xoxococojay

I'm half way there. I didn't think I'd get there this fast as I'm a light weight and I was told by my team to expect to go at a snail's pace. I'm now down 58lbs. And I never thought it was possible
..
I have 51lbs to go. Knowing I've lost more than I have to lose makes me believe I will get there one day. And I've said to myself there is no rush. Id like to be at my goal by 12-18 months but im aware the loss gets slower as you get closer.
It's still surreal to think one day I may be in a 'normal' weight bracket.

It's not been a smooth journey for my health not related to the sleeve. But I'm great full for the sleeve curing my high blood pressure and making me more confident. I didn't think I'd look much different between 244 and 186 but people already treat me differently like I'm in a new body.
I am alot saggier than I imagined I'd be. My tummy my butt thighs and top of my arms but I don't mind so much.
Just thought I'd share my experience.. I'm.one of the people that doubted it would work for.me. as nothing else did !
It's odd to say that I'm in a stage were it's so much easier. I don't feel I'm dieting. It's not hard for me to follow my plan seeing my amazing results.. and it's never been easier. When I used to diet I'd starve and struggled. But I'm eating healthy and living my life.

I went through something similar. To be honest, therapy and all that was somewhat helpful but i wasn't super consistent. Because at the end of the day i got to that point because of what i was putting into my body and me starting to get lazy.

So i had to start all over from scratch. I threw out every piece of junk food, no carbs, started meal prepping again, forced myself to hit the gym either right before work or immediately after instead of going back home again. I had to find other non food related hobbies and take a mental break from some friends because they love to go out and over indulge. It wasn't fun, but i had to do it and now that i am back on track i feel so much better. So maybe something dramatic like that might help you too. I started ordering groceries online.

At one point i even had to ask my surgeon for an appetite suppressant. I don't need it anymore. But it helped.


You can do this, don't give someone else that power over you. You can take control back. Write down everything you eat.

I think that depends on the person, for example my body can't stand super fatty foods anymore.

But some people follow Keto and it works wonders for them, but in order to enter ketosis your diet must be 70% fat, then Protein and very low carbs. So it depends.

1) welcome!!!!
2) congrats on starting your process and your
journey (the starting line may seem overwhelming, but the finish line feels amazing and you all WILL make it to the finish line)
3) wishing each and every one of you continued and long term success!!! You got this, even when you think you don't, you really do.
4) if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask

1) welcome!!!!
2) congrats on starting your process and your
journey (the starting line may seem overwhelming, but the finish line feels amazing and you all WILL make it to the finish line)
3) wishing each and every one of you continued and long term success!!! You got this, even when you think you don't, you really do.
4) if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask

Idk where to post this but i had to tell someone lol.
Story time: so i was at xmas dinner with my friends and family. I'm doing really well with my eating, then things start to go left. I decide to taste the mac and cheese.< /p>
So i get up for a second to mingle with other guest and when i get back to my plate. My friend had poured salt ALLLLLLL over my food so i couldn't eat it.
I'm actually glad she did that, i so don't need those carbs.
I'm secretly glad she didn't put salt in my wine lol.

Venting*** sorry
So i'm in several other online support groups right. And i've started volunteering at my local surgery center support group too.
But lately in 2 of my other online support groups i've been seeing a ton of negativity and body shaming smaller sleevers/ by passers. It's so rude to me.
I just feel so bad for anyone that has to go through that. Someone recently posted something about people being in the 200's not needing wls, and that they should not post their before and afters.
First off, aren't we all having the same struggle? Both physically and mentally.
Secondly, nobody really knows another person's reasoning behind their decision. If your insurance is paying for it, it is because they are obese and possibly have other co morbidies. So i'm all for any and anyone feeling like they need to make a change to keep the weight off and get healthier.
I just think some people should attempt to be a bit more open minded or just not say anything. This post i'm referring to literally started a cyber war, which is so crazy to me. Nobody would ever judge someone for being much larger and deciding to go down the wls route...just saying.
I think everyone should feel welcomed and supported.

