I started my journey at 33 years old, weighing 289lbs on a 5'1" frame, and looked like I had no neck or eyes:-) My blood pressure was 180/98. This surgery was my ONLY hope because without it I knew I was only going to get bigger and the healthy issues more severe. So, One year ago today I remember checking into the surgerical center and waiting to be called back for my surgery; I was nervous as hell and wondering if I was making the right decision. Well today, 1 year later, I'm confident I made the right decision and would do it all over again in a heartbeat!!!

This has truly been a life changing experience for me on so many different levels. I'm definitely not the same person I was a year ago, I'm healthy, happy and just thankful to have my life back! I didn't realize how much of life I was missing out on until I was given the opportunity to live again! I feel like I can do anthing now with no restrictions!

Has this been a cake walk?? Well, honestly, for ME I never really thought about it, i just did what I knew I had to do and with every passing month I was less of a person than I was the month before:-) Several people have asked, how did you do it, how did you lose all that weight in a years time, even the nurse at my doctor's office asked me this and the honest answer is, I'm nothing special, I chose to follow my doctors instructions to the T, I chose to believe in myself, I chose to have a positive attitude. Going into this I told myself failure wasn't an option, I knew there were certain things I was going to chose to give up forever, I accepted that, moved on and never looked back. The best piece of advice I can give to anyone starting out on this journey or is needing a restart is believe in yourself, if you put in 100% you'll get 100% back, don't set and dwell on the things you can't have, think of all the things you can have because you made the choice to kick some unhealthy habits out of your life. The reward will be so much sweeter than anything you can imagine!!

We all started this journey out with similar worries and fears, always keep that in your mind and remember that one person(s) that encouraged you through the tough times, pay it forward!!! One of the greatest joys for me is being able to help someone else who is where I was. That's why this site is so great! So if you find yourself stuck in a rut one of the greatest ways out is by helping someone else.

May 14, 2013- Before Pre-op Diet- 289

May 30, 2013- Day of Surgery- 273

May 30, 2014- 147ish (I haven't weighed, go for my check up next week)

Total weight lose- 142lbs

I started out wearing a size 20-22W in pants

A size 3X Shirt (24-26)

TODAY, I'm in a size 5 pants, and med/small shirts!

My blood pressure is 128/78, my cholestorol is NORMAL, my liver is NORMAL

I've almost lost more than I actually weigh now:-) I'm just thrilled!

I HAVE A NECK NOW AND 2 EYES THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE!! I MAKE IT A POINT TO MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH EVERYONE I MEET NOW INSTEAD OF WALKING WITH MY HEAD DOWN.

Just know if you stay the course you will achieve your goal!!

Edited May 30, 201412 yr by enjoythetime

Thank you so much! I'm struggling to figure out how all of this will even itself out but it will all work out. The encouragement you you've given me is what helps me be able to keep going!!

You're amazingly strong, I'm not sure many people can say they would be able to stay the course as strongly as you have and because of this you WILL get there!!!

Woo hoo!

I started my journey at 33 years old, weighing 289lbs on a 5'1" frame, and looked like I had no neck or eyes:-) My blood pressure was 180/98. This surgery was my ONLY hope because without it I knew I was only going to get bigger and the healthy issues more severe. So, One year ago today I remember checking into the surgerical center and waiting to be called back for my surgery; I was nervous as hell and wondering if I was making the right decision. Well today, 1 year later, I'm confident I made the right decision and would do it all over again in a heartbeat!!!

This has truly been a life changing experience for me on so many different levels. I'm definitely not the same person I was a year ago, I'm healthy, happy and just thankful to have my life back! I didn't realize how much of life I was missing out on until I was given the opportunity to live again! I feel like I can do anthing now with no restrictions!

Has this been a cake walk?? Well, honestly, for ME I never really thought about it, i just did what I knew I had to do and with every passing month I was less of a person than I was the month before:-) Several people have asked, how did you do it, how did you lose all that weight in a years time, even the nurse at my doctor's office asked me this and the honest answer is, I'm nothing special, I chose to follow my doctors instructions to the T, I chose to believe in myself, I chose to have a positive attitude. Going into this I told myself failure wasn't an option, I knew there were certain things I was going to chose to give up forever, I accepted that, moved on and never looked back. The best piece of advice I can give to anyone starting out on this journey or is needing a restart is believe in yourself, if you put in 100% you'll get 100% back, don't set and dwell on the things you can't have, think of all the things you can have because you made the choice to kick some unhealthy habits out of your life. The reward will be so much sweeter than anything you can imagine!!

