8 months out (Saturday) - GOAL (long and with lots of photos)

Howdy my OH lovelies.  I'm in an incredibly good mood.  I'll try not to make this a novel.  At 8 months out this past Saturday, I woke up to my initial goal weight.  It had been a goal of mine to get there by 8 months out, and my body was cooperative.  I say initial bc when I first decided on this weight, it was bc this is the smallest I've ever been in my adult life, my wedding weight, and I honestly didn't think that I could get smaller.  I'm 100% confident that I can and will get smaller.  I'm going to keep my ticker the same for probably the next week bc I get a tiny thrill every time I see it, but then I'm going to change it to 135. 

For some stats if you like that sort of thing (I know I do)

Today I weigh 149 pounds.  I've lost a total of 118 pounds.  I've gone from a size 18 in dresses, 20 in pants, and XL in tops to a size 6 (some 4s, I'm built small up top) in dresses, 6-8 in pants, and a 4-6/mostly small tops.  From when I started tracking my inches, about a month after surgery, I've lost a total of 11 inches off my waist, 8 inches off my chest, 15 inches off my hips (whoa!), and 12 inches from my thighs.  Here's the monthly breakdown:

M1: 20 lbs

M2: 19 lbs

M3: 12 lbs

M4: 14 lbs

M5: 9.2 lbs

M6: 9.6 lbs

M7: 9.6 lbs

M8: 10.8 lbs

My favorite NSVs recently - saying no the brownies my sadistic (slightly joking) brought over this weekend even though they are my favorite and I had a slew of justifications in line (I hit my initial goal, one brownie won't hurt, it's OK bc I totally deserve it, yadda yadda yadda).  Actually wanting to have my photo taken with my beautiful daughter.  Having my husband not want me to leave the house in what I'm wearing - he's never been the jealous type, and I've been this thin in our relationship, but it's simply different now.  Feeling sexy occasionally.  I am not someone who feels sexy - smart, pretty, awesome, I feel those things on a nearly daily basis and always have, but sexy is new and pretty fantastic.  I feel healthy, strong, powerful and beautiful.  I don't always feel this way, but I feel this way more often than not.  There are so many NSVs that I've had along the way, but these are some of the recent ones.

I do have extra skin.  I think it's inevitable when you lose this much weight.  It's not horrible, but yes, I am going to get plastics in 2014 most likely.  The skin in the worst on my abdomen & my breasts are pretty deflated - this is more bc of pregnancy than the weight loss.  My upper thighs were the only real surprise, but I'm fairly confident they will get at least a little better with time.  I'll gladly take my deflated skin, though, any day.  Even if I couldn't afford to have plastics.  It's really not that bad, and nothing a good pair of Spanx can't take care of in a tight dress.

And some photos from my journey so far!

Before

January

April

About a week ago in a size 4 dress (vanity sized, I'm sure, but I'll take it!)

And from yesterday at the lavender festival.  My baby girl and I had such an awesome time with my best bud & my mom

Yes, that is ME wearing SHORTS!  I haven't worn shorts since I was maybe 13 years old.  Happy Monday!  Feel free to ask me any questions, I'm an open book.

I can't see any pics. but your WL is AMAZING! You have done so well. I am a lot like you in our goal weights. I want to be 149 thats' my first goal weight and then down to 130-135! 

Thank you!  I wonder why they aren't showing up.  I can resize them, but they are pretty small to begin with.  Sigh, buggy technology.  I can see them on my computer & iPhone. 

You freaking rock!!!  So excited for you!  I can't view the pix in work (we have a filter) but I'll check them tonight from home. Love that you added your stats/pix...I love that stuff too!

Congratulations & enjoy soaking in your goal!

Thank you!  I really wanted to add the monthlies bc there's so much talk of a honeymoon period for just six months, and I don't believe that's true.  I did tighten up my diet somewhat around 5 months when I started getting nervous about my weight slowing down, but I still ended up losing more weight in month 8 somehow.  Even my doc was surprised that my weight loss has been so consistent. 

That is really good to hear.  I lost over 20 lbs before surgery and then 25 the first month, and then slowed down to 8.8 2nd month. I am over the half way mark, though, so I will still be pretty happy if I can average about 10 lbs a month (especially since I am building muscle back up now too).  But I don't want to stop losing for sure!

I don't think you have to stop losing until you decide to.  You can always tweak your diet, add more exercise, etc.  You're doing awesome!

Thanks so much....I'm aspiring to follow in your footsteps!

OMG ! What an amazing transformation, you look wonderful ! You must be so very proud of yourself. ENJOY !!!

Thank you! I feel pretty wonderful today :)