Hey everyone!

I had my surgery August 22nd, 2012 so I'm about 15 months post op. I've lost a total of 101 pounds and I feel great I started at 231 lbs. and now weigh 130 lbs.

At 23 years old, I feel like life can't get any better I've been maintaining for about 7-8 months. I feel so much healthier and more confident. I continue to exercise and make healthy choices to motivate myself to be the healthiest me that I can be. This journey has been one of the most humbling and challenging experiences of my life. I've surrounded myself with positive people who have supported me throughout this whole process.

I'm now participating in the "Bari-Buddy" system at the hospital I had my surgery at - getting paired with people who just had the surgery to be a support to them. It's been a great experience - both rewarding and inspiring to help support other people who are in the same position I was in 15 months ago.

Since the summer, I've graduated college and started a new job. I'm now an occupational therapist working in a pediatric setting. This is something I always wanted to do but I was always too intimidated to work with kids - because let's be honest...kids are a little too honest!! I am so grateful that I now have the confidence (and the energy!!) to help these kids achieve all of their goals.

I hope everyone is having lots of success and happiness Here are some before and after pictures!

Beautiful! So happy for your fabulous success!

You look fabulous! Congratulations

You look wonderful! Congrats

Wow! You look totally awesome! Congrats!!!

Wow! Wow! Wow! You are beautiful! Your smile is so much bigger in the after pictures. Congrats on you weight loss and your hard work!

You look amazing!!

Wow, congratulations!! You look amazing! I also started with 100lbs to lose. I keep thinking I won't lose all the weight :-( even now... I'm surprised whenever I lose any weight. I know I should be more positive but I can't help just thinking that there'll come a day, not too far from now, when I'll just stop losing... * sigh *

It is always an inspiration to see success like yours!

You look stunning! Like 2 completely different people--many different people, actually!

Thank you for sharing the pictures. Your progress is so inspiring!

Congratulations on hitting your goal! You look amazing! It is really great to see the results after what I am sure was a lot of effort.

Congratulations! You were just as beautiful before the surgery and now you have the health as well. From one Occupational Therapist to another, great choice for a career! It's so rewarding to be able to help others in the way that we can.

I read this with interest because I will be sleeved in January and I want to hear about the "tough things" you and others have gone through.

OR put anither way, what specifically did you experience the first post-op days?

Would like to hear from some folks or be pointed to good discussions of this that already exist. Thanks in advance.

You know actually its not too bad at all. The first few days are rough, but by my 5th day i felt pretty good. I only had trouble with getting liquids down without feeling sick. But Im good now! Feel like what I did before surgery. Dont worry It will be here sooner than u know it, and best luck with everything!

You look fabulous!!

Absolutely beautiful!!

Hey everyone!

I had my surgery August 22nd, 2012 so I'm about 15 months post op. I've lost a total of 101 pounds and I feel great I started at 231 lbs. and now weigh 130 lbs.

At 23 years old, I feel like life can't get any better I've been maintaining for about 7-8 months. I feel so much healthier and more confident. I continue to exercise and make healthy choices to motivate myself to be the healthiest me that I can be. This journey has been one of the most humbling and challenging experiences of my life. I've surrounded myself with positive people who have supported me throughout this whole process.

I'm now participating in the "Bari-Buddy" system at the hospital I had my surgery at - getting paired with people who just had the surgery to be a support to them. It's been a great experience - both rewarding and inspiring to help support other people who are in the same position I was in 15 months ago.

Since the summer, I've graduated college and started a new job. I'm now an occupational therapist working in a pediatric setting. This is something I always wanted to do but I was always too intimidated to work with kids - because let's be honest...kids are a little too honest!! I am so grateful that I now have the confidence (and the energy!!) to help these kids achieve all of their goals.

I hope everyone is having lots of success and happiness Here are some before and after pictures!

You look amazing...I am so happy for you!! I am having mine on Nov 11,

You look amazing!!! Great job.