Hi Everyone!

My 6 month surgiversary was on October 27^th! I wanted to really think about what I was going to write up because you all have been such a wealth of knowledge and inspiration and support that I don’t know how I could have gotten where I am today without each and every one of you. I feel like I know all of you personally LOL. My hubby actually said "You act like these people are your close personal friends." one day when I was talking about somebody’s struggle and how I felt for her. Truth be told, this is such a personal journey that without all of you it would be so hard to do, I feel like I'm not alone and that is an awesome feeling.

I am 15lbs away from my weight goal. HOLY COW! It is almost surreal to me to be this close. I don't think I have weighed 155 since I was about 11 or 12, maybe younger. I still get caught up in the whole why am I losing so slowly etc etc. In the beginning I would compare my weight loss with everyone else’s. Not a healthy thing to do, but we all do it, even though we know that everyone’s body loses differently. I will get there when I get there, but be sure I will get there.

My body seems to like hanging out in ranges for about 2-3 months at a time. I was in the 180-189 for almost 3 months up and down, up and down, then one day bam, 179. Now I am in between 170-176 for the last 2 months. I've only hit the 170 mark 2x but hey I hit it! I haven't hit 177-179 for a month so that seems to be gone forever now J. I think somewhere within the next 2 weeks or so I'll hit 169. It’s how my body likes to lose so hell I'll do it how it likes it. Do I have a choice? hahaha, um nope.

Here is my journey in NSV’s stats to date:

Co-Morbidities: T2 Diabetes in remission A1C from 11.5 to 5.5 at last blood work. Blood Pressure from 180/90-100 to normal with one pill a day now. Tryglicerides from the 1000's to 450 without medication now only taking 2 pills a day for this. Cholesterol 236 from around 400.

Pills: from 20 a day to 3 a day

Energy level: from 0 to 10 LOL Last Summer I could barely walk to the store, less than 1/2 a mile away without getting winded and feeling like I was going to collapse. Today I can walk several miles, 7 being my top so far, without missing a beat. I can do an hour of hard core kickboxing and power lifting classes and think “That’s all?” at the end of the class J.

Clothes: Dress pants from a tight size 18 (probably should have bought the 20's but I just couldn't do it) to 8-10. Jeans from size 18 to size 6, 11 juniors. Dress shirts 2XL to L. Casual shirts 1XL/2XL to L. Dresses from 20 to 10. Winter Coat: 18 to 8 (just bought it today!!!). Shoes from tight 10 -10 ½ (rare finds on that) to a comfy size 10 and some 9 ½’s.

So thank you all for everything you have given me. Yes, I have the support of my family and most of my friends, but they don’t “know” what I am going through and don’t understand like you guys do. This would have been a lot tougher without all of your support and friendships.

Raine,

You look great! What a difference in just six months! And just 16 lbs. to go to goal is a great victory in six months. It always amazes me how unique everyone's journey is. Congrats on hanging in there and losing the pills and health problems.

Lynda

YOU GO GIRL! I LOOOOOOOVE the way you did your pics! I am so happy for you and your journey thus far! The best is yet to come

Congrats on being SO close to goal, only 6 months out! WOW! You look fantastic, and it's wonderful about the diabetes being in remission!!! That is an awesome NSV!

Thanks! I feel great and I have to say this is one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life.

You look terrific and all those healthy side affects to boot! Great for you. You are very encouraging to me! :Banane55:

Thanks for this post, very inspirational.

I have been inspired by so many on here, I am so happy to pay it forward. What ever I can do to help anyone in their journey, I will try to do. It is so hard both emotionally and physically. Ha! Easy way out my booty!

OMG Raine you are the Bomb girl !! soo funny i just did my 6 month post too then i saw yours!!! on another note... " i work for wfhm" funny huh!!! You are a superstar chica I love it !!