Venting*** sorry
So i'm in several other online support groups right. And i've started volunteering at my local surgery center support group too.
But lately in 2 of my other online support groups i've been seeing a ton of negativity and body shaming smaller sleevers/ by passers. It's so rude to me.
I just feel so bad for anyone that has to go through that. Someone recently posted something about people being in the 200's not needing wls, and that they should not post their before and afters.
First off, aren't we all having the same struggle? Both physically and mentally.
Secondly, nobody really knows another person's reasoning behind their decision. If your insurance is paying for it, it is because they are obese and possibly have other co morbidies. So i'm all for any and anyone feeling like they need to make a change to keep the weight off and get healthier.
I just think some people should attempt to be a bit more open minded or just not say anything. This post i'm referring to literally started a cyber war, which is so crazy to me. Nobody would ever judge someone for being much larger and deciding to go down the wls route...just saying.
I think everyone should feel welcomed and supported.

Idk where to post this but i had to tell someone lol.
Story time: so i was at xmas dinner with my friends and family. I'm doing really well with my eating, then things start to go left. I decide to taste the mac and cheese.< /p>
So i get up for a second to mingle with other guest and when i get back to my plate. My friend had poured salt ALLLLLLL over my food so i couldn't eat it.
I'm actually glad she did that, i so don't need those carbs.
I'm secretly glad she didn't put salt in my wine lol.

Surely you are someone outside of your surgery and struggles with our weight. You have interests and dislikes and families- jobs and hobbies. And honestly- yes it is exciting to have this stool and to be on the journey- but hasn't there been enough focus all our lives on just our weight?
I know VST is dedicated to our VSG stories, but I sort of think that who we are makes our VSG surgeries that much more meaningful.
So I'll go first...
I'm Danielle. I'm 27 and I have three sisters and one nephew. I am unmarried and have no children. I work full time running the office for a respiratory company. This semester I am also attending college full time via online classes. I'm now also trying to squeeze in going to the gym three times a week.
I suffer from PCOS and had this surgery to help increase my chances of having a family of my own one day.
I am a TOTAL girly girl! I love the color pink, I like Hello Kitty the way others like Betty Boop or Tinkerbell, and I HATE HATE HATE spiders! I'm not much of an outdoorsie person- my idea of roughing it is five girls and one bathroom. That being said I do love to garden and can't wait for spring.
I love anything to do with 16th century european history and am a total fanatical nut when it comes to Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. My favorite movie and book of allllllllll time is Gone With the Wind. I love watching old movies with my mom- our favorites are Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, anything with Doris Day and the Tammy movies. We also make a point of watching A League of Their Own together whenever it is on tv. I'm close with my Dad but sometimes I feel like we don't have anything in common.
Prior to surgery I loved home cooked food! (Along with chinese and pizza hut haha) I still enjoy cooking for my family (One sister, my parents and I all live together for economic reasons) and resumed cooking them meals within a few days of coming home from the hospital. I have a dog, she is a chihuahua/yorkie mix. Her name is Gypsy and well... she is sort of a monster!! I <3 her tho!
Now it's your turn!! Tell us who you are!

Love it!

With friends like that, you're going to stay slim and fit. Nice to be around people who care.

Idk where to post this but i had to tell someone lol.
Story time: so i was at xmas dinner with my friends and family. I'm doing really well with my eating, then things start to go left. I decide to taste the mac and cheese.< /p>
So i get up for a second to mingle with other guest and when i get back to my plate. My friend had poured salt ALLLLLLL over my food so i couldn't eat it.
I'm actually glad she did that, i so don't need those carbs.
I'm secretly glad she didn't put salt in my wine lol.

I wish I had friends like that. I am almost 2 years post op and even though I am not one for Pasta my downfall is sweets. Wish someone would have sprinkled salt all over the first sweet I had put on my plate. Have a Great 2018

Yeap I completely agree.

Sent from my SM-G935V using BariatricPal mobile app

Wow! You don't even look like the same person! You look younger too. AMAZING!

Sent from my SM-G935V using BariatricPal mobile app

Super long post alert---my apologies.

Hi guys,

I totally forgot to post this. So on 12/20/2016 i celebrated two milestones. It was my birthday, but most importantly it's the day that i finally made it to the loser's bench and took control of my life back.
So this year i had a milestone birthday and my gift to myself was my progress.

