It's been a hell of a ride...emotionally and physically.. but I wouldn't change a thing. I've learned so much about myself and about what it really takes to see those pounds come off. I am not a fast loser or a slow loser ...I'm the average loser who is slightly leaning towards slow...lol if that makes any sense.

I had a mini breakdown recently as I've been stalled at 230 for over a month and was feeling terrible. I am still so frustrated and angry that I haven't budged. I took progress pictures so that I can gain perceptive and I'm sure glad I did. The before is the night before surgery and the after is 2 days ago. I see a difference but I don't see it mentally. I still feel grossly fat and it's messing with me. Please be kind as this was very awkward for me to post (pictures).

Highest weight: 313 lbs

Surgery weight: 294.6 lbs

Current weight: 230 lbs

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You look great! Unfortunately, we all get discouraged every now and then. My scale doesnt move much in 5 months, but my clothes tell me different! The pics are a great way to prove it! Our minds mess with us.my clothes tell me I am doing good, its a process like everything else. But it is progress!


SW 350 (11/15)
BSW 260 (10/17/17)
CW 216.1 (2/4/18)
RGW 199
GW 175

Wow! You look great! I can definitely see a big difference in those two pictures. I've been told that our bodies go through times where we won't lose anything. Don't be discouraged because it looks like your doing great. Besides, how do you feel physically after losing weight. I bet you feel better, more energy? That's what I'm hoping for.

I am at 6 months post op as well, scale has quit moving for about a month now. Im happy with how the results have been going till now, but i have confidence that will change. Your pics are awesome! And encouragement all the way to you. Keep up the amazing job your doing and being an inspiration to us all!

Sw:244 cw: 187 gw: 145

1 hour ago, soready17 said:

still feel grossly fat - awkward for me to post (pictures).

@soready17

it takes "guts" for many peep to post their pics - especially when you/they haven't reached GOAL

congrats on your bravery - and truly good pics - they show your hard work towards your transformation

the change in your appearance is definitely obvious to me.

looking forward to more pics as time goes by.

down 64.6 lbs!! you are aces - keep up the good work!!

kathy

First things first. You look amazing and have done a great job.

Now, have you thought about contacting your surgical team to speak with the Psychologist or going to a support group? I am asking not to be mean or rude but because I was in that same mindset.

Everyone was telling me how much I lost or how great I looked and all I saw was loose skin and fat everywhere. This is not the way I thought my body would look. Although I thought I had realistic expectations, truthfully, I was hoping I would look like an Ashley Stewarts model with my small waist, flat tummy, big boobies and thick thighs. Well, I got a rude awakening. My dirty pillows (from Carrie - great book) have sagged and my tummy is stubborn at this point but smaller. I just could not see it.

I decided to see my Surgical Therapist and get help on my body image issues. I just feared the self-destruction path I would soon be heading down. I had not seen her since 2 months post-op. Just her reaction alone helped bust my insecurity bubble. She said something so ingenious, "You have spent more years looking at yourself from before your weight loss. Your mind has gotten used to seeing that old person in the mirror. It will take time for your mind to get used to seeing the new you". Those words made sense because I was having a hard time understanding why I could not see what everyone else was seeing.

I go see her once a month for 30 minutes. It has really helped me.

Oh my gosh, that's a huge difference...you're doing great!!

Our bodies like to maintain this thing called Homeostasis, where everything's just running along smoothly as it should, and big changes like quick weight loss can trip your body up and make it go "whoa, wait a minute, what's happening here??" Your body many just be (temporarily) holding on to a little excess water in an attempt to control that big, fast change. In the meantime, you almost have to be burning and losing fat. When your body realizes everything's normal and okay, it'll let go of that extra fluid and you'll see things moving along again. Don't lose hope, you'll get there!

Stacey you are very correct. Fluffy Chix pointed something,out in one of her posts about fat cells in our bodies. Let's think of them as little zip lock bags, as the fat drains out they fill up with Water before they flatten out, they never totally go away. That's why we have to be vigilant, former fat people always run the risk of puffing up again. The body always seeks homeostasis, we have to convince it the lower weight level is where to be, I think Dr Weiner calls it a set point, I think of it as a new point on my bodily thermostat. So those zip lock baggies of water are what causes our stalls, we just got to wait for them to drain down, keep our diet level smooth and our exercise quotient active. And tada that pesky stall is over. Got it now!

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I think you look phenomenal!!!! Congrats on your success girlie!!!! I also know exactly how it feels at 313 versus 230! Night and day!!!! Your kids must be thrilled to have new energetic mommy!!!

But, I also get it. We are our own worst critics!! ((hugs)) Keep plugging. Stay the course, cuz what other choice do we have? Maybe log diligently along with weighing and measuring to see if you can see something hinkey or out of whack?

Amazing transformation! You look GREAT! Keep up the great work!