1 year post op!!!!!

Jul 30, 2008

I can't believe it's already been a year! One year and 175 pounds GONE FOREVER!!! I'm proud to announce I weigh in at 138 pounds, 12 pounds BELOW my goal weight. I never really expected to even reach my goal, much less go LOWER than that!!!! I feel like I'm on top of the world!!!

I still have days where I look at my recent pictures and think DANG...do I really look like that??? I don't see it in the mirror all the time, which is why my camera is like my new best friend!!!

I'm working nights and just got a gym membership. As you may know, my treadmill is what got me through this year. Now I think it's time to pull out the big guns...BALLY'S!!! lol I'm excited and looking forward to toning up some before my tummy tuck in October!!!!

Thank you everyone for your kind words of encouragment!!!! Posted new pics..check 'em out!

11 Months Post Op

Jul 02, 2008

Almost been a year.....finally reached the "maintaining" phase...not really losing OR gaining. I'm finally content with my weight. If i never lose another pound, I'll be fine. I don't really want to lose or gain. If I could stay here, that would be great. Maintaining is definitely harder than losing........but I keep VERY close tabs on my weight so I don't slowly slide back...gaining is one of my fears. 

I work out, not as strenuously as around 6 mos post op, but I exercise moreso to be healthy than to lose weight. I eat well and get my protein in now better than ever. I have a HUGE appetite the week before I start my period, but the other 3 weeks of the month, I'm right on track. 

I'm scheduled for my first plastic surgery in October. I started working a 2nd job at nights waitressing to save up for my breast lift and implants, which I hope to have around Spring Break. 

Life is good....I'm happy. I see these pictures and see a slim girl...but it's hard sometimes because when I look in the mirror, that's not at all what I see. I look at these pictures and think "Really? Do I really look like that???" I guess it takes some getting used to.

10 Months Post Op

May 27, 2008

I can't believe I'm still losing!!!!! WOW!! This month I'm glowing! I am down to 138....that is a grand total weight loss of 175 pounds. As I review my weekly weigh-ins, I see that I'm bouncing up and down...not too drastically, but I believe I'm beginning the maintaining stage, which is fine with me. I'm finally satisfied where I am. For my height, a healthy weight range is anywhere from 116-140. I'm 138 today, and accounting for the 12-15 pounds of abdominal skin I will have removed in October, and the other 4-7 pounds of thigh skin I will have removed in December...that puts me in the 120's. I would be fine anywhere from 125-135....so in essence, I'm done trying to lose. My goal and job now is to maintain...still eat properly and most importantly (the hardest one lately) take my vitamins and meet my protein and water intake goals daily. Who ever thought that would be the part I struggle with most!?!?!? 

I still don't see "skinny" when I look in the mirror.....but I am starting to love what I see more and more every day.

9 Months Post Op

Apr 30, 2008

I can't believe it's already been 9 whole months! WOW! It's been quite a journey. This last month has been hard on me, psychologically. I don't know what's going on really, but I got hit with so much depression....really for no reason! My life is the MOST drama-free it's EVER been...and here I am stressed out, anxious, and depressed!!!! I kind of expected it to hit eventually, as it's a common side effect after major weight loss. I'm happy to report however, that this week has been a much better week for me, and I'm starting to feel back to normal again. 

I got down to 141 this month due to a horrible stomach virus I had. I bounced back to 147 and honestly, I feel much better. Everyone was telling me I needed to gain some of that weight back, and I actually worked at doing so. So strange...never thought I would have to work to put weight on. Anyways, I figured that weight loss was just all fluids, and not a healthy one, especially since I had lost 9 pounds over the course of 2 days!!!!!

I'm currently wearing a size 6 or a 4, depending on the brand. ALL my 8's are too big! YAY! I never in a million years thought I would be this small. I NEVER remember shopping and buying these sizes!!!!! I do remember being a size 14 the first day of 6th grade though....so I imagine I haven't been this size since I was in Elementary School! 

I'm going to the doctor Friday and having some tests run. I think I may have low blood sugar. Still not sure. My antidepressants were causing me to not want to eat at first, so I was really ill one week...I wasn't getting even 15g of protein a day, and I was shaking and almost fainted! It was scary. I have gotten back on track and started eating healthier and more often, and I can tell you now...I feel 100% better!!!!!

