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Goals

Transition from walking to jogging

26 People
 in progress, 
6 People
 achieved this

Have breast augmentation and tummy tuck once I reach my goal

16 People
 in progress, 
2 People
 achieved this

To Fit into a Size 8

25 People
 in progress, 
12 People
 achieved this

Wear a size 10 jeans

6 People
 in progress, 
3 People
 achieved this

Get down to a size 14 or maybe a 12

22 People
 in progress, 
9 People
 achieved this
View Other Goals
Surgeon Testimonial

George Tashjian
Dr T. is the best. He is very professional and talks to you and not down to you. He keeps it real. Everything that he said would happen did. He knows what he is doing and I am so thankful he did my surgery. If I have any issues or concerns he lets me know what to do or what to expect. I like that he is honest. He does not sugar coat anything. He has changed my life for the better.
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crystalLL's Blog
crystalLL's Blog


Still doing my thing...
on October 26, 2011 7:52 am
Well it has been a long time since I have been on here.  I am still at goal, still less than 2 years!  My life is so different now.  I have noticed that people treat me different.  I have not changed personality wise.  I am much more healthier and I have more confidence.  I am still very shy and humble to the weight loss.  Some times I forget I am not a plus size.   I look at my picture to remind myself where I use to be. 

I want to stay focused and I do have my good and bad days.  I am so very blessed!  GOD is so awesome.  I thank GOD everyday for my surgery. 

My husband has been amazing.  He loved me when I was at my heaviest and told me I was beautiful.  He never seen me at this size.  Now that I a smaller, he loves to put his arms around me and we have the most wonderful relationship.  I love that man, he is my BFF!   He calls me his Beyonce...dang he makes me feel sexy!  We did this together, so it is his journey too. 

If I could be an inspiration to anyone...just remember to stay true to yourself.  Don't get down when you stay they same and are not losing anymore.  Instead think...what did you do that maybe was not right?   You are going through a tough journey and it is not easy.  Don't let people discourage you.  Have a strong support group.  Your true friends will be there for you.  You have to be dedicated.  Respect yourself and be the best that you can. 
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I Made GOAL!
on July 18, 2011 9:27 am
So today 7/18/2011 I weighed myself.  I passed my second goal of 165.  I weigh 163.5!  I am so happy and so very blessed.  TO GOD BE THE GLORY!  Now I have to work on keeping my weight.   I never thought I would ever see this day. I started at 353 pounds. I am in a size 8/10.  I am where I want to be.  It feels good to go to the store and I know they will have my size.  There are so many things that I can do now.  My health is so much better.  No more diabetes or high blood pressure.  I look at life in a whole different way.  I am going to NC next month and I can not weight to see the family.  I have to maintain and don't gain!  That is my motto!  I am in a 10 and some 8s!  Oh Yeah Baby!  I am feeling good. 
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I'm Getting Closer!
on May 10, 2011 1:29 pm
Well I have to admit, this has been an unbelievable ride.  I am so blessed that I had the WLS.  I go back to my Dr next week and I hope I have reached my goal of 175.  I might get crazy and go to 165. LOL!  I'm in a size 12 and want to be in a solid 10.  I can do a 10 if there is spandex, but it would nice to go to the store and just grab a 10.  I never thought, I would get to a 12.  I feet great and I am not use to people giving me compliments.  It is so hard as I have always been the one to give them out and not receive them.  I have no regrets.  I am having a breast lift since I have lost a lot of weight the girls have gone south.  So come June I am scheduled to have a lift.  Insurance will cover it, so that is a blessing too!  I will go down to a 36C. 
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My Story

My Weight Loss Journey…. I have always been pretty athletic growing up I never had any weight issues. I had two older brothers and I lived on a street with mostly boys. I was such a tomboy!     I was one of the “guys.” I loved sports and still do.   It wasn’t until I got in my 30s that I started to see my body really change. I noticed that I could not move like I used to. I could not just eat anything and burn it off. The more I ate the bigger I got. At one time I reached over 375 pounds!    From there I went up and down with my weight. At one time I had lost about 75 pounds in a year. I took diet pills that my doctor had prescribed to me and I was doing Weight Watchers. The one thing about me is I weighed more than people thought I did. I am about 5 feet 8 inches so I was able to hide it pretty well, but I knew I needed to do something as I was really overweight. I did not have high blood pressure or diabetes, illnesses that are very common in overweight people.   However, I was heading in that direction; it was just a matter of time. It wasn’t until I got in my 40s that I was diagnosed with diabetes first and then later with high blood pressure. Moving forward I realized my health was not going to get any better unless I made some positive changes.   In June of 2009, I weighed about 353 pounds. I made an appointment to see my doctor to discuss Weight Loss Surgery (WLS). Together we decided that the Lap Band surgery would be best for me. I had my surgery in November of 2009. I thought it would be very simple. Have the WLS and I would be good to go. Well, it does not work that way. You still have to be disciplined in your eating habits along with exercise.  You have to actually lose weight before you have the surgery to prove you will be disciplined and use it as a tool.   After the surgery you have to be even more disciplined.  To date I have lost over 160 pounds. I have a few more pounds until I reach my goal weight. Since I have made these changes my future looks bright and healthy!  I am proud to say I do not have diabetes or high blood pressure anymore!  There are so many more things that I can do now. I can exercise, cross my legs; get into an airplane seat without being asked if I need an extension and not worrying if a chair is going to break on me. Yes these are some of things that I went through being overweight.   I feel good about myself and I am still a little shy about my weight loss. So doing this story is kind of hard for me. I know what it’s like to be overweight and all of the struggles you go through. I feel very blessed that I had the WLS. I am fortunate to have great support from my husband, family, friends and my co-workers! Advice that I would like to share is….WLS may not be for everyone, but being healthy is! There is only one you…..take care of yourself.   Like Nike motto says….JUST DO IT!