I'm about 2 weeks late for my surgiversary post, but I'll make it up to everyone by being short and sweet!!

Started:

• 25 years old
  
• 5' 1" tall
  
• 241 pounds
  
• Size 20 pants
  
• Size XXL tops
  
• 40DD bra size
  
• Size 8 shoe
  

Currently:

• 26 years old
  
• 5' 1" tall
  
• 125 pounds
  
• Size 4 pants
  
• Size Small tops
  
• 34C bra size
  
• Size 6.5 shoe
  

Key surgery/post-op points:

• I had no pre-op or post-op fasting or liquid diet. I started on pureed Protein such as eggs and tuna while I was still in the hospital on day 2 post-op. I ate regular meals up until 24 hours before surgery. This was at my surgeon's discretion.
  
• I've never counted calories, carbs, fat or any of that stuff. I eat and drink as I feel comfortable doing so. If I had to guess, I would say I take in about 900-1200 calories a day on average.
  
• There is no food I can't eat or drink, but I don't eat many rice/pasta/bread products because I tend to feel uncomfortable afterward. I do take bites here and there and I do eat dry carbs such as chips. I also eat potatoes. I love dairy such as cheese and yogurt. I love fruits and vegetables of all kinds. I love fish and seafood as they settle easiest in my stomach. But I also eat steak, hamburger, chicken, etc... and I love it
  
• I eat all day long. Tiny amounts, but constantly.
  
• I still enjoy half a cheeseburger or handful of french fries from time to time. I have cut NOTHING completely out of my life food wise. I did not go through all this to be on a lifelong diet. I change my lifestyle and my eating habits, but not a diet.
  
• Now that I'm thin, I have so much more energy to run around and exercise. I have a gym membership and I use it primarily for cardio, but this summer I'm going to focus on strength training to rebuild my muscle that was lost in the rapid weight loss. I want to be strong
  
• I do have loose skin, but it's getting better. My stomach is pretty flat, and my arms are tightening up. I have a little sag in my butt and a small pouch of skin/fat left in my pelvic area, but I'm comfortable with it at this point. I would never consider having surgery. I think with toning and time it will firm on it's own (I've also had two kids, for what it's worth)
  
• I was the healthiest fat person I know. That's something important to take into consideration when looking at my results. I had no other underlying issues that would prevent the weight from just melting off, which it did. I've been within 5 pounds of my current weight since 10 months post op. Nowadays I'm just trying to get my shape back and build my strength and tone back up.
  

Pictures:

If I can do it - anyone can Hope this motivates someone who was in the same place I was in a year ago - scared and overwhelmed. It's all gonna be ok :)

(by the way, that's the same grey sweatshirt in the before pic and the one where I have the hood on)

You said you started exercising after the bulk of weight came off what was your weight when you started? Also how many months out?

At my current weight I have a hard time exercising.

I started exercising about 9-10 months post op on a regular basis. I would say the bulk of the weight had come off by then, meaning about 100 pounds. I've lost 117 pounds total as of today, so yeah, the vast majority of it was already gone. That being said, muscle weighs more than fat so if you start exercising earlier you can probably expect to lost weight slower. BUT -- muscle also burns fat, and keeps you healthy and strong, so it's much better in the long run for you. I'm not saying my way was right or wrong, but it is what worked for me and I wouldn't go back and do it any differently

You were same age same height and almost the same weight.....as me....this is awesome! !!

And trust me when I say that if I can do it, you definitely can too!!