mrsNilla

@@sk101 Wow, that's a pretty busy schedule! My teaching is sporadic. I do demos like this when called upon, and have students in my shop on a regular, if not frequent basis. I used to travel, but I got tired of that, and we no longer really needed it to make ends meet. Now I confine my demos to less than a day of travel, and teaching is for those who still want to come to me.

Well done good sir. It's a nice feeling. People say it's the easy way out but we know different
I teach 4 nights a week and only missed 2 weeks when I had the op. I had mine 3 days after you.
I am on my feet for 3 to 4 hours at a time and lose clothing is the norm. It was only when I had to buy new clothes, the old ones were threatening to cause embarrassment by falling off me lol, that it was noticed and commented on.
People have now got used to the fact that I'm getting smaller and no one comments any more which is fine by me as I don't have to keep repeating the "It's a work in progress" mantra. None of my students are aware I have had the op.

I refuse to give up my belt even though I can almost tuck it into my back pocket!

I was all excited, because I am terrible about cleaning closets out. I figured I had plenty of clothes to last me through the winter. I was wrong. I dropped 4-5 sizes in pants within WEEKS, and had to go out and buy some more. Right now I am shopping at Walmart instead of Casual Male, figuring I am only going to get a few weeks out of smaller sizes anyway. Pants have slowed down a bit. Belts cost me a fortune, but that is because I carry a lot of stuff around on my belt, and I need a good one no matter what.

I went closet shopping and realized I may have liked that stuff 10 yrs ago but I sure don't like it now! Tossed just about everything. I kept a dress and a few pair of pants.
I can't wait to completely replace everything in my closet.
As is, as soon as something gets loose, it goes in the donate bag. I refuse to walk around in baggy clothes that hide my shape anymore.
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When you can shop the perimeter of the grocery store like it's an art form.
I rarely go down the inner aisles on a regular basis unless it is for specific items (spices, toilet paper, etc). I haven't seen a Cereal, cracker, cookie, or bread aisle since pre-op.

When you are called a kangaroo, sleever or a bander.

@@Torriluv87 Thank you! I tell Mrs. LittleBill what a lucky woman she is on a regular basis. She just rolls her eyes.

I've been writing thank you again and again here. I just want to say that I am overwhelmed by the kind words on my progress (and on my work too). It is good to be a part of this community here. Thanks to all of you.

Thank you, and yes, I have been peddling my stuff to anyone who will give me money for the last 24 years.

Thank you everyone! Here are a couple of pictures of things I've made, and which I teach others to make.     

Thank you everyone! I am going to have to put ice on my head to get through the door (to reduce the swelling, you know).
This is a huge part of my background. I started a woodworking business 24 years ago because I hated working in the corporate world. I bought a lathe because I thought I would need one to make table legs and such. A whole new world I never imagined opened up before me. I discovered a gift for teaching and communicating, and soon people were literally lined up waiting for instruction. I was egged on by numerous students to make a video, and one day one of them offered to finance an instructional DVD. We ended up making two woodturning DVDs, selling just under 10,000 copies all over the world. There was even one guy in Antarctica who bought one, so I can say I have reached every single continent on the planet.
One of the biggest things people talk about in relation to those DVDs is not a turning technique, but my (former) belly. I referred to it in the first video as my "turning muscle". Over the years, hundreds of people have proudly displayed their own, or cited a lack of a turning muscle as their reason for their ability. And now it is fast shrinking. I'm going to need a new schtick.

No, unfortunately I can't afford plastic surgery. All I can say is everything between my upper thighs to my waist is a hot mess of hanging skin. It does bother me, but there's nothing I can do about it. But that's what good undergarments are for!
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Hi! I've never counted calories, but try not to eat too high fat foods. My carbs are below 20g, always have at least 70g of Protein each day. I exercise a lot, around 5-6 days a week. I do a variety of exercises, which I find has helped. Hot yoga, spin classes, step classes, cardio machines...I find changing it up keeps me motivated.
But you have done so well also!! Congrats on your weight loss!!
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It's been one year today since I had my sleeve done. My life has changed in every aspect.
My start weight was 333.1lbs
My weight this morning was 137.8lbs
That's a total loss of 195.3lbs!!
I've also lost a total of 95 inches...I'm a size 6 now...used to be a size 30.
I have accomplished this by being very focused and strict with my eating and exercise.
I eat very low carb, and always get in my Protein, Vitamins and Water every day.
For all of you just starting out, just know that anything is possible, and if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything!! 
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I can't do the instructor from my flight school justice, but here is my short version: Two eskimos are drinking at the local igloo bar. One says to the other "my igloo is so cold, it snows when I breathe". The other one answers "my igloo is even colder, my piss freezes before it hits the toilet".
A lonely voice from the nearby table asks the two drunk eskimos to join him in his igloo... when they get there he lights a candle and starts taking the covers off his bed... the two eskimos get worried and want to leave, but the host stops them. He takes a brown shape from the linens and holds it over the candle... *fart noise*
It's so much better live, but you get the picture ????
Nilla

