I started this journey at 234 pounds in my Surgeons office July 31, 2011. I had surgery August 8th at 225 pounds. I had a setback in September and started over really after a kidney stone and kidney surgery September 15, 2011 at 236 pounds (yes even higher than my original weight). I have lost 100 pounds in a year. I decided I would get a makeover and do a photoshoot. Here are a few of those pictures.. I will post the pic of me the day of surgery for reference.

I would not have made it except for the support I have found on this board. All you guys are great! I appreciate you all being there during the journey and the ups and downs. I am going into maintenance now and I will still need help and support during that but I am hoping to continue to pay it forward for anyone who is new to this and just needs encouragement that it CAN be You. I know I said that to myself a million times.. "could this be me " when I saw others how made it to goal. YES it can and it WILL be you. Love you all. Hope you like the new pics. Tammi

Look at you! Such success! Beautiful! I get sleeved on Thursday. Have decided to get family portraits done as soon as I meet goal. I've never had them done before. Congratulations, Forensikchic!!!

So pretty, congrats!

wow.... thanks so much for the encouragement. As I sit here looking at the last 2 years professional family portraits and choose to skip them for this fall, knowing I will do like you and take new ones I am excited about when I reach goal!

You've achieved what you dreamed of. Bravo! Gorgeous pictures, you should be proud of yourself!!

Wow you look great!!!! Your pictures awesome. You have much to be proud of.

Wow! You look amazing!

I surely hope that I am as successful. Do you have any words of wisdom for us newbies?

You look awesome!!! So proud of you! You don't even look like the same person!

Awesome. I am always the photographer and I can not wait to have my pictures taken when I reach my goal wgt. Thank you for your inspiration..

WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOO HOOO!!

I want to do this very thing! Your pictures look amazing!

Very pretty...congrats!!!

You are gorgeous, congratulations on reaching goal!

So gorgeous! Congratulations!

Thanks everyone! Advise for newbies.....Follow the instructions from your surgeon. You have a certain window of opportunity and you can fall off the wagon (slightly) later...Now is the time to seize the moment. Remeber to keep your carbs low and your protein high! It pays off! When you get to mainenance, you can up your carbs some then so you will settle out. You will always have to keep protein high though so might was well get used to that and find high protein things you LIKE> I dont like some things like yogurt and eggs. I wont eat it and the beauty is I dont have too. I can find things that I like and tailor it to me! You can too! Focus on Protein! That doughnut can wait til maintenance! I do eat a cookie about 5 nights a week with a little milk to satisfy my craving for sweets. It works for me and its a cookie, not a bag of cookies, like before. Thats my secret to being satisfied. If we have cake or doughnuts at work, its rare, so I will partake a little and thats okay because its not weekly or even monthly.. its a rare occasion and sweets are ok as long as its not overboard. I am carb sensitive so I have to build the cookie into my plan for the day, so I dont go over my carbs.. I use the 70/70 rule.. no more than 70 carbs and no less than 70 protein. HTH.

What a great gift to yourself! Congratulations!! Thanks for the newbie tips!!

Beautiful. Congratulations.