fight. After my Size 18 shorts started to head south at a family gathering, I discovered this thing called A BELT.

These belts are magical devices that will help you bridge the gap between one size to the other without breaking obscenity laws or getting offers for a 'happy ending.' I'm adding this picture to my progression that starts and ends with the same Size 28 pair of pants.


A few years ago, I told myself I would never take the "I've-lost-so-much-weight-I-can-fit-into-one-side-of-my-pants" photo. However, we were playing around with the pants and this photo made its way to the Internet:

No Schauzers were harmed in the making of this photograph.

I would love to lose another 40-50 pounds, but I am grateful for the wealth of health improvements I've experienced and I pray I can continue to exercise and keep a great metabolism.

Keep your pants up, gang!

Frances

As we enter the new year, I pray you all are taking new challenges, evaluating old goals and ready to come out swinging every chance you get.

Reach out for support and when you find it, hold on tight. Be a friend and share the good times and the bad.

If you fall, get back up because in this journey, we are only defeated when we stop trying.

I want to tackle 2010 -- in 365 bite-size pieces ...

Onward!
Frances

Thanksgiving Day was my Six Month anniversary. I didn't realize that special fact until this morning. (Thanks for the email reminder, ObesityHelp!)

The last six months have been bitter sweet. I lost my full time job and probably lost a good bit of my frustration and stress in the process. There have been money woes, but I've had the opportunity to focus on walking and exercise earlier in the process instead of later. My new career focus involves medical marketing and leading this weight loss support group. I love New U and I truly believe New U loves me back.

I don't know what I expected from my revision to the Sleeve. I expected a much slower weight loss because I was revising. It seems to be going pretty fast, but due to fluid retention flucuations, I have had stalls, weight gains and rapid declines. The scale is a cruel task master, but the tape measure is my friend. My thigh, waist and bust measurement decreased by 3-5 inches. I was about a size 26/22 (top/bottom) and I am wearing loose 18s and hope to squeeze into some cute Size 16 jeans by Christmas.

I go to the buffet often -- the exercise buffet. I walk daily, run a (very) little, play tennis, work out at Contours Express and have tried my hand at Bocce and hiking.

  

I look at those pictures and I might cringe a little at the sagging skin and (huge) bat wings, but I am trying to use those things as positive indicators of progress and inspiration to get a job that will help me afford plastic surgery to fix my abs and my arms.

I think it will be neat to see a BMI of under 40. Lots of people start there, but I remember when I thought folks with BMI nears 40 were "lightweights." I will take lightweight obese over super morbidly obese/heavy weight any day.

My present goal is 200 pounds, but I will re-evaluate at that point and set another goal for the final count.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me and inspiring me to fight on.

Onward!
Frances

I ran.

I just came back from walking the dog and tonight, I decided to run part of the route. No, it wasn't swift and it wasn't long, but I did run and I am still alive. I can't talk much, so I decided to write about it.

I am just shy of 50 pounds down since having the sleeve and I hope I make that goal before my three month's anniversary on August 26. Per my wls ticker, I'm 64 pounds since I started counting.

That's 40 pounds down since Sleeve surgery, thank ya very much!

I am thrilled and blessed this morning to be a total of 55 pounds lighter since I started the preop diet in mid-May. We never walk this path alone and I must acknowledge the love and awesome support of Dr. Karl LeBlanc, his Sleeve General Genie K and the doctors and staff of the Surgeons Group of Baton Rouge.

New U will never be a "job" for me -- it's a blessing and a privilege. The members are more supportive of me than I feel I can ever return. New U -- YOU ROCK!

The love of my life Scott has become my biggest cheerleader and best friend. My beautiful daughter Cecilia is mommy's motivation.

I feel that this can be done. I feel that WE can do it -- together.

I've been in a weight loss journey since 2004 when I was blessed to receive the Lap-Band. Not every path is the same and I encountered some "bumps in the road" that led to band removal last year. I am not working toward a revision to the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.

I would like to lose 44 pounds before my revision:

Onward!

Frances