Greetings Sleevers!!

I just wanted to do a quick base-touch. I made it through the holidays unscathed...but I still have some issues reconciling my drastic loss with what I "see" in the mirror. Most often, I can CLEARLY see progress in others...but not in myself - unless a photo is involved. So, to start 2012 off in the right mind-set, I wanted to force myself to see my progress and be as proud of myself that as so many others seem to be of me.

I'm kinda nervous about the rest of this journey...knowing I still have a way to go. I thought I'd be to goal by now - but for 15 months out, I think I've done pretty well (especially given the stress-filled year I had in 2011 - Unemployment, Financial distress, loss of a loved one - back to back to back to back.... *sigh*)

The biggest thing I gathered from looking at some of the older pics is how UNCOMFORTABLE I looked...on top of how far in denial about how big I had gotten over the years. Truly an eye-opener. I have NO desire to go back there - but am still working on the exhuberance and confidence that I had BEFORE I lost the weight. Life is kinda funny like that... *sigh* But I digress...

In any event -- I give you: The Vanishing Vixen Weightloss Transformation Slideshow: http://www.picnik.co...s/t/picnik-show

I'd love to see other pics of you Sleevers here. I know there is SO MUCH success in the ranks!

Give a yell here - or email me at: geenahb2@yahoo.com - OR hit up my blog: vanishingvixen.wordpress.com

Blessings to ALL!!

you look sexy and fantastic all the way through, and you are a woman in transition. I think after you get to your goal or where ever the body wants to stop, you will have time to see what it feels like and looks like to be the new you. Seeing how sassy you look so far, Im sure you will still be sassy and sexy! Remember the hormones are all over the place during weight loss, so that will make you feel strange on top of the other sad things life sometimes throws us. You are doing great!

A HUGE thank you to EVERYONE who chimed in. This was alot of what I needed to hear - and especially know that I'm not alone.

As an aside - I started the "Couch to 5k" training program last week. It has always been a dream of mine to run like the wind *lol* So far, I'm keeping up. And to push myself into accountability - I registered for my very first 5k RUN - - set for mid April. I'm scared as all hell - BUT, I couldn't have dreamed over doing this 100# ago... That one thing - getting the registration confirmation for the race FORCED me to really see that I've not only changed outside...but INSIDE as well. If I can "see" myself running this race...then I should eventually be able to grab hold and own these physical changes. ONE DAY AT A TIME :smile1: And the biggest thing? I feel TOTALLY SEXY after I work up a good [vertical] sweat

I might be crawling across that finish line...but I will d@mn-well...FINISH!!!

Continued success to ALL!! *group hug*

You are doing awesome and you are not alone in not seeing your own progress. I can't see how far I have come until I see photos of me 90 lbs ago. It is crazy and eye opening.

Looking good! Keep working your sleeve. What's life without challenges...you got this. After the journey of becoming so overweight and then making the right decision to become healthly and lose weight is a journey in and of itself. Change is the only constant and this road is not a race, but a walk towards a new healthly you. Enjoy the journey your on, take some time getting to know the new you! Challenges come and go (thankfully), but they serve to make you stronger.

Keep rocking your sleeve, your doing great!

OMG girl OMGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!! I don't even know you but YOU ROCK!!!

I know exactly how you feel about being one size in your head and not seeing the weight loss yourself....I am exactly like that!

Congratulations!

You are doing awesome congrats !!!

Girl you are gorgeous!! I totally understand everything you are feeling. As hard as it may seem to understand, I totally get that you felt a certain comfort with your weight- but we have to learn to be just as comfortable in our new bodies. I don't know how long that will take but I believe you are getting there! You keep visualizing yourself running that race, keep claiming it!Can't wait to hear all about it. Best wishes to you pretty lady!

Woman, you look AMAZING! You've done a fabulous job and let me just say that I am green with envy that your curves are still there! My husband has done nothing but complain about my formerly soft spots going all bony and pointy.

It's incredibly difficult for many of us to reconcile what we see in the mirror with what other people see. I'm just over 5'1" started at 242 pounds and I'm down to 135 pounds - I'm a size small/6 from just about any store. And I do not deny that I see an attractive woman when I look in the mirror, but I definitely do NOT see the "skinny" woman everyone else tells me they see. Until I see pictures, it's like my brain forgets that I'm not plus-sized anymore. I can't look at myself in relation to other women and know if they're bigger or smaller than me unless the difference is very pronounced. It's very disconcerting and it can be difficult to deal with - it's even harder to explain to the people around me! They simply do not understand the mental disconnect that happens when you drop a huge amount of weight.

In any case, in that, you are definitely not alone.

Congrats to you on your success thus far. I'm sure you will continue to do spectacularly well, and I'm sure your slideshow will be inspiration for newbies just starting to consider this fantastic, life-changing surgery.

~Cheri