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Yep! that's right my Panniculectomy surgery has been scheduled for January 28, 2010! I am very excited about it. Sad to say but I'm ready for the Holidays to zoom through so I can go ahead and get this ball rolling. Actually I could have had the surgery as soon as Thursday if I wanted, however I decided 8 weeks is enough time for me to handle my business. I plan on taking the whole month of February off from both of my jobs to recover. I'm already working on a list of questions for my surgeon for my pre-op appointment on Jan. 11th. For those of you wondering what a Panniculectomy is...it's not a tummy tuck. Its where they remove the excess skin below the naval (tummy tucks include tightening of the abdominal muscles). I will also have a lipectomy which is fat removal...not like liposuction where they make the fat fluid and suction it out...but actually cutting the fat out of the abdomen area....at least that's my understanding of it. Anywho, just thought I'd share my good news. Be Blessed, and I'll keep ya posted!

Is it me or is this damn weight shifting in different directions? I mean, I pretty much weight the same, shid...my clothes still fit but it seems like something is not right. Docs says that all is well but it seems as if I'm stuck. Yeah, I treated myself for the Holiday, but trust it wasn't enough for me to feel like this. Anywho, I was thinking... Getting into this WLS journey is a never ending battle, and you literally have to go into it with that mindset if you plan to succeed. Think about it...If you get complacent, if you get satisfied, if you get comfortable in you're own skin you could backslide. One something with sugar turns to 2, one small bag of chips turns into 3 and so on, one cocktail turns to 4 LOL! For real though you get the drift right. Food and the satisfaction that it gives us is just like a drink to an alcoholic, the next fix for a drug addict, the next f**k for a man (Lol! had to say that cause ya know they can't live without it). Real Talk though, this is real and we must equip ourselves to succeed and make this blessing work. Another thing that I was thinking...maybe you can relate...a person that has WLS is never satisfied... Think about it first we aren't satisfied until we get approved, then once we have the surgery all we want to do is loose, loose, loose, and wonder why we aren't losing as fast as 'others' that we see on this site. After we've lost the weight  and the skin 'sits where it may' ergo other issues as far as body image. We are forever a Work In Progress...which isn't that bad...at least not to me! I get a natural high witnessing my body transform into the well oiled machine that God created it to be. Yes, I would love to have plastics done, beyond my Panni, but I'm going to work with what I have for now and keep on trucking. My prayer is that this post reaches and inspire someone to never give up, and to never get satisfied on this journey. Push It To the Limits...Shid...Fake It Till Ya Make It...Speak into existence what you want to do, how you want to look and feel. I speak into this world every single day "I AM A NATURAL BODYBUILDER, AND I WILL ONE DAY GET ON THAT STAGE AND COMPETE!" Be Blessed Fam!!!!

I know It's been awhile, but I must share this wonderful news. I've been approved for my Panniculectomy (sp?) as of last week. I don't have a surgery date scheduled yet but it will be sometimes this month. I don't think I will have any other surgery done just yet due to financial reasons. However my surgeon told my that all I really need is some minor work done on my arms and a possible breast lift/implants. The main thing is that I am no longer going to have this pannus at the bottom half of my stomach. I think this will be perfect because I have abs underneath the flab, so hopefully this will bring them out more. My weight is still stable, I've actually gained about 10lbs from my lowest weight but I'm not worried because I lift heavy weights several times a week. I'd like to think it's mostly muscle. I'm still working to become a Natural Bodybuilder; don't know how long it will take but I am determined to meet that goal no matter how long it takes. Other than that life is grand. I have good days and bad days but please believe that I wouldn't change a thing. God Bless and I pray that who ever reads any of my blogs or pictures will be inspired to continue in this tedious journey that God has so graciously blessed us with! 

This Saturday marks my 3 year anniversary of have GBS. I've had some ups and downs these 3 years, however if I had a chance I would do it all again. From not being able to eat, to having the shits (lol), 1 or 2 dumping episodes, battling with different addictions we get after having the surgery, lost friends and loved ones, the big 'D' (divorce ), hating family, friends, and co-workers, having my gallbladder removed...the list is endless. I've mentioned all of this to say that through it all God has blessed me with the determination to maintain and go way beyond my personal goals that I've ever imagined. I thank and give all praises to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the trials and tribulations that I've had in this journey. I said a fervent prayer before I had this surgery and my continued success is proof that my prayer is being answered...And He ain't through with me yet!!!!
 
There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about the choices that I have to make about the things that I decide to put into my mouth. Mind you that I said 'choices' and 'decide' ; It is in my opinion that If you don't choose to decide that you will have a successful journey then guess what...you won't.

So now, here's the kicker in my journey that would have some going crazy...I am actually 5-8 pounds heavier than my lightest weight. However, I am much leaner, more toned, and feel as if I could run a marathon or participate in a triathlon! I started working out the minute my doctor told me I could. As a matter of fact within hours of having the surgery I was walking the halls in the hospital determined to make this tool work. That's the key to this whole GBS...making it work. Don't rely on the 'honeymoon' phase to make it through. Believe me the weight will fall off at first like water running out of a faucet, but as time goes by the real work begins. And trust me when I say that If you haven't made the proper changes in the beginning, further down the road will be harder because you still have old habits lingering. Don't get me wrong, I have bad days and habits that I struggle with daily, or even by the hour/minute...I just don't let them get the best of me. If I overdo it one day then trust and believe that I pick up the pieces and get back on track very soon.

