]Ok, so I am just over a year out now and I've lost a total of 62lb and a total of 31 1/4 inches. That is more than I could ever of dreamt of without my sleeve.

I have NEVER lost more than 7lb on ANY diet and exercise programme before.

Currently my weight loss has slowed down, so after asking you guys for your thoughts on this, I am gonna 'stop' watching what I eat for a month or so and just get on with it. When my head is clearer I will get back into the groove and see if I can, at least, make my surgeon's goal.

In the meantime... here is a little montage of my last year. I hope this works 'cos it took me ages...lol

I suppose a NSV at this stage is that I wore a pink dress in public, a year ago I wouldn't have even considered the colour pink!!

You look terrific. I love the smile and the dress ... the whole new you is AWESOME.

Best of luck as your journey continues!

That is an AMAZING transformation, I think you look completely fab!!

You look AWESOME!!

Good job!

Kelly

Wow, you look fabulous! I just love the dress you are wearing in the last pic.

thank you all for your kind comments... I really appreciate them.

That dress caused me a real dilemma, it was for our school prom; staff and pupils... It took some courage to wear such a bright colour that I would never normally choose. I really want to get rid of the dowdy old me and although I was really nervous to wear it I am glad I did. I had many compliments, even off the pupils, one lad, said 'Woooooo Miss, you are looking well fit!!!' I just laughed it off and told him he was looking handsome!

At this stage in my journey my acceptance of my new body is changing... I am starting to feel good about what I have achieved; focusing on the good stuff as opposed to being fixated on the scales and I have to say, this has been a liberating experience. I would like to lose some more, but I will reconsider that in a little while... right now, I am living the pink!!

:DYou are doing fabulously! I love the pink dress!! It and red are 2

of my favorite colors. I hear you on the fixation with scales issues, but

I would simply determine what it is that would make you happy regarding your

size and lost weight. This is your investment, and you have to take care

of it in the best way. It is wonderful that others are noticing and

complimenting your successes!! Keep up the great work! Ronda

You look fabulous! What a beautiful transformation. You should be so proud.

Wow! You look awesome! I love that dress in the last picture. I know you've worked really hard to get to where you're at and you should be proud. You will serve as encouragement to me...I'm 2 weeks post op. It's hard to believe that I may share some of the same victories you're having right now. Good job! No...GREAT job!

You look slammin'! And very English ;-P Congrats on your loss and on your attitude!

thank you all for your kind comments... I really appreciate them.

That dress caused me a real dilemma, it was for our school prom; staff and pupils... It took some courage to wear such a bright colour that I would never normally choose. I really want to get rid of the dowdy old me and although I was really nervous to wear it I am glad I did. I had many compliments, even off the pupils, one lad, said 'Woooooo Miss, you are looking well fit!!!' I just laughed it off and told him he was looking handsome!

At this stage in my journey my acceptance of my new body is changing... I am starting to feel good about what I have achieved; focusing on the good stuff as opposed to being fixated on the scales and I have to say, this has been a liberating experience. I would like to lose some more, but I will reconsider that in a little while... right now, I am living the pink!!

Aww!!! Now isn't this an awesome place to be? The scale doesn't have anything ON ME!! I'm glad it doesn't for you either. All I know is you look fabulous and fit - so keep smiling and the heck with that scale.

You look slammin'! And very English ;-P Congrats on your loss and on your attitude!

Hey Meggie... I am WELSH!!! lol x

You look amazing!!!!! WTG!!!!!!!

yey.... thanks to Diva I managed to put the pics in a proper time line... just one typo this time...lol!

You look gorgeous! I really appreciate you putting the pictures up so we could see you shrink with the passage of time. Would you mind me asking you a couple of questions?

What is your most favorite thing about being the size you are now, versus the size you started with?

What has been your biggest surprise along your weightloss journey?

Thanks

Sharon

You look gorgeous! I really appreciate you putting the pictures up so we could see you shrink with the passage of time. Would you mind me asking you a couple of questions?

What is your most favorite thing about being the size you are now, versus the size you started with?

What has been your biggest surprise along your weightloss journey?

Thanks

Sharon

Hiya Sharon,

best thing about being this size... there are a few things to be honest. On the vanity side of it, I can tolerate my image in the mirror and in photos now, before it was horrible and I hated it. It is also nice to be able to wear clothes from a 'normal' size range, not the outsized places where the prices are double. I have recently had some fab bargains... in saying that I am still a size 16UK so there are a few more inches left to go, espcially around the stomach area.

Physically, the best thing is to be able to move!! I enjoy my boxing classes, gym sessions and walking now. Whereas before, I hated it 'cos it was uncomfortable and I my body couldn't do what my brain wanted it to!

My biggest surprise... that is a good one! The biggest thing, is that a year out I still have a good restriction and my relationship with food has changed. I didn't have issues with it before, I wasn't an emotional eater... I just didn't eat very well. I made bad food choices. Now, I don't like to eat processed foods or ready meals... I prefer to eat fresh foods and I am slowly learning how to cook!

The other thing that surprises me are the comments I get, both negative and positive. I used to get strung out by negative comments... now I can brush them off. Before, in the beginning when my weight loss first became visible, I did't like the positive comments or the attention. Now, I just say thanks and it is job done!

Like I have mentioned before, I am just gonna get on with it now and stop stressing about the 'what ifs' and 'I should weigh x amount'... that has also been a surprise to me because in the first instance I was sooooo desperate to get to goal by now! I am just grateful that I have a good quality of health, fitness and life back... and that is me still being 'obese' ... lol...

We'll just see what happens!

Congrats on your weight loss to date... you are doing an excellent job... how are you finding the smaller you? ] =]