I've spent so much time beating myself up because i'm still not at my goal yet, and i do realize that i will get there. But i forgot to actually look back at my progress and see how far i've come and actually enjoy that. Not just physically but mentally. I'm so grateful not just for this tool, but for the support of all the other amazing wls patients i've encountered thus far. I've learned to trust the process, actually stick with it and that i can stick with it because i'm not alone and there's tons of people out there can relate to everything i've experienced on this journey. So thank you!

i've been getting lots of questions about what i did (which is basically the same thing everyone does lol) but a long time ago i posted something in the rants section called "what's wrong with overly sensitive assholes..." it pretty much explains all the things i do. There are a few things i've added along the way since then so feel free to ask and i'll share.

Before:
Life in general just was starting to suck, it was more than just my weight and i realized that i was not happy at all and a little depressed. In regards to my weight- it was spiraling out of control. I had tried every possible diet imaginable, even prescription weight loss drugs. Nothing was working.

So one day i literally just started researching all of my options. I had never even heard of the sleeve before. I thought i wanted the lap band because that's really the only thing i had heard of. I went to a weight loss surgery seminar in my area and i realized that there were so many other procedures available. I was overwhelmed and about to give up. Then one day at work the elevator broke down and i had to go up 7 flights of stairs with my laptop bag and i literally thought i was going to pass out. I was soooo out of breath and out of shape and this was after starting to regularly go to the gym. I was so humiliated because i walking up the steps with men twice my age and twice my size and they were just fine. They could clearly tell that i wasn't. I've never been that embarrassed before. I interviewed 5 different top notch bariatric surgeons in the DC area i finally just decided to go for it. I was finally mentally ready. That was key because if i wasn't, i definitely would have kept old habits. I really didn't tell anyone. I didn't tell my family until the day before because i didn't want anyone talking me out of it or judging me. Especially when everyone in my family is naturally thin so they wouldn't be able to relate.

After:
Literally the best spur of the moment decision i've ever made for myself. I'm so much healthier, to the point where i never even wear makeup because my skin is always glowing. I have so much energy. I'm happier overall. Everything else in my life is finally on track. I've met amazing life long friends through this process. Nobody is ever judging me for being the "big" or "funny" friend anymore. I accidentally found my passion- i realized that i love helping support and mentor other people who are struggling to lose weight. So i've started volunteering in my spare time at my local surgery center. Now i view working out as therapeutic instead of a chore. I literally couldn't be happier. I'm amazed at how i've changed mentally, i'm a lot nicer, less judgmental and more determined to accomplish other goals that i have set for myself. That alone is the one thing that i'm most grateful for. I realized that if i can stick to this which has been my biggest struggle my whole life, there really isn't anything life could throw at me that i can't handle. I also learned to stop comparing myself to others because who really cares, it's easier to focus my energy on the things that i really want to do. Now i'm doing everything i want and enjoying it. I've realized that there's so much more to life.

Happy holidays to everyone btw, wishing everyone continued success on their journey and a prosporous 2018!!! Merry christmas!


Anyway- enough of me rambling. Now for the fun stuff: bombarding you with a million and one progress pics lol 😊

Hw:244
Sw:227
Cw:155
Gw:anywhere between 115-130
Size: 4
Height: 5'1
** and no i have not had any plastic surgery yet...someone really asked me that 🙃

Super long post alert---my apologies.

Hi guys,

I totally forgot to post this. So on 12/20/2016 i celebrated two milestones. It was my birthday, but most importantly it's the day that i finally made it to the loser's bench and took control of my life back.
So this year i had a milestone birthday and my gift to myself was my progress.

I've spent so much time beating myself up because i'm still not at my goal yet, and i do realize that i will get there. But i forgot to actually look back at my progress and see how far i've come and actually enjoy that. Not just physically but mentally. I'm so grateful not just for this tool, but for the support of all the other amazing wls patients i've encountered thus far. I've learned to trust the process, actually stick with it and that i can stick with it because i'm not alone and there's tons of people out there can relate to everything i've experienced on this journey. So thank you!

i've been getting lots of questions about what i did (which is basically the same thing everyone does lol) but a long time ago i posted something in the rants section called "what's wrong with overly sensitive assholes..." it pretty much explains all the things i do. There are a few things i've added along the way since then so feel free to ask and i'll share.

Before:
Life in general just was starting to suck, it was more than just my weight and i realized that i was not happy at all and a little depressed. In regards to my weight- it was spiraling out of control. I had tried every possible diet imaginable, even prescription weight loss drugs. Nothing was working.

