Super long post alert---my apologies.

Hi guys,

I totally forgot to post this. So on 12/20/2016 i celebrated two milestones. It was my birthday, but most importantly it's the day that i finally made it to the loser's bench and took control of my life back.

So this year i had a milestone birthday and my gift to myself was my progress.

I've spent so much time beating myself up because i'm still not at my goal yet, and i do realize that i will get there. But i forgot to actually look back at my progress and see how far i've come and actually enjoy that. Not just physically but mentally. I'm so grateful not just for this tool, but for the support of all the other amazing wls patients i've encountered thus far. I've learned to trust the process, actually stick with it and that i can stick with it because i'm not alone and there's tons of people out there can relate to everything i've experienced on this journey. So thank you!

i've been getting lots of questions about what i did (which is basically the same thing everyone does lol) but a long time ago i posted something in the rants section called "what's wrong with overly sensitive assholes..." it pretty much explains all the things i do. There are a few things i've added along the way since then so feel free to ask and i'll share.

Before:

Life in general just was starting to suck, it was more than just my weight and i realized that i was not happy at all and a little depressed. In regards to my weight- it was spiraling out of control. I had tried every possible diet imaginable, even prescription weight loss drugs. Nothing was working.

So one day i literally just started researching all of my options. I had never even heard of the sleeve before. I thought i wanted the lap band because that's really the only thing i had heard of. I went to a weight loss surgery seminar in my area and i realized that there were so many other procedures available. I was overwhelmed and about to give up. Then one day at work the elevator broke down and i had to go up 7 flights of stairs with my laptop bag and i literally thought i was going to pass out. I was soooo out of breath and out of shape and this was after starting to regularly go to the gym. I was so humiliated because i walking up the steps with men twice my age and twice my size and they were just fine. They could clearly tell that i wasn't. I've never been that embarrassed before. I interviewed 5 different top notch bariatric surgeons in the DC area i finally just decided to go for it. I was finally mentally ready. That was key because if i wasn't, i definitely would have kept old habits. I really didn't tell anyone. I didn't tell my family until the day before because i didn't want anyone talking me out of it or judging me. Especially when everyone in my family is naturally thin so they wouldn't be able to relate.

After:

Literally the best spur of the moment decision i've ever made for myself. I'm so much healthier, to the point where i never even wear makeup because my skin is always glowing. I have so much energy. I'm happier overall. Everything else in my life is finally on track. I've met amazing life long friends through this process. Nobody is ever judging me for being the "big" or "funny" friend anymore. I accidentally found my passion- i realized that i love helping support and mentor other people who are struggling to lose weight. So i've started volunteering in my spare time at my local surgery center. Now i view working out as therapeutic instead of a chore. I literally couldn't be happier. I'm amazed at how i've changed mentally, i'm a lot nicer, less judgmental and more determined to accomplish other goals that i have set for myself. That alone is the one thing that i'm most grateful for. I realized that if i can stick to this which has been my biggest struggle my whole life, there really isn't anything life could throw at me that i can't handle. I also learned to stop comparing myself to others because who really cares, it's easier to focus my energy on the things that i really want to do. Now i'm doing everything i want and enjoying it. I've realized that there's so much more to life.

Happy holidays to everyone btw, wishing everyone continued success on their journey and a prosporous 2018!!! Merry christmas!

Anyway- enough of me rambling. Now for the fun stuff: bombarding you with a million and one progress pics lol ?

Hw:244

Sw:227

Cw:155

Gw:anywhere between 115-130

Size: 4

Height: 5'1

** and no i have not had any plastic surgery yet...someone really asked me that ?

Great progress!

you look fabulous!!!

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Thank you

Wow! You don't even look like the same person! You look younger too. AMAZING!

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Wow! You don't even look like the same person! You look younger too. AMAZING!

Sent from my SM-G935V using BariatricPal App

Thank you! It's funny how the whole world can see the difference but we can't see it in ourselves until we see side by side pics.

Yeap I completely agree.

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