Wow!!  When I look back and see the journey it seems as if it sped by!  It is now 18 and a half months since surgery.  I lost 120 before surgery... but still!!!  I look back at my before pictures and almost want to cry! I still have a journey ahead of me, and in many ways I think this part of it will be the toughest yet, but I am still pushing forward.  Hopefully next year I will be rejoicing when I finally hit my final goal!  My mini goal is to hit 250 by the end of July.  I am 2 pounds away from it!  I am setting my next goal after that to be at 225 by Christmas! 5 pounds a month... I think I can do it!  I am much more active than I ever have been in my life.  I am thinking about starting up a tap dance class at a local dance studio, and I am doing water aerobics at least 3 times a week!  Dad is even getting in on becoming active by walking at least 30 minutes every morning with me!  I can tolerate the heat here in San Antonio much more than I ever could before, and I find it drives me crazy when I don't have anything to do all day.  I HAVE to do something!

Well, happy losing everyone.  Hope to post that 400 lost achievement soon!!!

-Sarah

 I officially had my panniculectomy on Feb. 22nd.  Hoo boy was I not prepared.  It is not a bend you over in pain type of feeling, but just a slow burn after the surgery.  MUCH different than my bypass which felt just like I had done too many sit-ups. The doctor had to call in another surgeon to help with the surgery and I am happy to report there were no complications, and they finished ahead of the 6-8 hours they thought the surgery would take.  It only took 5 hours!  I was in the hospital for a day and a half and most of that second day was waiting for me to pee. LOL.  They would not release me until I did.  I couldnt drink enough and stay awake long enough to get up the urge LOL.  Relaxing after the surgery right now, but I plan to get back up to Montreal within the next month!!!  I can't wait to see my love again.  I am missing him much more than I should! :p  I have to wear this damned girdle which- because my legs are still quite big, keeps rolling up on the legs.  I HATE it!  But walking without it hurts, so it must be worn.  All in all I am happy I had this surgery done.  Not having a hanging stomach is so foreign and amazing!!  I am already down to 282 pounds!!!  Dr. Lomonaco said they removed 24 pounds of skin and tissue from my stomach alone!!  Well, if there are any questions, just let me know-  I will try and answer them the best I can!

-Sarah

 Jan 19th, 2011 I hopefully will undergo the first of 3 plastic surgeries.  This one for my stomach skin and hernia.  I am both nervous and excited.  One more step towards feeling normal.  Simon stayed up in Canada as he can not take too much time off from work, however my family and friends are all coming around me for support and help.  Dr. Lomonaco will be doing the surgery and isn't pussyfooting around the fact that it is major surgery.  So any extra prayers and well wishes are needed and appreciated.  I will post updates as I can!  Oh, and before after pics too :p

 Now that I am closer than ever before to my goal weight-  I think its time to re-evaluate it.   A healthy weight range for someone my height is 139-174.  I placed my goal at 175.  This was me thinking "yeah right,  I will NEVER get to this".  But, now that it is totally in reach of the next year... I am thinking I should set my sights a bit lower.  So I am changing my goal weight to 150 even.  If I stay at this weight, depends on A) if I can even get there, and B) if I look healthy at this weight.  Since I have never been this weight as either a teenager or adult, I have no idea what I will look like.  So if all of a sudden my weight to lose ticker just got MUCH bigger, dont fret... I didn't gain weight.  I gained confidence!!

 Phew, one year down!!!  It has passed by so fast!  I am excited about the future, proud of the past, and trying to do my best in the present.  I am learning as much as I can about healthy nutrition, modifying recipes, and exercise.  Life is changing in good ways.  Having the surgery isn't getting me 100% of the way to goal, I do have to pick up my big girl pants and track on, however it has given me the needed boost to rocket me towards goal faster than without it.  So for today, I am going to be as proud of myself as possible!  (oh and I stepped on the scale, lost another pound!)  319 baby!  Woot!

So here's to happy losing!!

<3