kristieshannon

Absolutely! Count me in for sure. Just tell me where and when ❤️

GTL & Sophie! I’m so jealous! You both look fabulous. And yes, Kris, I love to do a big meet up. Girls weekend in Vegas? Palm Springs? Napa for wine tasting? I’m there!

I usually order 2 street tacos (which are pretty small). They always come with 2 corn tortillas each, I guess to hold in the juices. I always eat one full taco but take off the 2nd tortilla, then just eat the insides of the second taco.

GTL & Sophie! I’m so jealous! You both look fabulous. And yes, Kris, I love to do a big meet up. Girls weekend in Vegas? Palm Springs? Napa for wine tasting? I’m there!

@Arabesque I love that skirt! The colorful sweater is gorgeous with it and makes your waist look tiny.

Not so much an OOTD as a reflection. I flew in to Dublin yesterday to attend The Frames concert this evening. Not only was I (relatively) comfortable in my coach seat for 9 hours, I was able to buy a size small sweatshirt at the show and had no worries about whether they would have one that fits me or not.

TEN DAYS???!!!??? Oh man, that sounds miserable! I’d be getting out the big guns after day 3.

You look amazing, that color is gorgeous and you’ve got the hot mama bikini bod!

I’m currently on vacay in Dublin. No need for bikinis here!

Just don’t take Calcium supplements within 2 hours of your Iron supplement. Calcium inhibits the absorption of iron.

@Arabesque I love that skirt! The colorful sweater is gorgeous with it and makes your waist look tiny.

Not so much an OOTD as a reflection. I flew in to Dublin yesterday to attend The Frames concert this evening. Not only was I (relatively) comfortable in my coach seat for 9 hours, I was able to buy a size small sweatshirt at the show and had no worries about whether they would have one that fits me or not.

TEN DAYS???!!!??? Oh man, that sounds miserable! I’d be getting out the big guns after day 3.

You look amazing, that color is gorgeous and you’ve got the hot mama bikini bod!

I’m currently on vacay in Dublin. No need for bikinis here!

@Arabesque I love that skirt! The colorful sweater is gorgeous with it and makes your waist look tiny.

Not so much an OOTD as a reflection. I flew in to Dublin yesterday to attend The Frames concert this evening. Not only was I (relatively) comfortable in my coach seat for 9 hours, I was able to buy a size small sweatshirt at the show and had no worries about whether they would have one that fits me or not.

TEN DAYS???!!!??? Oh man, that sounds miserable! I’d be getting out the big guns after day 3.

You look amazing, that color is gorgeous and you’ve got the hot mama bikini bod!

I’m currently on vacay in Dublin. No need for bikinis here!

Not so much an OOTD as a reflection. I flew in to Dublin yesterday to attend The Frames concert this evening. Not only was I (relatively) comfortable in my coach seat for 9 hours, I was able to buy a size small sweatshirt at the show and had no worries about whether they would have one that fits me or not.

TEN DAYS???!!!??? Oh man, that sounds miserable! I’d be getting out the big guns after day 3.

You look amazing, that color is gorgeous and you’ve got the hot mama bikini bod!

I’m currently on vacay in Dublin. No need for bikinis here!

Slightly off topic, but important to me. As a morbidly obese woman I had some pretty serious confidence gaps. For many years I was a single mom. I did have the confidence to get myself through nursing school, raise my two kids on my own, and make a good career for myself. However, outside of work my confidence and feelings about myself were pretty lacking. It was honestly hard to see all of my friends partnered, doing all the “couple” things. I spent a lot of time alone at home reading and watching tv. I self medicated with crappy food.

Eight years ago some of that changed. I met a guy who I thought would be my partner for life. He and I had many adventures together, and as I became happier I started taking better care of myself. However, I think that baseline low level of confidence in myself allowed me to ignore some red flags. I allowed him to keep me in a place of not fully embracing my health. I allowed him to treat me in ways that I should not have, and I should have left sooner. I was still held back by my years of poor self esteem and not truly seeing my value.

I’ve been working in therapy to change that. My marriage has ended. I made a big move both physically and mentally. I left my long time job and moved from Seattle to Portland. I bought my first home-which at 52 felt like an insurmountable task. I’ve been renovating my kitchen. Seems simple, but every time I make these big decisions for myself and successfully execute them my confidence grows.

A long time desire of mine has been to travel to Europe. I always held off not sure enough of myself to take this on without a partner. Well today I took the plunge. I booked myself a trip in May! In my heart I’d still like a partner to do these things with, but I’m now at a place where I don’t NEED one to accomplish things I want to do. Although it’s more complex than just dropping the weight, that is a huge part of it. Moving through the world in a “normal” sized body has been a big piece of gaining confidence to make big moves, and to not accept behavior from people that I never should have.

Plastic surgery was the best thing I did for myself post VSG. Head over to the PS forum, lots of folks have shared their stories and before/after pics.

These are all gorgeous, but I especially love the blush colored one. You are going to be the hot mama of the resort!

My parents are prepping to downsize. They brought this when they came to visit me recently. Not only can I wear my high school letterman’s jacket, it’s actually roomy. And back then I thought I was fat!

This. And to those who think otherwise, kindly just move along.

Respectfully, I suggest when you see a topic you aren’t interested in just move along. This is clearly a topic that has great meaning to many of the members of our group. We come here for support. The LGBTQIA+ community has been discriminated against, targeted, and hated by much of society. Here they should experience nothing but love and support as they work through many of the same, but some unique to just them, issues related to their weight and health.

I’m sorry your aren’t getting a particularly friendly welcome to the forum! I agree, affinity groups can be very a very important part of the process! If you have a question as it relates to your particular place in life, it is likely someone else has that same question. To those posting rude responses, I would encourage you to just move along from any topic you don’t feel relates to you.

No way! That’s one of the best parts of what we’ve all been through-being able to show off our bodies and not needing to cover up in loose clothing anymore. You look amazing, keep up what you’re doing :)

This was my favorite arm compression garment. So comfy! I started with a medium, but as swelling went down ended up ordering a small.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07B59QGY3?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title