I am proud to say that all of the 200+ pounds that I've lost thus far has been by the grace of God and myself. These 3 years I've had no personal trainer, just the Internet and the Spirit guiding me along the way. I am at a point now that I know that I can go further. I want to be even more toned than I am now. My desire is to compete in a figure competition next year, therefore I've hired a personal trainer to assist me with my goals. This Saturday (my rebirth-day) is my first session and I'm very excited about starting this next phase of my journey. One of my biggest fears is being a 'skinny fat person.'  How do you get to be a skinny fat person???? Have any kind of weight loss surgery and not workout and tone up as much of the loose skin that you can before having plastics...that's MY definition of a skinny fat person.

So, here are my stats as of 3 years:

Highest weight that I can remember: 370lbs +
Weight when I had surgery : 330lbs
Lowest weight: 160lbs
Weight today: 168lbs. (the gain is from muscle)
Weight that my personal trainer says he will assist me in achieving: 140lbs (but I will gain 5-10 lbs of muscle to put me at 150lbs)

My highest pant size was a 30...now I wear 4 or a 6 depending the cut

My top was a 4x...now I can wear an XS or junior top depending the cut

My shoe size was a 9 - 91/2 W... not I wear a size 7 1/2 - 8

I can remember  a time when I ran FROM the treadmill...Now I run ON it!!!!

My measurements are now 34-28-38

As stated earlier; I give all praise and honor of my success to My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because without his blessings on my life and my journey non of this would have been possible. My prayer is that this update has inspired, motivated, and encouraged all that have took the time out to read!!! Be Blessed

Kimberly

Yeah I know it's been a long time since I've updated my page so I won't make any excuses for my absence. I've been living and loving life to the full and I won't make any apologies for that. It's good to see that a lot of people that I use to secretly keep up with are doing well. A lot has happened since my last post. For starters back in September I had an awful pain (worse than labor pains) in my upper abdomen...well come to find out I had a huge gallstone resulting in me having to have my gallbladder removed. I recovered from that and found a new love in the process of healing...WALKING! My doctor advised me to not lift weight or do Pilate's for several weeks, he told me the only thing I could do was walk...so I walked. I never liked walking and dreaded the treadmill, however I was determined to not let this down-time be a set back for me and my journey. I can honestly say that the benefits from walking are so great because you not only have the chance make your body fit and healthy but you have a chance to clear and free your mind....Have a little talk with Jesus...You know thangs like that! So now that everything is back to normal I am back on the grind as far as trying to maintain my weight and build more muscle. Everyday is still a struggle, nevertheless I am determined to stay on track and to continue with my success. I'll end it here and try to make a concerted effort to keep things updated. Because I know when I first started out other people's profiles, blogs, pictures and success stories gave me the motivation and inspiration that I truly needed to get where I am today. Therefore if you are reading this and would like me to get on your team for motivation/inspiration or just someone to talk to about the ups and downs of this journey just send me a message anytime. If I don't have the answer I will find it for you. You can also see more of my pictures on myspace.com, just look me up under Red Snappa. Until next time...Be Blessed!

Yeah I know long time no post, but as usual life gets in the way...and I don't feel like typing...I on this website all the time lurkin' reading other folks business but don't feel like keeping up with my on. N-T ways I've been divorced 3 months as of today and I am so elated. It dawned on me this morning when I had to write the date on some paperwork, then I realized that the clothes that I am wearing are the same ones (different black pants...but black...smaller size...same blouse...but looser ) that I had on three months ago. Things could not have turned out any better for me. So much has happened over these months I don't know where to begin. Well, actually I won't begin because I don't want to put all of my personal bizness in the streets (so to say) but nevertheless everything is so wonderful for me right now. On the 27th of this month I will be 18 months post op. I am not going to let that intimidate me either. Some people feel that you stop losing once you hit the 18-24 month spot but I am not going to stop losing until I say so or my body decides it's at a comfortable weight. I am proud to say that I weigh in now at 180lbs  !! Yep, that's right, I've lost 15lbs in three months and I know that is awesome. I would like to loose about 20 more pounds before I start matinance. Once I get down to 160lbs I will start hitting the iron harder than what I already do. I know this will possibly cause me to gain some but I would much rather gain muscle than fat anyday. I don't really (but kind of...always been a childhood dream) want to be a bodybuilder I want to be toned and cut up...not that bulky. I would wait until the 27th to do this but I guess I'll do it now cause it might slip my mind by then, so here's my stats as of today: My weight is 180lbs, highest at the beginging of my WLS journey 350lbs+ (stop weighing myself once I saw 350...but kept eating cause I fell into a deep depression). I weighed in @ 330lbs the day of my surgery (7/27/06) I lost those 20lbs on the 6 month supervised diet. Here are my measurements as of today: 36-32-42
Here are my clothes sizes: bra --then 48DDD, now 36C, pants--then 32W, now (misses...too much arse and hips for juniors) 10-12 (depending on cut)
tops--then 4x or larger, now smalls and mediums (can't beleive that a large top...misses or juniors...is too large for me! shoe size--then 9W, now 71/2-8 and I finally bought me some sexy boots that goes up my legs...now that was a WOW moment for me...I was actually crying in the shoe store. ring size: then 10, now 7. I am so proud of me and my prayer is that I continue to stay on track and never take my blessing for granted because me having this surgery was truly a blessing from the Lord. If you are reading this I hope I have inspired you in any way and always remember that those temptations that you encounter on a daily basis (as far as food is concerned) it's not worth it to give into. Yes, I have bad days where I eat stuff that I know that I don't need but I have taught myself to bounce back into my lil routine and keep going. I refuse to go back "there" and live the life of misery that I once lived. No, WLS does not fix nothing in your life, but TO ME it helps to look at life a better way and I can deal with different situations with ease whereas in the past I would have climbed back in the bed or in my corner with the covers over my head and cried and/or slept and ate my pains away. I truly am grateful! God Bless all who shares in reading my profile and I pray that your journey is great !
Much Luv!