Oh life is grand! ! !

I'm close to 16 months out, and honestly, I'm just living life. I usually forget I even had surgery, and food is just an afterthought.

Some questions I get frequently:

1) What are you eating?

Literally, the answer is anything and everything I want. Nothing is off limits, nothing bothers me, I do still remain mindful of white carbs, but I eat them. I do steer clear of a lot of fried foods. I didn't eat fried foods pre-op, and I still don't enjoy them post-op.

2) How often do you eat?

4-6 meals per day - I do not track my intake anymore. I eat whatever I want, and go about my day. I've been easily maintaining for about 5.5 months now, and I still have amazing restriction. I can eat 1 slice of thin crust pizza, 6-8oz of chili (if I put crackers in it, it's closer to just 6oz of actual chili), I can eat a small side salad and 1/3 of a chicken breast. I still hate Breakfast foods so I typically don't eat until 9ish.

Do you drink coffee, tea, sodas? Yes to all 3. I drink on average a soda(not diet) every other day, 20-24oz of coffee with full fat french vanilla creamer/2 splendas, and I drink sweet tea when I go out to eat.

Do you have excess skin? I lost 145lbs, you betcha I have excess skin. BUT, it is not grotesque looking, nor do I have a bunch of sagging going on. I have wrinkly skin on my inner thighs, bottom on my butt cheek, and tummy. My arms are kind wrinkly and I have a little bit of sag, but not anything that is horrible.

Do you workout? No, and I have not worked out since February. I know, I know, but seriously I lost my workout mojo after my gallbladder surgery. I did weight train, and cardio/core/ab workouts hardcore from 4 months out to 8 months out. I have noticed that I'm a bit more flabby these days so I'm going to start Zumba again this next week with some girlfriends and see if I can get my mojo back. I'd love to tone up more, but I'm not losing sleep over a little flabbiness. When I'm wearing a size 2 most of the time, a little flab isn't making me rush out to the gym.

Other that that, I'm just a busy, busy lady. I'm back to bowling every week (our league takes a break during the summer), and I'm back to all my social/volunteer activities. I even started working again after having to resign from my job as an insurance agent last summer due to my complications. I'm a direct sales associate for lia sophia jewelry, and I'm kicking ass and taking names. I thought I would just do it for fun, score some free jewelry here and there, and just have something to do on the side. Well, least to say, I'm rocking and rolling, making money, earning tons of free fabulous jewelry, and loving every minute of it. I really can't believe just this time last year, I was getting released to return to normal activity, and I was finally off all my meds, and didn't have some sort of drain attached to my body somewhere.

I seriously can not express how lucky I am to be alive, much less living this amazing life that has been afforded to me because of the sleeve. We are still trying to conceive, and have started the fertility stuff with our insurance. But, thanks to the Obama care, Tricare's coverage has been cut, and some of the treatments, and services have been nixed. YAY YAY for healthcare reform *Insert sarcasm*. Anyways, we're still trying, and we will stand strong in our desires to have a healthy pregnancy, and deliver a fabulous, healthy baby.

I am looking into some facial plastic surgery stuff. Just because I'm vain, and since my face isn't fat anymore, I have more wrinkles than I care to have at the ripe age of 33.

My advice to everyone regardless of where you are on your journey is to NOT give up on yourself. You are worth it, you are worth every tear, you deserve every victory regardless of how tiny it may seem to anyone else, relish those moments, don't take for granted the little things, and don't set yourself up for failure. Nix the negative, and accentuate the positive ! ! !

Obligatory before pic: 270lbs size 22/24W

After 124lbs, size 2 (this was taken 4 nights ago at one of my jewelry shows, the only editing done is me cropping out my girlfriends) It's not the greatest quality due to being taken with a camera phone, but hey you get the idea ! ! !

Edited September 26, 201015 yr by Tiffykins

Hi, Tiff!

I also don't get on this site much. You are looking fantastic. My left knee is all healed up but the right one is bone on bone --trying to avoid another knee replacement surgery for at least a year. I have lost 106 lbs now. I, too, do not worry in the least about food anymore, can eat what I want although I don't have much appitite for sweets or rice and bread. I did not get to start on the exercise kick until the last couple of months due to the kidney surgery and the knee surgery, but am in the gym about 3x a week for cardio. I am almost at 1 year post-op now, So much more healthier and thus more active, still run into people who don't recognize until they hear my voice which still pleases me to the max. I am hoping to lose about 40-50 more lbs and I do have sagging skin but I am 51 and had been obese for 45 years too. Glad to see you--will have to check out the book.

Edited October 2, 201015 yr by Norma
typos in spelling

Great Job!! Thank you so much for all that you do.

Hi Tiffy! Thanks for sharing! You are doing great and I'm so happy to hear about your life now and how much you are enjoying it. You inspired me and helped me a lot and now it's almost my turn. My surgery is Oct. 15th at UCLA. It's been a long road but will be well worth it I'm sure. Keep up the good work doll!

You look great!! You give so much of yourself to this forum and have been a blessing to us newbies, Thank you for that!! I went to the website and the jewelry is awesome!!!

Tiff, do you have a facebook?

Yes, I do have Facebook.

You might be able to add me with this link as well:

http://www.facebook.com/sparkleandcharm

Thanks for the update! I always enjoy seeing your posts. I can't tell you how helpful, inspiring, and educational they have been for a newbie like me. I can't see the pics but I'm going to take everyone else's word that you look great.

Wow, Tiff, you really are an inspiration -- I hope that I can follow in your wake and be as successful as you have been -- thank you so much for sharing your journey with us -- you don't realize how much it helps those of us who are still on the path!

I think you are so awesome. Thanks so much for your updates and encouragement!

Wow, wow, wow. You are such an amazing inspiration to everyone on this board. You are a wealth of information and have helped me so many times with your posts on here. Thanks for being there!