So I posted before and after pics back in March when I was down 50 pounds. But now that I'm actually below goal, I'm submitting this as my "official" before and after pics. 8 months and 92 pounds later....

December 4, 2013

August 3, 2014

Oh my goodness. Thanks so much for all this good information. I find it so helpful to read about the practices of successful losers. You are inspirational...not to mention smoking hot! Wowza!! I get so much out of reading your posts. Congratulations on your incredible transformation!!

Really no secret, just your basic, healthy meal plan.....

For the first 6 weeks I followed my surgeon's meal plan and transitioned slowly through the food stages (very good restriction did not allow for "skipping ahead"). As hard as it was, I met Protein and Water goals 90% of the time. Once I was on regular food I focused on protein and non starchy veggies. Steak, burger, ham, ribs, pork, chicken, BBQ, tuna, refried Beans, eggs, milk, protein bars, PB2, Greek yogurt, avocados, cheese, cottage cheese, mixed nuts, beef and turkey jerky, broccoli, spinach, kale, green and yellow beans, mushrooms, red peppers, edamame, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, Chinese mixed veggies, you name it....

Now at just over 7 months out I have a 24-32oz protein smoothie with 30-40g protein everyday and eat 4-5 meals and Snacks. I get a MINIMUM of 64oz water daily and I take whole food based Vitamins. I have had sweets, deserts, chips, fries, alcohol, bread, Pasta and rice, but in moderation and probably not even once/week. As I got close to and passed goal, I started adding more fruit and whole grains. Besides protein bars (Natures Valley Protein, GNC Lean Bars, Fiber One Protein) I added whole grain bars like Kind, Kashi Pumpkin Flax, and Pure Ancient Grains. I snack on mixed nuts, pumpkin seeds, edamame, Peanut Butter and apples, frozen pineapple, melons, and plain Fage or Chobani Greek yogurt flavored with protein powder. I add berries and other fruit as well as Metamucil and benefiber to my protein smoothie. But really, the simple answer is I eat a healthy, balanced diet of protein (always first priority) veggies, fruit and whole grains. I eat when I'm hungry and only until satisfied, not full. Besides protein and water, I never tracked anything. I have no idea how many calories or carbs or fat I eat.

As for exercise, I've got no magic formula there, either. I haven't been to a gym in years. Immediately postop I walked a lot but that was pretty much to help with digestion and to decrease the bloated feeling I had. I rode my recumbent bike 20-30 minutes/day for awhile but I haven't been on it in a couple weeks. I actually just have a very active lifestyle. I work 60+ hours/ week. I am a vet tech, so I'm standing, squatting, bending, lifting and walking all day. On the weekends I ride my horse, sometimes 15-20 miles/day (which is an excellent Pilates and thigh master workout if you are riding "correctly"). And along with the horses comes chores...shoveling ****, fixing fences, hauling water, feeding and stacking hay. Last weekend I got 42 bales of hay. Each bale weighs 80 pounds and I had to lift and move each one 3 times (big stack to truck; truck to shed; stack in shed). So essentially I lifted 10,000 pounds in 2 days....and at least part of that over my head (Basically lifted weights and did stair master for a couple hours). I got another 21 bales yesterday and the day before went whitewater rafting and rowed a boatload of friends 8 miles (more Pilates and push-ups).

Anyways, everyone's journey is going to be different. What works for me might not work for you. Just figure out what you are most comfortable with (establishing a workout routine and tracking everything is not a bad thing, it's just not what I did). And if you are still reading this, let me say my biggest advice is don't compare your weight loss to others. Concentrate on being healthy, don't torture yourself with guilt, keep a good attitude, and look for NSV's for validation, not the numbers on the scale.

Edited August 10, 201411 yr by Butterflyhigh

Congratulations Kindle. Amazing job!! Keep up the great work!

You look fantastic.

Kindle, thanks for that list of foods you are eating. And for the description of your lifestyle / eating style.

It's considerably different from my life -- but it is still fascinating. I'm sure I will wind up taking things that have worked for you, even if I haven't been close to a horse in years!

Thanks,

Amazing ...where did your stomach go? Lol abs now

You look amazing! So happy to read about your success and see it in pictures. Your responses to posts are always thoughtful and informative and it's nice to put a face(and lean body) with the name. Good for you and thanks for sharing.

Woohoo. You look amazing. Way to go!

You look amazing!! Obviously put in some hard work, and it paid off!!! Congrats!

That's amazing.. and it looks like your skin is firm as well. Do you have a secret for that?

That's amazing.. and it looks like your skin is firm as well. Do you have a secret for that?

Not really. My after photo has an element if creative posing and flexing.

I have arm flabbiness, tummy sagging, major boob sagging, and a lot of loose, saggy skin and lumpiness on my butt, thighs and knees. (I carried excess weight from the waist down for decades...I didn't get big on top till the last few years). I've already noticed my arm skin is tightening up a little and my tummy is nothing I can't live with. My butt and legs still make wearing shorts unattractive, but I don't think anything but plastics would help those (or my boobs) Not sure if that's something I'm going to do, though. I didn't really have surgery just to look good. I guess time will tell how much everything tightens up and how I feel about it. And if anyone volunteers to pay for plastic surgery. Damn gravity!

Kindle, you look amazing! The work you put in using the tools and and your meal plan is most definitely working for you.

Could u tell us how u make your smoothie--what ingredients and measurements?!?

You look fantastic. Thanks for the inspiration.

8 months wow.

You look amazing!! And I'm sure you feel as great!!

Could u tell us how u make your smoothie--what ingredients and measurements?!?

Sure...but I don't really have a set recipe. it varies greatly day to day.

1) mix whatever Protein powder flavor I'm in the mood for with Water or milk (milk for chocolate, vanilla, cake batter and red velvet cake flavors, water for the Syntrax Nectars and Garden of Life powders). I use 1 1/2 scoops in about 24 oz of liquid.

2) add a heaping teaspoon each of Metamucil and benefiber, or 2 heaping teaspoons of Suprafiber or 2 heaping teaspoons of Garden of a Life Raw Fiber. Each of these have a slightly different taste, so I change which one I use based on the base protein flavor.

3) if I'm adding fruit (bananas, berries, peaches, mangos, etc) I will blend it with water and then add it to my smoothie. I found that blending the whole smoothie makes it too frothy.

4) sometimes I will add PB2, Torani SF syrup (caramel, gingerbread, pumpkin pie, hazelnut and Irish cream are my favorites ) real juice or Mio or Dasani or propel zero powder to mix up the flavor.

5) add ice to bring it up to 32oz and throw it in the fridge at work. This is what I drink for a midday "snack" in between appointments.

The type of fiber and fruit I add dictates the consistency..some are thicker like shakes and some are more like lemonade or iced tea. I can PM you some of my favorite combos, but finding (or inventing) new flavors is 1/2 the fun for me. The only real disaster I had was when I tried to make a "Carmel apple" smoothie with Syntrax nectar apple, Matrix vanilla and Torani caramel syrup. Yuck!

Edited August 19, 201411 yr by Kindle