janesays

Before I had my surgery almost two years ago, I made a list of all the goals I had. Of those 20 or so things, I only have about 3 of my original left (I've added a few more now!) One that I recently crossed off last weekend: feeling confident in a swimsuit in Vegas! So here are some before and after pics of me. I've been maintaining between 140 and 150 for about 9 months now, and Vegas was a good way to Celebrate :thumbup:

BIG nsv for me a few days ago! my best friend from high school was in town visiting me and needed to borrow a pair of jeans. she has always been tiny to me (calls herself a size 2, but shes probably more a comfortable size 4)... before my surgery, she asked what size i wanted to be ultimately and i said i thought i didnt want to be as small as her, that i didnt think i would look good at her size. i said i would probably want to be a size 8 comfortably, and possibly a size 6 if i ever got to that point. well, a week or so ago, i actually bought my first pair of size 4 jeans (not too tight to button either, they actually fit me just perfectly! crazy i know!) so i let her try them on and... lo and behold... they fit her! she actually had to struggle a little bit to get them over her calves since they are express' ultra skinny jeans. MIND BLOWING! i don't see myself as the same size as she is, and i suppose it will take me a long time to see my body the way the rest of the world sees it, but... when i see pictures of us together now, we really are the same size! it sounds so vain but i never realized how much this would mean to me...

I think this is the first time I have ever really posted a before/after picture in here. I don't know why I have felt uncomfortable posting, but so many people have told me individually that my weight loss has inspired them -- so I just want to help as many people as possible to see that there is a healthy person, a skinny girl (dare I say it? -- a SEXY woman!) inside of them as well. I remember the night before my surgery, when I was in a hotel room with my mom, and I was showing her other people's before and after pictures. It really helped to calm both of our nerves, and to make me realize that if so many others can be successful, then I can too. I had my surgery in November 2009 at 241lbs (though at my heaviest I weighed 261lbs.) I have been consistent with my weightloss, and when a bump in the road came along in May -- my band was too tight at 7cc/10cc and I was completely unfilled -- I decided to hire a personal trainer. My trainer quickly became one of my closest friends that summer; he taught me how to take control of my body and is the reason why I have continued my success after I moved in August. (I have since added some Fluid back into my band -- about 4cc/10cc -- to help me control the occasional craving.) Just over a year past my surgery, I have surpassed my original goal of 165lbs (into the "normal bmi" range) and am just about to break the 150 barrier. I would have been happy maintaining at 160-165, of course, but I just gave my mom all of my size 10 jeans and have officially moved down to a comfy size 6! Never in a million years did I think it could happen, but the perfectionist in me realized that just being healthy wasn't enough -- I want to look DAMN good! I mean, come on... I'm 21 years old, after all... I've gotta get some dates every now and then :smile2: So here you go -- a front, a side, and a back comparison of me -- from a size 18/20 to a size 6!

