I MADE IT! To Goal Today!!!

Yup,

I did! I made it to goal today! 140 pounds! I was so excited this morning that I took several pictures of that magical number on the scale!!!

I can't believe it! I just can believe it! I can't soak it into this tiny brain of mine!

I've lost 128 pounds!

Size 30 pants to size 4 pants!

Size 4X shirts to size Med/Small shirts!

You don't even want to know about the bra size (the only spot I would not have minded if it had stayed the same).

My granny panties are a thing of the past!

I've been crying on and off the whole day! I'm so darned emotional!

Working toward this goal has been hard as h*ll! And now that I'm here,,,, now what?

I've never EVER been so afraid of gaining weight back! I'm really, really scared of that!

And...

Gaining back all the horrible pain I had day and night

Pain from bursitis, osteo-arthritis, degenerative disc disease, herniated discs

High cholesterol!

High blood pressure!

Sleep apnea!

Having to depend on other people to drive me places, to walk side-by-side with me so I don't fall, to clean my house and even prepare my meals and help me take a shower at times!

And I certainly don't want the depression and loneliness that brought me into despair every waking moment of every day.

I have come so far and worked so hard! I feel so good now! "Can I keep it, Mommy?"

Thank you for always being here for me 24/7. For your support, friendship, encouragement and reasons to look at the bright side of life!

I don't see this as the end of my journey. Instead, I see it as being at a crossroads of other paths to choose from.

I want to 'Pay Forward' all that has been given me!

I love you all!

Jules

I am so so proud of you.  Your an amazing person and I am so glad you have stepped into my life.  No one could ask for a better friend.   I have no dought in my mind that you will continue to do great in the rest of your life.   Your a great friend, mother , wife , grandmother and most of all you are an ANGEL to not only me but, to everyone here on OH  
                       I LOVE YOU SO MUCH WTG MY ANGEL.

Lisa  

Wow!!  In just 9 months!! You go girl... Now, just know that I will be looking to you for tips and pointers once my date gets here!!!


I also wanted to tell you that when I got my date my mom was not as excited as I wanted her to be.  So I hopped online and showed her your before and then showed her the pic of you in that beige dress.  She was wowed and suddenly became MUCH more supportive!

aw jules, i'm so happy for you! i got chills just reading that. congratulations, you look amazing. i'm sure everyone agrees when i say that you're truly an inspiration.

JULES....hun I am sooooo proud of you!  You are such an inspiration to us all and you better be smiling from ear to ear!!  I have learned so much from you and you have been there for me every step of the way...even stayed with my Dad the day of my surgery!  I just hope I can repay the favor somehow.
 
Just know that we are all here for you!  I have also talked to my friend tonight and told her...she is so happy for you.  Even though she is not yet at goal, or I should say she wants to drop more, she would love to talk to you and offer tips on how she has kept it off for the amount of time she has been out. You know anytime you need to talk...I always offer a shoulder hun!!

Again...smile and be proud sweety...WE are all proud of YOU! 

-Rob aka MAJOR Flirt  

Julie - I am so proud of you and happy for you! You have worked so hard and you have dedicated your life to making this work for you and you have done it! You are a true inspiration to me and everyone else on the board and at the meetings and just throughout life in general! You are one of the best people that I have ever met and I'm proud and honored to call you my friend. I love you so much! Congratulation on meeting your goal - now it's time to think about new ones that you can accomplish with your new body, health and mentality! Keep doing what you are doing!

Love you!

~Laura

Congrats Jules!!!! That is AMAZING!!!

I LOVE this: My granny panties are a thing of the past!

I wear sexy panties every day now because I never could before. It is my way of reminding myself every day how far I have come.

I understand the fear of re-gain. I had a dream last night that I gained all my weight back and it sucked! Even the dream scared the crap out of me.

My best advice to you is three things.

First - Never Ever drink while you eat or at least a half hour after (I usually wait an hour) because you never want to stretch out your stoma. If you keep it small you will always get full faster and eat less. If you stretch your stoma you are giving yourself one long stomach and will be able to eat a lot more food.

Second - always take your vitamins.

Third - continue to work out. I work out with a persona trainer 3 to 4 days a week. I know that it is because of this that the Wine I love so much has not put any weight back on me. LOL - no I don't drink it every day.

You look amazing Julie - way to go!!! I know you know all that I have said, you are smart and educated in WLS and you will continue to THRIVE!

I love reading these kinds of posts!!  I wanna be just like you, albeit in lapband land, when I grow up!!

Congratulations on all you have achieved.

 Congratulation's Julie!  You look sooooo good.  You are an inspiration to many of us.  I also have osteo-arthritis.  I will have to talk to you about that at the next meeting. You are a great role model. You certainly have been paying it forward to many of us.  Thanks!

Love,
Karen

Congratulations!!!!!

I don't post much but do follow the boards as much as I can and just wanted to say that I am so happy for you!!!!

I know what you mean about the bra size.  Wish some things could have been frozen in time.

It is amazing how much your life has changed in the last nine months and how your support has been a blessing for others. 

I totally understand about the "now what"  Everything is different and sometimes I too do not know who to identify with anymore.  I am not the same person and I'm not quite sure yet who I am.  I'm not the "fat girl" anymore.  Food was so important in my life and I have learned to replace it with other things, but so much has changed so quickly.  I don't want to be a bystander in life anymore but a "liver" of life.

Just wanted to say congrats!  You have made a life long change and will not gain weight back.  Your new role as an angel, educator, friend and inspiration to many will keep you on track!

Enjoy looking at that scale - you deserve it!!!