8 Months Post Op

Apr 02, 2008

OK, so I'm just one week late...but I just wanted to report that as of today, I have reached my goal weight of 150!!!!! WOO HOO! I am so happy. I had been going through a lot of stalls and was really discouraged for a while, but I'm so glad that I finally did it. I can't even begin to tell you how many people, including myself, never believed I would really achieve this goal. It feels so good...there are not words to describe it!!!!

I also went Monday for my first plastic surgery consult. They are submitting to insurance so keep your fingers crossed. I'm trying to get a tummy and thigh tuck for now.....

Thanks everyone for your ongoing support and friendship!

7 Months Post Op

Feb 27, 2008

7 months since I decided to get serious about my health. I'm amazed at how far I've come....and how different I feel. You can't put a price tag on this.... there are so many tiny things I LOVE about life now that most people take for granted....things I couldn't dream of doing before....sitting with my legs crossed, wearing high heels, being able to run, taking the stairs, sitting comfortably in a booth...the list goes on! I'm so thankful God gave me this opportunity...I'm so blessed! 

I have lost a grand total of 150 pounds (109 since surgery). I weigh in at 163. I typically wear a size 8 or 10...just depends on the brand. I weigh less than my husband....and ran my first straight mile this morning...FIRST EVER in my WHOLE life! I never even ran a straight mile as a kid!!!! 

13 more pounds to goal....


6 Months Post Op

Jan 28, 2008

Well, today marks 6 months since the beginning of my weight loss journey. It's been quite a road....lots of ups and downs. Thank you everyone who has been there for me and supported me through it all. And thanks everyone else who abandoned me through this, for you showed me a non-example of what true friendship is all about. I think it's a little ironic...none of my fat friends stuck this journey out with me. Interesting, but not surprising in the least bit.

I started this journey at 313 pounds. I was actually disappointed that no one just slapped me and told me "LOSE SOME WEIGHT, FAT GIRL!" I had no idea I was that big. I really hadn't a clue...until I started losing and looking back at all those horrible pictures. I was told my whole life how pretty I could be if I just lost some weight. It saddens me to think about how cruel people can be to the overweight. I will always have a special place in my heart for the obese, because I know their heartache...I know the comments people make - the ones they say just loud enough so you can hear them. I know that people are repulsed by fat people. Do I sound bitter? I might be a little. I go to the store, and some guy tries to hit on me....in my head, I think, "This jerk probably saw me at this same store last year and didn't think twice about even opening the door for me!" I am amazed at how much more people like "thin" people, and it disgusts and disappoints me. Fat people DO have to overcompensate for their being fat...whether it is with a friendly personality or a good sense of humor. Being fat, you already have one strike against you. It's no different than being a minority or gay person....you have to PROVE yourself in order for people to give you a fair chance.

I'm proud to report that I have lost a grand total of 141 pounds (100 since surgery). I currently weigh in at 172 pounds! I'm 22 pounds away from my goal weight of 150! But I feel like I've achieved SO much more than just seeing the numbers on the scale drop. I can go up the stairs without feeling like I may need an ambulance....I can actually run up them in 3 1/2 inch spike heels! I ALWAYS take the stairs at work...it feels so good. I remember before walking twice the distance just to catch the elevator! I get on the floor and play with my kids...when I go out to eat, I don't have everyone look at me and say "table or booth?"...like they're trying to figure out if I can even fit in a damn booth. Sadly, there was actually a point I couldn't fit in the booth at Black Eyed Pea! I will never forget that...the embarrassment of having to be moved from a booth to a table. I LOVE going shopping...no longer having to head straight to the "fat girl" section in the back of the store. I went to Walmart the other day and couldn't even buy sweats because all the sweats in the Junior's department had Hannah Montana on them! :) I'm shopping with Junior High kids!!!! I tried on my 7th grade cheerleading uniform the other day and guess what? Not only did it fit...it was too big!!!! I love this new freedom I have....I feel so wonderful.

