I had no idea how big I was!

Once I was no longer able to be weighed at the doctor's office, I truly tuned out my feelings about gaining weight. I guess I just told myself that once you're over 350 pounds, it just didn't matter anymore. Huge is huge. So, I ate my way up to nearly 400 pounds and didn't look back. I became very deft and crafty at dodging cameras at special events. I got so good that there are absolutely NO pictures of me at all from 2004. Not even in the background of someone's group photos at Disneyland. Consequently, I really don't know what I looked like prior to surgery. There is one picture at my surgeon's office that was taken pre-op, but I haven't seen it. I don't think I want to. Thank goodness, I'm on the road to recovery. I've lost over 90 pounds in just over 11 weeks. That's the good part about being SMO. We lose faster than our "lightweight" counterparts. See, there's a silver lining to everything! See you all around the board! Julie

Congratulations on your weight loss and your surgery date! See you on the losing side! Julie

I lost about 45 lbs before my surgery just practicing pouch rules for 9 or so months. It was the best thing I could have done. And it was much easier to do it that time because I knew that reinforcements were on the way Good luck on your surgery, ~Lara 400+/190@goal (actually 188 today )

Do I hear you! I tuned out my feelings as well. I rationalized that as long as I was still healthy (except for being 200 + lbs over weight!) and active, I was OK. started getting numb about the scale# after 300 lbs. Now, I can't wait to get under 300 lbs! I'm 3 weeks out and down 38 lbs, and for the first time in my life, I love losing! Congrats on 90 lbs in 11 wks - are you just amazed?

Julie, Congratulations on your weight loss! I think it would do you good to see the picture from your doctors office. Youc an see how far you have come! ~S~H~A~N~N~O~N~ 50 lbs forever gone and still going! _________________________________ It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up. -Vince Lombardi

Congrats on your fast weight loss. I have to lose 25 pounds, then I can have it done, Lost 10 so far.

You're AWESOME lady!!!! Much to the chagrin of the lighterweights, they try to compare to us and get UBER frustrated. I'm always like "Hello. . . .would you really have wanted to have THAT much more to lose?" . . .I have found that they can get even more freaked out when we get lower weighted or smaller sized than they. . .pretty much anyone who we lose under gets uber freaked out I find. For years people used me as "As long as I'm not as fat as her". . .and then suddenly through my hard work and dilligence. . . they are as fat. . .or fatter. I'm not paying it any mind, I'm here doing my own thing. Here's to the rest, may it fly off healthfully and permanently. Wishing you the best, ~Lara