It's been a long time since I've been on here so hete I go...

This has been the most amazing journey over the last year. I have started to live again and love again.

I was a food addict. I still am but im in recovery... I ALWAYS will be.when I was 353lbs I would wake up and think about food. I would eat and eat and eat. I reached the point that I could barely tie my own shoes bc i could barely bend over. I had to roll off of my couch to get up.. I could barely wipe my own ass. I was always uncomfortable.

Miserable.. I was completely miserable.

When I would pull thru the drive thru I would act like I was ordering for 2 bc i was ordering so much food. When I was cashing out at the convenient store I was act like I was buying all that chips and candy for my kids.. not me.

Embarrassed. .. that's what I was.

I would constantly compare myself to everyone... I would look at other women and actually be mad at her bc she looked better than me.. she had a better body than me.. my man probably wanted her bc i was so fat and ugly.

Ashamed is what I had become.

Finally I decided after years of dieting enough was enough.... I had the gastric sleeve 02/26/2013.BEST DECISION I MADE.

It's now been a year and here are my stats. 32 years old and 5-7'.I was 353 and now I'm 183lbs. Went from a bmi of 55.5 to 28.7. I wore a size 26 pants and now I'm in 10/12.

Over the last year I have stayed active. For the first 6 months I was VERY strict.on what I ate. Now I'm more lenient. I eat every 3 hours making Protein #1. That isn't hard for me bc I'm a hard core carnivore. As far as exercise I life weights 2xs a week at home.. 2 10 lb weights.. I walk 3 miles 4xs a week also. I've never busted my ass at the gym and

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I just continue to do what works best for me.

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wow....you look awesome. im just curious if you can tell us how you were able to adapt to your new way of eating after surgery? i mean, how did you turn off that voice in your head that was always telling you to eat? was it the surgery that makes it so easy in the beginning? if we cant stick to diets that great now before the sleeve, what makes us think we can do it afterwards?

You look absolutely phenomenal!! Your skin is great!! Your thighs and arms look nice and tight, would never think you were heavier. Congratulations!

wow....you look awesome. im just curious if you can tell us how you were able to adapt to your new way of eating after surgery? i mean, how did you turn off that voice in your head that was always telling you to eat? was it the surgery that makes it so easy in the beginning? if we cant stick to diets that great now before the sleeve, what makes us think we can do it afterwards?

The voices are still there.. they ALWAYS will be. The surgery did make it easier in the beginning. .. ur very limited for awile what u can eat. Now since I'm further out it is purely will power.

Wow! You look amazing! So inspiring!

You've described me, too! I had my surgery at 355 lbs (I started the pre-surg diet at 375)... I'm 5'6" (I used to be 5'7" but my weight made me shorter!!) I was miserable and sorry for myself and angry with myself!!

I'm not quite a month past surgery (2/10/14) but I am really hoping my path keeps looking like yours. You're an inspiration and role model!!

You look awesome and so tanned!!!

Wonderful! VERY happy for you. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for being so open and honest in sharing your journey. And my favorite question....how is the skin doing???? I'm the same height as you and not too much under your starting weight with 180 as a goal.

Here's a glimpse of the skin... nothing that can't be hidden

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FABULOUS, FABULOUS

WOW! What an amazing transformation! You look fantastic! Way to work your sleeve!! Thanks for sharing! A true inspiration.

Wow! Your before story really fits my life! I am hoping that after my surgery I will do as well as you have! I have a question for you. You state you are in recovery, what do you mean by that? Are you talking about just surgery or another program?

No just being a food addict. Just like any addict.. u will forever be in recovery. The want of food is still there u just have to overcome in

Wow!!! Congrats. What a major transformation. Did you have work done?

Wow! Super-inspiring progress @@shelly513

Thank you so much for posting your progress pics and loose skin pics. You have come so far, it must have been really hard work. Well done and keep going