I totally forgot about this challenge the past few months! even though I've still been totally aware of my diet and exercise. Wanted to check back and see what goal I had made now that it's the new year and.... I surpassed the one I made for myself! This just made my night :smile2: Name********Starting Weight*****Current*******Goal******To go 1RockinMom.........254............220.........145.......75 Alleycia...........255............220.........152.......68 ALuv82.............280.5..........259.........200......59 AmethystJade.......231.8..........212.........150......62.0 Babe...............308............267.........199.......68 Bellaperdente......196............173.........150.......23 Bklyn1984..........317............217.........165.......52 Bostongurl.........190............186.........133.......53 Brandy.............198............181.........166.......15 Cappy..............240............223.5.......130......93.5 Chocolate_Snaps....244............216.........175.......41 CubsGirl17.........147............135.........130.......5 Clarebear08........192............166.........160.......6 Donna113...........183............172.5.......126......46.5 dublingirl.........224............209.........145.......64 Ebonie.............307............298.8.......200......98.8 EmmaWang...........241............195.........140.......55 FalloutGirl........282............278.........165.......112 FeliciaLevy75......200............194.........140.......54 FlordiaPete........413............350.........300.......50 GratefulHeart......226............187.........135.......52 GuyMontag..........325............276.........200.......76 health4life........279............239.........150.......89 inri09.............287............254.........185.......69 janesays...........225............158.........160.......-2 jtejada............249............201.........170.......31 kaninag............210............200.........170.......30 kimaly.............194............179.........160.......19 Lindar172..........246............218.6.......150......68.4 Linksmom...........234............234.........145.......89 LocomotiveEngineer.311............311.........220.......91 Long2BThin.........216............178.........169........9 lotzasunshine......270............240.........199.......41 Loveislovely.......216............170.........165.......5 ltgordon...........284.8..........229.4.......185......44.4 lucyavery..........205............205.........140.......65 Mair...............231............222.........140.......83 Mamanmidwife.......264............260.........200.......60 mdgarcia31665......220............220.........165.......55 MissNilsa..........180............180.........132.......48 nicolerose.........365............288.........258.......30 Pink...............230............152.........145........7 Rhea2d.............283............233.........185.......58 Sandra267..........220............220.........165.......55 Sistergrl25........359............232.........170.......62 Snow...............227............167.........141.......26 stacy73............285............214.........160.......54 Tabithan...........240............240.........200.......40 Tuger..............217............178.........130.......48 Under200...........242............199.........155.......44 vzghj3.............202............202.........150.......52 Wendy_Wo...........242............218.........142.......76 WOWOX7.............173............147.........125.......22 Zoom-Zoom..........229............201.........135.......66

drew and angie you both look AWESOME!

Erin Marie-- I used to cut the tags out of my clothes for the same reason! definitely don't do that anymore... lol congrats on your incredible weight loss so far!

i started working at a new office about 6 weeks ago, so everyone there has never known me as the fat girl. and because i work for a magazine publisher, our floor of maybe 100 people is about 75% women (a good number of whom are very pretty, skinny and fashionable), so the guys that work there flirt, all day long. its not really a big deal, its mostly a younger group (in their mid-twenties) so its a fun atmosphere, but its weird to be included in that group of "hot girls" that these guys hit on. sooo i have a related NSV to this that i feel really horrible telling anyone else, i even feel a little weird telling you guys! but i know most of you (girls at least) completely agree with me that you've secretly wanted this one.... well: of all of the guys at our work, theres really only one that many of the girls actually flirt back with. i can see why, by normal standards, hes very attractive -- tall, athletic, confident --though this isnt really my type so i dont flirt with him. hes still a fun guy though, so i think of him as a nice work friend. but last night a big group of us went to a bar after work and in front of all these girls who were trying to get his attention, this one guy kept on talking to me -- and at the end of the night asked for my number in front of some of the other girls! (and-- stupid me, i actually gave it to him because i didnt believe that he was actually trying to pick up me and not these other gorgeous women that were so obviously flirting with him.... but i figured it out later that night when he sent me a booty text! HA!) soooooo yeah, sorry for this long story, but this is a big nsv for me-- I TURNED DOWN A "HOT GUY"! this is the biggest confidence booster! i feel so horrible saying this one out loud after all of those years of being rejected, but i dont feel so bad, because i assume this guy hasnt gotten turned down very often. and i am only saying it to you guys because otherwise its really embarrassing and i dont think other people would understand why its a big deal... that this guy chose to pick ME up and not the other gorgeous girls.... wow!

i was 20 when i had my surgery november 20, 2009... i'm now 21 and down about 90lbs!

