I wrote a long and thoughtful post and then my damn phone ate it!

So basically 1 year anniversary here. 164 pounds lost as of this morning!

I want to say thank you to all the vets here. I literally wouldn't have made it without you considering you helped me redo my diet completely at 1 month out.

thanks to Kat W specifically for reaching out and giving me encouragement early on when I needed it the most. You were and are inspiring to me.

my health and my migraines in particular are so so much better, I can't even believe it. My cancer scare has passed, I'm not using a cpap. I'm so grateful daily.

vanity wise I'm wearing a size 12 down from a 26, which is crazy to me. But mainly I just love the choices I get now. I try to be conscious and not be a fat shaming asshole that I've seen happen.

Melinda,

Congratulations on your anniversary, and on your success.

And good on ya for not wanting to be a "fat shaming asshole" -- I admit I struggle with that from time to time, and then think to myself, "Wait just a gosh-darned second here, honey bunch.  You used to be like that -- you used to be bigger than that." 

And BTW -- you look fabulous!!!

I'm not saying I'm successful at not being an asshole in my head at all times but I am always trying to think like I'm still 377 pounds. I don't want to treat people like I was treated - and I say the same thing to myself. I was on a plan a few weeks ago when a guy needed to ask for an extender and he was very self depracating and I know it was to try to bru**** off. I couldn't stop thinking about him. I talked to him for a while just about whatever because of it!

You look amazing mute! Congratulations!  I too try to be extra sensitive to obese people and remember exactly how it felt to be them. That's why my before picture is on the frig. To remind myself where I came from!

We are them.

Wow! Va! Va! Voom!

You have had a quite a year...the surgery and a job change.

You have done really really well MUTE! Do you remember how you were worried that the surgery wouldn't work for you and you worried because you had a slow start?

Don't forget those experiences. Keep them in the forefront of your brain and PAY IT FORWARD to the next Mute that has the same worries/fears/slow start as you.  You have experience in it. You have expertise and you can help be a wise counsel to them.  YOU are especially well suited to it because YOU LIVED AND THRIVED through it. Someone like me, our words might seem a bit hollow because we did not walk a mile in shoes branded by "Slow start". YOU DID ! You kept the faith, you kept doing the right things and now...LOOK AT YOU!!  :)

You are doing so well!  I am so proud of you!

Happy smiles and tears for you today my friend!

-Skinny

I remember when you first had surgery - now you are the old timer.  Congrats and best wishes for future successes.

Congratulations!  You look AMAZING!  Thanks for posting - it gives me hope that I can get there too!

WTG!    You look wonderful and the smile says it all.  

Congrats, love, you look great and have done a fabulous job!