POLL:My extreme make-over

When I decided to have this life changing operation, I also decided that 2006 would be a year of change. I am 33 years old (most would consider young) but i have led an incredibly unhealthy life. I have been overweight most of my life. I have smoked for 20 years (yes,since I was 13!). I have done things during my teenage years that we don't even need to get into here. I have never taken care of my skin. So here goes...2006 a year of change. I have already: 1.Had WLS 2.got my teeth cleaned & plan to have them whitened 3.I am excercising every day 4.Have just seen an opthomologist and have contact lenses on order 5.I am taking care of my skin 6.Growing my nails 7.Got a nice haircut 8.Trying to wear clothes that fit me ( I always wore things that were huge) I know that I am a work in progress but I plan to live a long,healthy life and for the first time in many years take pride in myself and my appearance. WHAT ABOUT YOU? I want to know what you are doing and have done. Is this an EXTREM MAKOVER year for you as well? Will YOU be a SWAN?

Hi Valerie! This is an excellent post and great suggestion to those that have not considered it the year of change. For me, I had my 29th birthday 8 days after surgery, so for me, this is my "transition" year. I had WLS and am working hard to lose this weight. I also joined a gym and have been moving around, exercising, and just being able to walk much more than I have in years. I am also going through my closet and pitching out my clothes I don't want or need anymore. I am donating them to Goodwill. I am also working on wearing fun, young, and fitting clothes for a change. I am working on my self-esteem, which just losing 30 lbs has helped SOOOOOO much already. I too am growing out my nails. I always seem to have different haircuts and I dye my hair different, funky colors. But I am a natural blonde. I dye my hair different colors to, in my mind, cover up the girl I used to be....the girl that thought she had no self-worth, no strength, and that deserved nothing. To me, that girl was the blonde I was in high school and out of college. It's been a long time, and most of my friends have never seen me a blonde (except in a few old pictures), but I think blonde is coming back! For me to do that will be a huge step and an acceptance type of situation. My ex told me about 3 years ago that if I did not do something about my weight, I would be dead by 35. I hated him for saying that to me. After not speaking for 18 months, I finally talked to him last Friday. I thanked him for telling me that. Because I wanted to prove him wrong in the beginning, and then it became solely and 200% about me, I finally went through with the surgery. Even though he is still against what I did, and I don't care if he is, he told me he was welcome. Oh, and the biggest part of my transition, TO ROCK MY 30TH BIRTHDAY ON JANUARY 19TH!!!!!! What a year this is going to be for all of us and I can't wait to see our results! Best wishes -- ~amber~

Guess what? My birthday is on January 19th too!

Oh my that is soooo wild!!!! Happy birthday to you too!!!!! Belated birthday wishes to you Mary!!! ~amber~

Hi Valerie, I am with you 110%. This is our year. You know, I always said that I owe alot of my weight gain to putting everyone else first and neglecting myself, bu****ch out now! ME FIRST NOW AND FOREVER!!!!!! I have been exercising more, also taking care of my skin, new hair style, buying clothes that fit and paying close attention to fashion. I went and got my nails done and now I want to go out and have people look at me vs. staying home and being depressed all the time. I turned 29 this year (Jan 9th) and vowed I will not live my 30's as I have lived my 20's. I want to start living my life and stop hiding from it. Your right it is a work in progress bu****ch out~here we come!!! ~Dawn

Wow we are 10 days apart!!! Happy belated birthday!!! (I turned 29 on 1/19) I have a feeling our 30th birthday is going to be amazing for us. I know how you feel about not letting your 30's be how your 20's were. Best wishes for you and your amazing year -- ~amber~

Valarie You are doing a great thing by starting to work on YOU. The more I gained weight, the less I cared about my appearance. The more I loose weight, the more I am starting to care about what I look like. Here are my 2006 goals.. 1. Have WLS 2. Work on my teeth. 3. Go to the hair salon more often 4. Get my nails done again 5. Buy myself some clothes and nice shoes. 6. Join a gym or curves. 7. Look in the mirror and like what I see I also have always worn clothes that were too big for me. I guess I was trying to hide behind them. Kay

Hi Valerie! Good for you! I think that is terrific, and sounds like a plan! I am also trying to wear clothes that fit more, I look forward to each smaller size I can get into. I am looking into getting porcelain veneers for my teeth while I have the extra money, I have never had dental insurance long enough to take care of them properly. I have an appointment on Thursday for a hair cut and color, and I just painted my nails the other day for the first time in a long time! I also wear makeup much more often, still not every day but at least 3-4 times a week. I am glad you posted this! it is great to hear what everyone else is doing! Karyn

Valerie~ I love your post. I agree, as the ball was dropping at midnight on Dec 31 I told myself this is going to be my breakout year. I made my mental list and am already seeing things happen. Here's mine: 1. WLS---DONE 1/16/06 2. join the gym---DONE 2/22/06 3. go to the tanning salon 4. start getting facials 5. have front teeth contoured (already did bleaching) 6. have breast lift 7. have lasic eye surgery 8. Get an amazing job Dawn