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