Hooorrayyyy!!! I'm 9 months post op!!! Life's better than ever, and I'm happier than ever too. What's to say - there's not one thing I can say that hasn't improved in my life. My health is scary fantastic and I can do things I haven't been able to do in 20 something years...

I did take some new photos for my 9th month post op (check my photo gallery). Yay!! 9 months out -- WOW!!!!!!!

So I was 281 Lbs at the start of my pre op diet. I was 272 on surgery day. On my last weigh in I was 191 Lbs!!

My largest sizes I wore was a VERY tight 28W and 3-4X tops. On surgery day I was wearing 24W and 1-2X tops. Today I can fit into sizes ranging from 8's and all the way up to 14's. 14's are my max though, anything larger is simply too big. I am almost out of 14's though and I have to wear them with belts. I just don't want to give them up!

My largest bra size ever was a 44D and I was wearing 40D on surgery day. Today I wear a 34C.

Panties, largest ever were 13's!!!! On surgery day (iirc) I was wearing 10's. Today I wear a 6.

My ring size largest ever was a 9. On surgery day I was wearing 8.5. Today I wear a 5.5.

All that said, I actually have not been feeling too good lately. Every time I eat I feel kinda nauseated and just... blahhh... So I read my post op instructions because it's been awhile. I guess I don't remember seeing it before but Dr. A suggests if you're feeling like that after every meal it's best to go back and do one day of Clear liquids. So I put my dinner aside after feeling sick after about 5 bites. I pulled out my powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken Soup and heated me up a mug. It was delicious and it made me feel so much better. So from the rest of today I'll just drink Water. And I'll finish it off by doing clear liquids tomorrow. After that I'll do full liquids on Tuesday. Then hopefully by Wednesday my stomach will be feeling much better.

Who knows, but something I must have eaten did upset my stomach. I've been eating more beef and pork actually the last few days and seeing I don't really eat those, that might be the reason. Ever since, every time I eat anything I can only eat a few bites and then I'm feeling yucky. :(So, it's back to square one! Not because I want to but because I HAVE to. That's the only way I'll do those liquids... LOL

Anyway here are the progress photos right now.

Highest ever, 330 Lbs:

Me barely 3 months ago, March 2011:

And me today, with 26 Lbs until goal!!!! (Taking pics is a lot more fun now... LOL ):

You are amazing! That is crazy your fingers shunk so much too! I can't wait for my fingers to start getting smaller.

You are totally beautiful Irene! Love the pictures. . . wish I was confident enough to take pictures like that. . . never liked pictures of me though. . . well you keep up the excellent work and in no time you'll be over there on the goal side! Lucky girl! (doing the victory dance for Diva)

Looking good! You are such an inspiration Irene. Keep it up!

Thank you all so much It's so worth it because folks like you make it worth it. Big hugs!!!!

You look so great! I love the smile and the 'tude in those pictures!

You look so amazingly awesome! Thanks for always being there for me to answer my questions when I started my journey to now. You are such an inspiration! Love ya~

Loving your pictures, your are skinny and glowing!!

AMAZING GIRL! YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US

Thank you all so much It's so worth it because folks like you make it worth it. Big hugs!!!!

You are an inspiration.

Well Done!

Could you please give us some details of what you eat/ do not eat on a typical day at this stage of your journey

Cutest lil'Divette! Hope to see you again soon!

Irene - you are an inspiration. Your progress is amazing and your pictures certainly show the results!

About your stomach being sensitive to foods that are too high in fat or too "carby" - I am right there with you. I am trying to find some types of beef that I can eat because I am anemic (even though I am on iron supplements). So far, pot roast or meatloaf seem to do OK and not give me that sick feeling you describe. Grilled steak or burgers don't set well at all. The first time I ate one of those, I had to go back on lquids for a couple of days to get over the sick feeling.

Oh well, I'm thrilled with my sleeve - I'm willing to give up heavy beef and pork dishes to continue of my journey to being thin.

I look forward to your posts - you always have something interesting to say.

Awwww...girl, you are so beautiful!!

Thanks so much for posting these updates and pics. I just love to see your progress and it helps motivate me so much! You continue to look just fabulous.

Irene - you are an inspiration. Your progress is amazing and your pictures certainly show the results!

About your stomach being sensitive to foods that are too high in fat or too "carby" - I am right there with you. I am trying to find some types of beef that I can eat because I am anemic (even though I am on iron supplements). So far, pot roast or meatloaf seem to do OK and not give me that sick feeling you describe. Grilled steak or burgers don't set well at all. The first time I ate one of those, I had to go back on lquids for a couple of days to get over the sick feeling.

Oh well, I'm thrilled with my sleeve - I'm willing to give up heavy beef and pork dishes to continue of my journey to being thin.

I look forward to your posts - you always have something interesting to say.

I've been having these issues for a long time, but not until recently when I did some back to back bad meals did it start affecting me every time I ate. I became worried that something worse was going on. I did do liquids, ate carefully and mindfully and in the last few days I'm back to normal. I haven't had any problems eating at all.

For a long time it felt like I was the only one that went through this stuff but I posed the question on the FB Sleever group and have mentioned in here in several places and it seems there are quite a few of us. It's just nice to know, not that I wish this on anyone! However someone did tell me that at least it's all the bad foods we have a hard time with. I totally agree, because when I was banded it was all the healthy good foods I had a hard time eating. Of course that left me getting fatter all the time... !!!

Girl, you look FANTASTIC!!! You are such an inspiration here to me and many others as well. You are most definitely rocking that sleeve!!! (Even if you have to 'baby' it for a few days, glad to hear things are settling better now...)

Oh and you are right, taking pictures is SO much fun now...NO MORE HIDING!:camera: :behindsofa: