hi everyone. its been awhile since I last posted, so heres an update. my highest weight ever was 323 lbs. i started this sleeve adventure in jan of 2013 at 292 lbs and my sugery date was march 19, 2013, about 10.5 months ago. today I weigh 184.4 lbs. ive been inbetween 181-185 for the last 2 months and I don't think its a plateau, I think this is the weight my body is going to stay at based on how I now eat and exercise. I can eat about 8oz of food at a meal, but still eat healthy and still put Proteins first. I no longer weigh or measure anything, including how much I drink because its all sort of become second nature to me now. I rarely have a Protein shake, maybe once a week as I get enough protein from the food I eat as well as the Snacks I consume inbetween meals. all my snacks are always high protein such as a Protein Bar, a lowfat greek yogurt with double protein, some beef Jerky or a lowfat cheese stick.

I exercise 4x a week, mostly running. I completed a 13.1 mile half marathon in October 2013 in 2 hours and 15 minutes and ive been training since October for a full 26.2 mile marathon that ill be running in central park new York city on Feb 23, 2014, which is only a few weeks away. im ready for it as I just did my last long training run yesterday of 20 miles. in my wildest dreams I never thought I would be running a marathon, but it was one of my goals and I know with the training ive done I will accomplish it. its just amazing to be doing this at the age of 50 and im so proud of this.

I used to always read this forum before I had surgery and always thought these great weight loss stories was something I always read about, but it could never happen to me. well I was wrong. it can and it did. it hasn't been easy and ive really followed the program to a tee, eating right, not cheating on what foods I put in my body and finding the time to exercise and not making excuses as to why I cant. the surgery alone will not get you this type of success, it takes a lot of effort to really use the surgery as a tool and as one step in a complete aftercare program. if you don't do all the steps, you may find some moderate success, but it wont be what it could of been and it will be much harder for you down the road to maintain if you don't make these changes permanent.

heres some updated pics. feel free to ask any questions. best of luck to you all and remember, each and every one of you can be a success story if you put your mind to it and youre willing to make the changes in your life that are necessary to go along with this surgery.

Edited February 5, 201412 yr by NY Lou

Wow! Congratulations & thank you for the inspiration

What a success...and thanks for posting your journey to health and energy. Seems as though u have made a lifestyle change which is the key for long term success. Congrats. and just in 10.5 months. Wow.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations on a job well done. Your positive outlook and your entire story are a true inspiration. Good luck to you.

Amazing! Such an inspiration!

You have made me excited to carry on! Thanks. Are you going to have any plastic surgery or is it not needed?

thanks to everyone for the kind words. I only want to give back to this forum because before I had the surgery it was everyone else posting that gave me the inspiration to continue forward with this journey.

to catered1, I definitely have loose skin around my stomach that would look much better with surgery, but Im waiting for my weight to stay the same for at least 4-5 months before I look into it. will I do it? im not sure, it depends if I can get insurance to medically cover it or if I have to go the self pay route. either way, I haven't given it much thought yet. take care.

to catered1, I definitely have loose skin around my stomach that would look much better with surgery, but Im waiting for my weight to stay the same for at least 4-5 months before I look into it. will I do it? im not sure, it depends if I can get insurance to medically cover it or if I have to go the self pay route. either way, I haven't given it much thought yet. take care.

There are ways to have at least part of the costs covered by your insurance if you decide to get a tummy tuck. Brilliant share though..you are an inspiration!

Thank you for sharing! You look awesome!

NY Lou...you look amazing!!!

You look great. Thanks for sharing being newly sleeved (5 days). Your story is very encouraging to me. Congrats!!

Your rocking your sleeve and New Healty lifestyle!!

Were gonna have to call you the "Postman" neither rain, nor sleet nor snow can keep himfrom doing the job, well done!!

Edited February 5, 201412 yr by BellaHugz