Has it been easy? HELL NO! It's been work and taken more dedication than I've ever had to give in my whole life. There was a time my sister-in-law and her family came over and brought Chinese food over and I locked myself in my room and bawled my eyes out. Did I give in and eat the fried rice and eggrolls everyone else was eating? NO! When everyone else in the family is laying around and watching a movie...where am I? I'm upstairs on my treadmill. Is that where I want to be? Usually...not! But I'm determined to never be that girl again...the girl I HATED to be!!!! People don't understand how much I have worked for this...only the people closest to me...the people who KNOW that I am running 1 1/4 miles every day and then powerwalking 2 1/4 miles....that's 3.5 miles DAILY....7 days a week. They don't know that if I ever miss a day, I overcompensate MORE than double the next day! They don't know that sometimes I want to cry because I want to eat so bad. Am I starving? NO! I'm negecting and refusing an addiction I've had for over 20 years! And.....to top things off, I broke 2 more major addicitons....smoking, which I've done off and on since 14...and biting my fingernails...which has been my security blanket since I was 4 years old!!!! I'm addiction free, which is the best part.

And lastly, I want to especially thank my husband....who loved me even when I was repulsive...and ALWAYS told me I was beautiful...NEVER made me feel fat. He loved me for me...and he always knew and loved the real Ashley...the one who was hiding underneath all those layers of fat.


5 Months Post Op

Dec 28, 2007

Well, I'm down to 181. My goal has been to get to 179 by New Years...I've got less than a week left, but I think I can do it! I"m disappointed at how much the weight loss has slowed down, but I can DEFINITELY tell a difference as far as inches are concerned. I really wish I had been measuring myself all this time, but I haven't! :( I can tell major differences though, especially in the pictures. I feel good and have started eating better than last month and getting back into the work out routine. I am going more for endurance than speed. I am just walking but going for 50 minutes a day...whereas before I was jogging and walking and sometimes even running but for only 20-30 minutes a day. 

Sometimes I feel discouraged. It feels like forever since I've seen the scale go down drastically like it used to EVERY week religiously! I have gone up and down and fluctuated from 182-189 back and forth, back and forth! I have no idea what's going on. I mean, I eat so-so stuff...not really eating BAD stuff, but I do better than a lot of people who are as far out as me and STILL losing...so I dunno. I am determined for it NOT to stop here for me. I still have these last 31 pounds to go, and I WILL DO IT!!!! 

Hope you all had a great Christmas. Happy New Year....2008 is going to be the best year yet!!!! And I'm determined to get to my goal weight of 150 this year!!!!! God bless, and thank you all for your support!

4 Months Post Op

Dec 03, 2007

Gosh, I can't even remember the last time I posted...has it really only been a month? Well, I'm down to 191 - grand total loss of 122 pounds! WOO HOO! I'm a comfortable size 12 and sometimes even a 10! It's amazing to think that when I first started thinking about the surgery, I wanted to be a 14. I'm a 12 and feel like I still have a ways to go! My house was broken into and my treadmill and elliptical were stolen, so this whole last month, I didn't work out AT ALL. Last night was my first night working out.....since I finally got a new treadmill!!!! I'm excited to see what this month brings. Even though I was in a stall for about 3 weeks....I can MAJORLY tell the inches have flown off! I literally went from a 16 to a 12 with only losing about 10 pounds, give or take! 

Just 41 more pounds to goal!!!!

3 Months Post Op

Oct 23, 2007

OK, so here we go! I weighed in this morning and I can't believe it.......
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I'm in freakin' ONEDERLAND!!!!! I weighed in at 197! That's a grand total weight loss of 116 pounds GONE FOR EVER! I looked at my medical records this morning and I haven't weighed this weight since I was 14 years old!!!!! This is me at 14 with just a little more curves! lol And a little more pooch...since I had the 2 kids and all! But it's all good! I feel so great!

This morning has been very emotional for me and I even cried! I am shaky...I just can't believe this is happening to ME! FINALLY....good things for ME!

About Me
Houston, TX
Location
25.0
BMI
RNY
Surgery
07/27/2007
Surgery Date
Mar 17, 2006
Member Since

Before & After
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Heaviest Weight Ever
313lbs
1 year & 12 lbs. under goal!!!
138lbs

Friends 72

Latest Blog 33
1 year post op!!!!!
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