery on a Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. and went home the following day at 6 p.m. The ONLY pain I had was when they "stripped" (where the tube exits the body, they pinch and slide the Fluid away from the body and into the bulb. It prevents the tube from clogging and keeps it working correctly) my drain. They'd emptied if throughout the day and it was no big deal. However, when the nurse came in at 4 a.m. to strip it, I thought I was going to scream. It felt like someone took an ice pick and stabbed straight down into my left collarbone. I have a high tolerance for pain and I cried like a baby. He kept saying how sorry he was but that he had to do it. When the day nurse came in to do it I had to endure the pain all over again. My left shoulder was sore for days. When the surgeon and his resident, that assisted, came in later that afternoon I told them. The resident doctor was the one who removed my drain prior to my leaving the hospital. It was quick and painless. They sent me home with a prescription for 55 percocet. I took one twice on Thursday and once on Friday, just as a precaution. By Saturday I was good to go. I have been full of energy and at 53 years old, with a painful nerve condition on my entire right side, I think I've done great! Everyone is different but I'm sure you'll be just fine. Just a couple of suggestions for your hospital stay ... take ear plugs and an eye mask. I did! It will help you sleep so much better

The bariatric team here also has one therapist on staff that they set you up with as part of the "clearance" program they use. They specialize in bariatrics and eating disorders, so they know what to look for, talk to you about, etc.

I am finally below 200 !!! Can't remember the last time I have been at this weight!! Started at 270, had RNY on March 16th and have lost 72 pounds so far!! Unfortunately, during my process I broke my foot and required surgery so have not been able to hit the gym like I had hoped. But I am finally cleared and looking forward to working out !!!! How is everyone else doing?

Congrats!!!
I hit it yesterday...omg what a great feeling!!
Continued sucess on your journey!!

YES!!!! I forgot... boots that fit my calves!!