We all started this journey out with similar worries and fears, always keep that in your mind and remember that one person(s) that encouraged you through the tough times, pay it forward!!! One of the greatest joys for me is being able to help someone else who is where I was. That's why this site is so great! So if you find yourself stuck in a rut one of the greatest ways out is by helping someone else.

May 14, 2013- Before Pre-op Diet- 289

May 30, 2013- Day of Surgery- 273

May 30, 2014- 147ish (I haven't weighed, go for my check up next week)

Total weight lose- 142lbs

I started out wearing a size 20-22W in pants

A size 3X Shirt (24-26)

TODAY, I'm in a size 5 pants, and med/small shirts!

My blood pressure is 128/78, my cholestorol is NORMAL, my liver is NORMAL

I've almost lost more than I actually weigh now:-) I'm just thrilled!

I HAVE A NECK NOW AND 2 EYES THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE!! I MAKE IT A POINT TO MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH EVERYONE I MEET NOW INSTEAD OF WALKING WITH MY HEAD DOWN.

Just know if you stay the course you will achieve your goal!!

way to go...so so very proud of you and happy for you

look in dictionary and your name/picture is next to success and GORGEOUS

@@CarolinaGirl thank you! You're one of those people I mentioned that have been a huge inspiration to me and I really appreciate it! You just keep making me smile today girlie!!! Thanks!

I started my journey at 33 years old, weighing 289lbs on a 5'1" frame, and looked like I had no neck or eyes:-) My blood pressure was 180/98. This surgery was my ONLY hope because without it I knew I was only going to get bigger and the healthy issues more severe. So, One year ago today I remember checking into the surgerical center and waiting to be called back for my surgery; I was nervous as hell and wondering if I was making the right decision. Well today, 1 year later, I'm confident I made the right decision and would do it all over again in a heartbeat!!!

This has truly been a life changing experience for me on so many different levels. I'm definitely not the same person I was a year ago, I'm healthy, happy and just thankful to have my life back! I didn't realize how much of life I was missing out on until I was given the opportunity to live again! I feel like I can do anthing now with no restrictions!

Has this been a cake walk?? Well, honestly, for ME I never really thought about it, i just did what I knew I had to do and with every passing month I was less of a person than I was the month before:-) Several people have asked, how did you do it, how did you lose all that weight in a years time, even the nurse at my doctor's office asked me this and the honest answer is, I'm nothing special, I chose to follow my doctors instructions to the T, I chose to believe in myself, I chose to have a positive attitude. Going into this I told myself failure wasn't an option, I knew there were certain things I was going to chose to give up forever, I accepted that, moved on and never looked back. The best piece of advice I can give to anyone starting out on this journey or is needing a restart is believe in yourself, if you put in 100% you'll get 100% back, don't set and dwell on the things you can't have, think of all the things you can have because you made the choice to kick some unhealthy habits out of your life. The reward will be so much sweeter than anything you can imagine!!

We all started this journey out with similar worries and fears, always keep that in your mind and remember that one person(s) that encouraged you through the tough times, pay it forward!!! One of the greatest joys for me is being able to help someone else who is where I was. That's why this site is so great! So if you find yourself stuck in a rut one of the greatest ways out is by helping someone else.

May 14, 2013- Before Pre-op Diet- 289

May 30, 2013- Day of Surgery- 273

May 30, 2014- 147ish (I haven't weighed, go for my check up next week)

Total weight lose- 142lbs

I started out wearing a size 20-22W in pants

A size 3X Shirt (24-26)

TODAY, I'm in a size 5 pants, and med/small shirts!

My blood pressure is 128/78, my cholestorol is NORMAL, my liver is NORMAL

I've almost lost more than I actually weigh now:-) I'm just thrilled!

I HAVE A NECK NOW AND 2 EYES THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE!! I MAKE IT A POINT TO MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH EVERYONE I MEET NOW INSTEAD OF WALKING WITH MY HEAD DOWN.

Just know if you stay the course you will achieve your goal!!

way to go...so so very proud of you and happy for you

look in dictionary and your name/picture is next to success and GORGEOUS

Omgosh! You look amazing!!! Thank you for sharing. Such an inspiration!

Amazing transformation, congratulations.

Congrats!!!! You truly deserve it.Your story is an inspiration for many who are in the middle of deciding which step to take.You look great after the sleeve surgery and you deserve it all as you have put in a lot of hard work.Now is the time to enjoy the fruit of that hard work.You Truly Rock.