Thank you! I was exercising when I was over 200lbs, but I don't think I was doing much running. In fact, I hated running. I was especially embarrassed running in front of other people, because I couldn't go longer than 15 seconds at a time. But I kept exercising and eating healthy and once I started the C25K program in May, I was about 190-195lbs. I haven't followed the program exactly and have just been doing what I am capable of and pushing myself, but obviously it has worked! Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions! p.s to the thread.... now that I know I can run a 5k, I want to push myself even more. There's a turkey trot race I want to do where they have either a 5k or an 8-mile run. I hear that once you can run 3 miles you can run a marathon if you put your mind to it... so I think I could totally do 8 miles. Right? It's still a few months away!

just wanted to jump in here.. this show is so addicting! i don't have a TV anymore since i can watch almost every show i like online... except for THIS one! it's so frustrating! so i've watched bits and pieces of it... but for all you curious like me, through finding those clips, someone else commented with a link proving that alexandria's crush was the 23 and single antoine.. and they are now dating! Alexandra White - Biggest Loser Elimination Interview | Diets in Review Blog

today i ran my first 5k! i did the NY susan g. komen race for the cure in central park and finished in just under 33 minutes! i also raised more than $600, so i'm proud of two accomplishments there! i was running for my mom, who is currently going through radiation but recovering from her mastectomy surgery well. but i definitely couldnt have run it without the help of the group in this thread, so thanks guys! i hope to do a more official race (aka timed!) soon! to think that only a few months ago I would be out of breath the first 20 feet, and today I only stopped for water after 1.5 miles!

did the labor day challenge-- slow but steady and it really helps remind me that i am still losing a lot! thanksgiving is 11 weeks away and i want to be at GOAL by then-- i think i can do it, it means only about a pound a week on average. goal by my 1 year bandiversary!! i can do it!

my official final weight for this challenge was 174-- just 4 lbs shy of my goal, but overall i lost 16lbs this summer, which is great now that i am nearing my overall goal weight! its good to look at the big picture of things. by thanksgiving (right around my 1 year bandiversary!!!) my goal is to be at a "normal" bmi -- so only 10lbs more to lose by then! easy as pie! hopefully... :thumbup:

i bought my first pair of jean shorts -- EVER! and guess what? they are a size EIGHT from zara.. and even a little loose around the waist! i actually considered going back and exchanging them for a 6, but i've never tried that low a size and it just seems crazy to me. next time i'm around there i promise i will try on the smaller size... but for now i'm just gonna enjoy these shorts while its still hot outside! my goal size at the beginning of this journey was to wear a solid 8.

blackcherry what a sucky nsv! im sorry to hear that. my nsv this weekend was that 3 of my friends picked me up! i asked the first one bc hes big and strong, but when he picked me up like it was a piece of cake, everyone else started saying that they could easily pick me up too! so that was something i had always wanted to do! also, we went to float the river unexpectedly so i didn't have a bathing suit with me. not only was i able to borrow a bikini from a friend who i have always thought of as normal-sized, but it was even a little big! i still wore a cover up, but it felt good to be normal and fit in with the group, and not to be embarrassed in my suit. there were a bunch more nsvs this weekend but these were the good ones!

i hadnt seen the previews on tv and i just looked at the bio lists on the site-- i didnt know daniel would be coming back! im so happy for him! i thought he didnt get a fair chance at staying on the ranch last season. glad hes getting a second chance!