So one day i literally just started researching all of my options. I had never even heard of the sleeve before. I thought i wanted the lap band because that's really the only thing i had heard of. I went to a weight loss surgery seminar in my area and i realized that there were so many other procedures available. I was overwhelmed and about to give up. Then one day at work the elevator broke down and i had to go up 7 flights of stairs with my laptop bag and i literally thought i was going to pass out. I was soooo out of breath and out of shape and this was after starting to regularly go to the gym. I was so humiliated because i walking up the steps with men twice my age and twice my size and they were just fine. They could clearly tell that i wasn't. I've never been that embarrassed before. I interviewed 5 different top notch bariatric surgeons in the DC area i finally just decided to go for it. I was finally mentally ready. That was key because if i wasn't, i definitely would have kept old habits. I really didn't tell anyone. I didn't tell my family until the day before because i didn't want anyone talking me out of it or judging me. Especially when everyone in my family is naturally thin so they wouldn't be able to relate.

After:
Literally the best spur of the moment decision i've ever made for myself. I'm so much healthier, to the point where i never even wear makeup because my skin is always glowing. I have so much energy. I'm happier overall. Everything else in my life is finally on track. I've met amazing life long friends through this process. Nobody is ever judging me for being the "big" or "funny" friend anymore. I accidentally found my passion- i realized that i love helping support and mentor other people who are struggling to lose weight. So i've started volunteering in my spare time at my local surgery center. Now i view working out as therapeutic instead of a chore. I literally couldn't be happier. I'm amazed at how i've changed mentally, i'm a lot nicer, less judgmental and more determined to accomplish other goals that i have set for myself. That alone is the one thing that i'm most grateful for. I realized that if i can stick to this which has been my biggest struggle my whole life, there really isn't anything life could throw at me that i can't handle. I also learned to stop comparing myself to others because who really cares, it's easier to focus my energy on the things that i really want to do. Now i'm doing everything i want and enjoying it. I've realized that there's so much more to life.

Happy holidays to everyone btw, wishing everyone continued success on their journey and a prosporous 2018!!! Merry christmas!


Anyway- enough of me rambling. Now for the fun stuff: bombarding you with a million and one progress pics lol 😊

Hw:244
Sw:227
Cw:155
Gw:anywhere between 115-130
Size: 4
Height: 5'1
** and no i have not had any plastic surgery yet...someone really asked me that 🙃

you look fabulous!!!

Sent from my SM-G930VL using BariatricPal mobile app

Great progress!

Super long post alert---my apologies.

Hi guys,

I totally forgot to post this. So on 12/20/2016 i celebrated two milestones. It was my birthday, but most importantly it's the day that i finally made it to the loser's bench and took control of my life back.
So this year i had a milestone birthday and my gift to myself was my progress.

I've spent so much time beating myself up because i'm still not at my goal yet, and i do realize that i will get there. But i forgot to actually look back at my progress and see how far i've come and actually enjoy that. Not just physically but mentally. I'm so grateful not just for this tool, but for the support of all the other amazing wls patients i've encountered thus far. I've learned to trust the process, actually stick with it and that i can stick with it because i'm not alone and there's tons of people out there can relate to everything i've experienced on this journey. So thank you!

i've been getting lots of questions about what i did (which is basically the same thing everyone does lol) but a long time ago i posted something in the rants section called "what's wrong with overly sensitive assholes..." it pretty much explains all the things i do. There are a few things i've added along the way since then so feel free to ask and i'll share.

Before:
Life in general just was starting to suck, it was more than just my weight and i realized that i was not happy at all and a little depressed. In regards to my weight- it was spiraling out of control. I had tried every possible diet imaginable, even prescription weight loss drugs. Nothing was working.

So one day i literally just started researching all of my options. I had never even heard of the sleeve before. I thought i wanted the lap band because that's really the only thing i had heard of. I went to a weight loss surgery seminar in my area and i realized that there were so many other procedures available. I was overwhelmed and about to give up. Then one day at work the elevator broke down and i had to go up 7 flights of stairs with my laptop bag and i literally thought i was going to pass out. I was soooo out of breath and out of shape and this was after starting to regularly go to the gym. I was so humiliated because i walking up the steps with men twice my age and twice my size and they were just fine. They could clearly tell that i wasn't. I've never been that embarrassed before. I interviewed 5 different top notch bariatric surgeons in the DC area i finally just decided to go for it. I was finally mentally ready. That was key because if i wasn't, i definitely would have kept old habits. I really didn't tell anyone. I didn't tell my family until the day before because i didn't want anyone talking me out of it or judging me. Especially when everyone in my family is naturally thin so they wouldn't be able to relate.

After:
Literally the best spur of the moment decision i've ever made for myself. I'm so much healthier, to the point where i never even wear makeup because my skin is always glowing. I have so much energy. I'm happier overall. Everything else in my life is finally on track. I've met amazing life long friends through this process. Nobody is ever judging me for being the "big" or "funny" friend anymore. I accidentally found my passion- i realized that i love helping support and mentor other people who are struggling to lose weight. So i've started volunteering in my spare time at my local surgery center. Now i view working out as therapeutic instead of a chore. I literally couldn't be happier. I'm amazed at how i've changed mentally, i'm a lot nicer, less judgmental and more determined to accomplish other goals that i have set for myself. That alone is the one thing that i'm most grateful for. I realized that if i can stick to this which has been my biggest struggle my whole life, there really isn't anything life could throw at me that i can't handle. I also learned to stop comparing myself to others because who really cares, it's easier to focus my energy on the things that i really want to do. Now i'm doing everything i want and enjoying it. I've realized that there's so much more to life.

Happy holidays to everyone btw, wishing everyone continued success on their journey and a prosporous 2018!!! Merry christmas!


Anyway- enough of me rambling. Now for the fun stuff: bombarding you with a million and one progress pics lol 😊

Hw:244
Sw:227
Cw:155
Gw:anywhere between 115-130
Size: 4
Height: 5'1
** and no i have not had any plastic surgery yet...someone really asked me that 🙃

Super long post alert---my apologies.

Hi guys,

I totally forgot to post this. So on 12/20/2016 i celebrated two milestones. It was my birthday, but most importantly it's the day that i finally made it to the loser's bench and took control of my life back.
So this year i had a milestone birthday and my gift to myself was my progress.

I've spent so much time beating myself up because i'm still not at my goal yet, and i do realize that i will get there. But i forgot to actually look back at my progress and see how far i've come and actually enjoy that. Not just physically but mentally. I'm so grateful not just for this tool, but for the support of all the other amazing wls patients i've encountered thus far. I've learned to trust the process, actually stick with it and that i can stick with it because i'm not alone and there's tons of people out there can relate to everything i've experienced on this journey. So thank you!

i've been getting lots of questions about what i did (which is basically the same thing everyone does lol) but a long time ago i posted something in the rants section called "what's wrong with overly sensitive assholes..." it pretty much explains all the things i do. There are a few things i've added along the way since then so feel free to ask and i'll share.

Before:
Life in general just was starting to suck, it was more than just my weight and i realized that i was not happy at all and a little depressed. In regards to my weight- it was spiraling out of control. I had tried every possible diet imaginable, even prescription weight loss drugs. Nothing was working.

So one day i literally just started researching all of my options. I had never even heard of the sleeve before. I thought i wanted the lap band because that's really the only thing i had heard of. I went to a weight loss surgery seminar in my area and i realized that there were so many other procedures available. I was overwhelmed and about to give up. Then one day at work the elevator broke down and i had to go up 7 flights of stairs with my laptop bag and i literally thought i was going to pass out. I was soooo out of breath and out of shape and this was after starting to regularly go to the gym. I was so humiliated because i walking up the steps with men twice my age and twice my size and they were just fine. They could clearly tell that i wasn't. I've never been that embarrassed before. I interviewed 5 different top notch bariatric surgeons in the DC area i finally just decided to go for it. I was finally mentally ready. That was key because if i wasn't, i definitely would have kept old habits. I really didn't tell anyone. I didn't tell my family until the day before because i didn't want anyone talking me out of it or judging me. Especially when everyone in my family is naturally thin so they wouldn't be able to relate.