Your answer before reminded me of a joke that includes 3 eskimos, a bar and fart Nilla

Just saying, sugar free is not fat free. And the sugar free part was explained so well by @clc9.
I would stick to the surgeons prescribed diet. He/she has a lot more experience and the post-op diet is meant to help us heal, not to be an inconvenience.
Have some jell-o if it's on your diet for this stage and try to learn how to read labels. That will increase your chances of success hugely.
Nilla

Nice picture, looking great! I like when people post a pic where the background tells you even more about the person.
I already have a whole landscape I mind from your stories about squirrels, generators and mrsLittleBill... and that's a sign of a great story teller!
Nilla

I'm sure you didn't come to this desicion lightly. And you are doing it for the person who counts, you. Just continue with changing your habits and if others want to join in the sugar free pudding, just make more of it. They might have the same interest in losing some weight, but are not ready to say it out loud yet.
All the luck to you!
Nilla

Thanks for everyones input!
I had a lovely nut who asked if I was interested in wls, because she considered me a good candidate. That was my start to this journey and she will get a bunch of flowers when I see her in 2 months! I saw her in September the last time and she has always been very supportive, even though we don't see eye to eye on everything. But we can agree to disagree ☺
Nilla

I had rny in November, but I was on a strict diet since September. I lost some padding... still ways to go, but I'm told that it shows.
Here is my dilemma. I never told my Mom that I'm having surgery. She lives 300 miles from me and I see her whenever I have time to go and visit. Last time was just before my sugery and she wasn't happy that I was on a diet. She didn't notice that I already had lost some weight and I was trying to talk to her about wls in general. Nope. She would always change the subject to her sister in laws ass size. So I didn't tell her.
I was supposed to go to visit for xmas, but my hubby is very sick and not getting any better, so it had to be postponed. So I don't know when I will see her next time. I'm below the weight I was when we got married. I'm losing slowly, just over 2 lbs weekly average, but still she will notice it next time I go.
I had something called panniculitis in my stomach around xmas and I told her about that. So that might be my explanation. It comes with nausea ja puking, so not that far fetched. You might lose some weight with that.
I just don't like to lie.
The worse thing is my eating. She will notice that I eat very little. I can't just eat crap and in big portions for a weekend to hide my rny. I will be talked about, a lot. I love my Mom, but she is the worst gossip on the planet and likes to add her own views as facts on top of the story.
Oh well, it's done and I'm happy, so who cares. I'm sure I will end up with some horrible disease in her mind. She also diagnosed my hubbys illness to be a result of our pet parrots... So maybe I lost the weight due to them?
Nilla

Thanks for everyones input!
I had a lovely nut who asked if I was interested in wls, because she considered me a good candidate. That was my start to this journey and she will get a bunch of flowers when I see her in 2 months! I saw her in September the last time and she has always been very supportive, even though we don't see eye to eye on everything. But we can agree to disagree ☺
Nilla

I had rny in November, but I was on a strict diet since September. I lost some padding... still ways to go, but I'm told that it shows.
Here is my dilemma. I never told my Mom that I'm having surgery. She lives 300 miles from me and I see her whenever I have time to go and visit. Last time was just before my sugery and she wasn't happy that I was on a diet. She didn't notice that I already had lost some weight and I was trying to talk to her about wls in general. Nope. She would always change the subject to her sister in laws ass size. So I didn't tell her.
I was supposed to go to visit for xmas, but my hubby is very sick and not getting any better, so it had to be postponed. So I don't know when I will see her next time. I'm below the weight I was when we got married. I'm losing slowly, just over 2 lbs weekly average, but still she will notice it next time I go.
I had something called panniculitis in my stomach around xmas and I told her about that. So that might be my explanation. It comes with nausea ja puking, so not that far fetched. You might lose some weight with that.
I just don't like to lie.
The worse thing is my eating. She will notice that I eat very little. I can't just eat crap and in big portions for a weekend to hide my rny. I will be talked about, a lot. I love my Mom, but she is the worst gossip on the planet and likes to add her own views as facts on top of the story.
Oh well, it's done and I'm happy, so who cares. I'm sure I will end up with some horrible disease in her mind. She also diagnosed my hubbys illness to be a result of our pet parrots... So maybe I lost the weight due to them?
Nilla

Nice picture, looking great! I like when people post a pic where the background tells you even more about the person.
I already have a whole landscape I mind from your stories about squirrels, generators and mrsLittleBill... and that's a sign of a great story teller!
Nilla