I am heading out of town for a couple of days - but I just had to say this - in just over 13 months - I have hit my GOAL :frown::lol:

I can't believe how excited I am. I only picked 180 pounds as my goal because it was under 200 pounds and I couldn't imagine being 200, much less being under.

Now that I am under goal, I am thinking that my NEW goal should be 160 pounds. That totally blows me away that I would be saying that I think 160 pounds is an achievable weight for me.

I just needed to brag for a minute. Thanks for reading :biggrin2:.

That's awesome! I started at 322 before my pre-op diet and my goal is also 180. Thanks for sharing! Now I know my goal is perfectly achievable.

Super Cool!!!! way to go

Congratulations! I so look forward to that day myself! Right now it is a vague hope but I am only hoping it will get better. Again, good going!

Dieta

drlukemayes way to go yourself!! You look amazing thanks for sharing your pictures with the rest of us.

Well I'm back home - THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR POSITIVE COMMENTS. I was kind of scared that no-one would respond :drool:.

I love looking at all your tickers - so many of you have already been phenomenally successful and others are waiting to begin their journey. I get a great deal of inspiration from this site.

A few people asked what my plan has been for the last 13 months. I started to get serious about this journey in June of 2007 while I was waiting for approval for the surgery. I went to Weight Watchers and followed the points program for most of the summer. Between WW and the pre-surgery diet, I lost 43 pounds.

After surgery, I have consciously chosen to eat all foods, in moderation. I do count calories (I usually am around 1000-1200 calories per day) and I find a real key to my success is documenting everything I eat, including quantities. I am a person who needs to be ultra aware of what I am eating, or I will eat unconsciously or obliviously all day and especially all night.

I do eat carbs, fruits, vegetables, as well as Protein. I try to eat natural foods (not really a rule, but easier to eat healthy) and whole grains. I still eat chocolate, pizza, Cookies and potato chips, but only a few and not very often. I go out to eat, but I don't do fast food and I always try to think about what I will order before I go, so that I am more likely to make a reasonably healthy choice. I am not overly restricted (I can eat 3-4 oz of protein and a cup of cooked vegetables at a sitting), but that really works best for me.

I also exercise, ALOT. I go to the gym 3-5 times a week and combine cardio (eliptical and treadmill) with strength training. My workouts are at least an hour, and sometime two. I had to build up to that, as before this journey I counted the walk from the car to the grocery store as my daily walk.

Long story finally ending - here are a couple of pictures:

Blue blouse is from late 2005, when I was about 350 pounds. Yellowish blouse was about 1 month before sugery (I was around 300 pounds then). The other two were taken over the last couple of days.

You go gurl!!!!!!!! i was woundering if i can reach my goal in 1 yr you just proved to me that it can be done congrats' on your 1st goal ,now your 2nd goal will be a breeze. thanks for sharing

congrats!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Wowww, what a tremendous difference. You look absolutely fabulous. Congratulations!!!!

Thanks everyone. Heather O and Lil Miss - your pictures look pretty terrific as well.

LJM - congratulations!!!!- I see that you are pregnant - that is wonderful news. Make sure you take care of yourself!

Jacquie :biggrin: