junebride05
1 year SURGIVERSARY!!!
Jan 25, 2009
1 year...WHAT A JOURNEY!
Pre Op Weight: 253lbs
Pre Op Size: 20/22
Pre Op BMI: 40
Pre Op Self Esteem/Confidence: ZERO
Current Weight: 149 lbs
Current Size: 7/8
Current BMI: 23
Current Self Esteem/Confidence: Through the roof!!
As I sit here reflecting back on the past year, I think about how far I have come. I was always tired, hungry, cranky, miserable, etc etc...Today, I am a whole new person! I have endless amounts of energy, I feel great about myself, I am always happy...and best of all, I am not always hungry!
The weight just seemed to fall off in the beginning...no matter what I ate! As I neared the end of my weight loss journey, the weight loss slowed and I actually had to work at getting it off. I have recently joined a gym...and I enjoy working out! I still have 4 pounds to goal but I have never been this small in my life...ok, maybe in middle school, but does that count?!?!
In October 2008, Dr. Bellanger wanted to use my before and after pictures in his seminars. WOW...ME...you want to use MY PICTURES?!?!? Then they asked if I wanted to speak at the seminars and let people hear my story straight from the source. I can't tell you how honored I felt! Being able to reach out to other people and have them relate to me was AMAZING! The night of my very first seminar, I didn't sleep.....I went home so exciting because I just felt so liberated! I could just look in the guests eyes and see that they understood what I felt because they were feeling the exact same things. The thought of possibly changing someone's life (whether or not to have the surgery) was the best feeling ever! Those seminars went great and with each one I did, I felt better about myself. Now that I am towards the end of my journey, I am not feeling so skinny anymore! I can look in the mirror and see my new self, but I don't always feel 'skinny'. Dr. Bellanger said that its because I am so used to seeing the BIG me in the mirror so its going to take some time to see the SMALL me in the mirror. It hits me when I walk past a glass storefront or see a good picture of myself...I sometimes look twice to make sure its me!
Last year, I quit my job as Office Manager for 6 1/2 years and went to work at an Electric Company. I was completely miserable at my job and for about a year, I thought it was me...because I was unhappy with myself. It took the weight loss to realize that it wasn't me, it was that job! With my newfound braveness and self confidence, I searched for a new job and ended up taking something temporary (to one day hopefully become permanent, but no guarantees). The old me would have NEVER taken that leap of faith! I realized though that it wasn't about the money, it was about being happy...no matter what! That job makes me happy and for now, its where I am and hopefully where I will stay.
Most often, when I run in to old friends, they tell me how great I look....how skinny I am....but what sticks the most is when they say how happy I look! I remember...once upon a time...when people used to tell me that I was always smiling. Over time and the many pounds that I packed on, those smiles went away. Well, they are back! I am always smiling because I have something to smile about..a great life, a great husband, a great family, great friends, and most of all...I LOVE ME!
2 comments
Pre Op Weight: 253lbs
Pre Op Size: 20/22
Pre Op BMI: 40
Pre Op Self Esteem/Confidence: ZERO
Current Weight: 149 lbs
Current Size: 7/8
Current BMI: 23
Current Self Esteem/Confidence: Through the roof!!
As I sit here reflecting back on the past year, I think about how far I have come. I was always tired, hungry, cranky, miserable, etc etc...Today, I am a whole new person! I have endless amounts of energy, I feel great about myself, I am always happy...and best of all, I am not always hungry!
The weight just seemed to fall off in the beginning...no matter what I ate! As I neared the end of my weight loss journey, the weight loss slowed and I actually had to work at getting it off. I have recently joined a gym...and I enjoy working out! I still have 4 pounds to goal but I have never been this small in my life...ok, maybe in middle school, but does that count?!?!
In October 2008, Dr. Bellanger wanted to use my before and after pictures in his seminars. WOW...ME...you want to use MY PICTURES?!?!? Then they asked if I wanted to speak at the seminars and let people hear my story straight from the source. I can't tell you how honored I felt! Being able to reach out to other people and have them relate to me was AMAZING! The night of my very first seminar, I didn't sleep.....I went home so exciting because I just felt so liberated! I could just look in the guests eyes and see that they understood what I felt because they were feeling the exact same things. The thought of possibly changing someone's life (whether or not to have the surgery) was the best feeling ever! Those seminars went great and with each one I did, I felt better about myself. Now that I am towards the end of my journey, I am not feeling so skinny anymore! I can look in the mirror and see my new self, but I don't always feel 'skinny'. Dr. Bellanger said that its because I am so used to seeing the BIG me in the mirror so its going to take some time to see the SMALL me in the mirror. It hits me when I walk past a glass storefront or see a good picture of myself...I sometimes look twice to make sure its me!
Last year, I quit my job as Office Manager for 6 1/2 years and went to work at an Electric Company. I was completely miserable at my job and for about a year, I thought it was me...because I was unhappy with myself. It took the weight loss to realize that it wasn't me, it was that job! With my newfound braveness and self confidence, I searched for a new job and ended up taking something temporary (to one day hopefully become permanent, but no guarantees). The old me would have NEVER taken that leap of faith! I realized though that it wasn't about the money, it was about being happy...no matter what! That job makes me happy and for now, its where I am and hopefully where I will stay.
Most often, when I run in to old friends, they tell me how great I look....how skinny I am....but what sticks the most is when they say how happy I look! I remember...once upon a time...when people used to tell me that I was always smiling. Over time and the many pounds that I packed on, those smiles went away. Well, they are back! I am always smiling because I have something to smile about..a great life, a great husband, a great family, great friends, and most of all...I LOVE ME!
8 months out....
Sep 19, 2008
It has been so long since I posted....much less come on OH! It's so funny how I needed so much support from this website in the beginning and now I am just so independant...and LOVING ME! I am down 93 pounds now. Had a couple of WOW moments this month.....first - I fit in my husbands blue jeans....and second - I weigh as much as my husband!!! Never have I weighed as little as him.
I met my best friend for lunch today - haven't seen her since surgery - and she didn't even recognize me when she walked in! It was a GREAT feeling! I was always in denial when I was gaining weight. I kept all of my clothes thinking I would lose weight and fit in them again. So...I have a closet full of all kinds of sizes. Its so nice to walk in my closet and pick something that looks so small and it actually fits! To anyone thinking of having this surgery...GO FOR IT....its the BEST thing I have ever done for myself!
I met my best friend for lunch today - haven't seen her since surgery - and she didn't even recognize me when she walked in! It was a GREAT feeling! I was always in denial when I was gaining weight. I kept all of my clothes thinking I would lose weight and fit in them again. So...I have a closet full of all kinds of sizes. Its so nice to walk in my closet and pick something that looks so small and it actually fits! To anyone thinking of having this surgery...GO FOR IT....its the BEST thing I have ever done for myself!
3 1/2 months out....
May 10, 2008
In the beginning, I NEVER thought I would be saying this...but I LOVE MY VSG!!!! It is the best thing that I have ever done (besides marrying my wonderful husband of course!).
Wow, where do I start....you have already read my life story so I will pick up from when the weight loss started...after my VSG. It was very hard adjusting to life at first. My head still thought that my body wanted ALL that food...but I had to tell my head to shut up! Don't get me wrong, I have overeaten a time or two, and it came back up, but I have learned from it and moved forward. I never dreamed that there would be a day where I didn't care about food...well, that day is today...and the day before that and tomorrow too. I couldn't care less about food. I eat to live not live to eat and that is the best feeling in the world. I am down 65 pounds now. I went from a size 20 pants down to a 16 and I can wear Juniors tops again! I love myself...which is something I never thought I would say. I am now in the hundreds club...woo hoo...no longer do I weigh over 200 pounds...that was a glorious day! I eat almost anything I want..I usually stay away from most fried foods because they are so heavy and sweets, because they upset my stomach. No longer can my DH entice me with my favorite restaurant to get me out of the house...1. because I don't care about eating anymore and 2. because I am already up and out of the house! I actually enjoy getting out and going shopping, meeting new people, and hanging out with old friends again. No longer do I think badly about myself.
My body has changed so much since before all of the weight gain. I am at the weight that I was when I got married but my body is shaped different so I am not wearing the same size I was in at that time. I will get there though. I am exercising twice a week...I know its not nearly enough but I hate exercising...so its a start! My favorite thing in the morning is to pull out an old pair of pants and put them on to see if they fit again and they are too big...I LOVE IT!
I can't say it enough...its the BEST thing I have ever done and I LOVE ME so much now! I posted some pictures of the new me...and yes, I glow now..lol.
Wow, where do I start....you have already read my life story so I will pick up from when the weight loss started...after my VSG. It was very hard adjusting to life at first. My head still thought that my body wanted ALL that food...but I had to tell my head to shut up! Don't get me wrong, I have overeaten a time or two, and it came back up, but I have learned from it and moved forward. I never dreamed that there would be a day where I didn't care about food...well, that day is today...and the day before that and tomorrow too. I couldn't care less about food. I eat to live not live to eat and that is the best feeling in the world. I am down 65 pounds now. I went from a size 20 pants down to a 16 and I can wear Juniors tops again! I love myself...which is something I never thought I would say. I am now in the hundreds club...woo hoo...no longer do I weigh over 200 pounds...that was a glorious day! I eat almost anything I want..I usually stay away from most fried foods because they are so heavy and sweets, because they upset my stomach. No longer can my DH entice me with my favorite restaurant to get me out of the house...1. because I don't care about eating anymore and 2. because I am already up and out of the house! I actually enjoy getting out and going shopping, meeting new people, and hanging out with old friends again. No longer do I think badly about myself.
My body has changed so much since before all of the weight gain. I am at the weight that I was when I got married but my body is shaped different so I am not wearing the same size I was in at that time. I will get there though. I am exercising twice a week...I know its not nearly enough but I hate exercising...so its a start! My favorite thing in the morning is to pull out an old pair of pants and put them on to see if they fit again and they are too big...I LOVE IT!
I can't say it enough...its the BEST thing I have ever done and I LOVE ME so much now! I posted some pictures of the new me...and yes, I glow now..lol.
2 1/2 months...
Apr 12, 2008
45 pounds and counting!!!!!!
7 weeks!
Mar 12, 2008
I had a great day today! I went shopping and actually bought clothes....smaller clothes!!!!!!
I am down 2 sizes in shirts and 1 size in pants! I went in the store expecting to wear the same size so I picked up about 3 pair of pants, tried them on, and just laughed at myself in the mirror because they were so big! I even fit in NY & Co. shirts again....wooo hooo!!!
I even found some bracelets that fit my big ol' wrist....I can't tell you the last time I remember being able to buy non-stretchy bracelets!
I am down 2 sizes in shirts and 1 size in pants! I went in the store expecting to wear the same size so I picked up about 3 pair of pants, tried them on, and just laughed at myself in the mirror because they were so big! I even fit in NY & Co. shirts again....wooo hooo!!!
I even found some bracelets that fit my big ol' wrist....I can't tell you the last time I remember being able to buy non-stretchy bracelets!
6 weeks!
Mar 04, 2008
In some ways it seems like just yesterday that the nurses were wheeling me in to surgery...but in other ways, it seems like so long ago because I have come so far on my journey. Some days its frustrating because I forget that I have to take such small bites and the first two bites of food are bigger than they should be and I swallow them too fast...then I realize that IT HURTS and I can't eat anymore! The weight isn't coming off as fast as it did at first..I think in part because I have been carb loading. Everyday I have some sort of carb that I am not supposed to have! Mashed potatoes are my FAVORITE but most of the time its peanut butter crackers...its just so much better than eating a piece of ham. I just get SO TIRED of eating meat all of the time. I have lost 2 more inches in my arms and my waist. I used to think I would never lose weight again....such a different attitude now...although I am still afraid of the scale. Every time I get on the scale, I pray that the number is less and not more...and so far it is but there is still that fear!
29 days....
Feb 20, 2008
32 pounds down....yay!!
I figured out why I have been getting so nauseus....because I am not eating often enough. I have been snacking about every 2-3 hours and I feel GREAT now!!!!
I figured out why I have been getting so nauseus....because I am not eating often enough. I have been snacking about every 2-3 hours and I feel GREAT now!!!!
27 days....
Feb 17, 2008
I am down 30 pounds exactly...my pants are beginning to fall off!! I have had a lot of nausea lately...it sucks...I wish I would get past this stage!!
Day 24.....
Feb 14, 2008
THE SCALE MOVED....for the first time since Sunday.....woooo hooooo....so I am 3 more pounds lighter and I have lost about 2 inches each from my neck, arms, waist, & bust...but the thighs...still nothing. I find that I am losing a lot of my weight in my upper body first...although my pants are starting to fall off! Not feeling too hott today...I think I drank too much water too fast this morning...I feel like I am floating!
Day 19....
Feb 10, 2008
Still feeling good...able to eat almost anything but carbs at this point. It's kinda nice because i get tired of eating the same things. One thing though..everytime I eat, I get this feeling in my throat..like my food is stuck or something...but I am chewing my food well and I am taking small bites...hmmm..
About Me
Denham Springs, LA
Location
21.1
BMI
Jan 11, 2008
Member Since
