Brandeis

I am officially one year out today -- had my surgery 11/14. On the day of surgery, I had lost 25 pounds to get from 317 to 292, and was incredibly proud of myself.
Today I'm 181. I am 14 pounds from goal at a year out. In the last month I lost 5 so -- soon maybe ?? Definitely by 18 months if nothing else.
I did a bunch of progress shots at 6 months, figure I'd add to them today!

First pick is at my heaviest; second pic is xmas day 2016, so about a year ago; third from 6 months out and the last, of course, is today!

First pic here is about 1 week post op -- I was so proud of how much I'd lost, jeeeeeez!! Second picture is around January, I think, then march, and then today, again!
This one is painful.

I took the picture on the right the day before surgery...looking back at it now, I don't even recognize myself!

My face from my 10 year college reunion at my heaviest, and then again, today (I don't recognize myself in EITHER of these pictures, and it freaks me out just a little.
Finally, for fun, a big change -- I picked up a tennis racket again this fall. And now it's too cold to play and I'm mad, because I want to SO VERY MUCH.

I'll have to see if there are any cheap indoor courts...
Other awesome moments in my recent life:
> seatbelts fit comfortably on airplanes
> I can cross my legs to sit comfortably in any situation
> didn't have to worry AT ALL about my size when going on rollercoasters at Hersheypark
> I haven't had a clumsy fall down in months, despite an incredible amount of increased activity
> SIZE 10-12 FROM A SIZE 24, I CAN FIT IN STRAIGHT SIZES!! went shopping at H&M and other places and realized how cheap clothes can be....
> went from fattest friend in the group to...potentially....the thinnest..........???
14 more pounds to normal BMI, and that's what I really want more than anything else.

I am officially one year out today -- had my surgery 11/14. On the day of surgery, I had lost 25 pounds to get from 317 to 292, and was incredibly proud of myself.
Today I'm 181. I am 14 pounds from goal at a year out. In the last month I lost 5 so -- soon maybe ?? Definitely by 18 months if nothing else.
I did a bunch of progress shots at 6 months, figure I'd add to them today!

First pick is at my heaviest; second pic is xmas day 2016, so about a year ago; third from 6 months out and the last, of course, is today!

First pic here is about 1 week post op -- I was so proud of how much I'd lost, jeeeeeez!! Second picture is around January, I think, then march, and then today, again!
This one is painful.

I took the picture on the right the day before surgery...looking back at it now, I don't even recognize myself!

My face from my 10 year college reunion at my heaviest, and then again, today (I don't recognize myself in EITHER of these pictures, and it freaks me out just a little.
Finally, for fun, a big change -- I picked up a tennis racket again this fall. And now it's too cold to play and I'm mad, because I want to SO VERY MUCH.

I'll have to see if there are any cheap indoor courts...
Other awesome moments in my recent life:
> seatbelts fit comfortably on airplanes
> I can cross my legs to sit comfortably in any situation
> didn't have to worry AT ALL about my size when going on rollercoasters at Hersheypark
> I haven't had a clumsy fall down in months, despite an incredible amount of increased activity
> SIZE 10-12 FROM A SIZE 24, I CAN FIT IN STRAIGHT SIZES!! went shopping at H&M and other places and realized how cheap clothes can be....
> went from fattest friend in the group to...potentially....the thinnest..........???
14 more pounds to normal BMI, and that's what I really want more than anything else.

For me, I break a lot of rules -- a lot -- but I break them sparingly, which I think is why I've been so successful thus far. I've had sodas, now and then; full calorie ones, if I do it, because it's a treat that I have only now and then & I know how many calories it is. I eat sweets, but only a very small amount, which is usually enough to satisfy. At parties, etc, I indulge in things I never would at home.

But on the day to day basis, I follow the rules. I no longer sit and eat an ENTIRE THING of oreos. Instead I eat 2.

Abstinence doesn't work, but moderation does....

I take a lot of selfies. Assembled this; roughly a year, each roughly a month apart......

I go to a fancy party every oct...dug out my picture from last year (size 22) to compare to this year (size 12, and that's in DESIGNER sizes) and...wow! By this point last year I'd already lost about 20 pounds on my pre-op diet, and was feeling really good about how I looked. Everyone was complimenting my weight loss....lmfao
One year next week. I'm going to have to dig out the big dresses to put on and compare again!

Went to ren faire this weekend....and my garb was TOO BIG. I put it on, had to take it off and lace everything up completely, as tight as it could go. Still too big. Could put my entire hand in there. Oh well.

Left is around 194. Right is around 300.