After:
Literally the best spur of the moment decision i've ever made for myself. I'm so much healthier, to the point where i never even wear makeup because my skin is always glowing. I have so much energy. I'm happier overall. Everything else in my life is finally on track. I've met amazing life long friends through this process. Nobody is ever judging me for being the "big" or "funny" friend anymore. I accidentally found my passion- i realized that i love helping support and mentor other people who are struggling to lose weight. So i've started volunteering in my spare time at my local surgery center. Now i view working out as therapeutic instead of a chore. I literally couldn't be happier. I'm amazed at how i've changed mentally, i'm a lot nicer, less judgmental and more determined to accomplish other goals that i have set for myself. That alone is the one thing that i'm most grateful for. I realized that if i can stick to this which has been my biggest struggle my whole life, there really isn't anything life could throw at me that i can't handle. I also learned to stop comparing myself to others because who really cares, it's easier to focus my energy on the things that i really want to do. Now i'm doing everything i want and enjoying it. I've realized that there's so much more to life.

Happy holidays to everyone btw, wishing everyone continued success on their journey and a prosporous 2018!!! Merry christmas!


Anyway- enough of me rambling. Now for the fun stuff: bombarding you with a million and one progress pics lol 😊

Hw:244
Sw:227
Cw:155
Gw:anywhere between 115-130
Size: 4
Height: 5'1
** and no i have not had any plastic surgery yet...someone really asked me that 🙃

No my only regret was not doing it sooner. I haven't even been post op long enough to get anywhere near my goal weight yet, but i'm already seeing changes in myself mentally. That part i love most, losing weight is just icing on the cake. This is the best thing i've ever done for myself. The old me died....and thank god. I'm peeing on her grave lol.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Super long post alert---my apologies.

Hi guys,

I totally forgot to post this. So on 12/20/2016 i celebrated two milestones. It was my birthday, but most importantly it's the day that i finally made it to the loser's bench and took control of my life back.
So this year i had a milestone birthday and my gift to myself was my progress.

I've spent so much time beating myself up because i'm still not at my goal yet, and i do realize that i will get there. But i forgot to actually look back at my progress and see how far i've come and actually enjoy that. Not just physically but mentally. I'm so grateful not just for this tool, but for the support of all the other amazing wls patients i've encountered thus far. I've learned to trust the process, actually stick with it and that i can stick with it because i'm not alone and there's tons of people out there can relate to everything i've experienced on this journey. So thank you!

i've been getting lots of questions about what i did (which is basically the same thing everyone does lol) but a long time ago i posted something in the rants section called "what's wrong with overly sensitive assholes..." it pretty much explains all the things i do. There are a few things i've added along the way since then so feel free to ask and i'll share.

Before:
Life in general just was starting to suck, it was more than just my weight and i realized that i was not happy at all and a little depressed. In regards to my weight- it was spiraling out of control. I had tried every possible diet imaginable, even prescription weight loss drugs. Nothing was working.

So one day i literally just started researching all of my options. I had never even heard of the sleeve before. I thought i wanted the lap band because that's really the only thing i had heard of. I went to a weight loss surgery seminar in my area and i realized that there were so many other procedures available. I was overwhelmed and about to give up. Then one day at work the elevator broke down and i had to go up 7 flights of stairs with my laptop bag and i literally thought i was going to pass out. I was soooo out of breath and out of shape and this was after starting to regularly go to the gym. I was so humiliated because i walking up the steps with men twice my age and twice my size and they were just fine. They could clearly tell that i wasn't. I've never been that embarrassed before. I interviewed 5 different top notch bariatric surgeons in the DC area i finally just decided to go for it. I was finally mentally ready. That was key because if i wasn't, i definitely would have kept old habits. I really didn't tell anyone. I didn't tell my family until the day before because i didn't want anyone talking me out of it or judging me. Especially when everyone in my family is naturally thin so they wouldn't be able to relate.

After:
Literally the best spur of the moment decision i've ever made for myself. I'm so much healthier, to the point where i never even wear makeup because my skin is always glowing. I have so much energy. I'm happier overall. Everything else in my life is finally on track. I've met amazing life long friends through this process. Nobody is ever judging me for being the "big" or "funny" friend anymore. I accidentally found my passion- i realized that i love helping support and mentor other people who are struggling to lose weight. So i've started volunteering in my spare time at my local surgery center. Now i view working out as therapeutic instead of a chore. I literally couldn't be happier. I'm amazed at how i've changed mentally, i'm a lot nicer, less judgmental and more determined to accomplish other goals that i have set for myself. That alone is the one thing that i'm most grateful for. I realized that if i can stick to this which has been my biggest struggle my whole life, there really isn't anything life could throw at me that i can't handle. I also learned to stop comparing myself to others because who really cares, it's easier to focus my energy on the things that i really want to do. Now i'm doing everything i want and enjoying it. I've realized that there's so much more to life.