haven't updated in awhile-- but glad to see i am still losing weight! so much slower now, but i'm getting really close! only 10lbs away from "normal"!! Name********Starting weight*****Current*******Goal******To go 1RockinMom.........254............220.........145.......75 Alleycia...........255............220.........152.......68 ALuv82.............280.5..........259.........200......59 AmethystJade.......231.8..........212.........150.......62.0 Babe...............308............272.........199.......73 Bellaperdente......196............177.........150.......27 Bklyn1984..........317............227.........165.......62 Bostongurl.........190............186.........133.......53 Brandy.............198............181.........166.......15 Cappy..............240............223.5.......130.......93.5 Chocolate_Snaps....244............216.........175.......41 CubsGirl17.........147............135.........130.......5 Clarebear08........192............166.........160.......6 Donna113...........183............172.5.......126.......46.5 dublingirl.........224............209.........145.......64 Ebonie.............307............298.8.......200.......98.8 EmmaWang...........241............195.........140.......55 FalloutGirl........282............278.........165.......112 FeliciaLevy75......200............194.........140.......54 FlordiaPete........413............364.........300.......64 GratefulHeart......226............187.........135.......52 GuyMontag..........325............276.........200.......76 health4life........279............239.........150.......89 inri09.............287............254.........185.......69 janesays...........225............175.........160.......15 jtejada............249............201.........170.......31 kaninag............210............202.........170.......32 kimaly.............194............180.........160.......20 Lindar172..........246............218.6.......150.......68.4 Linksmom...........234............234.........145.......89 LocomotiveEngineer.311............311.........220.......91 Long2BThin.........216............178.........169........9 lotzasunshine......270............240.........199.......41 Loveislovely.......216............170.........165.......5 ltgordon...........284.8..........229.4.......185.......44.4 lucyavery..........205............205.........140.......65 Mair...............231............222.........140.......83 Mamanmidwife.......264............260.........200.......60 mdgarcia31665......220............220.........165.......55 MissNilsa..........180............180.........132.......48 nicolerose.........365............288.........258.......30 Pink...............230............152.........145........7 Rhea2d.............283............233.........185.......58 Sandra267..........220............220.........165.......55 Sistergrl25........359............246.5.......170.......76.5 Snow...............227............167.........141.......26 stacy73............285............214.........160.......54 Tabithan...........240............240.........200.......40 Tuger..............217............178.........130.......48 Under200...........242............199.........155.......44 vzghj3.............202............202.........150.......52 Wendy_Wo...........242............218.........142.......76 WOWOX7.............173............147.........125.......22

andy you look great! such a difference and in such a short amount of time! you will reach your goal in no time :smile2:

thats awesome laur! I remember when I first fit into my old pair of size 16s; it was such a good feeling not having to lay down on the bed and suck in just to button it. (and to think.... now six months after that NSV i am almost HALF that size?!) sorry you have been feeling down lately. My boobs took awhile before they got smaller.. I still fit into my old 38D bras, but they aren't busting out of them anymore I guess, and I don't have those back fat rolls from struggling to clasp it in the back. Don't get down on yourself too hard! You have to remember how far you've come in such a short time.. and the fact that you are STILL losing weight! it takes awhile for the mind to catch up with the body... believe me, mine is still wayyy way behind. and mrriceguy-- I hope you are proud of yourself for that 3 mile jog! I was only just now able to run 5k a week or two ago... and you are running with more weight on you so now I am feeling like I need to step my game up if I am going to keep up with YOU! and I am sooooo jealous that you went hiking in Alaska. That sounds like an awesome trip.

haha seriously you have the right attitude! okay.... new HUGE size victory..... drumroll please.... today i bought two size 10 jeans from express (that weren't even tight!) and, get this.... i picked up a t-shirt that is an ADULT SMALL!!!!!! OH MY FREAKING GOD! I AM WEARING A SIZE SMALL?!?!? i don't care that its just cotton and an adult size, it is clothing that is saying that my body is SMALL, and it eve nfits kind of loose in some parts. i'm gonna keep saying that out loud though.... small small small. i'm small! haha looove it!

hey lufferly, sorry to hear that. i'm obviously not a doctor, but speaking from experience, i would say just slow down your exercising a little until you get stronger/weight less. your knees are really important and you DONT want to screw them up, ever. if you can, i would suggest talking to a doctor or working out in front of a certified trainer/physical therapist so that they can make sure your form is best as well. as you begin to weigh less, it should get somewhat easier on the bones which makes it easier for you to run as much as you already are (which, by the way, is awesome... so good job!) when i was at my heaviest i had a problem with my feet going numb after a period of time, and i have not had that happen in months. i also used to get really sore after every workout, like i couldnt even stand up from my bed in the morning type of sore, and now, even though i am working even harder, it is only once in awhile. i love that sore feeling though... not having it means my body is working more efficiently and therefore im not burning off as much as i used to! oh well, guess i'll just have to keep working harder!

