I'm a goal setter, so when I began this journey, I set two major goals, and then broke it down into many smaller goals to keep me motivatived and moving in the right direction. Nine months ago today I had my lap band surgery. When I started my preop diet, I was at my all time high of 306. I've really had to push hard the last week - but I'm thrilled to say that I've achieved my first major goal today. So, nine months, and 107lbs later, I can finally say that I made it to Onderland - I'm at 199.4! It's an amazing feeling, even though I know I still have a long way to go - but I can tell you for sure, no one is going to bring me down today!

The timing of this could not be more perfect - everything truly happens for a reason. I have to admit that I was one of those folks who thought I would be cheating by getting a lapband, and that it was taking the easy way out. I rejected it for years. Then my cousin opened my eyes when she got her band, and I started to look seriously into getting the band. One of my main reasons for having this surgery was to lose weight and be able to go out and get a new job, and not let my weight hold me back. I've always sold myself short, and settled for less just so I had a job. Well, on March 28th, my company announced that they were closing the plant I worked in by May 28, making it time to get a new job. They said that as they transitioned our work to new plants, they'd be needing fewer people, so they'd be making cuts all they through. Well, I almost made it to the end - last Friday was my last day, so I am now officially looking for a new job - and can you believe I'm excited about the opportunity? I have no doubt that I can and will do better, and looking at all the things I'm capable of is more exciting to me than you can possibly imagine. I would have thought I'd bury my head under a pillow and gone into a minor depression - but no - I'm looking forward to something new! They're giving us outplacement services, and I've talked to my consultant about my history of accepting jobs for less than I should, and told them I do not want to do that again. They've looked at my skills, accomplishments, and abilities, and they all believe that I should be able to get a job with a 30% increase in pay! It may not happen as fast as I want it to - they're expecting that fall is a reasonable time frame for me to expect a new position. I'm goning to work hard to beat the odds and find something sooner, as things will get pretty challenging for me financially by fall. But with a part time job and unemployment, I should be able to make it through the full 99 weeks worth of unemployment if I have to - but I'm praying I don't need more than 30 weeks!

I'm a goal setter, so when I began this journey, I set two major goals, and then broke it down into many smaller goals to keep me motivatived and moving in the right direction. Nine months ago today I had my lap band surgery. When I started my preop diet, I was at my all time high of 306. I've really had to push hard the last week - but I'm thrilled to say that I've achieved my first major goal today. So, nine months, and 107lbs later, I can finally say that I made it to Onderland - I'm at 199.4! It's an amazing feeling, even though I know I still have a long way to go - but I can tell you for sure, no one is going to bring me down today!

The timing of this could not be more perfect - everything truly happens for a reason. I have to admit that I was one of those folks who thought I would be cheating by getting a lapband, and that it was taking the easy way out. I rejected it for years. Then my cousin opened my eyes when she got her band, and I started to look seriously into getting the band. One of my main reasons for having this surgery was to lose weight and be able to go out and get a new job, and not let my weight hold me back. I've always sold myself short, and settled for less just so I had a job. Well, on March 28th, my company announced that they were closing the plant I worked in by May 28, making it time to get a new job. They said that as they transitioned our work to new plants, they'd be needing fewer people, so they'd be making cuts all they through. Well, I almost made it to the end - last Friday was my last day, so I am now officially looking for a new job - and can you believe I'm excited about the opportunity? I have no doubt that I can and will do better, and looking at all the things I'm capable of is more exciting to me than you can possibly imagine. I would have thought I'd bury my head under a pillow and gone into a minor depression - but no - I'm looking forward to something new! They're giving us outplacement services, and I've talked to my consultant about my history of accepting jobs for less than I should, and told them I do not want to do that again. They've looked at my skills, accomplishments, and abilities, and they all believe that I should be able to get a job with a 30% increase in pay! It may not happen as fast as I want it to - they're expecting that fall is a reasonable time frame for me to expect a new position. I'm goning to work hard to beat the odds and find something sooner, as things will get pretty challenging for me financially by fall. But with a part time job and unemployment, I should be able to make it through the full 99 weeks worth of unemployment if I have to - but I'm praying I don't need more than 30 weeks!

Excellent to read that not only have you lost weight, your sense of self confidence has made an impressive improvement as well! What an inspiration you are!

Keep up your great work, and best wishes for locating the next step on your career ladder!

I admire you! You've come such a long way! Some lucky company will ****** you up soon and will offer you a lot more money than you were getting. Stay upbeat. Congrats on your weight loss!