Hey Everyone!

I had my 6 month appointment on Thursday and cannot even believe how much has changed in 6 months. I am now 88 pounds down. I couldn't be happier! I'm feeling like a new person. I thought it would be good for me to reflect back a bit on how far I've come. I had started a website/blog when I started thinking about having surgery.

Here is an excerpt from a post I wrote in July when I was awaiting my consultation appointment.

"I wake up every morning feeling completely disgusted with my body and my behavior. I avoid the mirror when getting into the shower. I can hardly look at myself when I have a towel around me and have to put on a baggy shirt to blow dry my hair. I struggle to get dressed knowing that my clothes are too tight for me. Every activity is filled with anxiety for me. Eating meals is like experiencing an out of body experience. It's as though I have no control, yet the whole time I am beating myself up over what I am eating. I am embarrassed to go anywhere knowing that I am overweight and people have probably noticed that I've gained even more weight. I look at my friends as they talk about "feeling fat" or "needing to exercise more" and know that I would die to look like them. Every time I sit down I want to cover my stomach up with something. Every time I walk I have to adjust my pants, bra, underwear, shirt, tanktop to make sure that I am 100% covered. I feel a depression at night - an overwhelming guilt. I lay in bed thinking how tomorrow needs to be a new day...how tomorrow I am going to be different. I will stay up for hours in bed thinking about it."

When I read this, I feel sad for the girl who wrote it. I think it is important for me to look back at how I felt during that time to continue to motivate myself to do well. I am to the point where I can eat more and I have to work harder for the weight to come off. I never want to feel like girl in that paragraph again. I wake up every morning looking forward to the day, excited to pick out an outfit, feeling happy about the decisions I make, and overall just taking pride in being healthy. This was the best decision I could have made.

For those of you interested in the website/blog, the link is below. It is a personal site, but it does give detailed information on my pre-op process. I haven't posted since September since I started writing on this forum.

Surgery Date: August 22, 2012

Starting weight: 231

Current weight: 143

Height: 5'3

Age: 23

website: weightonmyshoulders.weebly.com

Picture 1: Day before Surgery

Picture 2: The before/after picture Dr. Zeni's office gave me on Thursday

Picture 3: Me in the jeans I wore at my consultation

Picture 4: Same as picture 3

Picture 5: Getting my bridesmaids dress taken in!

Picture 6: Standing with my best friend for her bachelorette party last night!

Good for you. You look amazing

Omg!!!! You look great!!! So happy for you...I'm 3 months down can't wait to see what I look like at 6 months down...and also do you workout?

Omg!!!! You look great!!! So happy for you...I'm 3 months down can't wait to see what I look like at 6 months down...and also do you workout?

Yup I work out quite a bit. 4-5 times a week...consisting of running 2-3 miles plus 30 minutes of core and then some arms and legs depending on the day.

Wow you look awesome! Congrats!

I have been hoping and looking forward to your next post and it did not disappoint! Congrats. You are very motivating, with truth and positivity!

So my question this time is .. You are young and I am sure friends go out a lot how have you dealt with alcohol and social settings going out to eat???

I have been hoping and looking forward to your next post and it did not disappoint! Congrats. You are very motivating, with truth and positivity!

So my question this time is .. You are young and I am sure friends go out a lot how have you dealt with alcohol and social settings going out to eat???

Glad you look forward to my posts It's nice to know people actually read what I write, even though just writing it out is therapeutic in itself

Awesome question!! When I was thinking about having the surgery, this was one of the biggest things I was worried about. I am a very social person and I enjoy going out with my friends - what can I say..I'm only 23

My good friends and my boyfriend (we've been together for 5 years and live together) know that I have had the surgery, so going out with them is not too difficult. They will offer to just order appetizers for the table and share...that way I fit in and don't look like a bird picking at my food! When I go out with people who don't know, I always go for the soup!!! I always have the excuse, "Hey...I'm a broke college student."

As far as drinking...I wish I could say I just never drink but I would totally be lying haha I loved trying different beers before the surgery and was terrified I would never be able to have a beer again!! I did not have one sip of alcohol for the first 4 months after surgery. Now when I go out (It's not all that often-maybe twice a month?), I will order a beer or a glass of wine and it's fine. I get tipsy quite fast, so usually one is good for me. Beer gets filling and I have a hard time finishing one. I've had one night where we "got drunk" and were at the bars all night and I had 2 shots. Yes, probably not the best decision but I honestly eat healthy 95% of the time and I work out a lot for this reason. I don't want to be so restrictive that I can't have fun with my friends. Hope that answers your questions. Feel free to ask whatever - I'm a pretty open book

Overall, I've been lucky - I have a great support system. My friends and boyfriend have been awesome. We like to joke and say "through thick and thin"

Simply stunning. Congratulations!

Hey Everyone!

I had my 6 month appointment on Thursday and cannot even believe how much has changed in 6 months. I am now 88 pounds down. I couldn't be happier! I'm feeling like a new person. I thought it would be good for me to reflect back a bit on how far I've come. I had started a website/blog when I started thinking about having surgery.

Here is an excerpt from a post I wrote in July when I was awaiting my consultation appointment.

"I wake up every morning feeling completely disgusted with my body and my behavior. I avoid the mirror when getting into the shower. I can hardly look at myself when I have a towel around me and have to put on a baggy shirt to blow dry my hair. I struggle to get dressed knowing that my clothes are too tight for me. Every activity is filled with anxiety for me. Eating meals is like experiencing an out of body experience. It's as though I have no control' date=' yet the whole time I am beating myself up over what I am eating. I am embarrassed to go anywhere knowing that I am overweight and people have probably noticed that I've gained even more weight. I look at my friends as they talk about "feeling fat" or "needing to exercise more" and know that I would die to look like them. Every time I sit down I want to cover my stomach up with something. Every time I walk I have to adjust my pants, bra, underwear, shirt, tanktop to make sure that I am 100% covered. I feel a depression at night - an overwhelming guilt. I lay in bed thinking how tomorrow needs to be a new day...how tomorrow I am going to be different. I will stay up for hours in bed thinking about it."

When I read this, I feel sad for the girl who wrote it. I think it is important for me to look back at how I felt during that time to continue to motivate myself to do well. I am to the point where I can eat more and I have to work harder for the weight to come off. I never want to feel like girl in that paragraph again. I wake up every morning looking forward to the day, excited to pick out an outfit, feeling happy about the decisions I make, and overall just taking pride in being healthy. This was the best decision I could have made.

For those of you interested in the website/blog, the link is below. It is a personal site, but it does give detailed information on my pre-op process. I haven't posted since September since I started writing on this forum.

Surgery Date: August 22, 2012

Starting weight: 231

Current weight: 143

Height: 5'3

Age: 23

website: weightonmyshoulders.weebly.com

Picture 1: Day before Surgery

Picture 2: The before/after picture Dr. Zeni's office gave me on Thursday

Picture 3: Me in the jeans I wore at my consultation

Picture 4: Same as picture 3

Picture 5: Getting my bridesmaids dress taken in!

Picture 6: Standing with my best friend for her bachelorette party last night![/quote']

OMG THIS HAS TRULY MOTIVATED ME IN SUCH A WAY. VERY INSPIRING !!! CAN'T WAIT FOR MINES IN 2.5 WEEKS..IM SO READY ! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK...

You look great! Congrats. Have you had any plastic surgery? How are you feeling?

You have done an amazing job! You are such an inspiration!!!

You look great! Congrats. Have you had any plastic surgery? How are you feeling?

Thank you. No plastic surgery and no plans for any. I had worked out since being two weeks post op and don't really have loose skin. But I am feeling good

Awesome. Great to hear!

Amazing! You look so happy , good for you

Sent from my iPhone using VST

You've done a FANTASTIC job!!!

I'm "that girl" now. My surgery date is March 18 and although I'm scared I'm VERY excited to get this weight off and to be comfortable in my skin again.

You look beautiful!!!! Congratulations