This morning I realized that I am so dang close to being just overweight and not obese. My BMI stands at 30.7. I don't know why, but this has become a real thing for me, to move out of obesity - I just hate that word!!!! I still want to lose 25 ish pounds but am feeling pretty good these days.

I have lost nearly 125# and am going to hit 130# lost by the end of the year. In all honesty, looking back, I think I could have even lost more in this time window, but I am content and satisfied with my progress. I took about 2 months "off" in the summer... I was sorta reaching burnout on some things. I didn't go wild, ate small portions and was still losing, but I lose better when I have that laser like focus! I lose better when I really watch the carbs - I started with 150 to lose and I feel that if I had stayed low carb more consistently I would probably be looking at being very near goal by now. I am not saying that as a regret, rather just my opinion that might be informative for the preop crowd!

I also notice that exercise makes a difference. I am not convinced it is just the calories burned during the exercise, but rather that it kicks your metabolism up a notch. My routine has evolved over time..... but I am currently doing shorter duration, higher intensity work outs and that helped shake me out of a stall.

Oh, what else... I am thrilled, excited, pleased as punch with results but struggle at times with dismorphia - seeing myself as still hugely fat when I really am pretty normal looking for a woman my age! I think that just takes more time.

I took this self portrait this last weekend - hard to get a body shot that way.

I also attached the dreaded before picture to give you an idea of what 125# lost looks like!!!

Great work!!!

Omg!! You look awesomee!!!!!

You look great.

You are so pretty! What an inspiration, thanks for posting before and after picks. Makes the eating like a toddler (5 weeks post-op) and everything else we go through worth it! Congrats!

You look great! Keep up the good work!

You look wonderful! What an inspiration.

I do hope that sharing the photos and story pass on some inspiration. Look at the before picture... that person was sitting here just about a year ago seriously doubting if this would work. I too saw other people's success stories and it gave me a glimmer of hope as I took the leap of faith. It does work and it has and I hope I can share some of that hope on to others as others did for me. I am not sure I would have had the courage to proceed without so many examples of amazing transformations ahead of me.

So, this dismorhpia thing is pretty real. i mean I can stand right next to someone that I know wears a bigger size then me (because she told me!) but I feel like i am bigger then them. One of the reasons I did a face shot this weekend is that my latest "obsession" is looking old. A few weeks ago I looked at myself in the mirror and about had a heart attack at how old I look. Taking a photo helps me... somehow I see a photo more rationally then I do looking in the mirror. Looking objectively, I have a very normal looking face for someone who is 48 - and it is just being unnecessarily mean to myself to think otherwise!

When I weighed 300+ I didn't see myself as that fat, until I saw a photo. The photo I posted above an awful time for me, I the band removed, was gaining even more weight and was just consumed by hunger. Looking at that picture is both a little painful and it is motivational. The motivational part is realizing that in substance I have achieved my dream regardless of the actual number on the scale. I went from super size to pretty dang normal in less then a year. Something I have been trying for decades with limited success finally happened! When my son saw that before picture he was shocked, utterly shocked and he was the photographer! He forgot, my whole family seems to have forgotten just how bad I looked.

It is very strange - I wonder if my brain and reality were ever both at the same place at the same time...hahaha

I lost a crapload of hair - I mean fistfulls and fistfulls for months. It is growing back now but i like my hair better thinner! I think that once the regrowth get longer I am going to have it thinned. Is that a funny irony or what?

You are in the middle of what I considered the roughest time with the sleeve. You are gonna be eating like a toddler for a long time, BUT pretty soon you won't care so much..hahaha! Actually, the secret to my success is I still strive to eat like a toddler even though I CAN eat more.

It took a few months out for me to start feeling great, but it is so worth it!!

You are so pretty! What an inspiration, thanks for posting before and after picks. Makes the eating like a toddler (5 weeks post-op) and everything else we go through worth it! Congrats!

Cowgirljane you look absolutely fantastic!! What an inspirational post. Sounds so much like me I too had a lapband and don't see the thinner me until I take a picture, weird eh!! I am 48 too but think I actually look younger: fresh, clear skin, smoothed out wrinkles(not puffed out from fat). I really just want to enjoy the ride and see where it takes me!!

Thank you

thrilled, excited, pleased as punch struggle at times with dismorphia - seeing myself as still hugely fat when I really am pretty normal looking for a woman my age! I think that just takes more time.

girlfriend

hey there its me

very, very happy for you - love all your posts - it is good for newbies et al to see people like you with their successful stories

dismorpia - the explanation of what you feel when you look at yourself in the mirror i "think" that happens to people - they/you just don't recognize that reflection of yourself - you mentally only see/remember that other/older image??? yes???

never heard that word - thanx for the word that goes with the description

pushing 130 lbs down - can't imagine!!!! so wonderful

exercise/metabolism/weight loss all great feelings - which all contribute to your "mental" well being!!!!

how wonderful is that, what a great feeling!!

periodically look in that full length mirror, stare at yourself til you realize, "hey yeah, that really is me!!

keep up the great work

egads i didn't recognize you

see you around the neighbood

Wow. You look fantastic!! I understand the dismorphia stuff...I lost a ton of weight a few years ago (pre-sleeve/gained it all back) and I always felt fat even at my lowest. This time around I have already lost 50+ pounds and I can hardly tell. Our minds really do play tricks on us. Congrats on your transformation. You really look great

Wow, great going

You look amazing..and 15 years younger. Great job!

You are inspiring! Congratulations!

Thank you all so much. the comment about looking younger was a real boost too, that has been a little bit of an obsession lately - with looking so old! LOL. My good friend who is 59 informs me I will get over it but right now it is shocking me!

I have had a crazy week, i usually lose weight fairly slowly now, this far out. for some wacky reason I decided to lose 5+ pounds Thanksgiving week and am now just "overweight" leaving behind obesity FOREVER