The wrists are what freak me out the most, I think. Wrists. Collarbones. Being able to feel my hip bones (and ribs, even, when I lie down!) My body feels so alien, sometimes.
Other times I just grab the excess skin on my belly and that feels more familiar/natural. xD

I hit my high school weight this week.
So I tried on the prom dress I for some inexplicable reason still had in the back of my closet.
And it fit.

I definitely need a bra at 33 (which I didn't at 18 lol) but otherwise...HELL YEAH.
ADDING IN HIGH WEIGHT FOR COMPARISON:

I take a lot of selfies. Assembled this; roughly a year, each roughly a month apart......

I hit my high school weight this week.
So I tried on the prom dress I for some inexplicable reason still had in the back of my closet.
And it fit.

I definitely need a bra at 33 (which I didn't at 18 lol) but otherwise...HELL YEAH.
ADDING IN HIGH WEIGHT FOR COMPARISON:

I hit my high school weight this week.
So I tried on the prom dress I for some inexplicable reason still had in the back of my closet.
And it fit.

I definitely need a bra at 33 (which I didn't at 18 lol) but otherwise...HELL YEAH.
ADDING IN HIGH WEIGHT FOR COMPARISON:

I hit my high school weight this week.
So I tried on the prom dress I for some inexplicable reason still had in the back of my closet.
And it fit.

I definitely need a bra at 33 (which I didn't at 18 lol) but otherwise...HELL YEAH.
ADDING IN HIGH WEIGHT FOR COMPARISON:

For me, I break a lot of rules -- a lot -- but I break them sparingly, which I think is why I've been so successful thus far. I've had sodas, now and then; full calorie ones, if I do it, because it's a treat that I have only now and then & I know how many calories it is. I eat sweets, but only a very small amount, which is usually enough to satisfy. At parties, etc, I indulge in things I never would at home.

But on the day to day basis, I follow the rules. I no longer sit and eat an ENTIRE THING of oreos. Instead I eat 2.

Abstinence doesn't work, but moderation does....

I hit my high school weight this week.
So I tried on the prom dress I for some inexplicable reason still had in the back of my closet.
And it fit.

I definitely need a bra at 33 (which I didn't at 18 lol) but otherwise...HELL YEAH.
ADDING IN HIGH WEIGHT FOR COMPARISON:

I hit my high school weight this week.
So I tried on the prom dress I for some inexplicable reason still had in the back of my closet.
And it fit.

I definitely need a bra at 33 (which I didn't at 18 lol) but otherwise...HELL YEAH.
ADDING IN HIGH WEIGHT FOR COMPARISON:

I take a lot of selfies. Assembled this; roughly a year, each roughly a month apart......

I take a lot of selfies. Assembled this; roughly a year, each roughly a month apart......

I hit my high school weight this week.
So I tried on the prom dress I for some inexplicable reason still had in the back of my closet.
And it fit.

I definitely need a bra at 33 (which I didn't at 18 lol) but otherwise...HELL YEAH.
ADDING IN HIGH WEIGHT FOR COMPARISON:

I hit my high school weight this week.
So I tried on the prom dress I for some inexplicable reason still had in the back of my closet.
And it fit.

I definitely need a bra at 33 (which I didn't at 18 lol) but otherwise...HELL YEAH.
ADDING IN HIGH WEIGHT FOR COMPARISON:

I take a lot of selfies. Assembled this; roughly a year, each roughly a month apart......

I hit my high school weight this week.
So I tried on the prom dress I for some inexplicable reason still had in the back of my closet.
And it fit.

I definitely need a bra at 33 (which I didn't at 18 lol) but otherwise...HELL YEAH.
ADDING IN HIGH WEIGHT FOR COMPARISON:

I take a lot of selfies. Assembled this; roughly a year, each roughly a month apart......

I hit my high school weight this week.
So I tried on the prom dress I for some inexplicable reason still had in the back of my closet.
And it fit.

I definitely need a bra at 33 (which I didn't at 18 lol) but otherwise...HELL YEAH.
ADDING IN HIGH WEIGHT FOR COMPARISON:

I hit my high school weight this week.
So I tried on the prom dress I for some inexplicable reason still had in the back of my closet.
And it fit.

I definitely need a bra at 33 (which I didn't at 18 lol) but otherwise...HELL YEAH.
ADDING IN HIGH WEIGHT FOR COMPARISON:

I hit my high school weight this week.
So I tried on the prom dress I for some inexplicable reason still had in the back of my closet.
And it fit.

I definitely need a bra at 33 (which I didn't at 18 lol) but otherwise...HELL YEAH.
ADDING IN HIGH WEIGHT FOR COMPARISON: