The first shot is me in August 2012, somewhere at or above my highest recorded weight of 383. I'm wearing a size 5x (32/34 or thereabouts) pant and 4x top. The second is about two weeks after my October 22, 2012 procedure in early November. The last is me today at about 280. I'm wearing a size 22 pant and a 2x top.

I don't even recognize the person in the mirror some days and I no longer dread it when people say I look like my pictures. I've still got a way to go, but I'm very pleased with the results a little more than four months out.

Congratulations!

Lookin good!!!! Congrats so far. You look amazing!

Way to go!! You are doing great

Yes you look awesome! Good job!

Thank you everyone for the kind words. The VST community has been a great support along the way and I'm glad I can share my successes with you guys!

Wow! You look fantastic! Ive seen you mention some online games..along with your name, so thought you might find this interesting...I bit the bullet and stopped playing World of Warcraft when i began this process. I decided i needed to use that time to make myself move my butt more. ...was really hard and i still have "hunger pains" for it, but think it was a healthy move for me. Life was way to focused/planned around a guild run! Your progress is so very inspirational! Thanks for showing us!

I am still an avid gamer and I don't think that will ever change for me. I played my first video game at age 6 and 30 years later there's no way I can give them up. Prior to surgery if you had asked me to give up food or games, food would have come first. I actually gave up WoW after Cataclysm. I've been playing Guild Wars 2 and Borderlands 2 these days, both of which are pretty low commitment, though I know I'll end up raiding again at some point. I like the ability to use my gaming powers to lose weight, though. I have a PS2 and PS3 with multiple versions of DDR, so I can game and exercise at the same time!

Looking Awesome! Congrats on your hard working paying off so nicely rewarded by getting to live your life in this new healthy body!

Congrats!!

You have a waist! Great progress!

You look lovely! Awesome job

It's only been 4 months?!? Wow awesome progress! Congratulations!!

Hey, great job on the 100 lb loss. Really awesome and inspirational!

You look so pretty, and you should be so proud of yourself! Thanks for sharing. I love seeing others' progress, it's inspiring!

WOW! You're amazing! I almost missed this post.. Good job!

As a recovering IRC addict I know getting up and going is a tough job

Thank you, all