you look awesome angie, what a cute skirt/outfit! and you definitely look like a 12, at least in that picture, so go YOU! i love reading long NSV posts, reminds me of things in my life that i didnt even think about as being a NSV but totally are! i was in new york this weekend for the 4th staying with friends.... and lets just say i got a LOT more male attention this time around than on previous times out with all the girls. haha, ill leave it at that! going to a cousins wedding in september and will be seeing a ton of family i havent seen in awhile, looking forward to (but also sort of dreading) that night! oh and, i'm calling it... im definitely a size 10 and not a sort-of 10 sort-of 12 now! cant wait until i am officially a size EIGHT! single digits baby! i think i can definitely get there by the end of the summer..

woohoooo kathy thats awesome-- both for beating your DH and for your running time! i know you worked hard to get that 35:44! i wish i had a running partner to challenge me in real life! (oh and happy canada day!) and thanks for saying i am dedicated.... i'm leaving tomorrow for a trip to NY and dont know how i am going to get in any exercise.. its so much harder when you are away from home! im thinking i am going to try to convince my friend to run with me because i want to give the 5k a go in central park, but i might have some trouble getting her to go with me... shes definitely skinny, but not athletic! haha but i am sooo dreading not working out for possibly 4-5 days straight... its funny how addicted i have become the past few months! suzanne- so sorry about your foot. let it heal and hopefully it will not need surgery.. but if you do, make sure you get plenty of rest. besides, if you are feeling extra marshmallow-ey (? haha) you'll still be able to do upper body workouts right? i bet there are plenty of fun classes or DVDs you can do that are core workouts for your middle and arm workouts. lufferly-- don't die! haha but doesnt it feel AWESOME when you are done from a workout when you feel like your heart is going to jump out of your chest?? and that also means you got a LOT out of your run so good for you! pretty soon that speed will be easy for you and you will be ready to kick it up another .2 :redface:

thats awesome lufferly! and you can TOTALLY do it! whenever i kick up the speed a notch and i feel like i just cant go any farther, i just change my music to some song where they're singing about some hot girl... and then pretend they are singing about me -- or, at least, what i COULD be if i finished one more lap! usually gets me a few more minutes running when otherwise i probably would have slowed down to a fast walk. i dont know if it will work for you... but find something that motivates you or distracts you while you are jogging and you will forget how tired you are until... eventually (hopefully).. you start to think you could go on forever! also, kathy you reminded me with your post. im sure some of you have heard of HIIT training... a lot of big tough body builders do it at my gym for their cardio, but its something you guys may want to try once in awhile too (maybe you'll like it! and it is the BEST for maximum fat loss and getting the most out of your workouts) you can google it (I found this: HIIT: Supercharge your Fitness and Fat Loss), but basically its like EXTREME interval training. just run at like... COMPLETELY full speed, like your legs are about to fall off-- think biggest loser where they have the contestants run at 10mph for 30 seconds and they fall off the treadmill -- you look absolutely crazy at the gym doing it, but the only people that think you look weird are the people who are reading a magazine or talking on the phone on the treadmill anyways.... not even getting in a good workout. why would i want to do that? seems like a waste of my precious time now that i know what my body is capable of, and i want to push myself to the absolute LIMIT! i dont want to be on the treadmill for an hour to get a workout i could do in five minutes! ive found this type of hardcore interval training has helped to bump up my speed overall too. i know im still relatively new at this running thing, but hopefully this helps someone who is even newer or who is in a rut and wants to try something new...

congrats on onederland kerimezz!! woops... haven't updated in here in awhile. can you update my current weight to 182.8?