I made goal. And now the hard part begins.

Congratulations, Em!  You look absolutely amazing and sound equally as happy!

Really amazing!  Congratulations DCgirl!

Amazing results.  Just amazing.  You must be LOVING shopping right now!!!!  I'm quite sure I have a transfer addiction to shopping now. . . and I'm not even joking.  I too started with different goals.  I started at 256 (at 5'1).  My original goal was 150, but I was secretly hoping for 135, because that was the thinnest I can ever remember being. . . in like 6th grade.  I am now at 115, size xs/0-2 and could not be happier with my new life.  If I weren't 40, married and had 2 kids, I would totally be saving for plastic surgery.  I'm actually not too bad off in that area.  My arms aren't too bad.  My thighs are the worst and only in a bathing suit.  I will tell you that I'm about to be at 2 years out and it does get significantly harder.  I can eat a lot more than I could before I can definitely eat around my pouch and I know this and I don't dump.  I could eat carbs or slider foods all day long if I let myself.  I think your mindset of being accountable and keeping track will ensure your success.  I'm so proud of you and I know you will continue to rock it.

Uhhh yeah...it's a problem, actually.  Especially since I am not yet at my final weight so there is no need to have a full closet.  I can't believe you are a 0-2.  If I end up an 8 I will be shocked at such a tiny size, but since I am a 10 now, I guess an 8 is coming next.  My whole body is a saggy mess - but again, not noticeable in clothes.  I hoped for just boobs and tummy but I need a full-on LBL sadly.  The doc told me once you fix the front, it makes the back even more problematic.  Ugh.  I do not dump at all, and could also eat slider foods all day, so I hear you on staying diligent.  Luckily my current job and life situation allows me to work out every single day and so I just make choices - if I eat more carbs, I have to eat less calories elsewhere, and work out extra hard.  I can see myself being more lax and having more tummy room already, so hopefully the tracking and tracking and more tracking PLUS the sometime-next-year plastic surgery will keep me where I need to be!  

 Congratulations!

You... are a ROCK  !!!

It's hard to believe that the pictures you posted are the same person.  What a difference a year makes!  Keep doing what you're doing because it's obviously working well for you.  I'm so happy to see your progress!

Thanks, GeekMonster!  I swear, seeing those pics side by side illustrates why people are so shocked and impressed by my loss.  It doesn't actually feel that dramatic to me but holy crap, who was that 350 lb person????  You are a rock star too - we have totally been on this "journey" together and I love keeping up with you :)  I am equally happy for your progress.  One day at a time, for both of us :)

I totally understand.  I hadn't seen my housekeeper in several months until yesterday and she could not believe the difference.  People often ask me "Is it hard?" and I tell them, no, it's really not that difficult.  Do you ever hear that question?

It's physically painful for me to look at pictures of myself at my highest weight. I can't understand how I let myself get to that point. But from here on out, it's onward and DOWNward, at least where weight is concerned  

I partially agree.  It's not hard WHEN I make the right food choices.  If I go to a Mexican restaurant and eat no chips and order chicken fajitas, then I can eat 3 oz of meat and a few bites of veggies.  Now, if I start going to town on the chip basket, well, I apparently have no restriction lol.  So yes, it's not hard at all when I eat dense protein.  The hard part is making the right choice.

Like you, I cannot BELIEVE I ever looked like the picture on the left.  Now that I am dating again, I am upfront with people and tell them I have lost a lot of weight.  But I would never want to show them that comparison picture.  You know what I mean?  That would be admitting that I was SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE.  Can you believe, at the time, I felt like I was fat but "rocking my curves".  Now I look at a person on the verge of death :(  

I cannot believe you are 212 lbs down and keeping on.  You seriously rule.

Onward and downward we go.  Do you think you will have plastics?  I feel like that is an extra insurance policy where I am concerned.  LOL!

I will definitely have plastics.  Losing so much weight makes my body look like a freak show, and I'm not even close to goal.  I've got a slush fund I put money into every month just to pay for the plastics.  If I had to rank my plastics preference, I'd start with a LBL and boob lift.  My arms, although annoying, don't bother me as much as the puddle of loose skin and flab that accumulates when I sit down.  The recovery time from plastics and the pain do concern me, but it's one of those things in life I'll have to do.