Happy holidays to everyone btw, wishing everyone continued success on their journey and a prosporous 2018!!! Merry christmas!


Anyway- enough of me rambling. Now for the fun stuff: bombarding you with a million and one progress pics lol 😊

Hw:244
Sw:227
Cw:155
Gw:anywhere between 115-130
Size: 4
Height: 5'1
** and no i have not had any plastic surgery yet...someone really asked me that 🙃

Super long post alert---my apologies.

Hi guys,

I totally forgot to post this. So on 12/20/2016 i celebrated two milestones. It was my birthday, but most importantly it's the day that i finally made it to the loser's bench and took control of my life back.
So this year i had a milestone birthday and my gift to myself was my progress.

I've spent so much time beating myself up because i'm still not at my goal yet, and i do realize that i will get there. But i forgot to actually look back at my progress and see how far i've come and actually enjoy that. Not just physically but mentally. I'm so grateful not just for this tool, but for the support of all the other amazing wls patients i've encountered thus far. I've learned to trust the process, actually stick with it and that i can stick with it because i'm not alone and there's tons of people out there can relate to everything i've experienced on this journey. So thank you!

i've been getting lots of questions about what i did (which is basically the same thing everyone does lol) but a long time ago i posted something in the rants section called "what's wrong with overly sensitive assholes..." it pretty much explains all the things i do. There are a few things i've added along the way since then so feel free to ask and i'll share.

Before:
Life in general just was starting to suck, it was more than just my weight and i realized that i was not happy at all and a little depressed. In regards to my weight- it was spiraling out of control. I had tried every possible diet imaginable, even prescription weight loss drugs. Nothing was working.

So one day i literally just started researching all of my options. I had never even heard of the sleeve before. I thought i wanted the lap band because that's really the only thing i had heard of. I went to a weight loss surgery seminar in my area and i realized that there were so many other procedures available. I was overwhelmed and about to give up. Then one day at work the elevator broke down and i had to go up 7 flights of stairs with my laptop bag and i literally thought i was going to pass out. I was soooo out of breath and out of shape and this was after starting to regularly go to the gym. I was so humiliated because i walking up the steps with men twice my age and twice my size and they were just fine. They could clearly tell that i wasn't. I've never been that embarrassed before. I interviewed 5 different top notch bariatric surgeons in the DC area i finally just decided to go for it. I was finally mentally ready. That was key because if i wasn't, i definitely would have kept old habits. I really didn't tell anyone. I didn't tell my family until the day before because i didn't want anyone talking me out of it or judging me. Especially when everyone in my family is naturally thin so they wouldn't be able to relate.

After:
Literally the best spur of the moment decision i've ever made for myself. I'm so much healthier, to the point where i never even wear makeup because my skin is always glowing. I have so much energy. I'm happier overall. Everything else in my life is finally on track. I've met amazing life long friends through this process. Nobody is ever judging me for being the "big" or "funny" friend anymore. I accidentally found my passion- i realized that i love helping support and mentor other people who are struggling to lose weight. So i've started volunteering in my spare time at my local surgery center. Now i view working out as therapeutic instead of a chore. I literally couldn't be happier. I'm amazed at how i've changed mentally, i'm a lot nicer, less judgmental and more determined to accomplish other goals that i have set for myself. That alone is the one thing that i'm most grateful for. I realized that if i can stick to this which has been my biggest struggle my whole life, there really isn't anything life could throw at me that i can't handle. I also learned to stop comparing myself to others because who really cares, it's easier to focus my energy on the things that i really want to do. Now i'm doing everything i want and enjoying it. I've realized that there's so much more to life.

Happy holidays to everyone btw, wishing everyone continued success on their journey and a prosporous 2018!!! Merry christmas!


Anyway- enough of me rambling. Now for the fun stuff: bombarding you with a million and one progress pics lol 😊

Hw:244
Sw:227
Cw:155
Gw:anywhere between 115-130
Size: 4
Height: 5'1
** and no i have not had any plastic surgery yet...someone really asked me that 🙃