I know during the pre-op stage it can be incredible difficult and you may be questioning your decision or struggling through the pre-op diet, wondering if you will ever get through your insurance requirements, wondering if it will even work or be worth it. I thought I would post really quickly with some encouragement. I know everyone's experience is different, but for me, the sleeve surgery, and the abdominoplasty to remove excess skin after losing 155 pounds, were the VERY best decisions I have every made in my life. And...the proof is in the pictures!

I posted the following in another forum, but thought that someone here might benefit from it as well. You can also see my blog (in my signature line and linked in the text here for all of the ups and downs of my journey from the 1st pre op appointment in Jan. 2013 to today. Hope this helps someone!!! :-)

I am now 1 year and 9 months post op. I reached my goal weight at about 10 months post op (140-145) and in the year since then I've felt that things have been moving very slowly. Well, I was ordering a dress online the other day and I had to take my measurements. I hadn't taken then since reaching goal weight almost a year ago. I was shocked to see that even though it felt painstakingly slow, I lost an additional 20 pounds and 22 inches in the past year, putting me at my "dream goal" and feeling pretty freaking amazing.

My husband and I just got back from our anniversary getaway and we took a picture together. When I got home I decided to see if you could really tell a visable difference from me at 1st goal weight and dream goal weight a year later and I think you can. I was pretty surprised. I'm feeling super happy at my weight and health and fitness level right now, and having kept it off for nearly 2 years I"m feel pretty good about the prospects long term as well.

Well then I decided to go a little crazy, and I went back and found my anniversary pictures from the past 5 years and decided to do side-by-side comparisons. I'll only include the one from last year (goal weight) to this year (dream goal weight) AND one from my highest weight (278.4) to now (125), but if you want to see the rest of them, just click on the link here to the blog post with all the pictures from the past 5 anniversaries:

"The Proof Is In the Pictures" Post

Here is goal (June 12, 2014) to dream goal (June 12, 2015) and highest weight - 278.4 (June 12, 2013) to dream weight - 125 (June 12, 2015). Enjoy!

You look fantastic! Awesome job!

You look amazing

Thank you so much for sharing. I love seeing success stories and pictures. You're right. It may not totally Erase my fears but it reminds me of why I'm doing this and the amazing possibilities & goals this offers me that I would never have or achieve without the surgery.

You are so beautiful. (Before & after)

Congratulations on your successful weightloss!!

Wonderful! Great inspiration, thanks.

Wonderful! Great inspiration, thanks.

Thank you so much!!

Great job. Sweet beard on your husband!!!

This is indeed encouraging! You look fantastic. Thank you for thinking of all of us.

Wow!! Thx for sharing!!

Wow!!! You look great!! I'll be joining everyone on the losers bench July 2nd!!

You look fabulous!! Thank you for the encouragement ????

Wow! You look like a completely different person. Thank you for sharing.

Absolutely stunning!

Thank you!!! Hang in there!! You will get the great amazing results too! Just hang there!!

Here are my most recent before/after pics taken at 22 months post op.

Livvsmum, I just wanted to say thank you for posting this and the link to your blog. I went back to the start and read the entire thing yesterday. It's kinda funny, we have several things in common..similar start weights, both married young and have good size families, both work in higher Ed., and I believe we are close in age. Your blog was very encouraging to me in that it was real about not only the good days but the rough ones as well. It gave me hope that I can do this and do it well despite the bad days that happen. I have thought about wls for years and finally have insurance that will cover it. My first appt. with the surgeon is on July 9th. Thanks again for sharing your story.